The Borderland Press V3, N22, Friday, June 7

Page 1

Summer Fun Guide 2024

INSIDE! The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com

In this issue:

“The catastrophically porous southwest border of the United States has led to the present reality that all America is now very much a border state,” stated Attorney General Drew Wrigley, one of the four witnesses. A plethora of topics revolving around how the southern border crisis is impacting the northern border were discussed, including increased drug trafficking and overdoses, human trafficking, reduced port of entry hours, and border patrol shortages.

Community: Pembina County 4-H’ers participate In Communication Arts Event, Pg. 6

Volume 3, Number 22

CHANGES ARE NEEDED AT THE NORTHERN BORDER, ACCORDING TO HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING By Hilary Nowatzki Four witnesses testified at a hearing held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement last Wednesday, May 29, in Grand Forks. The hearing revolved around the topic of illegal immigration - specifically how North Dakota is being affected by the crisis when the national lens is focused on the southern border.

News: Langdon scholar welcomed to North Dakota Governor’s School, Pg. 2

Friday, June 7, 2024

Wrigley also expressed concern over an “explosive” increase in crossings in recent years. He said during the hearing that there were 548 attempted illegal entries into North Dakota from Canada stopped by Border Patrol in fiscal year 2021; in fiscal year 2022, that number hit 2,100. By 2023, it was 4,444. Another of the four witnesses, Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner, said that although he is stationed in Fargo, nearly 200 miles from the northern

border, the crisis has spread throughout the state, especially in terms of fentanyl and other trafficked drugs. He identified Fargo as an “easily accessible area” for trafficking due to its location, where Interstate 29 and Interstate 94 intersect. He included that the highways connected Fargo to both the northern and southern border. “Those overdose deaths that are occurring from narcotics trafficked into our communities from the southern border, those overdose deaths have been rising,” Jahner stated at the hearing. He said that the increase in narcotics is putting a “huge strain” on the criminal justice system and jail capacity, as well as addiction and mental health services. Cavalier County Sheriff Matt Wright expressed concerns over similar topics discussed in the hearing, as well as frustration with current policies and procedures. As a state, not federal department, regional deputies find their hands somewhat tied in illegal crossing situations. “As deputies in this county, we can only charge this state’s Century Code offenses. Anything federal, we can’t touch that,” Wright stated. “And to be honest, the majority of the time we aren't going to have a state crime unless it's something like they're driving through crops

Rebecca Davis of Walhalla sharing her testimony at the subcommittee hearing in Grand Forks. (Screenshot from House Judiciary GOP livestream)

or running into fence poles breaking fences.” A cutback in Border Patrol services was also discussed at the hearing. Jahner stated that assistance from their federal partners at Border Patrol has “dwindled” from what it was in the past. “It shortens up manpower, and for an area that's already so widespread, just makes it difficult,” Wright stated. Renville County Sheriff Roger Hutchinson, another witness who testified at the hearing, said he remembers when he first became sheriff eight years ago. He didn’t remember a day that he didn’t see an agent patrolling.

Now, he can’t remember the last time the patrol station was fully staffed. He stated this was not a negative reflection of their local agents but, instead, a negative reflection on current policy. Wright recounted an incident near Dresden of individuals crossing illegally, in which Border Patrol was called but took over an hour for the nearest agent to arrive on scene. Wright clarified that he doesn’t bring up this incident to “knock” Border Patrol, but as a testament to the difficulties faced when trying to apprehend those crossing. Jahner testified at the hearing about a similar situation in Fargo. Border cont’d. on page 10

The groundbreaking of a generational gem By Halle Sanders Views from the Borderland: First of four Summer Concert Series hosted, Pg. 16

Jun. 7

Jun. 8

Jun. 9

68/48

68/50

58/50

Highway 32 gets a facelift this summer

Public input meeting hosted by NDDOT in Walhalla to discuss two-part road project By Hilary Nowatzki

On Monday, June 3, Travis Miller with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) visited Walhalla to host a public information meeting to discuss proposed improvements for N.D. Highway 32 through Walhalla to the Canadian border. Miller is the lead designer for this project with NDDOT. The project, which began this week, will start with the south portion of Highway 32 from Walhalla down to its intersection with Highway 5. According to Miller, there will be a five inch mill and three inch overlay throughout this section of road. A ‘mill’ is the removal of the top layer of a street with an ‘overlay’ being the new layer. The five inch mill is to corcont’d. on page 10

On May 31, people traveled from all over the state to witness and partake in the groundbreaking ceremony of

history be made at the new official site of the Pembina Gorge State Park. The event took place one mile north

The money will be going towards building approximately six cabins and over 50 RV sites with power-water hook ups in the Pembina Gorge, along with tent sites, restrooms, and shower facilities. The park will continue to highlight the area’s rich and expansive trail systems by providing additional parking for off-highway vehicles while still remaining open for hiking equestriFrom the left: David Monson (District 19 legislative representative), Mike Duerre (North Dakota Parks and Recreation), Les and Thomas (N.D. Native Tourism Alliance vice president and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa member), Jolene Pederson ans.

(representing the Bodensteiner family, previous landowners), Cody Schulz (director of North Dakota Parks and Recreation), Angelle French (president, Rendezvous Region Tourism Council and director of the Pembina County JDA), Eva Robinson (two time Jr. Iditarod finisher), Max Mostad (outdoor recreation champion), and Jace Beehler (chief of staff, Office of the Governor). Photo by Larry Stokke.

cluded five speakers, starting off with Governor Burgum’s Chief of Staff, Jace Beehler, who attended in the Governor’s place. “You think about this region and I think everyone here today knows how special it is - how unique it is - and knows that it is a gem in North Dakota,” Beehler stated at the ceremony. “Unfortunately, many of our North Dakotans don’t know that. We are ex-

A new state park has not

Max Mostad, Langdon native and outdoor recreation champion speaking at the Pembina Gorge State Park Groundbreaking Ceremony. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Photo by Larry Stokke. Local youth grabbed their golden shovels and joined in on the groundbreaking action for North Dakota's 14th state park. Photo by Larry Stokke.

North Dakota’s 14th State Park.

of the Walhalla Country Club.

Community members, local youth, North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, the Governor’s office, and countless others were all in attendance to watch the dirt be broken and

The legislature approved a $6 million dollar budget back in 2023 for new park facilities, as well as another $2 million dollars from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.

been established in N.D. for approximately 35 years.

cited and hopeful that this 14th state park will help expand the knowledge, expand the experiences for North Dakotans to come up here.”

A master plan for the park was first introduced back in 2014. The plan has since been tirelessly worked on over the past decade to make the Pembina Gorge State Park a reality.

Other speakers included Angelle French, president of the Rendezvous Region Tourism Council and Director of the Pembina County Job Development Authority; Eva Robbinson, twotime Jr. Iditarod finisher; Max Mostad, Langdon native and outdoor recreation champion; as well as N.D. Parks

The groundbreaking celebration in-

cont’d. on page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.