December 2022

ASK A TROOPER

Question: I heard on TV the State Patrol responded to over 1,300 crashes and 5 fatal crashes the last several days. Do you have any tips for winter driving? Answer: Snow and ice can make driving a bit more challenging, even if you grew up here.

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Grad rate: Impact of pandemic

The Minnesota Department of Education reported earlier this year the class of 2021’s graduation rate data. The graduation rate for the class of 2021 was 83.3 percent (57,137 students), which represents a 0.5 percentage point decrease in the four-year graduation rate compared to the class of 2020. The small decrease in graduation rate is driven by a 0.3 percentage point increase in the dropout rate and 0.2 percentage point increase in the unknown rate. In 2021, 3,594 students from earlier classes earned their diplomas, graduating five, six or seven years after beginning high school.

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MNC offers new scholarship

Minnesota North College has a new scholarship program called The Presidential Scholarship, which would cover 15 credits per semester - 30 credits per year - for in-person classes at any of the six Minnesota North College campuses, including Rainy River in International Falls.

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Elks Lodge 1599 Student of the Month

The International Falls School Board recently recognized Elks Lodge 1599 student of the month for November. Kevin Grover, district superintendent and member of Elks Lodge 1599, provided the following about Olivia Line, one of the Elks Lodge 1599 students of the month for November: Olivia is the daughter of Karla and Ben Line.

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Residents may consider levies

Local governments are conducting hearings to allow residents to comment on the proposed 2023 levy and budgets, on which property taxes paid in 2023 are based. For 2023, preliminary property taxes statewide will increase by a maximum of $697.7 million, a 6-percent increase.

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Gulban elected to NNA board

Jeremy Gulban, owner of CherryRoad Media group of newspapers, was elected in October to a 2-year term on the board of the National Newspaper Association. Gulban has over the last two years purchased and started newspapers across the nation.

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