Month: December 2023

The Northwest Regional Correction Center reported the arrest of the following-

Teejay Ignacio Alvarez, 28, of Fosston, for domestic abuse and violation of a no-contact order.

Alexander Jordan Drydal, 19, of Mcitosh, for domestic assault by strangulation.

The post ARREST/FIRE REPORT-DECEMBER 21 appeared first on KROX.

The Golden Link Senior Center will have SAIL this afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m.

The Crookston Eagles Club will have Bar Bingo tonight starting at 6:30 p.m. The kitchen will serve baskets.

The Golden Link Senior Center will be closed on Friday, December 22.

The Crookston Eagles Club will have Bar Bingo on Friday, December 22, starting at 6:30 p.m. This is a $500 must-go jackpot, and the kitchen will serve baskets.

The Crookston Eagles Club will have the Johnny Holm Band on Saturday, December 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Admission requires a $10 cover charge, and you must be 21 or over to attend.

The Crookston Eagles Club will have Bar Bingo on Saturday, December 23, starting at 2:00 p.m. This is a $400 must-go jackpot.

Crookston City Hall will be closed on Monday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

The Crookston Eagles Club will be closed on Monday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

The Golden Link Senior Center will be closed on Monday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

The Fisher American Legion will be closed on Monday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

The Polk County Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas Holiday.

All clinics at Riverview will be closed on Monday, December 25 in observance of the Christmas Holiday.

Garbage collection for Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day) will be collected on Tuesday, December 26.

The Fisher American Legion will have Wednesday Burger Night on Wednesday, December 27.

The Polk County Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s.

All Clinics at Riverview Health will be closed on Monday, January 1, for the New Year’s holiday. As a reminder, the Emergency Department is always open. 

On Saturday, January 6, the Friends of Rydell and Glacial Ridge Refuges Association will host a Snowshoe Lacing Workshop at the Rydell NWR Visitor Center. The one-day workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Class participants will learn how to lace their pair of Ojibwa-style snowshoes. This is a fun, hands-on class. You’ll be able to work at your own pace with provided instructions and friendly presenters to assist you along the way. Snacks and lunch will be provided, courtesy of the Friends of Rydell and Glacial Ridge Refuges Association. Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited to 20 participants. The deadline for registration is December 15. For more information and to get a registration form, contact Bill Peterson at 218-280-1109 or bpeterso@umn.edu

The Care and Share in Crookston will have an Open Heart Open Doors Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, January 20, at the Crookston Eagles Hall. Social hour will be at 5:00, dinner of walleye or prime rib at 6:00, and Silent Auction and games at 7:00. Cost is $50 per ticket; call the Care and Share at 218-281-2644 for ticket information. Proceeds will go towards a cargo van.

CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Salvation Army Bell Ringing has begun and runs through Christmas Eve. Individuals and organizations interested in ringing the bell can register online at www.registertoring.com. Shifts are available seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. outside of Walmart in Crookston. For more info,  email Cody Kill at codykill@usc.salvationarmy.org or Garett Bengtson at garett.bengtson@gmail.com or call 701-741-2329.

This holiday season, you can sponsor a bell in loving memory or honor of a special veteran or soldier through December 31. The cost to sponsor is $1, and the bell will be hung on a tree displayed at the Main Street Courtyard in downtown Crookston for the month of December. Sponsor a bell by stopping at Scott’s True Value in Crookston or contact Kim Ringdahl at 218-281-7762, Jamie Cassavant at 218-289-0865, or Pam DeLage at 218-415-1615.

Cobblestone Hotel and Suites in Crookston will have a Mitten Tree in support of Crookston Family Services through December 30 in loving memory of Kim Samuelson of R.B.J.’s local restaurant. There will be hats, gloves, and scarves for all ages, one item per person.

The Benedictine Living Community Crookston Auxiliary is accepting donations for their Light Up A Life Display. Your gift of $5 will light up a bulb in memory of a friend, loved one, or someone living whom you wish to honor. Please make checks payable to Benedictine Auxiliary, 516 Walsh, Crookston, MN. 56716. Donations will go towards the Benedictine Auxiliary Living Community in Crookston. The Light Up A Life Display will be lit from dusk to dawn until January 5. Please join them at the entrance of the Villa for the lighting on December 17 at 5:00 p.m. for cocoa and cookies.

As the Crookston Care and Share expands, its women’s dormitories are in need of twin bed frames, dressers, lamps, and end tables. Donate: call 218-281-2644.

The Crookston Squadron Civil Air Patrol meets every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Call 218-281-3954 for more information.

Highland Elementary School is looking for new or used winter gloves and snow pants in sizes 8, 9, and 10. If you are interested in donating or have any questions, call 218-281-5600.

Parents of children are invited to register their children for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program provides one book every month to your child for FREE from when you enroll until they turn five. Crookston Public School manages the program, and you can register at www.ImaginationLibrary.com.

The Crookston Care and Share is now accepting donations of Women’s, Men’s, and children’s clothing, toiletries, and other everyday items. Donations may be dropped off at the Care and Share Center at 220 East Third Street or call 281-2644. The Donation Room is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Every Tuesday (except for Federal Holidays), The Crookston Public Library will host New Born Baby Talk from 9:30 am. to 11:00 a.m. This is for parents with babies 0-12 weeks old. A public health nurse, parent educator, and lactation specialist will be available to answer questions about your newborn and provide support and information on your new journey of parenting.

The Crookston Public Library’s Books & Brews Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6:30 p.m. at Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. They will discuss books and enjoy beverages. Appetizers are provided by the Friends of the Crookston Public Library; participants are responsible for the cost of their food and drinks. All are welcome.

The Crookston Public Library’s Reading by the Red Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6:30 p.m. They will discuss books and enjoy beverages.

The Crookston Public Library will have StoryTime every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Golden Link is serving noon lunch Monday through Friday. All are welcome to dine in between the hours of 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Crookston Friends of the Library meet on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

The Crookston Library Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m.

The Cove Youth Center in Crookston is open Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Students and parents should call ahead to check the availability of the youth center at 218-470-0149.

The Crookston Care and Share Center’s Donation and New Hope Food Shelf will be open every Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and every Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more information or to donate, call 218-277-0000.

The post BULLETIN BOARD-DECEMBER 21, 2023 appeared first on KROX.

The Crookston City Council held a special meeting Wednesday night in the City Hall council chambers and set the final 2024 levy.

CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS FINAL LEVY AND CITY TAX INCREASE

The final levy for the city of Crookston has been set at 18.063% increase. This levy will be certified by the county by December 28. The county will then take the city’s levy and create the final real estate taxes payable in the 2024 statement.

“Everything up to today has been preliminary; once you get your tax statement in the spring, it will show this 18.063% levy, not 65.09% increase,” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds, “The council and department heads did a great job in getting this down, on their own and also in response to the citizen’s thoughts.”

The city’s tax rate was also established during the meeting. The tax rate has been adjusted based on the levy and has been set at a 4.5% increase from last year.

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOLLOWING LEVY’S ESTABLISHMENT

The council approved the resolution regarding the Sick and Safe Time policy, which has also recently been approved by the state legislature. Full-time employees can work up to 48 hours of Sick and Safe Time, while part-time employees can earn up to 16 hours.

The council also approved the resolution regarding Maintaining Facilities related to the Highway 2 Corridor improvements in downtown Crookston. The city will be responsible for the typical upkeep of the road. “In 2027, we will be shrinking the number of lanes from three to two on each of the one-ways,” said Reynolds, “This will be on Broadway and Main Street. The city will have the same responsibilities we’ve always had regarding those two streets.”

The Highway 2 Corridor improvements will be funded through the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), which is a grant program from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which the council has since also approved.

The final item on the agenda was a resolution regarding the City of Crookston’s establishment of committed fund balances. “What happens at the end of every year (fiscally) is there are accounting entries,” said Reynolds. “There are accounting funds that have to be transferred from one account to another, having the December 28 deadline.”

The city’s financial department has not yet been able to calculate which funds need to exhibit transfers, nor have they been able to determine the amount. The council ultimately approved the authorization to do the transfers, and they will receive a presentation on which funds have been transferred with the amount to each fund.

The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the Truth in Taxation hearing and the city council meeting minutes from December 11. It also had the approval of bills and disbursements for $ 126,252.68.

To watch the full meeting, click here.

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The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday at the Polk County Government Center after they set the final levy.

POLK COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

Polk County Engineer Richard Sanders addressed the board and was searching for approval regarding the purchase of a loader-mounted snow blower. The highway department received a quote for a Larue d50 snow blower from McQueen out of Minneapolis for approximately $227,000.

The board approved the purchase, and the funds used for the purchase will be out of the 2024 Polk County Highway Department budget. “In a typical winter, we get wind blizzards and a lot of drifting areas in the county that fill in,” said Sanders, “We have to snow blow that snow out. The county owns two snow blowers. One is a self-propelled snow blower unit, and the other is this front-end loader attached snow blower, and these blowers go out county wide and snow blow intersections and dips where roads fill in with snow whenever they need to.”

Sanders also explained that this winter has been mild, and the blowers have not been used yet. However, when major blizzards come about, it is vital to Polk County residents that the streets and highways are clear to drive on. The commissioners ultimately approved the purchase of the snow blower.

The board also approved the application for the Bridge Improvement Program/Raise grant to replace the Miesville bridge. In addition, Widseth agreed to write the budget for the application.

“As part of the federal IIJA transportation bill that the feds passed two years ago, there are grants available for locals to apply for,” said Sanders, “Last year, we had Widseth help us with writing a grant for the bridge improvement program. This was to replace the Miesville bridge and the bridge between Hendrum and Norman County.”

Widseth will now update and improve the application submitted to last year’s program and put together the Raise Grant application. As part of the state’s passed transportation bill, they have allocated funds to help counties apply for these grants, and the state can pay up to $30,000 to help spread.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Environmental Services Director Jon Steiner discussed the disbursements of Polk County Hauler Licenses with the board. This will allow waste haulers not to get charged for the disposal of waste in the county.

“This will set the standard for a couple of different things; it allows them to collect waste in Polk County to run at one of the disposable facilities,” said Steiner, “We also charge the tip fee disposal for the household garbage on the tax statement that the hauler does not get charged for at the facility. This is our way of making sure they collect waste under that agreement that they will not get charged.” The board approved the hauler’s license to Beltrami County, Hubbard County, Mahnomen County, Norman County, and Clearwater County.

“We’re also making sure their remaining taxes to the state, and the vehicles are in good standing, they have insurance and bonding if there is a problem,” said Steiner, “The equipment needs to meet D.O.T specs and make sure there aren’t problems with leaking.”

The meeting ended with the board addressing the issue forum, where they made a motion to appoint Judy Meyer to the Extension Committee to serve the last two years of the 2023-2025 term, replacing Brad Grunhovd.

The Polk County Commissioners will meet next Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

The post POLK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE THE SNOW BLOWER PURCHASE AND HAULER LICENSING appeared first on KROX.

With the forecast predicting pleasant weather from Wednesday, December 20, to Friday, December 22, the Crookston Public Works Department is taking the opportunity to tackle the winter aftermath on the streets of Crookston.

Over the next three days, the Public Works team will be out with heavy machinery to remove ice build-up and lingering snow piles. During this period, there will be increased activity and noise from the machinery. Crookston Public Works is asking the community for their patience and understanding as they work to make the roads safer and more navigable.

The Public Works Department is also requesting that citizens give their crews the space and time they need to work efficiently. Avoid parking on the street if possible, and be cautious when driving near their working areas.

The crews will be operational during daylight hours to maximize efficiency and safety. Following the removal of ice and snow, the Public Works team will also be out sanding intersections to ensure they are safe and slip-free.

The Crookston Public Works Department appreciates the community’s cooperation and support as they work to keep Crookston safe and accessible for all.

The post CROOKSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REMOVING SNOW AND ICE THIS WEEK appeared first on KROX.

On December 19, 2023, at around 9:00 a.m. Officers with the Grand Forks Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling northbound on Columbia Rd near the UND campus. The car then fled from officers onto the University Of North Dakota Campus, where it crashed into a snow pile. The suspect fled on foot at 2900 2nd Ave N and was eventually taken into custody in the 2600 block of 5th Ave N.

The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Juan Gutierrez. Gutierrez was transported to the Grand Forks County Correctional Center and was booked on multiple charges and outstanding Federal Warrants. The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office and University Of North Dakota Police assisted with this incident.

Anyone who may have witnessed the event or has any additional information is asked to please contact the police department by one of the following methods:

Call: 701-787-8000

Online: Submit a tip via the GFPD’s Facebook page or website

App: Submit a tip via the Tip411 app

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