The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team will try to pick up win number one tonight when they are on the road at Red Lake Falls Robert Matzke Gym to take on the Eagles. The Pirates started the season off last week with a 54-50 loss to Thief River Falls last week while the Eagles, after two opening losses to Mahnomen-Waubun and Fertile-Beltrami, picked up their first win last night over Climax-Fisher. The Eagles have their first four games of the season at home. Game time is 7:00 PM.
Congratulations to Larry Regan for being selected by the Benedictine Crookston Therapy team for the December senior athlete of the month.
Larry has shown dedication and success throughout his short-term SNF admission and outpatient PT and has been able to return to his prior level of function at The Summit.
The therapy team is very proud of all the hard work he has done to successfully rehab and return to his apartment.
The Benedictine Living Community sat down and asked him some rapid-fire questions. Here is what he answered.
His favorite Month is July
His favorite season is Summer
Dogs are his favorite animal
His favorite color is Blue
His favorite food is Crispy Chicken
His favorite word is Peace
His hero is his father
Walking inside and outside when it is nice out is his favorite way to exercise.
His special talents include singing in the choir
His favorite sport to watch is hockey
On a rainy day, his favorite activity is puzzles
Congratulations to their Senior Athlete for December!
Benedictine Living Community December Senior Athlete of the Month
The Crookston Pirates are coming off their ‘first blemish’ on the record when they skated to a 0-0 overtime tie with Blaine on Friday in the Twin Cities. The Pirates are 6-0-1 on the year and are ranked seventh in the last Minnesota State Class A Polls. They will travel to Hockey Town U.S.A. tonight to play arguably the best High School Girl’s Hockey team in the State, the Warroad Warriors who are 7-1 on the season and the Warriors are coming off a 10-7 win over Gentry Academy who is ranked #1 in the State Class AA polls, while Warroad is ranked #1 in Class A. Game time is 7:00 PM at the Gardens in Warroad, the game will be on KROX RADIO starting with the RiverView Health pre-game show at 6:30 PM and around the world by the internet at kroxam.com
The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Hockey team has suffered two tight losses to open the season, and tonight they will face their biggest test as they play the East Grand Forks Green Wave. The Green Wave are ranked #4 in the state in the latest Class A rankings and come into the matchup with a 2-2 record. Both losses were to other top teams in the state, #3 ranked Mahtomedi by a score of 6-3, and Gentry Academy 4-1. The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. tonight from the Crookston Sports Center and you can watch the game on the KROX Livestream starting with the RiverView Health pregame show at 7:00 p.m. Watch by clicking the blue live stream button on our home page or by searching for KROX Radio on YouTube.
Crookston Fire Chief Tim Froeber announced his retirement from the Crookston Fire Department at the end of the year after 26 years of service to the Fire Department and ten years as the Fire Chief.
Froeber first began his work as a firefighter in 1996 as a paid on-call firefighter before applying as a full-time firefighter in September of 1997, where he served in that capacity until 2012, when he was hired as the Chief of the department. With over 26 years of service, Chief Froeber has seen and done many things with the department, such as changes in how the equipment and technology that has changed for firefighters, notably their masks, trucks, cameras, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) that help them serve the community and provide protection to the firefighters. He also noted how research has advanced with cancer awareness for firefighters and other safety measures that have been identified to help keep firefighters safe and help them return home after every call. His favorite service with the department was when he did public education with the preschool and elementary students. “It’s been a very rewarding career. If you’re asking what my favorite part would be, I would have to say it’s doing the public education with the preschoolers to the 6th-graders,” Fire Chief Tim Froeber explained. “We do a lot of public education, not only with the children of our community, but we also do it with church groups, community members, and industries. Public education is probably my favorite part because what we do is try to reduce the amount of fire, injuries, and property damage. Anything we can do to prevent the fire from starting is way better than having to go out and put them out.”
Froeber announced his retirement earlier this year, and at the last City Council meeting on November 28, the city announced that firefighter Shane Heldstab would be succeeding Froeber as the next Chief of the Department. Froeber explained that he and other members of Crookston City Hall had released applications for the job and gave the applicants civil service and fire code tests to complete before interviewing the applicants. Froeber was accompanied by City Administrator Charles “Corky” Reynolds, City Human Resources Director Jordan Bergquist, and East Grand Forks Fire Chief Jeff Boushee on conducting the interviews, where they asked several questions to the applicants. After completing the process with every candidate, the interview committee chose Shane due to his test results and answers in his interview. “He’s been on the fire department for quite a few years also, and he takes on a lot of the responsibilities of the department and doing extremely a lot of training. He really is a great fireman and does a lot of extra training and preparing himself for this position. He’s a very dedicated firefighter, who lives in this place, 24/7 365,” Tim Froeber explained. “I can rely on him to take care of issues that I need him to take care of. If I pass something onto him, I know it will get done, and he’s just a great fireman, and he will do a really good job, and I’m excited for him and his family.” With less than a month left until his retirement date, Chief Froeber has begun training Heldstab to prepare him for the transition and the hiring process for another firefighter to fill Shane’s place. Froeber reported that he has sent out applications to the city, and they are due back on Monday, December 12, before they can begin the hiring process. Some of the things Froeber has already started teaching Heldstab include budgeting for the department, tracking personnel, and other day-to-day operations of the department.
While Froeber is retiring from the department, he’s reported that he’s not ready to stop working yet as he has received several job offers around the community, notably by the city’s Community Development Director Kari Kirschbaum, for his help in the city’s Section 8 Housing. “She contacted me, and we’ve had several meetings, and she would like me to come over to help them out with their Section 8 HUD Housing Inspection Program and maybe help them with some maintenance at their Apartment Building, Oak Court Apartments,” Tim Froeber explained. “We don’t have everything all flushed out in that conversation, but we’re still working on that. I will probably be working right back into January and not take a lot of time off. I really like working and don’t sit down very much, I like to keep moving, and this looks like a very good opportunity.”
Froeber thanked the community for all of the support it had given him over the years to him and the department and assured it that they could be confident in Shane succeeding him as the Department Chief. He also wished to thank the city’s department heads, his department, and both full-time and on-call firefighters for all of their service and help they have given him. Chief Froeber’s final day at the Fire Department will be on Saturday, December 31, with an Open House Retirement Party later this month.
The police chief in Tampa, Florida resigned Monday after using her position to escape a ticket during a traffic stop on Nov. 12 by a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy, involving a golf cart driven by her husband. Chief Mary O’Connor submitted her resignation after an internal affairs review found she violated police department policy. The internal review found O’Connor, who had been on the job less than a year, violated regulations on standards of conduct and “abuse of position or identification.”
The stop, which was recorded on video by the deputy’s body camera, shows O’Connor identifying herself as the Tampa chief, flashing her badge and saying “I’m hoping you will let us go tonight.” The deputy issued only a verbal warning instead of a citation. The golf cart did not have a license tag, a requirement for when such vehicles are driven on public streets. O’Connor’s husband, Keith, said they had just come from a restaurant and didn’t usually drive the cart on streets.
O’Connor had issued a statement apologizing for her conduct: “In hindsight, I realize how my handling of this matter could be viewed as inappropriate, but that was certainly not my intent,” she said. In her resignation letter, O’Connor took responsibility for her actions: “I would never want my personal mistake to stand in the way of the progress I have made in mending relationships between the police department and the community … so for that reason, I am resigning.”
Mayor Jane Castor, a former Tampa police chief herself, said in a statement requesting the resignation: “The Tampa Police Department has a code of conduct that includes high standards for ethical and professional behavior that apply to every member of our police force. As the Chief of Police, you are not only to abide by and enforce those standards but to also lead by example. That clearly did not happen in this case.” Castor has appointed assistant chief Lee Bercaw as acting chief.
Long Island, NY prosecutors said Monday that a New Jersey inmate dubbed the “Torso Killer” pleaded guilty to a 1968 slaying near New York City, as well as admitting to four other homicides. Richard Cottingham — believed to be one of America’s most prolific serial killers — admitted to strangling 23-year-old Diane Cusick on Feb. 15, 1968, at the Green Acres Mall in Nassau County Officials said that in addition to Cusick’s case, he also confessed to four other Long Island slayings, officials said.
Cusick had left her job at a children’s dance school and then stopped at the mall to buy a pair of dance shoes when the New Hyde Park woman was strangled by Cottingham, authorities said. District Attorney Anne Donnelly told reporters in Mineola, NY: “Today is one is one the most emotional days we’ve ever had the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office … In the case of Diane Cusick, her family has waited nearly 55 years for someone to be held accountable for her death.”
Nassau County investigators said Cottingham could be responsible for as many as 13 homicides in their jurisdiction, but these slayings are the only ones they can positively link him to now. He’s been dubbed the “Torso Killer” due to the savage manner he maimed some of his victims. Cottingham had also been called the “Times Square Killer” for murders he committed in New York City.
Cottingham is in poor health and living out his days in a New Jersey prison, serving life for murders committed there. The 76-year-old appeared via remote feed from New Jersey.
‘GMA3’ co-hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes were benched from their anchoring duties while the ABC news division weighs the effect their recent disclosure of a romantic relationship might have on the program and the company. ABC News President Kim Godwin informed staffers Monday during an editorial call that Robach and Holmes had not violated any company policy, but indicated ABC News felt the matter had become “an internal and external disruption,” and “wanted to do what’s best for the organization.”
The duo have made headlines since the revelation last week that they had been involved romantically for some time, even though it is believed they were each still in committed marriages. The pair has been the focus of tabloid reports, with viewers analyzing their every word on camera to see if either was making reference to the discovery of the relationship.
Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos co-hosted Monday’s broadcast, merely noting that “T.J. and Amy were off for the day.” There is no official word on how the program will be staffed for the rest of the week, or when Robach and Holmes might return. Last week, Robach and Holmes were on-air serving up news and banter that are a regular part of the afternoon showcase.
“GMA3,” an afternoon extension of “Good Morning America,” has been successful for the network. In 2021, the program generated nearly $43.4 million in advertising, a jump of 26.1% from the nearly $34.4 million it captured in the previous year. The show was originally created for light celebrity news and conversation, hosted by Michael Strahan and Sara Haines. However, when the coronavirus pandemic hit the program moved more toward news, with Robach (a veteran of “Good Morning America” and “20/20”), along with medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, co-hosting the hour-long program.
Actress Kirstie Alley has died at age 71 after a battle with cancer.
Alley’s family and her manager announced the news Monday night, with Alley’s children True and Lillie Parker writing a statement on Alley’s social media pages: “To all our friends, far and wide around the world…We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered. She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead. As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother. We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at the Moffitt Cancer Center for their care. Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did. We thank you for your love and prayers and ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time. With love always, True and Lillie Parker“
Alley first appeared in the 1982 film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” playing the Vulcan Starfleet officer Lieutenant Saavik. Then in 1987 Alley landed her breakout role, joining the cast of the sitcom “Cheers” to replace Shelley Long, where she remained until the series finale in 1993. Alley’s performance as Rebecca Howe earned her an Emmy Award in 1991 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. The actress also starred in 1989’s Look Who’s Talking as well as two sequels, opposite her close friend John Travolta. The 68-year-old Travolta honored his friend on Instagram following the news of her passing, sharing a photo of himself with Alley along with the caption: “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had. I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”
Alley is survived by grandson Waylon, 6, as well as her two children, William True Stevenson, 30, and Lillie Stevenson, 28, who she shared with ex-husband Parker Stevenson.
