Month: October 2021

A little girl on a bicycle was hit by a Semi-Truck around 5:30 p.m. this evening in downtown Crookston. The accident happened near North Broadway and Second Street. The status of the girl is unknown but she suffered serious injuries and was taken initially to RiverView Hospital in Crookston. 

We will update you when we have more information.

Neil Carlson of iNewZ.tv has more – 

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At the end of this week, American Crystal Sugar Company is hoping the weather forecast will stay true, and that they will be able to start the stockpile sugarbeet harvest at their Northwest Minnesota factories. At this time, it looks like the earliest possible start date with cool enough temperatures are forecasted for Sunday, October 10.

Eric Ptacek is the Agronomy Manager for the American Crystal Sugar’s Crookston and East Grand Forks Districts, and he talked more about the delay. “We’ve had years where we’ve pushed things back because of the heat, but probably not this extreme,” said Ptacek. “There have been heat shutdowns in the past, and anytime our root temperatures are above 55-degrees, we do have concerns and need to shut down. With this warm weather right now, our root temperatures are just a little too warm to stockpile.”

Ptacek mentioned they manage inventory based on weather projections and factory slice rates. They are still piling a few locations to keep factories going before the stockpile harvest begins. It’s a balancing game of having enough Sugarbeets piled to keep factories in operation while not taking up slabs once the stockpile harvest begins.

Ptacek also talked about the content he’s been seeing with Sugarbeets that have been pulled. “With the warm temperatures, the quality continues to get a little better,” said Ptacek. “We’re gaining sugar each day the sun shines, as well as some tonnage as the Sugarbeet continues to grow. Sugarbeets continuously grow and add sugar, so the sunshine is good for that. However, we do need to get the Sugarbeets harvested in the right condition to minimize storage losses in the pile.”

When harvest season is operating in full swing, it can be a busy time on the roads. Ptacek wants to remind people to drive safe and be careful during the harvest season. “It’s hectic during harvest season, and if we get any precipitation, there can be mud on the roads from the trucks,” said Ptacek. “In general, there are more trucks on the roadway this time of year, so we just ask everyone, including the truck drivers, to slow down and be safe so we can have a safe harvest and safe campaign.”

As the stockpile harvest progresses through October, we will check back in with Ptacek for another update.

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This school year, Highland Elementary School is offering 24 students a new after-school activity. 3rd Grade Teacher at Highland Alli Thelen runs an Art Club for students that began on September 21 and will meet twice a month moving forward. The club is an opportunity for students to be creative after school and have fun.

Thelen provided some more details on the new club. “We have 24 students in it, which is exciting, we had over 100 kids that wanted to be in it, but I just didn’t have the room for them,” said Thelen. “So, we drew, and I have a few students from each grade level that are in the club. The first time we met, we did a lot of getting to know you stuff, and the next time we meet will focus more on drawing and learning how to draw different things. But the club has been going really well so far.”

Thelen also talked about how the first night of the club went back in September. “The first day went really well,” said Thelen. “Everyone got to meet each other, and I got to learn everyone’s names, and it was a relaxing first day to ease into the club. We did some free drawing and a few other small things, but it went really well.”

The class meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month, beginning after school and going until about 4:30 p.m. Due to Thelen being the only instructor, she couldn’t take more than 24 students for this year but has a few students on a waiting list if another student drops out or can’t make the club times anymore.

For those interested in the club moving forward, Thelen talked about potentially doing the art club a little differently next year to try and get more students involved. “Next year, we might do things a little differently and split the school year in half,” said Thelen. “This way, I could see more kids and allow everyone to join if they want to.”

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To support schools in creating COVID-19 testing programs for students and staff, Governor Tim Walz has announced that the state has extended the deadline for public and tribal schools to apply for grant funding to October 15, 2021. The initial deadline was October 1. In-person learning is critical to a child’s well-being and academic success and testing in K-12 schools remains a powerful part of a broader mitigation strategy for slowing the spread of COVID-19.

“As teacher of more than 20 years and a dad, my priority is keeping students safe, healthy, and in the classroom. Testing is key to that. That’s why we are working with schools across the state to expand Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation COVID-19 testing program for students and educators,” said Governor Walz. “I encourage every school to take advantage of these grants. By continuing to expand testing access for students and school staff, we can detect and prevent the spread of COVID-19 early to help ensure our kids and school communities safe and healthy.”

“For our student’s well-being and academic success, we must use every available tool to keep our students in classrooms,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Regular testing helps keep our schools open and ensure that our kids, educators, and families stay safe and healthy – especially while some of our youngest Minnesotans cannot be vaccinated yet. That’s why my family has prioritized regular testing to keep my third-grader and her classmates safe. We will continue to work with our school leaders across the state as they develop and expand local COVID-19 testing plans so that our kids can have a school year that is as safe, healthy, and fun as possible.” 

“Our school buildings are the very best place for our students to receive an education and to develop the important social-emotional skills that will serve them throughout their lives,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Heather Mueller. “Regular COVID-19 testing can help identify new cases early, slowing the spread of the virus, which is critical as many of our youngest Minnesotans are still ineligible for vaccines. MDE and MDH stand ready to support schools in their efforts to create testing programs that protect the health and safety of our school communities.”

Minnesota previously designated $55 million of its Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Reopening Schools Grant supported through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide COVID-19 testing support for schools to detect and prevent the transmission of the virus within schools.

Every school district, charter school, and tribal school is eligible to apply for funding to support the implementation of COVID-19 testing programs for the 2021-22 school year. As of September 28, 63.5% of Minnesota public and tribal schools have requested grants. Grant funds can be used for staffing or to purchase any necessary supplies to conduct COVID-19 school testing programs, such as test kits and personal protective equipment. Information on how to apply for grant funding is available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) website. Schools should complete their application and accept their award by October 15, 2021.

In addition to the grant funding, through Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation COVID-19 school testing program, schools have access to individual PCR tests, pooled PCR tests, and rapid tests – both antigen and molecular – at no cost. School districts, charter schools, tribal schools, and nonpublic schools have autonomy in developing their testing program and are encouraged to use these options provided at the state or federal level to meet the needs within their school communities.

This school year, COVID-19 health and safety plans are created at the local level by school boards and school leaders. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued Best Practice Recommendations to guide schools as they implement layered mitigation strategies such as COVID-19 testing, universal masking requirements, physical distancing, contact tracing, and quarantining. These science-based strategies are designed to keep students learning in person and protect the health and

safety of students, staff, and families. The state is also providing schools with resources and support, including Minnesota’s COVID-19 school testing program and grant funding.

How Minnesotans can get a free COVID-19 test:

• Order a test through the state’s no-cost at-home COVID-19 testing program.
• Find a testing option near you through the state’s Find Testing Locations
• Walk-in or schedule an appointment for a test at one of the state’s no-cost community testing sites across Minnesota.

How Minnesotans can get their free shot:

• Walk in or make an appointment through the Vaccine Connector.
  • Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline
    • 1-833-431-2053
    • Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you.
• Check for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Finder. You can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
• Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
• Employers may also reach out with information about vaccination opportunities.

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Thousands of Minnesota students will participate in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 6, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The annual event, sponsored by Minnesota Safe Routes to School, encourages students and parents to increase physical activity and practice safe walking and bicycling activities.

This event also hopes to make walking and bicycling more visible in communities, reduce traffic congestion, and strengthen connections between families and schools.

“We know students do better in school when they build physical activities into their day, and this event promotes safe walking and bicycling skills that students can use throughout their lives,” said Dave Cowan, MnDOT Safe Routes to School coordinator.

Cowan says more than 90 Minnesota schools have registered Walk to School Day events so far. Schools can still register events and additional materials are available online to support safe walking and bicycling activities all year long.

Participants can also join Minnesota’s Walk to School Day photo contest by submitting photos on the MnSRTS Facebook page using the hashtag #mnwalks.

Families with children who typically ride a school bus or travel in a private vehicle might consider a “Park and Walk”  or “Bus Stop and Walk” event near their school. Locations are determined by participating schools that designate a space within a half-mile of the school and volunteers help supervise and assist with crossing streets.

Walk to School Day also encourages parents and community members to begin thinking about the walkability in their neighborhoods, because children often walk to other community destinations like playgrounds, libraries, pools, and more.

Minnesota Safe Routes to School provides resources and grants to advance SRTS programs through planning, projects, and support, visit our website for more details and contact information. www.mndot.gov.

The post MNDOT ENCOURAGING SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES TO JOIN WALK TO SCHOOL DAY OCTOBER 6 appeared first on KROX.

The Minnesota Department of Health released the COVID-19 numbers for today and the state reported 3,546 cases with 21 deaths. 1 death was reported in northwest Minnesota (Pennington County). Polk County reported 45 new cases with ten probable, Marshall County had 15 with five probable, Norman County had 12 with three probable, Red Lake County had 10 with two probable, Roseau County had 4, Mahnomen County had 2 with five probable, and Pennington County had 2 with five probable, 

All the information is below –

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.

Testing

Minnesota Case Overview

Patients no longer needing isolation

Deaths

Hospitalizations

Case Demographics

Age

Gender

Race & Ethnicity

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.

Residence Type

• MN DOC: COVID-19 Testing of People Incarcerated in MN Prisons

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