Election Day is almost here, and we are closing out our Meet the Candidate interviews with Gary Willhite from District 3 in Polk County. We asked Willhite, who is running unopposed for another term, why he is running again.
Willhite – I really enjoy it. In my time here at UMC as an administrator, it kind of gets me to play that role a little. Obviously I’m not running the place, we hire people to do that but, I was involved with City Government, enjoyed that and the Commissioners position opened up and it’s a little different, but still it’s fun. There are a lot of things we need to take care of. My priority is keeping Crookston and Polk County Safe. Crime is crime, and we have an issue with drugs, and I think that is causing part of the crime. When I talk about safety, I also talk about transportation, our roads and bridges, and health concerns. I enjoy it and hope that individuals will give me another four years.
The Crookston High School Leo Club and the Crookston Police Department collected approximately 1,100 pounds of non-perishable food items during their Food Drive on Thursday evening at the high school. A note of thanks from Crookston High School Leo Club advisor Linda Morgan is below.
“On, behalf of the Leo Club and the CPD, I would like to thank the Crookston Community for giving canned goods for our Care & Share Center Food Shelf, on our Halloween Night Food Drive By, and the Leos going around in the neighborhoods of Crookston. We received approximately 1,100 pounds of food. We gave out about 130 bags of candy and safety materials to the young children in the vehicle. Thanks to everyone who helped make this a success again this year.”
The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Volleyball team tries for its fourth straight victory tonight as they host the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons at 5:00 p.m. in a Northern Sun Conference match played at Lysaker Gymnasium on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus. KROX will have the match on the radio with a RiverView Health pre-match show at 4:30 p.m. UMC is 4-8 in NSIC play and 7-13 overall. MSU-Moorhead is 3-9 in NSIC play and 8-12 overall.
Edith E. Lee, 90, Hayfield, MN, formerly of Fertile, MN, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024 at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield.
Edith “Ede” Eleanor (Bergeson) Lee was born on March 1, 1934, in rural Twin Valley, MN, to Melvin and Olga (Johnson) Bergeson. At the age of two, she moved with her parents to Olga’s home farm southeast of Fertile, which later became Bergeson Nursery. She attended grade school at Giant Oak District 57, close to her home. For high school, she enrolled at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston and graduated as Valedictorian in 1952.
Following high school, she attended a short course at Mayville Teachers College in the summer of 1952, and taught grade school close to Gilby, ND, for one year before moving to St. Paul where she was employed at an insurance company. The winter of 1954, she attended the winter short course at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis. The following spring she started secretarial work in the office of the Superintendent at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston. In the fall of 1955, she enrolled at the Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle for one school year, after which she worked as a waitress at the Mount Carmel Bible Camp near Alexandria. That fall she moved to Minneapolis where she was employed at the Lutheran Bible Institute in their mailing department until she married Orville Lee of Fertile on June 8, 1957.
Ede farmed with Orville on the Lee home farm raising cattle and small grains. In the early 60’s, they began growing nursery stock for her father which led to the beginning of the Lee Wholesale Nursery. Ede spent much of her time doing the office/sales work of the nursery while raising four children, feeding the help, playing organ for Hitterdal Lutheran Church in Maple Bay, teaching Sunday School, gardening and mowing around the house, and volunteering for the Gideon Auxiliary. It was common for her children to see her at the typewriter late into the evening, typing up order changes, packing slips, and invoices – with of course curlers in her hair. She continued to help in the nursery office until her retirement in 2001.
Ede played the organ at Hitterdal for 30 years and continued as a part-time organist at Maple Bay Lutheran. Orville and Ede enjoyed the music, Bible study, and the fellowship during their time at Maple Bay Lutheran. Ede was also instrumental in organizing and promoting the Gospel Tent at the Polk County Fair each year, a mainstay at the fair started by her father, Melvin.
Ede loved to cook and make meals – including some original hotdishes – for her family and extended family. A favorite memory of hers was a note she received one day in the mail from her grandson Ethan who was very young. It read, “You make the best blueberry muffins EVER!”
During retirement she enjoyed keeping up their yard, flower beds, and vegetable gardens at their home on Cable Lake. She also enjoyed following the music and sporting events of her children and her grandchildren. Her children could always pick out her voice as she enthusiastically cheered them on.
Ede was relied on and loved by many. You could always count on a kind word, a helping hand, and, if needed, corrective guidance for anyone that crossed her path. At her core, her deep concern for everyone’s well-being and their spiritual life drove her every day until her passing. She loved Jesus to the end and went to great lengths to share his love with others. Her family will deeply miss her but rejoice her earthly pain is gone and she is in the arms of her Savior.
Ede is survived by her husband Orville, and their children, Gary (Connie) Lee, Linda (Steve) Lamm, Thomas (Sheryl) Lee, and Ryan (Heidi) Lee, twelve grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by brother Rolly (Jean) Bergeson, sister Lois (Don) White, and sister Beth (Dale) Haaland along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob Bergeson, brother Paul Bergeson, and sister-in-law Glenda Bergeson.
Blessed are those who have a memory of Edith Lee.
Memorials will be distributed to The Navigators organization.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Fertile, MN.
Visitation: One hour before the funeral at the church.
Mayor Bochenski on behalf of the City of Grand Forks is pleased to announce we have received a grant for $1,000,000 from the US Department of Transportation as part of the Small Community Air Service Development Program.
Based on our grant application, the funding will be used for a revenue guarantee and marketing to initiate and support new service by a major air carrier to a hub market, with a support letter directly from SkyWest/United Airlines to add service to Denver.
“This has been a tremendous effort in a short period of time; our goal is simple— to increase flight options out of Grand Forks, creating competition and lowering airfares for our community.” Mayor Brandon Bochenski said. “Many doubted the success of our strong community coalition; once again, we succeeded on a national level, and our momentum continues to grow.”
With the extended downturn in local air service, the City of Grand Forks hired The Meehan Aviation Group (TMAG) in partnership with the Airport Authority on this crucial effort, returning the airport to a needed growth trajectory at a time when the community is seeing tremendous growth and development. “In my 30 years in the industry I have never seen a greater community response and engagement to bring this application home, that is a testament to the leadership of the City of Grand Forks,” stated Sonjia Murray of TMAG. “Award of this grant strengthens Grand Forks’ position to attract and support frequent daily United service to Denver as we continue to work on enhancing Delta and Allegiant offerings.”
Grand Forks was one of only 14 communities in the United States that received funding in this grant cycle.
The City of Grand Forks would like to thank Senator Hoeven, Senator Cramer, and Rep. Armstrong for helping with our grant application.
“This is an important step to move this effort forward; ultimately, success relies on a true team effort including UND, Altru, GFAFB, the Airport Authority, local businesses, and ultimately the citizens of Grand Forks,” remarked Mayor Brandon Bochenski.
A suspect has been taken into custody nearly three weeks after a Montana camper was found brutally killed in an attack that was initially reported as a bear attack, authorities said late Wednesday. The suspect was in custody on unrelated charges, authorities said.
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said it had identified a suspect in the murder of Dustin Kjersem, who was found dead on October 12 in a tent about two-and-a-half miles up Moose Creek Road (east of Big Sky) after a friend who went looking for him called 911, telling the dispatcher that Kjersem appeared to have been attacked by a bear. After the 911 call, investigators from several agencies, including a bear expert from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, examined the site but did not find any signs of bear activity.
According to the sheriff’s office, an autopsy later determined that the 35-year-old Kjersem had suffered “multiple chop wounds.” Investigators initially said they did not know what weapon was used, but Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer later said “we do know it was something hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull as well as some flesh areas of the body. He was brutally killed at his campsite.” The sheriff’s office noted that several items, including a camp axe, a shotgun, a revolver, and a cooler had gone missing from the scene of the crime.
The sheriff’s office said on Facebook : “The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases. The investigation into the homicide continues. It is believed the suspect acted alone and there is no longer a threat to the community. Our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of Dustin Kjersem. We hope, by some small measure, our efforts can bring them a bit of peace during this horrific time. Our entire community mourns with you. Further details and charges are forthcoming, but it is important for this community to know they are safe to resume their outdoor activities. The sheriff’s office will have a further comment regarding this investigation until charges are filed.”
A Florida man is accused of viciously attacking a deaf and nonverbal passenger while he was sleeping on a cross-country United Airlines flight earlier this week. The assault occurred nearly two hours into United Airlines Flight 2247 from San Francisco to Dulles International Airport in Virgina on Monday, federal authorities said. The FBI and Federal Aviation Administration are both investigating after the minute-long attack left the male passenger bloodied and with black eyes.
According to a criminal complaint, the incident began after Everett Chad Nelson, 44, left his seat in 35F and got up to use the bathroom in the front of the plane. Upon returning to his seat, Nelson stopped at seat 12F and “without notice, began physically attacking a sleeping male passenger by punching him repeatedly in the face and head until blood was drawn,” the complaint states. Nelson reportedly hit the man repeatedly for a full minute before another passenger intervened and restrained him, while a doctor on the flight treated the non-verbal injured passenger, who was able to communicate with the flight crew using text messages.
Everett later said the passenger had previously attacked him on the street, but the man denied ever having seen him before. Everett was moved to a seat at the front of the aircraft and kept under watch, and was arrested upon arrival charged with one count of assault by beating, striking, and wounding. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
United Airlines said in a statement: “The flight landed safely and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement. Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers, one passenger was restrained after becoming physically aggressive toward another customer on a flight from San Francisco to Washington Dulles on Monday.”
Laurie Metcalf, Tom Hollander and Olivia Williams will join the cast of the upcoming Season 3 of Ryan Murphy’s Monster.
The trio join previously announced cast member Charlie Hunnam, who will star as Ed Gein in the next season of the Netflix anthology series. The third installment in the crime drama anthology series will dramatize the story of serial killer Ed Gein (portrayed by Hunnam), who was a twice-convicted murderer and a suspect in seven other slayings. Gein became infamous in the 1950s when authorities discovered that he not only had killed multiple people, but had dug up graves from a cemetery near his home and fashioned all manner of household items and clothing from human remains.
According to sources, Metcalf will play Gein’s mother, Augusta, while Hollander will play Alfred Hitchcock and Williams will play Alma Reville, Hitchcock’s wife. While details regarding the plot are being kept under wraps, Gein went on to serve as inspiration for Norman Bates, the central character in Hitchcock’s 1960 classic film “Psycho.”
This will mark Metcalf and Williams’ first collaboration with Murphy, while Hollander recently worked with Murphy on the second season of “Feud.” Hollander portrayed Truman Capote in the second season of that anthology series, which debuted in January 2024.
Monster previously covered Jeffrey Dahmer in Season 1, and Lyle and Erik Menendez in Season 2. The series is created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.
Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
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