Month: January 2022

Due to Covid-19, the big Ice Buster Daze Fishing Derby held in Crookston was canceled in 2021. This year it is back and better than ever with two days of fun-filled action. The event will be held on Friday, February 11, and Saturday, February 12, with most of the action on Friday taking place inside the Crookston Inn.

Crookston Visitors Bureau (CVB) Treasurer Jess Bengtson is one of the individuals helping lead some of the events this year, and she provided how the event has transformed into two days of fun instead of one. “The CVB really wanted to help out Ice Buster Daze with the Fishing Derby and make it a two-day event,” said Bengtson. “Some businesses and individuals were able to add to it, so now we have two days of fun that will be taking place. Of course, the big fishing derby will be on Saturday still with a breakfast in the morning, and then prizes awarded at the Crookston Inn later that night. There is also a lot of stuff going on Friday night this year as well, though.”

Friday night at the Crookston Inn, there will be an Eat United Summer Food Program fundraiser from 5-7:30 p.m. The event that will be taking place is an Indoor Ice Fishing Tournament, and Bengtson explained some of the activities that will be taking place. “Will start the night off with the Indoor Ice Fishing Tournament,” said Bengtson. “That evening, there will also be a comedian John DeBoer at the Crookston Inn beginning at 8:00 p.m., and the cover charge for that is $20. Most of the events will be happening this year at the Crookston Inn.”

The cost of admission on Friday night is $20. Other activities inside the Crookston Inn on Friday night include Roasting Marshmallows with Marshall the Paw Patrol Fire Dog, a meal included with the $20 ticket, prizes that will be handed out, and much more. The tickets can be purchased at the Crookston Inn ahead of time or available at the door, but a limited amount is available. The first 25 kids who show up on Friday night to the Crookston Inn will also receive Mall of America Nickelodeon Universe passes, and Moose Mountain Adventure Golf passes that have been donated by KROX.

The Fishing Derby will take place on Saturday, February 12, from 1-4 p.m. at Central Park on the Red Lake River, with registration beginning at 11:00 a.m. There is a limit of 350 tickets sold for the Fishing Derby, and tickets can be bought in advance at the Crookston Hardware Hank. The price is $25 for a hole, including a Sloppy Joe Supper that will be held after the event at the Crookston Inn from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The top 17 places in the Fishing Derby will be awarded prizes, with first-place receiving an Eskimo Rocket 8” Ice Auger.

Bengtson noted without the help of many businesses in Crookston, the event wouldn’t be possible. “There are so many businesses that have come together, and without them, we couldn’t pull this off,” said Bengtson. “It’s a unique event, and making it two days has been very fun. There are so many donations, whether it’s money or different prizes, and lots of businesses that have pulled together to make this event happen.”

If you have any questions about the events taking place on Friday night, you can contact the United Way of Crookston at 218-281-1715 or exec@unitedwayofcrookston.org. If you have questions about the events on Saturday, you can call Brian at 218-281-7762.

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The Crookston Speech Team kicked off their tournament season this past weekend in Fergus Falls. This served as the first in-person tournament in the last two years, and Crookston students brought home medals.

George French competed in the Humorous Interpretation and received a 1st place medal in Honors Finals, and Isaac Wandrie competed in Great Speeches, receiving a 6th place medal in Honors Finals. The next tournament will be in Staples on Saturday, February 12.

In the picture down below L-R: George French, Isaac Wandrie, Coach Brandon Adams, Jack Anderson.

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The City of Crookston has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to study the Highway 2 Corridor through the Crookston area. A focus is on the downtown area, but also includes the use of the Bypass route. The study is looking at ways to make the routes safer for both pedestrians and motor vehicles while improving freight movement and/or traffic through the community and improving access to local businesses. The city has created a Community Review Panel and is holding a series of Work Sessions to look at needed improvements. The Crookston Area Chamber has been asked to be part of this process. The Chamber would like to get input from its members to help make this a successful project.

The Chamber is looking for answers to the following two questions.

What is your biggest concern about the current Highway 2 Corridor through town? Concerns could involve safety, financial issues, or anything else you may be concerned about.

What changes would you make, if any, about the current corridor and traffic situation?

Please email your responses to Mark Landa at mlanda@visitcrookston.com to have your ideas shared with the Community Review Panel. The next Review Panel meeting will be held Wednesday, February 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers at Crookston City Hall. Thank you for any input you can provide.

The post CROOKSTON AREA CHAMBER ASKING MEMBERS FOR INPUT ON HIGHWAY 2 CORRIDOR STUDY appeared first on KROX.

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans will hold a press conference to announce session priorities to get Minnesota on the Right Track. Their focus this session will be on affording everyday life, reducing crime, and empowering parents. Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) released the following statement addressing his caucuses priorities this upcoming session

“The Senate is prioritizing tackling the tough issues that most Minnesotans care about,” Johnson said. “We are working to reduce costs and give significant tax relief for Minnesota families, improve public safety, and empower parents in their children’s education. So much of our state is on the wrong track and we are committed to implementing common-sense solutions to get Minnesota back on the right track.”  

The state’s projected $7.7 billion surplus will be one of the most discussed items in St. Paul. Following record inflation, Senate Republicans are pitching a series of tax cuts targeted to working Minnesotans, families, and seniors to help them afford their everyday life.  Republicans passed several tax cuts in the last five years including the first income rate tax cuts in 20 years. 

Record violent crime levels are dominating the headlines. The Senate is focused on addressing the urgent need to increase police presence, provide the tools and resources to fight crime, and recruit and retain police officers. Much of the crime wave can be attributed to extreme policies that only embolden bad actors. The Senate’s policies will take a tough-on-crime approach. These policies have the goal of reducing crime, holding criminals accountable, and giving justice to victims.

Finally, the closure of schools due to COVID has been an eye-opening experience for parents across the state. Across the nation, many parents have raised concerns about their kids’ education coming at the cost of political activism. To that end, Republicans propose increasing transparency and accountability in our school system and are working to empower parents to be active partners in their child’s education. 

Senate Republicans have had control of the Senate since 2017 and consistently stopped harmful tax increases on working and low-income Minnesotans. They stabilized the health care market in 2017 with the very successful reinsurance program, passed record funding for students in schools. Senate Republicans also continue to reduce burdensome regulations on Main Street businesses and support economic development across the state.  

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On Saturday, January 29, at approximately 6:10 p.m., the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Fosston Fire Department were dispatched to 221 South Mark Avenue in the City of Fosston for the report of a structure fire. Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were first on scene and observed that the occupants (67-year-old Debera Aspen, 45-year-old Lisa Aspen, as well as one juvenile) had exited the home. None of the occupants were injured because of the fire. The house, however, was a total loss.

The Winger Fire Department, Essentia Ambulance Service, and the Minnesota State Patrol assisted on the scene. The case is under investigation, and no further details will be released at this time.

The post SATURDAY NIGHT FIRE IN FOSSTON DESTROYS HOUSE appeared first on KROX.