Local News Thursday, February 12, 2026

The Badger School Board met yesterday. They noted a $5,000 grant donated by Martin and Nicole Kropelnicki in memory of Paula Geroy. During her time in school, Geroy was active in choir, band, and basketball. The funds are designated to be used where they are needed most within the Badger School.

The board also reviewed three calendar options for the 2026–2027 school year. Option number two has the support of school administration and the teachers association. Under that option, school would begin as late as mathematically possible — September eighth. The holiday break would begin with a half day on December twenty-third, with classes resuming January fourth.

Roseau Fire Chief Leon Huot says his department currently has twenty-six volunteer firefighters and would like to increase that number to around thirty. There was one retirement from the department in 2025.

The Roseau City Council has directed staff to create a policy governing use of the radio broadcast booth at the east end of Memorial Arena. Access to the booth via ladder has been identified as a liability concern.

You might not have known it, but a local seed company played a role in the field conditions at this past Sunday’s Super Bowl. Northern Excellence Seed in Lake of the Woods County — established in 2002 — is made up of 53 regional growers who contract production for seed companies. The company supplied ryegrass used to overseed Bermuda grass for the Super Bowl field. The seed was sourced from three Minnesota farms: Heggedal Farms and Howell Farms in Badger, and Hasbargen Farms near the eastern border of Lake of the Woods County. West Coast Turf in California grew the sod used for the game.

The Crookston School District has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to two finalists following interviews this week. The candidates are Brad Johnson and Jason Stanoch. Johnson, who was raised in Crookston and graduated from Crookston Central, currently serves as superintendent in Renville County. Stanoch is a principal in Bemidji. Final interviews are scheduled for tomorrow.

Roseau Community Education has expanded its open swim schedule for February. Families looking to beat the winter blues can take advantage of open swim periods at the Roseau School pool on Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant. The program supports farmers in their first ten years by helping them access essential equipment and invest in on-farm infrastructure.

Priority will be given to farmers with less than $100,000 in recent farm sales and limited access to land. The department may award up to $700,000 statewide through a competitive review process. Applicants may request between $1,000 and $10,000. Requests over $2,000 require a 25 percent match.

This reimbursement grant requires awardees to pay project costs upfront and provide documentation for reimbursement after the contract is executed. Applications are due March 26.

The Roseau County Museum and Roseau Public Library are inviting residents to loan quilts and small quilted projects for a March exhibit recognizing Women’s History Month. Items may be dropped off at the Roseau County Museum through February twenty-seventh during regular hours. Contributors will be asked to provide brief background information about their piece.

The quilt showcase opens March seventh.

The Northern Neighbor Facebook page and website announced this week they will discontinue area news coverage. The platform focused heavily on the Grygla-Goodridge area, featuring news, events, and business promotions, while also sharing stories from across northwest Minnesota.

Lake of the Woods Tourism continues to report strong ice fishing activity. The lake enjoys an extended ice season, with fish houses allowed overnight through March 31. Walleye and sauger fishing runs through April 14, and northern pike season is open year-round.

South Shore resort ice roads continue expanding access. On the Rainy River, anglers are finding success during the “golden hours” — early morning and late evening. Catch-and-release sturgeon season runs through May 23.

At the Northwest Angle, fishing remains excellent. The ice road from Young’s Bay to the island resorts is in great condition, and cleaning houses are busy with quality catches. Most success is coming in 24 to 32 feet of water, with anglers reporting strong mixed bags of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and tullibees.

A third cannabis retail dispensary in East Grand Forks, regulated by the White Earth Nation, appears to be moving forward after city council questions earlier this year. City Administrator Reid Huttunen says the tribal nation has purchased the former Burger King property at 926 Central Avenue Northwest.

Huttunen also confirmed the business will be required to pay local property taxes along with applicable cannabis and sales taxes.

Last modified: 02/13/2026