Month: May 2022

The Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston made the following arrests.

Katie Marie Legg, 31, of East Grand Forks, for Uninsured Vehicle-Owner Violation

Jason Paul Labine, 48, of Big Lake, for 3rd-Degree DUI and Refusing to submit to a chemical test.

The post ARREST/FIRE REPORT- MAY 3, 2022 appeared first on KROX.

The Crookston High School held its 14th Annual Triple-A Senior Recognition Night on Monday, May 2 to honor its senior Student-Athletes in Academics, Arts, and Athletics. The banquet was sponsored by the Crookston Pirate Fine Arts Boosters, Crookston Kiwanis, Crookston Noon Day Lions, and the Crookston Rotary Clubs.

ARTS AND MUSIC

T.W. Thorson Memorial Award: Ainsley Boucher, Alexia Threatt

John P. Sousa Awards: Alexia Threatt

Mari Hussey Award: Jazmine Doyea

Ronald Carey Award: George French

Merle Miller String Scholarship: Ainsley Boucher

Outstanding Thespian Award: George French

Most Dedicated Thespian Award: Jazmine Doyea

Music Above and Beyond Awards: Emily Balboa, Ainsley Boucher, Jazmine Doyea, George French, Ava Lopez, Logan Melvie, Alexia Threatt

Ramona Unke Scholarship: George French

ACADEMIC AWARDS:
Dr. Russel O. and Inez Sather Scholarship: Ainsley Boucher, George French, Hayden Winjum

Donnie Lauf Memorial Scholarship: Ally Perreault

Larsen Achievement Award: Ainsley Boucher, Olivia Huck

CHS Scholarship: Haleigh Raymond

Franz Memorial Award: Emily Balboa

Academic Achievement (Summa Cum Laude, Trophies):
Cum Laude (3.7 to 3.79 GPA)- James Deleon, Hannah Lindemoen, Justin Lindgren, Amelia Overgaard, Mallorie Sundeen
Magna Cum Laude (3.8 to 3.89 GPA) – Evan Christensen, Clara Meyer, Emma Osborn
Summa Cum Laude (3.9 to 4.0 GPA)- Aleah Bienek, Ainsley Boucher, Jenna Coauette, Olivia Huck, Breanna Kressin, Ava Lopez, Hannah Loraas, Haden Michaelson, Mason Owens, Haleigh Raymond, Amanda Schultz, Rylee Solheim, Alexia Threatt, Austin Trinkle, Hayden Winjum

HONORS AND AWARDS
Noon Day Lions/Brock Olson Award: Mason Owens

Noon Day Lions and CHS LEO Club MaryAnn Odland Community Service Award – Hayden Winjum

Meredith Reynolds Memorial Scholarship: Mason Owens

Bremer Community Service Award: Ellie Nesseth, Ava Lopez

Crookston Rotary Club Community Service Scholarship in honor of Allen Pederson – Aleah Bienek

Senior Honor Awards: George French, Hayden Winjum

American Legion Citizenship Award: Erik Coauette, Alexia Threatt

Crookston American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship: Mallorie Sundeen

Walt Keller Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Huck, Clara Meyer

CHS Citizenship Award: Mason Owens, Hayden Winjum

Cheryl Steinbrink Healthcare Scholarship: Breanna Kressin

Tracy Lynn Altringer Scholarship: Dillynn Wallace

Diane Altringer Scholarship: Mallorie Sundeen

Bob and Ella Q. Strand Scholarship: Emma Osborn

June Shaver Healthcare Scholarship: Aleah Bienek, Ainsley Boucher, Olivia Huck, Breanna Kressin, Clara Meyer, Hayden Winjum

FOR THE ATHLETIC AWARD WINNERS, CLICK HERE

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The post CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL HANDS OUT ACADEMIC, ARTS, AND HONORS AWARDS appeared first on KROX.

The Altoz Inc. facility in Red Lake Falls held a Groundbreaking Ceremony today to mark the beginning of the first of many phases of a multi-phase expansion project of their facility. The event invited local officials of Red Lake Falls and even Senators and Representatives of Minnesota.

The event began with Owners Dennis and Terri Brazier welcoming everyone. They then welcomed Representative John Burkel, who came forward applauding the Braziers and Altoz for playing a role in helping rural Minnesota by expanding their business to help people get jobs and help communities grow with housing and childcare. “I know that we’re having some long-term discussions on solving some of these workforce/housing issues plaguing small towns in Northwestern Minnesota along with childcare and equalization issues, trying to figure out how to get people into that business,” said Representative John Burkel. “Especially since the pandemic, we’ve seen many people leave their jobs, and we need folks in daycare and coming up here to build houses if we want people to stay in our rural communities.”

Altoz Director of Operations Mike Hugg explained some of the plans Altoz had with the newly expanded facilities, including the addition of up to 150 new jobs.  

“We’re currently just breaking ground today. We had meetings with our contractors, GW & Sons Construction. We met with them this morning and all the independent contractors that are working for them to pan out the final details. The dirt work will probably start in about a week, and then they’ll start digging in roads and backfilling soon after,” said Altoz Director of Operations Mike Hugg. He also explained that he believed that the building should be enclosed by November, with heating installed in December, and be fully operational with 150 employees by January 2023. “This facility will be hiring management level supervisors, job technicians, engineering, marketing, all aspects of the company will be here,” Hugg explained. “All of these that are currently here, we’ll be filling them up as soon as we can find the people, and we are going to start advertising here shortly.” While this facility expansion is the first of four, Dennis Brazier revealed that the other three phases will add more to the facility in Red Lake Falls over the next five to 10 years, depending on sales growth. “The building was designed so that we could add to it in three different directions, and the next step would probably be the façade on the front, then we would add on to the west, then the south after that,” said Brazier. “But there’s no specific timeframe for the next phases. We’ll do those as they’re needed.” Director of Operations Mike Hugg then revealed that according to a two-year plan, they hope to begin the second phase sometime in 2024.

Pictures of the ceremony and the facility’s expansion plan can be seen below.

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The post ALTOZ INC. HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR EXPANSION OF THEIR FACILITY IN RED LAKE FALLS appeared first on KROX.

Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach was in northwest Minnesota on Monday to tour the flooding in the Red River Valley.  While in the area, she stopped by Dee Inc. and toured the aluminum foundry and machine shop facilities.  The foundry is 75,000 square feet, and the machine shop is 25,000 square feet. “We were in the area talking with some of the city, and county officials,” said Congresswoman Fischbach. “We met with Sheriff’s and Fire Chiefs and talked about the flooding and their response to the floods and learning a little more about that and making sure they have the resources they need.”

Nick Nicholas of Dee Inc. led the tour and explained what each area was and what they do in each station and area.  Congresswoman Fischbach has been touring businesses throughout the 7th District as she likes to learn more about them. “We always like to see what is going on at companies in the area, how the employees are doing, and what the companies are up to,” said Congresswoman Fischbach. “Something we learn at every place is the spread they have. Things are being exported to Germany, things are coming in, and you learn the global spread that companies have right here in the 7th District.”

Congresswoman Fischbach got to see how they make parts like diesel engine components, filtration components for Team Industries, Toro, Arctic Cat, Donaldson out of Minneapolis, Detroit Diesel, Cummins Diesel, and Rolls Royce.  “There are a lot of exciting things about what is being done in Crookston and the people that are employed,” said Congresswoman Fischbach. “We hear about workforce issues across the district and across the country. But, it seems like they (Dee Inc.) have a handle on what they do and their plans going forward.  So I am excited about that.”

Dee Inc. Vice President/GM Paul Cwikla said they were able to get Congresswoman Fischbach to tour the facilities because of a contact the CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, the new owners of Dee Inc., had with the Congresswoman. “Our CEO, through the American Founders Society, had contacts with the Congresswoman’s office, and they connected us,” said Cwikla. “We showed her the foundry and machine shop and talked about labor. We talked about all the issues we are having in manufacturing in northern Minnesota. We talked about the shortage of truck drivers and getting trucking and parts in.  We talked about different ideas for subsidies for equipment.”

Dee Inc. has been under the ownership of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry since March. All employees immediately received a two dollar per hour raise and received other benefits to help with daycare.  Cwikla said it has been a great transition, and they are looking for up to 30 new employees. 

Crookston Mayor Dale Stainbrook and Polk County Commissioner Joan Lee were also on the tour.  Congresswoman Fischbach told Mayor Stainbrook to keep in touch with her office, especially when it comes to cleaning up after the flooding.  

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The post CONGRESSWOMAN MICHELLE FISCHBACH TOURS DEE INC. IN CROOKSTON appeared first on KROX.

Today, Governor Tim Walz joined legislators, commissioners, small business owners, and frontline workers from across the state to celebrate the ceremonial bill signing of Chapter 50, SF 2677. This bill was signed into law Friday evening by Governor Walz and provides direct payments to frontline workers and replenishes the unemployment trust fund. Photos from the event are attached and online.

“This bipartisan bill will cut costs and save money for small businesses and frontline workers,” said Governor Walz. “I’m grateful for everyone who got us to this point today, and I am hopeful that in the next three weeks, we will build on this bipartisan accomplishment and deliver more for Minnesota.”

“I am proud to be able to provide financial relief for so many Minnesotans,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “These are the people who made tremendous sacrifices to keep us safe throughout the pandemic – and this is the least we can do to recognize them. Hearing stories of how this money can make the difference between a small business staying open or shutting down or a frontline worker staying at their job really proved how much of a difference this legislation can make for our state.”

This bill includes $500 million for direct payments to frontline workers and $2.7 billion to replenish the unemployment trust fund and prevent tax increases on small businesses that bore the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first quarter of 2022, 130,000 businesses will receive UI tax relief with the passing of this bill. Roughly $200 million is the total amount of relief provided in this bill.

An estimated 667,000 frontline workers will be eligible for a payment in recognition of their contribution to Minnesotans throughout the past two years. Frontline workers include those who work in long-term care and home care, health care, emergency response, public health, social service, regulatory service, courts and corrections, child care, food service, retail, temporary shelters and hotels, building services, public transit, ground and air transportation services, manufacturing, and vocational rehabilitation. Individuals must apply through Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) over the 45-day application period to qualify for a payment. Details of the program, including the application process, will be available on www.frontlinepay.mn.gov.

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The post GOVERNOR WALZ CELEBRATES RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FRONTLINE WORKERS IN CEREMONIAL BILL SIGNING appeared first on KROX.

Rosemary Erickson Johnsen, Ph.D., was selected to lead the Business, Arts, and Education Division at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She replaces Mark Huglen, Ph.D., who has been serving as acting head of the Division of Business, Arts, and Education since August 2021. Pending faculty and Board approval, Erickson Johnsen joins the Division at the rank of tenured full professor. She will begin her duties on July 1, 2022. 

“Everyone has been so welcoming, and I’m delighted to be joining UMN Crookston,” stated Erickson Johnsen. “I’m drawn to the university’s land-grant mission, unique identity, and its size. Throughout the search process, the people I’ve met have confirmed my sense that UMN Crookston fosters broad collaboration within and across units. As incoming Division Head of Business, Arts, and Education, I look forward to advancing the Division’s goals and advocating for BAE programs and people, on campus and externally.”

The division head is responsible for the overall operations of the Business Department and the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education (HSSE) Department. The role includes additional responsibilities for the Business Department, the Early Childhood Development Center, and the University’s dual-enrollment programs, which serve approximately 900 students annually.

“While we use the division head title, the role is that of an academic dean with responsibilities for multiple departments, including oversight of faculty and staff, budgets, and program development and implementation,” said John Hoffman, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. “The division head is expected to provide comprehensive instructional leadership to advance UMN Crookston academic offerings in the region in areas ranging from finance, management, and marketing to education to communications and criminal justice. Dr. Johnsen brings extensive experience and innovative approaches to higher education that center student success and expand educational offerings to meet workforce needs.”

Erickson Johnsen has most recently served as associate provost and associate vice president of academic affairs for Governors State University in University Park, Ill. She has been in that role since 2018. In addition, she has served as the interim dean for the University Library at Governors State University since 2020. 

Prior to her most recent appointments, Erickson Johnsen served as the study abroad co-director of International Studies and Programs at Michigan State University from 2001-13. Additionally, she has extensive experience in the classroom. Erickson Johnsen has been a professor of English at Governors State since 2015 and was an associate professor from 2009-15 and an assistant professor from 2006-09. She also worked as an affiliated faculty for Gender and Sexuality Studies. Erickson Johnsen was a visiting assistant professor in the Department of English at Michigan State from 2000-01, and again in 2006. She was also a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State in 2005. Erickson Johnsen also served as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of English at Grand Valley State University from 2001-04.

Erickson Johnsen earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from Michigan State in 1997 with a dissertation entitled “Britain at its Worst”: The Fictional Milieu of Patrick Hamilton. She received her M.A. in English from Michigan State in 1990 and her B.A. in English from Michigan State in 1987. 

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