Month: July 2020

It’s the time of year when you can get some of the best, dare we say craziest deals in Crookston. Crazy Days is Thursday, and Chamber Executive Director Terri Heggie says there will be a Shop Hop theme this year. “A couple of years ago we decided we were going to add a little theme to it,” said Heggie. “Last year was kind of a rock and roll theme. It was fun to see businesses get dressed up and decorate their stores with that theme. This year’s Crazy Days theme is Shop Hop. July 16 those sales start at 8 a.m. Our local retailers always gear up for this to put out specials and clearance items. And, again, this year there are many of them partaking.”

Other vendors will also set up along the sidewalks with deals according to Heggie. “New this year, we are going to have vendors out on the sidewalks besides our businesses that are taking part in Crazy Days,” said Heggie. “We have three vendors from Moorhead that are coming in and the rest are local vendors. You’ll see them on the sidewalks as well as our retail businesses downtown having their sales items out. It’s also become kind of a big day. Not only do we have the Crazy Days sales going on we have the KROX auctions. They have been going on for over 50 years now. This is kind of a tradition for the summer.”

The 59th Annual KROX Crazy Days auctions will be at 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. under the canopy next to the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council building.  The second auction will kick off the evening’s other events explains Heggie. “We also will have outdoor yoga from 7-7:30 p.m.,” said Heggie. “Farmer’s Market will be going on from 4-6:30 p.m. Little Miss Crookston is going to be out and about greeting individuals. And then, we’re having an outdoor movie at the Crookston Sports Center. On the east side of the parking lot we’re showing the movie Grease. And we want to give a big shoutout to the sponsors of the movie this year, the Classic Cruisers as well as Northwestern Mental Health Center. That will start a little bit before dusk because we are on the east side of the building so we should get some early shade. We do want you to practice social distancing, bring a lawn chair with if you’d like to sit by your vehicle, but again, stay within your family unit, sit back, and enjoy that movie.”

Finally, Heggie said her fingers are crossed for nice weather as the Classic Cruisers will have their cars out downtown during the day and then parade out to the outdoor movie. “I hear the weather is supposed to be nice so far on the 16th, so we keep our fingers crossed for that,” said Heggie. “The Classic Cruisers will also have their vehicles out all day on the corner of Robert St and Main St for you to enjoy. They will also parade through town that night on their way to the Crookston Sports Center that night as well.”

The Crookston City Council will meet Monday night at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall. All items for the meeting are on the consent agenda including approving the June 22 meeting minutes, and bills and disbursements totaling $273,451.18.

There are also resolutions to approve a partial payment for 2020 street improvements to Sellin Brothers, to extend the cash farm lease for fam land around the city airport the University of Minnesota Northwest Research and Outreach Center, for resurfacing the tennis courts at the Ray Ecklund Complex, accepting CARES Act funds, and calling for a public hearing on police worn body cameras on July 27.

Removed from the agenda was a resolution to provide garbage services to the mobile home parks in Crookston. The request for services was withdrawn. The Ways & Means Committee meeting agenda has one item, a Red Lake River Corridor Plan from the Joint Powers Board to address outreach and marketing strategies that target diverse and underserved populations such as new Americans, Native Americans, people of Latino Heritage, low-income individuals, the disabled, elderly, and those that have not experience activities on and around the Red Lake River.

KROX Radio will hold our 59th Crazy Days Auctions on Thursday, July 16 at 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. under the canopy at Tri-Valley in downtown Crookston.  We have over $30,000 in merchandise and gift certificates from area businesses to auction off.  We will be strongly encouraging social distancing.  Everything will be sold at a discount!!

The auctions will include the following merchandise –

Fishing Trip – Zippel Bay Resort (Lake of the Woods).  A 1 day chartered fishing trip for up to six people (from the same household) with a one night stay in a three-bedroom log cabin and three meals. The stay is good midweek between September 10-28 only.

TV’s – from Mireault’s Home Furnishings in Fosston – 65 inch LG 4K HDR UHD webOS smart TV, a 55 inch LG 4K HDR UHD webOS smart TV, and a 40 inch TCL TV.

Grills – A Weber Spirit Grill from Crookston Hardware Hank.  A Blackstone 22″ tabletop griddle from Home of Economy

Auto start – from Advanced Tire and Auto

2 Half-season Golf Memberships at Minakwa Golf Course

Lawnmowers and yard tools – A Honda Electric start lawnmower and an Echo Blower from Service Pro.  A lawnmower from True Value in Crookston.  A Toro 20V Max Lithium Ion cordless 12 inch trimmer from Underahl’s Hardware Hank in Red Lake Falls.  A Greenworks 48 Volt Lithium cordless Jet Blower.  A Poulan PRO gas blower/vac from Fleet Supply.
A metal heavy duty garden cart from Fleet Supply.

Air Conditioner – A Danby 8K BTU air conditioner from Underdahl’s Hardware Hank in Red Lake Falls.

Coolers – A Polaris cooler and Weber roller cooler.

Tech items – Amazon Echo Auto, 2 Amazon Echo Show, Forge Bluetooth wireless speaker, and a Sengled wireless speaker/light bulb, and a flashlight from Garden Valley in Erskine.

Oil Change/Service Certificates from Advanced Tire and Auto, All Seasons Lube Center, and Christian Brothers Ford

Tools/Household/Garage items – 12-volt jump starter, 189 piece metric ratchet set, 20 piece ratchet set, two screwdriver sets, and more tools from Napa/Crookston Welding and Machine
Lincoln professional performance series two-speed 18-volt cordless grease gun, Superflow Max Volume portable air compressor, 8-foot fiberglass ladder, a snow rake, 2 grain scoop shovels, bird feeder, jumper cables, mosquito repellent for the yard, and more from Fleet Supply.
A Crock Pot express crock multi-cooker, and a PowerGear 20-inch high-velocity fan from Home of Economy.
A Briggs and Stratton portable power washer.

Hotel stays – 2 one-night stays at a suite at the AmericInn in Crookston.

Kayak – A 10-foot kayak from Crookston Hardware Hank

Miscellaneous items –
A Seahawk three-person inflatable boat from Underdahl’s Hardware Hank in Red Lake Falls
A 6-sided portable gazebo from Home of Economy.
A John Deere batter operated Gator for kids, a John Deere tricycle, and lot of John Deere toys from Valley Plains Equipment

Gift Certificates –
Sky-Vu Drive In of Warren
Willow and Ivy
Signature Jewelers of Grand Forks
RBJ’s Restaurant
Erickson Embroidery
Erickson Smokehouse of Fertile
Tri-Valley Transportation (bus pass)
Opdahl’s Donuts of Fertile
Wonderful Life Foods
Ampride
Purdy’s Shoes of Thief River Falls
HN Quality Plumbing
Irishman’s Shanty
Crookston Eagles Club
Hugo’s Family Marketplace
Montague’s Flower Shop
Widman’s Candy Shop
Taco Johns
B & E Meats
Best Buy Liquors/IC Muggs/Mugoos
Ness Café
Crooks Club and Bottle Show
Gerrels/Hockey World of Grand Forks
Grand Forks Golf Center
Happy Joes Pizza

KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR UPDATES TO THE LIST!

The Minnesota Department of Health has released the latest COVID-19 numbers for the state of Minnesota.  The state conducted over 16,000 tests with 806 new positive tests as the trend upward with 806 positive tests and four deaths.  Polk County has 88 positive cases and three deaths since March.  All the state numbers are below. 

Updated July 11, 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.

• 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.

Governor Tim Walz today announced that he will convene a special legislative session beginning on July 13, 2020. The Governor continues to push for legislation on police reform and accountability and has asked the Legislature to join his effort to build a stronger, more equitable economy by passing a robust bonding bill.

“I am asking Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature to work together on the urgent matters Minnesotans expect them to tackle this summer,” said Governor Walz. “Our state had a trying few months, and we need the Legislature to rise to the occasion and get things done to help Minnesotans rebuild and recover. Give me a bill to sign on police accountability and reform and let’s work together to build a stronger, more equitable economy by investing in local jobs and projects across the state.”

“We are ready to work with our partners in the legislature to make meaningful change for Minnesotans,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “People across the state are counting on us to come together to invest in local projects, police accountability and reform, and a stronger, more equitable economy. Let’s get it done together.”

As they did last session, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor support the recommendations on police reform and accountability that were introduced by the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the Attorney General’s Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters Working Group. The proposals support use of force reform; greater police oversight; community healing; and prosecutorial, investigatory, and training reform.

The Governor’s plan to build a strong and equitable economy will include his bonding proposal, the Local Jobs and Projects Plan, which will revitalize infrastructure across the state and create good-paying jobs. The Governor will also continue to work with partners at the community, local, state, and federal level to provide assistance for businesses impacted by the events in Minneapolis and St. Paul following the death of George Floyd.

Governor Walz will also extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days to ensure the state can continue to quickly and effectively respond to the pandemic. Every state in the U.S. has declared a state of emergency, allowing governors and other officials to quickly respond to rapidly-evolving threats stemming from COVID-19. 49 states currently have a state of emergency in place.

Ron and Sharon Weiss started farming in 1977. They have been growing asparagus for the last 15 years. The family’s 13 acres of asparagus is in addition to about 1,100 acres of wheat and soybeans raised on the Weiss farm in northwestern Minnesota. The Weiss family sells fresh and pickled asparagus at the Mentor Farmers Market and area grocery stores.

Family members are very important to the success of the Weiss farm. Ron and Sharon have four children. Daughter Shelby is married to Nolan Knott and another daughter, Kristen, is married to Ryan Brumwell. Ron and Sharon’s daughter Sara is married to Matthew Schindler and the Weisses also have a son, Matthew.

Ron and Sharon are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Ron is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Red Lake Falls Sportsman Club, serves as a 4-H leader, and is a Red Lake County Commissioner. Sharon belongs to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Parish Guild and is a Red Lake County 4-H Extension Educator. The Weisses are a vendor at the local farmers market in Mentor.

And yes, after picking and processing 13 acres of asparagus the family still loves to eat asparagus!

Though COVID-19 has forced cancellation of the annual Minnesota Farmfest, where the awards are presented each August, this year’s honorees will be celebrated in an online video tribute. The recognition, lead by University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel, will be available at 1 p.m., Aug. 6 at mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu.

Honored families are chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to their communities and to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

“We’ll miss the face-to-face ceremony for the 2020 Farm Families of the Year, but nothing diminishes pride we take in celebrating their accomplishments,” said Extension Dean Bev Durgan. “These families represent the best in agriculture. They’re innovative and dedicated to their communities; they are stewards of the land.”

A complete list of the 2020 Farm Families of the Year will be available at mnfarmfamilies.CFAMS.umn.edu.       

Along with Farmfest, University units sponsoring the recognition event include University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 609 positive cases of COVID-19 and five deaths. The 609 positive tests completed are the most in a single day since June 5. There were 19,204 tests completed, the 2nd most completed tests in a day behind June 17, since the pandemic began. All the numbers are below –

Updated July 10, 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.

• 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.