Month: October 2023

Grand Forks Public Health (GFPH) will offer influenza vaccine on Wednesdays in October, with the addition of the updated COVID booster upon arrival of the vaccine. The clinics are held at Grand Forks Public Health, 151 S 4^th St, Suite N301, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. GFPH will announce on social media and news release when the COVID-19 vaccine arrives.

“It’s time to start thinking about protecting ourselves and others from influenza and COVID as we head into fall and winter seasons. As respiratory season approaches, GFPH wants to give the community opportunities to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated. We are excited to offer “Walk-In Wednesdays”; no appointments are needed; just walk in. For those without insurance or insurance that doesn’t cover flu or COVID, we have vaccine available at no cost,” said Rachel Flores, Immunization Program Manager at GFPH.

For influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, insurance will be billed. Insurances accepted at GFPH include Medicare Part B, ND Medicaid, Sanford, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Flu and COVID vaccines will also be available for uninsured or underinsured at no cost. Medicare Advantage plans are not accepted.

Walk-in clinics are offered Wednesdays in October from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. By appointment on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, call 701-787-810.

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The Tri-County Corrections Board met Monday at the Northwest Regional Correction Center conference room.

The monthly statistics for September were presented to the board, which included an average daily population of 166 inmates, with 135 male and 31 female. The average daily population for the Juvenile Center was just over six inmates.

The most common causes for incarceration during August were 33 parole/probation violations, 24 DWIs, 22 failure to appear in court, 18 controlled substance abuse cases, and 14 assault/domestic assault instances.

The Juvenile Center is almost entirely staffed with the NWRCC in search of one more full-time corrections position. The secure portion of the Juvenile Center has not been available so far in 2023. Yet, Corrections Executive Director Andrew Larson hopes both sides of the facility may be ready for use by December of this year.

“December may be a realistic possibility for us to get open,” said Larson, “It depends if we can get fully staffed because we can’t open without being fully staffed; even if we lose one full-time, we can’t be open.” Larson also explained that the training process for new hires can take some time, before opening both sides of the facility.

During this year’s Minnesota legislative session, the state has required juvenile facilities to use a risk assessment instrument (RAI) before placing any juvenile in a secure detention environment. Larson gave the board updates on how the RAI is becoming more effective. “We’ve put together a group of local professionals that we’re fortunate to come up with broad representation,” said Larson, “We have representatives from all three counties (Polk, Norman, Red Lake) who have participated in this workgroup and we were able to give an overview of what we wanted to work on.”

Over the past two months, the NWRCC has been able to use instruments and measurements used in other jurisdictions and modified these tools to accommodate the juveniles being tested. “For example, we looked at different types of offenses and then assigned points to those offenses,” said Larson, “This helps us with our decision-making and also how to score aggravating and mitigating factors.”

The NWRCC hosted its annual Resources for Reintegration Event on August 23. Larson said it was a great turnout, with 84% of eligible inmates attending. This event has not happened since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “This year we were finally able to hold the resource fair,” said Larson, “This is just a way to provide inmates with information on resources that are available in our community and to assist them with whatever their needs are.” This event saw local representation and employers, which included American Crystal Sugar, New Flyer of America, and others.

The NWRCC has written a grant for Youth Intervention Programs. This is a two-year grant in the amount of $195,000 with a 50% match. This funding will allow the NWRCC transition staff to make sure minors don’t suffer from out-of-home placement when unnecessary.

The NWRCC also wrote a grant for the Crime Intervention and Prevention Program. This is also a two-year grant in the amount of $500,000. This grant was written to allow the NWRCC to not only continue its pretrial supervision program but to expand it as well. “Right now, we have a pretrial supervision program funded through grant dollars,” said Larson, “We want to continue the program and expand it to incorporate a specific caseload for those who have identified substance use disorder.”

This grant will help fund two full-time positions with benefits, as well as testing for the program.

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The public is invited to attend a celebration of new public hunting land in Steele County at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 13, as part of the 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. The ceremony celebrates approximately 40 acres added to Somerset Wildlife Management Area, located southwest of Owatonna.

The ceremony will include comments from local dignitaries, conservationists, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Explore Minnesota Director Lauren Bennett McGinty, and other local leaders.

“As many fellow hunters will agree, it’s hard to beat fall on the prairies of southern Minnesota. I’m excited about the outdoor opportunities this addition to the Somerset Wildlife Management Area will provide throughout the year,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “I’m grateful to the people and partners who help conserve and steward these lands for the benefit of Minnesotans and visitors alike.”

Bisected by the Straight River, Somerset WMA was an early part of Minnesota’s suite of public lands, dating back to the “Save the Wetlands” Program of the 1950s in Minnesota. It was created in 1957 and dubbed “WMA #157.” It was later named for a nearby township. Somerset WMA has grown to more than 400 acres thanks to work from local groups. Acquisition and habitat work has continued over the years because of groups like Minnesota Pheasants, Inc., the Izaak Walton League, Pheasants Forever, Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited.

“We’re fortunate to have so many groups come together to benefit conservation lands,” said Glenda Smith, the director of conventions and tourism for Visit Owatonna. “We appreciate the recreational opportunities special places like Somerset WMA provide.”

Somerset WMA is known for its diverse habitat and resulting diversity of species. Somerset WMA protects a natural floodplain, oxbow wetlands, and lowland hardwoods near the confluence of Turtle Creek and the Straight River. Further upland, it has oaks, grasslands, and brushlands that provide habitat for deer, small game, pheasants, and turkeys, among other species.

“The benefit of this land goes beyond wildlife habitat and recreational hunting and fishing,” Owatonna Area Wildlife Manager Jeanine Vorland said. “Somerset WMA provides a natural floodplain along the Straight River and Turtle Creek and helps maintain water quality in Steele County. We’re very fortunate for the conservation-minded leaders who established the ‘Save the Wetlands’ program and subsequent programs like the Reinvest In Minnesota and Outdoor Heritage Funds to protect sensitive areas like Somerset WMA.”

The parcel is located southwest of Owatonna in Steele County. The wildlife management area has limited parking, so public members are strongly encouraged to use bussing provided at the Steele County Fairgrounds. Bus routes will begin at 3:45 that day.

The celebration is part of the 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. Gov. Walz leads the weekend festivities, which feature many hunting, recreational, and travel opportunities Owatonna has to offer visitors.

As the Steele County seat, Owatonna is situated at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 14 and has a population of 26,402. Steele County has strong ties to agriculture and has a skilled and diverse workforce thanks to a high concentration of manufacturing jobs. Steele County also outpaces the nation in the percentage of finance and insurance jobs.

Explore Minnesota and the Minnesota DNR are assisting Visit Owatonna in planning the event.

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