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MORE THAN 1,000 MINNESOTA GUARD SOLDIERS TO DEPLOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST

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Approximately 1,100 Soldiers from Task Force 1-194 are preparing to deploy to the Middle East for a nine-month mission in support of Operation Spartan Shield. While deployed, the Soldiers will mobilize and resume responsibilities within the CENTCOM Area of Operations assuming the Operation Spartan Shield response force mission.

“This task force will bring together Soldiers from several units across the state,” said Lt. Col. Jacob Helgestad, commander of Task Force 1-194. “Our Soldiers are well-trained and ready for this mission and I’m confident they will represent the State of Minnesota well.”

The unit’s deployment ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/194Armor at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, members of the public are asked to view the ceremony virtually.

The task force includes Soldiers from the following units:

1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor – Brainerd
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor – Camp Ripley
Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor – Sauk Centre
Company B, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor – St. Cloud
Company C, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor – East St. Paul
Company A, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry – Detroit Lakes
Company B, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry – Crookston
Company C, 134th Brigade Support Battalion – Cottage Grove
Company G, 134th Brigade Support Battalion – Camp Ripley

The Soldiers will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas for additional training prior to traveling overseas.

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FIRST DOSES OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON SINGLE-DOSE VACCINE ARRIVE IN MINNESOTA

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Today, Wednesday, March 3, Governor Tim Walz announced that the first Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses have arrived in Minnesota and met one of the first shipments to arrive in the state. Minnesota will receive 45,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. Immunizations will begin shortly after doses are delivered to Minnesota providers.

“This is an exciting development. We now have three vaccines available that are safe and highly effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death,” said Governor Walz. “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help our state quickly provide immunity and get us one step closer to ending this pandemic. We know we need broad community protection before we can get back to the normal, enjoyable parts of life we have missed, and the way we get there is by getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. Everyone who has the opportunity to get this shot should take it.”

“It is exciting to welcome a third safe and highly effective vaccine to Minnesota,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “As a single-dose vaccine that does not require ultra-cold storage, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help us quickly immunize even more Minnesotans. These life-saving vaccines will be the way we end this pandemic, and we will make sure all communities in Minnesota have fair and equitable access to all safe and effective vaccines. Every Minnesotan should get vaccinated at the first opportunity available to them. Today is a good day.”

Minnesota is already a national leader in getting shots into arms. As of Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control ranks Minnesota 3rd among states for the percentage of doses received that have been administered.

Minnesota providers have administered more than 1.4 million doses to almost 930,000 Minnesotans. More than 54% of Minnesotans 65 and older and 56% of K-12 educators and child care workers have gotten at least their first dose.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is an excellent option for Minnesotans. In clinical trials, it was highly effective in preventing serious illness and completely effective in preventing hospitalizations and death due to COVID-19,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “Minnesotans should be confident that every authorized vaccine is safe and effective, and we encourage everyone to get whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available to them.”

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CROOKSTON MAN INJURED IN TUESDAY EVENING CRASH OUTSIDE FISHER

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The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a single-vehicle accident at approximately 7:08 p.m. Tuesday, March 2 on Highway 2 west of Fisher. A Nissan Sentra driven by Robert Rosas Jr. was westbound on Highway 2 when it left the roadway, hit a culvert in the ditch, and went airborne. The vehicle came down in the ditch, crossed a county road, and came to rest by the grain elevator.

Rosas had non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the accident and the report from the State Patrol said alcohol was involved.

The post CROOKSTON MAN INJURED IN TUESDAY EVENING CRASH OUTSIDE FISHER appeared first on KROX.

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Herbert “Herb” Dahlen – Obit

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Herbert “Herb” Dahlen, age 88, of Twin Valley, MN, died Monday, March 1, 2021 at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile.

A funeral service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Twin Valley, MN. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery following the service.

Following all Covid-19 safety protocols, social distancing will be practiced, and all must wear a mask to participate.

Arrangements entrusted to Anderson Family Funeral Home of Twin Valley.

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POLK COUNTY HAS 2 MORE COVID CASE, 1 ADDITIONAL DEATH; STATE REPORTS 17 MORE DEATHS

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The Minnesota Department of Health reported 638 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, 150 probable cases from antigen testing, and 17 deaths. The confirmed cases were the result of 17,505 completed tests for a positive rate of 3.6 percent.

Pennington County had 10 new confirmed cases, Polk County-2 cases and 1 death (75-79 years), Marshall County-2 cases, and Roseau County-1 case.

Updated March 3, 2021
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.”

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.

Daily Update:

Because all data is preliminary, the change in number of cumulative positive cases and deaths from one day to the next may not equal the newly reported cases or deaths.

Total positive cases (cumulative) 486,434
Total confirmed cases (PCR positive) (cumulative) 462,491
Total probable cases (Antigen positive) (cumulative) 23,943
Newly reported cases 788
Newly reported confirmed cases 638
Newly reported probable cases 150
Newly reported deaths 17

Testing

Total approximate completed tests (cumulative) 7,396,423
Total approximate number of completed PCR tests (cumulative) 6,960,999
Total approximate number of completed antigen tests (cumulative) 435,424

Testing data table

Total approximate number of people tested (cumulative) 3,484,045
More about testing data

Minnesota Case Overview

Graph of confirmed cases of COVID-19 by specimen collection date, data in table below.

Total positive cases (cumulative) 486,434
Total confirmed cases (PCR positive) (cumulative) 462,491
Total probable cases (Antigen positive) (cumulative) 23,943

Positive cases by date specimen collected data table

Total number of health care workers (cumulative) 37,873
More about positive cases

Patients no longer needing isolation

Patients no longer needing isolation (cumulative) 473,252
More about patients no longer needing isolation

Deaths

Deaths of confirmed cases in Minnesota, data in table below

Total deaths (cumulative) 6,507
Deaths from confirmed cases (cumulative) 6,235
Deaths from probable cases (cumulative) 272
Deaths among cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities (cumulative) 4,064

Deaths data table

Total non-laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 deaths (death certificate) (cumulative) 68
More about deaths

Hospitalizations

Minnesota COVID-19 hospitalizations, data in table below

Total cases hospitalized (cumulative) 25,863
Total cases hospitalized in ICU (cumulative) 5,340

Hospitalization data table

More about hospitalizations

Case Demographics

Age

Age group data table:
Including age group of deaths

More about age

Gender

Gender data table

More about gender

Race & Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity data table:
Including race and ethnicity of deaths

More about race and ethnicity

Likely Exposure

Likely exposure data table

More about likely exposure

Not all cases among health care workers have a likely exposure as health care staff.

Residence

Cases by County of Residence

County of residence is confirmed during the case interview. At the time of this posting not all interviews have been completed.

County of residence data table:
Including county of residence of deaths

More about location data

Residence Type

Residence type data table

Weekly Report

This report includes more detailed information on testing, demographics, syndromic surveillance, and more. Updated every Thursday.

Facilities with Cases & Exposures

Cases in Pre-K through Grade 12 School Buildings, by County

Congregate Care Facilities with Exposures, by County

Other Statistics

Data in the data tables is current as of 11 a.m. daily. Dynamic images and maps will update shortly after 11 a.m. daily and will not work if your browser is in compatibility mode.

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Jewel Keith Strande – Obit

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Jewel Keith Strande, age 64, of Crookston, MN, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021, at his home with his family by his side.

Jewel was born on March 29, 1956, in Fosston, MN, the son of the late Gilbert and Delores (Vraa) Strande.  He attended Erskine High School and later obtained his GED.  In 1979 he started working for Burlington Northern Railroad, retiring in 2016 as a Bridge Inspector.  He married Debbie (Smith) Bendickson on April 29, 1989, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston.  Jewel was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Crookston Eagles Club, and Crookston Classic Cruisers.  In his free time, he enjoyed being outdoors hunting, fishing, and camping, classic cars, traveling all over the US, and especially watching his grandchildren’s activities and spending time with his family.

Jewel is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Ashley and David Rye of Buxton, ND, and Stacey and Chris Bruggeman of Crookston; grandchildren, Teegan, Blair, Bexley, Holland, Carter, Halle, and Madilyn; Debbie Strande of Crookston; and siblings and their spouses, Pat and Tom Brenk of Lutz, FL, Peggy and DJ Johnson of Crookston, Pam Simmons of Mahnomen, MN, and Vi and Wally Abel of Andover, MN; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Albert Strande.

A funeral service celebrating Jewel’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 6, 2021, with a time of visitation one hour before.  Reverend Gregory Isaacson will officiate.  Burial will immediately follow at Elim Cemetery in Winger, MN.  Due to COVID precautions, masks and social distancing are required.

Online Guestbook and Livestreaming:  www.stenshoelhouske.com

Arrangements entrusted to Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home of Crookston.

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David Laurence Bradley – Obit

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David Laurence Bradley, 74, a lifelong Crookston, MN resident, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 25, 2021. He had been in declining health for several years.

David was born on December 8, 1946, to LeRoy “Jack” and Esther (Normann) Bradley. While growing up in Crookston he was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Lutheran Church and graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1964. Dave was then employed by the Dahlgren Sunflower Seed Company for a year before going to work for American Crystal Sugar in 1965. During these years he also enlisted in the US Army National Guard, serving with Crookston’s Bravo Company, 126 2nd Battalion from 1966 to 1972. While at American Crystal Dave was assigned to the sugar warehouse and later became a parts man in the Company’s storeroom. He retired in 2011.

Dave’s passions were cars and motorcycles, and throughout his lifetime he owned at different times over 300 automobiles and 100 motorcycles. He enjoyed traveling and for many years made the trip to Sturgis, SD for the annual Motorcycle Rally. Friends would usually find Dave working on projects in his basement workshop or in his garage taking care of whatever car or motorcycle he currently owned.

David is survived by an aunt, Alice Dupuis of Hamilton, MT; uncle, John Kenneth Normann of San Tan Valley, AZ; cousins; and Crookston friends: Craig Buness, Kristy Leas, Don Raiscott, and Dave Weber. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Esther Bradley; and many aunts and uncles. Blessed be Dave’s memory.

A memorial service for David Laurence Bradley will be held at a later date. The Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home is assisting with funeral arrangements.

Online registration and messages of condolence may be made at www.stenshoelhouske.com

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Texas and Mississippi to lift COVID-19 mask mandates and business restrictions

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Governors of Texas and Mississippi announced Tuesday that they will lift their state’s mask mandates, as well as lift the restrictions on businesses and facility capacity back to 100%. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the mandates are no longer needed due to advancements of vaccines and therapeutics to protect against COVID-19. The new executive order goes into effect on Wednesday, March 10, rescinding most earlier executive orders related to the coronavirus. Abbott said in address to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce: “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed.” He said the new order ensures “that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves made a similar announcement, tweeting, “Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!”

The moves come just days after CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned that progress in the U.S. against the virus was “stalling,’ adding: “Things are tenuous. Now is not the time to relax restrictions.” However both states have seen declines in the average daily number of new cases of COVID-19. Texas has administered more than 5.5 million doses of vaccine. About 12.7% of Texans have received at least one dose, and 6.5% are fully vaccinated. In Mississippi, some 14.1% of the state’s residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and 7.6% are fully vaccinated. The state has administered more than 630,000 doses.

Texas and Mississippi to lift mask mandates and roll back Covid restrictions

Via www.nbcnews.com
Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas would be back open “100 percent” by March 10, and Mississippi Gov….
 

Editorial credit: Carrington Tatum / Shutterstock.com

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At least 13 killed in Southern California crash involving semi-truck and SUV

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At least 13 people were killed and a dozen others were taken to hospitals after a semi-truck slammed into a SUV carrying 25 people just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The highway patrol said the crash occurred at State Route 115 and Norrish Road, at about 6:15 a.m. PT in Imperial County, about 15 miles from the border. A Ford Expedition filled with 25 passengers was hit by a semi-truck full of gravel, the California Highway Patrol said. Those killed included Mexican citizens ranging in age between 20 and 55, while the injured were between 16 and 55. In total twelve people, including the Ford driver, were pronounced dead at the scene and another person died at the hospital.

The semi-truck was headed north on 115, south of Norrish, while the Ford SUV was traveling west on Norrish, just east of 115. Border Division Chief Omar Watson told reporters: “At this point it’s unknown whether or not the Expedition stopped at the stop sign, but it did enter the intersection in front of the big rig. CHP Subsequently the big rig collided with the left side of the Ford Expedition.” The CHP is in contact with the Mexican consulate in hopes of notifying next of kin.

13 dead in California crash, some ejected from SUV carrying 25 people

Via abcnews.go.com
Multiple people have died in a two-vehicle crash in Southern California Tuesday morning, the…
 

Editorial credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com

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“Degrassi: The Next Generation” star Jahmil French dies at age 29

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Actor Jahmil French, known for his role on Degrassi: The Next Generation, died Monday of undisclosed causes. He was 29. French played Dave Turner on the Canadian teen drama from 2009 to 2013.

A rep for the Canadian actor confirmed the news in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of a dear friend and client Jahmil French. He will be remembered by many for his passion for the arts, his commitment to his craft, and his vibrant personality. I ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”

French’s other credits including Netflix’s Soundtrack, the Pop TV series Let’s Get Physical, and the 2017 film Boost, for which he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 

Degrassi: The Next Generation Star Jahmil French Dead at Age 29: ‘Truly One of a Kind’

Via www.msn.com
Jahmil French, known for his role as Dave Turner in Canadian teen series Degrassi: The Next…
 

Editorial credit: Shawn Goldberg / Shutterstock.com