Snoop Dogg headlined the 2025 NFL Christmas Gameday Halftime Show on Netflix, titled “Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party,” featuring special guests Lainey Wilson, the singers from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami), and opera stars Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli, with appearances by George Clinton and Martha Stewart, which took place during the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions game on Christmas Day.
George Clinton kicked off the event with a legendary funk performance, and Martha Stewart introduced Snoop Dogg with a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” with he legendary rapper showcasing his signature style and performing hits like “Drop it Like it’s Hot,” “My Favorite Things,” “G Thang, alongside holiday classics. Special guests Lainey Wilson performed “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,”, while HUNTR/X (from ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’) – comprised of Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – sang a pop version of “The 12 Days of Christmas”. To close out the halftime show, the legendary Andrea Bocelli & son Matteo Bocelli performed a duet of “White Christmas”.
The halftime show will debut as a standalone special available to stream on Netflix this Fri, Dec 26th.
Merry Christmas!!! I hope it is a magical time with family and loved ones.
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Since it is Christmas, I am not doing a column this week. BUT,
I will have the annual A to Z list next week. If you have a person, team, coach, athlete, administration, person, you think should receive some recognition for their efforts in high school and college sports and have NW Minnesota ties, email the name and information to me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com.
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The 2025 Crookston Hockey Alumni games/scrimmages will be held on Saturday, December 27, at the Crookston Sports Center.
Alumni from Crookston Central High School, Crookston High School, Cathedral, and the Mount will be back/are invited back to participate in this year’s games. The schedule and info are listed below –
GAME 1 – 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. – 2015-2025……Odd vs Even GAME 2 – 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. – 2014 – older ……..Odd vs Even GAME 3 – 5:30-6:45………PIRATE GIRLS vs GIRLS ALUMNI GAME 4 – 7:00-8:15……….PIRATE BOYS vs PIRATE ALUMNI
Cost – $10.00 (Make checks out to Pirate Hockey)
Social at the Crookston Eagles Club from 9 PM to 1 AM with live music.
How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere? ****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Teagen Lubinski is a freshman playing football at St. Scholastica
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Melsa is a sophomore playing soccer and baseball at Alexandria Tech
Jackson Reese is a sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Ty Hamre is Senior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Seth Heppner – Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Jessup University
Brady Heppner – Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UMC and Assistant Hockey Coach
Crookston School District Coaches Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach. Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball coach Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California. Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is currently in the Marines’ Boot Camp.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com.
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota has issued a Winter Weather Adivosry until 6:00 a.m. Friday, December 26 for portions of norrthwest, north central, east central, west central and central Minnesota along with eastern North Dakota.
As of 8:00 p.m. in Crookston, the roads and sidewalks were glazed with ice and causing slippery and dangerous driving conditions.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…Freezing rain. Additional ice accumulations up to 5 hundredths of an inch.
* WHERE…Portions of central, north central, northwest, and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
* WHEN…Until 6 AM Friday.
* IMPACTS…Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are possible.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…Slow down and use caution while traveling.
As the temperatures drop, Lake Agassiz Regional Library is inviting local bookworms to turn the chilly season into a reading marathon with their annual Book Blizzard winter reading challenge for adults.
Designed to help readers tackle their “To Be Read” (TBR) lists, the program encourages participants to explore new genres or revisit old favorites while earning chances to win a Book Blizzard mug.
How the Challenge Works: Starting January 2, participants are invited to follow these simple steps:
Pick Up a Log: Visit any Lake Agassiz Regional Library location to collect an official Book Blizzard reading log or visit www.larl.org/bookblizzard to download a copy.
Read Four Books: For every four books completed, participants bring their log back to the library to enter a drawing for a mug and to pick up a sticker. Multiple entries are encouraged!
Enter to Win: Each completed log counts as an entry into the grand prize drawing for a limited-edition Book Blizzard mug.
“Winter is the perfect time to get lost in a great story,” said Hillary Stevens, Marketing Director at the Lake Agassiz Regional Library. “We wanted to create a fun, low-pressure way for our community to stay engaged with reading and maybe finally cross off those titles that they have been planning on tackling all year.”
The library is encouraging friendly competition by allowing multiple entries per person – the more you read, the higher your chances of winning. To help readers find their next great read, Lake Agassiz Regional Library has curated several collections on the library website, featuring staff picks, trending thrillers, and cozy winter mysteries. The program will be offered through February 28, 2026.
Every second counts when someone is having a stroke. That is why it is vital that RiverView Health is equipped and ready to evaluate, stabilize, and provide emergency treatment to patients with acute stroke symptoms—improving the chances of better outcomes.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently redesignated RiverView as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital (ASRH). This designation is part of the Minnesota Stroke Program, which is committed to reducing the burden of stroke by increasing community awareness, providing ongoing education for healthcare providers, and continuously improving the statewide system of stroke care.
“Being an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital ensures prompt, efficient stroke care aligning with state guidelines and standards when time is critical,” shared Kayla Jossund, RN, and RiverView’s Trauma/Stroke Program coordinator since fall 2024. “This designation provides us with the knowledge, tools, and resources to improve the outcomes and quality of the lives of our patients.”
MDH’s goal is to ensure hospitals meet stroke-ready criteria so that all Minnesotans live within 30 minutes of a facility prepared to deliver the best possible stroke care. Currently, 94% of Minnesotans fall within that 30-minute window.
Types of Stroke A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. This can result in brain damage, causing long-term disability or even death.
The three main types of stroke are:
Ischemic stroke – caused by a blockage cutting off blood supply to the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke – caused by a blood vessel in the brain leaking or bursting.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) – often called a “mini-stroke,” caused by temporary blockage.
Symptoms vary depending on where in the brain the stroke occurs and how much tissue is affected.
Meeting Requirements, More RiverView meets the MDH designation requirements in several key ways. An emergency team is available 24/7, including an Emergency Department physician, RN, and staff from both the Lab and Diagnostic Imaging. The team completes required stroke education, and all stroke charts are reviewed for ongoing performance improvement.
RiverView’s Emergency Department also maintains close communication with local Emergency Medical Services to prepare before a patient arrives, allowing the team to act quickly once the patient is on site.
Stroke patients at RiverView can also receive Tenecteplase, a medication that quickly breaks down blood clots and restores blood flow to the area, helping prevent further injury to the tissue. Not all critical access hospitals are equipped to provide this treatment.
If a higher level of care is required, patients are transferred by ground or air ambulance to a comprehensive stroke center.
Emergency, Inpatient, and Outpatient Services RiverView’s Emergency Department (ED) treats 30–40 stroke patients each year, according to Jossund. About 60% of these patients experience ischemic strokes, and a similar percentage require transfer to a comprehensive stroke center for advanced care.
For patients who can be treated at RiverView—either in the ED, on the Inpatient Unit, or through Outpatient Services—care extends beyond nursing and physician support. RiverView provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and RiverView Home Care is available for additional support in the home.
The average stroke patient at RiverView is 75 years old, Jossund reported. Although strokes are more common among older adults, nearly one-quarter occur in people younger than 65.
Common comorbidities among RiverView stroke patients include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and tobacco use.
Prevention According to 2024 guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA), up to 80% of strokes may be preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and risk factor management.
The AHA recommends:
Healthy eating
Physical activity
Quitting tobacco
Adequate sleep
Maintaining a healthy weight
Controlling cholesterol
Managing blood sugar
Managing blood pressure
Research suggests that following these guidelines could help prevent an estimated 10,000 strokes per year in Minnesota.
The first step in prevention is visiting with your primary care provider to discuss your risks. If you do not have a provider, all RiverView Family Medicine and Internal Medicine providers are taking new patients. Call 281.9595 to schedule an appointment.
The Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston reported the arrest of the following.
Juan Luis Virgil, 35 of East Grand Forks, for violation of Domestic Assault No Contact Order
Michael Jacob Bendel-Paulson, 37 of Perley, for Terroristic Threats-Cause or Attempt to Cause Terror
Crookston Fire Calls
Fire Report
On Tuesday, December 23rd, at 11:09 a.m., the Crookston fire department responded to a call to Section 11 of Crookston Township for a two-vehicle accident. On scene, there were no significant injuries; firefighters cleared debris off the road while waiting for the tow truck before clearing the scene.
On Wednesday, December 24th, at 4:07 a.m., the Crookston Fire Department responded to a call from N. Acre Estate regarding a smoldering fire. On scene it the resident had put out the fire with minor damage reported, so firefighters checked for other hot spots before clearing the scene
The Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston reported the arrest of the following.
Juan Luis Virgil, 35 of East Grand Forks, for violation of Domestic Assault No Contact Order
Michael Jacob Bendel-Paulson, 37 of Perley, for Terroristic Threats-Cause or Attempt to Cause Terror
Crookston Fire Calls
Fire Report
On Tuesday, December 23rd, at 11:09 a.m., the Crookston fire department responded to a call to Section 11 of Crookston Township for a two-vehicle accident. On scene, there were no significant injuries; firefighters cleared debris off the road while waiting for the tow truck before clearing the scene.
On Wednesday, December 24th, at 4:07 a.m., the Crookston Fire Department responded to a call from N. Acre Estate regarding a smoldering fire. On scene it the resident had put out the fire with minor damage reported, so firefighters checked for other hot spots before clearing the scene
On Tuesday, the Justice Department released a third batch of documents and photos tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, unveiling nearly 30,000 additional pages that include references to President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, along with investigative records, emails, photos and court materials. The Justice Department says it will continue releasing records while maintaining legally required protections for Epstein’s victims.
The disclosure, mandated by Congress under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, includes more than 11,000 files drawn from FBI and DOJ records, media clippings, videos and internal correspondence. The department has released the materials in stages, with officials noting that hundreds of thousands of pages are expected overall.
Among the most closely examined documents is a January 2020 email from a federal prosecutor in New York that discusses flight records connected to Epstein’s private jet. The message states, “for your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a [Ghislaine] Maxwell case.”
According to the email, Trump appeared as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including four trips on which Ghislaine Maxwell was also listed. The message adds that Trump traveled at various times with Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric. It further notes that “on one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump, and then-20-year-old [redacted]. On two other flights, two of the passengers, respectively, were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.” The sender and recipient of the email were redacted, and the document does not allege wrongdoing by Trump. Flight logs included in the release show the trips were largely domestic, involving locations such as New Jersey, Palm Beach and Washington, D.C.
The newly released files also contain unverified, anonymous tips submitted to the FBI, including one from October 27, 2020, in which a tipster claimed a woman alleged Trump and Epstein raped her in the 1990s. The woman was described as fearful of contacting authorities. It remains unclear whether the FBI investigated the secondhand allegation.
Another notable document is a note signed “J. Epstein” and addressed to disgraced former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The note reads in part, “Dear L.N., As you know by now I have taken the ‘short route’ home.” It continues with references to shared beliefs and includes the line that “our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls,” before concluding, “Life is unfair.” The envelope bears an Aug. 13, 2019 postmark from Northern Virginia, three days after Epstein died in federal custody. Investigators ruled his death a suicide. The DOJ said there are inconsistencies surrounding the letter, including the postmark location and a return address listing the wrong jail. An FBI request for handwriting analysis was included in the files, though no conclusion was provided. Authorities say they are still reviewing the document’s authenticity.
The DOJ acknowledged that the new batch contains multiple references to Trump, while cautioning that some materials include “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.” In a statement posted on X, the department said, “The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump… To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false.”
The latest release also sheds light on investigative discussions surrounding Epstein’s alleged associates. Emails from 2019 reference “10 co-conspirators,” while later correspondence discusses possible charges. Details about the alleged co-conspirators were sparse, describing one as a “wealthy business man in Ohio” and noting that several individuals were served grand jury subpoenas in Florida, Boston, New York City and Connecticut. The status of others was listed as unknown. To date, Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 20-year sentence, remains the only person prosecuted as Epstein’s accomplice.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the lack of clarity, writing on X, “Who are these 10 co-conspirators? Why haven’t we seen those memos? Where are the grand jury records? Where are the FBI records? What are they hiding? Tens of thousands of files released shed no light on who they are. More questions than answers.”
The latest released files/photos can be accessed on the Justice Department’s website – HERE.
