Month: April 2024

The Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) board met on Tuesday at Valley Technology Park.

STOREFRONT REVITALIZATION (BEAUTIFICATION GRANT) PROGRAM UPDATES

The meeting began with the board reviewing and receiving reports regarding the Storefront Revitalization Grant program. CHEDA Project Coordinator Kayla Hanson informed the board that many local businesses are still showing interest and turning in applications to help beautify and revitalize their respective storefronts and signage. “Interest has certainly ramped up,” said Hanson, “We were pretty quiet during the winter months, which was expected. Currently, we have 13 applicants since the project began last June, 11 of which have been approved, eight have been completed, and three are pending completion of work. I’ve received several other applications; two are waiting for approval.” CHEDA still has approximately $60,000 to disburse for the Storefront Revitalization Program and is encouraging businesses to continue applying.

The board reviewed the language and clauses in the Storefront Revitalization program. It made some changes in hopes that the agreements and terms would make the grant process more friendly to all businesses that apply. “A couple of revisions that we’ve made is that originally in the application, we had a two-year clause,” said Hanson, “This stated that if the business were to sell or cease operations, then this grant would need to be repaid. We have removed this two-year clause, and obviously, for those that will be applying, that two-year clause is no longer there.”

The board approved agreement changes for applicants who do not own the building the application is intended for; they can still apply for a signage project up to $1,500. If the application chooses to do other building improvements, they can apply for the total grant amount of $5,000. The final revision the board approved regards non-profit organizations that are applying for the grant. “We now can do an in-kind match instead of 25%,” said Hanson, “For all other applications, we will match 75% (the applicant 25%). We’ve gone over the in-kind match, which has been received well by our non-profit organizations that have expressed interest in applying.”

The meeting continued with the board approving the allocation of disbursing Small Cities Development Grant local income accumulation for future regional projects at a specific apartment complex (which has not been named). “The local income is income that has been paid back,” said EDA Director Karie Kirschbaum, “We’ve had a variety of these Small Cities Development grants in 2012 and 2016. Some of this money was paid back for unknown reasons, and it’s accumulated and is in our bank account. We’ve been working with City Hall to get those funds back out because it’s intended to be spent on the community.”

The funds that have been paid back regarding the SCDG have accumulated to approximately $130,000, which has been allocated for future roof renovations and ADA compliance check-ups at an apartment complex that has not been named.

The meeting ended with the board receiving information about the grant application status regarding another application submission from the EDA for SCDG funding. CHEDA has officially submitted another application to Minnesota for $1.2 million. The grant winners will be notified if they were selected by the middle of the summer, and funds will be disbursed in 2025.

The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the March 26 and April 9 CHEDA meetings. It also included approving bills and disbursements in the amount of $233,610.12.

The post CHEDA DISCUSSES STOREFRONT BEAUTIFICATION GRANT appeared first on KROX.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Fertile Public Library will host two programs that raise awareness about mental health. On Wednesday, May 8, a community-based art project focused on adult mental well-being will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The project will be hosted by Polk County Public Health and will allow participants to express their perception of well-being using a variety of art mediums. From the facilitators of the project, “The purpose of the project is to de-stigmatize words surrounding mental health and learn how to start prioritizing our own mental well-being. By the end of the project, we will have a beautiful collection of art from people all over Polk County for the community to enjoy and reflect on.” 

An additional Mental health-themed program for youth will also be held. Children ages 3 and up are invited to join their library for a very special Storytime featuring Whitney McClain, former Miss Moorhead and current titleholder for Miss America/Miss Minnesota Opportunity. On Friday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m., Whitney will visit the Fertile Public Library to share her favorite picture book and lead a craft activity on feelings. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite hero, heroine, or princess. Whitney will offer Feelings Storytimes at various locations around Lake Agassiz Regional Library’s service area. A full list of appearances can be found at larl.org/missmoorhead.

The post FERTILE LIBRARY SCHEDULES MENTAL HEALTH EVENTS THROUGH MAY appeared first on KROX.

Studies show that children are more successful in school and life if given a strong foundation in the earliest years of their lives. 

April is the Month of the Young Child and an opportune time to ensure your child is on track developmentally. However, RiverView Health pediatric therapists don’t wait for special designations; every day is about enhancing the abilities and lives of children.

“At RiverView Health, our goal is to support the children and parents in our community,” shared Rehab Services Director Caitlyn Michno, “Our pediatric therapists work to improve a child’s physical, emotional, social, sensory-processing, and/or communication skills, depending on the child’s specific needs. The team provides a broad range of skillsets and many years of experience to customize interventions to each child that they treat.”

Great Therapists, Four Locations
RiverView’s Pediatric Therapy Team comprises occupational, physical, and speech-language therapists with special training and certifications to work with children. Team members are

 Occupational Therapy
– Maddie Engelstad, MOTR/L
– Olivia Pemberton, OTR/L
– Stacy Spray, OTR/L
– Marrisa Jevne, COTA
– Joan Bohm, COTA

 Physical Therapy
– Christine Loff, PT, DPT
– Lily Ngwe, PTA

 Speech Therapy
-Marissa Eback, MS, CF-SLP
-Erin Jore, MS, CCC-SLP

Pediatric therapy services are available in Crookston, East Grand Forks, Fertile, and Red Lake Falls. All four locations feature pediatric gyms and private treatment rooms. Multi-sensory rooms – controlled environments to stimulate a person’s senses to help reduce anxiety, agitation, and more – are located in Crookston, East Grand Forks, and Fertile. 

Thanks to assistance from the RiverView Foundation, RiverView Auxiliary, and Rydell Cars, an infant/toddler treatment space is now available in Crookston to target the needs of younger pediatric patients. The space incorporates equipment that is the appropriate size to increase participation and optimize safety as infant and toddler patients interact with the environment, Michno reported.

Invested in the Community
Getting out into the community and participating in area events for children is also important to the pediatric team. RiverView Occupational Therapist Stacy Spray is on the Crookston Young Child (CYC) committee, for which Michno said she is grateful because it allows RiverView’s team to participate in CYC events and connect with the Early Childhood Family Education committee to help create opportunities for young children.

Members of RiverView’s Rehab Services Team also participate in outside events like the recent Autism Walk and Community Celebration in Grand Forks, where team members provide fun activities for kids and information for parents and guardians.

Working with Highland Elementary staff to bring an inclusive playground to the Crookston community, the team has recommended equipment that encourages all levels of play for children with and without special needs. 

Free Developmental Screenings
Another way RiverView supports families in the community is by offering free pediatric therapy screenings for children from birth to age five. The screenings allow parents to have their child participate in a 20-minute session with pediatric therapists to determine if the child would benefit from skilled therapy services. No physician referral is required to participate in the screenings. 

Approximately one in six children in the US has a developmental delay, disorder, or disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Early identification of developmental delays can help families access services that empower children and families and improve child outcomes. 

“A pediatric screening is truly an opportunity for parents to bring their children in and ask our pediatric therapists questions," stated Michno, “Helping to identify a child’s needs early in their development helps to set them up for success in the future.”

Screening provides a benchmark for tracking children’s development over time. Intervention and support services provided in early childhood can support children’s development and help them to be ready for school.

For more information on screenings and services offered at a RiverView Rehab location near you, call Crookston, 281.9463; East Grand Forks, 773.1390; Fertile, 945.5620; or Red Lake Falls, 253.4606.

Services Available Diagnoses and symptoms treated-
ADHD
Apraxia
Aphasia
Articulation Disorders (sound production)
Auditory processing Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Balance and Coordination difficulties
Birth deformities
Cerebral Palsy
Cleft Lip/ Celt Palate
Developmental Delays
Down Syndrome
Dyslexia
Feeding Disorders
Fluency Disorders (stuttering)
Gross Motor Delays
Hip dysplasia
Language Disorders
Learning Disabilities
Post-injury and Post-Surgical recovery
Reading and Writing Delays
Sensory Integration and Processing Disorders
Social Skills
Spina Bifida
Toe-walking
Torticollis
Visual Processing and Perception Disorders

The team also provides assistance with
Adaptive Equipment, communication, and positioning needs
Augmentative Alternative Communication devices
Feeding and Dressing devices
Manual and Power wheelchair assessments
Pediatric Standers
Utensil modifications (feeding, self-care, handwriting)
Pediatric Walkers

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

Deborah Kay Hegg, 62, of Crookston, for making false emergency calls to the communication center.

The post ARREST/FIRE REPORT- APRIL 30, 2024 appeared first on KROX.