Month: October 2020

AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) celebrated “Drive-By Pie” volunteer recognition events throughout the seven Northwest Minnesota Counties during August and September.  The events took place each Wednesday, for seven weeks, in two to three communities per each County, in hopes of drawing the greatest number of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Individual pieces of pie and a packet of coffee, along with a hearty ‘thank you’ was window-delivered to those attending.

Attendees also received a recognition program, filled with special honors toward volunteers in each of the seven counties.  Award categories included:  “Life is what you bake it;” “Baking the world a better place;” “If there’s a whisk there’s a way;” “Pie in the sky;” and “Thighs before pies.”  Although social distancing and other safe at home initiatives remain, region-wide events and recognition are powerful reminders of RSVP’s unified effort to bring people together in service.

Connecting older adults with service and volunteer organizations truly make an impact in rural Minnesota counties.  “Without the dedication of our volunteers, many programs that benefit our small communities would be non-existent,” says Program Director Tammy Frohlich.  “Our volunteers are not a piece of the pie, they are the PIE PLATE,” she continues.

The RSVP program provides a foundation (a pie plate) of service by volunteers which keeps small-town America thriving.  Even throughout the COVID pandemic, RSVP volunteers were and still are bringing out the best of America by meeting food security needs, delivering meals, getting groceries, COVID cleaning, sewing masks, checking in with elderly friends and neighbors, and more.

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP of the Red River Valley (RRV) is moving forward during these unusual times to lead and strengthen people’s power among those 55 and older, to tackle the toughest challenges. RSVP volunteers play a vital role in the betterment of their communities.  Join the purpose by contacting Director Tammy Frohlich: 218-281-8289 or tsykes@umn.edu, or contact Coordinator Jennifer Erdmann: 218-281-8288 or jkerdman@umn.edu.

The East Grand Forks City Council has approved the continuation of the East Grand Forks Police Department’s (EGFPD) program that allows the department to collect food (or cash) donations for the East Grand Forks Food Shelf in place of monetary fines for certain parking violations through December 2020.

The program allows people who receive calendar parking or snow emergency parking tickets to “pay” their fine with a donation of five non-perishable food items which are then given to the food shelf. People who receive a parking ticket for one of these violations may also pay their fine and designate that the fine is donated to the food shelf. Residents who do not get a parking ticket are also encouraged to make donations to the food shelf. These donations may be dropped off at any time at the EGFPD at 520 Demers Avenue.

The Crookston Development, Policy & Review Committee met Friday to recommend a second round of grant funding for small businesses to the Crookston City Council. City of Crookston Finance Director/Interim City Administrator Angel Weasner said those additional grant recommendations will be reviewed by the City Council on Monday. “Today, we gave out 19 grant approvals,” said Weasner. “The total dollar amount is $176,043.45. So, there will be an additional 19 businesses in the City of Crookston receiving funds.”

With these recommendations, the City of Crookston will have distributed $723,339.47 to Crookston businesses out of the $750,000 they’d made available explained Weasner. “We had a few that did not qualify based on they did not provide the document that was needed or the backup documentation to prove the dollar amount of their loss,” said Weasner. “We have only $26,000 left available and that will but utilized for some city expenses. As most people know, we are looking at doing some livestreaming equipment for the city and it very well could be about that amount.”

The Committee also reviewed grant applications from businesses outside of Crookston on behalf of Polk County and have recommended those applicants to the Polk County Commissioners said Weasner. “The committee reviewed the applications that were submitted strictly for the business outside the city limits of Crookston in the southwest region of Polk County,” said Weasner. “We received 16, there was one that was denied. There were 15 that are recommended that will be discussed at the County Board meeting.”

CITY OF CROOKSTON SMALL BUSINESS GRANT RECIPIENTS

Out of an abundance of caution, the Trinity Lutheran Church facility in Crookston is closed for all meetings, gatherings, and worship until further notice. The Church hopes this will be for a short duration.

Worship on Sunday will be broadcast only at 9 a.m. on KROX 1260AM,105.7FM, and 92.1FM in the Grand Forks area, as well as Crookston Cable Channel 3, and Facebook LIVE. There will be no in-person worship until further notice.

All JAM (Sunday School) classes will meet via ZOOM until further notice. The 10th-grade parent/youth/mentor meeting for Sunday, October 11 at 10:15 p.m. will also be held via ZOOM. Please check your email inbox for ZOOM information.

On Thursday, October 8, at approximately 11:50 p.m., officers of the Grand Forks Police Department were dispatched to the 1800 block of Continental Dr. for a report of a stabbing that had just occurred.  Upon arrival, officers located a male subject outside of an apartment building with a stab wound to his leg.  Medical aid was rendered by Officers and Altru paramedics.  The male victim was transported to Altru Hospital and the status of his condition is unknown at this time.  It appears the suspect and victim were known to each other and there does not appear to be an on-going threat to public safety at this point.  No arrests have been made currently and this is an on-going investigation. 

Anyone with information on this, or any related, incident, is encouraged to contact the Grand Forks Police Department by one of the following methods:

Call:                       701-787-8000
Online:                 Submit a tip via the GFPD’s Facebook or website
App:                     Submit a tip via the Tip411 app

The Northwest Regional Corrections Center announced the arrests of the following individuals:

Wade Allen Cordts, 37 of Crookston, for felony 1st-degree possession of 25 grams or more of cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.