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The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
In this issue: By Sarah Hinnenkamp If you believe people are put in the right places at the right times, you’ll understand why Dr. Rory Ratzlaff was traveling along I-29 around 5 p.m. on Monday, April 1. He was needed to help in a medical emergency. News: Beer and Bacon Bash held in Langdon, Pg. A2
Community: Pembilier Nursing Center: A picture is worth a thousand words, Pg. B7
Ratzlaff and his family were traveling after the Easter holiday and came upon an injury crash that happened near the Reynolds, N.D., interstate exit. Ratzlaff grew up in Langdon and serves as the medical director at Langdon Prairie Health. According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, a suburban driven by a 51-year-old man from Crookston left the highway and struck a bridge pillar head on at highway speed. A news release states the driver was severely injured and was transported to Altru Hospital. Agencies involved included Reynolds Volunteer Fire Department, Traill County Sheriff’s office, and Altru Ambulance. As the Ratzlaffs slowly drove into the accident zone, Dr. Rory noticed emergency personnel start the motor on the jaws of life. “Once I saw the jaws of life, something just kind of told me to pull over,” Ratzlaff said via phone after the incident. “Honestly, it was a sudden sense of
Friday, April 12, 2024
LANGDON DOCTOR ASSISTS AT ACCIDENT SCENE ON I-29
urgency. I just had this sensation, and I felt I needed to stop. I can’t explain it - I just felt that I needed to stop.” Upon his offer of help, law enforcement told him they weren’t going to say no to help from a doctor. “I saw that the person was going to need some help. I was so glad I stopped because the person was definitely in need of assistance,” he said.
Ratzlaff assisted local agencies in getting the man out of the vehicle and onto the ambulance gurney. Then he rode in the back of the ambulance to assist as needed all the way back to the emergency room at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. Ratzlaff has been working in Langdon for a little over a year. Before that he served as an emergency room nurse, so he knows what to look for in situations like this.
By Borderland Press Staff
This isn’t the first time Ratzlaff has stepped up to help strangers while traveling. It’s happened twice while he and his wife were traveling on airplanes where there were emergencies. It happened another time when
“When I arrived on scene, it was very inspiring to see the local EMS and firefighters, who don’t have these types of situations occur on a regular basis, come together with a common goal: to get the individual out as safely as
One of the Cavalier County Sheriff's Department's newest additions has been utilizing her natural skillset to assist officers in action throughout the northeastern borderland region. According to Sheriff Matt Wright, K9 officer, Reign, has gotten her first few sniffs on the job under her belt.
Officers would soon discover a small amount of narcotics in the driver's seat area. Pictured are members of the cast of Red vs. the Wolf, which was performed at North Border Pembina. Georgia Evenson played the part of the Wolf, and Jasmine Burch played Red. Photo by Larry Stokke.
Students from the Pembina High School Drama Club presented the play during two performances on Thursday, April 4. A matinee was held in the afternoon so students could enjoy the play. There was also an evening performance. A free will donation was taken. For more photos and the full cast and crew list, see the Views from the Borderland section of this week’s newspaper. Apr. 12
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Apr. 13
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According to Wright, this “first sniff" is a big step for Reign, who just completed her official training a few months ago with her handler, officer Tom Sabo. "[We’re] glad that she alerted on a small amount and that it wouldn't take 10 pounds to signal," Wright informed officials during the commission meeting. "I believe that it was under a half gram. It gives you pretty good faith in their nose when they're hitting that hard on a small amount of narcotics." Wright included that the wind plays a big role when it comes to Reign's most powerful asset - her nose, and the day Reign assisted in Walsh County was a windy one, offering officers even more reassurance on Reign's capabilities as a K9.
Dr. Rory Ratzlaff, Langdon Prairie Health. Borderland Press File Photo.
possible and get them to a higher level of care,” Ratzlaff said. “Shout out to EMS, the Sheriff’s office, and fire department in all rural communities in North Dakota because I’ve seen that back in Langdon recently, too. They’re all volunteers, and without them, I don’t know where we would be.”
Titanic lessons provide Munich students with memorable learning experience By Borderland Press Staff
Sixth grade students in Munich boarded the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic on Friday, April 5. The annual event is something students throughout the school look forward to, and sixth graders spend the day learning about the history.
At the last Cavalier County Commission meeting on April 1, Wright updated commissioners on a recent achievement. A few weeks ago, the K9 unit was called upon to assist a deputy in Walsh County on Highway 17 between Park River and Grafton. "We received a call from Walsh County to see if our canine guy was available to respond to a traffic stop," said Wright. "Tom [Sabo] responded down there and ran the dog around the car. The dog was hitting on the driver's side door and kept hitting really hard.”
“I don’t know if I'm put in those situations,” Ratzlaff said. “Maybe I’m put in those certain situations to be able to help. If I can be of assistance - that’s what I feel like I’m supposed to do.” Of the Reynolds area crash, Ratzlaff said he was impressed by the willingness of people to work together.
By Hilary Nowatzki
Pembina High School Drama Club presented “Red vs. the Wolf”
he was following his wife on the road in another vehicle when she was pregnant, and he witnessed her vehicle get t-boned in traffic. He was there to help.
“It’s just you kind of triage the setting in your head,” he said. “Once you kind of have little inklings of what could potentially be happening or what could go wrong, that’s when I step into action.”
Cavalier County K9 gets ‘first sniff’ on the job News: Recap of North Dakota’s political conventions, Pg. B3
Volume 3, Number 14
The Titanic sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Friday, April 5, would prove to be another day for Reign to shine. While on patrol with Officer Josh Johansson, Wright would call in Sabo and Reign, leading to the discovery of suspected drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop in Cavalier County. Wright referred to Reign's presence in the department as a "new tool" for law enforcement that officers are still getting used to utilizing. He expects to see an increase in the use of the new K9 unit over time as officers become more familiar with Reign and her capabilities. "She's starting to be utilized a little more. It's kind of like I said before, it's worth having a new tool like that. It's kind of a mentality change and just a learning curve. [We’re] making the steps in the right direction.” Wright says that officer Sabo is enthusiastic to continue his work with Reign throughout the region. "He's excited about the position as canine officer, so he's always chomping at the bit to get out and run and start. cont’d. on page B4
Teacher Barb Hill transformed her classroom and the hallway outside of it into the Titanic. This interactive learning assignment is something Hill has set up for years, starting with last year’s graduating senior class.
Mrs. Barb Hill is pictured with Easton Wirth.
Hill played the part of Titanic captain Edward Smith and Mrs. Lisa Meyers played the part of Mrs. Margaret Brown (the unsinkable Molly Brown), a person who survived the sinking of the Titanic. The morning starts out with sparkling beverages and caramel rolls with many students speaking in British accents, as their characters may require. They read Titanic handouts and learned about the construction of the ship and about several of the real life passengers, played a quiz game, and participated in a group project.
Mrs. Hill’s class is dressed and ready for the day aboard the Titanic.
cont’d. on page B4