Month: October 2024

Polk County Public Health is committed to sharing important information about birth control and the resources we offer to support individuals in making informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Contraception, commonly referred to as birth control, plays a crucial role in allowing people to choose when and if they want to become pregnant. World Contraception Day, held annually on September 26, is dedicated to raising awareness of all available contraceptive methods, allowing individuals to make empowered choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

Birth control gives women control over the timing and spacing of their pregnancies, leading to healthier pregnancies and childbirth outcomes.

In addition to abstinence, the consistent and correct use of contraceptive methods, such as condoms, can prevent unintended pregnancies and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Dual Contraception, which involves using a birth control method alongside condoms, offers dual protection by preventing both pregnancy and STIs. Since some STIs can lead to severe health complications, including infertility, it’s essential to prioritize sexual health by using condoms even when other contraceptive methods are in use.

Polk County Public Health offers a range of contraceptive options, including condoms, birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, depo shots, emergency contraception, implants, and IUDs (both hormonal and non-hormonal options).

Your sexual and reproductive health is an important part of your overall well-being. If you have questions or would like more information about contraception, please contact Polk County Public Health at 218-281-3385.       

The post PCPH Highlights World Contraception Day first appeared on KROX.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, October 1, at 8:00 a.m. in the Polk County Government Center Board Room. 

Jacob Snyder – Planning and Zoning

Kongsvinger Cemetary

First, Assistant Environmental Services Administrator Jacob Snyder asked for Preliminary Plat Approval for “Kongsvinger Cemetery.” The parcel of land located in Section 2 of Esther Township would be able to create 208 grave sites, some already exist. Each plot is planned to be 4’x12’. “So, we had a cemetery plat that we needed preliminary approval on for a congregation north of East Grand Forks,” said Snyder. “Minnesota statute requires the cemeteries be platted through our process.”

The site is rural and does not contain any wetlands. It is located in the 100-year floodplain district and is protected by a ring dike.  Snyder says that with today’s preliminary approval the next step will be to return to the Board when things are more finalized. “We come back before the board once everything is polished up with the plat for recording purposes, and then it will come back for the Board’s final approval.”

Conditional Use Permits

Snyder was seeking two Conditional Use Permits.  One permit is for a property at Maple Lake, the other at Union Lake.  At Union Lake, Chris Mills wants to tie an existing accessory building to a new septic system on a front lot. At Maple Lake, Dennis Schneider wants to hook a new proposed shed onto an existing septic system.  Snyder explains the importance of conditional use permits. “We go through this conditional use process because we just want to make sure we are not having guest houses and things, but that they are a shed or a shop with a bathroom.” The Board approved both Conditional Use Permits.

2024 Polk County Haulers Licence

Last on the Planning and Zoning Agenda was a motion to conditionally approve Matt Homme with Northstar Sanitation to obtain a CY2024 County Haulers License.  Snyder says this is largely due to Crookston-based Regional Sanitation stopping its services. “We had a hauler reach out to us due to Regional Sanitation dropping their waste collection service and their packer trucks; they are no longer doing that in Polk County,” says Snyder. “So, it kind of put a little bind on our other local haulers to pick up accounts.”

Northstar Sanitation is a waste collection business and roll-off business out of Grygla in Marshall County and is seeking accounts throughout Polk County due to the closing of Regional Sanitation. Snyder said all the necessary items have been submitted to operate a waste collection business, and with today’s conditional approval, Northstar is allowed to operate as a local waste hauler and use Polk County facilities. “The process of licensing a business is to make sure they are insured, make sure they are bonded,  make sure they are providing a good service,” said Snyder. “In order to use our facilities, we want them to be licensed in Polk County to use our Crookston Transfer Station, our Landfill, and our incinerator.”

The motion to conditionally approve Matt Homme with Northstar Sanitation to obtain a Polk County Haulers License was approved.

Facilities – Richard Langlois

Richard Langlois brought to the Board of Commissioners a motion to approve moving forward with filling the vacant Custodian I position in the Facilities Department. Recently, the Facilities Department filled the Lead Custodian position with an internal Custodian I person. Now, Langlois was looking for approval to fill the now-open Custodian I position. The Board approved the motion.

The post Polk County Board of Commissioners Conditionally Approves Haulers License for Northstar Sanitation after Regional Sanitation Stops Waste Collection Services first appeared on KROX.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating a human rabies death in a person over 65 years of age who had exposure to a bat in western Minnesota in July 2024. This is Minnesota’s fourth case of human rabies since 2000. The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed on Sept. 20, based on testing done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.    

MDH is working with the patient’s family and healthcare facilities where the patient was treated to evaluate whether any family members or healthcare workers were potentially exposed and needed treatment. There is no risk to the public from this patient.  

This case is an important reminder that bats in Minnesota can have rabies and that the public should avoid contact with bats.  

If a person has any physical contact with a bat or finds a bat in the room of a sleeping person, an unattended child, or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, the bat should be captured safely and submitted for rabies testing. A bat’s teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark.  

If the bat is not available for testing, contact your healthcare provider or MDH quickly after the exposure for information on what to do next.  

If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal. Rabies treatment has proven to be nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease after exposure, but it must be started before symptoms of rabies appear. That is why health officials are stressing the importance of recognizing potential exposures to bats and taking appropriate actions in a timely manner. Rabies treatment is not needed if the bat can be captured, tested, and found to be free of the virus.  

Bats can be submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory or to a veterinarian for rabies testing. Information on submission, including a video on how to safely capture a bat for testing, can be found on the Rabies page of the MDH website. Never touch a bat with bare hands.  

People who have been exposed to rabies virus are given an injection of rabies immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over a two-week period. Seek medical treatment promptly after potential exposures are recognized; however, as long as symptoms have not developed, it is never too late to start rabies shots. People can ask their healthcare provider about patient assistance programs that may be available to help with the cost of rabies treatment if needed.

State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Stacy Holzbauer is also reminding people to get their household pets and livestock immunized against rabies. Rabies shots are available for dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, cattle, and sheep.  

Sept. 28 is World Rabies Day and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the disease and how to prevent it. The number of rabies-related human deaths in the U.S. has declined from more than 100 annually in the early 1900s to less than five cases annually in recent years. Of infections acquired in the U.S., 70% are attributed to bat exposures. In Minnesota, previous cases occurred in 1917, 1964, 1975, 2000, 2007, and 2021; all were fatal. The cases that occurred in 2000 and 2007 were in persons who were bitten by bats but did not seek medical attention.  

People with concerns about possible exposure to rabies or who have questions about the disease can call MDH at 651-201-5414 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or contact their health care provider.  

The post Department of Health is Investigating Human Rabies Death first appeared on KROX.

A ribbon cutting took place Monday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. at an intersection connecting the communities of Crookston and Warren. This celebration showcased a historically dangerous intersection turned into a roundabout. Visibility had been an issue at the intersection of Highway 75 and County Rd 21 in the past and has been attributed to multiple accidents, some resulting in death.

The County has tried in the past to make this intersection safer by using warning signage, and it did work for a time, but it was clear a different solution was needed. Roundabouts have been known to decrease accidents in areas such as this, and it was decided that a roundabout was what this intersection needed, with a plan that included farm machinery being able to get through.

Many were on hand on September 30 for the ribbon cutting.  Attendees included Polk County Engineer Richard Sanders and many of his team, District 1 delegates, Law Enforcement, MNDOT commissioner and staff members, and special guest Holly Kostrzewski.  Holly sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury as a result of an accident at the intersection years ago.

The roundabout site still needs a little cleanup work and finishing touches, but it was officially open for traffic as of 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The post MnDOT and Polk County Highway Department holds roundabout ribbon cutting first appeared on KROX.

Commander Frank Lindgren of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Post 1902 Crookston announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition.

Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C. Students must write and record a three-to-five-minute essay on the selected theme using an audio CD or flash drive and present their recording, typed essay, and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by October 31.

The 2024-2025 theme selected is “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” Students begin by competing at the local Post level, and then Post winners compete at the District level, with the winner advancing to the state competition. All state first-place winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., and the chance to compete for their share of more than $150,000 in scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. The competition was created to provide students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regard to democratic ideas and principles. Around 40,000 students participate in the competition each year, and VFW awards more than $2.1 million in educational scholarships every year. Interested students and teachers should contact the Voice of Democracy Auxiliary Chairman Pam DeLage at 218-415-1615 or email pdelage@outlook.com for more information.

The post VFW Announces Kick-Off of Annual $30,000 Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition first appeared on KROX.