Month: October 2024

As we continue covering the upcoming election, we are hearing from Morgan Hibma, Council Member at Large, and Clayton Briggs, Ward 3, who are running for Crookston City Council for another term. Hibma and Briggs are running unopposed. We asked the two of them a series of questions.

Tell us a little about your family.

Hibma – I live in Crookston with my husband, who works for the Polk County Sheriff’s Department. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old son who is full of all the energy and one dog.

Briggs – My wife and I were born and raised in Crookston.  We have two kids and four grandchildren. I am a retired police officer, and my wife works at RiverView part-time.

Why are you running for City Council again?

Hibma – I am running for city council because I chose to live here, I did not have to live here.  My husband and I have chosen to settle here, and I love the city of Crookston, and I love this community, and it has been so welcoming.  I wanted to give back to that community.  I also think there are many things we can do here to make this a place where people choose to live and want to live and want to stay here.  I would love this to be a place where my son decides to grow up and stay here.  I just feel very passionately on giving back and making sure the city stays great.

Briggs – There are so many projects going on that we initiated that I want to see it follow through, like the Tri-Valley Building, street development and stuff like that.

What previous experience will help you if you win?

Hibma – I am currently already on the City Council, so I have a good understanding of what is going on and where our goals are, and where we want to continue. I’ve also been serving on the local EDA for almost two years, so I have experience with where we are going with Economic Development, and I have a good understanding of the grants that we are looking at and where we are looking to develop and bring business opportunities in. I serve on a couple of other community boards and have a good idea there. I am also very passionate and have been working very closely with a couple of other members of the community about daycare and how we can bring and provide more daycare spots here.

Briggs- 10 years of experience. Currently Ward 3 and Vice-Mayor of Crookston. We’ve done a lot of things in the last ten years, and we want to continue to make things better.

Are there any issues/topics that you are concerned about?

Hibma – I have a couple concerns.  One of them would be, as I mentioned, our daycare and daycare spots.  As a mother, I understand how hard it is to get daycare spots here.  When I found out I was pregnant I put myself on lists everywhere and it was not just Crookston, I was looking in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Fosston and Fertile. I was desperate, and I was lucky to stumble into somebody who was just opening up and getting their feet on the ground. I have heard from many different community members that are struggling , deciding which parent is having to stay home, are they having to cut back, is somebody having to quit a job and trying to find a different job with different schedules.  I don’t believe that is something our community members should have to work with.  Another one is infrastructure.  I know it’s not fun or exciting to talk about but, when it comes down to the basics, it is roads and sewers and water, and we have, unfortunately, over the years, been a little neglectful. I believe that that is something that is a focus that we need to work on.

Briggs – A little bit of the budget stuff at this point.  I have some concerns on things.  We want to keep it lower, the taxes, so that’s one of the main things I think at this point.

Is there anything else you want voters to know?

Hibma – I’m just a community member here, who has her family here, that understands the lifestyles of young families, young families with two working parents, and an understanding of what this community might need to continue to thrive and to grow.  Our city council right now, is very lucky that we have a very diverse group of people to represent many different types of members in our community.  I pride myself as somebody, that wants to continue to want to represent the people that are looking to grow in those younger families.

Briggs – I appreciate any support that they have, and if they have any questions at any time, feel free to call me.

The post Meet the Candidates – Ward 3 Clayton Briggs and Council Member at Large Morgan Hibma first appeared on KROX.

RiverView Health reminds everyone that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time annually devoted to educating and early detection of breast cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, about 270,000 women get breast cancer, and 42,000 women die from the disease. Nearly one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.

Unfortunately, all of us will likely be affected by breast cancer in some way, either through a personal diagnosis or a close friend or family member, shared Dr. Brett Vibeto, general surgeon at RiverView Health. Screening is crucial. Early diagnosis can push survival rates to 99%.

RiverView offers a variety of services related to breast health.

Primary Care Provider

Every woman should perform a breast self-exam at home once a month. Make sure you have a primary care provider who is leading your health journey and to whom you can report any abnormal findings.

Your provider should be the first person you reach out to if you have any of the following symptoms:

 New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)

 Thickening or swelling of part of the breast

 Irritation or dimpling of breast skin

 Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast

 Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area

 Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood

 Any change in the size or the shape of the breast

 Pain in any area of the breast

Depending on your circumstances, your provider may conduct a clinical breast exam at your annual visit. During a clinical breast exam, the provider will look for any differences in size or shape between your breasts, check your skin for any rashes or dimplings you may be experiencing, and any abnormal lumps or bumps.

Keep in mind that different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all. In addition, the symptoms above can happen with other conditions that are not cancer. If you have any signs or symptoms, be sure to see your provider right away.

Annual Mammogram

If you are a woman over 40, an annual mammogram is strongly recommended. A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast used to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before cancer can be felt.

Janeen Brule, a radiological technologist, has performed mammograms at RiverView for over twenty years. She stresses the importance of an annual mammogram. “ Women definitely should be getting their mammograms yearly from 40 to 80 because chances of finding cancer at an earlier and more curable stage are what we are all aiming for, “Brule stated. It’s heartbreaking when a woman who has missed a year or two of mammograms then comes in and ends up with a positive biopsy.”

If cost is a factor in whether or not you go in for a mammogram, RiverView participates in the Sage Screening Program. The Sage Program helps keep Minnesotans healthy through screening and early detection of breast and cervical cancer, as well as colorectal cancer screening services for Minnesota’s uninsured and underinsured. Screenings are free for people who qualify. The toll-free number is 888-643-2584.

Brule also stated that every patient should have a primary care provider who reviews test results and provides guidance if the results lead to a callback.

A referral for a mammogram is not needed. Call RiverView’s Diagnostic Imaging Department at 281-9428 to schedule a mammogram.

Breast Ultrasound

If your provider wants another look at an abnormal or unclear area on a mammogram, they may recommend a breast ultrasound. A breast ultrasound is an imaging test to get pictures of the inside of your breast. Your provider might also recommend getting a breast ultrasound in addition to a mammogram for breast cancer screenings.

A breast ultrasound can show whether a breast lump is a fluid-filled breast cyst (usually not cancerous) or a solid mass (which could be cancer and may need further testing). Providers can also use a breast ultrasound during a biopsy to make sure they take a sample of tissue from the right spot. A pathologist then looks at the tissue under a microscope to diagnose or rule out breast cancer.

Breast Biopsies, Lumpectomies, Mastectomies

A breast biopsy may be recommended if a suspicious area of the breast is detected or a mammogram, ultrasound, or other breast exam comes back with unusual findings.

A breast biopsy is a procedure that involves using a biopsy needle or surgery to remove a sample of your breast tissue for examination. A breast biopsy is the only diagnostic procedure that can definitively determine if a suspicious area is cancerous.

RiverView provides biopsies by radiologists in the Diagnostic Imaging Department and surgical biopsies/lumpectomies by Dr. Vibeto in the operating room. The type of biopsy needed depends on the size, location, and other characteristics of the suspicious area in the breast.

During a biopsy, several samples, each about the size of a grain of rice, are collected and analyzed. Depending on the location of the mass, other imaging techniques, such as a mammogram or MRI, may be used to guide the positioning of the needle to obtain the tissue sample.

During surgery, Dr. Vibeto works to remove the affected breast mass. The tissue is sent for evaluation, where pathologists work to confirm whether breast cancer is present in the mass. They also evaluate the edges of the mass to determine whether cancer cells are present in the margins.

If cancer cells are present at the margins, you may need another surgery to remove more tissue. If the margins are clear, then the cancer has been removed adequately.

Dr. Vibeto also performs mastectomies to treat breast cancer. A mastectomy is surgery to remove a breast. Sometimes, other tissues near the breast, such as lymph nodes, are also removed. No matter the results of any of the screenings or procedures listed above, know that your RiverView healthcare team is here for you through every step of your healthcare journey.

The post RiverView Health Wants to Remind Everyone October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month first appeared on KROX.

Altru is pleased to announce Seth Dorman, CWS, NP-C has been awarded Advanced Practice Provider of the Quarter for Q1 of 2024.

“Seth is not only an expert for his patients but also a teammate to other providers with Epic education,” said Dr. Josh Deere, president of Altru. “He goes above and beyond in all his roles, and we are lucky to have him on our team.”

When caring for patients at Altru’s Chronic Wound Clinic, patients notice how dedicated Seth and his team are to providing high-quality care.

“Seth Dorman is the best,” a patient said. “He is easy to talk to. He is very compassionate and caring. I’m so thankful for him. His team goes above and beyond.”

Seth Dorman, CWS, NP-C, is a primary internal medicine provider specializing in chronic wounds.

The Advanced Practice Provider of the Quarter recipients are selected after reviewing patient survey results. Altru started this award in 2021 to recognize outstanding care provided by Altru providers.

The post Altru Announces Seth Dorman, CWS, NP-C as Advanced Practice Provider of the Quarter first appeared on KROX.

The Crookston High School Music Department will hold a Fall Band and Orchestra Concert on Monday, November 4, in the Crookston High School Auditorium. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert will start at 7:00 p.m. Admission will be taken at the door and is $4 for Adults and $3 for students.

The post Fall Band and Orchestra Concert at Crookston High School on Monday November 4 first appeared on KROX.

Story by Emily Haeg Nguyen

October is Energy Awareness Month in Minnesota and across the county! Right now, there are state and federal incentives empowering Minnesotans to make energy-efficient upgrades that lower their bills and enhance comfort. The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) want to support northwest Minnesota residents in doing the same! CERTs is a nonpartisan partnership dedicated to promoting clean energy solutions across Minnesota. Anna Peterson, your local clean energy specialist, is ready to guide the region through practical, money-saving, clean energy solutions that benefit homes, schools, and communities.

For Peterson, community is everything. She’s the proud wife of a farmer and member of the northwest Minnesota farming community. Peterson’s husband, Mark, raises wheat and soybeans on 500 acres of family land in Crookston. Beyond her local roots, Peterson has cultivated a considerable connection within the University of Minnesota, both as an alumna and a U of M Extension staff member. For over a decade, she served as support staff for the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP). More recently she took on the role of Northwest Minnesota Regional Coordinator for CERTs.
As a mother of four, an active volunteer in her church, and a member of numerous other groups, Peterson can’t help but be proud of her rich, wide-reaching community. Yet, it was in the aftermath of a traumatic accident where Peterson says she truly understood the depths of that community.

When reflecting on that January evening in 2019, Peterson says her memory is spotty. “I just remember being face down in the snow,” she explains. “Someone was talking to me and telling me that they had called an ambulance.” Only a few hours earlier, Peterson and her husband had made plans to join their local snowmobiling club for an evening on the trails.

“The kids went to grandma’s, and we told them we’d be back in a couple of hours,” she recalls. “Then we got out onto a main highway. It was a groomed trail. One that we had ridden literally hundreds of times.”
What started as an ordinary ride took a turn for the worse when Peterson encountered an unexpected change in the familiar route. 
“It was a straight-away, so I had been going fast. And I just didn’t see it. It caught us all off guard,” said Peterson.

At a high rate of speed, Peterson hit a drainage ditch. It was a spot in the trail that was usually filled with snow. This time, it wasn’t. The exact details of the incident are unclear, but it’s believed that the impact launched Peterson into the air. Upon landing, she was partially crushed. Later her sled would be found an estimated 120 yards away from the crash site. 

“The next thing I knew I was on the ground. I had one arm pinned underneath me, and the other arm was straight up beside me,” explained Peterson. “Someone was talking to me and telling me that I was going to be okay.”

Peterson soon found out that she was not ok. After being airlifted to a Fargo hospital, doctors determined she had broken multiple ribs, a wrist, and an arm. Most devastatingly, she sustained five broken vertebrae, one of which had shattered into her spinal cord. Peterson says her memories from that night consist of excruciating pain. It was her 42nd birthday.

Healing in community
Five years later, Peterson’s eyes still well up when recalling her snowmobile accident. But she insists it’s gratitude that’s filling her heart and spilling out. Following the crash, Peterson spent two months in the hospital. With her husband holding down the home front in Crookston, she focused on recovery and intensive physical therapy. As she fought to find her way forward, her community stood beside her. 

“I literally had to learn how to walk again,” she shares. “It was truly awful. But we weren’t alone. The community just came out in droves! We were overwhelmed by the support.”

The farming community in northwest Minnesota heard about Anna’s accident and rallied to help. Friends and strangers alike donated money toward her recovery and gas cards to help Mark with driving back and forth from Fargo. 

Meanwhile at work, Peterson’s U of M Extension family also came to her aid. Countless staff members from across the state donated hundreds of vacation hours to support her recovery time, said Peterson. “As a busy mom, I didn’t have a lot of time off saved up. But I had enough hours donated that when I finally returned to work that spring, I was able to work part time for over a year.”

In addition to a statewide support network cheering her on, Peterson says it was an Extension colleague and close friend who made it possible for her to keep going. “My husband was trying to farm, we had a crop to get in the field. My mom had been living with us for a time but she eventually had to move home,” she recalls. “So Mark would get me to work in the mornings, then my friend Megan Hruby in Extension’s Family, Health, and Wellbeing Department, would bring me home in the afternoon. She would help me into bed and get me all tucked in. Then I’d be good until Mark got home. That’s a best friend.”

Today Anna still deals with complications from the accident. She’s permanently lost most feeling in her lower extremities and often uses mobility aids. Yet, she remains determined to move forward. She’s energized by pride in her community, her religious faith, and faith in herself. “It’s been a long road. I’ve learned to live a very different life than a ‘normal’ life,” said Peterson. “But overcoming these obstacles has made me a more resilient person.”

A labor of love
In 2023, after a decade serving in her old role, Peterson joined CERTs, an RSDP core partner. In her new position as Northwest CERT Regional Coordinator, she leads CERTs’ work to help connect the region with clean energy opportunities. This means attending local events, coordinating with local energy utilities, working with local businesses, and spreading clean energy information in her community, sometimes even in her own home.

“It’s been exciting to teach Mark about the possibilities on the farm! We’ve been talking about geothermal, solar, and the rebates that might be accessible to him,” she says. “He even helps me think about how I can get in front of other local farmers!” More broadly, Peterson is spearheading CERTs; work in a new initiative called Empower Crookston. The up-and-coming program’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people in Crookston by tapping into state and federal funds. The multi-organization effort focuses on tactics like improving existing residents; homes through energy efficiency projects, revitalizing the historic downtown district, and supporting the local economy.

As a founding member of Empower Crookston, Peterson has focused her summer on running CERTs; Business Blitzes! She spent time reaching out to local businesses to talk about their energy concerns, discuss how clean energy could serve them, plus provide information on how to apply for grants to bring the vision to life.

“I have had a warm reception from people eager to learn more on how they can improve their energy efficiency and even add solar!” says Peterson. “It’s exciting because I know It’s something that a lot of people up here don’t know about. I want to help people get to whatever level of clean energy they need in their lives!”

At the end of the day, Peterson says all of these efforts add up to one thing, a chance to serve the community that has given her so much. “Since the accident, my outlook has completely changed. You learn very fast what’s important to you. That’s why my work with CERTs and Empower Crookston is so exciting! It’s my opportunity to give back,” she says. "I love this community. You just can’t replace it.”

To keep up to date on Peterson’s work in northwest Minnesota and across the state, sign up to receive the CERTs Energy Stories digital newsletter. To follow along with community grants, rebates, and money-saving tips when it comes to energy, check out the CERTs Community Ambassadors program. Both are available at: cleanenergyresourceteams.org.

The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting clean energy solutions across Minnesota. Since 2006, we’ve awarded over $1.98 million in seed grants to support 509 energy projects. CERTs is made possible thanks to our core partners: the Minnesota State Department of Commerce, the University of Minnesota Extension, The Great Plains Institute, and The  Southwest Regional Development Commission.

The post CERTs Highlights NW Minnesota’s Anna Peterson’s Work during Energy Awareness Month first appeared on KROX.

Applications are open for arts grants to individuals from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

This year both the individual Artist Grants for $5,000 and $1,500 have a November 15 deadline. Quick turnaround grants for $500 are also available on an ongoing basis. These grants are awarded to performing artists, visual artists, media artists, and creative writing artists from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

Individuals must be out of high school and at least 18 years of age to be eligible. College tuition is not an eligible expense. This is the main category that individuals use to support their artistic business or advance their technical skills. This category is for non-hobby artists who make substantial yearly income from their art. Grants are awarded annually with $1,500 going to four individuals and $5,000 going to four individuals. Support for this program comes from The McKnight Foundation. 

Individuals absolutely must reside in our region (for one year prior) and remain living in our region during your entire grant year (2025). In the case of college students, your school or your home mailing address must be in our region. You will have to show proof of residency, usually your driver’s license.

On Monday, November 4 at 4 PM, we are offering a grant training workshop via Zoom or in person at the NWMAC office in Warren. You must RSVP to attend. Email director@nwartscouncil.org to RSVP or with questions. Don’t let your questions about the grant process keep you from applying! We are here to help. This is a great opportunity to come to our office and work on your grant in our grant writing space.

To learn more about our grant programs and start an application visit www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org. The grant application process is completely online and NWMAC’s  Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal to get accustomed to it. Please contact her at director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886.

The post Deadline to apply for an Arts Grant is November 15 first appeared on KROX.