News

Crookston elementary student Azomali Obisakin along with Crookston Head Start teacher, Regina Zapata, testified February 9 in front of the Minnesota Education Policy Committee in support of the "Increase Teachers of Color Act." Zapata and Obisakin were among the 12 testifiers throughout the State of Minnesota speaking in support of this bill.

Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF), a leader in aluminum and copper–based alloy castings, recently announced they have acquired the assets of castings manufacturer DEE, Inc. in Crookston. Small Business Development Center consultant Christine Anderson and Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority director Robert Barnes, along with WAF CEO Sachin Shivaram and DEE, Inc. Vice President/ General Manager Paul Cwikla, shared the news with the City Council at their February 28 meeting.

Crookston High School Speech Team competed in their third invitational tournament over the weekend at Bemidji and had members who placed. George French took 1st place in Honors Finals in the category of Humorous Interpretation, and Samantha Rezac and Zara Baig took 1st place in Honors Finals in the category of Duo Interpretation.

While working in an industry with an ever changing environment and constant technological developments, University of Minnesota Crookston alumni Jon Roeschlein resorts back to the “core values” he learned as a student. Roeschlein was recently hired as District Administrator for the Sauk River Watershed District and has been in the watershed industry for over thirty years as well as the Bois de Sioux district. In the beginning of his career in Sauk River, he was also the ditch and permit manager. For a better understanding, Roeschlein had a detailed description of his role.

The Giving Hearts Day results are in: RiverView Foundation received 337 gifts totaling more than $182,000 on Feb. 10. Yes, that’s $182,000 in 24 hours, far exceeding the Foundation’s initial goal of $125,000.

Retiring Crookston Police Chief Paul Biermaier, center, is pictured with Mayor Dale Stainbrook, left, and incoming Police Chief Darin Selzler at Biermaier's reception February 25 at City Hall. The plaques shown are from the city recognizing his 32 years of service, from the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force Advisory Board in which he was Board Vice Chair, and from the Crookston Police Department in appreciation of his years of hard work and dedication to the department. JESS BENGTSON

United Way of Crookston is getting ready to throw a lot of local superstars in jail for a good cause! If you are a follower of the United Way of Crookston’s social media, you have seen a series of “mugshots” and posts about bail money. Here’s what’s going on, it’s not a crime wave, but a way to give.