Month: January 2022

CHS Northland Grain in Crookston recently donated the Crookston Fire Department a Rescue Auger. The auger can be used to help individuals who may get stuck or trapped in a bin containing grain or corn.

Crookston Firefighter Jim Perreault said the crew was doing some training at CHS Northland Grain this past summer, which sparked the idea for the auger. “We were doing some training on-site there, and we had come across a few issues with grain bin rescue,” said Perreault. “We then started asking and trying to come up with ideas from their group as to what we could get that would make that easier. Trent Brekken (Crookston Firefighter) ended up going to the CHS Northland Grain Manager, Robert Staehnke and asking if they could help us with that. They ended up giving us a check, and we were then able to purchase this Rescue Auger. It will make our life a lot easier if we end up needing to use it.”

In the past, a grain bin rescue operation would take longer and be much less efficient. With the Rescue Auger, the fire department will utilize their time and be more efficient in the event of an emergency. “What we came across during the training is that we would have to use these buckets to shovel the grain out,” said Perreault. “With the Rescue Auger, we can just shove it down, attach a drill too it, and it will move that grain way faster than we could ever do it with those buckets. It’s also a much tighter fit with the buckets, so this is going to be much better for us.”

Perreault also discussed the most common situation where the auger will be used. “If a farmer or even someone at CHS Northland Grain were to get stuck or knocked unconscious, that’s when we would go in there and put together this piece that lifts them to safety,” said Perreault. “We can now just put the Rescue Auger down there instead of using the buckets, and it will be a much smoother process removing the grain or corn from the lift that will bring them to safety. That is undoubtedly the most common situation where we would run into needing the Rescue Auger.

A picture of Crookston Firefighter Trent Brekken with CHS Northland Grain Manager Robert Staehnke can be found down below –

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Today, Governor Tim Walz announced the launch of the next phase of the ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ vaccine incentive program to encourage Minnesota families to get their kids 5- to 11-years-old fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Walz-Flanagan Administration is committed to providing the resources necessary to make sure kids stay healthy and in school, and that includes getting as many families vaccinated as possible.

While Minnesota is one of the leaders in the nation in vaccinating children 5- to-11 years old, this is still the lowest rate of vaccination among eligible age groups in the state. As the Omicron variant causes record-breaking new cases across the nation, Governor Walz launched the next phase of the ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ program to help boost vaccination rates among this eligible age group, which will help protect children against severe illness and hospitalizations.

“As Omicron surges across our nation, we’re continuing to use every resource we have to keep our families safe and healthy,” said Governor Walz. “There’s a lot of highly transmissible virus circulating in our communities, but getting our children 5-11 years old vaccinated gives them critical protection against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 and helps keep them in school. You’ll get $200 cash in your pocket for getting this easy vaccination done at the start of the year.”

“There’s no better way to keep your family safe than by getting everyone who is eligible vaccinated,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “We want to help Minnesotans start the year off by getting those vaccinations done and getting $200 in their pockets. Kids deserve a shot at a healthy 2022, and COVID-19 vaccines are one of the best tools to get us there.”

$200 Visa Gift Cards 

Minnesota families who get their 5- to 11-year-old fully vaccinated in January and February can get a $200 Visa gift card. In order to be eligible, Minnesotans 5-11 must receive their first and second dose between January 1 and February 28.   

Registration for the $200 Visa gift card will open at 10:00am on January 24, 2022 and close at 11:59pm on February 28, 2022. Parents/Guardians can register their 5- to 11-year-old once they have completed their two-dose series.  

$100,000 Minnesota College Scholarship Drawings

Later this spring, there will be drawings for five $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings for all Minnesotans 5-11 years old who are fully vaccinated. All Minnesotans 5-11 years old who completed their first and second doses at any point up to the registration deadline will be eligible to be entered for a chance to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Details on the drawings will be announced in the coming months.

Minnesotans can learn more about the ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ program at: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/vaccine-rewards/kids-deserve-a-shot/index.jsp.

How families can find a shot for their child:

• Visit mn.gov/vaxforkids to find clinic locations near you.
• Check with their pediatrician, family medicine clinic, or local pharmacy about appointments.
• Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at schools or other community locations around Minnesota.

How Minnesotans can get their free shot:

• Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you.
• Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
• Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
• Walk in to or make an appointment at one of Minnesota’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination sites.
  • Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline
    • 1-833-431-2053
    • Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

How Minnesotans can get a COVID-19 test:

• Walk in or schedule an appointment for a test at one of the state’s free community testing sites across Minnesota: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.
• Order a test through the state’s free at-home COVID-19 testing program: COVID-19 Test at Home.
• Find a testing option near you through the state’s Find Testing Locations map: Find Testing Locations.

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The Fertile Public Library’s Resolute Readers Book Club will meet this month to discuss The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. In this debut novel, a couple’s lives are changed forever by the arrival of a secretive little girl on their snowy doorstep. The group will meet on Wednesday, January 19, at 5:30 p.m. The following month, the group will meet on February 16 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin. This program is open to all and is offered free of charge.

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Dak Minn Blood Bank is celebrating National Blood Donor Month in January. Special recognition will be given to blood donors through prizes and treats all month long.

“Blood donations are vital to saving lives in our community,” said Terri Hintz, supervisor of the donor center at Dak Minn Blood Bank. “Using those donations we make red blood cells, platelets, and plasma that are used to provide over 7,000 transfusions for patients in need at Altru.”

Dak Minn Blood Bank is the only Hospital-Based Donation Center in North Dakota. “Hospital-based donor centers promote community engagement and altruism within a community and provide a tangible way for members of a community to give back,” said Hintz.

Dak Minn Blood Bank provides more than 90 percent of the blood products needed for transfusions at Altru each year. While the COVID-19 pandemic causes supply chain shortages worldwide, it’s also affecting donations.

“Nationwide blood donations are down 30% when compared to before the pandemic,” said Hintz. “We are tracking that same way here at Dak Minn Blood Bank with our donations in 2021.”

As the main supplier of blood products for Altru Hospital, donations are a lifesaving resource. “Donations are crucial to helping people in need,” said Hintz. “Accidents can happen at any time. Having blood products available for transfusions can save the life of our family, friends, and neighbors.”

All blood donations at Dak Minn Blood Bank will stay local and will support the communities of Grand Forks, Northwood, McVille, Rugby, and Cavalier, N.D. Anyone who wishes to donate blood is asked to make an appointment to ensure a safe environment for donors and staff. Visit DakMinnBloodBank.org or call 701.780.5433 to schedule an appointment.

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The Crookston American Legion Auxiliary Unit 20 will once again sponsor two girls to attend the 75th Annual Minnesota Girls State Session from June 12-18, 2022, at Bethel College. Girls who are currently high school juniors are eligible as candidates. All fees are paid, and there is no cost to the students.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact the Crookston High School Guidance office or the American Legion Girls State Chairperson Margee Keller at 218-349-4566. The deadline to apply is March 10th.

The post CROOKSTON AMERICAN LEGION WILL SEND TWO GIRLS TO 75TH ANNUAL MINNESOTA GIRLS STATE SESSION appeared first on KROX.

The Crookston High School announced that George French and Emma Osborn have been named the recipients of the Triple ‘A’ Award. The purpose of the Triple ‘A’ award is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in fine arts.

Triple ‘A’ Award recipients at Crookston High School meet the following criteria:

• The student must be a senior in high school.
• The student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the date of the nomination.
• He or she must be a participant in at least one League-sponsored fine arts and/or

athletic activity.

• He or she must comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.

George French has a 3.7 GPA and participates in Band, Orchestra, one-act play, speech, soccer, football, golf, and tennis. His parent are George and Rae French. His college plans are to attend the University of North Dakota.

Emma Osborn has a 3.8 GPA and participates in Orchestra, tennis, basketball, track and field, and softball her parents are Doug and Jessica Osborn. Her college plans are to purse a degree in Pre-Veterinary Sciences at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

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