Child Passenger Safety Week may be over, but keeping children safe on the road is important every day of the year. During Child Passenger Safety Week, the Polk County Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) Coalition conducted seat belt observations at schools throughout Polk County. Coalition members observed vehicles during school arrival to better understand seat belt…
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Polk County Commissioner Joan Lee was recently involved with a large policy conference for the county and spoke with R&J News regarding several major topics brought up that will involve the county and its workers and residents. Among the other topics brought up at the conference, was the need for increased efforts by the state…
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Polk County Commissioner Joan Lee spoke with R&J News yesterday with several updates about the county’s current budget heading into 2027 and where the tax levy has been set for the new year. With the levy set for 5%, Lee expects that it should be much closer to 3%. Another big news item was the…
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From fairgrounds to classrooms, community service to project days, 4-H youth in Polk County are proving they’re not just ready for the future – they’re Beyond Ready. During National 4-H Week, celebrated Oct. 4–10, 2026, local clubs will share how 4-H equips young people with the skills, confidence, and resilience to lead in a world…
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Real Estate tax season is here and Polk county residents have until October 15th to turn in payment for their real estate taxes not classified as agriculture to the Polk County Government Center. The Center, which will be open from 8am to 4:30pm every weekday, requests payment dropoff from Polk county residents to be dropped…
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The filing period is now closed for municipal and city offices in Minnesota, and this election cycle there will be many races on the ballot in Polk County. Here is who will be running for local office this November. City of Erskine: Mayor (Elect One) Marc Plante City Council (Elect Two) Julie Bauer Stephanie Laster…
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ADA, MN—Back in March, Norman, Mahnomen and Polk Counties, plus three other northwest Minnesota counties, began a program where you could put food scraps into a special green bag…and then those food scraps would be turned into compost. Norman County Environmental Services Director Garry Johanson says the program has had a good response. While there…
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ST. PAUL, MN—The Commission on Judicial Selection announced Monday that three people have been nominated to fill a current opening in Polk County and a future opening in Marshall County. The nominees are Max Schafer-LaCoursiere, an assistant public defender based in Thief River Falls; Symon Schindler-Syme, an assistant county attorney in the Beltrami County Attorney’s…
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You’ll be able to turn food scraps into compost thanks to a new organics recycling program in Norman, Mahnomen, Polk and Clearwater Counties. Norman County Environmental Services Director Garry Johanson tells us how the idea came about. All you have to do to take part in this recycling program is pick up a green bag…
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Over in Mahnomen County, both the Republican and DFL caucuses will be held at the Mahnomen School. The Republicans will meet in the library and the DFL in the cafeteria. Registration begins at 6:30 and each caucus begins at 7. And in Polk County, the Polk/Red Lake County DFL will caucus at Highland Elementary School…
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