NORTH BORDER
EAGLES
pull a W in a downpour The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
In this issue:
Friday, September 20, 2024
Bringing career exploration to rural students through virtual reality By Hilary Nowatzki
Volume 3, Number 37
Gary Sinise Foundation’s mission to honor heroes through music, laughter, and community By Rebecca Davis
News: Nodak Insurance gives back to Langdon Elementary, Pg. A2
Ag: A multigenerational operation combines through harvest, Pg. A3
In small towns throughout North Dakota, a unique initiative is aiming to expose high school students to a wide range of career paths. The Region 3 Mobile Career Exploration Classroom, led by job coach Ann Pollard, is bringing virtual reality (VR) technology into the hands of local juniors and seniors to help them learn about future professions. "Our goal is to really to help kids kind of determine: what's the best career for you? What makes sense? How do I learn about this career?" explained Pollard.
Region: Check out our photos of the week! Pg. A10
"The state knows that workforce is its number one issue. So, [Region 3] thought, how do we help everyone?" said Pollard.
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Sept 21
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The state-funded program was created in response to the region's pressing workforce needs.
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New reports indicate record number of migrants crossing border By The Borderland Press staff
Over the last year, United States Customs and Border Protection say they have had a record number of encounters with migrants at the border, reporting 19,498 encounters between October 2023 and July 2024. That’s up from 7,630 encounters between the same time frame a year before. US Customs records an encounter when an individual is determined to be inadmissible to the US or when border patrol officers locate an individual who has crossed illegally into the US between border posts. Experts blame Canada customs, saying the Canadian border screening system is lax and disorganized, contributing to the issue. Meanwhile, Canada Border Services said they are working closely with their US counterparts to identify and interrupt irregular cross border movements. RCMP also say they have begun working more closely with US Border Patrol, focusing efforts on tracking down smuggling networks that are profiting from illegal migrants crossing the border.
Pollard and the Region 3 team decided that career exploration for students would be a valuable solution. By providing hands-on experiences through virtual reality (VR) headsets, the program allows young people to virtually step into the shoes of professionals across a wide spectrum of industries. "If you pick the RN, you can literally turn around, and you can be in an operating room," Pollard said. "If you want to be a diesel technician, they're replacing a NOx sensor on an excavator. So you can kind of see the size of the shop. You can see the size of the
Photo by Hilary Nowatzki.
toolboxes, all of that." The VR videos cover 76 different careers from healthcare to skilled trades and beyond. This comprehensive approach aims to broaden students' perspectives beyond the traditional paths they may have initially considered. "When you think about a healthcare career, what do you think about? You think about doctor, physical therapy, occupational therapy," Pollard noted. "You don't think about sonographer, another high demand career. You don't think about mammogram technician, because these are younger kids.” By exposing students to these lesser-known but in-demand professions, the program aims to help them find the right fit for their skills and interests. Pollard emphasized the importance of keeping young people connected to their local communities, both during and after their education. "We feel if we can tie them as a junior or senior back to this community that maybe we can get them when they're done with school, if they do have to go away for school, back to this community once they've completed their education," she said. The program not only utilizes VR technology but also incorporates aptitude testing and can lead to job shadowing opportunities. This approach allows cont’d. on page B8
Tom Cotter, Lt Col Michael Stobie, James Stuckmann (Bassist for the Lt. Dan Band), Judy Seale, and Matt Scannell. Photo by Rebecca Davis.
The Gary Sinise Foundation continues its powerful work supporting military service members, veterans, and their families. Over the past weekend, the Foundation’s Variety Tour with musician Matt Scannell and comedian Tom Cotter brought a wave of music and laughter to Minot Air Force Base, Grand Forks Air Force Base, and Cavalier Space Force Station. These events were part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to boost morale and show appreciation for the dedicated personnel serving in these critical roles. The mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation is to serve the nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. With foundational pillars designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities, the Foundation serves America’s heroes and their loved ones 365 days a year. Scannell, deeply committed to supporting the military, reflected on the importance of these performances. “I always say that these are the most important shows we do,” Scannell said. “Without the military keeping us safe, there wouldn’t be musicians or comedians performing anywhere.” The Variety Tour provided a unique mix of entertainment with Scannell’s
music and Cotter’s stand-up comedy offering moments of connection and relief from the stresses of military life, but this tour was just one example of the Gary Sinise Foundation's broader mission. One of the Foundation’s most notable efforts is the Lt. Dan Band, led by Gary Sinise himself. The band travels the world performing for military personnel and their families as a way to say thank you and bring a piece of home to those stationed far from it. Reflecting on his participation in the tour, Scannell shared how meaningful the experiences have been for him. “You just want to say thank you as much as possible,” he said. “We see these amazing people doing incredibly difficult jobs, and we want them to know they’re appreciated.” The weekend’s final stop at Cavalier Space Force Station featured not just music and comedy but also a delicious BBQ spread provided by Billy’s Legendary BBQ, which served up mouth-watering dishes to the attendees. The smell of BBQ filled the air as service members and their families enjoyed the meal together, making the event not only entertaining but also a memorable community gathering. cont’d. on page A2
Walhalla's 20th Annual Giant Pumpkinfest set for Sept. 28, 2024! Walhalla, N.D. – On Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, the Walhalla Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 20th Annual Giant Pumpkinfest, a day filled with exciting events, family fun, and giant pumpkins! The festival, sanctioned by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC), celebrates the art of growing giant pumpkins and other massive fruits through competitions and displays. The GPC upholds its mission by establishing standards and regulations that ensure quality of fruit, fairness of competition, recognition of achievement, fellowship and education for all participating growers and weigh-off sites. Giant pumpkin weigh-off prizes Competitors in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off will be vying for incredible cash prizes with $1,000 awarded to the 1st place giant pumpkin, $750 for 2nd place, $500 for 3rd place, and $250 for 4th place. There is also
a special $500 prize for anyone who sets a new North Dakota state record! A highlight of the day: The Pumpkinfest Pageant This year’s Pumpkinfest Pageant sponsored by Little Frontier Clinic, Langdon Prairie Health, and Forevermorely Productions, LLC - will feature contestants in the Little Miss, Junior Miss, Junior Teen, Teen Miss, Miss, and Mrs. Divisions. Winners in these categories will have the honor of advancing to the state pageant on April 5-6, 2025, in Grand Forks. Additionally, Baby Miss and Tiny Miss winners will serve as ambassadors throughout their reigns and will be featured onstage at the state pageant. The pageant will take place at 10:30 AM. Don't miss the 8th Annual Pembina Hills Show and Shine! Car enthusiasts will want to check out the 8th Annual Pembina Hills Show
and Shine. From 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM, classic and custom vehicles will be on display with car show awards presented at 3:30 PM. Registration begins at 9:00 AM, and participants can enjoy a fun day filled with automotive beauty. Event Schedule: 7:00 AM-10:00 AM – Pancake and Sausage Chamber Fundraiser Breakfast 9:00 AM-5:00 PM – Vendors and Giant Pumpkins on Display 9:00 AM-4:00 PM – Vintage Revival: Pool Fundraiser 9:00 AM-4:00 PM – Junk Shop Hop 10:00 AM-1:00 PM – Kids Train Rides in Front of the Library 10:30 AM – Pumpkinfest Pageant 11:00 AM-3:30 PM – 8th Annual Pembina Hills Show and Shine 12:00 PM – Cornhole Tournament 12:00 PM – Giant Pumpkin WeighOff Begins 1:00 PM – Oktoberfest at Frost Fire Park
1:30 PM – Kids Pedal Pull 2:00 PM – Giant Pumpkin Awards Ceremony 3:30 PM – Car Show Awards 4:00 PM – Shine & Drive 6:00 PM – Around the World Theatre Fundraiser 9:00 PM – Hard Times Band at Jackson’s Bar Walhalla’s 20th Annual Giant Pumpkinfest will also feature local vendors, food, games, and entertainment for all ages. Whether you're competing in the weigh-off, cheering for your favorite pageant contestant, or enjoying the car show and Junk Shop Hop, there's something for everyone. Join us for a day of fall fun, community spirit, and GIANT pumpkins! For more information, contact the Walhalla Area Chamber of Commerce at 701-549-3939 or visit www.walhalland.biz or Walhalla’s 20th Annual Giant Pumpkinfest on Facebook.