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Theborderlandpress.com
In this Issue:
Letter from the Publisher Page 4 Guest Column “What’s Happening in Walhalla” Page 4 “Grandma Loves Langdon” by Sara Goodman Page 4 “The Game” by Matt Mitzel Page 4 Jake’s Take on Sports Page 7
Friday, April 22, 2022
Blizzard Haley
Breaks
Volume 1, Number 15
month for the 54th time this week.
42-Year Record
A blizzard is defined by the National Weather Service as, “Hazardous weather conditions comprised of winds of at least 35mph and considerable falling and/or blowing snow leading to visibility reductions of a quarter mile or less, both lasting three or more hours.” The Langdon Research Extension Center tracks weather patterns over the years, and according
Last week at the Borderland Press, the area was buckling down to face what has now been named ‘Blizzard Haley’ just as the newsroom was putting the finishing touches on last week's paper. Its frontpage read ‘A Look Back - 25 Years Since Blizzard Hannah’ and included a collection of photos taken 25 years ago, alongside a collection of photos taken on the anniversary (before it was snow covered, yet again). Ironically enough,
to their data, the 2021-2022 blizzard season has shattered records in the Red River Valley. The average number of blizzards to hit the area is 2.6 according to 42 years of data collection. The most blizzards tracked before
By Hilary Nowatzki
Flood of ‘97 Remembered Page 9 State: Minot Receives Brunt of Spring Storm Page 10
Index:
News Agriculture Opinion Education Community Sports Business Flood of ‘97 Memories State Classifieds Public Notices/ Meeting Minutes
Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Pages 6 Page 7 Pages 8 Page 9 Pages 10 Page 12 Page 13
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was 11 in 2013-2014 and 19961997. After Blizzard Haley, the area has faced at least 12, the most in a single season since blizzards began being charted 42 years ago. The average annual snowfall for this area is 40 inches according to LREC’s data, and this season has brought over 60 inches, a nearly 30% increase. The storm touched down Tuesday evening of last week and continued into the next morning, leaving residents with heavy, wet snow to contend with. Roads were once again covered in white with a thick base of ice underneath. Since the ground already had a few weeks to warm before the blizzard came, when snow fell and made contact - it immediately melted then froze again, leaving a worrisome situation for drivers. These were also the exact conditions that made Hannah so dan-
Blizzard Haley decided to strike not even weeks after Hannah’s 25th anniversary, bringing panic and memories to anyone who lived here through the catastrophic event. Last week was a whirlwind of a storm bringing the muddled colors of dead grass - uncovered for the first time in over 5 months - back to white, then mud, then white again, leaving everyone questioning the season and
gerous. It’s not all bad though - the ice is the cheapest, fastest, way for drivers to forget that pot holes exist! cont’d. on page 14
CAVALIER COUNTY CANCER CRUSADERS TALK HISTORY, PREPARE TO HOST SPRING RUMMAGE SALE By Hilary Nowatzki
Back in 1976, the first cancer crusader group was organized in New Orleans. Although the charitable organization is headquartered in Louisiana, they have no administrative overhead and do not affiliate with other cancer research funding groups. Hundreds more independently formed crusader groups have popped up around the nation since, and the funds raised by each group go directly back to individuals who are suffering through a cancer diagnosis. In the fall of 2017, Kathy Muhs decided that Cavalier County would greatly benefit from a cancer crusaders nonprofit group, but she knew she would need help. Mickey Cain was the banker for this region's Relay for Life Cancer Society for years. She was familiar with the cancer crusader’s slightly different model of raising donations. When Muhs asked, “Hey, I’m wanting to start this, would you be on board with me?” Cain gladly replied, “Yes!”
“Cancer affects so many people, and so many families go through it, but we don’t fight alone,” Muhs Muhs had heard of a neighboring town that was doing something simi- said. out how to start a non-profit for here,” Muhs said.
lar to what she wanted to start, so she gave them a call to see how they did it. From there, she reached out to attorney Scott Stewart. “Scott was the push I needed. When I asked how difficult this would be he said, ‘not at all!’ so we met in his office and got the paperwork started,” Muhs said. Muhs formed a board consisting of vice president, Runa Anderson; secretary, Jessica Tank; treasurer, Mickey Cain; and board members: Betty Coyle, Adrian Olson, and Gwen Witzel. Choice Bank set up their finances, and Muhs filed the paperwork for the non-profit. Just like that, the Cancer Crusaders of Cavalier County was up and running.
“Kathy has been the real spearhead behind all of this; she started everything,” Cain said.
In 2018, tragedy struck close to home when Kathy Muhs’ son, Michael, was diagnosed with cancer.
Like Cain, Muhs spent years involved with the American Cancer Society. After facing the question of how can we keep this money here from her fellow community members countless times over the years, Muhs started exploring alternate models of fundraising for cancer patients.
“I never dreamed my own son would be battling it a year later,” Muhs said.
“I have nothing wrong with Cancer Society. They do amazing and much needed work, but I wanted to figure
On January 31 of 2019, Michael passed through pearly gates leaving a legacy of love, happiness, and friendship behind. Muhs said the tragedy has the potential of fueling passion, and she has not let this loss prevent her and the Crusaders from slowing down their work.
In 2021, the Cavalier County Cancer Crusaders raised an astounding $38,000, paid only $4,000 in overhead, and the remaining $34,000 went directly into the hands of cancer patients. In 2020 amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crusaders were still able to raise nearly $17,200, paid $1,300 in overhead, and donated $15,870. In 2019 when the pandemic began, nearly $32,713 was raised and $24,800 was donated. This money is then handed out in the form of a check once every quarter of the year to any resident of Cavalier County facing a cancer diagnosis.
Photo from the Cavalier County Cancer Crusaders’ rummage sale in April 2021. Submitted photo.
has cancer would ask me how they could get help and all I could do was give them a phone number to call,” Cain said. “These large nonprofits are still good, but in this small community - it's so much more rewarding to see funds go directly to the individual that is suffering.”
“A lot of people don’t get treatment around here.They have to go to the big cities. We just give patients the check; they are able to cash it at Choice Financial and use the cash as they please for gas, traveling expenses, medication, groceries, or whatever their need is at that time,” Cain said.
model of raising money is to cut out as many middle men as possible. For example, even if they handed out gas cards, they would lose $2 per card in order to buy the card, not to mention possible activation fees patients would have to pay. The Crusaders are also only a volunteer base with no administrative overhead nor affiliation to other organizations. They do not have a payroll, rent, nor dues to face, and their only overhead expenses are their website domain and necessary fees for fundraising events. Other nonprofits raise money for research to solve the complex disease that is cancer, but tiny communities that face unique challenges like Cavalier County require different solutions.
Cain explained that the Crusader's
“It was so hard when someone who
cont’d. on page 14
Residents of the Borderland area understand that seeking out specialized health care is difficult to access, even when someone is not sick and suffering immensely. Grand Forks and Fargo are the two locations residents usually go to receive their treatments, leaving them with the extra burden of transportation and fuel prices.
Many times the Crusaders will find out that a community member has cancer and start writing them checks before they even reach out. “Sometimes people will get a check and tell us they would like to give the money back if they don’t think they need it that bad,” Cain stated. Other times people have received their checks exactly when they needed