>>> LADY CARDS START OFF SEASON STRONG
The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
In this issue:
Friday, December 13, 2024
Volume 3, Number 49
Small-town success comes from positive people and things Attracting younger adults, building infrastructure keys to success By Michael Standaert/North Dakota News Cooperative
News: LPH Foundation hosts Lights, Stars, and Diamonds Ceremony, Pg. A2
Like many young rural people, broadcast journalist Cory Hepola left his small hometown of Perham, Minn., looking for bigger city success. He landed in Fargo and then bounced around the country with broadcasting gigs in Montana, New York and Texas. An out-of-the-blue cold call in 2019 brought him back home to Otter Tail County to develop a series of tourism videos focused on local communities. Called “Rural By Choice,” it won an Emmy award for “Outstanding Lifestyle Series.” By then, he was hooked and moved back for good.
Ag: NDSU Extension to host ‘virtual fencing’ workshop, Pg. A3
“I think what really captured the audience's attention was that so often our rural communities are portrayed as dead, dying, there's nothing there for you,” Hepola said. “I didn’t think it was honestly reflecting the opportunity and the innovation and the beauty and the connectedness that’s happening there.” The loss of a school, a post office, a grocery or a child care center often makes headlines because of how important these institutions are to maintaining a smaller community.
Region: RDFC awards grant to Dahlen Rural Fire Department, Pg. A10
Beyond that, however, the slow burning success stories are often missed. It’s harder to capture how rural communities are increasingly attracting younger people, Hepola said, and how many who choose to stay or relocate rural are searching for something those towns often have: a strong
work-life balance. Enter Hepola’s new project – “My Town.” The first season of “My Town” is currently premiering on YouTube and features seven flourishing towns across four states in the Upper Midwest, including Rugby. The episode on Rugby, “The Side of North Dakota You’ve Never Seen,” aired Dec. 2. It features the successful Heartland Bison Ranch, downtown fashion store Main Street Boutique, which also offers cooking and wine classes, and the Heart of America Medical Center’s new $62 million facility which held its grand opening at the end of August. Positive people power Rugby is the perfect example of smalltown success, Hepola said. There, he found passionate, energetic leaders who were focused on everything the town does have, not what it doesn’t have. Accentuating the positive instead of being mired in the negative is important for growth, according to those involved in development. “Rural communities are bombarded with negative messaging, so it makes them feel like they are helpless, when, in fact, they hold all the power,” said Megan Langley, executive director of rural development nonprofit StrengthenND. “Some are very much so thriving,” she said. “They just may not be meeting
Cory Hepola [right] speaks with Kevin Leier of Heartland Bison Ranch. Photo by The Brookshire Company.
typical indicators of success that we see in larger communities, meaning, thriving looks differently depending on the context of your community.” StrengthenND is currently in phase two of a research project on how hope can be a motivator for rural communities. Langley said the group’s findings indicate that overall most are hopeful about their communities and it is their friends and neighbors working to improve the quality of life for all who make them feel hopeful. This fits with the second aspect Heploa noticed in the communities he’s visited: prioritizing getting things done together as a community.
“It cannot be siloed off,” Hepola said of individual efforts to strengthen smaller communities. “All of them need to be working together. Those are the successful communities.”
expand coverage to South Dakota and Nebraska, and will also include new episodes on two rural communities in North Dakota. Hepola expects those will be announced by mid-January. Numerous studies in recent years show since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, younger adults are moving to rural areas at higher rates than have been seen since the 1970s, largely because of the work-life balance those communities can provide. That work-life balance is something towns should be proud of and advertise, Hepola said. “But you have to raise your hand,” he said. “You can't sit back anymore and just wait for people to find you, because they won't find you.” Another important aspect is forward thinking and strategic planning, he said, looking out 10 years ahead instead of just patching things up as you go. That means focusing on housing
The second season of “My Town” will
cont’d. on page B7
app. •Informing someone of your destination and estimated arrival time. •Reducing speed and maintaining ample stopping distance. •Keeping a winter survival kit in your car.
If your car becomes stalled, stay inside, signal for help, and use your survival kit to stay warm until assistance arrives.
Organization reminds families of winter safety tips
By Rebecca Davis As the winter season approaches, parents in the Borderland area are preparing to keep their children safe during colder months. Local nonprofit organization Safe Kids Grand Forks is stepping in to provide expert advice on ensuring child safety both in vehicles and during outdoor activities.
ing coats backward can also provide warmth without compromising safety.
Car seat safety Jasmine Wangen, the child passenger safety coordinator at Safe Kids, stressed the importance of proper attire for car seat safety. “The big thing we want to watch for with kids is vehicle safety,” Wangen explained. “We want to talk about not wearing big puffy coats and snowsuits in a car seat because that’s going to make those harness straps not as close to the child as we want them to be.”
Pedestrian safety In addition to car safety, Wangen emphasized pedestrian safety, particularly during the darker winter months. “We really don’t want children under 10 walking or crossing the street alone,” she said. She advises parents to ensure their children wear reflective gear and closely supervise younger pedestrians. Other recommendations include: •Keeping driveways and sidewalks clear of snow and ice to prevent slips. •Applying rock salt or sand to improve traction. •Avoiding play on snow hills near streets or parking lots, as children could slide into traffic.
Wangen suggests the “strap before you wrap” approach: dress children in lightweight layers under their car seat harness, then add blankets or coats over the top for warmth. Alternatives such as car seat ponchos or wear-
Frostbite prevention According to Wangen, protecting against frostbite is vital and dressing in layers is key: •Base layer: Thermal long johns and wool socks.
•Middle layer: Shirts, a sweater, and pants for insulation. •Outer layer: A water-resistant winter coat, snow boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat that covers the earlobes. Limit outdoor playtime, ensure kids come indoors periodically for warm beverages, and avoid extended outdoor exposure for infants. Recognize frostbite symptoms: redness or stinging in mild cases, yellow or gray skin tone in moderate cases, and waxy, numb skin in severe cases. If frostbite occurs, go inside, call a doctor, and warm affected areas against the body. Avoid massaging frostbitten skin to prevent tissue damage. Winter driving safety Motorists must prepare themselves and their vehicles for winter conditions, especially with the recent blast of winter weather. Key tips include: •Keeping a full tank of gas. •Checking road conditions before departing using tools like the NDRoads
Winter vehicle survival kit checklist To ensure safety in emergencies, Safe Kids Grand Forks recommends including the following items in your car: •Warm gear: Several blankets and warm clothing. •Signaling gear: A bright orange or red cloth, a whistle, and a radio. •Cooking gear: A heat source such as a heater or candle, matches (not lighters), a metal container for cooking, and a cup for eating or drinking. •Food and beverage: Bottled water, hard candy, nuts, raisins, granola bars, jerky, and dried fruit. •Miscellaneous items: Rope, toilet paper, reading material, and flashlights with additional batteries.
Winter sports safety Safe Kids Grand Forks also offers discounted multi-sport and winter helmets for $30, providing essential protection for skating, sledding, and skiing. “These helmets are high-quality, with detachable ear pieces and a strap for ski goggles. At sporting goods stores, they’d cost around $100, but we offer them at a significantly reduced price,” said Wangen. By following these winter safety tips, families can stay safe, warm, and prepared throughout the season. For more information, visit Safe Kids Grand Forks https://safekidsgf.com/ safety.html.
MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER OF FORMER LANGDON RESIDENT By The Borderland Press staff
The man accused of a fatal stabbing in March of 2024 in Grand Forks entered a change of plea in Northeast Central District court on Monday. During the change of plea hearing, Cazmere Haskins, 18, entered a guilty plea to the charge of Class AA Felony murder in the death of Anfernee Economy, 24. On March 7, 2024, Haskins was ac-
cused of fatally stabbing Economy during a large brawl in front of Sterling Point apartments in Grand Forks. Haskins fled the scene after the stabbing but was arrested a short time later that day, and the suspected murder weapon was seized by officials. Economy was declared deceased at the scene. Haskins admitted to stabbing Economy but claimed it was in
self defense. In court on Monday, Judge Jason McCarthy ordered a pre-sentence investigation which typically takes about 90 days to complete. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for March 7, 2025, coincidentally on the one-year anniversary of Economy’s death.
The prosecution in the case has signaled it will ask for a sentence of 40 years for Haskins. In North Dakota, the crime of AA-felony murder comes with a maximum punishment of life in prison. Prosecutors in the case however are asking for 40 years as part of a plea deal. The Grand Forks Police Department
has announced they will not be pursuing any further charges either for Haskins or for the dozen or so people involved in the brawl.