Month: October 2020

A two-car crash occurred Friday morning at the corner of Central Ave and Barrette St. The crash occurred at approximately 8:45 a.m. The Crookston Police Department said Friday a crash report would be released Monday. 

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In a 2-1 decision, a panel of Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges ordered that all mail-in ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day in Minnesota be set aside. The order stopped short of ruling on the validity of ballots received after election day.
The Minnesota GOP presidential electors challenged a state rule allowing election officials to count ballots received until November 10, as long as they are postmarked by November 3.  The Eighth Circuit opinion concluded that state and federal law superseded the state court-approved extension.

SECRETARY OF STATE’S RESPONSE
Secretary Simon released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit announced its decision to eliminate Minnesota’s established seven-day grace period for accepting absentee ballots for next week’s general election:

“The court’s decision is a tremendous and unnecessary disruption to Minnesota’s election, just days before Election Day. This last-minute change could disenfranchise Minnesotans who were relying on settled rules for the 2020 election — rules that were in place before the August 11 primary and were accepted by all political parties. It is deeply troubling that the people who brought the lawsuit, a conservative legislator and presidential elector, would seek to sabotage the system for political gain.

I won’t let any Minnesota voter be silenced. My mission is now to make sure all voters know that a federal court has suddenly changed the rules, and that their ballot needs to be received by Election Day.

The right to vote is fundamental. The court’s decision is a step in the direction of restricting the exercise of that right, during a pandemic that has altered everything about our daily lives. But Minnesotans always find a way to vote, and they’ll do so again this year. The spirit that has fueled Minnesota’s nation-leading voter turnout will continue.”

Next Steps for Voters
Voters should no longer place their absentee ballot in the mail. Instead, voters have several options to ensure their vote is counted in the November general election:

• Voters who have already put their ballot in the mail can track their ballot at http://www.mnvotes.org/track. If their ballot has not yet been received the voter can vote in-person either by absentee, or at their polling place on Election Day.
• Voters can deliver their ballots to their county election office by hand (or have someone they trust hand-deliver it for them).
• Voters can cast their vote in person with an absentee ballot at their local election office up until November 2, 2020.
• Voters can cast their votes in person on Election Day. Use our Pollfinder Toolto find out where to vote.

With Halloween coming up on Saturday, Crookston residents and families will be treated with a number of fun events in the city this weekend. Cobblestone Hotel and Suites is hosting a Trunk or Treat event on Saturday evening from 4-6 p.m. Manager Lisa Tadd says the event will be COVID friendly, but there will be plenty of goodies to give away. “All of our staff will be here,” Tadd said. “We’re following state (COVID-19) guidelines. We’ll have gloves, masks and the whole nine yards. We’re going to line cars up on the lawn areas. We have blow-ups, everyone handing out candy and we have a prize for the best decorated trunk.”

Meanwhile, the Grand Theatre will have their 8th Annual Free Halloween Movie night, with a family movie at 7:00 p.m. and a scary movie at 9:30. Theatre manager Bo Brorby says there’ll be a costume contest with prizes and Halloween specials with $2 Icees and popcorn. “We started this to give youth and teens a safe and fun option for something to do on Halloween,” Brorby said. “If you want, you can come in your costume and we give out prizes. We have snack specials all day long also.”

Elsewhere, the Downtown Crookston Development Partnership (DCDP) is hosting a “Historic Halloween Candy Hunt” on Saturday night from 5-7 p.m. in the downtown area. They invite the community to “take a Halloween Night stroll” downtown to learn about the many historic buildings housed in Crookston – many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. DCDP member Jess Bengston said the group wanted to host some kind of COVID-safe Halloween event, especially in a year when so many other events have been cancelled. “We wanted to do something for Halloween, because of all of the other event cancellations,” Bengston said. “We wanted to bring people downtown and social distance at the same time. So, we came up with this historic downtown candy hunt.”

Candy bowls will be set out in front of the buildings with historic facts posted that may have previous tenant information and features of the structures. Stops include places like the “Freaky Fournet,” “Terrifying Times,” “Creepy City Hall,” “Monster Montagues,” “Kooky Kiewel” and the “Eerie Eagles.” DCDP encourages people of all ages to share photos of their costumes and their downtown candy hunt adventures to the DCDP Facebook page. Participants are asked also to take only one piece of candy per stop, so there’s enough for everyone.

The candidates for the Minnesota Senate in District 1 are incumbent Mark Johnson (R) and opponent Reed Perkins (DFL). We asked each candidate if to introduce themselves and why they are running.

Q: Would you please tell us about yourself?

Mark: Hey, I’m Senator Mark Johnson. Grew up over at Maple Lake, Mentor area. My wife, Skyler, is from the Erskine area. So, two competing high schools I guess we came from over there. We live now in East Grand Forks. Three kids, Cully, Lively, and Archer. And for the last four years, I’ve been blessed and honored to serve Senate District 1 as your senator. And have really appreciated the opportunity to stand up for rural Minnesota and the values we have. And bring that down to that area of the metro that seems to think of the world as something quite different than we do.

Reed: My name is Reed Perkins. I’m the DFL candidate for state senate. I was born and raised here in Minnesota. My background is as a science teacher. I’ve got degrees in both biology and science. My wife is active duty Air Force. We’ve traveled around a little bit and now that I’m back, I really want to take what I’ve learned and my own background to give back to a state that set me up for success so well.”

Q: Why are you running?

Mark: That’s something that everybody should be asking – is there something else that you didn’t accomplish in your last four years that you can accomplish in the future here? If I win on November 3rd, I’m so excited to go back down to St. Paul and continue to fight for the needs, the interests, families, businesses, farms of northwest Minnesota. I feel that I’m in a very good spot. I have the relationships and now four years of experience to be pushing through the legislation and holding back the things we don’t want to see. Example, the gun control bills and things like that, that are coming from St. Paul. So, I really want to go back down and have that opportunity to continue to fight.

Reed: To give back. I want to make certain that other people have the same opportunities that I did. I was raised with the value of if you make it up the wall, you reach down and help the next person up after you, not pull the ladder up. I feel like I was set up well by Minnesota. By our education, health care, the way we take care of each other in this state. And I want to make sure we maintain those values and that tradition moving forward.

Q: Anything you would like to add?

Mark: Get out and vote November 3. It doesn’t matter which way you. You know, I’d appreciate a vote for me but we need to have the populace engaged in the election process. It is so necessary to have your voice heard. To see your interests and values to heard down in St. Paul. That requires your vote. So, I’d just say get out and make that vote November 3.

Reed: It has obviously been a strange year for a lot of reasons and that includes campaigning. We haven’t been able to get out and meet candidates the way we normally do. We didn’t have the Polk County Fair or Ox Cart Days. I’ve gone to great length to put everything I can up on our website. So, if you want to learn more about me, got to perkinsformn1.com. I’ve got dozens of policies, videos of town halls I’ve hosted. If you want to know more about me, please check out our website. I attempt to be as transparent about what I think and why I think it as I possibly can be.

The candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives are incumbent Deb Kiel (R) and opponent Cindy Ansbacher (DFL). We asked each candidate if to introduce themselves and why they are running.

Q: Would you please tell us about yourself?

Deb: I am a native of Crookston. My husband and I farm south of Crookston and have been active in agriculture all of our married life. And both grew up in agriculture. A graduate of Crookston High School and have really enjoyed the opportunities I’ve been allowed in Crookston. Probably something some people know but as a high school graduate as an aide for a while. Loved working at RiverView and to that point, I’m really excited after having a tour yesterday. Seeing how beautiful the hospital is. And the bells and whistles that are common in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area that I’ve seen in Crookston will make the care much better for our nurses to do things. I’m just excited to see that for our area.

Cindy: My name is Cindy Ansbacher. I am the Democratic-Farmer-Laborer candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives District 1B. I am a retired nurse with a bachelor’s degree of science in nursing. I have a 25-year-old son. His name is Benjamin. In 2006, I moved to Crookston into my grandmother’s home. Currently, though I’m retired, I work with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota as a designated support person meaning I work in a group home helping people in their everyday lives.

Q: Why are you running?

Deb: I’m just finishing up my fifth term. I really had to think about it this time. I’ve never believed that you should run forever. That’s something that other people need an opportunity to. But I know I want to work on health care and some of the issues going on there. I’m really concerned about how CARES money was distributed. When the federal government gave us that money it should’ve gone to the cities, and counties much sooner than it did. Or the school districts, or in a couple of cases health care or disability needs. Those are things I’m intending to work on. This was certainly an odd end of the session this last nine months and we’ll see where we go. I have some real concerns about what is coming ahead.

Cindy: I’ve been active in the Polk County DFL the last five years as an executive officer. I’ve always been active in my community and in things that might make a difference in the communities that I’m involved in. So, when COVID started, I jumped out and made masks for people because I just have to help out and make a difference. In May, I recognized I could run for office during COVID. I felt like it was something I had a lot of offer since I am a retired nurse and I do understand what’s going on with this disease process. I know it’s scary for people and I think I can help make it seem less scary and help us get through this all.

Q: Anything you would like to add?

Deb: I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been able to serve District 1B for the last 10 years and feel I’ve been given an opportunity to serve. And, also, as we move forward, the ability to be a part of the leadership to make sure that rural Minnesota is being considered as we make decisions for the whole State of Minnesota. That there are some unique opportunities and I believe agriculture is the base of Minnesota. We have four, five people, excuse me, in the legislature right now that are actually even connected to agriculture. It is one of the least represented areas of Minnesota and probably one of the most income-based providers for our tax dollars.

Cindy: As a retired nurse I want to remind people to wear your masks and wash your hands. Those are two basic things, but they are things we can do to care for each other. Also, vote now, vote early. Election is November 3.

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Harvest Church of Crookston will be hosting food distribution events at the Crookston High School parking lot on Saturday, October 31.  The events will be held from 10 a.m. – noon with church members along with their partners from the Farmers to Families USDA program handing out boxes of food.

Jason Tangquist from Harvest Church said boxes will contain a variety of products. “What we’ve been told is it’s mostly fruit, vegetables, meat, and some dairy products,” said Tangquist. “So, probably like cheese and milk, and then a couple of meat/protein products as well. I think it changes depending on what the Farmer to Families group has available at the time in your area, so we don’t know specifically but that’s what we’ve been told. They say that a box feeds a family of four for a number of days but if people show up and they need more than a box, we’re going to have plenty of food. And we don’t want the food to go to waste, so we’re going to be diligent getting what people need, so it can be used.”

The delivery will have plenty of food so Tangquist encouraged everyone to stop by. “We thought we were getting around 2,000 boxes last Saturday and we actually got around 2,400 boxes,” said Tangquist. “I was a little nervous there for a little while about if we were going to give all the food out. We don’t want it to go to waste or anything. But people kept trickling in and some people came back to get it for their friends and family who couldn’t make it in themselves. It went really well. If it’s similar to last time we’ll have 2,000 boxes or so. Just remember too, it is for anyone and everyone.”

For just the second time in 32 years, the Crookston Halloween Party has been canceled, this time due to COVID-19. But the Crookston Police Department will partner with the Crookston High School Leo Club to do a drive-by Halloween Food Night Drive Saturday evening.

Crookston High School Leo Club Advisor Linda Morgan said they will give out candy for those bringing canned goods for the food shelf. “The Leo Club and the Police Department are going to meet here in the west parking lot from 4-7 p.m.,” said Morgan. “Come by with your canned goods, and then you’re going to get a bag of candy from the Police Department and the Leo Club. Come in costume, show us your costume and drive-by.”

Crookston Police Lieutenant Darin Selzler said the only other time the Halloween Party was canceled due to an Influenza outbreak. “I think this would’ve been our 32nd year doing the Halloween party,” said Selzler. “Linda and I have been managing the Halloween Party together for about 10 years, and I did it for a few years prior. There was only one (other) year we did cancel the Halloween Party in the 32 years we’ve been doing it. It was an Influenza A outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we canceled it that year. This year with the pandemic, obviously, that’s the highlight topic on everybody’s agenda. We weren’t able to do Safety Town or National Night Out and just kind of upset we weren’t able to do a lot of these community events and associate with a lot of the community members.”

The Leo Club and CPD will be collecting canned goods and handing out candy, and some other goodies, including safety information, said Selzler. “We’re also going to insert some safety materials in the bags,” said Selzler. “There will be some pencils and some other little goodies and treats in there. I think it’s just an awesome idea. Again, it provides a safe atmosphere and environment for the kids to get out but still observe the COVID-19 guidelines where you don’t have to have face-to-face contact. Still able to give back to the community in both ways – of having a safe environment and getting the food drive and give to the community that way. Glad we can try to do something in the times of COVID-19.”

Morgan added that those unable to drive-by the school Saturday night can also call to have their canned food donation picked up. “If you can’t drive by, you can call me at 281-2144 or Darin Selzler at 281-3111,” said Morgan. “We can certainly come and pick up your food and bring it to the food shelf if you happen to not be able to drive-by. We’d be glad to do that.”