OUR SAVIORS LUTHERAN SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE IN BIBLE BOWL

Our Savior’s Lutheran School in Crookston had 11 students compete at the Minnesota North Lutheran Schools Bible Bowl Competition in Walker on Saturday.

The Crookston fourth-grade team earned third place, the fifth-grade team earned second place, the sixth-grade team earned first place, and the seventh/eighth-grade team earned second place.

Members of the team are Ruby Larson, Blake Brockpahler, Caden Perry, Eliza DeBoer, Teagan Stueber, Hattie Larson, Hallie Perry, Tatum Brockpahler, Hadley Dans, Soren DeBoer, and Gus Kangesier.

John Francis Abeld – OBIT

John Francis Abeld, 75, of Crookston, MN, passed away at his home Friday evening, March 8, 2024, with his loving family at his side. He had been courageously battling cancer for several years.

John was born at Austin, MN on June 23, 1948, the son of Richard and Evelyn (Bissen) Abeld. He was baptized and received first communion at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in nearby Rose Creek, MN where he grew up. John began his education in the St. Peter’s Catholic School. In 1958 the family moved to Crookston where John attended and graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1966. While in school and after graduation he worked alongside his father and brother, James, on the family’s farm in Parnell Township. In the spring of 1968, John entered the US Army and served as a Chaplain’s Assistant in Viet Nam. Following his honorable discharge in 1970 he returned to Crookston and resumed working on the farm. On December 7, 1973, John was united in marriage to Carol Jean Edna Carlson at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Church in Dorothy, MN, the church where John was confirmed. He and Carol made their first home in Crookston Township where they started their family which would grow to include Tracy, Lisa, Tammy, Richard, John, and Jeff. They later moved a little further north of Crookston to Parnell Township. In 1998 John and Carol moved into Crookston. No matter where he and Carol called home John didn’t retire from farming until he was called to his heavenly home last Friday evening.

John enjoyed fishing and hunting but one of his favorite pastimes was working on his lawn and landscaping his backyard, making it into a beautiful and serene spot where he could share special moments with Carol and their family. He loved his kids and their families dearly and he and Carol were so proud of each and every one of them. Still being able to kid and tease the grandkids was the best medicine he could ever have even as he continued to grow weaker with each passing day.

John was a devoted member of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception parish and also held membership in Crookston VFW Post 1902.

John will be very sadly missed and lovingly remembered by Carol, his wife and best friend for over 50 years; their 5 children: Lisa Thoreson of Grand Forks, ND; Tammy and Billy Dickerson, Richard Abeld, John Abeld, and Jeff Abeld, all of Crookston; son-in-law, Bill Amiot of Thief River Falls, MN; a very special person in the lives of Carol and her family as she grew up with them, Dawn Resendez of Gary, MN; 17 grandchildren: Christopher Amiot, Ashley (Michael) Berry, Garrett and Gabby Thoreson, Katie Ann, Samantha, Robert, and Laney Dickerson, Michael (JayDee) Abeld, Justin and Marissa Abeld, Brady Ronnie, and Stella, Jonathan, Ryan, Thomas, and Allison Abeld; 2 great-grandchidren, Valerie and Lilah Borges; 4 siblings: James and Carol Abeld of Crookston, Mary Lizotte of Eloy, AZ, Jean E. and Rick McAndrew of Hermiston, OR, and Carol and Gordy Royal of Gold Canyon, AZ; and from Carol’s family: brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: David Carlson of Crookston, Dennis and Jo Carlson of Hurst, TX, and Larry Middleton of Hillsboro, MO; together with several nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

In addition to his beloved daughter, Tracy Lynn Amiot, who sadly passed away on August 26, 2018, John is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Evelyn Abeld; brother-in-law, Doug Lizotte; parents-in-law, Woodrow “Woody” and Stella “Topsy” Carlson; and sisters-in-law, Shirley Ann Carlson and Donna Middleton.

May God richly bless the memory of John Francis Abeld to all who were a part of his life.

Visitation will be at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Friday, March 15th from 5-7:00 p.m., with a prayer service and sharing of memories at 7:00 p.m. This will be livestreamed by going to John’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view.

The Mass of Christian Burial honoring John’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 16, 2024, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston with Msgr. David Baumgartner, presiding. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral which will be livestreamed on both www.crookstoncathedral.com and  www.stenshoelhouske.com. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery. Messages of condolence to Carol and the family may be offered on the funeral home’s website. Military Honors will be provided by the Crookston Veterans Council and the Minnesota National Guard Honors Team.

2024 Oscars: ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Poor Things’ lead the Academy Award winners

The words "Oscars"on a black LED billboard advertising. Oscars ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre

The 96TH ACADEMY AWARDS ceremony was held at the Dolby Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and airing live on ABC.

‘Oppenheimer’ was awarded the Best Picture Oscar, while its stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. won Best Actor and Supporting Actor awards and Christopher Nolan awarded Best Director for the film. Oppenheimer also won the trophies for Best Director, Best Score, Editing and Cinematography.

Emma Stone won her second Oscar for Best Actress for Poor Things, which also was awarded the Oscar for Best Hair & Makeup, Costume Design and Production Design.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Best Supporting Actress statuette for her role in the The Holdovers, while Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell won the Oscar for Best Song for “What Was I Made For” from the film, Barbie.

For the full list of winners, head here: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2024.

Editorial credit: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

Sen. Katie Britt responds to accusations of misleading statement in State of the Union rebuttal

State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress.

Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt is responding to criticism for allegedly misleading comments made during her rebuttal to President Biden’s State of the Union address last week, where Britt appeared to suggest that a horrific sex trafficking story had occurred during President Biden’s time in office. At 42-years-old, Britt is the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Senate, and the first woman to serve in the Senate from Alabama.

In her rebuttal, Britt shared the story of a woman she spoke with at the southern border who said she was sex-trafficked by the cartels, recalling in graphic detail the story of the abuse of the then-12-year-old.  The senator said at the conclusion: “we wouldn’t be OK with this happening in a third-world country. This is the United States of America and it is past time, in my opinion, that we start acting like it. President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace.”

The criticism of Britt’s remarks began after independent journalist Jonathan M Katz reported in a viral video that the story Britt recalled of the trafficking had actually occurred in Mexico – during George W. Bush’s presidency. Britt seemingly told the story of Karla Jacinto Romero, who has testified before Congress about being the victim of sex trafficking by Mexican cartels when she was 12. Britt and two other senators participated in a roundtable discussion with Jacinto and others during a visit to the southern border last year.

Defending her remarks against the accusations on “Fox News Sunday,” Britt implied that she didn’t mean to suggest that the incident happened under the Biden administration, and said she had been clear during the remarks that the woman in her story was much younger when the incident occurred. Britt added that she was contrasting the first 100 days of her time in the Senate with Mr. Biden’s time in the White House, illustrating how she visited the border and heard victims’ stories and that the story is an example of what’s happening at an “astronomical rate” under the Biden administration.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates in a statement called Britt’s remarks “debunked lies,” saying the senator “should stop choosing human smugglers and fentanyl traffickers over our national security and the Border Patrol Union …like President Biden said in his State of the Union, ‘We have a simple choice: We can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it.”

Editorial credit: Rob Crandall / Shutterstock.com

9 killed, 1 injured in rural Wisconsin truck-passenger van collision

Milwaukee^ WI^ USA - June 11^ 2023: Milwaukee Police emergency patrol vehicle

Nine people were killed and one person was hospitalized following a collision between a passenger van and a semi-trailer truck in rural west-central Wisconsin over the weekend.

The Clark County, Wis., Sheriff’s Department said in a news release that the passenger van was traveling northbound on a county road and carrying nine people when it crossed into the intersection of Wisconsin State Hwy. 95 near Dewhurst Township and collided with the semi, which was eastbound on the state highway, shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday. Dewhurst Township is located about 150 miles southeast of Minneapolis and 200 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Eight of the van’s passengers, including its driver, and the driver of the semi died. Clark County Coroner Clarissa Rochester pronounced the semi-truck driver and eight of the van’s nine passengers dead at the scene, while one passenger in the van was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in nearby Marshfield, Wis.  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers posted on X: “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of all those involved as well as the first responders who worked quickly to provide support at the scene.” 

Hwy. 95 was closed most of the day and reopened after the initial investigation concluded and the van and semi were removed from the accident site.

Editorial credit: Julian Prizont-Cado / Shutterstock.com

Vanessa Hudgens expecting first child with husband Cole Tucker

Cole Tucker and Vanessa Hudgens at AFI Fest on November 10^ 2021 in Hollywood^ CA

Vanessa Hudgens and husband Cole Tucker are expecting their first baby together, three months after they were married. This will be the first child for both Hudgens and Tucker.

Hudgens, 34, revealed her pregnancy as she walked the 96th Academy Awards red carpet while showing off her baby bump in a floor-length black turtleneck dress accessorized with Chopard jewelry, including a white gold necklace with a 10.06-carat pear-shaped yellow diamond and 29.88-carats of diamonds, along with matching diamond earrings and diamond rings from the Haute Joaillerie Collection.

Hudgens exchanged vows with Tucker, a professional baseball player, on Dec. 2, 2023 in Tulum, Mexico in a secret wedding. The pregnancy news comes after Hudgens denied pregnancy rumors in October, after photos from her bachelorette trip to Aspen which showed her wearing baggy clothing — sparked baby speculation.

The couple met via a meditation Zoom hosted by Joe Jonas amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the actress was first spotted holding hands with the baseball player in November 2020. They made their relationship Instagram official the following February.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

ARREST/FIRE REPORT- MARCH 11, 2024

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

Jason Ray Scott, 48, of Thief River Falls, for third-degree DUI.

Donovan Dale Womack, 27, of Crookston, for domestic assault by strangulation.

Tyrone Lorenz Strait, 25, no address listed, for third-degree drug possession.

Alexander David Chaffee, 34, of Crookston, for traffic DUI.

Ezekiel Braiden Wehrmeister, 19, of Crookston, was charged with a public nuisance.

Elizabeth Raeann Azure, 18, of Crookston, for obstructing the legal process and interference with a peace officer.

ARREST/FIRE REPORT- MARCH 11, 2024

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

Jason Ray Scott, 48, of Thief River Falls, for third-degree DUI.

Donovan Dale Womack, 27, of Crookston, for domestic assault by strangulation.

Tyrone Lorenz Strait, 25, no address listed, for third-degree drug possession.

Alexander David Chaffee, 34, of Crookston, for traffic DUI.

Ezekiel Braiden Wehrmeister, 19, of Crookston, was charged with a public nuisance.

Elizabeth Raeann Azure, 18, of Crookston, for obstructing the legal process and interference with a peace officer.

BULLETIN BOARD- MARCH 11, 2024

Crookston Home Delivered meals will be delivered by the Eagles Lodge and Sunrich through Friday, March 15.

The Golden Link Senior Center will host a Lion’s Club meeting and lunch today at 12:00 p.m., and a Sit, Stand, and Dance class will follow at 2:00 p.m.

The Crookston City Council will meet tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers.

The Crookston Eagles Club will have $8 Burger Baskets from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Golden Link Senior Center will have Pinochle and Recycled Cards on Tuesday, March 12, starting at 1:00 p.m., followed by a SAIL class starting at 2:30 p.m.

The Crookston Public Library will have STEMsational Tuesday for Kindergarten through grade 5 on March 12 from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. Explore science, technology, engineering, and math activities.

The Golden Link Senior Center will host a VFW meeting on Tuesday, March 12, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Get ready for Poetry Month by joining the Crookston Public Library for a poetry reading featuring past Wisconsin Poet Laureate and Mahnomen High School graduate Kimberly Blaeser, taking place tonight from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the Climax Public Library and on Tuesday, March 12 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The University of Minnesota Crookston Campus will have its International Dinner Series featuring different menus from various countries. This event will take place tonight at 6:00 p.m. and on March 18 and 25.  The dinners will be served at 6:00 p.m. at the Bede Ballroom. Tickets are $25 for adults, under 18 are $20. $10  per UMC students who don’t have a meal plan.   The series ticket package for all 3 dinners is $75 for adults and $60 for those under 18. $30 for UMC students who do not have a meal plan. A limited number of tickets are available; get yours today by going to z.umn.edu/MIC2024Dinners. If you have questions, contact Rae French at rfrench@crk.umn.edu or 218-281-8339.

The Crookston Eagles Club will host the Crookston High School Hockey Banquet on Tuesday, March 12, at 6:00 p.m.

The Crookston Blue Line Club will be offering the following programs this spring: The Crookston Blue Line Club is partnering with Nissa Brekken and Mike Enright this spring for Power Skating for Mite/8U through Bantams. MITE/8U Power Skating will be Tuesdays, March 12-April 23, from 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. Squirt/10U, Peewee/12U, and Bantam Power Skating will be Wednesdays, March 12-April 24, from 6:15 to 7:00 a.m. Cost is $75 for Mite/8U and $100 for Squirt/10U, Peewee/ 12U and Bantams. 3v3 Stanley Cup, Wednesdays, March 27-April 24 from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. for Squirts/10U, Peewee/12U and Bantams, BHS and GHS from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Cost is $75, register and pay online, goalies are free. Go to crookstonbluelinehockey.com for registration. The deadline to register is Sunday, March 24. 

The Fisher American Legion will have a SAL Smear tournament on Tuesday, March 12, starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Louisville Town Board Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall in Dorothy. All residents of Louisville and Red Lake Falls Townships are welcome to attend.

Highland PTO will meet on Tuesday, Mar 12, at 6:00 p.m. at Highland School.

Andover Township will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, March 12, at 4:00 p.m. at the CHS Ag Services office to determine the levy for the coming year and review quotes for gravel and other businesses to come before the board. In case of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 19.

Crookston School District Staff Appreciation Week Planning meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Highland School.  All parents from Washington, Highland, Middle School, & High School are invited to help plan Staff Appreciation Week activities for all schools in May.

The Golden Link Senior Center will have Men’s Cards on Wednesday, March 13, at 8:00 a.m., followed by a board meeting at 9:00 a.m., Cribbage at 10:00 a.m., and Bridge at 12:30 p.m.

The Crookston American Legion will have a meeting on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m., at the Golden Link Senior Center.

The Fisher American Legion will have Wednesday Burger Night on Wednesday, March 13.

The Golden Link Senior Center will have Foot Care on Thursday, March 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by Smear at 1:00 p.m. and SAIL at 2:30 p.m.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime for ages 0 through 6 on Thursday, March 14, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Come celebrate Pi(e) Day with Crookston FFA on Thursday, March 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Crookston Eagles Club.  FFA teams will have hands-on activities for all ages, burger baskets, pie with a free-will donation, and a silent auction, including student projects.  All funds raised will help send qualified teams to the Minnesota FFA State Convention in April.  Contact crookstonffaalumni@gmail.com for more information.

The Crookston Eagles Club will host Bar Bingo on Thursday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. The kitchen will serve baskets.

RiverView Health will be offering a CPR class on Thursday, March 14, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the RiverView Home Care Building, 721 South Minnesota Street in Crookston. The cost is $55 for those needing certification, and for those not needing certification, the class is free. To register, call 218-281-9536. No walk-ins will be allowed.

The Crookston Eagles Club will not have Bar Bingo on Friday, March 15.

The Crookston Blue Line Club Fun Night will be held Friday, March 15, at the Crookston Eagles. The social starts at 5:00 p.m., and dinner of prime rib, walleye, or chicken parmesan will be served at 6:00 p.m.  There will be games, raffles, a silent auction, and dancing to benefit youth hockey in Crookston.  Individual tickets are $40, a couples ticket is $60, and must be purchased by March 9 by calling Katie Fee at 470-0423 or email crookstonhockey@gmail.com. Everyone is welcome to attend.

All Veterans are invited to the Golden Link Senior Center on Saturday, March 16, at 10:00 a.m. Fargo Memorial Honor Guard Representatives Jim Graalum and Jason Hicks will present information regarding the Fargo Veterans Cemetery Facilities. This event is sponsored by the Crookston American Legion Post 20 and the Crookston American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 20.

The Crookston Eagles Club will have Bar Bingo on Saturday, March 16, starting at 2:00 p.m.

The Crookston Civic Music League’s 2023-2024 Entertainment Series will host the Sinta Quartet at the Crookston High School Auditorium on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. For ticket and membership information in the Crookston Civic Music League, please call  Elaine Metzger at 218-281-2681, Emily Luckow at 218-281-5907, or Alvern Wentzel at 218-281-7873. Admission is by season ticket only.  For transportation, call THE BUS 281-0700.

The Mr. CHS contest will be held on Sunday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m. at the Crookston High School Auditorium. Admission is $4.

The Fisher American Legion will host a SAL Smear tournament on Tuesday, March 19, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Fertile Public Library’s Resolute Readers Book Club will meet this month to discuss “Fly Girls” by Keith O’Brien. The book shares the untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s and won! The group will meet on Wednesday, March 20, at 4:00 p.m. at the Fertile Public Library, located at 101 Mill St. S. All are welcome.

The Fisher American Legion will have a SAL Smear tournament on Wednesday, March 20, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Downtown Crookston Development Partnership will present Broadway at the Grand on Thursday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Theatre. There will be a free showing of Bandstand, and concessions will be available.  The next showing will be Into the Woods on Thursday, April 18.

The Dream Boutique’s final shopping event will take place on Tuesday, March 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Local girls going to prom can shop for prom dresses, shoes, and jewelry at 107 East 2nd Street in Crookston, the old Opticare building across from Crookston City Hall.

Notice is hereby given to the qualified voters of Hammond Township, County of Polk, State of Minnesota, will hold their election and annual meeting on Tuesday, March 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to elect one supervisor for a three-year term and one clerk for a two-year term. The annual meeting will follow to determine the levy for the coming year, review quotes for road maintenance, and any other business to come before the board. In case of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 19.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime for ages 0 through 6 on Thursday, March 21, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Join the Reading By the Red Book Club at the Crookston Public Library on Tuesday, March 26, at 6:00 pm. They will be discussing “The Secret Book of Flora Lea.” Tuesday, April 23, at 6:00 pm, will be Books and Brews at Drafts discussing “Solito” by Javier Zamora.

The Red Lake Electric Cooperative will have its Annual  Meeting for members on Wednesday, March 27, at 10:30 a.m. at the Legacy Event Center in Thief River Falls. The meeting agenda includes the year 2023 in review, financial reports, and election of directors. Door prizes will be awarded, and a lunch will be served.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime for ages 0 through 6 on Thursday, March 28, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Crookston March pool hours Monday through Friday are – lap swim  6:00 to 9:00 a.m., aqua aerobics 9:00 to 10:00, homeschool open swim 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Fridays only, and open swim 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, open swim from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., birthday party slots from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., call 218-1242 for reservations.  Closed on Sundays. Costs are: Open swim $5 a person, aqua aerobics $5 a person, lap swim $5 a person, and aqua and lap swim membership is $36 a month.

The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry suppers will be on Friday nights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Church through Friday, March 22nd. It will be dine-in or drive-thru.  The menu is deep-fried walleye, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, cole slaw, and roll. Desserts will be for sale and served by service groups.  Drive thru will serve a cookie. Adult Walleye meal is $17, and extra walleye fillet is $8.00.

DNR Hunter Safety Traning for ages 11 and older will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays beginning May 7. The classes will be held at the Crookston Gun Club. To register, contact Youth Activities Coordinator Steve Videen at 218-289-2115 or by email at stevevideen@yahoo.com

The Driftbusters Snowmobile Club has a $500 scholarship available to children of all club members who have successfully completed snowmobile safety training and submitted the application form. Applications are available at the Crookston High School or by emailing joelleb21@yahoo.com. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2024 to be eligible.  

The 2024 Crookston Firefighters Association Memorial Scholarship Award is now taking applications. This scholarship is for a graduating high school senior residing in Crookston or one of the townships served by the Crookston Firefighters Association. Applicants must plan to attend a 2-year community college or a 4-year college or university. Applications must be received by April 15, 2024. Applications can be downloaded at www.crookstonfirefightersassociation.org. Please submit questions to firereserve@crookston.mn.us.

The Crookston Eagles Auxiliary #873 awards a $500 scholarship annually. Applications are available at the Crookston High School or by contacting Sheila Menard at 218-289-3212 or by email at crookstoneaglesauxiliary.873@gmail.com. Applicants must have a relative who is a member of the Crookston Auxiliary but does not need to attend school in Crookston. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2024.

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.

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.

Polk County Public Health and ECFE will host a Newborn Baby Talk event for parents with babies newborn to 12 weeks every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Crookston Public Library. There will be 2-12 week sessions. January 9-March 26, and April 2-June 18. 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 journey of parenting. A facilitated discussion will cover feeding, attachment, sleep, development, family changes, and returning to work. You can have your baby weighed too.

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 6:00 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 6:00 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.

GROVE MECHANICAL INC. RECIEVES RECOGNITION AT ANNUAL LENNOX CONFERENCE

Owner of Grove Mechanical in Crookston, Ryan StMichel, attended the annual Lennox Live conference in Nashville, Tennessee, last week, where his company was ultimately recognized as a 25-year Lennox dealer but also awarded with the Dave Lennox Signature Dealer Sales award for the first time company history.

“The Dave Lennox award is for our district, which includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Michigan,” said Grove Mechanical owner Ryan StMichel, “This recognizes the top dealers for their signature equipment, which is top-of-the-line equipment for Dave Lennox equipment.”

The criteria for the award are based on the percentage of sales in each district, the number of total sales received throughout the year, and then the top percentage of Dave Lennox Signature equipment. StMichel commented that their air source heat pump sales were a big reason that they were able to receive their recognition. “This is exciting,” said StMichel, “Especially for our team, we were excited to receive the award and for our everyday customers. A lot of this is our air source heat pump sales. We’ve been doing air-source heat pumps for 45 years, so they’re not new to us but are for others. Our guys do great with them.”

StMichel spoke in high praise regarding his field technicians and their ability to produce quality products. He also expressed his gratitude for his team and the outstanding job they did throughout 2023. “We definitely would like to thank our team,” said StMichel, “Our field technicians, our office staff, our amazing customers and families. They’ve all made this possible for us.”