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Theborderlandpress.com
In this Issue:
Cavalier County Health District changes COVID testing Page 2 Tips for tackling low temperature problems Page 2 Milton Masonic Lodge presents donation to Little Helga’s Page 2 Lake Region Extension Roundup set for January Page 3 Farmers Union donates 180,000 pounds of pork to regional food banks Page 3 The Morning Run: Christmas memories in Montana Page 4 Musings from Munich: Dad’s paradise Page 4 Hope column: Looking back at an awesome December Page 5
Family-friendly resolutions to pursue together There are plenty of resolutions that families can enjoy together. Undertaking goals as a family unit can create an accountability that keeps everyone on track. Here are some resolutions to think about making right now. •Eating healthier meals together can move everyone’s personal health in
• 404: Gladiatorial fights were banned by Christian Emperor Honorius, who issued the ban after the Christian monk, Telemachus, was stoned to death by a crowd as he tried to stop a gladiatorial fight in a Roman amphitheater.
Lake Region State College to add Men’s/Women’s hockey Page 7
Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Pages 7-8 Page 10 Pages 11 -12 Page 13
•Transform negative thinking patterns into positive ones. The family can keep gratitude journals, high-
the day when the Roman Empire officially adopted the Julian calendar, which established January 1 as the first day of the new year.
Jake’s Take on Sports Page 7
News Agriculture Opinion Community Education Sports Church/Obituaries Public Notices & Meeting Minutes Classifieds
the right direction. Start by adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal and try whole grains or a new grain, like quinoa. Small changes can add up to big gains and healthy results.
lighting things in their lives they are grateful for or actions that make each person proud. •Collectively aim to get more sleep each night. This may be achieved by turning electronics off earlier each night and spending the hour or two before bed engaged in lighthearted
conversation or stress-busting activities like reading books. •Plan for screen-free family time each day so that everyone can engage without the distractions of social media, work, friends, and other digital activities.
Historic events that occurred on January 1
Prairie Rose 4-H Club donates blankets Page 5
Index:
Volume 1, Number 51
2023 H AP P Y NEW YEAR
Groups help light up Walhalla Page 5
Spoilers sweep Cards in girls-boys hoops double header Page 8
Friday, December 30, 2022
January 1 is all about new beginnings. Upon waking up on the first day of a new year, many people turn over a new leaf or look ahead to the months to come. The first day of the new year also merits a look back, as many historical events have taken place on January 1. • 45 BC: Of the many memorable events to take place on January 1, perhaps none had a more lasting effect than January 1 in 45 BC. That’s
• 1500: The coast of Brazil was discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral. Cabral is acknowledged as the first European to discover Brazil and during his voyage in 1500 became the first human in history to be in four continents. • 1600: More than 1,600 years after the Roman Empire recognized January 1 as the start of the new year, Scotland followed suit. Until this point, Scotland had considered March 25 as the start of its new year.
• 1776: In the midst of the Revolutionary War, General George Washington hoisted the Grand Union Flag, a precursor to the American flag, at Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts. Historians cite this as the first time any American flag was raised. • 1801: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland are proclaimed. The sovereign state would remain in existence until 1922, when the Irish Free State was established. • 1863: The Emancipation Proclamation took effect in Confederate territory. The proclamation from U.S. President Abraham Lincoln changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million African Americans from enslaved to free. • 1898: The City of Greater New York is created when New York, NY, annexed land from surrounding counties. Four boroughs (Manhattan,
Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx) were established and a fifth (Staten Island) joined less than a month later. • 1912: The Republic of China is established. The People’s Republic of China, which rules the mainland today, cites 1949 as the official end of the Republic of China. • 1934: Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay became a United States federal prison. High costs of running the prison would be one of the major contributing factors to its closure as a detention facility in 1963. The prison is now a popular tourist attraction. • 1971: A ban on television ads promoting cigarettes went into effect in the United States. • 1990: David Dinkins was sworn in as the first African American mayor of New York City. It was not Dinkins’ first turn as a trailblazer, as he also was among the first African American U.S. Marines.
F ROS T F IRE PARK Q&A 2022/2023 WINTER SEASON INFORMATION Frost Fire Park has been getting many questions about its winter season closure this season and wants to provide those answers to readers of The Borderland Press. Here is a Q&A answered by the board of directors of the Pembina Gorge Foundation. Will you be giving a refund for lift tickets? If you purchased a ski or lift pass for the 2022/2023, we will be extending the expiration on your passes until the 2023/2024 ski season. Why can't we ski if we get more snow? We would love to open if we can get enough snow to safely do so. We would need an adequate snowpack on the hill to cover all obstacles like grass and branches on the ground. We need to be able to maintain safe conditions and have staffing to do so. How much natural snow do we need for you to be able to open? Safe conditions require 18-24 inches of natural snow for grooming and usable conditions. We cannot open if we are unable to offer a safe environment to ski and board.
Why do you need snow making equipment given the amount of snow we get here? Snowmaking is required for Frost Fire to have a consistent opening date because mother nature is too unpredictable. Beyond the snow, there is extensive planning and preparations that enable a ski season including labor, insurance inspections, equipment testing and repairs. We strive for the best and safest conditions possible for our customers to have a high-quality experience.
The current project is replacing the snowmaking systems (river water intake, pumps, water retention pond, pumps, water pipes on all the runs, electrical and snow guns). We have secured $3 million in state and federal grants to assist with this project. The systems that we have currently are almost 50 years old, and some pieces were used equipment or infrastructure when originally installed. The entire system has surpassed its useful life and is in need of full replacement.
Can we hike, snowshoe, or cross country ski this season? We are unable to have guests on the property when the facility is not open for business. If we have another event going on that day, we may be able to open for snowshoeing or possibly the bunny hill.
When will Howatt Hangar be open? We are still searching for a cook. We may open in January with limited hours if staffing and scheduling can be figured out.
Why do you need new snow equipment? Didn't you replace that a few years ago?
How do the board of directors and staff feel about the closing? This was very disappointing for both the board of directors and staff. Many options were considered and
Will you open if you get enough snow to safely open? We will continue to assess the situation for possible snow-related activities. How many ski resorts use snowmaking equipment? Snowmaking is the norm in midwestern ski resorts. Snowmaking equipment is every bit as important as having a chairlift. Even the large mountain resorts have snowmaking systems at the base or in areas that are hard to keep natural snow on due to wind etc. Frost Fire Park lodge, pictured during the winter of 2021-2022. Borderland Press photo.
investigated to make this decision. The existing water system has been patched the past three winters, and it was no longer feasible or cost effective. The board of directors is balancing the day-to-day operations with the long-term goals and success. In this case, the one winter season shutdown will set us up for winter skiing and boarding fun for several generations to enjoy. What do you want people to know about the decision and about Frost Fire Park moving forward? We were all looking forward to a busy season welcoming our Canadian friends to return and having good momentum and ever-increasing awareness of Frost Fire and the Pembina Gorge. As disappointing as this is, the board of directors is excited to make the snowmaking infrastructure investments, and construction bids have been awarded to start construction in spring 2023. We are determined to keep the momentum building with plans for theater improvements, lodge improvements and added recreational features. We have selected “Little House on the Prairie” for the 2023 theater production and are busy making plans for the theater, youth camps, and downhill biking season. The board of directors and staff would like to thank everyone for their questions and concerns. It is exciting to see the enthusiasm of so many that want to come out and experience Frost Fire and the Gorge. We appreciate your support while we navigate through this temporary setback and work towards an all-season playground for several generations to come. The board of directors and staff remain committed to our mission to preserve and enhance the experience of the Pembina Gorge while connecting people to positive, life-changing experiences.