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.

News

Social Worker

Polk County Social Services has an opening for a Social Worker position in our Crookston office. This position will be a part of our behavioral health unit and will be instrumental in providing outreach, assessment, referral and/or case management to adults struggling with social, emotional, or behavioral challenges, including substance use problems. This position will also provide care coordination to disabled adults that have services through a Special Needs Basic Care healthcare plan. This exciting career gives Social Workers the opportunity to work directly with people in our communities to assist them in improving circumstances in their life that may have contributed to negative outcomes. A successful candidate must communicate well, be able to work alongside other community responders and attend to multiple priorities. Polk County offers a highly competitive benefits package including affordable healthcare plans through BCBS with attractive low-cost family healthcare plans, dental, vision, life, long-term and short-term disability coverage; flexible spending accounts; PERA retirement with contributions made by the County, vacation and sick leave, and access to many other health and wellness programs. Applicants must be Merit System eligible for appointment to the classification of Social Worker (To submit an online application to Merit System go to: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/mnmeritsystem/default.cfm). Wage range for this position is $26.22 - $33.34/hour. For more information about the position, please contact Molly Paulsrud at 218-470-8417 or email molly.paulsrud@co.polk.mn.us. Deadline to apply is July 8, 2022. Position will remain open until filled. Polk County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Read MoreSocial Worker

Ossuarium installed at Oakdale Cemetery

An ossuarium built by Eickhof Columbaria was installed at Oakdale Cemetery Thursday, June 30 after a fundraising campaign made the project possible. According to Eickhof, the ossuary vault is above ground and provides urn spaces and niches into the memorial as a resting space for cremated remains. Oakdale Cemetery has operated as a nonprofit since its inception in the late 1800s and, due to lack of space, the ossuarium project has been a focus. Spaces are available to purchase and donations are accepted. To learn more, call the Oakdale office at 218-281-3991 or Lester Wilkens at 218-289-1956. (Photo by Jess Bengtson)

Read MoreOssuarium installed at Oakdale Cemetery

Ag Innovation Campus site

The Ag Innovation Campus site now has a visual as its first building shell recently went up on Crookston's south end. AIC's first phase includes completion of the building's interior and installation of equipment to get the soybean crush facility operational. When the AIC opens, it will reportedly produce 240 tons of soybean meal per day for 324 days a year. Founding members of the campus are the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. (Photos by Jess Bengtson)

Read MoreAg Innovation Campus site

Northland Community & Technical College announces spring 2022 President’s & Dean’s lists

Northland Community & Technical College recently announced their spring 2022 semester academic honors lists. Congratulations to the following students on the President's List: Crookston students: Gavin Anderson - Architectural Technology & Design Talia Hamre - Practical Nursing Rylie Magsam - Acct Clerk-Microcmptr Applications Rebecca Olson - Nursing Fisher students: Dana Conley - Liberal Arts & Sciences Mikayla Vasek - Practical Nursing Congratulations to the following students on the Dean's List: Crookston student: Angelina Burman - Practical Nursing Fisher student: Joshua Wagner - Farm Operations & Management PRESIDENT'S LIST: Spring 2022 Semester Students must have at least 12 earned credits as of the last day of the semester and a semester gradepoint average of 3.75 to 4.0 must be achieved to be eligible for the Northland Community & Technical College President's List.

Read MoreNorthland Community & Technical College announces spring 2022 President’s & Dean’s lists

Faucet snails confirmed in George Lake in Mahnomen County

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of faucet snails in George Lake, located entirely within the White Earth Reservation in Mahnomen County. A White Earth Nation official who is also a member of the State Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee, Will Bement, contacted the DNR with faucet snail samples collected by a bait harvester trapping leeches on George Lake.

Read MoreFaucet snails confirmed in George Lake in Mahnomen County