Month: November 2020

With the continued surge in the number of people recreating outdoors this year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that lakes and ponds across the state have started to freeze, and where there isn’t ice, the water is dangerously cold.

Ice thickness is highly variable at this time of year and subject to Mother Nature’s whims. Even where there isn’t ice, the water is so cold that an unexpected fall in can be deadly. It is vital to talk with children, who are naturally curious about the water, about staying safe.

“The first ice-fishing trip of the season is exciting, but there’s no fish that is worth falling through the ice,” said Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division. “Vigilance around the water at this time of year isn’t just a good idea – it’s an absolute necessity.”

Anglers and others who recreate on the ice should stay on shore until there are at least 4 inches of new, clear ice. Anytime people are on the ice, they should check its thickness every 150 feet. Smith urges people to check ice thickness for themselves rather than deciding to walk on the ice based on what they’ve heard or read.

Each year, unexpected falls into cold water lead to serious injury and death. Wearing a life jacket is the best way to avert tragedy, since the initial shock of falling into cold water can incapacitate even strong swimmers. Carrying a good set of ice picks can help a person get out if they fall through the ice, and a cell phone, whistle or other communications device makes it more likely they will be able to call for help.

General ice safety guidelines
No ice can ever be considered “safe ice,” but following these guidelines can help minimize the risk:

• Always wear a life jacket or float coat on the ice (except when in a vehicle).
• Carry ice picks, rope, an ice chisel and tape measure.
• Check ice thickness at regular intervals; conditions can change quickly.
• Bring a cell phone or personal locator beacon.
• Don’t go out alone; let someone know about trip plans and expected return time.
• Before heading out, inquire about conditions and known hazards with local experts.

The minimum ice thickness guidelines for new, clear ice are:

• 4 inches for ice fishing or other activities on foot.
• 5-7 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.
• 8-12 inches for a car or small pickup.
• 12-15 inches for a medium truck.
• Double these minimums for white or snow-covered ice.

For more information, visit the ice safety page and the cold water danger page.

Wanda Brekken will celebrate 100 years on Monday, November 30. She is currently residing at Benedictine Living the Summit, and due to COVID-19 restrictions along with the safety of her health, the family will honor her with 100 lights for the Benedictine Auxiliary’s Light Up a Life fundraiser.

The Benedictine Auxiliary at the Villa St. Vincent and the Summit is holding a Light Up a Life fundraiser through December 31. In memory of a friend, loved one, or someone living you wish to honor, $5 will light up a bulb on the Benedictine Living Community Stairwell. The lights will be lit at dusk each night from December 31 through January 31. All proceeds will go toward Auxiliary sponsored events for tenants, residents, and Benedictine Living Community Crookston staff. 

Brekken’s large family celebrates life, love, and remembering those they lost, but mostly celebrating family. There are some intense rounds of bocce ball, volleyball, and even a golf scramble; a tradition celebrated every three years at the Brekken farm in rural Crookston where Wanda and her late husband Albert raised their family.

The family is giving back to the facility that cares for their mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and even great-great-grandmother Wanda. The family will also host a drive-by for the local family members and reach out via social media to flood her with cards for her 100th birthday.

Polk County Public Health and Norman-Mahnomen Public Health encourage you to be prepared in case you or a family member should develop COVID-19. Here are a few suggestions on how to prepare:

Create an emergency contact list:

• If you need access to information, healthcare services, support, and resources, make a list of local organizations you and your household can contact. Reach out to neighbors, friends, family or Public Health if you need assistance obtaining essential services such as groceries and medications. Contact Polk County Public Health at 218-281-3385 or Norman-Mahnomen Public Health at 218-784-5434.  

Prepare for possible spread of illness in the household:

• Take additional precautions for those at higher risk for severe illness, particularly older adults and those of any age who have severe underlying health conditions.
• Separate the sick individual from others by identifying a sick room and using a separate bathroom (if possible). Use a mask in shared spaces. 

Purchase a two weeks’ stock of necessities:

• • Non-perishable food,
  • Soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies,
  • Pet supplies,
  • Baby supplies,
  • Medication you take regularly or may need if you get sick,
  • Thermometer,
• Brain stimulating activities, such as word games, puzzles, and books. 

Continue taking every day preventative measures:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay away from other people in your house. If you need to be around others or in common areas, wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Keep track of your symptoms.  If you have an emergency warning sign, such as trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Pets in the household:

• Treat pets as you would other human family members – do not let pets interact with people outside the household.

Work/Childcare changes (if applicable):

• Discuss working remotely and understand your sick leave options with your employer.
• Notify your child’s school or daycare if your child becomes sick with COVID-19.

Take care of each other:

• In some form or another, we have all had to make changes since the pandemic began.  COVID-19 has, and will continue to cause some hard days that require difficult decisions.  Being anxious in this time is a normal response to stress and it is extremely important to take care of your emotional health, as well as the emotional health of those around you. Check out the Polk County Public Health Suicide Prevention and Mental Wellbeing website (https://www.co.polk.mn.us/522/Suicide-Prevention-and-Positive-Mental-W) for more information and tips on how to cultivate your mental well-being.

Together We Can slow the spread of COVID-19.

Visit the Polk County Coronavirus Response Hub (https://coronavirus-response-pcg.hub.arcgis.com/ ), the Norman County COVID-19 website (https://www.co.norman.mn.us/departments/public_health/covid-19.php), the Minnesota Department of Health (https://www.health.state.mn.us/ ) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/ ) websites for more COVID-19 information. Follow Polk County Public Health and Norman-Mahnomen Public Health on social media for local updates.

In observation of the Thanksgiving holiday, the situation update and weekly report for COVID-19 will not be updated today. Updates will resume tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 27. The daily situation update will be released at 11 a.m. The weekly report will be released in the afternoon. 

The Situation Update for COVID-19 posted on Saturday, Nov. 28 will include data for two days: Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27. For that reason, newly reported case and death numbers may appear greater than normal on that day. 

We hope you and your loved ones have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! 

The holidays will look very different this year with COVID-19 upending so much of what Minnesotans enjoy during this time: large, family gatherings; relaxing with friends at bars and restaurants; and company holiday parties. The pandemic’s effects have not only led to reduced activities and less busy roads, but an alarming climb in traffic fatalities. Impaired driving is part of the problem.

Law enforcement agencies across the state will be preventing impaired driving from further affecting an already difficult year and holiday season for many Minnesotans by increasing their presence on our roads. Officers, deputies and troopers will be participating in an extra DWI enforcement and awareness campaign starting November 25 and running on weekends through December 31.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS) coordinates the statewide campaign and the funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. New holiday advertising from DPS-OTS will be running to help influence smart choices behind the wheel.

“The pandemic is relentless, spreading among our friends and families, and stressing our healthcare resources,” said Mike Hanson, Office of Traffic Safety director. “We cannot have impaired driving further compromising our critical medical capabilities for those who are truly in need. Plan a sober ride and stop the heartache and empty chairs at the holiday table.”

Impaired Driving Kills the Holiday Spirit
Alcohol-related crashes not only take lives, they change them forever. They cause an average of 357 life-changing injuries each year (2015-2019). Seriously injured traffic victims require hospital care in a current healthcare environment that is dealing with a pandemic surge.

Nicholas Simpson, MD, Emergency Physician at Hennepin Healthcare and Medical Director of Hennepin EMS, reminds Minnesotans that hospitals across the state need people to drive smart.

“As a Level 1 Trauma Center, we specialize in delivering the highest quality care to victims of traumatic life-threatening injuries. This year, the entire healthcare system is facing a demanding new challenge with COVID-19,” said Simpson. “Hospitals throughout the country are increasingly full due to the pandemic. The number of patients is rising rapidly and the healthcare system is incredibly strained right now. Unfortunately, the state’s trauma centers are not immune to these issues. We all need to do our part to combat COVID-19. This includes wearing a mask, following the recommendations from CDC, and Gov. Walz. Your safety on the road plays an important part as well. Wear your seat belt. Please don’t text while driving. Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Stay safe Minnesota. We’re all in this together.”

Plan Ahead. Drive Smart. Prevent Tragedy.
Impaired drivers lead to increased tragedy. Motorists need to plan ahead for sober rides, regardless of where they are drinking.

• During 2015 – 2019, 28 people died in drunk driving-related crashes during the holiday DWI extra enforcement period.
• Of the various holiday time periods throughout 2019, Thanksgiving and July 4th tied for the highest percentage of drunk driving-related fatalities.
• Nearly one out of every four deaths (22%) on Minnesota roads is drunk driving-related.
• In the last five years (2015 – 2019), there were 413 drunk driving-related traffic deaths in Minnesota, with 89 people killed in 2019 alone.

A DWI is no Holiday
Motorists who fail to plan ahead for a sober ride may find themselves behind bars and not with family around the holiday table. An impaired driver can also lose their license for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in costs. Other DWI consequences can include:

• Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges or face at least one year without a driver’s license.
• Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges.

Driving Sober. The Perfect Holiday Gift.

• Plan for a safe ride — No matter where you plan to drink, designate a sober driver, use a safe, alternative transportation option, or stay at the location of the celebration.
  • With bars and restaurants closed due to COVID-19, many people will decide to drink at home. The same rules apply, make sure you designated a sober driver or crash on a couch, not in a vehicle, if you’re leaving family gatherings.
• Speak up – offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere. If you see an impaired person about to get behind the wheel, get them a safe ride home.
• Buckle up — wearing a seat belt is the best defense against an impaired driver.
• Report drunk driving — call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.

The Minnesota Department of Health released the COVID-19 numbers for Wednesday, November 25 and the state is reporting 6,180 confirmed cases out of 83,887 tests for a positive rate of 8 percent.  The state also reported 219 probable cases and 72 deaths (5 deaths reported in northwest Minnesota).
Roseau County reported 35 cases, Polk County had 32 cases, 4 probable and 2 deaths (75 to 79-year-old and 95 to 99 year old), Pennington County-27 and 2 probable, Mahnomen County-11, Marshall County-6 and 1 death (80 to 84-year-old), Norman County-6 and 1 death (80 to 84-year-old), Red Lake County-6,
Lake of the Woods-4, Kittson County-3, and 1 death (80 to 84-year-old).

Updated November 25, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, we will not be updating the data on this page on Thursday, Nov. 26. Updates will resume on Friday, Nov. 27.

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.”

Positive PCR test results are considered confirmed cases. Positive antigen test results are considered probable cases.

All probable cases get the same public health follow up and recommendations as cases confirmed by PCR tests.

Other Statistics

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

The Crookston Fire Department responded to the following call on 11/24/2020:

At 2:04 p.m., the CFD responded to a call at the 1200 block of N. Front St. for a report of smoke in a basement. Upon investigation, it was found that a treadmill belt had gotten warm and caused the smoke. It was determined that no danger was present and CFD cleared the scene.