To The Crookston Times readers,

It is with regret that CherryRoad Media announces the closing of The Crookston Times

Our company is dedicated to the preservation of community journalism. Since the purchase of our 1st paper in late-2020 to today, we have prided ourselves on our ability to fight the difficult battle that newspapers face in today’s digital society. Unfortunately, that battle cannot always be won.

The Crookston Times has struggled in recent years to find its footing in this community. Since purchasing The Crookston Times, CherryRoad Media has been unable to avoid financial losses every month. The paper was losing money when we bought it, and it continued to do so. We must now come to terms with the fact that we do not have a path forward to sustainability.

And we thank those who have supported us.

May 2023

Reality Bytes?

What is reality? Is reality only what I look around and see – and touch? Or is reality only limited by my imagination? I mean, I’m certainly not tethered to reality. If there was an alternate reality, I’d entertain it.

Read MoreReality Bytes?

Koep and Hjelle Named D2CCA Central Region Pitcher and Player of the Year; Four Golden Eagles Named All-Region

The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team continued to accumulate post-season honors as Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was named Division II Conference Commisioner’s Association (D2CCA) Central Region Player of the Year, while Alex Koep (Sr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) became the first pitcher in program history to earn Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors for any publication, as he was selected D2CCA Central Region Pitcher of the Year. The Golden Eagles have never had players named Central Region Player and Pitcher of the Year in the same season.

Read MoreKoep and Hjelle Named D2CCA Central Region Pitcher and Player of the Year; Four Golden Eagles Named All-Region

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS NO CONSCIENCE

Romans 12: 2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Those of us that have reached that elderly status in life remember Johnny Carson. That one man set the bar for late night comedy and the profession has been struggling ever since to catch up with an icon that in the opinion of many is not achievable.

Read MoreARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS NO CONSCIENCE

The Moose

I spent the last full week of May with my wildlife biologist colleagues from all over North America, some from as far away as Sweden, Finland, and Japan. We gathered in Grand Portage, Minnesota, to learn and share research and information about one of the most iconic mammals of the world: moose, Alces alces.

Read MoreThe Moose

STUDY: Minnesota losing $6.6 billion in investment to other states with taxes, workforce, cited as top barriers

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Grow Minnesota program released a study today on business expansion trends in Minnesota. The report, packed with interesting facts and figures, is designed for policymakers and decision-makers to understand better the exact economic climate impacting our state. Grow Minnesota!, a program to support businesses and help them expand and grow right here in Minnesota, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Read MoreSTUDY: Minnesota losing $6.6 billion in investment to other states with taxes, workforce, cited as top barriers

At Highest Levels Ever – will Farmland Values Stabilize in 2023?

Farmland values in most of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota have hit the highest levels ever! “The record levels through this spring were fueled by USDA’s projected record high 2022 net farm income,” says Jayson Menke, Acres & Shares farmland broker. “The extra cash on hand has limited the impact of recent interest rates hikes on land values.” In May, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis published its first-quarter 2023 agriculture credit conditions survey.

Read MoreAt Highest Levels Ever – will Farmland Values Stabilize in 2023?