S erving the R egion S ince 1907
OCTOBER 21, 2016 $1.00
bowmanextra.com SCHOOL, 4
Point of view | Our local youth: Thank-you teachers
◊
NEWS, 5
Lower commodity prices need lower costs
MDU requests rate increase Customers could see average increase of more than $9 monthly
Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. on Friday filed an electric general rate increase request with the North Dakota Public Service Commission. If approved it would increase residential electric monthly bills by an average of about $9.60.
The main reason for the increase request was because of increased investment in facilities and the associated depreciation, operation and maintenance expenses and taxes. “We have worked hard and continue to work diligently on managing our costs while gaining efficiencies whenever possible, along with selecting low-cost options to meet our customer needs” said Nicole Kivisto, president and CEO of Montana-Dakota Utilities. “However, we have made signifi-
How it adds up
The proposed increase would be allocated as follows to each rate class, based on cost-of-service studies: Residential 9.4 percent Small General Service 10.9 percent Large General Service 4.0 percent Municipal Lighting 1.1 percent Municipal Pumping 9.7 percent Outdoor Lighting 1.6 percent
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
cant investments in our facilities and in technology to provide our customers with safe and reliable service.” The proposed increase is for $13.4 million per year over current rates, or a 6.6 percent increase. Montana-Dakota serves approximately 100,700 electric customers in 117 North Dakota communities. The North Dakota Public Service Commission has up to seven months to render a
decision on the proposed increase request. Montana-Dakota also filed a request with the PSC to implement an interim rate increase to go into effect within 60 days of the general rate filing. The interim increase is subject to refund if the final increase authorized by the PSC is less than the interim. Montana-Dakota’s last electric general rate increase was $7.6 million, or 6.9 percent, effective July 22, 2011. That rate increase request was filed April 19, 2010.
Grab your spurs and your saddles
This year’s PRCA in Bowman is hoping to capitalize on a later event date.
PRCA rodeo this weekend in Bowman By BRYCE MARTIN Pioneer Editor
Sharon Holder, left, and Pam Fisher, right, are the duo behind P.S. Custom Embroidery, a local, home-based business in Bowman offering customers a wealth of apparel options and customized embroidery possibilities to suit their needs. (Pioneer Photo by Bryce Martin)
Filling a niche
New Bowman embroidery business puts community, quality over all
By BRYCE MARTIN Pioneer Editor
If there is one thing that is most important to P.S. Custom Embroidery, it is community. That’s what led two Bowman residents to keep an embroidery business local. Pam Fisher and Sharon Holder, the namesake of P.S. Custom Embroidery, have a lengthy history of working together. They’ve known each other for the decades they’ve lived in Bowman and have mulled opening a business together for quite some time. When Dale’s Clothing & Custom Embroidery closed its doors early this summer, it was an opportunity for the two to open a business,
WEEKLY FORECAST, 11 TODAY High: 62 Low: 42 Mostly sunny and mild
in part to ensure the well-used embroidery part of Dale’s would remain local. They purchased an embroidery machine, found a perfect location in a friend’s heated garage and started on a business plan. “It was a huge niche,” said Fisher, 57, who called the closing of Dale’s a huge loss to the community. While there has been a bit of a learning curve for the two, Holder, 55, isn’t too far off from what she earned a college degree in: apparel merchandising. Holder attended college in Nettleton, S.D., and obtained her degree, with plans to manage a retail outfitter. But “God laughed,” she explained, as her plans dramatically changed and ultimately led her to Bowman. Fisher had spent years as an advertising representative and copywriter for KPOK Radio, creating lasting relationships with local businesses. It was a perfect pairing. Fisher would use her business acumen and Holder would handle the apparel side of their new business, P.S. Custom Embroidery. “We burn a lot of midnight oil,” Holder said. “And weekend oil,” Fisher added with a laugh.
Inside Classifieds ..............8 Comics ................... 9 Obituaries .............. 7 Opinion .................. 6
Puzzles ...................9 Briefs .......................2 Sports ..................... 10 Community ..........5
That’s because both have regular jobs during the day. Fisher is a counselor at Bowman County Schools and Holder is heavily involved with Bowman Lutheran Church. But it was the love of community and wanting to deliver a quality product that drove them to work the long hours at their new business. What separates P.S. from another embroidery service in the area is that the two complete the work locally. The logos, for the most part, are designed onsite, and the work is completely done in their shop. Their business’s major services include the ability for people to order all types of apparel, from well-known vendors, having those orders embroidered locally or bringing in previously purchased merchandise to add customized embroidery. The business, which began at the end of August, is “just getting rolling,” as Holder put it, so they weren’t afraid to start out small. So far, however, they’ve taken on both small and large orders. They already have local customers and commercial accounts, in addition to out-of-
NICHE Page 2
SPORTS, 10
FOOTBALL: HettingerScranton falls in playoffs
Nearly 1,000 tickets were sold for the 2014 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo in Bowman. It marked the first year the rodeo committee netted a profit. But the next year’s rodeo gave 2014’s a run for its money considering the new events. Now, for 2016, with a later date, the rodeo is hoping to capitalize on a month with not too many other rodeo events scheduled in the region. This year’s rodeo will be held this weekend at the Bowman County Fairgrounds. Bailee Murnion, who serves on the rodeo’s organization committee, said because Bowman’s rodeo is one of the last to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, it has a tendency to attract more contestants. The rodeo traditionally proceeds quickly and without a dull moment, Murnion added. “It’s a lot of work to put on the rodeo,” Murnion said. What’s unique about Bowman’s committee is that it’s smaller compared to other professional rodeos around the country. Still, increasing ticket sales and interest shows the committee organizes a great show. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance at the Bowman Area Chamber of Commerce or at Frontier Travel Center in Bowman.
For up-to-the-minute news visit bowmanextra.com We want to hear from you: See how to contact us on Page 6 Vol. 111, No. 43 ©2016 Country Media Inc.