Business adjusts for traffic and safety

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Depending on who you talk to, business isn’t all that unusual, despite Gov. Burgum’s executive order closing restaurants and bars to on-site sales. For others, it’s a big change. “It’s basically just me and one employee, and my daughter who comes in sometimes and helps out,” said Stephanie Gjovig, owner of the Red Rooster in Crosby. “That’s down from six, […]

City grants $400K to medical center

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(UPDATE: At 4 p.m. Tuesday, the council held a specially-called meeting by Zoom to vote on taking the grant for the hospital out of the city’s General Fund, rather than the city sales tax “Spirit Fund.”) At its Monday meeting, held electronically, the Crosby City Council heard requests from two longtime community institutions looking for financial help. Following presentations, the […]

Order extended to April 20

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Calling the decision “pragmatic,” Gov. Doug Burgum last week extended his executive order closing restaraunts, bars, hair and nail salons and other personal service businesses. Originally issued on March 19, the order was set to expire on April 6. Now the order runs until Monday, April 20. A decision as to whether that extension might be drawn out even further […]

Hospital ready for 10 virus cases at a time

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St. Luke’s Medical Center CEO Jody Nelson said Thursday the hospital can handle up to 10 COVID-19 patients at a time. She received assurances last week from Trinity Hospital in Minot that Divide County cases requiring ventilation will not be turned away. The county has just two ventilators, both on board ambulances at this time, but those devices could also […]

Tax preparing continues locally despite deadline extension

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Taxpayers have an extra three months to file their 2019 tax returns, but that’s providing little relief for Crosby accountant Kurt Kocher. Kocher said he still has many clients ready to file. “I’ve been plenty busy and got plenty to do,” Kocher said, even if it isn’t exactly business as usual. The in-person appointments that typically fill up Kocher’s schedule […]

Former Comets rally to reach playoffs

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A Montana junior-league hockey team with two former Crosby Comets players on its roster reached the league playoffs last month, clinching the berth with a 3-2 win in the final game of the regular season. Alex Bailey, Isaac Ellingson and the Helena Bighorns were 5-25 at the end of December but won 12 of 17 games in January and February […]

‘Everybody’s been shot,’ familiar now

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Whines & Roses

I am reminded of a 2002 piece written by national columnist Peggy Noonan, in which she used a phrase from the movie “Black Hawk Down,” to describe the angst of the post-9/11 crisis. Just as the coronavirus knows no bounds of age, race or class, the economic calamity is damaging every business. “Everybody’s been shot.” No business is immune, and […]

Reunions and game days in spite of social distancing

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‘Get together’ doesn’t have to mean in the same room


We had a family reunion Friday evening. All five of us “kids” of John and Elaine, and most of our spouses, gathered for an evening of conversation. Some drank wine, others ate pasta, some just talked and laughed and enjoyed reconnecting. Saturday afternoon was family game time. It was Nana B. and me, along with our three sons and their […]

Political Cartoon

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Some things to enjoy at home

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Holly Would

Back when the world was “normal,” while I was out and about, from time to time, people would stop me in the post office, grocery store, restaurant or at work and tell me they enjoyed my last column. No one does that anymore. That’s not entirely true. I have a fan who I see when I stop to pick up […]