The Crookston High School’s annual Snow Fest is next week, February 6-10, with the theme of a Snow Fest Road Trip, where for each day of the week, the school will hold special themes for the students based on four states around the United States.
Student Council Advisor Linda Morgan first shared that on Monday, the school will first “travel” to Washington D.C. and will have a theme of a USA Day, where the students wear red, white, and blue or other American flag attire. On Tuesday, the school will “travel” to Florida and celebrate a Beach Day, where students can dress in Hawaiian shirts and shorts and look ready to catch some rays while competing in fun activities organized by the Student Council. “On Tuesday, the kids came up with an Escape Room. So, they’re organizing all of that. I’m staying out of that part, so they’re going to organize that within the classrooms for each grade from 9th through 12th grade will have their own little escape room,” Linda Morgan explained. “I’m not quite sure how it works, the girls are handling it, and I’m letting them be in charge of that activity for that day. I’m very proud of the kids doing it. They’re taking charge and organizing it. I’m glad they’re taking charge of that activity.”
On Wednesday, the school will “travel” to Texas and celebrate a Cowboy/Cowgirl Day before taking part in various activities for prizes in the High School gymnasium. “On Wednesday, we’re going to have activities for the 9th through 12th grade. We’re going to take them into the gym, and we have four activities planned,” Linda Morgan explained. “Then we’re also going to announce the Snow Fest royalty, I’m currently busy getting that counted at the ballots for the 9th through 12th grade, and we’ll announce that first before we do four different activities. We’ll have sign-ups for those activities with each grade. They’re competing against each other. We’ll have events like the three-legged race, a surfing game, and a balloon game.” While the senior high students partake in that, the junior high students will play Bingo. On Thursday, the school will “travel” to California, where they will celebrate Frat Day, to wear items of college frats. The school will finish the week off by returning home to celebrate Pirate Pride Day on Friday. The school will operate on an Assembly Schedule because it holds a Pep Fest at the end of the day, where the seniors of the winter sports teams will be recognized before performing another series of activities with the team seniors. Along with the sports seniors, the school’s Dance Team will perform a few routines for the students.
To finish the week, the school will have its Snow Fest Dance for the students. The Junior High Dance will be from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., while the Senior High Dance will be from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. The school will use a set music playlist for the dance and have many games for them to play. “It’s more of a casual, formal dance. The girls like to get dressed,” Linda Morgan explained. “If you are bringing an out-of-town guest, you need to come to the office and get signed up for that, and so they have papers on that if you’re bringing in an out-of-town guest.”
We will have pictures of the students and all of the major events happening in Snow Fest throughout the week, so stay tuned to kroxam.com for pictures and results of the week.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect accused of torturing a woman he held captive in southern Oregon last week died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an hours-long standoff. Police also said that the suspect, Benjamin Foster, is accused of killing two other people in the days before his death. Authorities discovered the site of the double homicide located in the same area where Foster had eluded being captured. The two victims appear to have died as a result of blunt force trauma, police said. There are no other suspects in their deaths other than Foster.
On Tuesday, Police had received a tip that Foster was believed to have taken a cab from around Wolf Creek to Grants Pass at about 7 a.m., a roughly 20-mile ride. Law enforcement located Foster in Grants Pass, the same place where he was accused of torturing a woman. A standoff at the home where the woman was found ensued, with Foster resistant to law enforcement’s efforts to communicate with him. The standoff ended when Foster, who had “burrowed deep underneath the home,” shot himself in the head, police said. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Foster had been the subject of an intensive manhunt in southwestern Oregon after a woman was found tortured, unconscious, and near death in a house in Grants Pass on Jan. 24. As of Wednesday, she remains hospitalized in critical condition.
An employee of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority was killed, and three other people were injured after a lone gunman opened fire at the Potomac Avenue Metro station in Washington on Wednesday morning.
According to Ashan Benedict, executive assistant chief of police for the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting occurred at about 9 a.m. when the suspect was involved in an altercation on a Metrobus, Washington’s public bus system. After the bus stopped, the suspect followed the person they were arguing with and shot them, striking them in the leg. The injured party was able to escape and be transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect then went to the Metro station and shot another person in the leg while they were trying to buy a pass for the train; they were also brought to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect then got into an altercation with a woman, when a transit authority employee tried to de-escalate the situation and were shot and killed. A second employee successfully stopping the shooting before some bystanders tackled the suspect, and law enforcement arrived on the scene. Said Benedict of the transit employee who was killed: “His heroism has to be recognized here today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family and theheroic actions he took here today. It’s unclear what the motive of all of this is.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said: “We don’t know a lot about this shooter at this moment other than we had a person with a gun who has created yet another tragedy in our city…. Whether it’s the Metro, it’s the street, it’s individual homes, we know that we have guns that are creating tragedies in our city and our nation and we all have to be very focused on tha… t I know that we will work hand in hand with Metro to make sure that our officers are working this investigation and being just as supportive as possible.”
Jaafar Jackson will portray his uncle, the legendary Michael Jackson, in the upcoming biopic “Michael,” director Antoine Fuqua announced on social media. “Michael” will be the first major film role for Jaafar Jackson, the second-youngest son to Jermaine Jackson, whose brother was Michael Jackson.
“Michael” will depict the legacy of the man who became known as the King of Pop. According to Lionsgate Studios, the film will explore all aspects of Jackosn’s life, “including his most iconic performances that led him to become the greatest entertainer of all time.” The film is being made with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson estate. Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, said “Jaafar embodies my son. It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers.”
Producer Graham King said they held a worldwide casting search for the title role before finding the actor who would portray Jackson: “I met Jaafar over two years ago and was blown away by the way he organically personifies the spirit and personality of Michael. It was something so powerful that even after conducting a worldwide search, it was clear that he is the only person to take on this role. I am beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson.” Added Fuqua: “It’s incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life. There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera.”
Beyoncé announced on Wednesday that she will launch a 2023 world tour of Europe and North America, dubbed the ‘Renaissance World Tour’. The superstar shared the news on her website, and posted a photo on Instagram of her riding a silver horse (a picture that matches the art on her Renaissance album cover) along with the caption: “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR 2023.”
The Renaissance tour will kick off in Stockholm, Sweden on May 10, and travel across Europe for the following two months.. The North American leg of the tour begins July 8 in Toronto, Ontario, with her first stop in the U.S. on July 12 in Philadelphia. The tour official wraps up on Sept. 27 in New Orleans, La.
Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 6., with presale tickets available for members of BeyHive (register here). Citi credit card holders can also purchase presale tickets: here. Tickets for North American tour dates require registration for a Verified Fan code via Ticketmaster: here.
Crookston School District residents……Make sure to vote Yes on February 14 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you can’t vote on the 14th, stop by the Crookston School District office and request an absentee ballot. Also, if you have kids at college that still consider Crookston home, have them fill out the absentee ballot if they can’t make it to town on the 14th. We need to make sure we get this passed to show the kids and community we care, and we want to turn Crookston into a progressive community, a forward-thinking community, and show we have some smart and educated people in town that get it. Enough of the loser mentality of voting no on things that help kids and the community.
VOTE YES!
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MAILBAG
I received this email from an East Grand Forks parent after last week’s girl’s basketball game. Always nice to hear positive comments.
Just wanted to let you know how much your broadcasts are appreciated. I’m an EGF parent, and last Thursday, with the blustery weather, some parents/grandparents/fans didn’t make the drive. I heard from many how nice it was that the game was streamed and called by you, and what a nice job you did. Crookston is lucky to have you!
I also received an email from the North Dakota Sports Writer of the Year, Tom Miller.
Chris,
I tried to send my original email to idontcarewhatyouthink@biteme.com, but the inbox must be full.
Just wanted to say thanks for the shoutout in Sports Feever.
Sports Feever is required weekly reading in my book. Nobody knows their stuff in the region like you. Thanks for doing it.
– Tom
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Now it is time for the “world-famous” Chris Fee’s top 3.
SECTION 8AA GIRLS BASKETBALL –
Perham looks to have a lock on the top seed, but the next 10 to 13 teams are still up in the air as every game the rest of the season is going to be big for seeding purposes.
Perham (17-1 on the year and 11-0 in Section play)
Thief River Falls (14-4 overall and 7-3 in Section play, including a 10 point win over Pelican Rapids)
Crookston (11-6 overall and 8-3 in Section play)
On the outside looking in – Pelican Rapids, Hawley, Barnesville (the only three that have a .500 or winning section record)
SECTION 8A GIRLS BASKETBALL –
1. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (14-3 overall 9-1 in the section)
2. Kelliher/Northome (13-2 overall and 8-0 in the section)
3. Fertile-Beltrami (16-3 overall and 14-3 in the section)
Just out of the top 3 – Fosston, Goodridge/Grygla.
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SECTION 8AA BOYS BASKETBALL –
Not much has changed in this weeks top 3.
Perham (15-1 overall and 8-1 in the section, but still the best defensive team with the toughest schedule)
Thief River Falls (14-2 overall and 10-0 in the section. They might be the toughest matchup for Perham)
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (14-3 overall and 9-1 in the section)
Just missing the top 3 – Pelican Rapids, Barnesville
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SECTION 8A BOYS BASKETBALL-
This is by far the toughest top 3 this week. It is really a top 6 so that is what I am doing – yes I am taking the easy way!
1. Sacred Heart (15-2 overall with a big win at Nevis and they keep getting better each week! They are 14-1 in the section and have won 9 in a row against decent competition.)
2. Cass Lake-Bena (15-1 overall and 5-0 in the section. They are always a tough team to beat, especially on the big floor)
3. Ada-Borup-West (15-2 overall and 6-1 in the section)
4. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (15-2 overall and 10-2 in the section)
5. Fosston (13-3 overall and 8-1 in the section. They are still looking for more consistency)
T6. Fertile-Beltrami (13-5 overall and 11-3 in the section) and Northern Freeze (10-6 overall and 8-5 in the section. The Freeze are going to be a tough team to beat in the playoffs and are capable of a run.)
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SECTION 8A BOYS HOCKEY –
Some things never change in Section 8A hockey –
Warroad (19-0 overall and I am saying the best high school hockey team in the state. They are 3-0 in section play.
East Grand Forks (12-7 overall and 3-0 in section play. Obviously, they haven’t played Warroad yet because they play on February 6 at EGF and February 7 at Warroad!!!
Thief River Falls (9-10-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the section. They have a tie early in the season with Detroit Lakes)
Just outside the top 3 – Detroit Lakes (14-4-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the section)
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SECTION 8A WRESTLING – I still think Section 8A wrestling looks like this. 1. Frazee
2. UNC
3. Fosston-Bagley
4. Crookston (lost to FosB by three in the only dual they have)
5. BGMR
6. Barnesville
7. Mahnomen-Waubun
8. Fertile-Beltrami
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Fertile-Beltrami Girls Basketball’s Josie Iverson scored the 1,000th point of her career by making a free throw last week! Josie and the Falcons are playing some great basketball and seem to keep getting better as the season progresses. Congratulations to Josie!!
Picture by Linda Widrig of the Fertile Journal
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Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton’s Owen Leach grabbed the 1,000th rebound of his career last week. He holds the school record for rebounds. Leach also scored 2,309 career points as of last weekend. That is also a DGF school record. Congrats to Owen on his record-breaking career. Leach has committed to play basketball at the University of Minnesota Duluth next year.
Owen Leach – Picture courtesy of DGF School District
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Fosston High School’s Cullen Norland, a multi-sport athlete has announced he has signed to play baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead next year.
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Minnesota State Mankato Maverick associate head coach Todd Knott was named the recipient American Hockey Coaches Association Terry Flanagan Award as the nation’s top assistant coach the association announced on Wednesday.
Knott, who joined the Minnesota State men’s hockey program an assistant coach in June of 2009, was promoted to associate head coach in the summer of 2018. During his time with Minnesota State, Knott has been a member of coaching staffs that have led the Mavericks to seven NCAA Division I tournament appearances, six Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championships, three WCHA postseason championships, a CCHA regular season and tournament title and two appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four (2021, 22).
Regarded as one of the top talent evaluators and recruiters in men’s college hockey, a total of 13 former Mavericks have debuted in the National Hockey League during Knott’s time with Minnesota State. And as a member of Mike Hastings‘ coaching staff, Knott has helped lead Minnesota State to the nation’s best record over the course of the last ten seasons with a 292-107-96 win-loss mark.
Born and raised in Red Lake Falls, MN, Knott played in the USHL with Lincoln in 1998-99 and was a forward for Bemidji State from 1999-2002, where he tallied 14-9-23 in 72 games for the Beavers. Knott earned a degree in physical education from BSU in 2002.
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The Division II football signing day was Wednesday, and a few area players signed with Bemidji State, Minnesota State Moorhead, and Northern State. They are listed below –
Bemidji State Football signed the following area players –
Ridge Flatness, 6-0/185, LB, Blackduck (MN)
Flatness helped Blackduck win eight games for the most successful season in over two decades this past year. The team advanced to the section championship game for just the second time since 1998. During his senior season, Flatness tallied 105.5 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also averaged 14 yards per rush and seven yards per catch on his way to recording 10 total touchdowns.
Ethan Biehn, 5-10/170, WR, Bemidji (MN)
Biehn will stay home to compete for the Beavers after playing his prep career in Bemidji. He earned several accolades throughout his career including two-time All-District, Offensive MVP with 1,137 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season. Academic All-State and was a captain. In addition to his football honors, Biehn also collected the Golden Cleat Award in baseball and was a captain for both the baseball and basketball teams. One of his best sports memories came playing under the Friday night lights in the section championship game. Biehn was strong in the classroom being named to the National Honor Society, Academic Pin Achiever and four-year academic letterwinner. His brother, Isaiah, currently competes for the BSU baseball program. His dad, Duane, transferred to BSU to play baseball.
Eli Pfeiffer, 6-1/200, FB/LS, Walker (MN)
Pfeiffer earned a multitude of honors from his senior year including, Minnesota State High School League All-Section Player, Northwest All-District and earned an academic award for holding an over 3.5 GPA. Pfeiffer opened his prep career strong picking up seven wins and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Walker won six-straight games at one point that season. Pfeiffer helped Walker close this past season strong with three wins over their final five games.
Minnesota State Moorhead has signed the following area players –
Dallen Ernst, DL (Breckenridge, Minn. – Breckenridge High School)
Tallied 21 tackles, 32 assisted tackles, two forced fumbles and two sacks as a senior…offense rushed for 283 yards per game where he was a member of the offensive line…All-State academic, All-Section, All-District, MVP of the offensive line and team captain as a senior. Son of Julie and Clayton Ernst. Undecided major.
Anthony Sykora, DB (Hoffman, Minn. – West Central-Ashby High School)
Had senior marks of 175 carries, 1395 yards, 14 touchdowns…Added 655 passing yards and nine touchdowns…Also made 42 catches for 210 Yards and three touchdowns…Was named an all-state performer as a senior…A three-time all-district player as well. Son of Joan and Lee Sykora. Majoring in education.
Derek Tibbetts, LB (Hawley, Minn. – Hawley High School)
7.3 Yards per carry in 18 varsity games played/started…four rushing TD in a single game…9.5 tackles in single game…46 solo tackles…two-Time all-section player…conference honorable mention twice. Son of Crystal and T.J. Tibbetts. Undecided major
Northern State Football signed the following area players –
Gaabi Boucha – Warroad, Minn. / Warroad HS
Gaabi Boucha is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker out of Warroad High School. He was a 3-year starter and senior team captain for the Warriors under the direction of head coach Gabe Richerds. As a running back for WHS, Boucha recorded 1,071 rushing yards his senior season. In addition, he was a 2-time all-conference selection. He is the son of Tara Boucha.
Logan Okstad – Grand Forks, N.D. / Red River HS
Logan Okstad is a 5-foot-7, 185-pound running back out of Red River High School. He was a 2-year starter and senior team captain for the Rough Riders under the direction of head coach Vyrn Muir. As a senior, Okstad recorded over 1000 all-purpose yards, 484 yards rushing, 112 yards receiving, and 408 yards on kick returns. He averaged 6.8 yards per rushing with four rushing touchdowns and added two receiving scores. Red River won back-to-back EDC Championships and advanced to the state semifinals in 2022. He is the son of Mindy Johnston and Jason Okstad.
Nolan Pieper – Grand Forks, N.D. / Red River HS
Nolan Pieper is a 6-foot-2, 255-pound offensive lineman out of Red River High School. He was a 3-year starter for the Rough Riders under the direction of head coach Vyrn Muir. Pieper earned EDC All-Conference accolades in the fall of 2022 and was a nominee for the North Dakota Shrine Bowl. Red River went 8-3 on the year and advanced to the state semifinals. He is the son of Mike and Jennifer Pieper.
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We have updated the Boys and Girls Hockey, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Wrestling rankings. To see them click on the link below –
The 2023 East Grand Forks Sports Boosters Youth Basketball tournament will be held March 10-12. The registration link is up and ready. Go to greenwaveboosters.com and click on the Youth Basketball Tourney tab to get your team registered.
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The Crookston Pirate Winter Sports schedule has been updated again. To see the latest schedules, click below.
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JOKES
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Emma Osborn is a freshman playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.
Jacey Larson is a freshman playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Olivia Huck is a freshman playing soccer at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Brooks Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Aleah Bienek is a freshman playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Elise Tangquist is the Assistant Girl’s Volleyball and Assistant Girl’s Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a sophomore playing golf at Dakota Weslyan.
Joslynn Leach is a sophomore playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Norway.
Kate MacGregor is senior swimming at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Aleece Durbin is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Nick Garmen is a junior playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Emily Meyer is the Pirate head girls’ hockey coach and softball assistant coach. Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball coach.
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls’ Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Crookston Community Pool Supervisor Marley Melbye is the Head Girls’ Swimming coach
Brock Hanson is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach. Ben Halos is a Pirate Baseball assistant coach.
Alex LaFrance is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head coach Wes Hanson is the Pirate Wrestling Head Coach and assistant boys golf coach Kevin Weber is a Pirate Boys Basketball volunteer assistant coach Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach Sam Melbye is the Pirate Boys J.V. Hockey coach Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc –
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys’ Tennis coach at Delano.
Katy Westrom is the Head Girl’s Tennis Coach and Head Boys’ Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming.
Mike Hastings is the Minnesota State Mankato Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Ben Andringa is serving our country with the Army and is deployed to Iraq for nine months.
Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy.
Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and a grad of West Point and currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Erik Ellingson is serving our country with the U.S. Air Force at Minot.
Philip Kujawa, class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com.
On behalf of the Polk County Salvation Army, we would like once again to say thank you to our friends and supporters who have given donations and their time to the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign. The Christmas Kettle Campaign is the county’s Salvation Army’s most vital fundraiser accounting for nearly 75% of its annual fund-raising totals. It is vital because we depend on this support to fund year-round programs. Also, we would like to put out a SPECIAL THANKS to our local United Way in Crookston for their financial support assistance. Also, to Walmart, Hugo’s, M and H Gas, Ampride, Crookston LEO Club, Fosston Lions, Fertile Lions, St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Allan and Judy Dragseth, Ray Nelson, Fertile, Sheriff Jim Tadman, Chief Deputy Mike Norland, and Police Chief Darren Selzer, for assisting with our annual Kettle Program. Also, to those who have sent financial contributions via mail.
It is only with generous support from a community such as ours that the Salvation Army can continue to offer assistance for food certificates for the needy, utilities, the homeless, school supplies, fire victims, visitations to the nursing homes, gas for emergency travel, toys to less fortunate children, and back-to-school supplies to name a few.
More than quick fixes, those solutions reflect the Salvation Army’s ability to make a difference in millions of lives. Through immediate response, long-term planning, and compassion, we will continue to strive for excellence in our ability to assist others. Be assured that our goal is to continually make a difference.
From volunteerism to contributions, we appreciate the kindness, compassion, and generosity that our community shows and continues to show. Your support has helped us make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Sincerely,
Regional Salvation Army Field Rep Cody Kill and members: Polk County Sheriff Jim Tadman, Crookston Police Chief Darren Selzer, Crookston Fire Dept Bob Magsam, Polk County Social Service Amy Solie, Erskine area Rep David Hinkley, Fertile area Ray Nelson, Fosston Lions, and Margee Keller
Hugo’s Family Marketplace from Crookston also presented a generous donation to the Polk County Salvation Army. A picture of the donation with Linda Peterson from Hugo’s and Chief of Police Darren Selzer presenting the check to Margee Keller can be seen below-
(From left to right) Linda Peterson from Hugo’s and Chief of Police Darren Selzer and Margee Keller representing Polk County Salvation Army.
The Minnesota School Board Association announced that NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Independent School District No. 593 shall perform a public accuracy test of the DS200 and Omni Ballot voting system to be used in the District’s February 14, 2023, special election. The test shall be conducted at the District Office of Crookston Public Schools, Crookston, MN, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Interested individuals are authorized to attend and observe. If you have any questions, please contact Marilyn Wahouske at 218-281-5313 ext. 3.
The Crookston Public School District’s Safety Committee meeting on Wednesday night to discuss different issues in each school in the district in the Crookston High School Atrium.
OLD BUSINESS
The board began the meeting with Northwest Service Co-op Health & Safety Project Coordinator Brian Byklum reporting they had done some drug and alcohol testing recently and said they would bring that up for the school’s transportation department over the next two months for them to be tested without any forewarning to get the most accurate results “The testing is for the transportation department and the bus drivers, and it’s random,” Brian Byklum explained. “So I won’t let Transportation Director Rick know until the day of or the day before I show up, so the drivers that are going to be tested don’t know about it until that day.”
Community Projects Travis Oliver reported that after they had heard complaints about loose chairs in the Crookston High School Auditorium, he had gotten five students from his Community Projects class to fix the chairs and re-anchored them to the floor. The school had received reports of the entrance being slippery and requested the school to lay down more carpets to prevent injuries or incidents.
Byklum explained he ordered the Lead Water testing kits from Twin City Water to test the school’s drinking and cooking water to test if it was safe for the students to consume and staff to use. He had ordered the kits recently and was hoping to receive them to test the water over the next two to three weeks.
NEW BUSINESS
Byklum reported he had printed out a Safe Schools Training Log and that he was taking the bus drivers and four others who the school no longer employed off the list of people who had to complete it, which left them with seven employees who still needed to complete it.
Byklum then explained he had completed actions for the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), which deals with chemicals that exceed certain limits in weight or the number of gallons, and made a report of it to Homeland Security. “The School District has to report that to Homeland Security that they have that quantity of chemicals on hand. Whether it’s, in this case, here in the district, we have 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel at the bus garage and 2,000 gallons of gas. Then we have four 1,000-gallon tanks of propane here at the High School that have to be reported to Homeland Security.” Crookston Transportation Director Rick Niemela reported they had completed the forms and sent them to Homeland Security and a copy to the Crookston Fire Department for review.
Byklum then reported on issues he had received about the eyewash station in the High School woodshop class and found that the flow for the two fountains was not even. “According to OSHA requirements, you have to have an even flow of water, and it currently doesn’t provide that, so I recommended that they have that replaced,” Brian Byklum explained. “So, the school will either purchase the eyewash or have a plumber purchase and come in to install it.” Byklum also requested Travis Oliver to conduct other housekeeping issues that needed to be done daily to prevent slip hazards for the students to prevent any accidents in his classes.
Tammy Warcken of Highland reported that there were lights flickering and going out in the school’s parking lot since the week before Christmas when the temperatures dropped extremely low and requested for Rick Niemela to check them. Niemela reported that they would look into repairing it in the summer with other summer repairs and projects.
The Crookston Public School Safety Committee will next meet on Wednesday, March 15.
