Night to Unite slated for August 3 on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus

CROOKSTON, Minn. - Night to Unite’s annual celebration of communities and law enforcement will be held on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus. Walmart of Crookston, the event’s main sponsor, came forward with a financial contribution to fully support this year’s event. “We are thrilled that Walmart of Crookston has agreed to financially fund the entire event,” said Crookston Police Officer, Don Rasicot. Rasicot, along with Connie Wilkins, Cathy LaJesse, Michelle Christopherson, Nell Deboer, Shane Heldstab, & Carrie Bergquist comprise the Night to Unite planning committee. Rasicot said the committee wanted to relieve the financial burden from the small local businesses and with this contribution and many others donating their services is a great testament to the Crookston community. Rasicot said there will be action, events and food vendors on the Mall at the University of Minnesota Crookston, “so we encourage all parents, children and the entire community to stop out for some fun!” The event kicks off with Bingo at 3pm and action begins at 4:30.
This year’s National Night Out (NNO) Night to Unite is in it’s 38 year nationally and 18th in Crookston. Nationwide over 40 million people in over 15,000 communities attend the event every year, Rasicot noted. Because of the renovations to Crookston’s Central Park, Night to Unite’s location will be on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus.

Schedule of events:

3:00-4:00 8th Annual Walt Keller Memorial Bingo

4:30-4:50 National Anthem sung by Kitty Barstad & Officer Rasicot welcomes the crowd to the

2021 NNO event. Officer Rasicot then introduces Chief Biermaier who gives a

short speech and introduces the recipients of the 2021 Home Town Medical

Heroes who successfully carried us through the Covid 19 pandemic

5:00-5:05 First prize give-a-way (every 15 minutes after that-via announcement)

5:10-5:30 CFD Kitchen Flashover Demonstration

5:30-6:00 Watermelon Eating Contest & Prize giveaway

6:00-6:25 CFD Vehicle Extraction Demonstration

6:25-6:30 Golf Ball Drop - (staff tallies up the winners)

6:30-6:50 Customs & Border Protection Air Interdiction Unit lands their helicopter