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The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
In this issue:
Friday, November 1, 2024
Volume 3, Number 43
Lighting up Langdon: The story behind the town’s new mural By Nick Vorlage
When you stroll down Langdon's Main Street, it's hard to miss the stunningly bright new mural that has transformed the south side of the FM Mall.
ly from a post I made on Facebook," Nowatzki explained. "I knew of things that I wanted to go into the concept, but I wanted to be sure that the com-
"For me, personally, one of the things that has stood out so beautifully from living in Langdon for the past three years has been the opportunity to see
Main Street proved to be a hindrance. "I tried to pull that into the bright, bright canola fields that we get to
News: Cavalier County 4-H celebrates with awards and Family Fun Day, Pg. A2
Ag: A new study warns farmers could suffer from trade wars, Pg. A3 Photo by D.J. Bartley.
Bursting with color and local pride, this larger-than-life artwork is the creation of Hilary Nowatzki, a local artist who has captured the essence of this close-knit North Dakota community.
Community: Story hour has been a success for Walhalla Public Library, Pg. A5
Nowatzki, who has called Langdon home for the past three years, was tasked with bringing the town's spirit to life through her paintbrush. It was a challenge she embraced wholeheartedly, drawing inspiration from the community itself. “The idea for the design came actual-
Walhalla hosts Halloween Bash By Rebecca Davis
Walhalla's Halloween spirit was in full swing this past Sunday as the community gathered for the annual Halloween Bash. The festive event, organized by the Halloween Bash Committee, transformed the Walhalla Lutheran Church parking lot into a spooky celebration on Oct. 27. The bash featured a free-will hot dog meal, with Choice Bank generously donating paper products and bottled water, while CB Grocery contributed the chips. Local resident Jeff Moe took charge of the grill, ensuring everyone had a delicious hot meal. Volunteers from the Walhalla Lutheran Church and other community members worked together to make the event a success. Adding to the Halloween atmosphere, local businesses and residents decorated their vehicle trunks, creating a fun and safe trick-or-treating experience for children in Walhalla. Afterwards, families were treated to a showing of the classic Halloween movie "Casper" at the Walla Theater as a great opener for the Halloween season. Photos by Whitney Benoit
munity had some input as well, and people who had lived here longer than me got to have their say, too." Consulting with friends, family, and longtime residents, Nowatzki set out to incorporate the elements that make Langdon feel like home to so many others. One of the most striking features of the mural is the vibrant display of the Northern Lights, a natural wonder that has captivated Nowatzki since moving to the area. She included that this aspect of the mural was one of her favorites to paint.
the Northern Lights more than once,” said Nowatzki. “I was raised in the south, and so for me, that is just so incredibly magical."
see blooming,” Nowatzki said. “Each letter encompasses another aspect of Langdon, and that's where I really drew from that Facebook post."
Blending the beauty of the Northern Lights with the rich, bright tones of the local canola fields, Nowatzki created a stunning contrast that draws the eye and captures the essence of Langdon's natural splendor, during day or night. Although Nowatzki initially wanted to incorporate glow-in-the dark paint into the Northern Lights, the streetlights and other lights on
While the creative process was a labor of love, Nowatzki faced some unexpected challenges along the way. The age and condition of the building's brick work proved to be a significant obstacle, requiring over a month of work alone to ensure a smooth surface for her detailed painting. cont’d. on page B9
Laying the groundwork for the future: ICS gathers school district stakeholder feedback By Hilary Nowatzki
On the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 28, ICS representatives Lori Christensen and Lynn Dyer made a visit to the Langdon Area School Board. The meeting follows a series of discussions between the school and ICS, a company which assists facilities in their planning and development of their respective visions for the future. According to Christensen, as she addressed the school board, the most important thing to ICS is to first and foremost listen to their internal (students, staff, teachers) and external (community members, parents, outside stakeholders) voices. “So we find it really, really important that we first listen to the community,” Christensen stated. “Tonight, one of the things you're going to hear from us is not just community but stakeholder groups as a whole, internal and external, so you're going to hear what we have heard so far, as far as listening session results.” After information gathering sessions, along with listening sessions, in which about ten community members of the in-person meeting, over 50 attendees in a virtual community meeting and 30 high school students provided valuable feedback, ICS was ready to cont’d. on page B9