The Borderland Press, Thursday, May 30, V4, N21

FOUR CARDINALS MAKE ALL-REGION 4 BASEBALL TEAM

The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com

Friday, May 30, 2025

Volume 4, Number 21

AMERICAN LEGION POST 98 HONORS THE FALLEN

The Post 98 Color Guard advancing the colors as the program began. Photo by Larry Stokke.

From (L-R) Larry Murie, Daryl Kempel, Harvey Metzger, and Leon Hiltner of the Post 98 Color Guard line up to salute the fallen.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

A group of Cavalier County 4-H members volunteered with American Legion Veterans by placing American flags on veterans’ headstones for the Memorial Day weekend. This act of remembrance honors those who served and teaches younger generations the importance of patriotism and community service. Front row (L-R) Jury Rosecrans, Leon Hiltner, Jenae Rosecrans; second row: Katie Henry, Charlie Jordan, Arnie Jordan; third row: Carl Henry, Jace Rosecrans, Keagan Hanson, Larry Murie; top row: Lahni Stachler, Brad Bata, Doug Halzle, Bob Lill, and Rob Becker.

Submitted photo.

In this issue:

On Monday, May 26, American Legion Post 98 members gathered to hold their annual Memorial Day program.

Commander Scott Anderson called the event, to order followed by the advance of the colors by the Post 98 Color Guard. Madelyn Crump sang the National Anthem followed by an invocation given by the Post 98 Chaplin.

The program saw a guest speaker this year, Sgt. Richie Delgato, who shared his thoughts and feelings concerning Memorial Day, highlighting the efforts

given by military members who are no longer with us. At the conclusion of the program, Post 98 members placed flags on crosses outside the front of the Legion building in remembrance of recently deceased Cavalier County Veterans. Those who had fallen were saluted by the Color Guard, followed by the Taps and the Retiring of the Colors.

From The Borderland Press, thank you to all who have served, and given the ultimate sacrifice.

At the conclusion of the program, Post 98 members placed flags on crosses outside the front of the Legion building in remembrance of recently deceased Cavalier County Veterans.

Photo by Nick Vorlage.

Nature’s Best turns a new leaf in Walhalla Beloved greenhouse welcomes new owner, new name, and new ideas By: Rebecca Davis

After 23 years, two months, and 17 days in bloom under the care of longtime owner Wanda Carlock, Nature’s Best Flowers and Greenhouse has officially turned over a new leaf.

“Am I happy? Yes, but it’s bittersweet as well,” Carlock shared.

Community: Hear about Heather’s big surprise in this week’s PNC update, Pg. A5

“I just thought it would be a fun second career,” she shared.

Carlock has remained on-hand through the first spring season to help Castleberry learn the ins and outs of the greenhouse, ensuring a smooth transition for both the new owner and

The turn-key business has been sold to Carol Castleberry, who is giving the local favorite a fresh name and fresh energy: Nature’s Best Berries and Blooms.

Castleberry, a fourth-generation descendant of the Walhalla area, recently returned to her roots after a 35-year career in dental hygiene. Though she doesn’t have formal experience in horticulture, she grew up working on a farm and always loved tending to flowers.

Nature’s Best is now under new ownership, but providing the same great services.

Photo by Rebecca Davis.

Lifestyle: Would you buy a glow in the dark flower? Pg. A7

The rebranded Berries and Blooms will eventually feature products made from Carol Castleberry’s family aronia berry farm. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

longtime customers.

Views from the Borderland: Check out these shots from a guest photographer, Pg. B10

Carol Castleberry (left) has purchased Nature’s Best from Wanda Carlock (right). Carlock will be on hand this season to ensure a smooth transition.

While Castleberry plans to maintain the charm and quality Nature’s Best is known for, she’s also planting seeds for growth. The rebranded Berries and Blooms will eventually feature products made from her family’s aronia berry farm, including juices and botanical pain relievers crafted with natural ingredients like chamomile and arnica. She also hopes to give local crafters and makers a space to showcase their handmade goods.

A new social media presence is in the works, but for now, you can reach Nature’s Best Berries and Blooms the old-fashioned way—by phone at 701549-3611. The greenhouse is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

With deep community roots and a vision full of color and creativity, Nature’s Best Berries and Blooms is ready to blossom into its next chapter.

News

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A2

The Borderland Press

Grand Forks man faces potential life sentence

Rural and Public Health Award recipients announced; LPH honored

A jury trial has been scheduled in less than a week for a Grand Forks man facing a potential life sentence.

Grand Forks, N.D. – The 40th Annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health will feature the Rural and Public Health Awards Banquet to recognize outstanding N.D. rural and public health advocates for their accomplishments.

The awards banquet is slated for June 18 at 11:50 am Central at the Bismarck Event Center, Bismarck, N.D.

By Nick Vorlage

Ja’huan Kardelle Stafford, 39, is accused of gross sexual imposition – serious bodily injury, child abuse, felonious restraint, and wearing a mask during the commission of a criminal offense.

In February 2024, Stafford was arrested when law enforcement were called to a home on the report of an assault in progress. The victim of the incident claims Stafford, while wearing a mask, pinned her down and assaulted her until she was able to escape and alert other members of the household. Later, while being interviewed by police, Stafford allegedly claimed he was “playing a scenario” and pretending to be a burglar. He would plead not guilty to the charges in April of 2024.

His jury trial begins June 3.

Plans for pennies

By Nick Vorlage

The US Treasury has announced its plans to wind down the production of pennies with the final new pennies being put into circulation in early 2026.

The main reason behind this is primarily due to cost. Reportedly, for every 1 cent printed, it costs the Treasury over 3-and-a-half cents. The Department is expected to save at least $56 million annually once penny production is put on permanent pause.

As for what occurs for businesses down the road, it is anticipated many will have to begin rounding off cash payments. With 114 billion pennies in circulation, that may be a while yet.

Sentencing scheduled for human traffickers

By The Borderland Press staff

2025 Rural and Public Health Award Recipients: Emerging Rural Leader – Karen Andres, MD, West River Health Services, Hettinger Outstanding Rural Health Career – Alan O’Neil, CEO, Unity Medical Center, Grafton Outstanding Rural Health Provider – Catherine Houle, MD, West River Health Services, Hettinger Outstanding Rural Volunteer – Linda Conneran, Hospice of the Red River Valley, Grand Forks Rural Health Legislator of the Year – Jon Nelson, State Representative, Rugby Flex Quality Reporting Award – Langdon Prairie Health, Langdon R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camp of the Year – Coal Country Community Health Center, Beulah

Scammers impersonating ND Highway Patrol

By Nick Vorlage

The North Dakota Highway Patrol is cautioning state residents about an ongoing scam. According to the actual highway patrol, the perpetrators are falsely claiming to be part of the highway patrol or part of a troopers association and may be asking for money or personal information. To appear more legitimate, the scammers are using 701 area code numbers, and they may appear on caller IDs as “N Dakota Chapter” or something similar.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says they will never call people for money.

Further, they implore residents to not share personal or financial information with strangers over the phone.

If a person receives such a scam call, they are asked to hang up immediately. Or, if they have had a scammer call them and they did provide them financial information, the resident is asked to contact their financial institution as soon as possible.

US attorneys have requested Patel to serve at least 19 years. Shand, meanwhile, has been asked to serve a minimum of 10 years.

The Borderland Press will continue to provide updates as they become available.

How to Attend Tickets for the awards banquet are free for conference participants and $30 for those not registered for the conference. Registration is mandatory for those who wish to attend. For information on getting tickets, visit https://ruralhealth. und.edu/dakota-conference/awards.

About the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health The Dakota Conference allows healthcare professionals, educators, and students several days to share their strategies for sustaining healthy North Dakota communities, and offers workshops, keynote speakers, poster presentations, and an awards banquet, during which the awardees are celebrated. The annual event is a joint effort by the North Dakota Rural Health Association; the North Dakota Public Health Association; Altru Health System of Grand Forks; the UND College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines; and the Center for Rural Health.

News briefs

From The Borderland News Center Measles on the rise Measles cases are on the rise in both Manitoba and North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Health has confirmed three cases in Grand Forks County, seven in Cass County, and 13 in Williams County at the time of press. Meanwhile, provincial health officials say Manitoba’s case count this year has hit 60, 42 of which were in May alone.

Canadian Union of Postal Workers may strike With hours left before a potential strike action is to go into effect, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have responded back to Canada’s Post’s latest offer, saying it falls short of what the group is demanding. Barring any dramatic changes, 55K workers of the Union are set to hit the picket line at midnight.

Lawmaker facing charges In Minnesota, a trial date of June 16 has been set for State Senator Nicole Mitchell. Mitchell has been charged with 1st degree burglary and pos-

sessing burglary or theft tools after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes in April 2024. Mitchell’s trial is expected to run the course of a week.

Body found in Winnipeg Winnipeg police are presently investigating following the discovery of a body at a recycling depot last week.

Police were first called to St. Boniface Industrial Park shortly before 8am and, at time of writing, have not released much information, including a description of the deceased. Recycling operations at the facility have been suspended for the day.

Veto mistake North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong’s administration is currently looking at how they can reverse a line-item veto that ended up cleaving out $35 million meant for affordable housing. In a news release, Armstrong said it was a mistake, and the veto was only meant to shave off $150,000. Armstrong has stated the money will be reinstated, but it is

unknown if a special session will be called to resolve the issue.

Law enforcement discovers body North Dakota law enforcement have confirmed the discovery of the body of Linton resident Heather Caras, 39.

Caras was reported missing in late January after the discovery of her abandoned pickup. Her remains were discovered this past Sunday only a few miles away. Foul play is not suspected, but an autopsy is to be conducted in Grand Forks.

355 year-old company faces mass layoffs Canadian company Hudson’s Bay has announced by June 1, they will be firing 89% of its workforce. This announcement was made Monday as the company, which was first established nearly 355 years ago, goes through liquidation. Earlier this month, Canadian Tire announced they have bought the Hudson’s Bay IP for only $30 million.

North Dakota well-positioned to deal with proposed Medicaid changes Implementing work and eligibility requirements biggest challenge

By Michael Standaert/North Dakota News Cooperative

the ages of 19 and 64.

Sentencing was scheduled on Tuesday afternoon for two men convicted of human smuggling offenses in the Borderland region.

In November, Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel were found guilty by a Minnesota jury of four counts each related to human smuggling efforts.

In 2022, those efforts ultimately led to the deaths of a family of four, who died of exposure while attempting to cross the Manitoba-US border on foot in blizzard conditions.

Public Health Worker of the Year – Sarah Weninger, Mandan Public Health Outstanding Service – Kirby Kruger, Bismarck Public Health Team of the Year – City County Health District, Valley City

The bill now goes to the Senate for what is expected to be another long deliberation process.

Medicaid reforms in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” are unlikely to lead to major challenges for the state’s healthcare system, but implementing new work and eligibility requirements could lead to extra bureaucratic headaches.

Concerns also remain that some people may lose coverage because of the changes and slip through the cracks of the healthcare system.

The bill, passed by the House of Representatives May 22 by a narrow vote of 215-214, includes work requirements of 20 hours of verified work, study or volunteer activity per week for those without a disability between

Under the bill’s current formulation, states must implement the new Medicaid work requirement system by the end of 2026.

The need to approve additional Medicaid eligibility specialists for the Department of Health and Human Services and amend budget allocations could potentially be addressed by North Dakota legislators at a special session.

Since the 69th Legislature lasted 74 days, lawmakers have up to six days to use for a special session to deal with Trump administration funding cuts and rule changes.

“We want to ensure that this program

exists long term for the very people it was intended to help, and those are the disabled, the elderly, and pregnant moms with kids,” said Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-ND. Data from healthcare information provider KFF shows that 44% of adults on Medicaid in N.D. work full-time, 28% part-time and 28% are unemployed.

Only around 10% would fit into the 19 to 65 category of adults without disabilities getting Medicaid.

Several exemptions from the work rules were included in the bill, including for enrolled tribal members, pregnant women and foster youth.

Around 105,000 children and adults are enrolled in Medicaid in N.D. Medicaid expansion was implemented here in 2014 and around 24,000 adults are covered in that expansion program.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the changes would reduce the number of people nationwide without health insurance by 7.7 million to 8.6 million by 2034.

Of those, the projections include around 1.4 million who haven’t had their immigration status verified, but who are potentially getting coverage in 14 states and the District of Columbia where state-level eligibility rules vary, according to the CBO. KFF estimates that the uninsured population in N.D. could increase from 10,000 to 17,000 people in the next decade due to the changes.

Tim Blasl, president of the North Da-

kota Hospital Association, said it is a little early to tell what the impacts might be to hospitals because the bill will also have to pass the Senate, but he is concerned about people falling through the cracks.

“At the end of the day, we’re going to see billions of dollars being cut from Medicaid and other programs, so that is a huge concern if numbers (of people) are cut out of the system,” Blasl said, referring to the CBO estimates.

“When people don’t have coverage, they don’t get care,” Blasl said. “It’s a concern to the association, it’s a concern to hospitals, physician groups, and anybody that’s impacted by treating Medicaid beneficiaries.”

Fedorchak said from what she learned in her conversations with providers in the state, not many will be impacted by the new rules.

“I don’t sense from the providers that they feel like there’s a lot of folks who are not eligible getting benefits,” she said. “With those eligibility tests, the people that might be impacted by these reforms would be folks receiving the benefits who don’t qualify and those who aren’t willing to work.”

Nikki Wegner, head of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, said it was so early in the process that it would be difficult to gauge what, if any, impacts would be felt at longterm care facilities.

One change to Medicaid that could have an impact is a requirement for cont’d. on page B9

Agriculture

The Borderland Press

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A3

Registration open for 2025 NDSU Extension crop management field school ‘Common sense’ – In a White House event, the Trump administration highlighted its new Make America Healthy Again report. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. described the report as common sense.

“It’s common sense that we can celebrate the innovations of modern life, while also demanding fearless inquiry into ameliorating the negative effects of medication, agriculture, and environmental practices. It’s common sense that research funded by corporations deserves more scrutiny than independent studies,” he said. The 68-page MAHA report addresses everything from childhood obesity to the use of pesticides. A follow-up report will be issued in August.

ASA president calls MAHA Report a ‘flat-out attack’ on U.S. farmers – American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland voiced frustration over the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s new report, criticizing both its content and the lack of transparency behind its development.

“Production agriculture didn’t really have a seat at the table; it was all done in secret behind closed doors,” he said. Ragland took particular issue

with the report’s treatment of crop protection tools like glyphosate and atrazine, saying these products have long-standing scientific support and are already reviewed by federal agencies. “This is a flat-out attack on the livelihood of the American farmer,” he said. “It’s deeply troubling and alarming that they would come up with this type of a radical report that is lacking the facts to back up what they’ve said.” Ragland urged President Trump to intervene and ensure that sound science and farmer input guide future policymaking.

BND releases annual report – The state-owned Bank of North Dakota finished 2024 with assets of $10.8 billion, an increase of nearly seven percent from the previous year. It had net income of more than $200 million, up from $193 million in 2023. The agriculture loan portfolio increased by $61 million with Bank of North Dakota funding and renewing $244 million of loans. Farm and ranch loans led the way with $183 million, followed

by Established Farmer Real Estate Loans, which funded $24 million for farmers and ranchers.

Forage Matters: Are you moving forward?

By James Rogers, Forage crops production specialist - NDSU Extension

The crop management field school is aimed at crop consultants, agronomists, agribusiness representatives, Extension agents and farmers.

(NDSU photo)

Crop advisers and farmers are invited to attend North Dakota State University Extension’s annual crop management field school.

The 2025 Crop Management Field School will be held June 27 at NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC). This field school is for agricultural professionals, including crop consultants, agronomists, agribusiness representatives, Extension agents and farmers.

The 2025 school will feature two familiar topics. One is weed identification, presented by Alicia Harstad, NDSU Extension agent for Barnes

County and Jeff Stachler, NDSU Extension cropping systems specialist at the CREC. The other topic, herbicide site of action, will be presented

by Joe Ikley, NDSU Extension weed specialist.

The afternoon sessions will feature soybean disease management by Wade Webster, NDSU Extension soybean pathology specialist, soil health management by Carlos Pires, NDSU Extension soil health specialist, and Naeem Kalwar, NDSU Extension soil health specialist.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. in the CREC meeting room with the program

starting at 9.

The school costs $100 per person to attend, which includes lunch. The program will conclude at 2:45 p.m.

Registration is required by June 23, and space is limited to a maximum of 50 attendees. Registration and more information are available at ndsu.ag/ cropmgmt25.

The CREC is located at 663 Highway 281 NE in Carrington, N.D. Certified crop advisers will be able to earn four hours of continuing education units by attending.

Herbicide-resistant kochia testing kits available for North Dakota farmers

Counties in green contain at least one population of kochia with genetically confirmed resistance to Groups 2, 9, and 14 herbicides. Gray counties are those that submitted samples, but did not have resistance to all three herbicide groups. (Photo source: Zack Bateson, Research Director, National Agricultural Genotyping Center

Today is a great day to be in the office — as I sit here, writing this column, I’m watching it rain! This rain is our first significant moisture event since half an inch fell in early April. Up to this point, it has been a dry year. A rainy day is also a good time to do a bit of reflection on the past, present and future of forages and grazing management.

Terminology is a good place to start.

Several years ago, at a national meeting of grazing lands scientists, forage and grazing land scientists from across the country noted that they were using different terms to describe animal grazing and grazing lands.

This discussion eventually led to a publication titled "An international terminology for grazing lands and grazing animals."

In this publication, there are definitions for many common grazing terms such as stocking rate, animal unit, forage, preference and rest period.

Since this is international terminology, there are also uncommon terms that are defined, like transhumance systems, grazing station and veld. By using defined terminology, communication and clarity among grazing land scientists have improved and have moved forward.

Grazing systems also have a wide range of terminology. Last winter meeting season, I gave several talks on grazing management. In preparation, I tried to find as many named grazing systems as possible. I came up with 18 named systems, and I am probably low on my count, as there are variations of each. Some of the more commonly named systems are rotation, adaptive and management-intensive grazing. Each of these systems will have advocates and detractors, as well as advantages and disadvantages, but is there a commonality among them? If we are talking about perennial grazing lands, either introduced or native, then I would argue the answer is yes.

A commonality of these grazing man-

agement systems is that they all strive to maintain healthy, deep-rooted plants that produce sufficient quality biomass to sustain grazing livestock.

Healthy plants plus healthy soils equals healthy livestock. In addition, these systems strive to keep the soil covered or "armored," increase rainfall capture, capture carbon, provide habitat for creatures above and below the ground, eliminate soil movement and provide a host of other ecosystem services.

These systems also must provide an economic return to the manager; otherwise, they are not sustainable.

The idea behind these systems is that, when managed correctly, they control grazing intensity and duration (a complicated way of saying how often a forage plant is grazed and how close to the ground it is grazed). This, in turn, influences plant persistence, regrowth, carbohydrate storage and accumulation, root depth and other plant response factors.

These systems also incorporate plant recovery time, allowing plants to recover from a grazing event. Not all forage plants are designed the same way, with some built to withstand grazing pressure better than others. A grazing management goal is to keep forage plants on an even playing field in terms of competitiveness.

Another commonality with these systems is that the stocking rate must be appropriate to function correctly.

The land area allocated to the animal must produce sufficient forage to support the animal and the forage plants during the grazing season. Stocking rate and stocking density, while related, refer to different concepts. High stocking density may be used as a tool to achieve a specific land management goal and is usually described in pounds of live weight per acre.

A one-acre paddock with one hundred 1,000-pound cows would have a stock density of 100,000 pounds/ acre. If this one-acre paddock is part cont’d. on page B9

NDSU Extension Herbicide-resistant kochia remains one of the most troublesome weeds to manage in N.D. fields, according to Victor Gomes, North Dakota State University Extension cropping systems specialist. Its management has become increasingly difficult due to its high adaptability to adverse conditions, allowing kochia to outcompete crops under stressful conditions, and its resistance to multiple herbicide groups.

“In North Dakota, we can find kochia populations that are resistant to PPO-inhibiting (Group 14), Glyphosate (Group 9) and ALS-inhibitors (Group 2) herbicides, with some populations showing two- or three-way resistance (i.e., resistance to two or three herbicide groups simultaneously),” explained Gomes.

NDSU weed scientists first confirmed resistance to PPO-inhibiting (Group 14) herbicides in kochia in 2022. In a collaborative effort, BASF scientists discovered a target-site mutation in kochia that provided resistance to Group 14 herbicides. Once the target site was identified, the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC), located on NDSU’s campus, developed a rapid test to detect the mutation from DNA extracted from leaves.

Thanks to sponsorships from the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Specialty Crop Block Grant and Minor Crop Utilization Grants, funding is available for N.D. farmers to test the first 1,000 N.D. pigweed or kochia samples for free.

Free testing is limited to four samples per farming operation. If planning to submit more than four samples, or if submitting samples from outside of N.D., please refer to the NAGC website, at https://genotypingcenter.com/product/herbicide-resistant-weed-survey/, for charges and submission form.

North Dakota Herbicide Resistant Weed Survey kits can be picked up at county NDSU Extension offices or obtained from the NAGC website. Results are available within seven days after arrival at the NAGC. “With the cropping season moving fast, the timing for collecting your sample is crucial to obtain an accurate diagnosis,” shared Gomes. “As a rule of thumb, growers should scout their fields within a week of burndown herbicide application and look for surviving plants. Kochia plants that sur-

Counties in dark gray contain at least one population of kochia with genetically confirmed resistance to Groups 2, 9, and 14 herbicides. Light gray counties are those that submitted samples, but did not have resistance to all three herbicide groups. (Photo source: Zack Bateson, Research Director, National Agricultural Genotyping Center)

vived herbicide application should be genetically tested for resistance.”

SE4). Make sure to also write the Sample ID on the submission form.

Individual sample results and their specific origin will remain confidential.

Data will be aggregated and displayed on the county level, but no individual information will be released.

Sample additional weeds in fields of your choice by following steps one to three. Send a maximum of four total plants for testing. Keep samples dry and at room temperature before shipping.

To collect a sample for testing: Locate pigweeds or kochia in the field.

Proper ID is important before collecting leaf samples.

Collect two leaves near the top of the plant (leaves must be larger than a standard hole-punch to allow for adequate DNA extraction). Place two leaves from a single plant into one zipper bag or small envelope. Do not mix leaves from multiple plants.

With a marker, label the outside of the collection bag with a unique Sample ID. The Sample ID can be in the following format: Year-Month-County-Personal Field ID (Example: 24-05-Cass-

Mail the submission form and individually-packaged samples in a large business envelope to: National Ag Genotyping Center, 1616 Albrecht Boulevard North, Fargo, N.D., 58102.

It is important to note that these tests can only detect target-site mutations that confer herbicide resistance. Additionally, only the most commonly reported mutations are covered by these tests. The tests are highly accurate for these known mutations, but it is important to know that resistance mechanisms exist that are not detected by these tests.

Opinion

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A4

The Borderland Press

Letter from the Publisher It was just what we needed after a few weeks of clouds, wind and rain.

Much to my surprise, we experienced one of the nicest weekends at the lake that we can remember.

The sun came out and stayed, and the wind took the long weekend off.

We got to work Saturday cleaning up the cabin and getting it ready for habitation. Sunday was outdoor cleanup day, including mowing, raking, burning, watering and more. The dock went in while we watched comfortably from our lounge chairs on the deck.

Memorial Day was more of the same with plenty of lounge time. We grilled and fed ourselves well; it seems like if nothing else gets done, we do manage to eat! This is our 24th year at the lake cabin; we are so grateful to be able to get far, far away by driving

just 78 miles.

I’ve been dabbling in the flower beds, but there’s plenty left to do. Maybe that will happen now with the nice weather upon us. What am I saying?

It’s an ongoing process that lasts to Labor Day and beyond. You know how it goes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m seeing some really awesome colors in the yards around town - so much talent out there!

Just like that, off we go into June.

June brings Langdon more intense street construction and a very important vote on June 10 for Cavalier Coun-

ty. Drive carefully around town, and vote smart. And don’t be a pain on social media about either of those two subjects. My dear editor may remove that last sentence - in Hilary I trust!

Thanks for reading; you’re very important to The Borderland Press!

Diane Simmons

Publisher publisher@theborderlandpress.com

Letter from the Editor: Phil and I have both been yearning for a wee break from normal life and found a great last minute deal to Puerto Rico. We went over a year ago and fell in love with the place and decided we would go back.

I’m known for writing and working on the go - whether it be from the passenger seat of a vehicle, on a bus, or on a plane. I’m lucky that my job can follow me wherever I go. I wrapped up last week’s paper from inside of a plane. Isn’t that absolutely crazy? Delta now has free wifi on each flight, so when our last flight got delayed, I had no reason to panic with a looming deadline.

Currently, I’m working from one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever typed at (see photo). We have a sea front balcony, and from the ninth floor, I have a bird’s eye view of this amazing beach called Playa Azul. We spent our first three days here exploring the west side of the island, something we didn’t get a chance to do last time.

venture so far, and I doubt anything will be able to top it. Around 8pm last night, we loaded up into a kayak with a tour group to visit a bioluminescent bay. Yes, it glowed in the dark!

There’s only five bays in the world like this one, three of which happen to be in Puerto Rico, according to our tour guide.

After three days filled with snorkeling, scuba diving, shopping, and being beach bums, we packed up and headed to the far east side of the island for another three days.

At some point, a species of algae developed the ability to glow when disrupted in the water. All you had to do was swirl your hand or paddle around in the water near you, and it looked like glitter stirring about in the water’s movement. The algae contain a substance known as ‘luciferin,’ and this is what allows it to glow. It was beautiful and breathtaking to witness and certainly worth it to stay up a little past my bedtime.

Yesterday evening was my favorite ad-

By the time you read this column,

I’ll be settling in back at home. I will miss this paradise but also know that warmer days are on the horizon for home as well. I can’t wait to plant my flower garden!

Hilary Nowatski Editor

Like last year, we were informed that after the Sheyenne High School ceremony, there would be the West Fargo High School ceremony and after that would be Horace. It seemed strange to us that all these high schools with very nice high school buildings chose a different location for their graduations, but what do we know? We’re just small-town folks. We settled in for the hour and a half long ceremony. Similar to last year, the principal asked that everyone hold their applause until the end so that the names of the graduates could be continuously read and gone through quickly. Also similar to last year, several groups of family members chose to ignore this request and proceeded to yell at the top of their lungs when their graduate crossed the stage. The yelling and screaming continued as several other graduates crossed the stage to the point where you could not hear their names being read due to the ongoing yelling and screaming. It was far worse than last year and just

as disappointing.

dancing. I’m not kidding, there were people dancing. Being a severely impatient person, coupled with the fact that I was extremely hangry, I stormed across the parking lot to the vehicle, ready to call it a day. If anyone needs me, I’ll be on the patio with a glass of wine!

Sitting from my perch on the fence - here’s how I see it, and we need to talk about the streets first. A lot of our current street problems lie squarely at the feet of former elected city officials. These are leaders from previous generations. I learned a long time ago in business that you cannot save your way to prosperity or put another way; you need to spend some money to make some money.

Those city commission members who served years ago should have had the foresight to raise the taxes, as unpopular as it would have been at the time, and do what was necessary to keep our streets properly maintained on a rotating basis, as opposed to kicking the can down the road.

So, the streets aside, now the elementary school wants money for a number of improvements and thus has come to us with hat in hand in the upcoming referendum. I don’t think anyone would disagree that we need good streets and good facilities/infrastructure in our schools; it’s just that the timing for both things is flat out awful.

As a business owner, I’m torn. I realize the importance of both projects.

We will all benefit from having nice streets and improved facilities at the school. While I may be able to handle it, I realize the price tag is steep for lots of folks, and I’m sympathetic to those just getting by.

editor@theborderlandpress.com

The Morning Stroll and Cuppa Joe: A graduation situation son. Last weekend we attended the graduation ceremony and reception for our nephew, Zach, who graduated from Sheyenne High School in West Fargo. One year ago, we attended our nephew, Quinn’s, graduation which was also from Sheyenne High School.

We felt like we were familiar with how things were going to play out and came a little more prepared.

After almost a week off and some much-needed rain, the boys are back in the field seeding. So far things seem to be going well, and no one has called needing parts after a breakdown, although with about a week left of seeding there’s still time for that. Seeding season, like harvest, is completely dependent on the weather, and it looks like a beauty of a week to finish up.

Along with seeding season, we’re still in the middle of graduation sea-

The graduation ceremony was held at the Scheels Arena in Fargo at 12:30pm. We brought Bernie, and Bernie brought his handicap sign for the vehicle, so we could park close to the entrance. Greg’s brother and his family had seats saved for us in section 110, the same section we sat in last year. The Scheels Arena was packed with spectators and about 350 graduates. The back of the arena floor had the band, and the front had a stage with board members, the principal and the superintendent.

There were a lot of people there.

After the ceremony, we started to file out of the arena, making our way very slowly toward the front doors. We could have slipped out a side door, which is what we did last year, but the crowd pushed us along, so we didn’t. Big mistake. I felt like I was trying to fight my way to a good spot at the front of a very popular country singer’s concert minus the booze. It was packed, it was hot, it was stinky, and it was frustrating. There were a few minutes when we didn’t move at all. Finally, we made it to the front entrance doors where we found the source of the problem. The next group of graduates and their families were trying to fight their way in while we were fighting our way out. Someone discovered a small side door, and all of a sudden, we started moving again. We stepped out into the fresh air only to be trapped again by people lining the sidewalks and grassy areas, taking pictures, hugging and

Sara Goodman is an avid walker who says her best ideas come to her after a morning pot of coffee. She grew up on a cattle ranch in Watford City, N.D. After many years working in healthcare, she now writes, is a substitute teacher and occasionally lends a hand to her hard-working hubby on the farm. She volunteers on several boards and committees in the Langdon community and attends social outings as much as possible.

The Goodman house has two kids at home, one in college and two spoiled cats.

Streets, schools, and YOU take sides in any matter or twist the narrative. Our corporate policy is to simply report the facts. Who, what, where, when and sometimes - why.

By Bob Simmons, CEO, Simmons Multimedia As you can well imagine, because The Borderland Press and our radio station group are co-located in the same building, we hear a lot of stuff from the public in the course of a week. It’s not uncommon for readers and listeners alike to reach out to give us their opinion about everything from the weather, to the streets, to the school referendum, etc.,etc. As I’ve stated previously in this column, it is not our position to

When you think of Simmons, think of Switzerland. We’re neutral. Some media purists argue it’s a newspaper’s job to lean in a particular direction (right/left) and take sides on various issues. Many of these so-called experts, who are mostly intellectuals and academics, believe the general public doesn’t have the intelligence to rub two sticks together, and they need the media to tell them how to think.

Well, maybe if you’re in a major metropolitan area you can get away with this concept, but if you want to stay in business in a small town, take it from me - it’s best to sit on the fence, present both sides, and let readers and listeners make up their own minds.

The upcoming Langdon Area Schools referendum is an example of a story that has polarized the local citizenry.

Thanks to this lack of foresight by those former officials, Langdon taxpayers are about to get creamed. In their defense, hindsight is 20/20.

Back in the day, they likely had a ton of other projects that were draining the city coffers and trying taxpayers’ patience. I get it.

So here’s the thing - it’s my hope you will stay clear of the toxic dialogue playing out on some social media platforms regarding the school refer-

endum. It’s easy to spout off online and say things to each other that we would never have the balls to say to each other’s face. Instead, spend a few minutes re-reading the articles and coverage we have given on the referendum in this newspaper over the past weeks. Focus on educating yourself free and clear of the noise, then, whether you’re for or against, exercise your right and vote in the school election on June 10. Most importantly, our community is too small and life is too short – win or lose, be nice to each other.

Community

The Borderland Press

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A5

Pembilier Nursing Center: N.D. Long-Term Care Conference 2025

By Heather Duerre, Life Enrichment Director

conference was held at the Bismarck Civic Center, and I had envisioned my session would be held in one of the smaller rooms upstairs. The smaller rooms are a bit more “cozy” and have dainty names like “Prairie Rose: 102.”

I assumed I would have an audience of around 20-40 people attending my session. Boy, was I wrong!

Hello from your friends at PNC! As I had mentioned in a previous article, May 6-9, I attended the N.D. LongTerm Care Conference in Bismarck. I also mentioned that I was set to give a presentation entitled “After Death Care: Supporting Staff and Families through Grief.” Last week you learned that I did survive the presentation, but let me fill you in on what happened leading up to that point.

A few weeks before the conference, I had the outline for my presentation ready to go. Now I just had to wait for the email that would tell me what room I would be in for my session. The

The email finally arrived that would tell me my fate: “Good morning, Heather, Thank you once again for agreeing to present at our convention. We appreciate it very much. Your session will be on Thursday, May 8 from 10:45-11:45 a.m. in Hall A, which is our main stage. We have around 250 attending your session. We have Shannon and her team with Mobile Pro, which is a media production av company, that will be running that room. They are so great and will make sure everything runs smoothly… They will have a speaker monitor/screen upfront on the stage for you to view as you are presenting. They will do a sound check with you prior to your session… **7:45 a.m. Sound check in Hall A 10:45-11:45 a.m. Session 24: After Death Care: Supporting Staff and Families through Grief

Hall A Attendance: 250” I read the e-mail and then re-read it.

Then my eyes bugged out of my head, and my jaw hit the floor. Two hundred and fifty people would be attending, and I would be on the GIANT main stage???? How did this happen? I was supposed to have a small intimate group of people in a setting that we could get more personal. After the initial shock wore off, I marched into Deb’s office to share the news with her. She giggled and said, “Holy Cow!” then she proceeded to tell everyone else in the front offices about my predicament.

From the get-go, everyone was very supportive and offered me words of encouragement. When I told my family about it, my kids were flabbergasted at the idea of speaking to such a large audience. They were all super supportive, though. My daughter, Nolah, even painted me a rock that said “You Got This and I Love You.” My husband, Mike, sat through hours of listening to me give my presentation and never once complained!

The day came, and I felt as if I was Rocky waiting in the wings to be an-

Olive you a lot

By Katie Henry, Family and Community Wellness Agent, NDSU Extension – Cavalier County

Kids sometimes say the cutest things, and until they get full language formation, phrases and words will sound different sometimes. Case in point: a child saying “olive you a lot” to their mom at a restaurant. Maybe the child was really clever or maybe they just happened to be holding and eating an olive at the time, in any case, it was cute. It also brought me to thinking about olives and how people either love them or don’t with not much in between. I personally know of someone who treats olives as their own food group.

I’m a little bit of a history buff. I often remember random facts that didn’t help me much on the ACT but have made me a trivia champion at times.

One random fact is that olives are grown all over the world, though they are often only thought of as a Mediterranean food. The reason for that is that the Greeks were the first to actually cultivate olives. They grow there readily and are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine.

Another fun fact is that we grow olives right here in North Dakota! The Rus-

sian olive was brought over a long time ago, is drought resistant, and grows fairly easily in this great state - as it’s hardy to Zone 2. Sometimes they can become invasive in certain situations, but the fruits are edible and used to be canned “back in the day.” The olive is part of the drupe family, so they do have a pit, and the Russian olive does not have much flesh. According to the National Library of Medicine, the Russian olive has traditionally been used as a fever reducer, pain reliever, and diuretic. It’s also known for being anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and wound healing. With the beauty of the lighter green leaves, the manageable size (only 25-45 feet tall), and food and medicinal availability, I would say we have our own little magic in our backyard.

Olives come in many colors and sizes.

Some people prefer the greener olives, some prefer the black or darker variety, and some don’t prefer them at all. Olives can be part of the dish, can accompany the meal as part of the relish tray, or can be tapas (part of a drink). Olives provide us nutritionally with unsaturated fats, some potassium, and calcium. Olives can be pressed in order to make olive oil, which is a wonderful option for cooking.

With June 1 being National Olive Day, I thought I would share a couple of NDSU Extension recipes with you.

The first will help you get more vegetables in your diet, and the second will help you have a healthier option for making the salad dressing. Enjoy!

Italian Vegetable Salad Ingredients 1 cup celery 1 cup carrots

1 cup broccoli 1 cup cauliflower 1/4 cup black olives, sliced (optional) 1 (8-ounce) bottle of low-fat or fat-free Italian dressing (or use NDSU Extension’s Italian Dressing Master Mix! – see below) Directions Wash vegetables thoroughly. Slice carrots and cut remaining vegetables in bite-sized pieces. Place in a serving bowl. Add sliced black olives, if desired. Pour dressing over vegetables and mix. Allow to marinate in refrigerator for a few hours.

Nutrition & Dietary Information Makes six servings. Each serving has 40 calories, 0 g fat, 1 g protein, 7 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber and 440 mg sodium.

Italian Dressing Master Mix 1 Tbsp. garlic salt 1 Tbsp. onion powder 1 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. oregano 1 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. thyme 1 tsp. basil 1 Tbsp. parsley 1/4 tsp. celery salt 2 Tbsp. salt Mix together and store in an airtight container until ready to use. Label, date and store in a cool, dry place.

Use within three months.

To prepare dressing, mix together: 1/4 c. cider vinegar 2/3 c. olive or canola oil or other salad oil 2 Tbsp. water 2 Tbsp. dry Italian dressing mix NDSU Extension publication FN1855: “7 Tips for Choosing and Using Healthful Oils and Fats” refers to different oils and how to use them. If you would like more information on olive oil or other oils, feel free to call our NDSU Extension office in Cavalier County at 256-2560, stop in the office at the Cavalier County Courthouse, or email katie.d.henry@ndsu.edu. I challenge you to say to someone on National Olive Day (June 1) “Olive you a lot!” as you offer them the vegetable salad.

nounced and enter the ring to take on Apollo Creed. I walked up onto the stage, placed the rock Nolah gave me on the podium, and waited patiently as a lady announced my name and short bio. After she was done, I started giving my presentation to the audience. It all went well, but I did notice one gentleman up front that kept looking at his phone during my presentation. It didn’t bother me enough to mess me up, but I did notice he was on his phone a lot. I thought to myself that he must be bored or catching up on some important business emails or text messages. Anyways, as I said, the presentation went well, and I was happy when it was all said and done.

After I finished, a few people came up to talk to me, and I noticed the man who had been on his phone was waiting in line. When it was his turn to speak, he said “Thank you, my father died about six months ago, and my mom is having a hard time. I messaged her the entire time you were up there texting her everything you were saying.” My heart was overwhelmed as I realized he was indeed listening, and he was able to share with someone that needed it. As I was listening to the people that came to talk to me, I thought to myself, “This is why I do this, and this is why facing a sizable

audience to share a message of hope in the face of grief is worth the stress.”

That evening, I thanked God for answering my prayers and giving me the opportunity and courage to present on such an important topic. I was also overwhelmed by the amount of support my family and friends had given me leading up to and after my presentation. I truly am blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people!

Next week I will fill you in on some of the sessions I attended and why Jeannie Hornung left the conference with blisters on her thumbs.

Soaring Forward Together

By Daren Christianson

Congratulations to the class of 2025 and to all Langdon Area School students for finishing another successful school year. We are proud of your accomplishments and are excited to see you explore the next avenues in your life. Know you are always alumni of Langdon Area Schools and are welcome to come back and visit.

I understand the desire to tune out all thoughts of school now that summer is on the way. Before we fully transition to summer, I ask that we all take the opportunity to exercise our right to vote and have our voices heard. The vote on June 10 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM in the Langdon Area High School commons is your next opportunity.

Over the past several years, our district has struggled under the mounting costs of maintenance needed for our school buildings. Examples include our electrical systems, roofs, portions of HVAC systems, and worn-out flooring, doors and cabinetry. Additionally, some areas of our buildings no longer meet the standards for today’s school buildings. Building entrances have limited security, bathrooms do not meet accessibility requirements, and parking and student pick-up areas are limited at the elementary school. Most apparent is the lack of a dedicated physical education space at the elementary school, where a single room is used non-stop for classes, breakfasts, lunches, performances, and assemblies.

Our district is unable to address these challenges with our annual building fund alone, so we have spent the last year working with staff members and school building experts to build an investment plan developed by feedback from community members. This plan is now being presented to voters during the referendum on Tuesday, June 10.

If approved, $19.9 million will be invested to complete comprehensive maintenance and learning space updates at both school buildings. This includes replacing roofs, electrical systems, and worn-out finishes; building secure entrances,m; and ensuring

both buildings have ADA-compliant bathrooms.

In addition, the plan would build a new wing onto the south side of the elementary school to house a new gymnasium; the secure entrance; and storage, restrooms and changing rooms. Adjacent to this wing, a new drop-off loop and parking will be paved to provide a safer area for students and drivers.

If the referendum is approved, the plan will be paid for with a property tax increase. All revenue will go exclusively towards completing these improvements. This means there will be dedicated funding to pay off the bonds, and there will be no impact to the existing budget that supports the daily operations of our schools.

Our district worked with our financial consultant to make it as easy as possible for property owners to calculate their tax impact. At SoaringForwardTogether.com/tax-impact you can find multiple links to a tax calculator that only requires the true and full value of your property to determine your annual impact. Many households can likely offset this impact by applying for a $1,600 primary residence tax credit recently passed by North Dakota legislators. This credit has no income limit, is available to all households in our district, and applies directly to your overall property taxes owed. If you need assistance calculating your tax impact, please call the school district or reach out to a school district representative, we are happy to help.

If you have not yet taken the time to explore the plan, how it impacts you, and how it would impact our students, please visit SoaringForwardTogether. com.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to learn more about the referendum over the last few months.

School funding is a complicated issue, so our district is lucky to have residents who have put in the effort to understand the details and impact of this upcoming decision. Please make a plan to vote on Tuesday, June 10!

Community

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A6

Munich Public School honor roll

The following is a list of both the "A" and "B" Honor Roll students for the 4th quarter of the 2024-2025 school year. To be on the "A" Honor Roll a student must obtain a quarterly GPA of 3.5 or higher, have no letter grade below a B- and no more than one letter grade below an A-. To be on the "B" Honor Roll a student must obtain a quarterly GPA of 3.0-3.49, have no letter grade below a C- and no more than one letter grade below a B-.

"A" Honor Roll Seniors Cody Amble Payton Hall Natalie Perry

Juniors Max Brown Johnathan Christie Tanner McDonald Sophomore Bridget Pankratz Freshmen Maci Gage Emma Hall Caleb McDonald Lexi Olson Grady Pankratz 8th Grade Brett Brown Hilary Haaven Colton Mitzel Lily Zimmer 7th Grade Parker McDonald

"B" Honor Roll Juniors Zach Estenson Chloe Foster Kade Hansen

Sophomores Noah Foster Victoria Matthews Freshmen Kaleb Foster Kemi Morstad Liv Prouty Landon Shackelford Kadence Wirth 8th Grade Will Foster Cassidy Knoke LaNaysha Neidlinger Rosalyn Pankratz Gabe Woodrow 7th Grade Bailey Samuelson

The Borderland Press

Langdon Area High School | 4th Quarter 2024-25 “A” Honor Roll

Seniors Devin Bernstrom Kartheek Chapara Claire Chaput Brock Freer Shanna Gette Catelyn Goodman Tallia Johnston Ciara Kempert Kaylee Littlewind-Sabo Rylee Medbery Mikaela Olson Meredith Romfo Drew Rostvet Jacob Sanders Reed Scherr Alexandra Westphal Charlie Zbasnik Juniors Thomas Blackburn Madilyn Crump Samuel Davis Brayden Harris Mya Johnson Kiera Lien

Jonathan Lill Nora Lorenz Sophia Nuelle Chloe Ottem Haven Radway Raeleigh Ratzlaff McKenzie Regner Jaymee Reidhammer Theodore Romfo Levi Swanson Keaton Ullyott Graci Witzel Sophomores Aubrey Badding Erika Bakke Ruby Davis Kennen Forest Devin Hakanson Colten Hein Max Henderson Maci Hoffarth Daisy Kuhn Matilda Lawson Nadia Lewis Claire Mehlhoff Landon Schneider

Danilynn Thompson Isabelle Vikan Freshmen Remmi Bodnar Heidi Crump Taya Feist Aiden Haraseth Meggy Hetletved Mya Hoffman Logan Landsem Oliver Lill Kaydence Lundquist Hadley Medbery Ryder Moser Abby Peterson Eastyn Schaefer

“B” Honor Roll Seniors James Domres Michael Entzi Thomas Gendron Jordan Klindt Jacob Lowery Tori Mittleider

Jaxen Rademacher Juniors Kennadee Cluchie Tyson Gemmill Christine Joyner Karter Lien Melah Mackall Zoey Padden Sophomores Terrell Henderson Oshun High Hawk Olivia Lorenz Maddux Stremick Freshmen Dawson Downs Carson Entzi Kamrin Hicks Evan Ottem Ty Ramberg Patrick Ryan Cole Spanier Chase Thielbar Christian Tollefson

Langdon Area Middle School | 4th Quarter 24-25 “A” Honor Roll 8th Grade Lexi Gendron Luke Gilseth Chase Girodat Ella Goodman Thea Johnson Fenja Lawson Korbyn Rollness Mya Swanson Maci Witzel

7th Grade Jackson Borchardt

Walhalla Public Library news

By Tammy Olson, Director We are starting our Summer Reading Program on Tuesday June 3. We will be running the program every Tuesday from 11:30-12:30. We will be serving lunch to the kids during this time. There are four great programs we will be running the whole month of June.

Patrons can sign up at the front desk.

You can come in any time for this to sign your kids up. We are also giving away a boys bike and a girls bike on June 24. Make sure the kids sign up for it every Tuesday they come in. The bikes were donated by the Walhalla Building Center - thank you so much for the generous donation. We hope to see a lot of kids participate in the fun.

Mason Brown Lexi Close Finley Crockett Colby Forest Gavin Gemmill Billie Hanson Carter Harris Harper Jacobson Chloe Koons Finn Lorenz Matthew Martin Oliver Mosher Sophie Myrvik

Hallie Overby Tycen Restad Gavin Rime AryAnna Schaefer Dentyn Schill Sophia Vikan

“B” Honor Roll 8th Grade Dyson Askvig Bensen Fetsch Kade Johnson Gracie Johnston

Liam Johnson Jonathan Mack Eliot Olson Austin Wenzel Brianna Wild 7th Grade Carl Henry Demetrius Janis Samuel Johnson Maxum Mostad Kynlee Pengilly Aiden Vikan

Lifestyle

The Borderland Press

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A7

Prairie Fare: Skip the ultra processed road snacks

By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist

with healthier, less expensive fare.

“Did you see that?” my husband asked when we returned to our car.

“Yes, she bought two bananas and a cup of coffee,” I replied.

You can purchase healthy food in most places if you make a plan. Unfortunately, quick-stop stores and dollar stores are filled with what we now call “ultra processed foods.”

I was feeling nostalgic the other day.

My husband and I were driving four hours to our daughter’s college graduation. Our youngest is ready to launch into adulthood and a career.

I saw many families with young children at rest stops and convenience stores. I asked my husband if he remembered our family trips.

“They were a lot of work,” he replied matter-of-factly.

I was expecting him to sentimentally talk about the fleeting moments of childhood and family life. He was correct, though.

We stopped to fill our gas tank. I overheard kids trying to convince their parents to buy them candy and pop.

The store was using the “buy two, get one free” tactic, and the kids had their hands full of food packages and bottles. The parents were ushering them back to the cooler and shelves.

I did not miss that part of family trips.

We usually traveled with a cooler filled

Eating processed food is not necessarily “bad” for us. Most of our foods are processed in some way — by cleaning, peeling, grinding, cooking, canning or freezing. Much of the processing is done to make the food safe, edible and convenient.

For example, grinding and sifting wheat into flour is technically processing, but the process allows us to consume the grain kernels. Baby carrots have been processed from large carrots, but they have all the vitamins and fiber.

Eating minimally processed foods with fewer added ingredients is healthier for us. Most of the time, food is chosen for its flavor. Ultraprocessed foods certainly tempt us with their salty and/or sweet flavors.

Ultraprocessed foods are formulated to be tasty and include numerous additives with names that are difficult to pronounce. These ingredients might enhance the appearance (such as synthetic colors) or the flavor. Additives can be used to preserve the food or improve the texture.

Much of our convenient grab-and-go

foods, such as pastries, candy bars, soda, instant soups and chips, would fall in the ultraprocessed food category.

While eating an occasional treat will do no long-term harm, a steady diet of ultraprocessed food could promote weight gain and several chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

What’s a person to do on a road trip?

Read and compare the Nutrition Facts labels and check out the ingredients.

Make your own snacks. Travel with water as your thirst quencher of choice.

Bring your own snacks in a cooler with ice. Low-fat string cheese, whole-wheat crackers, apples and other whole fruit, hard-cooked eggs, homemade granola or trail mix, mixed nuts, homemade fruit leather, dried fruit or beef jerky, popcorn, wholegrain crackers and Greek yogurt are all options that contain minimally processed ingredients.

Smart program for the recipe and nutrition analysis.

Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bites 1 medium ripe banana 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 egg 1/4 cup white sugar 1 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats 1/2 cup dried fruit (finely chopped) or chocolate chips Mash banana with a fork. In a medium-sized bowl, beat together banana, vanilla, egg and sugar with a fork or whisk. Stir in peanut butter and baking powder. Stir in oats and dried fruit or chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Drop the batter by leveled-off tablespoonful 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. Gently pat down with finger-

tips to form circles. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand on the baking sheet for 4 minutes. Remove onto wire racks or paper towels

to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 16 oat bites. Each has 150 calories, 9 grams (g) fat, 5 g protein, 15 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber and 90 milligrams sodium.

Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension food and nutrition specialist and professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences.

Don’t forget wet wipes and/or hand sanitizer to clean your hands on the go.

See www.ag.ndsu.edu/food and check out the “Food Preservation” and “Drying” sections to learn how to make your own fruit leather, jerky and other snacks. Next, from the main page, go to “Food Safety” and explore the “Home” resources that include food safety for camping, hiking and picnics.

Here’s a tasty recipe that can go on the road with you. We thank the Iowa State University Spend Smart – Eat

When traveling, bring your own healthy snacks in a cooler, and don't forget to pack plenty of water as well. (Pixabay photo)

Prairie Doc® Perspective: Living with Parkinson’s disease

By Dr. Kelly Evans-Hullinger

“I am concerned your symptoms are due to Parkinson’s disease,” is something I have said to numerous patients over the years. This is a degenerative neurologic disease which is common enough that most patients have heard of it or even know some-

one living with it.

Most commonly, the patient or their family might have noticed classic symptoms: a tremor, difficulty with movement like walking, or balance problems. Importantly, not all tremor is Parkinson’s, though that is typically the biggest concern my patients have.

Parkinson’s disease is typically a diagnosis made by findings on history and physical exam; it is uncommon that further testing is used. Often, we will refer to our experts in neurology to confirm a suspected diagnosis. As a progressive neurological disease, we don’t currently have any tools to stop or slow the progression of Parkinson’s, but we have many tools to improve symptoms and quality of life.

First and foremost, regular exercise is paramount for patients with Parkinson’s. Quality of life and functional status is better in patients exercising with moderate intensity 150 minutes per week. The type of exercise doesn’t

necessarily matter, so find something that is enjoyable enough to stick with.

Beyond independent exercise, specialized therapies administered by a qualified physical therapist and speech therapist can reduce symptoms. Physical therapists will help with walking, movement, and balance; speech therapists can improve patients’ speech and communication and, if needed, help with swallowing problems.

Medications are commonly used to help with tremor and rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. Most often, the first line treatment is a medication called carbidopa-levodopa, and most patients see immediate gratification with the effect of the medication on their movement symptoms. If needed, other medication options can be added.

Finally, options such as deep brain

stimulation (DBS) can be used in more severe diseases in which medications are not adequate to control motor symptoms. This involves insertion of a device into the affected

area of the brain; electrical stimulation there alleviates those symptoms.

Other interventions are sometimes used as well with the help of a specialty-trained neurologist.

In summary, Parkinson’s disease is fairly common as people age, and

An Idaho company has released a glow-in-the-dark petunia called Firefly Petunia. By day, the plant looks like an ordinary white-flowered bedding plant. After the sun goes down, the plant reveals its superpower by emitting a faint green glow. While the glow is noticeable, it isn’t bright enough to keep your neighbors awake at night.

Light Bio, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Ketchum, Idaho, inserted genes from a tropical bioluminescent mushroom into a petunia. This genetically engineered plant is special because the glow is visible to the naked eye without using black lights or unusual treatments.

Amazingly, some mushrooms glow in the dark, as do fireflies. To oversimplify, the chemical reaction features a compound called luciferin and the interaction of enzymes, water and oxygen. Both fireflies and mushrooms use bioluminescence to reproduce.

For the firefly, the light attracts a mate. Mushrooms glow in the dark to attract nocturnal insects to spread their spores.

Would I feel safe planting a genetically engineered petunia in my flower bed in the northern U.S.? Yes, I would. While working on my Ph.D. in the dark ages, I studied the scientific and legal ramifications of genetically

Before this unique petunia came to market, the plant was reviewed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a subdivision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Essentially, APHIS compared the risk of planting an ordinary petunia versus a genetically engineered one. Some factors considered included risks associated with the engineered trait, the potential for the new genes to be transferred to native plant populations, and the potential that the new trait could make the plant invasive or be considered a plant pest.

One aspect considered was whether bioluminescence could pose an ecological risk by confusing nocturnal insects.

However, the glow emitted by the petunias is quite minimal compared to street lamps, house lights and landscaping lighting.

Petunia species are native to South America and do not have any close plant relatives in the United States. We occasionally see wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) in the native

plant nursery trade. Despite its name, wild petunia is not a true petunia.

Common names are funny that way.

Therefore, the risk of cross-breeding is non-existent.

Finally, petunias are not invasive and are unlikely to spread into wild areas and get established. This is particu-

If you decide to purchase Firefly Petunia, plant it in full sun and be patient. The plant may not glow as much when it is small. As it grows, a gardener can make the glow a little brighter by keeping it healthy.

Will I buy a Firefly Petunia plant? Probably not this year – $34.99 for one bedding plant is too rich for my blood.

However, I would be game when the prices come down.

larly true in cold climates because petunias are annuals that die with the first hard freeze.

By day, Firefly petunia looks like an ordinary white-flowered bedding plant.

(NDSU photo)

Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD. is part of The Prairie Doc® team of physicians and currently practices Internal Medicine at Avera Medical Group in Brookings, South Dakota. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org, and on social media. Watch On Call with the Prairie Doc, most Thursdays at 7PM streaming on Facebook and listen to Prairie Doc Radio Sunday’s at 6am and 1pm on SDPB Radio.

Health Tip

Provided by Cavalier County Health District

Dakota Gardener: Would you buy a glow-in-the-dark petunia?

By Esther E. McGinnis, Horticulturist | NDSU Extension engineered crops and learned how to assess the risk of such crops.

most patients live for many years with the disease. It is important to be educated on the disease and all the options that might improve symptoms and quality of life while one lives with Parkinson’s disease, and a qualified physician can help tailor those treatments to each individual patient.

Rebecca Davis

May 30: May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, a reminder to protect our kids from the tobacco industry’s influence and build a healthier future. For help with smokefree spaces or quitting support, contact Cavalier County Health District or a Tobacco Treatment Specialist at Langdon Prairie Health.

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A8

Church

The Borderland Press

Walhalla Senior Meals Menu Monday, June 2 BBQ Ribs•Baked Potato•Carrots•Fruit Cocktail

Tuesday, June 3 Lasagna•Romaine Salad/Dressing•Green Beans•Peaches•1 WW Breadstick Wednesday, June 4 Hamburger on WW Bun•Potato Salad•Peas•Fresh Fruit Thursday, June 5 Swedish Meatballs•Mashed Potatoes•Yams•Grapes Friday, June 6 Taco Salad•Fruit•1 WW Bread This is a menu for the Walhalla Title III Older Americans Act Food Program. The full cost of the meal is $13.00. Suggested donation for those 60 and older is $4.00. EBT/SNAP accepted. Under 60 are required to pay $13.00. Meal site is Waters Family Restaurant, 1108 Central Ave., Walhalla. Call 701-549-2443 before 10:00 a.m. to place an order for congregate, pick up, or home delivered meals.

Make it a ‘berry’ good day for cobbler

Blueberries are out in full force when the weather warms. Blueberries are delicious freshly picked, and can be topped with some light cream for a refreshing dessert. Blueberries also are equally at home baked in muffins, breads and cobblers.

The following recipe for ‘Blueberry Lemon Cornmeal Cobbler’ courtesy of ‘Vegan Cooking for Beginners!’ with recipes curated by Publications International, Ltd., pairs the tang of lemon with the sweetness of blueberry for the perfect treat. It’s great for dessert or even served for brunch.

Blueberry Lemon Cornmeal Cobbler Makes 8 to 10 servings 3 tablespoons boiling water 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed 5 cups fresh blueberries

1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar, divided 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated lemon peel, divided 1/2 cup plain unsweetened soymilk or almond milk 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup fine-ground cornmeal 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine boiling water and flaxseed in small bowl. Let stand until cool.

2. Combine blueberries, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, cornstarch, and 1/2 tablespoon lemon peel in large bowl; toss to coat. Spoon into prepared pan.

3. Combine soymilk and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice in small bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Combine flour, cornmeal, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon peel, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; mix well. Add soymilk mixture, coconut oil and flaxseed mixture; stir until just combined. Drop topping by 2 tablespoons into mounds over blueberry mixture.

4. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Let stand 30 minutes before serving.

Obituaries

The Borderland Press 7, 1978, in Bismarck, N.D., the daughter of Gary and Donna (Hummel) Hellman. She grew up in Brownsville, S.D., and graduated from Walhalla High School. Candace then attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., for two years. She worked at Motor Coach Industries, Kids Townhouse, and in 2011, she started working as a paraprofessional at Walhalla School. Her number one focus in her life was her sons. She also enjoyed painting and being at school with all the students.

Candace Lee Thomas

A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Walhalla Lutheran Church in Walhalla, N.D. with visitation one hour before the time of the service for Candace Thomas, 46, of Walhalla, who passed away March 23, 2025, in Fargo, N.D. Candace Lee Hellman was born Aug.

Dwayne “Duke” Klein

A memorial service was held in Langdon, N.D., for Dwayne Klein, 89, who passed away March 4, 2025, in Sioux Falls, S.D., surrounded by family.

Dwayne was born June 30, 1935, to Andrew and Myrtle (Horpestad) Klein.

He attended Alsen School. He worked for the Soo Line railroad and retired after 42 years of service. He married the love of his life, Shirley, on Aug. 24, 1956, in Munich, N.D. They were

On Aug. 5, 2000, she married James Thomas at Walhalla Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her husband, James; sons: Zach Thomas of Walhalla, N.D., Tyler Thomas and Kyle Thomas, both of Grand Forks, N.D. Preceding her in death were her parents, Gary and Donna.

Danny Paul Spenst

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A9 original Mapquest of Google Maps, as he knew every county road between here and Kansas like the back of his hand. He thrived with the work and made safety a priority. He hauled for over 30 years and was never at fault in an accident!

Salem Bible Church while living in Munich and remained a supporter of FaHoCha Bible Camp, of which he was a board member for several years.

He was ready to meet the Lord, and we are glad he is finally pain free with Him.

He loved lake life. He and Cynthia had a spot at Eastbay campground from 2002-2020. He enjoyed many projects (which didn’t seem much like work at the lake!) but also enjoyed leisurely golf cart and pontoon rides with family and friends.

Meeting Danny in heaven were his dad, Paul, his grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

Danny REALLY loved his family. He worked helping his dad on the farm when he wasn’t on the road. He had a reputation of breaking the combine, so he had to find another job during harvest work! After his dad’s passing in 2018, he made sure he got in daily phone calls with his mom. He was able to help move her to Fargo as well in 2019 and enjoyed adding lunches and visits to their daily calls.

He loved his role as a husband. He would do anything for Cynthia and she the same. He even came to enjoy it when she bought him power tools for Christmas… knowing she had a project SHE wanted to do with them!

He was always a helpful dad, gave advice (and directions) when needed but really thrived at being a grandpa.

He did everything from crib building to taking naps at the lake with the babies while watching a Minnesota Twins day game on TV. He always had a toy to provide or an offer for a ride on his electric wheelchair. One year, he even bought them presents on HIS birthday! He very much enjoyed going to their activities that he could, including dance recitals and baseball or soccer games.

Online guestbook available at www. askewfuneralhome.com

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center in Fargo, N.D. with a visitation one hour prior, for Danny Paul Spenst, who ascended into heaven on May 25, 2025, under the care of hospice with family by his side.

blessed with one daughter, Karla. Everyone in Langdon knew Dwayne, or "Duke," as he sold tickets at Langdon High School for 40 years. He loved fishing and hunting and took great pride in his garden, always keeping his yard pristine. He was famous for hosting fish fry gatherings at his house, which everyone knew as "Duke's Fish Fry." He loved anything Coke and enjoyed showing his collection off to all that visited. He will be greatly missed.

Grateful to have shared his life are his wife of 68 years, Shirley Klein; daughter Karla (Kevin) Geiger; brothers: Leonard Klein, Merril (LouAnn) Klein, and Darrol (Marlene) Klein; grandchildren: Adam Klemisch, Paige Klemisch, Tatiana Geiger, and Thalia Morales. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers: Lawrence, Alvin, and Richard.

Danny was born June 7, 1962, and joined the family of Paul and Linda (Heppner) Spenst. He was raised on a farm near Munich, N.D., with his sister Tammy, and graduated from Munich High School in 1980. Danny also attended one year at Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, Minn. Danny met the love of his life, Cynthia, at FaHoCha Bible Camp where they were both campers and then counselors.

They were married on Oct. 26, 1985.

They bought their own farmstead outside of Munich where they raised their two children, Chelaine and Chad. He and Cynthia moved to Fargo in 2019.

Danny was a lifelong truck driver, and he was good at it! He had hauled everything from curly fries for Arby’s, to grain, to snowmobiles, to hopper bins. Oversized hauling was where he thrived. Chelaine joked he was the

Miller Funeral Home of Sioux Falls and Brooks Funeral Home were in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.brooksfuneralhomelangdon.com.

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: The Master Showman June 2, 2025 – P.T. Barnum served as mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut and two terms as a state legislator. He founded a hospital and brought gas lighting to the streets of Bridgeport.

But he is best known as a showman.

On this date in 1835, Barnum began his showmanship career when he put an elderly woman on exhibit. Barnum claimed she was 161 years old and had been George Washington’s nurse. People paid to see her. Barnum promoted hoaxes and oddities such as the Feejee mermaid and General Tom Thumb. He opened America’s first aquarium. But he is best known as the King of the Circus. In 1875, P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus made its debut.

The railroad made it possible for circuses to travel. The first circus to visit North Dakota was the W.W. Cole Circus in 1883. Two more small circuses came to the state the following year.

But the best was yet to come. In 1888, P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth

Missing him still on earth are his wife of nearly 40 years, Cynthia; his daughter, Chelaine (Josh) Anderson, of Fargo and his son, Chad (Courtney), of Glyndon; along with three cherished grandchildren: Jaxon and Quinn Anderson and Rae Spenst; his mother, Linda; his sister, Tammy (Matthew) Baginski; parents-in law Lyle and Diane Long; sisters-in-law Michelle (William) Landis and Cherise (Rob) Cave; three nieces; five nephews; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He also leaves behind his beloved dogs, Zoey and Zena, and a cat, Mia. The family wants to take time to thank Hospice of the Red River Valley for their tender care in helping Dan get to heaven. They also would like to thank the staff at The Meadows on University in Fargo for the work they do and the care they showed. Dan was only in their care for four months, but he made quite the impact on them, and he made several new friends in his time there.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations in Danny’s name to FaHoCha Bible Camp.

Arrangements were made by Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center in Fargo, N.D.

Danny also loved Jesus. He attended

was scheduled to arrive in Fargo.

Three months before the circus came to town, an agent traveled the railroad route to make sure the bridges and tunnels were big enough to accommodate the circus train. Excitement grew in Fargo as a booking agent came to reserve hotel rooms, obtain the necessary permits, and make arrangements for food. Ten days before the show, Fargo citizens awoke to the sound of a steam calliope playing circus music as the advertising crew arrived. They put up posters on every available wall. Some of them traveled on horseback throughout the countryside distributing flyers to every home, church, and business. Fargo citizens eagerly anticipated the big show.

The circus was, indeed, the Greatest Show on Earth. It required 64 train cars, and when all set up, it sprawled over five acres. The main tent was large enough for three rings. People flocked to the performances and filled the tent to capacity. It was the talk of the town for months.

Even after Barnum’s death in 1891, the Barnum and Bailey circus continued on. During an 1897 return to North Dakota, a storm hit when men were putting up the main tent in Wahpeton. Lightning hit the center pole, and three workers were killed. They were buried in the Wahpeton cemetery, and money was raised for a memorial.

Ten years later, in 1907, the Barnum & Bailey Circus was sold to the Ringling Brothers.

Dakota Datebook written by Carole Butcher “Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or buy the Dakota Datebook book at shopprairiepublic.org.

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: Flocking to Fargo June 3, 2025 – Masonry has a long history in the Dakotas. The first known Mason to visit the Dakotas was Meriwether Lewis, and several Mason lodges were issued charters prior to statehood. The first of those lodges was founded in Fargo in 1874. In 1875, five lodges banded together to form The Grand Lodge of Dakota. In 1889, it was divided into the Grand Lodges of North and South Dakota.

On this date in 1913, trains stopping in Fargo were filled with hundreds of Masons arriving for Homecoming Week. They came from North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota.

The Masonic Lodge was joined by other fraternal organizations including the Scottish Rite and the Knights of Malta. The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican gave extensive coverage to the occasion. It was an opportunity to show off the city to out-of-towners.

The weather was exceptional. It was a perfect week for visitors flocking to Fargo.

The Masonic Temple was lit up for the occasion with 2,000 electric lights.

The newspaper reported that thousands of people came to view the spectacle. That number was expected to increase as more lights were added, to be topped with organizations’ lighted emblems.

Some of the events were official in nature. Fifty Masons were elevated to the fourteenth degree of the Consistory. The newspaper reported that the ceremony included a performance by a very impressive choir made up of thirty-second degree Masons. Further degrees were scheduled to be completed throughout the week.

Unofficial events included a picnic in Oak Grove park attended by hundreds of Masons with their wives, families, and friends. Special activities were

planned for the children, and the Grand Knights Templar Ball was expected to be the highlight of the week.

The Masons were not the only ones descending on Fargo. Businessmen from Duluth were arriving as well.

This would be their last stop as they made a tour of North Dakota by train.

The businessmen hoped to drum up interest in what Duluth had to offer.

They were giving out souvenirs and promotional materials. They planned a parade headed by a band.

It all made for a week of excitement

and spectacle in Fargo on this first week of June in 1913.

Dakota Datebook written by Carole Butcher “Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or buy the Dakota Datebook book at shopprairiepublic.org.

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page A10

The Borderland Press

Federal cuts affect regional food access; more uncertainty to come By: Erin Hemme Froslie/North Dakota Monitor Proposed cuts to the federal food assistance program are coming at a time when agencies addressing hunger in North Dakota are already facing lost revenue and increased need.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty right now,” said Darby Njos, spokeswoman for Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo.

“We’re still urging lawmakers to support programs that help people get back on their feet while knowing that the needs of people continue to shift.”

The most recent hit to federal food assistance are proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Known as SNAP, this is a federally funded program that gives money for groceries to eligible low-income households – mostly older adults, people with disabilities, and families with children. A budget bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week would end federal nutrition benefits for millions and shift some costs to states, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill still needs to be considered by the U.S. Senate.

Great Plains Food Bank is the only food bank in North Dakota and distributes food to those in need throughout the state and in Clay County, Minnesota.

Earlier this year it lost about $1.3 million in funding and food because of federal cuts, Njos said.

Some of those cuts were through a program that allowed the food bank to purchase meat and produce from local farmers. This year Great Plains Food Bank expected three rounds of funding, each around $1 million. The first round came through, the second round of funding was paused and then reinstated.

ers, and we had to have some tough conversations,” she said. “We don’t have the ability to make those purchases without that funding.”

In addition, the food bank will not receive summer deliveries of food through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). These deliveries equaled about $300,000 in food.

The nonprofit was able to raise about $250,000 in private funds to help offset those losses, but the cuts are still felt.

“Those cuts impact our day-to-day work,” Njos said. “We’re working hard to fill in those gaps.”

In 2024, the food bank served 151,000 people in North Dakota and Clay County. About one-third of those served are children; 16% are seniors, Njos said.

“These are vulnerable populations that don’t have a lot of options if they’re hungry,” Njos said. “You don’t want them worrying about where to get their next meal.”

About 28% of Great Plains Food Bank’s food sourcing traditionally comes through government programs.

While some funding and commodities are still being received, the loss of purchasing power strains resources.

“We’ve had to adapt quickly,” Njos said. “These cuts are real, and they’re being felt at every level.”

Susie Boelter is executive director of North Country Food Bank, which serves part of Grand Forks County in North Dakota and 21 counties in northwestern and western Minnesota. This food bank has seen what Boelter calls “staggering increases” of use over the past three years.

Cutting federal food assistance would add to that need.

The food bank has been informed it won’t receive the third round, Njos said.

“If there are cuts to SNAP that would have a huge impact on us,” Boelter said. “For every meal we provide (through the food bank), SNAP provides nine.”

“We worked directly with several farm-

North Country Food Bank has seen

Ashley Baker, strategic initiatives coordinator at the Great Plains Food Bank, stocks food in a wellness pantry. (Courtesy of Great Plains Food Bank)

some shifts in which federal contracts are funded but it hasn’t seen a loss in overall federal revenue. Boelter said it’s still time for additional help – not less.

“Any additional cuts will put a ton of pressure on our emergency food system,” she said. “Food banks are good at getting food into the hands of people who need it, but it’s time to sound the alarm.”

One bright spot in food assistance is that federal funding for summer food programs remains in place, according to Melissa Anderson, assistant director for Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Programs at the state Department of Public Instruction.

Two federal programs – Summer Food Service and the Summer EBT – provide nutrition for North Dakota students who have access to free and reduced-cost meals during the school

Future uncertain for Walsh County Jail New cyber laws to

By Mike Alan Steinfeldt go into effect Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens said the county is looking at using the sales tax that passed during last week’s special election for a new jail and/or sheriff’s office. During last Tuesday’s special election, voters in the county approved a three quarter percent sales tax increase, which would generate approximately 10 million dollars over time. However, in the vote, they rejected a 20 mill property tax increase.

Both items needed to pass for the 42 million dollar jail project that was on the table to move forward.

Jurgens said Walsh County State’s Attorney Kelly Cole is currently researching the issue to see if the sales tax revenue can be used for some sort of jail project, since that was the purpose of the vote.

“The state's attorney is doing their research on whether we can use that money, and we're waiting for that research to get done, so we're looking at all our options moving forward,” said Jurgens.

The canvassing board met on Tuesday, May 27, to certify the election results. Jurgens said they plan to have a meeting with the Samuels Group,

which developed the plan for the jail, once those results are in.

By The Borderland Press staff

Jurgens said currently it is just speculation on whether or not the county could move forward with any sort of revised jail plan.

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong has signed into law new bills meant to limit the exposure children have to online pornography, and also strengthen laws against computer generated deepfakes.

“I don’t know that we've done enough research into it to make any hard and fast judgments on what we're going to do,” he stated. “I do know that there's at least some possibilities we may be able to take advantage of, depending on the determination from the state's attorney and then what other options we have with the amount of money that could be used.”

Meanwhile, the folks who determine whether or not the current jail can continue to operate, inspectors with the North Dakota Department of Corrections, visited the jail in Grafton for an inspection on May 21.

“The people that license our jail and they do the inspection process on a yearly basis, they're going to see if we're complying with the standards that the DOC has put out for jail,” Jurgens explained. “They will mark us accordingly on how we're doing and then make a determination from there.”

Starting Aug. 1, websites which primarily contain pornographic content will be required to verify a user’s age before allowing them to access. Other states like Utah, whose 2023 law was the basis of the North Dakota law, have employed the use of digital ID cards to verify a user's age.

The bill only presently pertains to websites – search engines like Google are exempt. Critics further point out the use of VPNs could circumvent any restrictions.

In regards to deepfakes, the creation, possession, and/or distribution of computer generated explicit images of unconsenting individuals will be considered a Class B misdemeanor in the state. The newly signed law also makes it easier for people depicted in explicit deepfakes to sue creators or distributors.

year.

This summer 42 schools and nonprofits are offering a free meal or snack at over 130 sites throughout North Dakota.

In addition, the state Department of Public Instruction works with the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute EBT cards worth $120 to eligible students. Households have 120 days to use those dollars to purchase groceries, Anderson said.

The state expects about 44,000 students will be eligible.

These summer programs are successful in getting food to those who need it, and Anderson is optimistic the funding will remain. She also acknowledges that policies and funding streams can change quickly.

“Every day there’s new information,” Anderson said. “We’re trying to stay

positive but there are a lot of unknowns.”

Lawmakers earlier this year approved $5 million in grant funding for the Great Plains Food Bank through the state Department of Agriculture to support the construction of a new statewide distribution center. The state’s investment will be matched by private donations raised by the agency.

The food bank is preparing to break ground in 2027.

This investment reflects the region’s commitment to taking care of their neighbors, Njos said.

“We’ve always thrived in times of crisis,” said Njos. “North Dakotans stand up when their neighbors are in need, and we’ll continue doing whatever it takes to ensure no one goes hungry.”

Spring SPORTS Cards, Grizzlies compete at State Track Meet

Eighteen Cardinals participate; Amble places fifth in 200m, Romfo second in javelin, L-M girls 4x800 relay seventh

State Track Meet results Top 10 finishers: 2nd - Meredith Romfo, Javelin, 127’6” 5th - Cody Amble, 200 Meter Dash, 22.74 6th - Aubrey Badding, Triple Jump, 35’1” 7th - Badding, Hallie Overby, Olivia Lorenz, Mya Swanson, 4X800 Meter Relay, 10:00 9th - Fenja Lawson, Shot Put, 37’3” Other competitors: Girls: Meggy Hetletved, 300 Meter Hurdles, 50.59 Swanson, 1,600 Meter Run, 5:35.26; Lorenz, 5:41.09 Overby, 400 Meter Dash, 1:02.73 Swanson, 800 Meter Run, 2:24.12 Overby, Taya Feist, Hetletved, Swanson, 4X400 Meter Relay, 4:12.43 Badding, Long Jump, 16’2.5” Feist, High Jump, 4’8” Christine Joyner, Discuss, 109’11” Boys: Amble, 400 Meter Dash, 51.54 Amble, Triple Jump, 41’.25”; TJ Henderson, 40’.25” Henderson, Long Jump, 19’9” Jacob Lowery, Shot Put, 44’9.5” Lowery, Discuss, 124’0” Jake Sanders, Pole Vault, 11’0”

Olivia Lorenz running the 1600 meter run, which she finished with a great time of 5:41.09.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Meggy Hetletved clears the hurdle in the 300 meter race with a time of 50.59.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Jake Sanders vaulted 11' at the state meet. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Meredith Romfo took home second place at the state meet in the javelin with a throw of 125' 6".

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Cody Amble had a personal best time of 22.74 seconds, landing him in fifth place in the 200 meter run at the state meet. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Sports

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B2

The Borderland Press

Cards, Grizzlies compete at State Track Meet

Hallie Overby crosses the finish line in the 400 meter run. Photo by Larry Stokke.

TJ Henderson jumped 40'.25" in the triple jump. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Mya Swanson had a personal best time of 2:24.12 in the 800 meter run.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Taya Feist hands the baton to Meggy Hetletved who, along with teammates Hallie Overby and Mya Swanson, had their season best time in the 1600 meter run of 4:12.43.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Fenja Lawson had a personal best throw in the shot put with a distance of 37' 3". Photo by Larry Stokke.

Emerson Helgoe takes the baton from Delaney Denault and heads off on the final leg of the relay. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Jake’s Take on Sports

By Jake Kulland, Sports Editor

Beautiful weather here, not so beautiful weather coming As usual around these parts, we take the good with the bad. Well, mostly good and somewhat bad might be a better way to say it. The weather has been pristine the past week, but as we all know, it won’t last forever. Colder temps are forecast for the week ahead. It has been a really good growing season to this point, as it’s been plant-rain, plant-rain. That’s all good for us all, and let’s hope that continues. We are at the bridge of the end of spring sports and the beginning of summer activities. We have much to discuss, so let’s get to it.

State Track Meet shows several place winners; Coach Hart may be back for the Cards The State A and B Track Meet was held at the Community Bowl in Bismarck May 22-24. Place winners included Cody Amble taking fifth in the 200 meters, Meredith Romfo second in the javelin, Aubrey Badding getting sixth place in the triple jump, and 4x800 relay team of Badding, Olivia Lorenz, Hallie Overby and Mya Swanson taking seventh. All great stuff, as the Cards sent 18 athletes overall to the state meet. Pembina County North had four girls from Cavalier at state, but they did not place in the 4x800 relay.

This was supposed to be the last year for longtime Cardinals track coach Jane Hart. After the great year for the team and talent that is coming, Coach Hart said, “it’s too early to tell” if she will be back next season or not. Let’s hope so, as the numbers for track and field in Langdon and Munich are booming, and the future is very bright.

While we are at it, we say hats off to both Cody Amble and Meredith Romfo, who ended phenomenal athletic careers for the Langdon-Munich programs. They will be dearly missed.

Thanks to both for the hard work it took to make all these accomplishments possible!

Langdon Post 98 Red Sox ready to get their season started with some returning players from college The Langdon-Munich high school baseball season has been completed, as they lost two very close games in the Region 4 Tournament in Park River to end their season. Now, baseball will be moving to American Legion baseball with the Langdon Post 98 Red Sox set to begin their 2025 season on June 4 at home versus Hatton-Northwood. They will also have a home game on June 6 against MayPort.

Tanner Groth is in his ninth season coaching the Red Sox, and his team should be fun to watch. Along with several players from the high school season - including All-Region players Theo Romfo, Jax Johnson, Tyson Gemmill and Landon Schneider - Langdon will add three more players that have an extra year of legion ball due to their birth dates. Mason Romfo, who completed a year at the University of Minnesota-Crookston; Cole Welsh, who is at UND; and Nick Kingzett, coming off a year at NDSU, are all back and will be ready to go. A Red Sox schedule is in this week’s paper.

The State B American Legion Baseball Tournament is in Park River this year, so that means the top two teams out

of what’s called District 6 will advance to state. District 6 features teams from Langdon, Grafton, Park River, Midway-Minto and Larimore this season.

Meanwhile, Babe Ruth baseball is off and running. The Langdon Eagles Babe Ruthers are coached this year again by Jack Romfo in his second year. Walhalla and Pembina are not having a Babe Ruth team this year, although they do have a 10U Little League squad.

Langdon-Munich and North Border come up just short at Region 3 Boys Golf Meet; Grant Cosley named Senior Athlete of the Year The Region 3 Boys Golf Meet was held May 27 in Devils Lake. The Langdon-Munich and North Border teams had hopes of making the State B meet in Jamestown on June 3-4. Unfortunately, both teams came up just short in the team standings.

However, Ryder Moser finished seventh overall and made the All-Region 3 team with the top 10 finish. He and Kennen Forest, who qualified for state earlier at a meet in Grafton, will represent the Cardinals at the State B tourney. Grant Cosley from North Border won the award for Senior Athlete of the Year, and Barry Heisler won Coach of the Year. Cosley and Bjorn Evenson of the Eagles are also going to the State B. We will leave with some tournament reminders for area golf courses. The Pembina Golf Course will host their 2-Person, Triple Event Tourney, starting at 10:00am on May 31, and the Langdon Country Club will have their 30th Annual Langdon Prairie Health Foundation Tourney on June 7 with Masters Golf being this year’s theme.

Contact McKinzie Sivertson at 701370-8876 for more information on that event.

“See ya!” next week!

The Borderland Press

Sports

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B3

High School Regional Golf Tournament held in Devils Lake

The Region 3 Boys Golf Meet was held May 27 at Creel Bay Golf Course in Devils Lake. North Star won the event, with Langdon-Munich and North Border just finishing out of the top three to get to state.

The Cardinals will still send Ryder Moser and Kennen Forest to Jamestown for the state tourney on June 3-4, and the Eagles have Grant Cosley and Bjorn Evenson going. All four qualified individually.

Moser made the All-Region 3 Team by finishing in the top 10 at regionals, and Cosley was named Region 3 Senior Athlete of the Year. Barry Heisler of North Star was award Region 3 Coach of the Year honors.

North Border's Bjorn Evenson is heading to the State Golf Meet after a great performance at regionals. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Ryder Moser tees off at the Regional Golf Meet in Devils Lake on May 27 and will head to the State Golf Meet. Moser finished in the top 10 and made the All-Region 3 Team. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Grant Cosley sinks a putt at regionals and will be heading to the State Golf Tournament. He was also named Region 3 Senior Athlete of the Year. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Kennen Forest puts a bend in his swing as he tees off. He will represent the Cards at state golf. Photo by Larry Stokke.

LCC Golf Camp held for area youth

The Langdon Country Club hosted a Junior Golf Camp for boys and girls in grades 1-6 from May 21-28. There were 60 kids who participated and 12 volunteers who ran the camp from the Langdon-Munich high school golf teams. The kids showed great improvement throughout the camp!

Sports

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B4

The Borderland Press

Cardinals go two and out at Region 4 Tourney, season ends at 11-7 Four L-M players make All-Region Team, will have everyone back next year

By Jake Kulland, Sports Editor The Langdon-Munich Cardinals entered the 2025 Region 4 Tournament in Park River as the second seed, and they hoped for a deep run in the tourney. Those dreams were dashed; they lost two hard-fought, one-run games: 13-12 to Grafton on May 19 then were upset by Midway-Minto in a loser out game 6-5 on May 22. With the losses, Langdon-Munich had their season come to an end with a record of 11-7.

Park River Area won the tournament over Grafton 9-1 in the championship game on May 23, and the Aggies will represent Region 4 at the State B Tournament in Fargo May 29-31, as they got the top overall seed. Juniors Theo Romfo, Jax Johnson and Tyson Gemmill and sophomore Landon Schneider all made the All-Region 4 team. Kyler Droog from Grafton won Senior Athlete of the Year, and Brett Omdahl of Park River Area won Coach of the Year.

Cards head coach Josh Krivarchka was asked to give his thoughts on his team's season, and he said, "I thought overall we had a very good season. It didn’t finish how we wanted it to, but the boys improved throughout the year and played really good baseball.

We had four guys that made the All Region team, and they are all very deserving. They all played very good baseball throughout the spring."

Midway-Minto 6, Langdon-Munich 5 After a roller coaster, back and forth loss to Grafton in the opening round, Langdon-Munich played Midway-Minto to stay alive in the tourney in a loser out game on May 22. The tournament was rained out both May 20-21, so the Cards took on the Mustangs two days late, which helped their pitching situation somewhat.

Tyson Gemmill took the mound and threw arguably his best game of the season, striking out 10 batters in five innings while walking only one and allowing just five hits.

The limit for pitches in a tournament is 135, and Gemmill reached that with his last pitch of the fifth, so he had to come off the mound. Eastyn Schaefer came on the mound to pitch after throwing well against Grafton earlier in the tourney. Schaefer had trouble with his control against M-M, as they rallied to score six runs with the big blow being a two run triple by

Ben Gudajtes. Jax Johnson came on to help the Cards get out of the inning.

The sixth inning has been a nightmare all season for the Cardinals, and it was in this tournament. They gave up six runs in the sixth to Grafton in the opening round and the exact same thing to the Mustangs.

Langdon-Munich had two more chances to try and tie the score late, and although they had some baserunners, they could not get the equalizer across the plate. Johnson had three hits at the plate for the Cards, while Devin Hakanson had a triple and three runs batted in. Theo Romfo and Connor Mitchell also each had two hits.

MIDWAY-MINTO 6, LANGDON-MUNICH 5 MM --000 006 0 -- 6 12 2 LM --002 300 0 -- 5 12 0 WP -- Andy Pulak; LP -- Eastyn Schaefer Highlights -- LM: Tyson Gemmill 10 Ks, Jax Johnson 3x4, Devin Hakanson 2x4 3B 3 RBIs, Theo Romfo 2x4, Connor Mitchell 2x3; MM: Pulak 10 Ks, Ben Gudajtes 2x4 3B 2 RBIs, Ezra Robinson 2x4 2B RBI

2025 Langdon Post 98 Red Sox American Legion Baseball Schedule DATE TEAM TIME Wednesday, June 4

H-NW (7,5)

5:30

Friday, June 6

Mayville (7,5)

5:00

Wednesday, June 11

At Midway-Minto (7,5)

6:00

Monday, June 16

At Grafton (7,5)

5:00

Wednesday, June 18

Thompson (2-7’s)

5:00

Fri-Sun, June 27-29

At Minot Tourney

TBD

Monday, June 30

Midway-Minto (7,5)

6:00

Thursday, July 3

At Park River (7,5)

1:00

Monday, July 7

Grafton (7,5)

5:00

Thursday, July 10

At Larimore(2-7’s)

5:00

Monday, July 14

At Mayville (7,5)

5:00

Wednesday, July 16

Park River (7,5)

5:30

Friday, July 18

At Northwood (7,5)

5:30

July 21 -24

District Tourney at Grafton

TBD

August 1-5

State B Tourney at Park River

TBD

LET’S GO SOX!!

Tyson Gemmill winds up and sends a strike across the plate. Photo by Chelsea Wysocki/The Walsh County Record.

Connor Mitchell rounds the base and gets safely on.

Photo by Chelsea Wysocki/The Walsh County Record.

Devin Hakanson gets to the base beating the ball. Photo by Chelsea Wysocki/The Walsh County Record.

Four Cardinals make AllRegion 4 Baseball Team The Langdon-Munich Cardinals had their high school baseball season come to an end on May 22, but they had four players named to the All-Region 4 High School baseball team. Photographed (L-R) are juniors Theo Romfo, Jax Johnson and Tyson Gemmill, and sophomore Landon Schneider. The Cardinals had no seniors on the team this year, so they are already looking forward to next season. Way to go guys!!

Dawson Downs eyes the pitcher waiting for the ball.

Photo by Chelsea Wysocki/The Walsh County Record.

Eastyn Schaefer eyes the batter and delivers a strike.

Photo by Chelsea Wysocki/The Walsh County Record.

Classifieds

The Borderland Press

HELP WANTED McLean County is hiring one or more full-time Deputy Clerk of Courts. For more info visit http://www.mcleancountynd.gov/employment/.

Pembina, ND seeks 3 temp flex-time (20-40hrs./wk) summer helpers. $17/hr start, no OT. Hours & days depend on City Super’s needs, from M-F between 8am-4:30pm—may or may not work all days & hours. Must be self-motivated and able to work w/o constant direct supervision. Duties include mowing, crack sealing, tree trimming, painting, and other duties as assigned. Must be able to lift/carry 50#. For info or to fill out application, call 701.825.6819 or email pcityoffice@polarcomm.com McLean County is seeking to fill one or more Equipment Operator II positions in Washburn – great pay and room for advancement! For more information, visit https://www.mcleancountynd. gov/employment/.

Grant County ND Sheriff’s Office is hiring for Patrol Deputy’s Salary will start at $49,000 Must be licensable

by NORTH DAKOTA POST BOARD 701622-3331 tldillon@nd.gov Pembina, ND is seeking a PublicWorks Assistant: PublicWorks Assistant is the secondary person responsible for maintenance/repair of the City water, sewer systems, streets, and City properties. FT hourly position starting at $24/hr DOE. Wage increases for obtaining required certs. Benefits include paid sick-vaca-10 pd holidays/ year, medical insurance stipend.

For info or to fill out application, call 701.825.6819 or email pcityoffice@ polarcomm.com YOU CAN PLACE a 25-word classified ad—like this one—in every North Dakota newspaper for only $160. It’s easy.

Contact this newspaper for details.

MOTOR GRADER FOR SALE FOR SALE: 2014 Cat 140M2 AWD Motor Grader. For details contact Benson County Road Department at 701-4735496

PET SUPPLIES If veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack® animal healthcare products for cats, dogs, & horses. At Tractor Supply®.

SERVICES FOR HIRE PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 833-4060253 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE ND FARM LAND Values surge upward.

Are you selling or renting? Pifer’s Auction and Farm Land Management.

Bob Pifer 701-371-8538. Kevin Pifer 701.238.5810. Free valuation.

HEALTH/MEDICAL/ MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY and suffered an infection between 2020 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727

Larger Inventory of Pallet Racking.42”48”uprights and wire decking .8,9,11 and 12ft beams. Large part cabinets various sizes. Located in Bismarck for more info call 701-2029831.

STOP OVERPAYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE! A recent study shows that a majority of people struggle to pay for health coverage. Let us show you how much you can save. Call Now for a no-obligation quote: 877-727-7420.

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INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don’t Accept the insurance company’s first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to cash settlements in the $1000’s.

Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 701-505-8373 HAVE a news release or other information that needs to reach all ND newspapers? ND Newspaper Association can help! One call does it all.

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Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B5

Public Notices

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B6

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF CAVALIER COUNTY, STATE OF NORTH DAKOTА In the Matter of the Estate of Ronald Hotten, Deceased.

Notice to Creditors IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF CAVALIER COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA In the Matter of the Estate of Steve Schottenbauer, Deceased.

Probate No. 10-2025-PR-00008

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be presented to the Personal Representative of the estate: Kathy Thoreson, whose address is 2306 30th Ave S, Apt 301, Fargo, ND 58103, or filed with the Court.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within three (3) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be presented to Dean Bittner, Personal Representative of the estate, at c/o LS Law Group, PO Box 127, Park River, ND 58270 or filed with the Court.

Dated this 28th day of February 2025.

Dated this 10th Day of April, 2025.

Kathy Thoreson 2306 30th Ave S, Apt 301 Fargo, ND 58103 Personal Representative

Dean Bittner Personal Representative

Quentin Bruce Wenzel, P.С.

908 Third Street Langdon, ND 58249 Quentin Wenzel, Attorney for Personal Representative First Publication on the 23rd of May, 2025

The Borderland Press

Documents prepared by: LS Law Group Tracy L. Laaveg 104 4th St W / PO Box 127 Park River, ND 58270 Telephone: (701)284-6300 service@lslawgroupnd.com Attorney for the Petitioner First Publication on the 23rd of May, 2025

North Border School Election set for June 5th The annual election for the North Border School District #100 will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Polling places will be located in the following: Pembina School, Pembina, ND and Walhalla School, Walhalla, ND. Polls will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voters may vote at any polling

place within the district.

The North Border School Board shall consist of seven members with two members from each of the former districts and one at large. Five current members will be continuing next year in their unexpired terms, so there are two vacancies to be filled – one from the geographic area of Pembina and one from the geographic area of Neche. All voters of North Border School District #100 will vote for all members. Therefore, each voter should vote for a total of two (2) members in this election by marking the box to the left of the name and/or listing a write in candidate. The question of whether to raise the Building Fund mill levy will also be on the ballot.

The following have submitted an application for nomination for the School Board Election: DeWilliam Moore has filed for the seat in the former Pembina District and Kirk Morrison has filed for the seat in the former Neche District. Terms are for three (3) years unless listed otherwise.

Terms of current school board members that are ending this year (June 30, 2025) are: DeWilliam Moore, who represents Pembina and Kirk Morrison, who represents Neche.

Other members of the School Board include: Shannon Cosley, Jared Hanson, Ashley Schafer, Nick Chaput, and Heather Duerre.

Public Notices

The Borderland Press

and whether future regulation is warranted. Should you have any questions, please contact our office.

The following unregulated contaminant was the only contaminant detected during this sampling.

We're pleased to present to you the 2024 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the safe clean water we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Northeast Regional Water District (NRWD) purchases its water from the City of Devils Lake water treatment plant and also supplies approximately 60.69 percent from the NRWD’s groundwater source in the Icelandic Aquifer west of Cavalier.

The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has prepared a Source Water Assessment for the City of Devils Lake and NRWD. This information will be made available at the respective offices during normal business hours. The City of Devils Lake & NRWD participate in the wellhead protection program and copies of the wellhead protection plan are available from the City of Devils Lake & NRWD offices during normal business hours.

Information of Devils Lake Source Water Assessment can be obtained from the City of Devils Lake, contact Joel Myhro, public works superintendent. Our public water system, in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, has completed the delineation and contaminant/land use inventory elements of the North Dakota Source Water Protection Program. Based on the information from these elements, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has determined that Devils Lake's ground water source from the Spiritwood Aquifer near Tolna is "moderately susceptible" to potential contaminants and the Icelandic Aquifer west of Cavalier groundwater source is "susceptible" to potential contaminants.

However, NRWD's board of directors has taken an aggressive position toward protecting the quality of the water source in the Icelandic Aquifer, particularly because of the fragile, leachable sands in this area. Within recent years, the district has purchased approximately 1,800 acres of land to establish a wellhead protection area around the production wells. Much research had been done to determine groundwater movement, annual recharge over the well field, and generally restricting the land to only "water-friendly" uses. In addition, restricted covenants with some area landowners have been entered into, whereas, those landowners agree to only "water-friendly" land use practices. The boundaries of the land purchased were determined on the basis of direction of groundwater movement and the zone of influence of each production well.

Northeast Regional Water District is pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements.

This report shows our water quality and what it means.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Jeremy Schuler, Manager, at (701) 2658503. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the last Thursday of each month at 8:00 AM in Northeast Rural Water District Langdon Branch or Cavalier Branch office. If you are aware of non-English speaking individuals who need help with the appropriate language translation, please call Jeremy at the number listed above.

Northeast Regional Water District would appreciate it if large volume water customers would please post copies of the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report in conspicuous locations or distribute them to tenants, residents, patients, students, and/or employees, so individuals who consume the water, but do not receive a water bill, can learn about our water system.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land, or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Northeast Regional Water District routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The following table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2024. As authorized and approved by EPA, the state has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of our data

[e.g., for inorganic contaminants] though representative, is more than one year old.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides, which come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses. (Pesticide: Generally, any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Herbicide: Any chemical(s) used to control undesirable vegetation.)

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

In the tables on pages 3 thru 5 you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with.

To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions: Not Applicable- (N/A) Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (μg/l)- one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/l) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

Action Level (AL)- The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT) - A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The “Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) – The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

MCL’s are set at very stringent levels.

To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated contaminants, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.

EPA requires monitoring of over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those contaminants listed in the tables above are the only contaminants detected in your drinking water.

Once every five years EPA issues a list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems.

The City of Devils Lake was selected

by EPA to sample for thirty (30) unregulated contaminants during 2024.

Samples were collected two times at the Entry Point to the distribution system (EP), as required.

Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water

Unregulated Contaminant Average value at EP Sampling point (ug/L) Lithium SE1 73.9 ug/L SE2 75.0 ug/L Average: 74.45 (Range: 73.9 to 75.0) Your water system monitors for a number of unregulated organic contaminants, which could indicate a contamination of the water supply from a pesticide or petroleum spill or leak.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-4264791).

Nitrates: As a precaution we notify physicians and health care providers in this area if there is ever a higher than normal level of nitrates in the water supply.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as, persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection

by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Lead Health Effects: There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.

Lead can cause serious health effects in people of all ages, especially for pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed, and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and parts used in service lines and home plumbing.

Northeast Regional Water District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in the plumbing of your home.

Because lead levels may vary over time, lead exposure is possible even when your tap sampling results do not detect lead at one point in time.

You can help protect yourself and your family by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Using a filter, certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead, is effective in reducing lead exposures. Follow the instructions provided with the filter to ensure the filter is used properly.

Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Before using tap water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, flush your pipes for several minutes.

You can do this by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. If you have a lead service line or galvanized requiring replacement service line, you may need to flush your pipes for a longer period. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact Northeast Regional Water District at 265-8503.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at https://www.epa.gov/safewater/ lead Copper Health Effects: Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress.

Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s disease should consult their personal doctor.

USEPA has recently published the Lead and Copper Rule Revision. The purpose of this revision is to strengthen public health protections by re-

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B7 moving lead service lines within public water systems. One requirement of this rule revision was to inventory all drinking water service lines within our public water system and notify consumers which type of line serves each property. You may have recently received a letter from our system with this information.

The inventory is a listing of all service lines and the material composition of each line. The types of lines being documented are Lead line, Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR) and lines made of Unknown Material.

Classification of a service line as being comprised of Unknow Service Line material indicates that our system cannot currently confirm the material of both the public and private portions of the line with written records.

Non-lead lines were also documented; however, we were not required to notify consumers with the documented nonlead lines. The classification of the type of service line serving a residence was based on historical data regarding the property and in some cases verification of the type of material on the privately owned side of the line by visual inspection or replacement records of the owner.

The current Service Line Inventory for our system has been completed and is available for viewing at our office.

Please contact Northeast Regional Water District at 265-8503 should you have any questions.

Additional work to update the service line inventory, including inspection of the line, may need to be performed to further document and confirm the type of material making up both the

public and private portions of the line serving your home or business. We will need the help of home/building owners in order to access the service line on the private side of the service line to positively identify the material of the line that carries water within your home/building. Our system may perform this work with our own system employees or we may contract with engineering firms or third party contractors to complete this work to improve our service line inventory.

The water we provide is treated with fluoride addition as a part of the water treatment process to enhance dental health. For information regarding the level of fluoride in the finished water provided to our customers, please contact our office at 265-8503 We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that some contaminants have been detected. The EPA has determined that your water IS SAFE at these levels.

Tampering with a public water system is a federal offense. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement immediately.

Please call Jeremy Schuler, Northeast Regional Water District at (701) 2658503 if you have questions concerning your water system.

Northeast Regional Water District works diligently to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future. Northeast Regional Water District is an equal opportunity employer.

Public Notices

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B8

The Borderland Press

Munich Public School Board Meeting Minutes

NOTICE OF ELECTION

The Munich Public School board meeting was called to order by Chairperson Susan Harder at 7:00 A.M.

May 13, 2025 | Unapproved Minutes

The school board members that were present: Bobby Foster, Kelly Haaven, Kelly Hall, Susan Harder, Chris Pankratz and Jason Wirth. Absent was Kelan Goeser. Also present: Robert Bubach, Curt Kram, Cindy Martin, Tim Polansky and Lois Tohm.

Bobby Foster made a motion to approve the agenda with adding executive session as per NDCC Section 4404-19.1 (9) and deleting Technology Plan. Jason Wirth seconded. Motion carried.

Bobby Foster made a motion to approve the April 8, 2025 meeting minutes. Chris Pankratz seconded. Motion carried.

Kelly Haaven made a motion to approve the bills for payment. Kelly Hall seconded. Motion carried.

MUNICH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19

prove the Graduating Class of 2025.

(Cody Amble, Colton Buchweitz, Payton Hall and Natalie Perry). Bobby Foster seconded. Motion carried.

journ the regular meeting and go into executive session per NDCC Section 44-04-19.1 (9). Bobby Foster seconded. Motion carried.

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 an annual election will be held for the purpose of electing members for the school board and whether to publish the school board minutes in the local paper or not. One “City” position and two “Rural” positions are up for re-election.

Jason Wirth made a motion to approve the review of the Enrollment of Suspended or Expelled Students Policy (FAAC), Preschool Policy (FAAE), Education of Home Schooled Students Policy (FDA), Education of Special Education/Disabled Students Policy (FDE) and the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy (FG). Chris Pankratz seconded. Motion carried.

Curt Kram, Cindy Martin and Tim Polansky left the meeting.

The election will be held at the Munich Ambulance Center. The polls shall open at 11:00 a.m. and shall remain open until 7:00 p.m.

Kelly Haaven made a motion to approve Pre-School for the school year 2025-2026. Bobby Foster seconded.

Motion carried.

Chris Pankratz made a motion to approve the resignation from Miranda Pearson for Business Teacher effective May 15, 2025. Kelly Haaven seconded. Motion carried.

Bobby Foster made a motion to approve the financial reports. Kelly Haaven seconded. Motion carried.

Jason Wirth made a motion to donate $1,000 to the TSA group for the National Convention. Bobby Foster seconded. Motion carried.

Kelly Haaven made a motion to ap-

Jason Wirth made a motion to ad-

The executive session started at 7:46 A.M. and was attended by Chris Pankratz, Jason Wirth, Bobby Foster, Susan Harder, Kelly Hall, Kelly Haaven, Robert Bubach and Lois Tohm. The executive meeting was adjourned at 8:00 A.M.

Munich Public School Special Board Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 | Unapproved Minutes

The Munich Public School special board meeting was called to order by The regular meeting was back in ses- Chairperson Susan Harder at 7:02 sion at 8:01 A.M. A.M. The school board members that were The next meeting will be held on Mon- present: Bobby Foster, Kelan Goeser, day, June 23, 2025 at 7:00 A.M. Kelly Haaven, Kelly Hall, Susan Harder, Chris Pankratz and Jason Wirth.

Chris Pankratz made a motion to ad- Also present: Robert Bubach, Curt journ at 8:05 A.M. Kelly Hall second- Kram, Tim Polansky and Lois Tohm. ed. Motion carried.

Kelly Haaven made a motion to approve the Negotiated Agreement for Respectively Submitted, the school years 2025-2026 & 2026Chairperson 2027. Kelan Goeser seconded. MoBusiness Manager tion carried.

Jason Wirth made a motion to ap-

prove a 2.5% raise for the elementary and high school principals. Kelly Hall seconded. Motion carried.

Kelly Haaven made a motion to approve a 2% raise for the ancillary staff, excluding the custodian in which he will be switched to an hourly wage.

Kelan Goeser seconded. Motion carried.

Chris Pankratz made a motion to adjourn at 7:50 A.M. Kelly Hall seconded. Motion carried.

ly let the men eat. They will shoot at them while lined up for meals, in some cases shooting holes through the boilers they have coffee in. …

There hasn’t been an hour since this thing started that there hasn’t been lead flying over us.”

expert in the manual of arms as the boys of the college.”

Respectively Submitted, Chairperson Business Manager

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: Volunteering For Duty May 30, 2025 – During the Philippine Insurrection and the Spanish American War in the late 1890s, many North Dakotans quickly volunteered for duty, and they were sent to a strange and different land in the Philippines, where they endured harsh conditions. Private William G. Lamb of Hamilton wrote this letter home a month before his death:

“We fellows came 10,700 miles looking for a scrap, and we got it, and got it good and plenteous, when it did come. We were under fire from 7:00 a.m. until sundown that evening, and since then we have been lying on the line, eating chickens and shooting all native soldiers that came within 1,000 yards range, and we have had several little skirmishes since then. …

The [enemy] sharp shooters will hard-

As with all wars, everyone did what they could to help out. This included the many women who remained

behind as the men went off to fight, taking part in activities like helping the Red Cross, which was still a relatively new organization in 1899, having been founded by Clara Barton in 1881.

But by this date in 1899, with so much already going on, some women took part in a very different way, as in this report by the Record, a monthly magazine published in Fargo: “It is not generally known that the Agricultural College [now NDSU] boasts of a battalion of young ladies, uniformed in appropriate costumes, which drills regularly with the Springfield Rifles.

The girls are a little bashful now, but it is said they are as well-drilled and as

These women may not have seen the battlefield, but they were forward thinking in their training during a time of conflict.

Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker “Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or buy the Dakota Datebook book at shopprairiepublic.org.

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B9

The Borderland Press Cont’d. From Page A2 North Dakota well-positioned to deal with proposed Medicaid changes states to redetermine the eligibility of enrolled individuals every six months, rather than annually.

on workforce solutions in the meantime if it does come to fruition after 10 years.”

“Having people revalidate whether they’re still eligible for Medicaid every six months could pose an issue for us,” Wegner said. “We already see a strain on the system with the paperwork and getting that all through, so that adds more complexity and time to it.”

Fedorchak said the policy could have led to some nursing homes shutting down in the state.

Both Blasl and Wegner said their groups have been in constant contact with N.D.’s congressional delegation and the state’s Medicaid director about what the changes could mean for the state.

Fedorchak said she will continue to work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reduce paperwork and reporting requirements burdens for N.D. healthcare providers and that this is “top of mind going forward.”

Staffing requirement moratorium One positive for long-term care facilities coming out of the bill, according to Wegner, includes a moratorium on implementing a Biden administration rule requiring facilities to meet minimum staffing levels for registered nurses and total nursing staff hours per day.

“It would be impossible for them to meet that mandate,” she said. “It’s out of touch with the conditions on the ground in many states, especially North Dakota, and rather than improving care, it would have significantly decreased the quality of care, because it would have reduced access substantially.”

Only 13% of N.D. residents are insured under Medicaid.

The largest group is those in nursing homes, at 53% of all Medicaid recipients in the state, but these would not be impacted by the new work requirements or other aspects of the bill.

Little provider tax impact One reason N.D. is unlikely to see widespread impacts is because it does not participate in the provider tax system for hospitals and long-term care facilities, institutions serving the majority of Medicaid patients

This rule was going to be difficult for facilities in N.D. to meet due to workforce challenges.

Some states use the provider tax system to create an additional funding stream to cover Medicaid costs at those facilities, with the federal government matching that revenue at a certain rate.

“That’s a really good win,” Wegner said. “It gives us some breathing room so that we can continue to work

New rules basically restrict expansion of the rates states already get and do not allow more states to use the sys-

Cont’d. From Page A3 Forage Matters: Are you moving forward? of a 100-acre grazing area, the stocking rate would be one acre/cow. Typically, if high stock density is applied to an area, recovery time needs to be adjusted based on grazing intensity and plant species.

The approach to implementing grazing management can be holistic, regenerative or common sense, but with all these strategies, the outcome should be that you are moving forward. "Moving forward" means that improvements are made to the system as a whole over time. All these approaches are not just about forage management as they have impacts and ripple effects throughout the entire operation. Animal and plant production, soil health, water quality and economics all should be moving forward.

Are we moving forward? Yes, we are.

There are many more tools for grazing managers to use now than a decade ago. Fencing systems have improved, and virtual fencing is a major step forward that opens many land manage-

ment doors. Tools for monitoring and establishing baselines have become easier to use. Grazing management information has never been more abundant, but there are still issues.

Soil erosion is still a problem and may even be increasing as we look across the landscape. We still have dust storms. Forage supply and animal demand can be mismatched.

Keep moving forward. There is no one-size-fits-all grazing management approach. Hopefully, you will notice how frequently the word "management" is used in this column. All these approaches have to be managed and tweaked based on the individual's land management goals and needs.

Commonality exists across these approaches; each can be a valuable tool to keep land management moving forward.

James Rogers is a North Dakota State University Extension forage crops production specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center near Minot, N.D.

tem, meaning N.D. could not adopt provider taxes backed by federal guarantees going forward if the change survives the Senate.

“We don’t have a provider tax, but you know, we may be limited going forward in the future, and that’s a concern of ours,” Blasl said. “We’ve had that discussion in the state over the years, but it’s just something that’s never been implemented.”

Areas with higher coverage rates One aspect that bears watching is how hospitals and health facilities in parts of the state with the highest Medicaid coverage rates are impacted by any changes and future cuts.

Howard Miller, president and CEO of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform out of Pittsburgh, said many small rural hospitals across the country are under pressure to eliminate services or close. Around 200 rural hospitals have closed in the past two decades.

His organization estimates that five rural hospitals in N.D. are at high risk of closure, while 11 are at some risk.

Future Medicaid cuts could increase pressure on those with tight budgets, Miller said.

“If there is a reduction in Medicaid and there’s a reduction in Medicaid revenues to that hospital, then if the hospital is already losing money, the hospital is going to be worse off,” Miller said.

“The issue is whether or not whatever is done at the federal level to Medic-

aid actually results in a reduction in Medicaid revenues to the hospital, and that’s going to be dependent on what the state does, and dependent on what kinds of services the hospital delivers,” Miller said.

The highest rates for enrollment in the state include Sioux County, where upwards of 40% of all residents rely on Medicaid for their healthcare coverage. Rolette County, with 36% and Benson County, with 33% also have high rates.

All three of these areas are counties that include tribal lands - the reservations of Standing Rock in Sioux, Turtle Mountain in Rolette, and Spirit Lake in Benson - and those numbers are reflected in local hospital data as well.

The final version of the bill passed by the House includes an exemption for tribal members on Medicaid to comply with the work requirement rule, however, limiting potential impacts to local hospitals.

Presentation Medical Center in Rolla has around 30% of patients on Medicaid, the highest rate for any hospital in the state. This is followed by St. Alexius Health in Devils Lake, with 24.5% of patients using Medicaid. Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center, just north of Standing Rock, has a 12% rate of Medicaid patients, putting it at the sixth highest.

All three facilities are currently losing money on Medicaid patients.

Most hospitals across the state are not exposed to potential losses of patients covered by Medicaid, however.

Reed Reyman, who oversees St. Alexius hospitals in Bismarck and Turtle Lake, about an hour’s drive north, said overall the state does an “excellent job” ensuring funding is used correctly and rooting out fraud. Medicaid patients only amount to around 5% or less at these facilities.

“Some of the stuff that is coming out of the federal government, I don’t think will affect us, at least right now,” Reyman said. “Of course, there’s always the fear of any cuts. Everybody’s afraid of cuts, but we’re not hearing anything specific right now.”

Reyman said his biggest fear, looking across the country, is people in inner cities or low-income people who need care potentially losing coverage or removing themselves from care.

“Whenever you hit Medicaid, those are the people forced to go to the emergency room for care, and then a lot of times they don’t get the care they need, or they wait a long time and or they just don’t go get the care,” he said.

The North Dakota News Cooperative is a non-profit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state.

For more information about NDNC or to make a charitable contribution, please visit newscoopnd.org.

Friday, May 30, 2025 - Page B10

The Borderland Press

Views from the Borderland Beauty by Bailey

A pelican soars above the water at Icelandic State Park. Photo by Bailey Schrader.

A rock dove sits in the grass waiting for a snack in Bailey’s backyard.

Photo by Bailey Schrader.

A squirrel scampers along the ground at Icelandic State Park. Photo by Bailey Schrader.

Birds flock to a feeder for some seeds. Photo by Bailey Schrader.

A crow caws in Langdon as spring arrives. Photo by Bailey Schrader.

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: Buying Absaraka June 4, 2025 – As rural populations have dwindled in the 21st century, reports of entire towns for sale have tempted people with utopian ideas and deep pockets. In the past five years, the towns of Swett and Scenic, South Dakota were both up for sale for a few hundred thousand dollars each. In 2013, the lone resident of Buford, Wyoming sold the town for just under a million dollars.

On this date in 1917, the Bismarck Tribune reported that two pieces of property had recently changed hands.

George W. Humphrey had traveled through Absaraka, North Dakota, and he liked the town so much he made a deal to trade his farm near Pingree, North Dakota for the entire town, all land and buildings included.

Absaraka had been established along

the Great Northern railroad in 1882, Eben Chaffee developed the town to support the workers and business operations of his bonanza farm. Chaffee's Amenia and Sharon Land Company put up houses, an elevator, and commercial buildings. Unfortunately, by the time Humphrey offered to trade for the town, the largest of the bonanza farms were shrinking, and the small towns that had benefited

from the bonanza days were feeling the impact.

shop and one of the first automobile dealerships in North Dakota.

George Humphrey's utopian fantasies of buying an entire town and ruling it like Czar Nicholas, as the Tribune article speculated, failed to come together. The Cass County Register of Deeds has no record of Absaraka transferring to Mr. Humphreys.

Today, although much smaller than when Staples or Nilson owned the town, Absaraka is still on the map, a handful of houses along the railroad tracks in central Cass County.

However, for most of the early 20th century, there actually had been a single majority owner of the town.

William Staples founded Absaraka’s first general store in the late 1890s, but by 1912 he had expanded to also own the elevator, lumber yard, and coal business. When Staples retired, most of his assets were sold to Nils Nilson, who added more businesses and buildings, including a blacksmith

Dakota Datebook written by Derek Dahlsad “Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or buy the Dakota Datebook book at shopprairiepublic.org.

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