The Borderland Press, V3, N23, Friday, June 4

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EAGLES, CARDINALS COMPETE IN STATE GOLF; COSLEY MAKES ALL-STATE TEAM

The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com

In this issue:

Friday, June 14, 2024

Volume 3, Number 23

CHANGING THE MATH ON WHO LEARNS TO SKI Blizzard of North Dakota begins fundraising efforts to get local youth on the slopes this winter By Hilary Nowatzki

News: Langdon Eagles Club makes generous donation, Pg. A2

Community: Art class hosted at Walhalla Public Library, Pg. A5

Sports: Langdon Green Giants 10U softball girls play at Grand Forks, Pg. B2

When Stephen Parkes isn’t on the slopes skiing, he says he is probably thinking about skiing, and when he is sleeping, he’s likely dreaming about skiing. Parkes loves skiing so much that in April of 2022, he began a 501(c)3 titled Blizzard of North Dakota. Fundraising began, and he had hoped to get between at least four kids on the slopes, free of charge that winter; however, Frost Fire ended up closed for the season. Last year, with new and improved snow making equipment, Parkes was able to get not just four but seven kids enrolled in the eight-week program. Parkes’ inspiration for Blizzard of North Dakota drew off his own childhood. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, he learned how to ski in his backyard at the age of five. Back then, there weren’t a variety of affordable options for places to ski in Detroit. He eventually graduated from his backyard to a 200 foot garbage dump, which, when covered in snow, was enough to light the fire to his passion for the sport. In 1966, Parkes’ parents enrolled him and his brothers in a program named “Blizzard.” It was a non-profit organization which taught underprivileged children how to ski. Started by Army veteran Charlie Yearn, who joined the service right after WWII and was assigned to conduct ski patrol in Germany, Blizzard would eventually take 2,000-4,000 kids to area slopes every weekend. Parkes credits Yearn for Jun 14

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the opportunities he was able to experience growing up as a ski-obsessed youth. Now, he has skied all over the country and said last year at Frost Fire was one of the best venues he has experienced. “I've lost count of how many ski areas I've skied at over the many years,” he stated. “Frost Fire second to none. The snowmaking is perfect. It’s the most professional operation I think I've ever experienced, and the ski area, hands down, is one of the finest in the Midwest.” Patty Gorder, general manager at Frost Fire, said it was fun to be able to host the group. She’s looking forward to seeing Parkes and “his little ducklings” following him down the slopes in an S shape, as she reflected on a memory from the last season. For Gorder, Frost Fire isn’t just about being “family friendly.” “Our aim is basically to create a very family friendly environment, but not just ‘family friendly environment,’ as far as kiddos are welcome, but really for it to feel like home when you come here. So I feel like that was very much established,” explained Gorder. When Parkes moved to Walhalla, he noticed something on the slopes at Frost Fire - he said he always saw the same groups of kids, and very few were from Walhalla.

“It's people who have some level of disposable financial income, and they take their kids skiing with them; it's really expensive,” Parkes explained. “It just seems unfair.” Like many other sports, skiing requires money for equipment, lessons, and lift tickets. They need winterized gear and, of course, a solid pair of skis. Sadly, not every family is able to afford the financial responsibility that comes with learning a new sport or skill. Parkes worked with area schools to find youth between the ages of eight and 10 that were interested in learning the sport. “None of them had ever skied before. They're all afraid, had no idea what to do,” said Parkes. “At the end of the season eight weeks later, all of them are free skiers in control.” According to Parkes, the ultimate test is control - can they control themselves on their own? For all seven of those kiddos, the answer is yes, and now they will be returning next year as advanced skiers! Parkes said many of the children were “horrified” at the beginning of the season last year. With steady instruction and support, they were able to build confidence in themselves. “There's a lot of fear, a lot of uncer-

Photo courtesy of Stephen Parkes from last year’s Blizzard of North Dakota ski program.

tainty, and a complete lack of confidence, not only skiing but riding the chairlift. This is a frightening event for some kids to be 20, 30, 40 feet off the ground,” Parkes explained. “But you get over it, and you get past it. Repetition builds confidence, it really does. Then, pretty soon, they just can't wait to go.” Gorder echoed Parkes’ sentiments, expanding further on the benefits this program offers. cont’d. on page A10

Ten locals wrapped in Quilts of Valor By Hilary Nowatzki

Wine event to kick-off the 125th Annual Deuce of August celebration salmon, local cheeses, fruit, Icelandic breads and, of course, Icelandic chocolate; and take home a souvenir wine glass and coaster!

Stephen and Jill Matthiasson.

The 125th Deuce of August events committee is excited to announce that the 2024 August Celebration (The Deuce) will start with a wine tasting event featuring wines from the Björnson Vineyard of Salem, Oregon, and the Matthiasson Winery of Napa, California. The owners of these two award winning vineyards have ancestral roots in Iceland and in the Icelandic communities of northeastern North Dakota. The Björnson-Matthiasson Wine Event will be held on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mountain Community Center. An exciting evening is being planned that will include an opportunity to interact with the vintners, Mark and Pattie Björnsonand Steve and Jill Matthiasson; taste a variety of their wines; sample Icelandic inspired charcuterie to pair with the wines including hangikjöt (smoked lamb), rúllupylsa (spiced, rolled beef), smoked

Mark Björnson and his wife, Pattie, are the founders of Björnson Vineyard located in the Eola-Amity Hills near Salem, Oregon. After successful careers in the business world in the Twin Cities, Mark and Pattie relocated to Oregon in 2005 and began their search for property where they could fulfill their dream of starting a vineyard. They soon found the ideal site, a 107-acre farm complete with forests and streams. They cleared the land to plant their vineyard, took classes in viticulture and winemaking, built a winery, and set about the task of winemaking. Mark and Pattie are strong believers in sustainable farming and believe “that the care we take with the land will be reflected in the wines we make.” Björnson wines have since become very successful, earning high scores from Wine Spectator and numerous awards. Mark’s grandfather, Magnus Bjornson, was an early mayor of Mountain. Stephen Matthiasson and his wife, Jill, are the founders of Matthiasson Winery located in Napa, California. According to the Matthiassons, “winemaking, for us, is a natural extension of farming.” Having made regular visits to his great-grandfather’s homestead near Gardar, N.D., Steve’s lifelong dream was to be a farmer. That dream led him to UC Davis where cont’d. on page A10

The Quilts of Valor recipients (L-R): Grant Nelson, Arnold Jordan, Harvey Metzger, Wayne Magnus, Lyle Long, Tony Phillips, Jerry Nowatzki, Tom Perius, Terry Metzger, and Kenny Girodat. Photo by Larry Stokke.

On Sunday, June 9, the American Legion Post 98 in Langdon was full of visitors, so much so that the organizers had to pull out some extra chairs in the back! The gathering was hosted to honor this spring’s 10 Quilts of Valor recipients.

40 Quilts of Valor.

Darlene Brooks opened the ceremony with a story about the Quilts of Valor.

“Volunteers make quilts from good fabric, quilt them by hand or machine, and hand stitch the binding. It's then awarded to veterans who have served our country,” said Brooks. “It is not a gift; it's an award for their service.”

“[The foundation] was started in 2003 by Catherine Roberts. Her son was serving in Iraq, and she had a dream, and there was a soldier in the barracks sitting on his bed very downhearted and his head hanging low, and she felt so bad,” said Brooks. “But in the next scene of her dream, she saw the same soldier with a quilt wrapped around his shoulders and looking much more comfortable, and that's when she decided quilts equal healing.” Quilts of Valor is a nationwide organization with small groups participating from various regions. In 2022, Langdon’s Friendship Quilters Guild became a part of the Northern Valley sector, which was established in 2019. Including Sunday’s ceremony, Langdon’s Quilting Guild has distributed

At a national level, as of Feb. 29, 2024, 377,384 Quilts of Valor have been presented to veterans since the organization first started recording their count in 2012.

Grant Nelson enlisted in the Army at the age of 19 in 1946, right after he and a friend hitched a ride in a semi truck from Osnabrock to Grand Forks. Nelson served in Germany and was promoted to Corporal after one year of service. He worked in intelligence alongside the CIA to ensure displaced persons were “good or bad people,” meaning still in support or not in support of Hitler. Nelson played “Taps” for 40 years for Memorial Day services and funerals at Osnabrock. Arnold Jordan grew up in the Wales area and was drafted into the Army in June of 1972 during the Vietnam War. He was deployed to South Korea, where he served as a military police officer and later with an infantry unit.

He was honorably discharged in June 1974 as a Specialist 4th Class. Harvey Metzger joined the Army in 1967. He served in Germany from January of 1968 until 1969, where he was a security guard and dog handler. He was discharged in August of 1969 and then served in the National Guard for nine years. Wayne Magnus joined the Army in 1969, and in March of 1970, he was sent to Vietnam. Soon after, he was sent to Cambodia and was in the Dogs Head area when the infamous battle broke out. After leaving Cambodia, he was sent to sniper school and assessed support bases by going on small missions. Lyle Long joined the Army in September of 1985. He was called up for Desert Storm, Desert Shield in 1980. He moved to southern Saudi Arabia and was 60 miles from Iraq, where he was in the front line for three days. He would also be sent to Kuwait to assist with water distribution systems. Tony Phillips joined the National Guard in September of 1989 at 19 years old. He was called to active duty cont’d. on page A10


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