The Fertile-Beltrami Falcons take on the Kittson County Central Bearcats in the second Section 8A Volleyball Semi-finals match at the University of Minnesota Crookston Lysaker gymnasium at about 7:45 p.m. You can listen to the game on KROX Radio with a RiverView Health pre-match show at 7:15 p.m. Fertile-Beltrami is 25-4 on the year after beating Fosston 3-2. Kittson County Central is 25-5 on the year after beating Red Lake Falls 3-0. The teams did not play during the regular season.
The Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Gators take on the Ada-Borup-West Cougars in the first game of the Section 8A Semi-finals at the University of Minnesota Crookston Lysaker gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. You can listen to the game on KROX Radio with a RiverView Health pre-match show at 5:30 p.m. BGMR is the three-time defending section champion and is 27-4 on the year. Ada-Borup-West is 21-7 on the year. The teams did not play during the regular season.
ECFE’s Teddy Bear Clinic was held last night at RiverView Health,and we are grateful for this wonderful collaboration that has been taking place for over 25 years. The RiverView team showed children and families what to expect when they go to the clinic and the hospital, visiting a hospital room, weighing and measuring their teddy bears, exploring the amazing therapy department, and learning about x-rays. Our community is fortunate to have access to such a wonderful facility.
Six individuals were recognized by the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) during Homecoming 2024 as this year’s alumni award winners and athletic hall of fame recipients. Brent Melsa 1990 and 1994, and Jasmine Melsa 2006 were recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award, Rikki Roscoe, Ph.D. 2016 received the Abbey [Promise] Award, and Jason Yutrzenka 1995 (men’s basketball), Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach 2006 (volleyball), and Randy Greendahl 1986 (men’s basketball) were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Brent and Jasmine Melsa Brent and Jasmine Melsa own and operate Drafts Sports Bar & Grill in Crookston which recently celebrated 11 years as one of the region’s premiere establishments. They have three children, Kelsey, Emi, and Keane, and reside in Crookston. Brent graduated from U of M Crookston with an associate’s degree in restaurant management, and a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management. Jasmine graduated from U of M Crookston with an associate’s degree in dietetics.
During the awards ceremony, the Melsas thanked their parents and children for the support and sacrifices over the years and spoke about the tools and skills they learned at UMC which carried on into their careers. “We learned a lot going to school here, it was very hands-on, and all the tools and skills we learned here we use every day in our careers and practice,” Brent shared. “It laid the foundation for what we do today. A special thank you to Ken Myers and Sharon Stewart, they were both our advisors. They spent a lot of time (with us) in labs and hands-on cooking that have really helped us over the years.”
Jasmine mentioned that “UMC” has been an important part of their lives since childhood as both of their fathers worked on campus. “UMC (has) continued to be a big part of our lives, we were both students together for one semester,” Jasmine said. “Before we met we knew that we wanted to open a restaurant at some point separately and then when we first started dating and talking we were like we definitely want to do this together.”
The Melsas, and their restaurant, continue to stay connected to the campus by hosting UMC social gatherings, streaming Golden Eagle athletics games on the TVs in their bar for watch parties, and catering at special events and hockey games, plus they even created a special “Wings Up” maroon and gold shirt for their employees to wear.
Rikki Roscoe Rikki Roscoe graduated from UMC with a bachelor’s degree in communication and went on to earn her master’s degree in communication and journalism from South Dakota State University (SDSU), and her doctorate in communication from the University of Missouri. As a UMC student and former golf student-athlete, she received the Outstanding Communication Major Award and the Student Achievement Award from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, both in 2016.
Roscoe is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. As a critical-interpretive scholar who investigates stigma, identity, and inequity as they impact health communication and organizing, she hopes to improve health outcomes for underserved communities. Her scholarship has been published in a number of journals including Health Communication, Journal of Health Communication, and Communication Studies. She has presented her research at the National Communication Association (NCA) and CSCA conferences.
Roscoe was unable to attend the awards ceremony, so UMC Associate Professor Megan Bell accepted the award on her behalf. “As a scholar, Rikki continues to broaden her impact with her meaningful research,” shared Bell. “Just last week, her article narrating the socio-cultural experience and management of stigma related to military caregiving was featured as a translating research and practice report. I believe the work Dr. Roscoe began first as a student here recognizes the tradition and symbolism of the U of M Crookston Torch. Dr. Roscoe carries forth the light of knowledge that permits understanding as she advances her teaching, research, and service.”
In a video message played at the ceremony, Roscoe said the award has prompted reflection of her time at UMC where she first stepped foot on campus more than 10 years ago as an 18-year-old, first generation, Pell Grant recipient, from a “tiny” farming town of 600 people on the border of South Dakota and Minnesota. “If you would have told that Rikki that she would come to be a professor let alone win this award, she would have never believed it,” Roscoe acknowledged. “Not because she wouldn’t have found that career interesting, but she wouldn’t have thought that path to be a possibility. As a result of intimate and engaged classrooms (at UMC), the faculty and staff not only knew my name but a little bit of my story, too. They took an interest in my intellectual potential and were major advocates for my development and success.”
Jason Yutrzenka Jason Yutrzenka competed on the Trojans men’s basketball team while studying general business at UMC. Yutrzenka is the second all-time leading scorer for the men’s basketball program during the NJCAA era with 1,023 points, and was named twice to the MCCC All-State squad and was a two-time All-Region XIII Team selection. In addition, he was a 1993 NJCAA Preseason All-American and selected to the All-Northwest Division. Yutrzenka served as team captain, was eighth all-time in assists during the NJCAA era, and second all-time in points per game in a single-season during the NJCAA era, averaging 26.3 points per game as a sophomore. He helped his team to a combined 28-16 mark in the program’s last two seasons in the NJCAA.
Yutrzenka is married to his wife, Jennifer, a 1995 alumna, and they reside in Argyle, Minn. They have two adult sons, Justin, a 2019 UMC graduate who played baseball for the Golden Eagles, and Hunter, who played baseball for Northland Community & Technical College. Yutrzenka is the owner of Argyle Builders Supply and Stephen Builders Supply, two retail lumber yards, and is a member of the Leadership Committee NFIB Small Business Association. Yutrzenka is retired from the Argyle Fire and Rescue, and helps out Stephen/Argyle Central as a varsity football assistant, junior high boy’s basketball coach, varsity assistant girl’s basketball coach, and has been an assistant coach for Argyle Legion baseball.
At the awards ceremony, Yutrzenka said something that sticks out in his mind about his time at UMC was being excited about going to training camp, putting on the uniform for the first time, and playing in the alumni game. He shared stories about being a student athlete and personal moments during basketball season. “I will forever be grateful for the memories at UMC basketball, hanging out with my teammates and friends, and, of course, some school work,” Yutrzenka stated. Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach competed on the Golden Eagles volleyball team and graduated from UMC with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She was a 2003, 2004, and 2005 All-NSIC First Team pick and is the most decorated volleyball player during the NCAA Division II era. Bellesbach was all over the record books in her Golden Eagle career, first all-time for digs per set, third all-time for digs, and fourth all-time for kills, plus she was named to the 2004 AVCA All-Region Team. Bellesbach was a major part of a 14-win team under Head Coach Dave Simon in 2004, the second-winningest NCAA Division II season the program has produced. She was the first player to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in UMC history, and was awarded various All-Tournament and player of the week recognitions during her career. She also played for the women’s basketball team as a senior during the 2005-06 season and was named team defensive MVP.
She is married to Dillon Bellesbach and they live in Chippewa Falls, Wis., where she is currently a salesforce consultant for higher education at Redpath Consulting Group. Bellesbach was previously on the writing team for the Hope Village Grant.
During the awards ceremony, Bellesbach said volleyball has given her so much more than athletic accolades – it has taught her resilience, teamwork, and the power of perseverance.
“The bus trips, the long practices, the highs and lows of competition, all of those moments were crucial in changing not just my athletic career, but my life,” she shared. “In looking back it wasn’t just about the wins and losses, it was about learning who I was and how far I could push myself. Thank you to the University of Minnesota Crookston for believing in me, I will always be a proud Golden Eagle.”
Randy Greendahl Randy Greendahl competed on the Trojans men’s basketball team and earned All-Northwest Division honors as a sophomore in 1985-86, going on to be selected All-MCCC the same season. Greendahl was an MCCC Player of the Week during the 1985-86 season and was named to the All-State Tournament Team and the All-Region Tournament Team. He was an All-Northwest Division and All-MCCC honoree as a freshman in 1984-85 and was a team captain as a sophomore, and the team’s MVP (Most Valuable Player.) Greendahl led the team to a 35-16 mark in two seasons (1984-86). The 1985-86 team went 21-7 (8-3 in the conference) and went on to be Region XIII Runner-Ups, plus won the State Championship over Inver Hills. The 1985-86 squad has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame as a team. Greendahl is fifth all-time in career scoring in the NJCAA era, seventh in blocked shots, fourth in steals, and fourth in rebounds. He shot 54.8 percent from the field during his freshman season.
Greendahl is married to his wife, Sherry, and they have two adult children, Erin Lisburg (28), and Matt Greendahl (22). The couple live in Walhalla, N.D. Following his time at UMC, Greendahl went on to Northern Montana College where he received his bachelor of science degree in elementary education. He is a retired K-12 physical education teacher, most recently at North Border-Walhalla Public School.
During the awards ceremony, Greendahl thanked his family and friends, called out former teammates in the audience, shared personal stories about his time at UMC, and acknowledged his coach, Gary Senske. “Attending school and playing basketball at UMC helped lay a foundation for my teaching and coaching career – 31 years in Walhalla, North Dakota,” Greendahl shared. “Gary Senske was a great coach, there’s just something about him. He looked at you, he got the best out of you, and the best out of our team. There’s a reason why the (Lysaker Gymnasium) floor is named after him. He knew his Xs and Os, he is a legend in my mind.”
“UMC was a great place to be and it’s still a great place to be,” he added.
Outstanding Alumni Award winners Brent and Jasmine Melsa, and Athletic Hall of Fame recipients Jason Yutrzenka, Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach, and Randy Greendahl. Not pictured – Abbey [Promise] Award winner Rikki Roscoe.
Brian Darin Pederson of Spring Hill, TN, formerly of Fertile, MN, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Spring Hill on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Brian was born April 30, 1967, in Fosston, MN. He was the son of Gene and Senora (Oakland) Pederson of Fertile, MN. Math and computer science were his favorite academic pursuits, but he also enjoyed participating in the fine arts through high school plays and as a percussionist in band. Many may remember “Pedo’s” tim-tom solo during “Get on Down” in pep band. He graduated from Fertile-Beltrami High School in 1985 as co-salutatorian of his class.
He attended Moorhead State University in Moorhead, MN, and graduated in 1990 with a double major in math and computer science. The degree took him to Shreveport, LA, as a systems analyst for General Motors for 22 years, where he also completed classes in computer systems technology at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.
He transferred within the company to Spring Hill, TN, in 2012, where he worked until the time of his passing.
Music, travel and reading became favorite hobbies during his time away from work. National Park road trips started the travel bug, visiting most if not all of the 48 contiguous states.
Living only 30 minutes from Nashville brought many opportunities to attend concerts. He found new ways to combine music and travel with several “Cruise to the Edge” trips in the Caribbean and European jaunts to tour parts of the continent around concert performances at a Marillion music festival in the Netherlands.
Peppered among these travels were visits to Minnesota and Iowa to see family for special events and holidays.
Brian is survived by his mother, Senora Pederson, of Fertile, MN; sister, Sandra (David) Jenson, of Sibley, IA; brother, Keith Pederson (Karen Busch), of Fertile, MN; nephews, Timothy and Mark Jenson; maternal uncles and aunt, Gene (Kay) Oakland, David (Lois) Oakland and Donna (Ken) Trebesch; and 12 first cousins.
Preceding him in death were his father, Gene Pederson; grandparents, Martin and Ada (Messelt) Pederson and Norman and Sybil (Bak) Oakland; and paternal aunts and uncle, Annette (David) Niskanen and Margaret Pederson.
Funeral Service: 3:30 PM, Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.
Visitation: A time of family gathering will begin at 2:00 PM, followed by a brief informal visitation at 3:00 PM.
Apple announced on Monday its new “Apple Intelligence” tool and a series of other updates is now available for its iPhone, iPad and Mac users. The company released iOS 18.1, an update that includes the company’s artificial intelligence, called Apple Intelligence, for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro. It also released software updates for iPad and Mac with Apple Intelligence, and will also be in its latest release on Apple’s macOS Sequoia operating system.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a company release: “Apple Intelligence introduces a new era for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, delivering brand-new experiences and tools that will transform what our users can accomplish.” Cook added that Apple Intelligence is generative AI in a way “that only Apple can deliver .. [the company] is “incredibly excited about its ability to enrich our users’ lives. Apple Intelligence builds on years of innovation in AI and machine learning to put Apple’s generative models at the core of our devices, giving our users a personal intelligence system that is easy to use.”
Apple said that customers will be able to refine language by rewriting, proofreading and summarizing text virtually everywhere they write including Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages and third-party apps, adding that it has partnered with ChatGPT creator OpenAI and its new Writing Tools will be available and also takes advantage of AI.
Monday’s release also included improvements to Siri, including a new look that makes the entire screen glow around the phone’s edges. Siri can answer questions about Apple products, including troubleshooting, and has more natural voices. Another update with ChatGPT integration and image-generation abilities is also scheduled for later this year as part of iOS 18.2.
Tto install and use Apple Intelligence, customers need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model. To download iOS 18.1, go to Settings > General > Software Update. To sign up for the Apple Intelligence waitlist, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri > Join the Apple Waitlist.
Added: Editorial credit: John Gress Media Inc / Shutterstock.com
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit on Monday to halt a political action committee run by billionaire Elon Musk from giving away $1 million to registered voters in swing states.
The lawsuit by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner alleges Musk and his ‘America PAC’ of trying to influence voters in the presidential election by awarding cash prizes, which amounts to an illegal lottery. The filing requests an injunction to block the daily award, which comes just days after the Justice Department sent a letter to the super PAC warning that awarding $1 million to registered voters could violate federal laws against paying voters.
According to America PAC’s website, the PAC has so far given out sweepstakes-style checks to nine people around the U.S., including four in Pennsylvania. The group notes that the payments are only available to registered voters in seven states, but includes a “special offer” for registered voters in Pennsylvania, offering $100 to petition signers and another $100 to those who referred a signer. America PAC said registered voters are also eligible in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina and Wisconsin. In order to be eligible for the prize residents of the state must be registered to vote and agree to sign a petition, supporting the First Amendment and Second Amendment.
Krasner said in a statement announcing the complaint: “The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries. The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections.”
Krasner also accuses Musk of “lulling Philadelphia citizens — and others in the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming election) — to give up their personal identification information and make a pledge in exchange for a chance to win $1 million. That is a lottery, and it is undisputably an unlawful lottery,” noting lotteries must be regulated by the state. The lawsuit also accused Musk and the PAC of “deploying deceptive, vague or misleading statements that create the likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding,” through the lottery, which violates Pennsylvania consumer protection law.
Prime Video released a first look clip of the series Cross, premiering Nov. 14. Ben Watkins created the adaptation of James Patterson’s books and serves as showrunner, with Prime Video already renewing the show for a second season.
Aldis Hodge plays James Patterson’s detective, Alex Cross, and the clip sees Cross secure a murder suspect’s confession with an assist from William Shakespeare — specifically, the Bard’s famous tragedy, “Macbeth.” According to the series’ official synopsis from Prime Video, “Alex Cross is a detective and forensic psychologist, uniquely capable of digging into the psyches of killers and their victims, in order to identify—and ultimately capture—the murderers.”
Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, Jennifer Wigmore, Eloise Mumford and Ryan Eggold also star. New photos show Tal, Walkes, Mustafa and Mumford in the series.
