All current and prospective Fertile-area patients are invited to join the teams from RiverView Clinic in Fertile and RiverView Rehab Services in Fertile for a free meal on Wednesday, June 29.
Stop by RiverView Rehab Services, 101 South Mill Street, Fertile, between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. for a free, brisket-loaded baked potato meal catered by Erickson’s Smokehouse. Tour the new Rehab Services facility, including a new multi-sensory room.
A multi-sensory room stimulates a person’s senses through the environment. The space creates a calming atmosphere that helps to reduce anxiety, agitation, and much more. The equipment used in the room provides visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory stimulation to assist with relaxation factors.
Patients of all ages and abilities benefit from the room, especially those who struggle with self-regulation, such as being alert and calm during purposeful activities such as therapy.
Stop by to learn more about services offered in Fertile and visit with their staff.
The lane shift onto the Highway 71 southbound lanes will be extended further south to the intersection with Highway 197 on June 23. It is expected to last until July 1.
The largest impact will affect Highway 71 northbound and southbound traffic moving into a single lane as they cross the Highway 197 intersection to enter and exit the construction zone. Those vehicles will proceed to the Highway 71 lane switch at the intersection.
The purpose of the change is to promptly complete paving operations on the southern portion of the Highway 71 project. Once complete, it will allow MnDOT to re-open the currently closed westbound lane on Highway 197 to reduce congestion at the intersection.
Currently, crews are also paving the northern limits of the project near Winter Sumac Road. Paving at the north limits is expected to be complete by Monday, June 27.
MnDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions and follow traffic signs in work zones.
Please join the MnDOT District 2 Facebook group for updates on construction, road conditions, and other transportation-related topics. www.facebook.com/groups/mndotnorthwest/. For a complete list of projects for 2021, please visit www.mndot.gov/d2. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
Summer is upon us, and the temperatures are rising with the shining sun that can make a beautiful summer day but can also include increasing wind speeds and thunderstorms that can ruin an ideal day at the beach. With schools out now for most children, parents need to be more aware than ever of their kids’ conditions as well as their own to keep them safe from the things that can be opposing dangers to them during the summer months.
One of the most dangerous and most universal things in summer is the threat of extreme heat that can affect adults and children that are out in the heat for most of the day, especially from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., when the sun is the highest in the sky and the hottest during the day. The rising heat can cause people to get dehydrated, sunburnt, and have signs and symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. “It’s important to try and wear a covering over your head, get into the shade, have your sunscreen on, avoid that hottest part of the day, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. when the sun is the hottest,” Safe Kids Grand Forks Coordinator Carma Hanson explained. “Drink lots of fluids, and the best fluid you can drink is water to rehydrate yourself rather than something with lots of sugar and caffeine in it, as anything with sugar or caffeine in it is going to cause you to lose more fluids than you’re actually taking in,” she added. Hanson recommends that parents think about a few things for kids that go out to play or participate in a sporting activity, such as making sure the child has plenty of water. If there’s a way for them to refill the bottles like a hose or cooler, or if they need to bring extra bottles. They should also see if there’s anything they can do to cool off slightly during the event, like going into a dugout, wearing a hat, or finding shade under a tree. If you are unable to avoid staying out in the sun for long periods of time, especially during the hottest part of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), you should wear a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, or a long-sleeved cotton shirt to protect your skin from sunburn. Hanson also recommends that if you are participating in events where you sweat or are in the water, you should reapply the sunscreen frequently as it will sweat off and take breaks from the sun frequently.
With the extreme heat, this also puts people, especially children and pets, at great risk of heat stroke if they gain access to a vehicle or are accidentally left in one. As children’s body temperatures heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s, and the temperature inside of a car can get to be about 40 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. So even on a mild day where the temperature is only 70 to 80 degrees, the inside of a car can reach up to over 100 degrees. Forty children die of heat stroke every summer after they’ve been forgotten in the car or gain access to one without anyone’s knowledge. If you come across a closed vehicle that holds a child or pet locked inside of it and are unable to find the parent or caregiver you should take action and call 911 to get help rather than do it yourself. “It’s not about getting anyone in trouble. It’s really about making sure that the child inside is safe, and kids can go from being fine to being in quite a bit of trouble as their body temperature continues to heat up. Their little bodies can’t cool off and regulate itself the same way as an adult’s can,” said Safe Kids Grand Forks Coordinator Carma Hanson explained. “So, by calling 911, you’ll get Emergency Personnel there, who know how to break and enter that window without injuring the person inside, and they also know how to provide medical care to the person inside the vehicle, so call 911 immediately,” she added.
While the threat of the sun is a dangerous one in the summer, thunderstorms, high winds, and even tornados are still a dangerous threat to people everywhere. While it is much warmer outside, severe thunderstorms with hail are still possible and a real danger that can cause harm to people and vehicles, and with the strong summer winds, these storms can come up quite quickly. Thankfully, the National Weather Service and many organizations like the Crookston Fire Department and City Hall have great warning systems in place with town sirens and even warning systems on people’s phones. “The biggest is making sure that kids know and understand what those alarms mean and what kind of actions they could take,” Carma Hanson explained. “For example, if there’s a Tornado Warning while they’re out riding their bike or something, and if they can’t get into a shelter or basement, talk to them about if they could get into a business building or something that is structurally sound. If they can’t, and they’re out in a spot where there are no buildings around, they want to get down into the very lowest spot they can find, in a ditch or in a culvert, but away from a structure that may blow onto them,” she added.
During thunderstorms with rain and lighting conditions, Coordinator Hanson says that children should stay away from water and out of an open field and take shelter immediately so that they are not in a position where the lightning could strike them. She also emphasized that they shouldn’t hold things like metal bats or be in swimming pools as they can put children in even greater danger with lightning. She also mentions that due to children’s natural curiosity, parents should always be aware of their children’s whereabouts in storms and by water, as children can easily be swept away in currents or fall into pools and ponds. So, whenever they’re at a pool, lake, pond, or river, they should always have supervision and/or a lifejacket to keep them safe, as children can easily drown, and be silent while they do it, as they will be panicking and gasping for air when they go under and come back up to the surface. If you encounter a drowning victim, remember the three rescue options, “Reach, Throw, Go.” “Think about what you can use to reach for that child, your hand, arm, a fishing pool, an oar, a branch, your pantlegs. If they can’t reach them, what could they throw at them? Make sure you have a throwable device at the pool, at the end of your dock, or in your boat, like a two-liter pop bottle after you dump the pop, a pool noodle, or a buoy,” Carma Hanson explained. “Then if none of those two options work, then you should “Go” for help, but never go into the water and try and save a drowning person because it’s likely that they’ll push you underwater, and then you’ll have two people in a drowning situation,” she added.
The summer is a fun time for parents and children alike, but everyone needs to remember these safety tips to ensure each other’s safety and prevent unnecessary deaths of people everywhere.
At approximately 8:31 a.m., on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to 1819 North 4th St. for a report of a fire on the back side of a home.
Crews arrived on the scene to find smoke showing from the rear of the residence. Crews entered through the rear of the residence, where they encountered heavy smoke and fire. Crews were able to extinguish the flames and quickly reduce any further fire damage. When fire crews arrived, they were informed by the homeowner that there were no other people in the home. There was moderate fire and smoke damage to the home. A damage estimate is not available at this time. The Grand Forks Fire Marshal’s Office determined the cause of the fire to be a failure of an electrical cord on a window air conditioning unit.
The Grand Forks Fire Department responded with five engines, one truck, and one command vehicle with eighteen personnel. Altru paramedics assessed one occupant on the scene who was not transported to the hospital. The Grand Forks Police Department, Altru Ambulance, and Xcel Gas-assisted on the scene.
The Grand Forks Fire Department would like to remind residents to check their smoke detectors to make sure they are functioning correctly.
Governor Tim Walz and House Speaker Melissa Hortman today announced a plan to return half of the state’s surplus back to Minnesotans in direct checks. The proposal would return half the remaining surplus back in the form of direct payments while legislators continue working on shared funding priorities, including education, public safety, child care, and nursing homes.
“This is the right thing to do for Minnesotans as we see household costs rise,” said Governor Walz. “Minnesota has a strong economy and historic surplus, and this is one big way we can help Minnesotans at the pump, grocery store, and with rent. Senate Republicans should not sit on billions of dollars while Minnesotans struggle to afford the things they need.”
“We have every opportunity to help Minnesotans right now,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “Minnesotans worked hard to make our economy this strong, and they deserve these payments. It’s time to work together, across the aisle, to make an immediate and impactful difference in the lives of millions of Minnesotans.”
“Minnesota families are in need of financial assistance. I stand with Governor Walz in his efforts to get checks to Minnesotans. Last week, Senate Republicans walked away from negotiations, and while that was disappointing and frustrating, it does not change the fact that Minnesotans are hurting, and we need to take action to help them,” said Speaker Hortman. “It’s in the best interests of Minnesotans — for families, students, public safety, long-term care, child care, and our shared infrastructure – for the legislature to finish these budget agreements. The Governor and House DFLers are still here, ready to work and find compromises. We need Minnesota Republicans to leave election-year politics to the side, come back to the table, and join us in getting this work done so we can help Minnesotans.”
“As the House Tax Chair, I support getting money back in Minnesotans’ pockets sooner rather than later,” said Minnesota House Tax Committee Chair Paul Marquart. “Those types of policies were included in the House tax bill and direct checks are a great way to help Minnesotans with rising prices.”
Single tax filers earning up to $164,000 would receive a payment of $1,000. A married couple filling jointly earning up to $273,470 would receive a payment of $2,000. More than 2.7 million Minnesota households would receive a check under this proposal.
This plan expands on a previous proposal of direct payments included in Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s supplemental budget in January.
The Polk County Board of Commissioners met inside the Polk County Government Center on Tuesday afternoon. They heard from Polk County Sheriff James Tadman on a State Boat and Water Grant and give the Emergency Manager 2021 Award MIS Director Evan Bruggeman on two quotes for the Government Center Door Security Project and Polk County Administrator Chuck Whiting on the status of the American Rescue Plan funds, a rate change for IRS Mileage Reimbursement, and reviews of the Intranet Positions Descriptions and the Annual Audit Options.
CONSENT ITEMS
The Board began the meeting by approving the Commissioner Warrants and Sign Audit List and approving a payment to the US Band in St. Louis, Missouri, in the amount of $102,360.18 for procurement card purchases.
The Board approved all motions unanimously.
POLK COUNTY SHERIFF JAMES TADMAN
The Board was first approached by Polk County Sheriff James Tadman, who was joined by Chief Deputy Mike Norland, Sgt. Jesse Haugen, and Sgt. Thomas Hibma. Sheriff Tadman first requested the Board to approve their annual MN State Boat and Water Grant of $10,482 to go towards maintenance of their fleet and training for their Boat and Water program. The Board approved the Grant unanimously. Sheriff Tadman then invited Emergency Manager Jody Beauchane to be awarded the 2021 Emergency Manager of the Year Award for leading Polk County through three separate Presidential-declared major disasters, one Gubernatorial State-Disaster, and protecting and preserving public safety during the Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline replacement project. “I feel good about it, and I appreciate it, and I’m humbled by it.” said Polk County Emergency Manager Jody Beauchane, “I’m really glad to bring it back to Polk County, and it shows how well we all work together and make good teams in all of the different departments like the Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Highway Department all working together, and all of the area Emergency Managers from other counties in our territory.” Pictures of Jody receiving his award can be seen below.
MIS DIRECTOR EVAN BRUGGEMAN
The Board then heard from MIS Director Evan Bruggeman on a request to approve a $27,300 quote for Bergstrom Electric and a $5,656.94 quote for Johnson Controls to install and configure cable and hardware for six interior, exterior, and panic buttons for an Add-on to the Government Center Door Security Project. The Board approved both quotes unanimously.
PROPERTY RECORDS
The Board then heard from Property Records Director Michelle Cote, who reported that she was looking to innovate a new Canvas office for new member Jon Robertson joining the department and replacing her office for $12,462.03. The Board approved the motion unanimously.
CHUCK WHITING- ADMINISTRATION
The Board finished the meeting after hearing from County Administrator Chuck Whiting, who first gave an update on the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds with a couple of agreements for the Board to approve. The first was to the Mentor Fire Department, which requested $28,000 for shelter and generator improvements in the community’s storm shelter, which they would then bring to the Mentor City Council. The Board approved the motion unanimously. The other was for the rural water project in Climax called the West Central Regional Water District project, which would pump water from North Dakota to Climax and then to other cities around the County. Whiting was joined by the project manager Sarah Sesselman of Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services (AE2S), who gave a presentation on the project and its impact on the County. She presented a series of resolutions from Beltrami, Neilsville, and Climax in their support of the project and a report from Neilsville that asked her to make a preliminary engineering report on the pipeline. Sesselman then showed how the project pipeline would work with its population of 243, which would use about 300 gallons a day for the City of Climax, and that the pipeline would be guaranteed to last for at least 75 years. She requested ARPA Funds from the Board to contribute to the project, requesting at least $584,674 or a maximum of $659,674 if they chose to purchase a 12” pipe to help funnel the water to rural parts of Polk County. After much discussion, the Board decided to hold off on a motion until next week to allow Sesselman to try to set up Special City Council meetings in Climax and Nielsville and parts of North Dakota to approve the project before they return to the Board with a final proposal. “Two weeks ago, the Board had committed $250,000 to Climax, there was a lot of discussion about upsizing the pipe so that it could serve rural Polk County, but that cost more funds. So, the Board will revisit it next Tuesday,” County Administrator Chuck Whiting explained. “The City of Climax said that they are interested in seeing the funds go to help the Rural Water Distribution System, and then the North Dakota side also has to discuss it, so that’s coming,” he added.
Administrator Whiting then brought up that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced an increase in the optional standard mileage from the first six months of the year of 58.5 cents per mile to 62.5 cents for the final six months of 2022 for businesses and from 18 cents per mile up to 22 cents for medical/moving. He noted that taxpayers might use the optional rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and certain other purposes. His next item was that Human Resources has put the County’s job descriptions on their internal network and requested for the Board to review and have an action to adopt all the positions as the official descriptions for the organization in their next meeting on June 28. He then reported that in each even-numbered year, the County, according to the statute, must notify the State Auditor if their auditor is to change by August 1st. He reported that Polk County has been using the Office State Auditor (OSA) since the prior auditor took Polk County back in 2018. If they did not change, they would automatically default to the State Auditor. He gave his thoughts, believing that it was not the right time to switch auditors yet, as they had good relations with the State Auditor, Rebecca Otto, and that it would be better to change them in 2024. They finished the meeting with a report of a foundation leak along the Southwest corner of their building that is leaking water into the building and some employees’ offices. “We’ve reviewed what’s causing the leak. It appears that the water is coming in the foundation. So, we’re going to get a contractor to clear some of the foundation, tile it, then reflash it to get the water away from the building. Hopefully, that’ll dry it up,” Administrator Chuck Whiting explained, “Then we’ll have to look to see what we have to fix inside the building itself.” He reported that they plan to hire Palmer Excavating LLC for $44,640 to come and repair the foundations. The Board approved the motion unanimously.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 28, at 8:00 a.m. in the Polk County Government Center.
Polk County Emergency Manager Jody Beauchane receiving his awards
Cassie (Aamoth) Rudie has been named the Benedictine Living Community-Crookston Foundation Director.
Cassie has been with Benedictine Living Community – Crookston for over 10 years. She first started as an LPN, before transitioning into The Summit Housing Director and now the BLC-C Foundation Director role. Cassie has served on the BLC-C Foundation board since 2018.
She resides in Crookston with her husband and three children. Rudie is available for any Foundation questions via phone at 218-281-3424.
On June 22, at approximately 9:15 a.m., the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was assisting the Polk County Highway Department in relation to installing buoys on the east shore of MapleLake, near Mentor, using the Polk County Sheriff’s Office airboat. During the buoy installation, the airboat tipped over and sank to the bottom of Maple Lake. Two Sheriff’s Deputies and two Polk County Highway Department personnel were on the airboat at the time of the accident. The Sheriff’s deputies were transported by private vehicle to Essentia Hospital in Fosston with non-life-threatening injuries. The Highway Department personnel were uninjured. All four individuals were wearing life jackets.
The Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was dispatched to assist with the recovery of the airboat. Assisting agencies were:-Mentor Fire Department-County EMS-Polk County Highway Department-Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office dive team. This incident is under investigation and no further information will be released at this time.
The Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was dispatched to assist with recovering the airboat.
Assisting agencies were: Mentor Fire Department, County EMS, Polk County Highway Department, and Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office dive team
This incident is under investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
Peggy Ann Gustoff, 65, of Crookston, MN, passed away at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND early Sunday morning, June 19, 2022. A memorial service celebrating Peggy’s life will be held at a later date.
Online messages of condolence may be given at www.stenshoelhouske.com
