Names in the New

Koch earns more dance awards

Natalie Koch, a Crookston High School senior, competed in the Triple S National Dance Competition in Wisconsin Dells recently. More than 300 dancers from 17 studios competed. In addition to placements, Triple S uses a three-star award system, which grades based on 150 maximum points. Scores up to 110 points earn one star, 110 to 130 points earn two stars and 130 - 150 points earn three stars. Natalie performed three solos, with results as follows:

• "Everything is Yours" (by Audrey Assad, choreographed by Natalie) earned 1st place, including a three-star award in the Senior Lyrical category. This was the first time her choreography had been judged at a national competition.

• "Wonderful" (by Annie Lenox, choreographed by Laura Dvorak) earned 1st place in the Senior Jazz category, also with a three-star award.

• "Dream On" (by Kelly Sweet, choreographed by Nikki Anderson) earned 4th place with a three-star award in the Senior Open category, despite Natalie having to walk off stage mid-piece due to recurrence of a knee injury.

• In overall awards, "Wonderful" earned 2nd place over all teen/senior solos out of 62. Natalie moved up from last year's third place finish.

Kiel receives award from CGMC

Rep. Deb Kiel was recognized by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) July 26 during the Coalition's three-day summer conference in Owatonna for her positive impact on economic development policy. Kiel, a Republican from Crookston, is serving her first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The Legislator of Distinction Award is given to legislators who played key roles in advancing CGMC's policy during the preceding session.

Kiel served as the chief House author of the CGMC's Greater Minnesota Interchange Program legislation. She also co-authored many of CGMC's other economic development bills in the 2012 session.

"Rep. Kiel facilitated a meeting between MnDOT and the CGMC to discuss the interchange proposal and arranged an early hearing on this bill in the House Transportation Committee," said CGMC President Alan Oberloh, Mayor of Worthington. "We thank her for her efforts to promote infrastructure investments that would provide economic development opportunities in Greater Minnesota communities."

CGMC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing 80 cities outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Coalition educates legislators about issues important to Greater Minnesota.

Dr. Balaraman joins RiverView

RiverView Health is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Saravana Balaraman to its staff on the main campus in Crookston. Dr. Balaraman will specialize in family medicine, with some obstetric duties, as well.

Dr. Balaraman and his family recently moved to Crookston from Stamford, CT, where he was the chief resident of family medicine at Stamford Hospital, a high volume center located less than an hour from New York City. As chief resident, Dr. Balaraman focused on leadership development, business management, scheduling and hiring. Prior to that position, Dr. Balaraman partook in a year of specialty training in general surgery at Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI. He also worked as a research scholar in Otology, the medical specialty that focuses on hearing and balance disorders and diseases of the ear.

Dr. Balaraman received his medical degree at JJM Medical College, Davangere, India. He did his postgraduate training in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) at Command Hospital (Indian Airforce), in Bangalore, India. He is a board certified ENT in India.

"I choose ENT as my specialty training as it afforded me the variety of office practice, office based procedures and major surgery,'' Balaraman reported. "Apart from general ENT, I'm trained in balance disorders, hearing loss, audiology and hearing aids as well...knowledge that I draw upon when treating my geriatric patients''

"My greatest exposure, however, has been in caring for chronically ill as well as healthy patients coming in for wellness visits in the office setting,'' he stated. " Preventive interventions in the form of physical exams, screening, immunization and lifestyle modifications have been the largest part of my volume as a resident.''

In his free time, Dr. Balaraman enjoys sport pilot training, swimming and hiking.