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.

Haskett named to UJ Dean’s list

Gavin Haskett of Mentor, MN, has been selected to the University of Jamestown's Fall 2021 Dean's List for maintaining a Semester GPA of 3.50 or better. The University of Jamestown in North Dakota was established in 1883 and is ranked as a top tier regional school in US News and World Report and a top Midwestern school in The Princeton Review.

Arlene O. Ortloff

CROOKSTON - Arlene O. Ortloff, 87, of Crookston, MN, passed away in her home early Friday morning, February 11, 2022, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Rosemary Adele Tate

CROOKSTON - Rosemary Adele Tate, 84, of Crookston, MN, passed away late Thursday morning, February 10, 2022, at the Benedictine Living Community Crookston with her loving family by her side. Rosemary was born in Crookston on June 10, 1937, the daughter of William and Eugenie (Charron) Prudhomme.

Larry Duane Ranum

CROOKSTON - Larry Duane Ranum, 72, of Crookston, MN, passed away early Wednesday, February 9, 2022, in RiverView Health with his wife, JoAnn, at his side. Larry and JoAnn had been doing all they could to keep his pancreatic cancer at bay that he was diagnosed with three years ago. Together they greeted each new day as a victory and made it a point to live life to the fullest.

Work Ethic Guides Path for UMN Crookston Morris

When you ponder on the idea of sports in New Zealand, immediately the focus goes to rugby. The New Zealand National Team has been a power in the world of rugby for ages. One sport that doesn’t always come up is baseball, and it was no different in the family of University of Minnesota Crookston senior Brad Morris, a native of Auckland, New Zealand. Sports were an integral part of the foundation of his family. He has three cousins that play for the New Zealand National Rugby Union squad. Morris had another relative on his dad’s side who competed in shot put in the Olympics. Athletics have always been important, but it has always focused on the work ethic instilled in his family.

CHS Speech team brings home medals in two categories

The Crookston Speech Team competed at Staples-Motley February 12 and brought home medals in two categories. Emily Balboa placed first in Serious Dramatic Interpretation, and George French placed second in Humorous Interpretation.

City Council Ways & Means hears from Golden Link Senior Center

The Crookston City Council Ways & Means Committee heard from representatives of the Golden Link Senior Center during their February 14 meeting after last month's questions about the center's operations and announcement that the city can no longer provide inkind snow removal and garbage collection services due to state statute. Golden Link board president Rand Hughes provided the committee with the center's 2021 report on what city funds were spent on as well as some information from 2020 though the center was closed five months out of the year due to the COVID pandemic.

Perham snaps Crookston’s winning streak

The Crookston Pirates girls’ basketball team’s winning streak was snapped, as they lost to Perham 60-68. The loss was the Pirates’ first since December 18 and their first game with less than a 10-point margin since January 13 against Virginia.

218 fish caught during Ice Buster Daze 2022

The fishing was good at Ice Buster Daze 2022 on the Red Lake River in Crookston's Central Park with 218 fish caught during the three-hour annual tournament Saturday, February 12. Following the morning's breakfast at the Masonic Lodge and hardwater fishing on the river, the dinner and prize giveaways were held at the Crookston Inn with dozens of participants mentioned for the first fish caught, biggest fish, most fish caught, last fish caught, smallest fish caught and more.

Golden Eagles Finish 6th in WCCHA Tournament

The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s hockey team went 1-2 in the WCCHA tournament for a sixth-place finish. In the consolation championship, the Golden Eagles fell 0-3 to the Golden Gophers, whom they had split with in the regular season.