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.

Our Savior’s students collecting items for Ukraine refugees

Our Saviors Lutheran School third and fourth graders are collecting items for refugees from Ukraine through Monday, April 11 and will send the donated items to the Minnesota Orphan Grain Train. Items they're collecting include blankets, towels, diapers, socks and underwear.

Washington Elementary Kindergarten Round-Up April 13

Crookston Public Schools and Washington Elementary School will host a Kindergarten Round-Up event for children who will be five years old by September 1, 2022 and their parents on Wednesday, April 13. Two sessions will be offered with childcare available. The sessions will be from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and from 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Two-vehicle accident on Highway 75 sends one to the hospital

A two-vehicle accident on Highway 75 north of Crookston on March 17 sent one driver to the hospital. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2017 Ford F-150, driven by Terrance Lee Sonju, 58, of Red Lake Falls, and a 2018 Ford Transit Van, driven by Bridgette Renee Zobeck, 50, of Watkins, were southbound on Highway 75 near mile post 329 in Fanny Township and were traveling at highway speeds when the Ford van drove into the Ford F-150 causing a collision.

Jean Ellen (Carpenter) Penner

Jean Ellen (Carpenter) Penner, 72, of Mountain Lake died on March 10, 2022, at Good Samaritan Home in Windom. Funeral Service was held at the Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 11 a.m..

Elizabeth “Liz” Thompson

Longtime Crookston resident Elizabeth “Liz” Thompson, 87, passed away with her family by her side on March 9, 2022 at Touchmark in Fargo, N.D. Liz was born on May 7, 1934 in Fargo to Bessie (Peterson) and John Hanson.

Crookston churches partner for’Common Ground’ youth event

Six Crookston churches have started a collaborative effort between their youth groups and have come up with a kick-off event "Common Ground" for students in grades 7-12 which will be held Wednesday, April 6 from 6:30-8:45 p.m. at Crookston High School. Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries at Trinity Lutheran Church Leah Winjum told the Times they hope to provide/coordinate three to four events a year to connect youth throughout the community and surrounding area.

CHEDA board gets updates on Epitome Energy

During an update on the Epitome Energy project by CEO Dennis Egan to the Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority board, CHEDA director Robert Barnes shared that there might be a potential issue with Epitome's water demand and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has suggested the city do an aquifer study. Barnes said the city currently uses approximately 300 million gallons of water a year and there were usage concerns with Epitome's facility needing 280 million gallons a year, but later Egan said that number would actually be closer to 104 million gallons a year and Egan requested a separate meeting with Barnes and City Administrator Amy Finch to further discuss the numbers before making anything official.

CHS grad awarded USMC Joint Ser vice Commendation Medal

Crookston High School 1997 graduate and United States Marine Corps Major Eric Mattison was recently awarded a Joint Service Commendation Medal with "C" device while serving with the Joint Task Force Crisis Response during Operation ALLIES REFUGE in Kabul Afghanistan. The award citation reads: