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City Council sets 2025 Preliminary General Fund Budget and Tax Levy. Mayor says, “Now we get into the nuts and bolts of it.”

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The Crookston City Council met Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The agenda included three items.

Crookston Housing Trust Fund

The City Council of Crookston adopted Ordinance No.95, creating and establishing the Housing Trust Fund for the City of Crookston. The Housing Trust Fund will provide loans and grants to property owners, homeowners, local units of government, for-profit and nonprofit housing developers, and others to create new Affordable and Workforce Housing.

Code Change for Agenda Writing

The City Council of Crookston adopted Ordinance No.96, which amends sections 30.02.B and 30.02C of the Crookston City Code.  Mayor Dale Stainbrook explains. “It just makes it easier to put stuff on the agenda by the Administrator or the City Clerk.” Mayor Stainbrook says it makes it easier to write an agenda and fit everything in without needing special meetings.

2025 Tax Levy and Preliminary 2025 General Fund Budget

The final item for the night was a motion that the Council carried out to adopt the proposed 2025 Tax Levy and Preliminary General Fund Budget.  The Tax Levy as it sits is at a 26% increase over the 2024 Tax Levy.  Mayor Stainbrook says it’s important to remember that this is a preliminary number. “We are going to get into the nuts and bolts of it now and try to get down as low as possible.”

The City Council Meeting was adjourned, and the Special Ways & Means Committee Meeting opened with just one agenda item.  Tonight’s meeting was held to get approval for the Mayor’s Recommendation to appoint Todd Johnston to the Planning Commission to fill the unexpired term of Bryan Schipper. “We appointed Todd Johnston; he is replacing Bryan Schipper, who is a snowbird, and it was just difficult for him to Zoom in when we did have the meetings,” said Mayor Stainbrook. “Todd did serve on the Planning Commission before, and he was excited and willing to come back to serve Bryans Term.”

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VFW Kicks-Off Annual Essay Competition, Patriot’s Pen.

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Commander Frank Lindgren of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Post 1902.  Crookston announced the kick-off of the VFW’s annual Patriot’s Pen youth essay competition. Middle school students in grades 6-8 in this area have the opportunity to compete and win thousands of dollars in national awards.

The VFW enacted the Patriot’s Pen competition in 1995 to encourage young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by composing a 300- to 400-word patriotic-themed essay. The theme for the 2024-2025 competition is “My Voice in America’s Democracy.”

Students begin by competing at the local Post level. Post winners advance to the District competition, with District winners advancing to the state competition. State first-place winners compete for their share of thousands of dollars in awards, and the national first-place winner is awarded $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Each year, more than 125,000 students participate nationwide. The deadline for student entries is October 31, and interested students and teachers should contact Pam DeLage, Auxiliary Chairman, at 218-415-1615 or pdelage@outlook.com for more information.

FOR DETAILS VISIT: https://www.vfw.org/PatriotsPen.

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U of M Crookston to celebrate Homecoming 2024 October 9-12

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The University of Minnesota Crookston will host its Homecoming celebration October 9-12, 2024, during the city’s proclaimed “Maroon and Gold Week,” with a variety of events engaging students, alumni, community members, and friends. On the schedule are home athletic games, alumni awards celebration and athletic hall of fame, banner raising for championship teams, parking lot party at the Crookston Sports Center with live music, inflatable games, food, and more; alumni and friends socials, powderpuff football, Homecoming shirt sale downtown, a homecoming dance, and, new this year, a community-wide social media scavenger hunt at participating businesses.

Honorees at the Alumni Awards Celebration and Athletic Hall of Fame events include Brent Melsa 1990, 1994 and Jasmine Melsa 2006, owners of Drafts Sports Bar & Grill in Crookston, as Outstanding Alumni; Rikki Roscoe, Ph.D. 2016 with The Abbey [Promise] Award; and Randy Greendahl 1986 (Men’s Basketball), Jason Yutrzenka 1995 (Men’s Basketball), and Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach 2006 (Volleyball) into the Athletic Hall of Fame. For those interested in attending the Alumni Awards Celebration and Athletic Hall of Fame event, please register by October 4 by contacting Angelika Huglen at ahuglen@crk.umn.edu or call 218-281-8401.

2024 Homecoming Week public events include:

  • All week – Community Social Media Scavenger Hunt
    • Find Regal the Golden Eagle posters at participating businesses in Crookston, take a selfie (photo), and tag @umncrookston on social media for your chance to win one of three prize baskets; the more photos you tag the more entries for prizes
  • Wednesday, October 9
    • Homecoming Shirt Sale and Bemidji Dirty Dough Cookie Truck from 12-4 p.m. at The Nest on Broadway downtown (101 N. Broadway)
  • Thursday, October 10
    • Powderpuff Football Game from 12-2 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field
  • Friday, October 11 – Maroon & Gold Spirit Day
    • Alumni Awards Celebration and Athletic Hall of Fame (RSVP required) with a 5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. dinner, and program to follow in Bede Ballroom
    • HOME Hockey vs. University of Jamestown at 7 p.m. at the Crookston Sports Center (801 Fisher Ave.)
  • Saturday, October 12
    • Banner Raising Event for the 1985-1986 Men’s MCCC State Champion Team, 1986-1987 Women’s MCCC State Champion Team, and 1989-1990 Women’s MCCC State Champion Team at 11 a.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium
    • Homecoming Parking Lot Party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crookston Sports Center with live music by band “4 Wheel Drive”, inflatable games, food trucks, beer garden, and more
    • HOME Hockey vs. University of Jamestown at 2 p.m. at the Crookston Sports Center
    • Alumni & Friends Homecoming Social with Trivia from 4-6:30 p.m. at Drafts Sports Bar & Grill (925 Fisher Ave.) with trivia starting at 5:30 p.m.
    • Homecoming Dance sponsored by DECA (fundraiser) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Crookston Eagles Club

For the full schedule of events and more information, visit crk.umn.edu/homecoming. Go Maroon, Go Gold, Go Homecoming! 

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RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED FOR EXTREME FIRE RISK

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for 39 counties in central, northeast, northwest, and southwest Minnesota due to extreme fire danger.

Effective 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., affected counties include Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Wadena, and Wilkin.

Effective 10:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., affected counties include Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Itasca.

Effective 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m., affected counties include Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Lac Qui Parle, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Traverse, Todd, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Renville, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine.

Effective 1:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., affected counties include Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, and Rock.

A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and easily progress out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including gusty winds and low relative humidity. Do not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect and check any recent burning to ensure the fire is completely out. The DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning during the Red Flag Warning, and campfires are discouraged.

“When fire risk is this high, it’s important to be careful with anything that could spark a wildfire,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.

Red Flag Warnings are evolving situations.  Visit the National Weather Service, (weather.gov) for updates.

For more information and daily updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions, visit the statewide fire danger and burning restrictions page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions). To receive email updates on current wildfire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota, text “FIRE” to 66468.

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ARREST/FIRE REPORT SEPTEMBER 30

The Crookston Fire Department (CFD) responded to the following calls between 9/27/24 and 9/29/24:

On Friday evening at 5:24 p.m., CFD responded to a field near Prairie Rd. for a mini bike fire. The bike caught some grass on fire. Crews extinguished the fire and cleared the scene.

On Friday evening at 6:56 p.m., CFD responded to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 2 and CR-75. The cars were in the ditch, and drivers from the vehicles were outside. Two people were transported to the hospital for treatment of their minor injuries.

On Sunday at 9:48 a.m., CFD responded to the intersection of Highway 2 and 190th Ave. for a two-vehicle accident. Crews assisted with traffic control on the scene. No injuries were reported.

The post ARREST/FIRE REPORT SEPTEMBER 30 first appeared on KROX.

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ARREST/FIRE REPORT SEPTEMBER 30

The Crookston Fire Department (CFD) responded to the following calls between 9/27/24 and 9/29/24:

On Friday evening at 5:24 p.m., CFD responded to a field near Prairie Rd. for a mini bike fire. The bike caught some grass on fire. Crews extinguished the fire and cleared the scene.

On Friday evening at 6:56 p.m., CFD responded to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 2 and CR-75. The cars were in the ditch, and drivers from the vehicles were outside. Two people were transported to the hospital for treatment of their minor injuries.

On Sunday at 9:48 a.m., CFD responded to the intersection of Highway 2 and 190th Ave. for a two-vehicle accident. Crews assisted with traffic control on the scene. No injuries were reported.

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Death toll climbs to over 80 in Southeast after destruction from Helene

Hurricane flooded street with moving cars and surrounded with water houses in Florida residential area.

CBS News has confirmed that at over 80 people are dead in five states after storm Helene made landfall Thursday night in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with wind of 140mph, causing devastation with torrential rain, wind and flooding over the entire southeast as it moved inland. Helene was the third hurricane to hit the Big Bend region in the last 13 months.  While Helene is expected to dissipate Monday, it remains a threat for parts of the Appalachians with heavy rains and flash flooding expected to continue.

As of Sunday over 2.4 million customers remain without electricity across several states, with roads underwater, and other essential services washed away by Helene. Officials told The New York Times that parts of South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia have all been devastated and the death toll will continue to rise. Authorities rushed to airdrop supplies and restore roads after massive rains from the powerful Helene left people stranded and without shelter.

At least 11 people were killed in Florida, nine of whom were confirmed by Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, with other deaths in Florida occurring in Dixie County and in Tampa. In Georgia, 17 are reported dead, with at least two deaths due to a tornado; Gov. Brian Kemp said Saturday that it “looks like a bomb went off” in the area.

In South Carolina, 25 people died from the storm, officials confirmed, while in North Carolina there have been at least 21 storm-related deaths. According to North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, the flooding in the state is “biblical.” All roads in western North Carolina have been closed to all but emergency vehicles.

Editorial credit: Bilanol / Shutterstock.com

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Five killed after small plane crash near Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport

Entrance sign to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Kitty Hawk^ North Carolina - September 1^ 2024

Five people were reportedly killed after a single-engine airplane crashed while trying to land near the Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport in North Carolina, resulting in their deaths. (per The New York Times.)

The National Transportation Safety Board (‘NTSB’) said in a statement that on Saturday at 5:55 p.m. local time, the plane, a Cirrus SR22, crashed near the airport located in Kill Devil Hills on the North Carolina coast, around 90 miles south of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Per the National Park Service, after the crash, the plane ended up in the wooded area of the airport, with witnesses said the plane was attempting to land at the airport. A fire as a result of the crash caused the plane to burn, witht Kill Devil Hills Fire Department and other local fire departments responding to the scene.

According to the NTSB, four people were onboard the plane when it crashed. The airport will remain closed until further notice, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial remained closed on Sunday.

The NTSB is leading the investigation into the crash, along with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Editorial credit: melissamn / Shutterstock.com

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Season 2 of ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ to premiere October 27th

Nicole Kidman wearing dress by Versace attends Amazon Prime MGM Studios 'Expats' premiere at The Museum of Modern Art in New York on January 21^ 2024

Paramount+ announced in a press release that Season 2 of the spy thriller series Special Ops: Lioness will have a two-episode premiere Oct. 27. The second season is currently filming in Texas, and hails from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan.

Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman star and executive produce the series, with the cast also including Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, Michael Kelly, Morgan Freeman, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill and Hannah Love Lanier.

Season 2’s official synopsis reads: “Joe (Saldaña), Kaitlyn (Kidman), and Byron (Kelly) enlist a new Lioness operative to infiltrate a previously unknown threat. With pressure mounting from all sides, Joe is forced to confront the profound personal sacrifices she has made as the leader of the Lioness program.”

Season 1 of Lioness set a record as the streamer’s most-watched worldwide series premiere on launch day, with nearly 6 million total viewers in its first week across Paramount+ globally and on a linear preview on the Paramount Network.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com