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In this Issue: Osnabrock to hold celebration this weekend Page 2 Fence ordinance moves toward approval in Langdon Page 2 Street bump smoothed out in Langdon Page 2 Staying Hip with Halle: A football fan? Page 5 A Brush with the Bunch Page 5
Friday, September 16, 2022
Republican who lost in District 9B primary election launches write-in bid By Borderland Press Staff
Republican Chuck Damschen released Tuesday that he will run as a write-in candidate for the representative seat in North Dakota’s District 9B.
“I guess there’s been a lot of turmoil in the Republican party across the state, and I’m not pleased with where that’s going, where it seems to be headed.
Wine Walk strolls into Langdon Page 6 Donna Henderson, Republican candidate for District 9B state representative
Jake’s Take on Sports Page 8 Eagles netters win Lakota Tourney Page 8 Cardinals get first home game, tame the Panthers Page 9 Views from the Borderland Page 14
Index:
News Agriculture Opinion Community Region Sports Church Classifieds Public Notices
Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Pages 5-6 Pages 7-9 Pages 10-12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15
I’ve been thinking about it for several weeks anyway,” Damschen said.
District 9 Republicans endorsed Donna Henderson at the district convention earlier this year. According to results from the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office, Henderson defeated fellow Republican Damschen in the June primary by 71 votes: 678 to 607. Damschen had more votes than Hen-
The Langdon Book Club took a field trip to Walhalla for a night of history, highlighting legendary local figures who influenced an era.The club’s latest literary selection by Wayne Vleck, “Dakota Martyrs-the Story you Never Heard”, was what led them there. Zelda Hartije, administrator of the Pembina County Historical Museum, conducted the tour; sharing evidence collected. “It’s a really fascinating story about these people,” she stated. The events that inspired Vleck’s story occurred in the 1800’s, particularly surrounding the upbringing of the Protestant religion. Elijah Terry and James Tanner arrived in the St. Joseph area, now known as Walhalla, during 1852 in hopes of starting a Protestant mission. According to “In Ojibway Country” by Reverend Hames Peary Schell, the story states that the two men attempted to assemble log cabins for their mission when they were attacked in the woods by a resident Native American tribe-resulting in Terry’s death. After the first failed attempt, Alonzo Bernard and David Spencer came to continue the mens’ efforts in 1853. They brought their families and a grant of $500. With the money provided by the Government Civilization Fund, the men built buildings and schools near a grove of trees. Before the buildings were complete, Mrs. Sarah Bernard fell ill. Though her husband attempted to preserve her life with a trip to Kildonan to visit a doctor, she would pass away due to quick consumption. She was buried in the Kildonan Cemetery. Mr.Bernard convened with his children and their caretaker Marguerite Latraillehe, who was half Native American. Together, they retraced his steps to retrieve the matriarch's body. Her
dying wish was for her eternal resting place to be located near the grove of trees at the village. Her grave was marked by a stone slab purchased by her husband, though it would break on the journey there. The following spring, after Sarah Bernard's burial, the remaining family would make the journey to Ohio.
Bernard’s absence, nearby villages were ambushed, the assailants being Sioux Native Americans who inhabited the area. Mrs. Cornelia Spencer would soon join the dead. In the morning hours of August 30,1854, bullets penetrated Spencer's dwelling. Cornelia Spencer received two fatal wounds to the chest, dying while holding her young son. James Tanner was the one to perform the service; Cornelia Spencer was laid to rest alongside Sarah Bernard. Sarah Bernard, Cornelia Spencer, and five other missionaries were exhumed from their graves 34 years after their burials and were relocated to a newly built churchyard, now called Hillside Cemetery. A small monument was erected to mark their placement. In Sarah Bernard's new spot, the community spread fragments of stone from her original-cracked grave as a momento. During that day, many people gathered there, such as an older Alonzo
Bitzero has been hard at work in the last few weeks to convert the Stanley R. Mikkelsen site, colloquially known as the Nekoma pyramid, into one of North Dakota’s premier data centers. The conversion process isn’t something that can just be done overnight, however, as a lot of factors need to be considered. One of which, according to Carol Goodman, the long-standing coordinator with the site, is just how to power it. They want green energy. How does that match up with conventional energy delivery, as a redundant source, which they have to have so how do they get that all in place? Goodman said to keep things green, the site is considering using biofuel diesel engines, replacing the conventional diesel engines used back in the 70s. Wind could also be a possibility.
originally contracted through the city, is just about done, and the rest is up to Bitzero to complete, which is easier said than done. What’s in the works now is that Bitzero wants them to get all of the asbestos materials out of the power plant. Testing had never been done in there to see what’s what, so hopefully this is going to work out that ACCT can hang around and do that work as well. The official testing that goes into a report has to be done first. While these challenges are taken care of, Bitzero will be staging their operations in the first UMB building. That’s the bigger of the two bunkers out there. They’ve got power going in there right now; they’ve got electricians working in there. That’s going to be their first base of operations. The Bitzero team is expected to be working on developing the site throughout the fall.
Marvin E. Nelson, Democratic candidate for District 9B state representative
make up District 9B. Henderson took 52.7% of the total 1,287 votes cast in the Republican primary, compared to Damschen’s 47.1%. Henderson heard the news on Wednesday of Damschen’s plans to launch a write-in bid in November. “I’m disappointed, and I’m disappointed that a former representative has chosen to work against Republicans in cont’d. on page 7
Bernard and Marguerite Latraille, the Bernard children's motherly caretaker. The occasion was marked with a ceremony. The group had sacrificed their lives for their religions. After years of having no cemetery of their own and being buried on the outskirts, they finally had a proper resting place. Due to these events, the group would be given the name the Walhalla Martyrs.
History Though the Bernard’s exited the area, the Spencers remained, but they too would be struck with tragedy. During
‘THE NEKOMA PYRAMID’
Another large factor which is being addressed is the asbestos removal. Goodman said the asbestos removal,
Chuck Damschen, Republican write-in candidate for District 9B state representative
“Some people asked if I was thinking of doing it, and I really wasn’t at the time they asked, but as things went forward, I’ve been thinking more about the election and the choices we have, and I just thought that maybe people should have another suggestion in our district as well."
BITZERO STARTS WORK ON By Shanda Christianson and Nick Vorlage
derson in Cavalier County, part of his former District 10, but Henderson gained votes in the parts of Rolette and Towner counties that now help
Damschen has served as a representative in former District 10 since 2005 and decided he isn’t done yet.
Former Nash School destroyed by fire Page 7
Volume 1, Number 36
According to articles written in the
on the hillside By Hale Sanders
Walhalla Mountaineer during the month of June 1927, the community held another celebration on the 75th anniversary. There were reportedly 5,000 attendants who traveled all over the country to pay their respects. Reverend D.B. Spencer traveled from Mount Dora, Florida - the same boy who was held in his mothers’ arms as she took her last breath. He presented at the memorial - sharing fond stories of his mothers’ love. He placed a beautiful wreath upon her grave. An American flag was hung on a pole, and the ceremony ended with the serenading of “The Sweet Bye and Bye”. “The services were a great success and marked a red letter day in the history of the state and the nation and especially the Red River Valley,” the Mountaineer article continued.” The Martyrs came to Walhalla for no selfish purposes but solely for the good of humanity. That they gave up their lives for this cause hallows the spot where their dust lies and grips us with a feeling of the worthwhileness of
Hillside Cemetery, Walhalla. Photo by Halle Sanders.
their lives.” To this day, people are still influenced by these historical figures - the women in the Langdon Book Club being a prime example. They witnessed for themselves the graves of the Martyrs, especially those of Mrs. Cornelia Spencer and Sarah Bernard. The group paid their respects to the Martyrs by cleaning up the gravesites and placing flowers. If you are interested in learning more
about these historic North Dakotans, Hartije encourages you to visit or contact the museum at 701-256-4941 or at their Facebook page Pembina County Historical Museum, Cavalier, North Dakota. If you want to visit the Martyrs’ gravesite, Hillside Cemetery is located at 406 Division St. in Walhalla. Wayne Vlecks book is out of print cont’d. on page 15