w Crookston
The city's finance committee approved spending $58,000 that will result in a 10-unit hangar at the Crookston Municipal Airport if anticipated federal and state money follows.
The project, which also includes a storage facility, costs $661,000. But only 5 percent of the project's cost must be located locally because the funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration entitlement program.
The city isn't committed to doing the project, however. A final decision will come after the state legislative session.
RiverView Health Association has reported a profit of more than $1 million in 2008, the second straight year it exceeded that figure.
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"I remember a few years ago when there were negative numbers that size," Chief Financial Officer Bill Bennett said. "There's been a lot of growth."
Total operating revenue was $43.9 million, up more than $4.5 million from 2007. Statistics showed that surgeries, X-rays, lab tests and home health visits all more than doubled in the last 10 years.
Awards also were handed out at the annual meeting. Karen Brekken and Jodi Dragseth received the Alta Hermodson Heart and Soul Award, named after a longtime RiverView volunteer. American Legion Post 20 received the Reaching Out to Serve Award for its donations over the years.
w Thief River Falls
Construction of a new dialysis unit is under way at the Northwest Medical Center, meaning local and area residents will have a shorter trip to treat their kidney problems.
Dialysis services will be provided by MeritCare Kidney Services of Fargo. The unit is expected to open in May.
MeritCare Kidney Services already cares for more than 300 patients in Fargo and four Minnesota outpatient locations -- Red Lake Falls, Detroit Lakes, Bemidji and Morris.
w Ada, Minn.
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Norman County commissioners voted to increase the annual ambulance fee per household from $45 to $65 a year.
Effective immediately, the increase is the first since the annual service fee was added on to property taxes eight years ago. For the $65 fee, county residents who use the ambulance have no out-of-pocket expense for transportation to any medical facility within a 70-mile radius of Ada.
w Finley, N.D.
Before playing a concert in Grand Forks last week, rising country music star James Otto spent several days visiting relatives in the Finley area.
As a youth, Otto lived for a time at his grandparents' 700-acre farm near Finley and visited them during many summer vacations. Last week, he spent several days on grandfather Pete Lee's farmstead before performing in Grand Forks and Hankinson, N.D. Otto also stopped by Finley-Sharon School and ate a few meals at the Finley Café.
Otto was recently nominated for two Grammy Awards, for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and for Best Country Song. The Grammys will be presented Feb. 8
w Cooperstown, N.D.
The city of Cooperstown and the Oscar-Zero Cold War Era historic site have been invited to become the northern gateway to the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway.
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The Cooperstown City Council and other local development groups are considering the offer.
The byway spans 63 miles, with its southern boundary near Lisbon, N.D. Bobby Koepplin, head of the byway committee, said funding is available from the Federal Highway Administration to support the byway.
w Minnewaukan, N.D.
After giving preliminary approval, Benson County commissioners will take a second look at a proposed development on the south side of Graham's Island on Devils Lake.
Landowner Alex Kowal seeks approval to develop a tract of land that will be divided into 19 lots, at $30,000 to $40,000 per lot. The lakeshore lots would adjoin Graham's Island State Park.
Five of the 19 lots are on high enough ground for permanent buildings. The other lots would be home to recreational vehicles.
The reconsideration came after Benson County State's Attorney James Wang opposed the development, arguing that the amount of money that will come from development's taxes would not be enough to cover the county's expenses. Graham's Island is an unorganized township, meaning the county board acts as a township board. Wang lives on Graham's Island.
The commissioners will revisit the issue at its Feb. 17 meeting.
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w Fort Totten, N.D.
The Spirit Lake Tribe will receive a $1 million grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Prior Lake, Minn.
Uses for the $1 million include $250,000 for an elderly complex, $200,000 for a wind energy project, $185,000 for repairs to the administration building, $157,000 for renovations to four district recreation centers and $82,500 to develop a tribally owned water company.
Spirit Lake has 6,400 enrolled members living on a reservation that covers 405 square miles. Spirit Lake was one of three out-of-state tribes that received $2.8 million from Twin Cities-based Sioux tribe.
