October 2025

Ask a Trooper: Yielding to emergency vehicles…

Question: I seem to encounter a fair amount of emergency vehicles running in emergency mode (lights and sirens.) I also can’t help but notice how many people don’t pull over and yield to them. Can you bring some attention to this?

Beyond Reason: Fear Not…

October is the month where everyone tries to scare me. They plant ghosts and goblins and witches and skeletons in their front yard. And, yes, if you’re into property values, then clutter is indeed a bit scary. Then again, if the goal really is to frighten me, why on earth would you dress these decorations up in funny costumes? I’ve seen skeletons sporting scarecrow garb. Are they trying to scare me or the crows? I’ve seen ghosts donning sunglasses, Goblins rocking Norwegian sweaters, and witches looking less like they’re about to take to the air than they’re about to sweep up.

News from Countryside Public Health: Preparedness starts at home…

As your school health team, we care deeply about the health and well-being of every student in our communities. This month, we want to focus on mental health, an area that affects students of all ages and is just as important as their physical health. Together, we can help break the stigma around mental health and give students the tools they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Live Well, Age Wisely: The Best Defense Against Open Enrollment Scams…

Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15th and runs through December 7th. This is an important time of year for any Medicare beneficiary who has a standalone Part D prescription drug plan, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Cost plan to review what their coverage for 2026 will look like if they remain on their current plan and see if there may be a more suitable option. Participating will be necessary this year for those with UCare Medicare Advantage plans as they will no longer be available in 2026. If you’d like to get a time scheduled for a plan comparison, let’s get that scheduled now at 320-226-8861.

Erik Hatlestad honored for vital work on rural clean energy & electric co-ops

Last week, CURE’s Director of Rural Cooperative Energy, Erik Hatlestad, was named to the 2025 Grist50 list for his work on rural clean energy and electric cooperatives. This honor reflects Erik’s efforts helping design and pass the New ERA program that provides the largest investment in rural electrification in U.S. history. New ERA funding enables rural electric cooperatives’ transition to renewable energy, providing co-op member-owners with substantial savings on their energy bills, creating new rural jobs, and reducing climate pollution across our rural communities. Each year, the Grist 50 list features 50 climate leaders bringing unique and innovative solutions to their field, their community, and the world.

CCM Health Surgeon Dr. Yuan Stevenson awarded prestigious scholarship by the American College of Surgeons

CCM Health proudly announces that Dr. Yuan Stevenson, General Surgeon at CCM Health, has been selected as one of only three national recipients of the 2025 Nizar N. Oweida, MD, FACS Scholarship from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This highly competitive scholarship supports surgeons practicing in rural areas, helping them advance their training and bring improved care to underserved communities.