RRV Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The annual community-wide Red River Valley Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be held at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Monday, January 15, 2018. The day’s events commence at 10:30 a.m. with a Unity Walk beginning at the Crookston Inn and ending on campus at the Kiehle Auditorium with a celebration program. Everyone is invited to join the walk and the celebration and lunch that follow.

The celebration program includes speeches, performances, and the announcement of the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Award. The award is a special honor that was first presented in 2013. It recognizes a Red River Valley native or resident who has actively impacted their community by promoting diversity, multiculturalism, equality, and human rights through demonstrated leadership, service, and advocacy on behalf of underrepresented populations and diverse individuals.

A free lunch social follows the celebration program in Brown Dining Room.

The Red River Valley Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Crookston Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs, Crookston campus academic departments, and student clubs in collaboration with regional community partners.

For more information, contact Lorna Hollowell, U of M Crookston director of Diversity and Multicultural Programs at lhollowe@umn.eduor 218-281-8580.

The University of Minnesota Crookston now delivers 34 bachelor's degree programs, 22 minors, and 40 areas of emphasis on campus as well as 14 degree programs entirely online.  These degrees are offered in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from more than 20 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

DNR seeks comments on EAW for Star of The North Walking Trail

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released and is accepting comments on an environmental assessment worksheet for a proposed hunter walking trail in Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties. 

The DNR is proposing construction and designation of the Star of the North Walking Trail. The project would link about 29.5 miles of existing routes with 27.5 miles of new trail development to create a 57-mile loop system of signed and maintained natural surface walking trail corridor.

Hunter walking trails provide comparatively easy access to grouse and woodcock areas in Minnesota’s primary grouse range. These trails wind their way through wildlife management areas, connecting with some state forests and other public hunting lands.

The agency will take comments during a 30-day public review period from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31.

A copy of the EAW is available online on the Star of the North Walking Trail page.  A hard copy may be requested by calling 651-259-5115.

The EAW is available for public review at:

• DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.
• DNR Northwest Region Headquarters, 2115 Birchmont Beach Rd. NE, Bemidji, MN 56601.
• Minneapolis Central Library, Government Documents, 2nd Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall.
• Roseau Public Library, 121 Center Street, Suite 100, Roseau, MN  56751.
• Warroad City Library, 202 North Main Ave., Warroad, MN  56763.
• Williams Public Library, 250 Main St., Williams, MN  56686.
• Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave. NW, Bemidji, MN  56601.

The EAW notice was published in the Jan. 1 EQB Monitor. Written comments must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, to the attention of Cynthia Novak-Krebs EAW project manager, Environmental Policy and Review Unit, Ecological and Water Resources Division, DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025. 

Electronic or email comments may be sent to environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us with “Star of the North Trail EAW” in the subject line.  If submitting comments electronically, include name and mailing address. Written comments may also be sent by fax to 651-296-1811. Names and addresses will be published as part of the EAW record.

Free Workshops for High Farm Stress Levels

St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will offer “Down on the Farm: Supporting Farmers in Stressful Times” trainings in January, February and March. The professional development workshop will be offered in six different cities across Minnesota; it is designed to help people who work with farmers on a regular basis recognize and respond when they see farmers experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and other challenges.

“I farmed for over 20 years and know firsthand the toll that stress and anxiety can take on your well-being,” said Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “Farmers are notoriously self-reliant, but sometimes the number of things they have to deal with simultaneously becomes overwhelming. We designed these workshops to help professionals respond to farmers’ unique stresses.”

The three-hour workshops are free and will be held at both 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in these locations: 

• Tuesday, January 30 - Willmar, Ridgewater College
• Wednesday, January 31 - Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University
• Wednesday, February 21 - Austin, Riverland College
• Thursday, February 22 - North Mankato, South Central College
• Wednesday, March 14 - Grand Rapids, Itasca Community College
• Thursday, March 15 - Thief River Falls, Northland Community & Technical College 

The MDA invites agency staff, bankers, veterinarians, crop consultants, clergy, social service and health care professionals, agriculture educators, and others who work with farmers to attend.

The main presenter will be Ted Matthews, a psychologist who has worked with farmers and farm families statewide for more than 20 years and has led several state and federal crisis response efforts. Randy Willis from the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, Michele Page from the Farm Service Agency in Minnesota, and Meg Moynihan from the MDA (who is also a dairy farmer) will join Matthews to deliver the training.

Participants will learn to recognize signs of mental and emotional distress and crisis, use active listening skills, and find local and regional resources available to farmers, and will improve their confidence in delivering difficult information to farmers in stressful situations. Continuing education credits are available.

Registration is now open at www.mdadownonthefarm.eventbrite.com. For more information, including a printable workshop brochure, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/farmsafety.aspxor call 651-201-6012.

Thanks to support from generous partners, all trainings are free to participants. Sponsors include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Compeer Financial, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, Minnesota State AgCentric and Southern Minnesota Center of Agriculture, Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Farmers Union, and OCIA MN #1.