Month: July 2020

“With the long-awaited arrival of summer in the Red River Valley, it certainly has not disappointed. With the ongoing guidelines with COVID tourism and travel plans have changed for many families these past few months. Instead of flying to their destination or packing up the car and traveling to their getaway, many are choosing to stay put and enjoy the amenities in their own backyard or in this case, the river.

Longtime Crookston, resident Cathy Demarais shared in a message, “canoeing and seeing the backside of Crookston is absolutely beautiful and peaceful.” Their group of 6, are among the many who retreat to the water to relax, enjoy time with friends and family, and benefit from a laid-back physical activity.

It is wonderful to view digital moments captured of people enjoying one of the many treasures we have in Crookston. Several have shared these images with the Chamber office to use as another marketing tool to GROW Crookston. 

 Let’s continue the ongoing efforts and conversations which will allow easier access onto our river to enhance and grow recreational fun for our community.

Terri Heggie
Crookston Area Chamber Executive Director

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With the world in the midst of a global pandemic, it is a good time to recognize the important role breastfeeding plays in protecting babies from germs all across the planet. The Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Services (PNM CHS) WIC Program and SHIP are celebrating Minnesota Breastfeeding Awareness Month throughout August. The theme for World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7, is “Support breastfeeding for healthier families, healthier communities, healthier planet.” The theme for Black Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 25-31, is “Revive, Restore, Reclaim.”

As the world’s leading scientists race to find a COVID-19 vaccine, humans have their own, natural way of protecting the next generation. Moms, through breast milk, pass on helpful antibodies that fight germs.

Though it is too early to know for sure, researchers are finding evidence that moms who previously had COVID-19 may pass on helpful antibodies that can fight the virus. Parents may worry about the safety of breastfeeding during the pandemic. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding. The benefits simply outweigh the potential risk of spreading the virus to the baby. In addition, researchers have not found the infectious virus in breastmilk. Even when a mother has COVID-19, she is advised to still breastfeed while doing hand hygiene and wearing a mask when with the baby.

This year’s worldwide breastfeeding week also emphasizes how “green” and climate-friendly breastfeeding is. Human milk is a natural, renewable food produced and delivered to babies without pollution, packaging, or waste.

Finally, promoting and removing barriers to breastfeeding for people of color is one way to address structural racism in Minnesota. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black, people of color, and American Indians in Minnesota due to underlying social, economic, and health disparities. These same underlying factors have made it more difficult over the years for Minnesotans of color to breastfeed.

Supporting breastfeeding through culturally appropriate care increases initiation and duration rates across all racial and cultural groups. Growing numbers of health care, employers, and health departments are working to address the barriers and make breastfeeding easier for new mothers. P-N-M CHB SHIP has been working with area employers to promote the importance of supporting breastfeeding moms at their place of employment as well as providing and promoting Rock and Rest tents at area fairs and community events for all families. The Polk County Breastfeeding Coalition has introduced to many businesses the “Anytime, Anywhere Initiative”, sharing about the Minnesota law that protects all breastfeeding women to breastfeed in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are allowed to be. Supporting businesses have hung a “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” window cling along with signing a pledge in support.

The P-N-M CHB WIC program along with Polk County Public Health supports breastfeeding by offering Breastfeeding Peer Counselors to all pregnant and breastfeeding WIC clients. Breastfeeding Peer counselors are women who have successfully breastfed, and trained to help WIC participants with common breastfeeding issues and support. Breastfeeding support is also offered with “Mama’s Milk Connection” a monthly breastfeeding support group that is provided to all pregnant and breastfeeding women, offering a sense of community to share personal experiences, challenges, and successes. Meetings are usually held the third Thursday of the month, 6:00-7:00 p.m., and are currently offered virtually via zoom.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has reduced racial disparities in breastfeeding rates. The Minnesota Department of Health recognizes maternity centers that have taken steps toward implementing breastfeeding-friendly practices through the Minnesota Breastfeeding Friendly Maternity Center Designation Program.

“The pandemic has illuminated the many ways health is interconnected,” said Tammy Conn, Lactation Consultant for Polk County Public Health. “Given all we face in 2020, let’s not forget to promote breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one of these pathways to health, right at the start of life, with far-reaching benefits for families, communities, and the planet.”

For more information, on breastfeeding, P-N-M CHB WIC services, Polk County Breastfeeding Coalition, Mama’s Milk Connection, or worksite lactation services, contact Polk County Public Health at 218-281-3385 or Norman-Mahnomen Public Health at 218-784-5425.

The Crookston Area Chamber will have mask distribution outside of the Chamber office on Monday, August 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday, August 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Businesses will receive a designated amount as this is a one-time shipment for all of Polk County. Masks are to be available for your patrons who do not have a mask to wear in your business. You will be asked to fill out a distribution tracking form.

 For businesses outside of Crookston please see the list below for distribution next week.

East Grand Forks – Chamber office will notify you of the distribution plan
Fisher –  Liz Barrett will deliver
Fertile – Lisa Liden – City Hall office for pick up
Fosston – Cassie Heide– City Hall office for pick up
McIntosh – Neil’s Quality Meats for pick up
Mentor – Charity Brault will deliver to all businesses on Wednesday, August 5
Climax – First Community Credit Union for pick up
Beltrami – West Central for pick up
Winger, Gully, Lengby TBD

The Minnesota Department of Health reports 779 new cases of COVID-19 and six deaths. There was one new case reported in Polk County. All the numbers are below.

Updated July 31, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19. Cumulative numbers are since Jan. 20, 2020.

Other Statistics

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C) Statistics
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

Data in the data tables is correct as of 11 a.m. daily. Dynamic images and maps for case demographics, likely exposure, residence, and residence type will update shortly after 11 a.m. daily and will not work if your browser is in compatibility mode.

The Crookston Airport Commission met on Thursday morning to review the progress made by Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH) engineering on the airport master plan. The Crookston Airport is used for approximately 50,981 operations, a takeoff or landing, a year, and is the most used airport by the University of North Dakota flight program.

SEH’s Melissa Underwood said the goal was to provide some alternative options for runways, hangars, and the other airport needs to discuss what the needs for the airport would be within the next 20 years. “Today, our goal was to take the forecast we’d developed last time and determine the needs that need to be met over the next 20 years,” said Underwood. “That goes on both the air side with the runways, taxiways, and approaches. And on the land side with hangars and the apron. We’re trying to determine what layout will work best for the community, city, and airport users for the next 20 years.”

The commission discussed possible runway expansion, such as extending the current paved runway to 5,600 feet to allow for small jets to take off, or changing the primary runway to a north/south orientation. Either possible change being made at some point would come with the need to close or reroute established roadways, with one plan making a rerouting of HWY 75 out of the safety area possible.  None of the options have been approved, and Underwood said the goal throughout the rest of the project is to determine what will be needed in the future and find the best option. “We’re looking at what runway length is needed over the next 20 years,” said Underwood. “And then, looking at the crosswind to see if another paved runway is an option or if we will maintain what’s out there today.”

Airport Manager Lowell Miller said there are many points of view on planning for the future, but the goal is to find what the community would use. Changes can’t happen without the ability to justify them for funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “There are many points of view on that,” said Miller. “You’ll get some people that will say maintain what you have, and it seems to be working. There is quite the expansion to get larger airplanes that may come. You need to show that you need to get to their ultimate length. You have to figure out if there are people in the community who are going to use that length to justify the cost. The FAA has to have that justification to participate in those funds.”

Hangars continue to be a need, and several options were discussed, including building box or T-Hangars. Or even providing individuals or businesses the opportunity to develop their own hangars to their specifications, and then turn them over to the city when done through a lease agreement. Miller told the commission that if the city were to start building a hangar, it would probably be fully leased before it was finished.  Miller said deciding how to develop hangars or even using a combination of the hangar options would be about what fits best for Crookston. “There are a few options whether the city builds new T-hangars to store airplanes or we allow private companies and people to build their hangars,” said Miller. “There are a couple of options, maybe a combination of both. Just looking for alternatives for what fits our airport.”

Underwood said SEH would refine the alternatives for runways and hangars with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and FAA based on Thursday’s discussions. “Next, we’ll refine our alternatives based on the discussion today,” said Underwood. “And narrow it down to a few that the group can choose to show on the 20-year plan.”

The master planning process is expected to require at least two more meetings, according to Underwood, with the next meeting to be scheduled for around early October tentatively.

Three people have filed for the Crookston School Board this week. They are Mike Theis, currently completing the term of Kari Miller, Marcia Meine, and Jason Klinnert.

Filing for the school board is open through 5 p.m. on August 11 at the Crookston District Office.