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Scott Peterson resentenced to life in prison for murder of wife Laci and their unborn son

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Scott Peterson was resentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, nearly two decades after the California man was convicted of killing his wife Laci and the couple’s unborn child.

Laci Peterson disappeared in 2002 after visiting a salon in Modesto, Calif., near San Francisco. Her remains were found several months later. Peterson was convicted and sentenced to die for the killing, spending more than 15 years on death row in California; however the California Supreme Court overturned the death sentence due to an error made by the original judge. Scott Peterson, now 49 years old, appeared in court in San Mateo County to receive his new sentence.

Scott Peterson’s attorney said he had plans to speak during Wednesday’s hearing, but Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo wouldn’t allow him. Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha said in a statement directed at Peterson: “I still feel the grief every day after 19 years. Your evil, self-centered, unforgivable selfish act ended two beautiful souls. And for what reason? There was no reason other than that you just didn’t want them anymore. You didn’t want a baby nor the responsibility of being a father. You’re a coward. And sometimes when I wake up, I cry because they’re so realistic and I know I’ll never see her again.”

Prosecutors argued at his original trial that Scott Peterson killed Laci Peterson and dumped her remains into San Francisco Bay. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant with the couple’s son, whom they planned to name Conner, when she disappeared. Prosecutors also argued that Scott Peterson, who was having an affair at the time or Laci’s murder, was motivated to kill his wife and child out of concerns for accumulating debts and a desire to be single again.

Editorial credit: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

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Woman dies after being pulled from car during rescue attempt near brink of Niagara Falls

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New York State Parks Police said a woman who was pulled from a submerged car near the brink of Niagara Falls on Wednesday has died. Earlier in the day, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue diver deployed from a helicopter and climbed into the partially submerged car, pulling the woman out of the frigid water. Onlookers said the car was stuck on rocks about 100 feet from the edge of waterfall.

Police Capt. Chris Rola said the woman, who was in her late 60s, was unresponsive as a swimmer was eventually lowered from a Coast Guard chopper into the water to pull her from the vehicle. She was taken from the scene by an ambulance. A state parks spokeswoman later confirmed the woman had died. Rola did not say whether the woman, a local to Western New York, drove into the water intentionally or by accident, citing a pending investigation.

Rola said police first received a 911 call at 11:50 a.m. ET about a black vehicle in the Niagara River floating towards the Falls, away from a pedestrian bridge upstream. “We’ve never had a vehicle in the water this close to the brink,” Rola said. After determining someone was inside the car, officials contacted the Coast Guard, having concluded that a helicopter was the only safe means to conduct a rescue.

Editorial credit: ShriramVS / Shutterstock.com

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Tom Holland confirms he will play Fred Astaire in upcoming biopic for Sony Pictures

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Tom Holland has confirmed he’ll be playing Fred Astaire, the legendary actor, dancer, and singer, who starred along with Ginger Rogers in a series of classic musicals.

“Oh, I am playing Fred Astaire,” he told reporters. “The script came in a week ago; I haven’t read it yet. They haven’t given it to me. I know Amy Pascal has the script. She FaceTimed me earlier when I was in the bath and we had a lovely FaceTime. But I will be playing Fred Astaire.”  Pascal, former Sony Pictures executive and producer of the Spider-Man franchise, previously said that she wanted to cast Holland as Astaire.

Holland started his career in 2008 on the London stage, starring in Billy Elliott the Musical, based on the 2000 film of the same name, about a boy who just wants to dance.  Holland’s latest film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, premieres in theaters on December 17.

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Check out the first reunion teaser for “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts”

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HBO Max released the first teaser trailer for “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” which reunites the cast to mark two decades since the release of the franchise’s first movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

In the teaser, a woman who might be Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) holds up a copy of the wizarding newspaper The Daily Prophet with the headline, “Hogwarts Welcomes Back Alumni.” As the trailer continues, several stars from the series receive their invitations to the reunion special. Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) receives an invitation addressed to him at “The Coffee Shop, Chelsea,” while Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) receives a letter emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest. Mark Williams (Mr. Weasley) is spotted on board the Hogwarts Express, and a woman who looks like Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) strides down Platform 9 ¾.

The reunion special premieres Jan. 1, 2022 and will feature interviews with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Watson, as well as several other cast members including Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Jason Isaacs.

Editorial credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

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SPORTS FEEVER – December 9, 2021

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We are in the thick of the beginning of the Winter Sports season.  We will hold off on looking at the section hockey, basketball, and wrestling until the end of the year.

Also, we are now taking nominations for the annual A-Z list.  We highlight people and teams in the local sports world and highlight great things they have done over the past year.

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A reminder that the 2021 Crookston Hockey Alumni games/scrimmages will be held Thursday, December 23 at the Crookston Sports Center. A highlight this year will be after the games at the Crookston Eagles Club as Johnny Holmes will be performing until 1:00 a.m.

Alumni from Crookston Central High School, Crookston High School, Cathedral, and the Mount will be back/are invited back to participate in this year’s games. The schedule and info are listed below –

GAME 1……..4:00-5:15………… ODD vs EVEN
GAME 2……….5:30-6:45………PIRATE GIRLS vs GIRLS ALUMNI
GAME 3……..7:00-8:15……….PIRATE BOYS vs PIRATE ALUMNI

Cost – $10.00 (Make checks out to Pirate Hockey)

Social at the Crookston Eagles Club from 9PM to 1AM

Mail registration forms to
Steve Biermaier
PO Box 496
Crookston, MN  56716
or email steve.biermaierchiro@midconetwork.com

For the registration form click here.

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Implementation of a 35-second shot clock beginning in the 2023-2024 season for Boys and Girls Basketball was approved today by the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors during its regularly scheduled meeting.

The adoption of a shot clock for varsity level competition is required through this Board of Directors’ action. Under provisions of the adoption, member schools may use the shot clock at sub-varsity levels by consensus of competing schools.

Minnesota is the 13th state association to adopt a shot clock for varsity-level basketball games. Others include Iowa (both boys and girls associations), North Dakota, South Dakota, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Washington.

“The League’s Board of Directors is grateful to all of the member schools and their administrative teams for the thoughtful reflection and careful analysis in the study of this proposal,” said Board President Tom Jerome, superintendent of the Roseau School District.

“Their feedback was essential in the decision-making process. We also greatly appreciate the input of the coaches associations and the other professional stakeholders that put so much time and energy into providing feedback on a proposal that would benefit student participants.”

While discussions on the use of a shot clock in high school reach back years, they have resumed in earnest since May when the National Federation of State High School Associations permitted the use of a 35-second shot clock by state adoption. This decision followed a failed proposal for a national rule mandating a shot clock.

Feedback from member schools shared that 75 percent support the implementation of the shot clock within the next three years.  Currently, 19 percent of the responding schools have shot clocks installed. This number grows to a total of 76 percent that reported they could have them installed for the 2023-2024 season.

Currently in Minnesota, the shot clock may be used in regular-season nonconference contests or invitational tournaments if both schools agree, the host school is properly equipped, and the assigned officials approve.

League Staff will assist member schools in preparation for the implementation of the shot clock provision.

“We are excited it passed,” said Pat Barrett of the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association. “The state of basketball is excited to start using it.”

In another Action Items: 

  • The Board of Directors approved an updated policy to include Fine Arts Judges in the same background check procedures that are currently in place for contest officials in athletic activities.

  • The Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Education and Leadership Committee that extends by one year the requirement of all Activities Directors to participate in an abbreviated version of the Head Coaching Certification class.

In Discussion Items, the Board of Directors: 

  • Received updates on the process for proposed Representative Assembly Amendments. Currently, Unified Basketball and Boys Volleyball are in that process for consideration as fully sanctioned programs. The proposals are being discussed and voted on by the Administrative Regions. Nine of the 16 Administrative Regions must vote in the affirmative for the proposals to advance to the Representative Assembly on May 10, 2022.

  • Received updates from League Staff and Tournament Directors of Winter State Tournaments. A scheduling conflict with Target Center will result in alternate plans for part of the Boys Basketball State Tournament. Discussions continue with the University of Minnesota for use of Williams Arena as the championship venue.

  • Received an update on the Revenue Share Policy that has been in place since 1990 that provides some financial support for member schools that participate in a state tournament. With the approval of a new financial model for the League, any revenue surpluses are directed to all member schools that pay annual dues.

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The 2021 ALL-SECTION 8A FOOTBALL TEAM has been announced – 

Mahnomen/Waubun – Justin Littlewolf, Tanner Pazdernick, Will Olson, Loden Clark, Will Starkey
Ada-Borup-West – Beau Fetting, Beau Jorgenson, Oliver Kretzberger, Trenton Sip
Red Lake County – Blane Schmitz, Brock Seeger, Paul Dehate
Polk County West – Sam Gapp, Isaac Zavoral, Daniel Suda
Bagley – Jaiden Young, Alex Jobe
Red Lake – Cade Beaulieu, Shawn Chaboyea

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The University of Minnesota Crookston had nine student-athletes earn placement on the 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Fall All-Academic Teams as announced Wednesday, December 1 by the conference office. The Golden Eagles had six student-athletes earn placement on the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence.

To be eligible for the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence, a student-athlete must have a 3.60 cumulative GPA or higher, while NSIC All-Academic Team members must have a 3.20 cumulative GPA or higher. Additionally, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team and in at least their second year of competition at their current institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen, and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible). Furthermore, the student-athlete must have completed at least one full academic year at their current institution (student must be in at least their third academic-year semester at their institution). Since the 2020 fall season was canceled due to COVID-19, student-athletes who were in their second year on campus but were in their first full year of competition in the sport, were not eligible for the award.

The men’s cross-country team had one student-athlete, Paul Hendrickx (Sr., Butler, Minn.) garner the accolade. The women’s cross country squad had four student-athletes earn the awards with Brooke Benson (Jr., Monroe, Wash.), Alyssa Stillman (Jr., Hortonville, Wis.), Rena Sakai (Jr., Chiba, Japan), and Nicole Schilling (Sr., Little Falls, Minn.). Benson, Stillman, and Sakai were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. Ashley Chomyn (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) of the women’s soccer team was honored as a member of the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. Lauren Wallace (R-Sr., Bloomington, Minn.), Bailey Mulcahy (Sr., Fertile, Minn.), and Natalie Koke (R-Jr., Caledonia, Wis.) earned the accolades. Wallace and Mulcahy were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence.

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JOKES

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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST email me at  chrisjfee@yahoo.com

Ben Trostad is a senior playing Men’s Golf at UMC.

Kaleb Thingelstad is a freshman playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan University.  KWU is done for the fall season.

Joslynn Leach is a freshman playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead.  The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.

Brady Butt is a sophomore playing football at the University of Jamestown.

Rachel Hefta, is a junior playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.

Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.

Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Sweden.  He is the only American playing for Mora IK of the Allsvenskan league.

Gretchen Theis is a sophomore at NDSU on the Equestrian team.

Kate MacGregor is a senior swimming at Minnesota State Moorhead.

Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.

Nick Garmen is a junior playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.

Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is the Pirate head girls hockey coach and softball assistant coach.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball coach.
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Brock Hanson is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Ben Halos is a Pirate Baseball assistant coach.
Alex LaFrance is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head coach
Wes Hanson is the Pirate Wrestling Head Coach and assistant boys golf coach
Kevin Weber is a Pirate Boys Basketball volunteer assistant coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Sam Melbye is the Pirate Boys J.V. Hockey coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach

Non-Crookston High School coaching –

Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.

Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida

Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown

Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.

Josh Edlund is an assistant football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.

Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach in Champlin Park

Jeff Olson is Head Wrestling coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.

Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.

Katy Westrom, is Head Girls Tennis Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.

Matt Harris, is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.

Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming

Mike Hastings is the Minnesota State Mankato Men’s head Hockey coach

Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Thief River Falls High School

Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football and volleyball and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for the Bison media relations

Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College

Chris Myrold is a Tennis Pro on Nevis Island in the West Indies

Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis

Ben Andringa is serving our country with the Army in New York.

Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy

Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.

Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and also a grad of West Point and is currently is serving in the U.S. Army.

Erik Ellingson is serving our country with the U.S. Air Force at Minot.

Philip Kujawa class of 2004 from Crookston High School.  He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.

Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome

That’s it for this week.  Thanks for the comments and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call.  Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com.

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HUMANE SOCIETY OF POLK COUNTY RECEIVES $5,000 FROM PETCO LOVE

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The Humane Society of Polk County was surprised with a $5,000 check from Petco Love during a celebration at Petco on Wednesday, all thanks to a story submitted by local resident Tim Menard in the Petco Love Stories campaign.

Tim’s heartwarming story of how his adopted dog changed his life was selected as one of 100 Love Stories winners from across the country this year. Now the Humane Society of Polk County can earn up to an additional $25,000, but they need the community’s support. From now through December 15, the public can vote for the Humane Society of Polk County’s winning story in the People’s Choice competition: http://wshe.es/QhIIf8z3.

“Tim Menard’s story shows how adopted pets change our lives for the better and we are so thankful he shared his story in the annual Petco Love Stories campaign to help us receive a grant award. These funds will help us bring more pets in need together with loving families,” said Diane Christianson, Board President at The Humane Society of Polk County. “Now you can help us save even more pet lives by voting for our story.”

People’s Choice Competition: The top five stories with the most votes will earn additional grant funding from $5,000 to $25,000. The deadline to vote is December 15, 2021. Winners will be announced before Christmas. To view all 100 stories and vote for a favorite, visit petcolove.org/lovestories.

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CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT RESCHEDULES 21ST ANNUAL CLASSIC NOEL FOR DEC. 13

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Due to the snow over this past weekend, the Crookston High School Choir and Orchestra Departments had to cancel the 21st Annual Classic Noel. It has now been rescheduled for Monday, December 13, with the silent auction beginning at 7:00 p.m., and the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. The event will not include the original dinner.

Those who purchased tickets for the original dinner and concert on December 5, may pick up their refund from the Crookston High School Office by December 17th. Concert admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students. All proceeds from the silent auction will go towards the Crookston High School choir and orchestra departments.

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GRAND FORKS PD MAKE ARREST AFTER SUSPECT REFUSES TO HALT

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On Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, at approximately 1:19 p.m. an Officer with the Grand Forks Police Department attempted to stop a male subject who was riding a bicycle in the roadway and obstructing traffic in the 1300 block of Stanford Rd.

The officer had activated his emergency lights and siren and the male subject took off on his bike and entered an apartment building in the 3500 block of 11th Avenue North. The officer followed the male subject on foot and into the building.  The male suspect kicked in the door of an apartment and entered in.  Once inside the apartment, the suspect barricaded the door.  The officer identified himself and attempted to contact anyone inside the apartment.  A short time later a female came to the door and said that she was inside the apartment when an unknown male subject kicked in the door, entered the apartment, and barricaded the door before running into the back of the apartment.  

Officers located the male who was inside a bathroom and was refusing to come out.  After giving verbal commands for several minutes and speaking with the suspect he did open the door and come out and he was secured in handcuffs.

Investigation of the incident identified the male suspect as Clifford L. Bays, age 34 of Grand Forks, ND.

Bays was arrested for Refusal to Halt, Burglary, and Possession of Drugs Bays also had two active warrants for his arrest, one from the ND State Penitentiary and one from ND Parole & Probation.

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CROOKSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT BRINGING BACK ITS ADOPT-A-HYDRANT PROGRAM THIS WINTER

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This year, the Crookston Fire Department (CFD) is bringing back its “Adopt-A-Hydrant” program. They are asking the public to consider adopting a local neighborhood fire hydrant this winter and take responsibility for ensuring the fire hydrants aren’t buried after heavy snowfalls.

Crookston Fire Fighter Shane Heldstab talked about the importance of the program and why they are seeking the public’s help. “We’re just reaching out to the public asking for assistance because when it comes to snowfalls like the one we just got, and people are out clearing roadways and driveways, sometimes Fire Hydrants can be forgotten,” said Heldstab. “Our community does a great job of volunteering, and I’m not saying it is something that gets forgotten up here, but it certainly could because it’s not the first thing you think about.”

The program is designed for residents and businesses to help make a difference in the community. Something that may seem small could make a big difference in an emergency.

Heldstab talked about how the Fire Department is affected by a fire hydrant buried in snow. “We do things in a timely manner. If we have to shovel out a fire hydrant, that’s an extra 3-4 minutes, and in our world, with our job, that’s a really long time,” said Heldstab. “So, if businesses and individuals can volunteer some time to clear out a fire hydrant near them, it makes a huge difference to us.”

There are a couple of ways you can participate in the program. Heldstab mentioned that you certainly could clear off a fire hydrant without saying anything, but the Fire Department hopes the public will officially adopt the fire hydrants. Heldstab explained how the adoption process will work. “You can email the Crookston Fire Department at cfd@crookston.mn.us with your name, address, and what hydrant you’d like to adopt, or you can simply just call the fire hall and tell us which one you’d like to adopt,” said Heldstab. “It just helps us keep track of which ones are taken care of, and that way, we don’t have multiple people taking care of the same fire hydrant.”

One fire hydrant was adopted for this upcoming winter season before the program was even announced. The Fire Department is asking for the public to inform them of their intentions to help with the program because there is a website where the CFD can monitor which fire hydrants have been adopted.

The fire hydrants on the map are red, and once a fire hydrant has been adopted, it turns green. Heldstab says this helps prepare them in the event of an emergency, and they know if they’ll need to plan on grabbing a shovel when they arrive on the scene. “If we have an incident, and I go and look on that map, and I see green in that area, I know things are probably going to be taken care of,” said Heldstab. “I don’t have to worry about grabbing a shovel and shoveling out that area because somebody in that area shoveled out that hydrant for us. We are looking for about a three-foot path around the fire hydrant, and if there is a curb line, we appreciate it if that is shoveled out as well, so we have a walking path.”

The Fire Department also encourages the public to take ownership and name their fire hydrant. Last year not many people signed up for the program, but fire hydrants everywhere were still being cleared out. Heldstab says he believes this is because the Crookston community doesn’t want accolades for volunteering. He said they will not mention your name to the public if you’d like to remain anonymous, but the CFD would like to keep track of which fire hydrants are taken care of this year.

The CFD will also be handing out prizes to a few lucky winners who sign up for the program to encourage participation. Those interested in adopting a fire hydrant can visit the adoption website Ckn.mn/hydrant, decide which hydrant you’d like to be responsible for, and then contact the CFD at cfd@crookston.mn.us, or give them a call at 218-281-4584. You can also contact the CFD if you have any questions or need help in the adoption process. Remember that time saves lives.

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