The Borderland Press, V4, N14, Friday, April 11

PNC GRIZZLIES COMPETE IN GRAND FORKS

The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com

In this issue:

Friday, April 11, 2025

Volume 4, Number 14

There’s no place like home Missoula Children’s Theatre visits St. Alphonsus School, features production within a week

Photos by Larry Stokke.

On Friday, April 4, students at St. Alphonsus School hosted two performances of the classic tale, The Wizard of Oz. The production came together within one week with the help of the Missoula Children’s Theatre group.

Ag: Trade wars add stress to North Dakota’s $41 billion ag economy, Pg. A3

The Missoula Children’s Theatre is a mobile group that tours from school to school to organize live theatre performances. Their work is vital for smaller schools, which may not be able to offer a theatre program. The students have a week of rehearsals before they put on two live shows for the public.

Community: It was a fun Tuesday at PNC last week, Pg. A5

Views from the Borderland: Local art students receive creative surprises, Pg. B6

Weather Apr. 11

Apr. 12

Apr. 13

62/39

55/38

45/32

Cast of characters: Dorothy: SariAnn McDonald Tin Man: Gunnar Simpson Lion: Tristan Thompson Toto: Lynkyn Hope The Professor/Wizard: Aiden Chaput The Green Guard: Mason Hansel Wicked Witch: Ellis Meidinger Glinda: Myla Domres Mayor Munchkin: Owen Plummer Farmer Munchkin: Adalynn Boardman Illusionists: Wesley Meidinger, Eliel Janis, Noah Nelson, Parker Domres, Ryker Domres, Malachi Economy, Bohdyn Hope, Raiden Wagner, Kenastyn Pritchard, Elin Hinnenkamp Munchkins: Avie Anderson, Klai Mon-

son, Andrea Finnson, Edwin Meidinger, Crosby Almen, Shayne Summerfield, Zoe Economy, Maxton Almen, Conner Gustafson, Kayden Matilla Kalidahs: Callen Hinnenkamp, Cartyr Hope, Reese Wagner, Auri McGauvran, Abigail Boardman, Nadiya Hope, McKenlee Benoit, Nora Plummer, Tucker Domres, Elizabeth Simpson, Wyatt Crump, Hudson Hansel Sprouts: Reece McGauvran, Huxley Almen, Emmett Hansel, Lila Bryant, Odin Balsdon, Lawson Crump, Alex Boardman, Cabri Domres, Jazzlyn Economy, Amelia Mostoller, Dylan Finnson

Borderland Beauties take the stage for the North Dakota State Pageant

By Rebecca Davis On Sunday, April 6,18 contestants took the stage at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks, N.D. to compete for the title of Mrs. North Dakota America, Mrs. North Dakota American and Miss North Dakota for America Strong 2025, along with Junior Queen titles in each age division.

lotte Krogfoss, Junior Miss for Thompson Little Miss for North Dakota- Sydalee Bry, Little Miss for Bismarck 2025 Runners Up: Mrs. North Dakota America - Tara Emerson, Mrs. Pumpkinfest Teen Miss for North Dakota McKenzie Azure, Teen Miss for Dunseith Junior Teen for North Dakota - Mia Whitmore, Junior Teen for Bismarck Junior Miss for North Dakota- Isla Emerson, Junior Miss for Pembina County

The pageant is co-directed by Michael and Meg Morley of Grand Forks, N.D., who own and operate Forevermorley Productions, LLC. 2025 Title Winners: Mrs. North Dakota America- Dana Henry, Mrs. Capital City Mrs. North Dakota American- Marissa Sanders, Mrs. Renville County Miss North Dakota for America StrongDeserae Wanner, Miss Bismarck Teen Miss for North Dakota- Natalie Lund, Teen Miss for Red River Valley Junior Teen for North Dakota- Rorie Christenson, Junior Teen for Grand Forks Junior Miss for North Dakota- CharIsla Emerson sporting her state costume. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

Little Miss for North Dakota - Corbynn Corbit, Little Miss Pumpkinfest Corbynn Corbit, Little Miss Pumpkinfest, was the winner of the Forevermorley Fabulous Face Contest, hosted on the Pageant Planet website.

The contest invited friends, family, and supporters to vote for their favorite contestants, with proceeds benefiting charitable causes.

Fifty percent of the funds raised through the contest will be donated to Corbit’s chosen charity, the Northlands Rescue Mission Backpack Program, which provides food for children in need over weekends and school breaks. The remaining fifty percent will be donated to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, the pageant’s official philanthropy. As part of her win, Corbit received a beautiful necklace and a trophy, in addition to the honor of making a meaningful impact through her advocacy.

Judge’s Choice Awards: Overall- Natalie Lund Photogenic- Mia Whitmore Interview Attire- Natalie Lund

State Costume- Zoey Sveen, Junior Miss Pumpkinfest Activewear- Mia Whitmore Swimwear- Dana Henry Evening Gown- Charlotte Krogfoss “My experience at the Mrs. North Dakota pageant was truly incredible.

The weekend was seamlessly organized, and the directors, production staff, and volunteers created a stressfree atmosphere that allowed us to shine. The women I competed with are change-makers in their communities, and I admire their courage and commitment to making a difference.

As Mrs. North Dakota America, I plan to continue promoting volunteerism across the state through my platform, GIVE (Get Involved in Volunteer Efforts), and advocating for essential funding, research, and community support for families facing pediatric cancer through Brave the Shave,” shared Henry. cont’d. on page B8

United Communications to host free tech training event for smartphone users at Senior Center United Communications is excited to announce a special Tech Training for Your Phone session hosted in collaboration with the Langdon Senior Center.

This free event will take place on April 16 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at the Langdon Senior Center, located at 211 8th Ave, Langdon. It’s a unique

opportunity for seniors and community members to get hands-on assistance with their smartphones and other devices.

What to expect: • Expert guidance: Matt Geddes, United Communications' Information Services Supervisor, will be providing a Q&A session to answer all your

tech-related questions.

• Personalized help: Attendees are encouraged to bring their smartphones and ask about any features, settings, or troubleshooting issues.

“Our goal is to empower the community by helping them feel confident using their technology,” said Geddes.

“For many seniors, smartphones can feel overwhelming, but with a little

guidance, they can become tools for connection and independence.”

This Q&A event is free to attend, and no pre-registration is required. The Senior Center’s popular roast beef lunch will be available for purchase with service starting at 12 PM (includes roast beef, green beans, potatoes with gravy, and dessert). For

more information, call 256-2828.

Whether you’re curious about optimizing your smartphone experience, looking to learn new features, or simply hoping to connect with your community, this event promises to be both informative and enjoyable. Don’t miss it!

News

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A2

The Borderland Press

Soaring forward together

School Board approves final proposal for renovations at Langdon Elementary, High School

By Daren Christianson, Superintendent

By Nick Vorlage

The Langdon Area School Board voted unanimously to present a referendum to the district voters. The referendum will ask voters to consider new funding for deferred maintenance, remodeling for safety purposes, improving learning environments, and increasing learning space at both the elementary and middle/high school.

The ballot for the referendum will take place on June 10 at the Langdon Area High School commons in parallel with our general school board election.

A Walhalla man made his initial appearance in Walsh County Court on Monday and was charged with child endangerment and drug paraphernalia possession. According to court records, Brian Laporte, 45, was pulled over on the evening of March 21 after officers noted his truck did not have operating rear tail lights and was not displaying correct tags.

Officers said he was driving with a juvenile as a passenger. Speaking with Laporte, officers claimed he admitted to having used methamphetamine multiple times earlier that day, had been in possession of the narcotics with the juvenile present, and was able to produce the paraphernalia used to smoke the meth.

The school board has been working diligently to develop the best plan possible for the district. This was done by gathering feedback from students, staff and community members. It also included multiple assessments of infrastructure and learning environments by industry professionals.

While assessing needs, the building envelope, such as roofing and exterior doors, were prioritized to maintain the longevity of our buildings. Building safety and comfortable learning environments were also identified as priorities by internal and external stakeholders.

The district is committed to transparency on how this plan was developed, the reason for it, and how it will impact students, staff, and the community. More details will be shared over the next two months.

The district will host public meetings

Walhalla man makes initial appearance

Alongside the previously mentioned charges, which are both considered Class C felonies, Laporte is also charged with driving under suspension, a Class B misdemeanor. A status conference has been scheduled for May 5.

Missouri man makes initial This blueprint shows renovations and additions, particularly the new gym, safe and secure drop off loop, and additional parking at the elementary school which will be included in the referendum during the June 10 elections. appearance and share digital and print media. As cifics of this plan with any constituent hesitate to reach out at 701-256always, I am glad to discuss the spe-

who would like to visit. Please do not

North Dakota 4-H members score sizable catches at ice fishing derby

North Dakota 4-H members embraced the winter season in February with the return of the 4-H Ice Fishing Derby. This event engages youth in the 4-H Sportfishing program, allowing youth to enjoy quality time on the ice in a mentored fishing tournament.

The 4-H Ice Fishing Derby is a virtual tournament where youth fish alongside an adult on any legal fishing water in N.D. Participants submit their catches using an online system for statewide involvement. During the 2025 event, 53 youth participated, catching 63 fish from four species found in N.D.’s lakes and rivers.

This year’s tournament included sizable catches in walleye, northern pike, crappie and perch divisions. The 2025 species winners are the following: Walleye 1st Place: Jaxon Meidinger – 28” 2nd Place: Landon Hohertz – 27” 3rd Place: Mason Stober – 21.5” Northern pike 1st Place: Adam Krapp – 31” 2nd Place: McKinley Meidinger – 27.75” 3rd Place: Kyler Wild – 27.5” Stringer of three perch (total length) 1st Place: Adam Krapp – 36” 2nd Place: Thomas Bender – 33.5” 3rd Place: Landon Hohertz – 32.5” Stringer of three panfish (total length) 1st Place: Adam Krapp – 36.5” 2nd Place: Kiana Serr – 31.5”

Adam Krapp won three species divisions. (NDSU photo)

This annual event strives to foster a love for fishing, outdoor recreation and conservation among 4-H members while promoting mentorship and hands-on learning experiences.

5291.

DST put to bed

By Nick Vorlage

The North Dakota Senate on Monday put to bed a bill which had looked to eliminate the practice of Daylight Savings Time in N.D. Back in January, Bill 1259 had passed through the House on a vote of 55 in favor, 37 opposed. Once arriving in the Senate, amendments were added, saying the bill would go into effect AFTER the US Congress authorized the change and neighboring Minn., M.T., and S.D. also compiled with moving to Standard Time.

Because of this, however, lawmakers concluded there wasn’t any point in trying to pass legislation at this time.

The final vote was 15 in favor, 32 opposed.

Incoming call

By Nick Vorlage

The North Dakota Senate has reconsidered their April 4 decision on House Bill 1160, one of the bills which looked to remove cell phones from classrooms. On that date, the Senate defeated the bill but after new consideration, approved it on April 7 with a vote of 42-4.

A second similar bill in the North Dakota House, Senate Bill 2354, was also approved by a final vote of 61-29 on Monday. It’s expected a conference committee will be called to combine both pieces of legislation.

By Nick Vorlage

A man from Gilman City, Mo., made his initial appearance in Pembina County Court on April 7 for a series of alleged offenses carried out in Drayton.

According to court records, on the evening of March 29, David Ray Gamble, 29, got into an altercation with a person he was dating while the two were residing at a motel within Drayton. Officials commented that the victim had visible injuries to their head and neck. The victim had attempted to call 911, but Gamble allegedly took their phone.

Law enforcement was eventually contacted in regards to the assault, and the victim was transported to Grafton for their injuries. Gamble, meanwhile, was located on Highway 66 near the Love’s gas station, where he was detained and arrested.

Gamble faces two Class-C felonies: domestic violence – serious bodily injury and interfering with an emergency call. He also faces the Class-B misdemeanor of driving under suspension, alcohol related; and a pair of Class-A misdemeanors, of DUI and DUI refusal, both being his 3rd offense in the last seven years.

A preliminary hearing for Gamble has been set for June 2.

Agriculture

The Borderland Press

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A3

Trump trade wars add stress to North Dakota’s $41 billion ag economy Uncertainty over tariffs weighs on long-term market outlooks

By Michael Standaert, North Dakota News Cooperative

Decision on trade-related assistance is ‘months away’ – After a White House briefing, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said there may be short-term uncertainty for U.S. farmers and ranchers, but they will see long-term benefits from an America First agenda. Later, during an interview on FOX, Rollins was asked about the possibility of trade-related assistance. “The last time, under Secretary (Sonny) Perdue, it was decided maybe four to six months later that, in fact some of those farmers were hurt in the short term, so we are looking at that,” said Rollins. “We will be prepared for it when it is time, but listen, that’s months away. Right now, we’re letting the President negotiate on behalf of the American people and believe that we will see, in very short order, some real positive change.”

NAWG leader announces departure – The National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule will step down from his role in July after nine years of leading the organiza-

tion. Goule cited NAWG’s victory in the Prop 65 case against California as one of his proudest accomplishments. The case successfully challenged labeling requirements that would have placed warning labels on wheat products due to glyphosate concerns. NAWG President Pat Clements expressed appreciation for Goule’s service, stating the association is “deeply grateful for his leadership and dedication to the wheat industry.”

Ranck reinstated – Heather Ranck is being reinstated as the director of the National Rural Export Center in Fargo. In a joint statement, N.D. Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer said they worked with the Commerce Department on Ranck’s return. Ranck was assigned to a different role within the Commerce Department after filing a whistleblower complaint over the management of the International Trade Administration. Hoeven and Cramer praised Ranck for supporting agriculture and manufacturers in N.D. and beyond.

NDFU supports congressional oversight of trade tariffs

The Trade Review Act of 2025 would limit presidential power to impose tariffs North Dakota Farmers Union this week announced its support of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that would limit the power of the president to implement trade tariffs without congressional approval. The Trump Administration’s widespread implementation of tariffs last week has already caused a significant drop in the price of several crops.

“North Dakota will be hardest hit by these tariffs,” said North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne.

“North Dakota farmers and ranchers rely heavily on strong export markets and are especially vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs.”

If enacted, The Trade Review Act of 2025 would restore congressional authority over tariffs as outlined in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing limits on a president’s power to impose tariffs. It would require the

president to notify Congress of tariff action within 48 hours, which then gives Congress 60 days to pass a joint resolution of approval. If disapproved, the tariff would end.

Watne said restoring Congress’s authority over tariffs would promote more orderly and thoughtful trade policies. “This administration’s approach to tariffs has created a huge amount of confusion and uncertainty.

We need Congress to step up and exercise its constitutional authority.”

The long-term damage done to relationships with trading partners is of equal concern to farmers, Watne said.

“If we don’t take a more deliberate approach to our trade relationships, we will no longer be a trusted partner and buyers will go elsewhere. That means farmers will get paid less over longer periods of time for the products we export.”

North Dakota Game and Fish updates Summer Workshop for Educators The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is sponsoring Pollinators in the Classroom, a professional development workshop for educators.

Pollinators in the Classroom will be held June 10-11 at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck. The workshop will explore pollinators, what they are, where they live, life cycles, importance, and how you can make a difference. It will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, and incorporate discussion of classroom and curriculum integration.

Students will receive a copy of the ‘Urban Pollinator Program Curriculum,’ and should be prepared for walking field trips in the area. All materials are included.

The course is suitable for k-12 educators.

For more information contact curriculum specialist Sherry Niesar at 701527-3714 or sniesar@nd.gov.

Earth Day Patch Contest Winners The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced the winners of the 2025 Earth Day Patch Contest. Over 1,600 students from 100 schools entered this year’s contest.

Winners in four age categories are

Lies said trade barriers, restrictions, quotas and non-tariff trade barriers from trading partners like China and others seriously need to be addressed and corrected.

Tryg Klindworth, Beulah (K-3); Mariah Achtenberg, White Shield (4-6); Jazmin Vasquez, Minot Bishop Ryan (7-9), and Brielle Volk, Mohall (1012). Achtenberg’s design was chosen as the overall winner and will be made into the 2025 Earth Day patch.

Youth and adults who participate in cleaning up public lands receive the 2025 patch to celebrate Earth Day and their service. Projects that qualify for the Earth Day patch include refuse pick-up on local, state or federal properties and landscaping on public property including planting trees, bushes and pollinator plants.

Groups participating in the service projects are encouraged to take the following precautions to ensure their safety: keep young people away from highways, lakes and rivers and only allow older participants to pick up broken glass or sharp objects.

Participants are asked to contact Sherry Niesar at 701-527-3714 or sniesar@nd.gov to receive a patch.

Trump tariffs in 2018 targeting China also impacted N.D.’s ag sector, but Watne said the situation is different now.

The U.S. made a commitment to farmers to offset those losses at the time, he said, but because the tariffs were implemented, China was able to diversify its trade arrangements and reduce reliance on U.S. agriculture.

Corn harvest at a farm near Mapleton, N.D. during the autumn of 2024. Farmers await further news of how the trade war will impact them if tariffs against Canada and Mexico go into effect.

Photo By Sabrina Halvorson, NDNC CEO.

Farmers are preparing for a one-two punch as trade threats and tariffs by the second Trump administration lead to higher costs and diminishing markets.

While potential tariffs of 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico have again been delayed, a current 10% tariff on Chinese imports led China to target U.S. agricultural goods with a 10% tariff on soybeans and a 15% charge on corn.

In response to Trump administration tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from the European Union, the EU countered with tariffs of its own, including raising levies on American beef and poultry.

Export reliance means bigger exposure “North Dakota gets hit hard,” Mark Watne, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union and a farmer himself, said of how tariffs impact the state.

“We export the vast majority of what we produce.”

Watne pointed to a study released

by North Dakota State University in January that details how important the agriculture sector is for the state, contributing roughly one-fourth of the state’s economy.

The sector generates a gross business volume of over $41 billion annually, with $25 billion of that from production and another $16 billion in transport, processing, manufacturing and commodity handling. It also contributes $10 billion in labor income and supports over 123,000 jobs.

According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, the state exported $5.4 billion in agricultural products in 2023, making it the ninth-largest agricultural-exporting state in the country.

“Farmers will lose money, so this is an extremely negative thing for us, even when it is just a threat or even if it is short term,” Watne said of tariffs and tariff threats.

Watne remarked that tariffs and threats lead longtime trade partners like China, Canada and Mexico to adjust their own trade away from U.S. farm products, making them less reliant and reducing markets for N.D. farmers.

Greg Lardy, vice president for agriculture affairs at NDSU, and who was raised on a farm and ranch in southwestern N.D., said it is hard to generalize about the impacts since there’s so much uncertainty with some of the potential tariffs taking effect.

“Because of our dependence on export markets, I think there's a general concern about what the tariffs might mean for the long term,” Lardy said.

“Especially as you think about relationships that have been built with

Health Tip

Provided by Cavalier County Health District Apr 11 - Everyone 65+ and those with weakened immune systems should get a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months after their last dose to stay protected against severe illness from COVID-19.

trading partners. Those relationships have been built over years and years and years of work to get products into certain markets,” Lardy said.

Agriculture commissioner Doug Goehring, who also farms near Menoken, said it is hard to tell what the impacts will be since there’s so much uncertainty right now, but added that the N.D. agriculture economy is very integrated with both Canada and Mexico.

Besides the tracked $5 billion in export sales the USDA numbers show, Goehring said there’s another $7 billion in agricultural trade that doesn’t always get accounted for in the trade statistics.

“Almost $4 billion is Canada alone,” Goehring said of the cross-border trade. Some of that is manufacturing, services, parts and supplies, and a lot is integrated between companies on both sides of the U.S.-Canada dividing line, he said.

“Sometimes I think what's lost on the consuming public is trade is not a short-term type of issue. It's a longterm goal. It's all about relationships, and it takes time to establish those relationships,” Goehring said.

“You can’t just replace the market, you can’t just go someplace else,” he said.

Domestic fallback not an option One suggestion President Donald Trump made recently was for American farmers to focus on selling products domestically if the full tariffs go into effect.

“You know, that sounds fine and dandy, except if you realize that we are a country with a surplus. So that's really not an option,” Goehring said. “Yeah, we'll sell all we can to whoever will buy it. But when you got a surplus, you got an issue, and that's going to be a big problem.”

Daryl Lies, president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, who also farms and raises hogs, sheep and goats, said trade negotiations and tariff threats aim to address trade inequality and the trade deficit, and he said most farmers understand this.

“Obviously, farmers want a price. They want the trade. They know that leveling that trade playing field is important to the price, long-term,” Lies said.

“I think for the most part, many of them are willing to take a little shortterm pain in the marketplace if we can get to that point that there’s a negotiation at the end of the day to level the trade playing field,” he said.

Trade corrections needed

Those 2018 tariffs cost U.S. ag over $27 billion, with large annualized losses for the soybean industry. At the time a lot of North Dakota soybeans were going to Asia.

Lardy said one positive development that will reduce the impact on soybean growers in North Dakota this time is the adding of two soybean crushing plants in the years since those 2018 tariffs.

“We’re not as dependent on that market now,” Lardy said.

Goehring said he hoped trade threats and negotiations could lead to China adhering to its trade agreements with the U.S. and for Canada and Mexico to address non-tariff trade barriers in its agreements, but that tariffs eventually aren’t good for consumers in any of these countries.

“Countries don't pay tariffs. Consumers pay tariffs. It's a tax,” Goehring said.

Lies also said that the decline of China’s population should lead U.S. farmers to look for other markets so they are less reliant and impacted by decisions from Beijing.

China’s population decreased in each of the past three years, with a 1.39 million decline just in the past year.

Plummeting birth rates in China, as well as South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong, also point to a gradual reduction in agricultural trade volume with East Asia over time.

Don’t go it alone With the uncertainty over tariffs, markets and potential higher costs, Lardy recommended farmers should be in close contact with their marketing professionals at this time and monitor closely whether markets open up.

Lardy also mentioned that because of the added stress, farmers should be closely managing their own well-being.

“From a mental health standpoint, if they’re feeling financial pressures here, in addition to working with their lenders, they really need to be in tune with mental health professionals and the services that are available,” Lardy said.

“Whenever you have the financial stress that’s involved in these things, if you internalize that too long, it’s never good,” 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.

Opinion

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A4

The Borderland Press

Letter from the Publisher

Shrek The Musical, Jr. was presented at the Performing Arts Center at Grafton Century last weekend. I toodled on over to check it out and to see my 7th grade granddaughter, Sam, play a young Fiona. There she was up on the stage singing her heart out, a solo even! This pic-

ture is early in the play when she was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. I couldn’t have been prouder.

this could be that! I know the car wash has been quite busy. No further discussion, I don’t want to jinx it!

This humorous musical was presented by 6th, 7th and 8th graders, and they really knew their stuff. There was a time or two when I had to look at the program to confirm they were that young, because they often presented much older. The costumes were amazing; a special shoutout goes to Lord Farquaad who had the entire audience cracking up at every appearance. Oh, and that donkey! Kudos to the school’s music department for a grand performance!

Last weekend I mentioned an upcoming vacation. As this issue of The Borderland Press hits your mailbox, I’ll be sunning myself on a white sandy beach in Florida. Okay, donning shorts and swimsuit for the first time in the spring is always a bit daunting, but one has to move past that and just enjoy the scenery, food, drink, shopping and so much more. (We used to have a dog that would bark at my white legs early in the summer.) I’ll bring you up to speed on the events next week, unless I forget I have a job and forget to email Hilary. There’s a chance….

Dare I mention this thing that seems to be/could be/might be spring? I don’t know! We’re easily tricked, and

It’s prom weekend! I look forward to seeing all the pics on social media, I’ll gasp at the beautiful young faces, wondering how that person can be old enough to go to prom! And the dresses…they’re so fun to admire - not like the dress I wore to prom ‘back in the day’ as that Ender kid says. Mine was homemade, modest, and I borrowed shoes from a friend. Cringe!

Anyway, have a great week, maybe even take a walk! Or stop in at Sip Happens and give Bob a little crap as he runs the place without me!

Diane Simmons

Publisher publisher@theborderlandpress.com

Letter from the Editor: seed like crazy, and this is the first year I’ve had two feeders. I’m not sure the official name of the bird, but they look like little finches with black backs and white bellies, and they have been bombarding the free food source. I’m showing my age, but man, I love just staring at them around the feeders. I can’t wait to be outside to hear their songs when warmer weather actually makes an appearance.

It’s been another beautiful and brisk week here in the Borderland region. I’m happy to report that plenty of my flowers are sprouting (indoors, of course), and I’m proud of the assortment I should have ready for my front yard.

Every Thursday, I go out with Grandpa for coffee with his hoodlum friends at Farmers Union here in Langdon.

My dice shaking skills were obviously lacking last Thursday, as I got caught with the coffee bill! You’re very welcome to the eight gentlemen I picked up the tab for.

I’ve already been going through bird

After paying for everyone’s coffee

on Thursday, Friday saw me packing my bags for a weekend trip to Grand Forks. Rebecca’s daughter, Amelia, was competing in a pageant, as you may have noticed from the front page, and I tagged along as her personal hair and make-up stylist.

Fun fact about me - my mom, who lives in Tennessee, has been a cosmetologist all of her life. This means I spent a large part of my childhood in beauty salons, and watching the women work always fascinated me.

I even got a little side gig where for each station I swept, I was paid a quarter. This was quite the deal for a 10-year-old me!

Aside from working my little part-time job in the salons where my mom was, I was eventually gifted a mannequin

head upon which I could learn to cut and style hair on my own! Mom taught me simple trims and how to cut layers. I also learned to do different styles and up-dos with beautiful curls.

Throughout high school and college, I was always happy to be that friend to help others get ready and glammed up for special events and nights out.

Nothing much has changed now that I’m in my 30’s, except my friends have kids I can work my magic on. Amelia and all of the other gals did fantastic at the pageant, and I’m so proud of them!

Hilary Nowatski Editor

editor@theborderlandpress.com

The Morning Stroll and Cuppa Joe: I know how I got here many others, learned early on how to effectively manage those fears.

I grew up in the fifties and sixties, when Nikita Khrushchev threatened to annihilate the United States with an atomic bomb. In school we were shown movies about how to survive in a fallout shelter. There were three designated shelters in our town.” Excerpt from “I Know How I Got Here” by Vonnie Johnson, Family Nurse Practitioner.

By Sara Goodman “We often had psychiatric patients for whom there was no information or medical history available. There was the hostile, combative, schizophrenic patient; the paranoid and hallucinating methamphetamine user; or alcoholics found wandering around outside with nowhere to go because their families wouldn’t allow them back in the house. All were brought to the hospital, and we would admit them. These situations kept things very challenging. Was I frightened in these situations? Of course I was, but I, like

Last week, I threw my mom under the bus about her decision to get a puppy. This week I’m redeeming myself by giving you a little insight into her newly published book. Yes, my mom wrote a book, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Writing a book is a long, arduous process, and hers was especially so because in the midst of writing it she retired, turned 70, had breast cancer, and endured two back surgeries along with all the other general life ups and downs and busyness.

When I was a kid, I remember my mom sleeping during the day after working a night shift as a RN at the local hospital and my siblings and I tiptoeing

around the house and whispering so we didn’t wake her up. We often just went outside so we didn’t get in trouble. When I was in junior high and early high school, my mom went back to school to get her master’s in rural health. A few nights a week she trekked up to Williston, which was about a 45-minute drive, to attend her classes. If she wasn’t taking care of us, she would be studying or writing papers. A few years after I left for college, my mom was back in college, too, graduating from the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program at the University of Mary in 1999.

After several years of working at various clinics in Watford City and the surrounding area, my mom and a fellow FNP colleague opened and operated their own clinic for almost 8 years until my mom finally decided to hang up her stethoscope and thermometer.

My mom now enjoys full retirement except when I call and ask about the most recent ailment someone might be suffering in my household. My mom still has all her reference books and 54 years of experience and knowledge tucked away, patiently lis-

tening to my explanations of the latest problem and giving me advice on how to handle it.

My mom’s book is a look back at how her career in healthcare got started, as well as how she gained the confidence to start a health center as a nurse practitioner. Along the way she balanced family and work and faced numerous challenges from doctors and patients questioning her competence to the basics of running a business. Her stories are sometimes funny and sometimes shocking, and overall, the book is a glimpse of my mom’s personality, which probably isn’t very different from mine.

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.

If you’re interested in reading it, you can borrow my copy or find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Do me a favor - the next time you’re in the clinic, hospital, nursing home or public health office, thank a nurse or two. They’re the real MVPs. 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

Stupid things I’ll NEVER do again Pt. 6: Stand-up comedy

By Bob Simmons, CEO, Simmons Multimedia The older one gets, the more the years seem to blur and run together.

I think it was maybe 1981 or 1982 when I was hosting the morning show on radio station WARE, which was located in central Massachusetts. A lot of terrific and legendary broadcasters passed through those doors. One of my buddies was Carl

Beane, who went on to work for ESPN and up until his untimely death in 2012, was the stadium announcer for the Boston Red Sox. Carl, or ‘Rocky’ as we called him, was always egging me on to do something crazy on-air or in public. I told him that I wanted to try stand-up comedy, and before I knew it, I had my chance. You see, Rocky shared my desire with Al Roberts who owned the radio station. Al was always selling, advertising, and cooking up hair-brained promotions.

One advertiser agreed to purchase some ads on the station with the understanding that a staff announcer would be on hand to introduce the entertainers on a given night at his establishment. I should now tell you that the advertiser was a strip club called ‘The Magic Lantern’ in Palmer, Mass. This was my chance! It was planned that I would introduce the exotic dancers, and in between their sets, I would have the chance to try out my standup comedy act on the

patrons. Picture a room full of guys drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating bacon burgers while watching strippers. What could possibly go wrong? A few days before my debut, Rocky and I came up with the idea for my persona for the ‘adults only’ routine, and Ernie the Three Legged Clown was born!

bly. The shoe (an old work boot) was simply screwed to the ‘arm’ of the L. The material to cover the entire contraption was simply the leg from an old pair of Levis found in Mum-z’s old clothes hamper. The third leg worked perfectly when I tried it on in Dad’s downstairs workshop/lab. Dad was proud of his son and happy to help.

HER car was going to be parked at a strip club! Talk to your father, she said. She handed Dad the phone, and he immediately said, “No problem, my boy! You can borrow my car, just have it back so I can get to work in the morning.” I breathed a sigh of relief. The grand debut of Ernie the Three Legged Clown was still on!

I didn’t have much time to prepare.

My wife at the time, we’ll just call her the crazy-X, was quite supportive of the idea, because I was to be paid $50 under the table for my services, mind you a paltry sum, but it was understood she would reap the proceeds from my labors. I got to be a comedian, and she got to keep the money. A win-win! I then solicited the help of my dad, the mechanical engineer, to create my third leg. The L shaped appendage was created using a correctly measured 1x2 that attached to one of dad’s old belts with a screw, lock washer and nut assem-

As luck would have it, when the night came for my big debut, the transmission in my yellow 1976 Opal Manta decided to start acting up. The gears were slipping! There was no way I would be driving that car to the club, as the town of Palmer was a good half hour drive from my home. The crazy-X, who was a nurse, needed her car for work, so I did what every male in their early 20’s does in times like these and called my parents. Mum-z answered the phone when I called.

She cut me off halfway through the conversation and told me I was an idiot and said there was no way in hell

Now at this point, I should mention Dad’s car was a gray Volkswagen Beetle, which, when being operated by a three-legged clown, gets a certain degree of attention from other motorists as I’m about to find out. Next week, I’ll take you inside the Magic Lantern Strip Club where I’ll introduce you to my new stripper friend, ‘Cocoa Cuddles’, and later that very same evening you’ll be alongside as I perform my three-legged comedy routine whilst in the spotlight of a Massachusetts State Police cruiser. Until next week....

Community

The Borderland Press

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A5

Pembilier Nursing Center: A crazy Tuesday

By Heather Duerre, Life Enrichment Director

our Hymns and Devotions, so I figured cooking for all our residents would be easy for her. She not only rose to the occasion and showed up, but she showed up adorned in a full chef outfit. The craziest part is that she suddenly had a French accent. At one point when I walked by the kitchen, I could see a pancake flying above her head as she twirled and caught it in her pan.

Greetings from your friends at PNC! I hope this finds you all having a splendid day. I have quite the story to share with you this week about the first Tuesday in April. It was absolutely crazy!

It all started that morning. I thought it would be a normal day, but boy, was I wrong! First, the entire kitchen staff was out due to the stomach flu, so I quickly called Kelsey and asked if she could come in early. She is quite good at baking treats every week for

The rest of the day went on as it normally does, except when it came time for the afternoon coffee and snack.

Much to the horror of the residents, a full kitty litter box with its scoop and all was brought into the activity room.

I heard gagging and saw noses and eyes quickly being covered. I scooped the chunky litter onto little plates and served it to the residents. I felt bad for having to resort to this as their afternoon “treat,” but with the kitchen staff out and Kelsey busy tossing and catching pancakes, I had to serve something. After the shock wore off, many residents ate their “treat” leaving nothing left on their plate. Once the residents had their fill of litter,

American Legion Post 98 500 Club Winners

people to pronounce and even harder to spell. She explained that the board had made a unanimous decision that the new name of our facility would be “Heather’s Haven.” I was taken back at the kind gesture and humbly said “Oh my, what an honor, but please

Lacy and Heather last Tuesday.

that they were going to use it with or without my approval. So, I relented and said, “Thank you, I’m honored!”

She even presented me with a sign that had “Heather’s Haven” inscribed on it. What a way to end the crazy day!

Although it’s a tad bit late, I have one other thing I would like to say… APRIL FOOLS!!!

Lorraine enjoying some kitty litter cake.

Kelsey took a break from her pancakes and played a game with them.

Just when I thought our “crazy” day was over, Lacey Mathison appeared at my office door. Lacey is one of the board members for PNC, so I wasn’t totally surprised by her presence. Anyways, she said that the board had voted to change the name of Pembilier Nursing Center. Apparently, they decided that “Pembilier” is too hard for

The delicious kitty litter cake the residents were presented with last Tuesday.

don’t feel like you have to use my name in it.” Lacey was very adamant

*Fun fact- the residents did indeed get “kitty litter” for their afternoon snack, however, it was made out of cake, cookies, and tootsie rolls.

Wandering in Walhalla

By Rebecca Davis

this weekend was just amazing to witness.

4th Quarter, ‘24 Date 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Oct.

Name Jamie Jay Tiffany Hetletved Lori Peterson Adam Lafrenz

From Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Langdon,ND

Amount $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00

2 Nov. 9 Nov. 11 Nov.(Veterans Day) 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 30 Nov.

Jason Haldorson Will Blake Angie Sanders Connie Kjos Theresa Stewart Kevin Stein

Edinberg, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND

$50.00 $50.00 $250.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00

7 Dec. 14 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Dec. $500.00

Sam Field Stacey Gilseth Brenda Kovar Jason Soli

Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Grand Forks, ND Sioux Falls, SD

$50.00 $50.00 $50.00

1st Quarter Winners ‘25 Date Name 4 Jan. Darren Gellner 11 Jan. Kaela Mack 18 Jan. Judy Davidson 25 Jan. Chuck Jordan

How are we already going into the third week of April?! As they say, time flies when you are having fun.

This past weekend was filled with so many new memories and friendships.

From Langdon, ND Edmore, ND Thornton, CO Nekoma, ND

Amount $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00

1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 22 Feb.

Wyatt Blake Dean Erickson Brad Gustafson Tyler Balsdon

Grand Forks, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND Langdon, ND

$50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00

1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 March

Jeff Flink F & M Bank Rick Davidson Trevor Romfo Bill Langer

Osnabrock, ND Langdon, ND Thornton, CO Langdon, ND Perth, ND

$50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $500.00

Amelia competed in the Mrs. North Dakota America, American and Miss North Dakota for America Strong pageant in Grand Forks. Did you know the wonderful editor of our paper is also talented in hair and makeup? That is just another reason I’m so lucky to call her my best friend. Fortunately for Amelia, she had Hilary as her personal hair and make-up artist for the weekend.

Although she did not take home a title, she did receive an honorable mention for the essay contest, and watching her come out of her shell

Congratulations to these winners. Thanks to all who support Post 98, and good luck to all in future 500 Club drawings. Tickets (green) for next year’s drawings, which start in July, are now being sold by post members.

Amelia made so many new friends and is excited to compete again next year; I’ve also been informed she wants me to compete with her in the Mrs. division next year… the jury is still out on that one.

We are so glad to have Nick back in the studio from his vacation. While he was gone, I had the opportunity to try my hand at the radio side of things. While it was very intimidating, it was a fun experience. You can hear me on KNDK doing the funeral service announcements at 8:50am and 12:10pm Monday through Friday, and you may hear me from time to time hosting the Community Focus or an ag day segment.

Rebecca Davis Reporter rebecca@theborderlandpress.com The pageant had several outfit changes, and here is Amelia in her state costume as a biker.

Community

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A6

The Borderland Press

Walhalla Public Library news

By Tammy Olson, Director

We had a great time at Story Hour last week. We presented our first Thinking Money For Kids Game, and the Penny Pincher Party was a hit. The kids had to pick a party, then they each had $100 to spend on items for their party. They all stayed within their budget.

They really enjoyed it, too.

We are having a meat raffle on Friday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Jackson’s Bar. All proceeds go to the Walhalla Public Library. Come on out, and support your local library.

We also introduced the Thinking Money for Kids Launch Pads to them. They are loaded with the Thinking Money For Kids games and are available for checkout with an adult present. They loved playing them and caught on really fast. Thank you to Mary Mostad for all your help.

“Michael Rowland is not your typical teenager. Deaf from birth, he's always looked out for his five-year-old brother, Joshua. When his stepfather comes after Joshua, Michael takes the child and runs. He's determined to protect his brother at all costs, even if that means making himself vulnerable to

This week's featured author is Karen Rose, ‘Into The Dark.’

a danger he can't hear coming. The danger intensifies when Michael witnesses a stranger kill his stepfather.

Desperate and afraid, the boys have nowhere else to go but to Joshua's soccer coach, journalist and ex-Army ranger Diesel Kennedy. When Diesel sees that Michael is injured, he takes them to see Dr. Dani Novak- not only because she's fluent in American Sign Language but because he's drawn to her and everything she stands for.

She never refuses Diesel's requests, because she, too, feels their connection, but she resists him for reasons she doesn't want to confess.

When Dani and Diesel learn that Michael saw the face of his stepfather's killer, they fear for his safety. They quickly discover that it's even worse

than they feared: They may have a serial killer on their hands and all signs point to Michael as the next target.”

April is Second Chance Month: Exploring North Dakota’s collaborative approach to reentry success for justice-involved individuals BISMARCK, ND - Reentering society after incarceration presents a host of challenges, from securing stable housing and employment to accessing health care and recovery resources. In North Dakota, a robust partnership between multiple state agencies and community organizations is making a tangible difference in the lives of justice-involved individuals. Through collaboration between the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR), North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), Job Service North Dakota (JSND), the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), and various community partners, providers, nonprofits and faith-based organizations, reentry efforts are more coordinated and effective than ever before.

"Reentry isn't just about leaving incarceration—it's about having the right support in place to build a stable future," said Reentry and Recovery Commissioner Jonathan Holth. "By working together, we're creating stronger pathways for people to succeed."

In recognition of Second Chance Month this April, here’s a deeper look into the collaborative network supporting reentry success and an effort to reduce new victims of crime in N.D. Breaking down barriers DOCR's reentry initiatives are built on the principle that successful reintegration requires a network of support. Affordable housing, overcoming the stigma of a criminal record, and maintaining engagement with support services post-release are ongoing hurdles this public-private network collaborates on together to address.

By bridging gaps in housing, employment, healthcare, and recovery services, these initiatives aim to reduce recidivism and promote long-term success. According to DOCR Reentry Manager Robyn Schmalenberger there’s both an evidence-based approach and personalized aspect to support reentry success for each individual.

"Every person has a different pathway into the choices they make, and every person is going to have somewhat of a different pathway out of it," said Schmalenberger. “This underscores the need for flexible, personalized services and support systems.”

The power of partnerships DOCR Community Resource Manager Travis Collins joins Schmalenberger in supporting DOCR and the state’s reentry efforts. Collins underscores the importance of early intervention as a key factor in reentry success for justice-involved individuals.

"By bringing services into the facilities, we’re not just preparing people for release—we’re helping them build relationships and access the resources they need to succeed from day one,” said Collins.

Collins’ work includes numerous initiatives to connect with external businesses and organizations. For example, he regularly hosts resource fairs held inside correctional facilities.

These events connect individuals with service providers before release, easing their transition back into the community.

HHS is one agency that plays a significant role in a variety of initiatives by sending team members into correctional facilities to establish these early connections with individuals, increasing the likelihood of post-release follow-through with programs that support housing, job training and medical care.

Healthcare Ensuring access to healthcare upon release is a critical component of successful reentry. Through a collaborative effort between DOCR and HHS, incarcerated individuals can apply for Medicaid before their release.

For eligible participants, this ensures uninterrupted access to essential medical and behavioral health services. This proactive approach helps individuals secure necessary medications, continue treatment for chronic conditions, and access mental health or substance use support as they transition back into the community.

By eliminating gaps in coverage, this initiative reduces the risk of health-related setbacks that could contribute to recidivism, promoting stability and long-term success.

Employment support JSND plays a vital role in supporting both justice-involved individuals and the employer community. Through career readiness classes, JSND supports reentry by providing essential job search skills, including resume building, interview techniques, and strategies for addressing justice involvement. Within 90 days of release, participants can attend job fairs to connect with potential employers.

Those who complete the Career Readiness class and meet specific criteria may be referred by DOCR to the Job Placement Pilot Program (JP3).

Launched in July 2023, JP3 helps individuals secure and retain employment by providing assessments, goal planning, and support services to remove barriers to work. Additional programs, such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), offer training for in-demand jobs in North Dakota.

JSND's efforts are yielding strong results, with program participants achieving employment rates of 7580%. Data through September 2024 shows that individuals who complete the program earn an average of $9,480 per quarter—significantly higher than those who did not complete it ($2,928) or those who never enrolled ($3,902).

“The positive impact of this program is evident, not just for individuals but for North Dakota’s workforce as a whole,” said Amy Arenz, JSND Bismarck workforce center manager.

To further support employers, JSND offers resources such as Federal Bonding, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and funding for on-the-job training. Additionally, JSND provides education on hiring justice-involved individuals, recently hosting the webinar, “Breaking Barriers: Hiring Justice-Involved Individuals,” where experts and employers shared insights on creating second-chance employment opportunities for a stronger workforce and community.

The HHS Vocational Rehabilitation program partners with DOCR to support individuals preparing for release by offering vocational assessments, job search training, and career counseling. Services begin three to six months before release to ensure a smooth transition into employment.

Additionally, DOCR’s Rough Rider Industries (RRI) program provides incarcerated individuals with employment and skill-building opportunities.

Those who engage in RRI for at least six months have a significantly lower recidivism rate of 7.9%, compared to the overall DOCR recidivism rate of 37.2%.

Child support North Dakota Child Support, administered through HHS, recognizes the financial challenges that can arise when a parent is incarcerated and unable to earn income. To support successful re-entry and reduce long-term barriers, HHS pursued a law change that ensures that a parent's child support obligation is automatically terminated if they are sentenced to 180 days or more. This change helps parents reintegrate and regain financial stability upon release, ultimately benefiting their children in the long run.

Additionally, an HHS agency rule provides a six-month adjustment period after release before child support obligations are reinstated, allowing time for parents to secure employment and establish financial stability. These updates aim to create a fair and supportive path forward for families while balancing the needs of both parents and children.

JSND administers the Parental Responsibility Initiative for the Development of Employment (PRIDE) working with individuals referred from child support who are non-custodial parents. This program helps individuals obtain employment or better paying jobs to meet child support obligations.

Housing, basic needs and recovery support

Helping individuals secure stable housing to prevent homelessness upon reentry is another critical dimension of wellness that supports success.

The Recovery Housing Assistance Program (RHAP) is an HHS state-funded program that provides up to 12 weeks of housing expenses for individuals in recovery, paid directly to participating providers, to help them access safe and stable living environments.

Working with a network of approved RHAP providers, the program aims to increase the number of supportive recovery housing environments available in North Dakota, establish and reinforce evidence-based best practices in recovery housing, reduce homelessness, expand individual options for recovery experiences, and provide housing stability, which indirectly impacts employment.

Recovery housing aims to provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment with peer support, access to community resources, and opportunities for personal growth and recovery.

Launched in 2018, Free Through Recovery (FTR) is a partnership between HHS and DOCR. The program is designed to increase access to recovery support services for individuals engaged with the criminal justice system who have behavioral health concerns. Participants engage with a Care Coordinator and Peer Support Specialist who help them identify their needs and find creative, effective ways to meet them. Peer support specialists—many of whom have lived experience—serve as mentors, offering guidance and motivation as individuals rebuild their lives.

Heather Brandt, HHS manager behavioral health community supports, emphasizes the role of recovery services in successful reintegration.

"Having stable housing and recovery support in place can be the difference between success and returning to the system,” noted Brandt. “Our goal is to create a bridge that helps people find the services and supports."

Faith-based organizations and nonprofits also play a vital role in this ecosystem, offering support services, mentorship, and community-based reentry meals at places like Trinity Lutheran Church. DOCR also hosts reentry simulations to give policymakers and community members a firsthand look at the challenges faced by individuals upon release, highlighting the need for structured support systems.

“Collaboratively, all of these programs are foundational to supporting basic needs, critical dimensions of wellness and overall success,” said Schmalenberger. "Through collaboration, we’re not just reducing recidivism—we’re giving people real opportunities to rebuild their lives.”

DOCR Director Colby Braun echoed this sentiment.

"When people return to our communities with the right resources in place, it benefits everyone as it leads to stronger families, safer communities, and better outcomes for all. Successful reentry is more than the success of an individual, it is the success of a community. This is public safety," said Braun.

Hello from Edmore!

By Tammy Berg

Wow, if you think a week goes by fast, try writing an article for the newspaper with a deadline of Tuesday at Noon.

Last Saturday was a sad day here. Our church held a funeral for a 10-yearold boy. The church was full with his school friends, teachers, classmates, their parents, family and friends. One of his godfathers spoke on how backwards this was, that no parent should have to bury a child. I visited with his great-grandpa, and he said the same thing, and that he never thought that in his 80’s he would bury a great-grand-

child. The music was from some of his favorite movies. The pastors spoke right to his friends and classmates. I'm sure some of you know his grandma. She raised her family here, and her kids graduated from here. It was a tough day. Hugs and lots of prayers to all who loved him .

I've had a couple of my staff out for a couple weeks with health issues.

I've worked a few 6am-6pms and cooked a few meals. I'm not used to being up all night, as I really love my bed and lots of sleep. I'm not so young anymore. I told the residents at breakfast that it might be good if they took some pepto-bismol, as I'm not a very good cook either. As of Tuesday, they should both be back, fingers crossed!! I really appreciate the staff I have and even more now that I've worked for them.

I am so grateful to the people who have dropped off food and baked goods. I think they were feeling sorry for the residents.

Well, I hope this finds you patiently waiting for warmer weather. For now, stay well, and do something nice for someone.

Lifestyle

The Borderland Press

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A7

Prairie Fare: How much do you know about the natural colorants in your food?

By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist vide physical activity.

Those of us in cold climates have been doing our best to avoid exposing our skin to the winter cold. Now, we can naturally restore our body’s vitamin D levels by just 10 to 15 minutes of daily sunlight on our arms as we work in nature.

Don’t go overboard with sun exposure and get a sunburn. Too much sun can promote the development of skin cancer. May is Melanoma Awareness Month, by the way.

“Just think, in a few months, this street will be covered with a canopy of green leaves,” my husband commented as we drove home.

I was looking at a precarious nest perched on a high, brown, leafless branch.

“That’s a daring squirrel to build a nest over a busy street,” I added.

On the following day, snow arrived.

On a positive note, the environment looked white and clean.

I hoped that the extra moisture would make green grass blades appear. I can’t wait for colorful tulips to provide pops of color in our neighborhood.

When we get out in nature and turn our attention away from other issues in our lives, we may feel less stressed.

April is Stress Awareness Month, too.

Too much stress can prompt us to avoid healthy lifestyle practices. For example, stressed people may not eat a nutritious diet, forgo physical activity and may even forget to take their prescribed medications.

In honor of the colorful transitions in nature, let’s try a few questions about food and color. These are all foods that grow well in Midwestern gardens, and soon, we will be able to enjoy outdoor adventures and perhaps plant a few things.

1) What is the name of the orange-red pigment linked to helping reduce the risk of various types of cancer?

April is National Garden Month. Like many others, I hope to get my hands dirty and plant some flowers and vegetables soon.

2) What are two foods that are especially good sources of the pigment in question 1?

Gardening has many health benefits.

Hoeing, weeding and raking all pro-

3) Orange-fleshed squash and carrots are excellent sources of carotenoid

pigments that may help prevent cancer and heart disease. What vitamin is made by our bodies from carotenoid pigments?

es, add extra vegetables to soups and casseroles, prepare a smoothie for breakfast, pack fresh or dried fruit for snacks.

4) Leafy green vegetables are among the first to pop up in our gardens.

What is the name of the natural plant pigment that provides color to leafy greens?

This is an interesting take on a smoothie. Use your favorite fruits and toppings and place your masterpiece in a bowl for a colorful breakfast or snack.

5) Leafy greens contain lutein, which is helpful for our eyes. What are two eye diseases that can be at least partly prevented by eating enough leafy greens, peas, cucumbers, corn, red peppers and other vegetables?

Smoothie Bowls ½ cup spinach ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt 1½ cups frozen fruit 2 tablespoons of toppings (fresh fruit, granola, coconut, chia seeds, etc.)

Add spinach, yogurt and fruit to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Pour the smoothie in a bowl and top with desired toppings.

6) Anthocyanins are natural blue pigments found in blueberries, grapes and flowers, and they also can appear red in other fruits, vegetables and flowers. Blueberries have been linked with improving or maintaining a specific brain function. What function is it?

Makes two servings. Each serving has 110 calories, 2.5 grams (g) fat, 7 g protein, 19 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber and 40 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.

7) White-fleshed vegetables and fruits are usually colored by pigments called “anthoxanthins.” What mineral is especially abundant in potatoes?

8) Consuming at least 4 ½ cups of vegetables and fruits is recommended. What are three strategies to meet this goal?

Here are the answers: 1) lycopene; 2) tomatoes and watermelon; 3) vitamin A; 4) chlorophyll; 5) macular degeneration and cataracts; 6) maintaining memory or cognition function; 7) potassium; 8) eat fruit for a snack or dessert, have a side salad with lunch, order veggies on pizza and sandwich-

Differently colored produce supplies your body with various disease-preventing vitamins.

(Pixabay photo)

Prairie Doc® Perspective My journey to becoming a hospitalist

By Jill Kruse, DO

When I first moved to Brookings, the primary care physicians took care of their own patients in the hospital. We would round patients in the morning before clinic or try to sneak over during lunch or after clinic. While I loved taking care of patients in the hospital,

it was hard to juggle the responsibilities of both giving my attention to the patients in the hospital while seeing people in the clinic. Any time the hospital nurse had a question; my clinic nurse would have to interrupt a clinic visit or wait for me between patients.

This could lead to some less-than-ideal times where I was being pulled in multiple directions at once.

a hospitalist was, it was still hard to give up caring for my patients when they were in the hospital. However, I learned to see these hospitalists as valued colleagues who were giving my patients the time and attention that they deserved. They could give better care and more attention as hospital medicine continues to evolve and advance.

Then, about six years ago, the Brookings Health System decided to start a new program where there would be ‘hospitalists’ hired. These would be doctors who would just take care of patients in the hospital. Primary care physicians in the clinic would follow up after the hospital stay and resume care. This had already been done for several years in Sioux Falls at the Sanford and Avera McKennan. Despite the fact that I was familiar with what

During COVID, I started taking extra shifts to help out in the hospital on weekends. This was a good way for me to keep up my skills for taking care of patients who were sicker than in the clinic. In the clinic, we mainly focus on taking care of minor illnesses and injuries as well as managing chronic medical conditions and health maintenance visits. I realized that I missed taking care of hospitalized patients and caring for people

when they were at their sickest.

When one of the hospitalists left for a new job, I was asked if I wanted to

take their place as a hospitalist. After careful consideration of all the pros and cons, I decided to answer the call to this new challenge of being a hospitalist. I am happy to see my former clinic patients, but now it is usually in the grocery store and at the post office. However, it is extra special when

I can care for them when they are admitted to the hospital. I embrace this current chapter in my medical career and wonder how it will continue to evolve as medicine changes with time.

Jill Kruse, D.O. is part of The Prairie Doc® team of physicians and currently practices as a hospitalist in Brookings, South Dakota. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org and on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show, two podcasts, and a radio program, providing health information based on science, built on trust, streaming live on Facebook most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central and wherever podcast can be found.

Dakota Gardener: Water you growing?

By Emily How, Horticulture agent, NDSU Extension – Ward County ter. Place a rockwool cube into the net pod, and then the hydroponic seed variety. Rockwool is used as a medium to support the seed as it starts to germinate and grow. Set the net pod into your water container, then place it in a window with a bright light or under a grow light and wait for the harvest. That’s it!

Last summer I had an amazing opportunity to attend the National Urban Extension Leadership conference in Nashville, Tennessee. During the conference, I listened to a group talk about how they hydroponically grew lettuce in a gallon jug.

How does this method of growing work? Based on the Kratky method developed by B.A. Kratky at the University of Hawaii, this method uses capillary action to grow plants without requiring a high-tech system. Capillary action is the movement of water from the roots to the leaves through strawlike plant tissue called xylem. The nutrients in the water are taken up by

the plant roots allowing the plant to grow without soil. As the roots take up the water, they grow longer to reach the lowering water level. The lower water level creates an air gap, allowing the plant to receive more oxygen.

Just as gaps in the soil provide oxygen to the plants.

that I had. Other popular hydroponic crops include cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and other greens like kale and Swiss chard, and herbs such as basil.

When deciding what to grow, be sure to select a hydroponic seed variety.

These seeds have been specially cultivated to perform well in hydroponic systems. Also, make sure that the container you use is big enough for the crop that you are growing. Lettuce is great for gallon-sized contain-

Maybe you are thinking, “What can I grow using this method?” Well, just about anything! I grew a variety of butter lettuce from some extra seeds

Immediately, I thought this was something I needed to try back home in North Dakota. I mean, growing lettuce in the middle of winter without needing a huge hydroponic tower? Count me in!

So, how do you build this hydroponic system?

Rebecca Davis

Start with a gallon container or similar-sized container; make sure the container you choose can hold a twoinch net pod. A net pod is a small mesh-like container used to hold plants and growing medium in a hydroponic structure. Fill the container with water and add the appropriate amount of nutrient solution, or fertilizer designed specifically for hydroponics. Follow the product label for the correct amount of nutrient solution to add; more is not better.

Next, wrap the container in aluminum foil to prevent algae growth in the wa-

The Kratky method is a simple, low-maintenance way to grow plants hydroponically, meaning without soil. The method works best for fast-growing plants like lettuce, spinach and herbs.

(NDSU photo)

ers because it does not get too large.

Other crops, like herbs, can be grown in glass jars; however, bigger crops, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, should be grown in a five-gallon bucket or similar-sized container.

Water you going to grow?

For more information about gardening, contact your local NDSU Extension agent. Find the Extension office for your county at ndsu.ag/countyoffice.

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A8

Church

The Borderland Press

From the Pastor’s Desk: Triumph and tragedy

By Pastor Sue Mackey

of ordinary people who came to watch the atrocities take place.” Lynching was a social event. People dressed up for the occasion. In one picture, you can see in the background a man smoking a cigar. Others are sipping beer, gossiping, and laughing. A couple flirts. Little boys beam with broad smiles.

On Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, General of the Union Army, at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This surrender ended the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. Five days later – Good Friday, April 14, 1865, America’s most revered president, Abraham Lincoln, was shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth in Ford’s Theatre.

On Palm Sunday the war ended. Triumph. On Good Friday, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Tragedy.

Welcome to Holy Week. Welcome to the triumph and the tragedy of the six days preceding Easter. That’s the kind of world we live in. The triumphant end to a terrible war on Sunday and the tragic slaying of the great leader, who brought us through that war, on Friday. The triumph and tragedy – Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

The amazing thing is that it happened to the Son of God. Acclaimed on Sunday, crucified on Friday. Holy Week moved from triumph to tragedy.

It should not be surprising that some of those who sang their sweet Hosannas on Palm Sunday were shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!” on Good Friday; triumph and tragedy.

On Good Friday crowds turned their backs on the Son of God. The obvious question is: Would it be any different today? Would we welcome Christ into our community, our family, our church, our world? Can we confront our own darkness and our need for repentance?

In New York, a pastor and his wife visited an exhibit titled “Without Sanctuary.” It was an array of photographs of lynchings that had taken place throughout the United States. The exhibit displayed picture after picture of a limp body hanging from the end of a rope. The images were grotesque and disturbing. “What was most disturbing about these photographs,” said the wife, “was not the bodies of the victims. In each picture was a gathering

Even more troubling than the fine, upstanding people in these pictures was the fact that these images were turned into postcards - cherished mementos to be mailed to family and friends.

These were not images from Rome 2000 years ago but images from America 100 years ago. As much as we would like to think differently, human nature has not changed in the past century. Whether against people of another race or another religion, or whatever that prejudice might be – discrimination, prejudice, or hatred simply cannot be tolerated, not by people whose Lord was hung on a tree while mocking soldiers gambled for his garments below.

Palm Sunday. Good Friday. It happened to the Son of God. It still happens in our world today.

While the cross reveals the evil that humanity is capable of, it also reveals the love which God is capable of.

Ultimately, the story of Holy Week is one of triumph and tragedy, then triumph once again – not only because of Easter Sunday but because of Christ’s victory over sin and death on Calvary. This is why the cross is so precious to believers. It calls us to repentance, but it also represents God’s grace which covers all our sins.

The triumph and the tragedy. They cheered Jesus on Sunday, and on Friday they hung him on a tree, but God had the last word. God took that tree, a symbol of sin and death, and made it a symbol of our salvation. Triumph and tragedy, then triumph once again.

Thank God for that final triumph… the triumph over sin and death.

Pastor Sue Mackey is a native North Dakotan and an ordained United Methodist minister. In her 46-year career, she has served United Methodist, UCC, and Lutheran congregations in the area, and now serves the Langdon Presbyterian Church (since 2012). She lives in rural Hampden, has two sons and seven grandchildren. An avid reader, she also enjoys playing baritone horn in the Devils Lake Elks Band as well as in the Langdon Community Band.

Obituaries

The Borderland Press

Thomas Raymond Delebo Thomas Raymond Delebo, 93, passed away peacefully in his Sausalito, Cali., home on Feb. 12, 2025. He was born in Langdon, N.D., on Jan. 1, 1932, to John George and Rose Delebo. Tom was the second youngest of 11 children. He attended Saint Alphonsus elementary and high schools, graduating as valedictorian of his senior class.

After graduation, he attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, W.I. earning a bachelor’s degree. Tom

Richard Flanders

Services are pending for June 13 in Devils Lake, N.D., and June 14 in Langdon, N.D., for Richard Flanders, 81, of Calvin, N.D., who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Richard Allan Flanders was born on Oct. 4, 1943, in Langdon, to Donald

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: Thomas Edward Whelan, Ambassador to Nicaragua April 15, 2025 – On this date in 1895, Thomas Edward Whelan was born in St. Thomas, North Dakota. A potato farmer by trade, Whelan later served as a state senator, as well as the state chairman of the Republican Party. His most surprising role came in 1951, when President Harry Truman appointed Whelan to be the U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua.

Whelan’s political work centered on the state’s agricultural industry, and he was largely concerned with the plight of the family farmer. He was also active in the American Legion, serving as state commander, and later as national chairman of the American Legion Foreign Affairs Committee.

But it was in 1951 that Whelan was asked to do something that no other North Dakotan had ever done.

Since the early 1940s, it was well known that North Dakota Senator William Langer had one very salient complaint during his time in Washington.

He often lamented that “There’s never been one ambassador from North Dakota, not in [all] the years since statehood.” In response, President Harry Truman appointed Whelan to be the U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua in 1951.

The North Dakota farmer soon found himself and his family relocating to the Latin American country. To Truman’s delight, Whelan became one of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza’s closest friends. The two referred to each other affectionately as ‘Tommy’ and ‘Tacho.’ The men “…partied, played poker, [and] junketed around the country together.”

When President Eisenhower took office in 1953, Whelan resigned, but the President quickly reappointed him to the position. In 1956, Somoza was shot and critically wounded by an assassin. Whelan rushed to his friend’s side and quickly “…arranged to fly the dying dictator to a U.S. hospital in the Panama Canal Zone.” Somoza was succeeded by his sons, and Whelan remained ambassador until 1961. By the time his tenure ended, Whelan was the nation’s longest serving ambassador. He returned to North Dakota, where he passed away in 1977, and was interred in his hometown of St. Thomas.

Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job “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.

and Lois (Gage) Flanders. His family made their home on a farm near Calvin, N.D. Richard graduated from Calvin High School in 1961. He attended college at Ellendale, Mayville, and Devils Lake, N.D., before returning home to farm with his father. He was also in the North Dakota National Guard from 1966-1972. Richard married Marlyn Stone on Nov. 6, 1965.

They lived in Devils Lake, and a few years later they moved to the family farm. Richard and Marlyn had one daughter, Kari, on Aug. 27, 1975. As a family, they enjoyed going on downhill skiing vacations, camping, and fishing.

Richard was involved on many boards over the years. He was on the Border Central School Board, Calvin Rural Fire Department, Cavalier County Commission, Calvin Corinthian Cemetery Board, and Grey Township to

was accepted into Marquette Medical School and graduated as an M.D. specializing in pediatric oncology. He moved to Sausalito, Cali., and practiced medicine at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco.

Tom was very active in the Sausalito community, volunteering for many organizations before and after his retirement from medicine. Tom volunteered at the Point Bonita Lighthouse, was a docent at the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the Golden Gate Raptor Conservancy, as well as many name a few. Richard enjoyed visiting with others. Even if he met you for the first time, within minutes it didn’t feel that way. He loved teasing people, and if he gave you a hard time, it was a compliment. Family, friends, and community were important to him, and he was always willing to help when needed.

Farming was Richard’s passion his whole life. It wasn’t a job for him but a calling. He slowly began to cut back in recent years but continued to farm.

Richard was also a car enthusiast. He and Marlyn became members of the Greater Dakota Classics Club in Devils Lake, and they enjoyed traveling to car shows around the state.

He will be remembered for many things. He was a loving husband, father, and friend. He had strong convictions but also the willingness to

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A9 other organizations. He was also a generous donor to the local arts community in Sausalito. Tom was a world traveler and found joy in many activities. He found pleasure in cooking, scuba diving, hiking and in his 80’s, took up boxing!

He was preceded in death by his partner of 44 years, Bernard Feeney, his parents and eight siblings. Tom is survived by his older sister, Geneva; his younger brother, Don; two nieces and five nephews.

hear the other side of a debate. Richard’s smile and sense of humor will remain in the hearts of the many people he touched over the years.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Kari (David) Hill of Overly, N.D.; sister Janice (Mack) Evans; sister-in-law Peggy Flanders; in-laws Merlyn and Arlys Stone, Arvid and Joan Stone; sister-in-law Annalee Stone; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Lois Flanders; his wife, Marlyn, on March 7, 2024; brother Duaine Flanders; and in-laws Myrna Stone, Gilmore and Betty Murphy, Floyd and Ramona Stone, and Marvin Stone.

Richard Lee Brown A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Senior Center, 211 8th Ave., in Langdon, N.D., for Richard Lee Brown (Rick) ,76, formerly of Hannah, N.D., who passed away Feb. 3, 2025, in Prescott, A.Z. A burial will follow at the Hannah Cemetery.

Gilbertson Funeral Home of Devils Lake, N.D., is in charge of arrangements.

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: Dr. John E. Engstad April 17, 2025 – X-rays were so named because this radiant energy was of unknown origin. The “X” in “X-ray” was a scientific symbol for “the unknown.” Discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, X-rays were immediately put into practical medical use the following year.

The new technology came to Grand Forks in 1896, when Dr. John E. Engstad secured an X-ray machine, using it that December to conduct successful wrist surgery.

On this date in 1898, the Grand Forks Herald printed a small advertisement for Dr. Engstad and his fellow surgeon, Dr. A.A. Westeen, informing the public that both doctors had “studied in Germany and Italy.” Engstad, who had been born in Norway in 1858 and who immigrated to the U.S. with

Walhalla Senior Meals Menu Monday, April 14 Cranberry Chicken•Mashed Potatoes•Glazed Carrots•Mandarin Oranges Tuesday, April 15 Pork Loin•Sweet Potatoes•Broccoli Wednesday, April 16 Swedish Meatballs•Mashed Potatoes•Peas•Pears Thursday, April 17 Sausage•Sauerkraut•Mashed Potatoes•Mixed Vegetables•Peaches Friday, April 18 Lemon Pepper Fish•Roasted Potatoes•Green Beans•Pears 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 701-5492443 before 10:00 a.m. to place an order for congregate, pick up, or home delivered meals.

his parents that same year, had been practicing medicine in Grand Forks since 1885. Dr. Engstad became nationally known for founding St. Luke’s Hospital in 1892, the first hospital in the U.S. built and owned by a Scandinavian.

who “used his large X-Ray machine to locate the needle point.” The “X-Ray photograph plainly showed the needle entirely hidden between two bones at the ankle.” Having determined the needle’s exact location, Dr. Engstad easily removed it.

It was in 1898 that Dr. Engstad made headlines for an X-ray operation noted as a “peculiar case.” A man named William Dodge had accidently stepped on a large sewing needle in his home in the nearby village of Inkster. Involuntarily jumping up in pain, Mr. Dodge somehow broke the needle into two, with one end stuck in his right foot and the other half embedded in his left ankle.

The X-ray machine proved its worth, and in 1917 Dr. Engstad bought a more powerful machine, said to be an “exact duplicate” of one at the Mayo Clinic.

In pain, Mr. Dodge visited his local doctor, who quickly plucked out the visible part of the needle, but the doctor could not locate the other half. The doctor sent Dodge to see Dr. Engstad,

Cavalier County Senior Menu Cavalier County Senior Meals & Services, Langdon

Monday, April 14 Langdon Locker Sausage/ French Toast/Hash Browns/Potato Rounds/Fruit Tuesday, April 15 Cheese Ravioli in Marinara Sauce/Peas and Carrots/Fruit Wednesday, April 16 Roast Beef/Mashed Potatoes with Gravy/Green Beans/Peach Cobbler Thursday, April 17 Berry Burst Chicken/Salad/Garlic Toast/Crackers Friday, April 18 CLOSED EBT/SNAP accepted.

Full cost of a meal: $10.00. Suggested Donation: $5.50 for those over 60 years of age. Please contribute what you can. Those under 60 are required to pay the full cost of the meal. Menus are subject to change.

Cavalier County Senior Meals & Services is located at 211 8th Ave. in Langdon and can be reached by phone at 256-2828.

Dr. John Engstad had a long medical career, passing away in 1937, at age

78, having been one of the revered “pioneer physicians” of Grand Forks.

Dakota Datebook written by Dr. Steve Hoffbeck “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.

State

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page A10

Legislative update

Session bills that have been signed by the Governor

By Senator Janne Myrdal

By Ann Estvold, NDNA Legislative Intern yet over, but rather to be continued as these bills are being processed and likely amended.

The 69th Legislative Session has just completed 56 days out of the 80 allowed.

There will be an effort to make sure we save at least five days for any need to come into a special session, like the need to readjust the budget or any crisis that may come forth. Sounds good to me, as yard work will certainly be the first chore when I get home.

We are very close to finishing all hearings on House bills in our Senate committees. This week we will be going into conference committees with the House on non-concurred bills. It must be what a player feels like when you enter the fourth quarter of a football game with no time-outs left. This is honestly the time it is a bit challenging to write these reports because these last weeks’ things can change quickly. One example is the topic of education savings accounts, or ESA’s.

There are two bills: SB2400 relates to an education savings account program and to provide an appropriation.

HB1540 relates to an education savings account program; to provide an appropriation.

Yes, you read it right. Sounds the same, yet vastly different. I co-sponsored SB2400 as it would serve every student in N.D. with a separate general fund appropriation to be accessed per student and separate from K-12 funding. It would NOT take funding away from our schools as N.D. United has told folks. It would, if parents saw a need for it, be extra funding for their children to use for academic achievement that their local school cannot offer, such as classes not offered, dyslexia support, and more. It would not be funded by taxpayers via property taxes.

HB1540 is totally different, as it only serves the purpose of parents being able to send their kids to a school of their choice, like a private institution.

The district that I serve has none of these opportunities (I know Langdon does, but that is not in District 19). I support school choice, but the price tag on HB1540 (at this point in session) is too vast and not fair to our district. But again, the dance is not

The Borderland Press

I have been told there were numerous colorful fliers in mailboxes throughout District 19 over the past couple of weeks asserting some legislators are trying to circumvent term limits.

It is interesting to note that they were from out-of-state interest groups.

Term limits were passed on election day Nov. 7, 2022. By law, it became Article XV of the constitution effective on Jan. 1, 2023. HB 1300 was voted on last week. It is an act to create a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legislative term limits. The bill clarifies the fact that the language of the article says the law "has prospective effect only." Meaning not retroactive, but begins on Jan. 1, 2023, as the measure stated. It brings clarification to any candidate running for office.

There is still a resolution to be voted on that would then come before the people on the ballot in 2026. It would hopefully pass and provide for the term limit to be served out in one chamber. That is as far as issues concerning term limits go, so I have no idea why these hostile flyers were sent out.

I support HB1160, which is the Governor's cell phone bill. This bill would create a policy for schools that would prohibit personal electronic devices during instructional time. It means basically no cell phones from "bell to bell" in school. Research has clearly shown the serious negative effects across the board on mental health, educational growth, and social learning and health from the use of cell phones. Each school shall develop a policy to accomplish this policy, as some exceptions apply.

A very positive result came this past week as both chambers finally agreed on fairness in taxation as it relates to agricultural storage. This has been a long fight, and I am grateful we finally crossed the finish line. Lawmaking can often be a marathon and certainly never a sprint.

Thank you for all the emails and texts these past few weeks. I read them all and do not ignore any of them, but due to a more hectic session than ever before, I have not been able to answer all of you. Your input matters greatly, yes even if at times some of us may disagree. Easter is near and we can all agree we are indeed blessed, both by living here and by God's provisions on all levels.

Senator Janne Myrdal North Dakota District 19 jmyrdal@ndlegis.gov 1-701-331-0946 Vice Chair Agriculture Committee Judiciary Committee

HB 1178 requires school districts to allow students who are eligible to vote to leave campus to vote during the school day in any election. The law requires districts to adopt policies to implement this directive.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has signed 272 bills into law as of April 4, 2025. This year’s legislative session had 1,089 bills introduced in both the House and Senate. Some of the bills have already taken effect because they had what are called “emergency clauses,” which require two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate. Other bills will take effect this summer. Budget and tax bills take effect July 1, while others go into effect Aug. 1.

Below are summaries of bills of broader interest: Military Armstrong has signed seven bills to name bridges and roads across the state to honor the lives of fallen veterans. They are Spc. 4 Richard W. Orsund, Spc. 4 David Latraille, Staff Sgt. Miles Shelley, Spc. Dennis “DJ” Ferderer Jr., Pfc. Henry Gurke, Lt. Cmdr.

Carl J. Woods, and Cpl. Raymond Porter.

HB 1293 creates a Burial Medallion Program for veterans’ graves. It will be a small marker attached to an existing grave marker to indicate a veteran’s status.

HB 1148 recognizes Military Appreciation Month. Under the bill the governor will issue a proclamation every May 1 in honor of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who have served and are still serving. Military Appreciation Month began in 1999.

HB 1403 designates Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Day as a state holiday by proclamation of the governor. POW/MIA Recognition Day honors and remembers the sacrifices of prisoners of war and service members who went missing in action. It will be observed on the third Friday in September. The day has been observed since 1979, but it has not been listed as a state holiday. It will not be a paid day off for state employees.

SB 2288 allows a veteran’s organization to use up to 20% of net proceeds earned from charitable gaming for the costs of food and beverages at the organization’s club.

HB 1076 raises the maximum death benefit from $15,000 to $100,000 for the next of kin or designated beneficiary of a National Guard member who dies while on active duty. The increased benefit took effect March 18.

Emergency services and first responders HB 1281 allows fire departments to receive refunds on fuel taxes when purchasing bulk fuel.

SB 2135 raises the death benefit for a firefighter who dies on the job from $10,000 to $25,000.

SB 2277 honors the state’s fallen peace officers by designating State Highway 200 as the North Dakota fallen peace officer’s memorial highway.

Each mile of the highway will memorialize an individual law enforcement officer. N.D. has had 62 line of duty deaths, according to the state’s Officer Down Memorial Page.

New state symbols North Dakota gained four new state symbols during the 2025 Legislature. HB 1186 designated Knife River Flint as the official state rock and HB 1334 designated rhubarb as the official state vegetable. HB 1397 creates the position of official state troubadour, who will serve for five years and be designated by the North Dakota Council On The Arts. The bill also designates “Dancing Dakota,” a song composed by Mandan musician and folk singer Chuck Suchy, as the state waltz. HCR 3008 designated Suchy as the first state troubadour, a term that first described a French medieval lyric poet.

Education HB 1105 requires a school district to pay for a virtual instruction course if the district does not offer the course and it is needed to meet graduation requirements. The district may limit a student’s online options, depending on circumstances. HB 1200 allows a student to waive or substitute one unit that is normally required for high school graduation if the student can justify the change.

Under current law, N.D. students may now voluntarily recite the pledge of allegiance. Under HB 1222, school boards must adopt a policy requiring each school in the district to offer students the opportunity to say the pledge at the start of the school day.

HB 1238 says a teacher who has taught for 25 years may be granted a lifetime license. The time was shortened from 30 years. Holders of lifetime licenses must report to the Education Standards and Practices Board at least once every five years to disclose whether they have been convicted of a crime or committed an offense that could cause their license to be revoked.

SB 2275 establishes a pilot program to provide annual grants to schools that provide instruction in a foreign language for kindergarten through third grade. The annual grants would not exceed $2,500 per school and may be used for program costs, materials, or payments to teachers.

Transportation Under HB 1137 mobility-impaired parking permits can now be placed on the vehicle dashboard, as well as hung from the rearview mirror, when a vehicle is occupying a handicapped parking space. Previously, state law required that placards be hung from the rearview mirror. Putting it on a dashboard was insufficient.

HB 1155 says collector or special interest vehicles do not need to comply with state rules affecting bumpers, tires and fenders. The vehicle must be at least 40 years old and in operating condition.

HB 1522 says any city ordinance that allows golf carts to be driven on city streets may not allow them to be driven at night.

Under HB 1314 barbershops that operate in a mobile vehicle, trailer or mobile structure must be licensed and registered with the Board of Barber Examiners. The mobile barbershop must be a suitable motor vehicle or trailer that is enclosed, self-contained, self-supporting, and at least 16 feet long.

SB 2207 says any motor vehicle procured by, owned or in the possession of a tribal government is exempt from N.D.’s motor vehicle excise tax.

Under HB 1578, abandoned vehicles that are taken into the custody of a commercial towing service are exempt from the motor vehicle excise tax when they are resold.

SB 2371 says a driver may exit a roundabout without using a turn signal. HB 1294 raises the fine for passing a stopped school bus from $100 to $250. Under SB 2061, buses, vehicles carrying liquids or cargo tank vehicles do not have to stop at a railroad crossing if the crossing Is marked as “tracks out of service” or “exempt.”

HB 1432 makes an individual eligible for a military sacrifice plate if they are an immediate family member of an individual who died outside a combat zone while serving honorably. The state Department of Veterans Affairs would determine eligibility for the plate. There is no additional charge for a military sacrifice plate.

Hunting and outdoors Under HB 1412, an unsuccessful applicant for the deer lottery can donate the license fee to the state Private Lands Open to Sportsmen program, which provides incentives for landowners to open their property to hunting.

An individual may not use a vehicle on any land, other than an established road or trail, without written permission from the landowner when hunting big or small game, except for waterfowl or cranes. The individual may not use a vehicle to flush, drive, run or harass game.

Under HB 1174 the Game and Fish Department may establish educational and community outreach programs to promote public understanding of wildlife management. The programs can also promote interest in pursuing careers in wildlife and land management, conservation, and other occupations available within the department.

Agriculture and food HB 1040 changes the eligibility for the drought disaster livestock water assistance program. The bill says applicants are no longer required to have their water cost-share assistance application rejected by the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency before receiving state funds.

Under HB 1131, a farm may sell raw milk or raw milk products directly to N.D. consumers for personal consumption. Producers may not sell raw milk or products outside of the state, and the milk and products must be labeled as “raw milk” or “made with raw milk.” Raw milk is not pasteurized, meaning it is not heated to ex-

tend its shelf life and reduce the risk of disease.

HB1132 allows a school to serve whole, 2 percent and flavored pasteurized milk using a bulk milk dispenser. U.S. Department of Agriculture school lunch rules now provide lunch reimbursements to schools for skim or 1 percent milk. Whole milk and 2 percent milk may only be offered as an additional item, at no cost to the student.

SB 2139 raises the fee for recording or re-recording livestock brands from $25 to $50.

SB 2368 provides more administrative specifics for the Grassland Grazing Cost Share Program, which is run by the state Agriculture Department.

The program awards grants that go to organizations that represent N.D. cooperative grazing associations. Grant funds may be used for water development, fencing, conservation initiatives, federal permitting compliance, and other projects that would improve grasslands health.

SB 2386 allows food prepared in North Dakota home kitchens, which are known as cottage foods, to be sold across state lines, using the phone, internet, consignment sales or the regular mail. The bill does not allow poultry products to be sold across state lines.

Corrections and courts HB 1047 requires a judge to offer up to 10 hours of post-trial counseling to jurors or alternate jurors who hear trials that included extraordinarily graphic, gruesome or emotional evidence or testimony. The counseling must be offered to jurors who hear cases involving murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, felony assault, domestic violence, sexual offenses, or abuse or neglect of a child. The counseling must occur within 180 days after the jury is discharged.

HB 1134, an “anti-doxxing” bill, forbids disclosing an individual’s personal identifying information through writing, electronic communication, electronic publishing, or posting, if the person doing the posting is attempting to frighten or harass the subject.

HB 1299 allows a private person to break into a building if they reasonably believe that an individual inside is at imminent risk of serious bodily injury or death.

HB 1344 standardizes and clarifies when the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation pays counties for inmates housed in county jails. When state facilities for inmates are full, the state may house inmates in county jails across North Dakota.

An agreement between the state and county jail would need to include a minimum daily rate per inmate.

Libraries HB 1420 clarifies that the State Library Coordinating Council is responsible for disbursing state grants, and that it is not responsible for distributing federal grants.

SB 2219 makes it easier for the State Library to share materials with libraries throughout the state. When the State Library culls its collections, it shares materials it no longer needs with local libraries. The bill allows the State Library to distribute the materials directly to other libraries without informing the state surplus property division, which is usually used to sell surplus property.

Counties, townships and elections Under HB 1065 the state treasurer shall distribute $16.1 million to nonoil producing counties to benefit townships in each county. The distribution is proportional to the number of township road miles in each township, when compared to the combined road miles of all townships in all non-oil producing counties.

SB 2324 says that when a portion of a home rule charter is pre-empted, superseded or invalidated, the city or county’s governing body may change the affected language in the home rule charter without holding an election.

HB 1138 says a bond election must be held at least 64 days after the governing body adopts a resolution to get voter permission to borrow money and issue bonds. Under current law, a bond election may be held within 20 days after it is authorized. The 64-day election window is already required for primary, general, and special elections involving candidates and ballot measures.

Renters’ rights HB 1610 says a landlord may not charge a tenant a fee to accept cash, check, or a money order for any payment the landlord requires, including rent.

Spring SPORTS GRIZZLIES ATTEND RED RIVER VALLEY CONFERENCE INDOOR PNC Boys results 3rd - Trevor Moore, 300 Meter Dash, 40.72, 8th - Kylan Schafer, 43.40 5th - Micah Crosby, 3,000 Meter Run, 11:16.24 (PR) 5th - Kylan Schafer, Isaac Nordstrom, Adriaan Conradi, Lance Santiago; 4X400 Meter Relay, 4:43.31 5th - Owen Crosby, Micah Crosby, Nash Fitzsimonds, Jaxon Suedel; 4X600 Meter Relay, 7:16.08 PNC Girls results 7th - Shirley Kemp, 300 Meter Dash, 47.39 (PR) 7th - Emerson Helgoe, 1,500 Meter Run, 5:37.82 5th - Delaney Denault, 3,000 Meter Run, 12:47.34 (PR); 6th - Emerson Helgoe, 12:47.93 6th - Carlene Johnson, Emma Seng, Raegan Safranski, Shirley Kemp; 4X400 Meter Relay, 5:21.25 2nd - Mace Puppe, Carlene Johnson, Delaney Denault, Emerson Helgoe; 4X600 Meter Relay, 7:33.53 6th - Audriey Longtine, Long Jump, 4’4”; 7th - Gracelyn Moe, 4’2” 4th - Addelyn Manley, Pole Vault, 7’6” 5th - Audriey Longtine, Long Jump, 14’3” 8th - Jaylynn Stegman, Triple Jump, 28’11.5”

Eliot Peterson hands the baton off to Amelie Willits. Along with Nevaeh Schroeder and Leah Schroeder, the team placed 9th in the 4x300 relay on April 4 in Grand Forks.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Emma Seng placed 7th in the 600 meter finals in Grand Forks on Friday, April 4.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Shirley Kemp had a personal best time in the 300 meter finals, good for a 7th place finish.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Addelyn Manley cleared the bar at 7'6" and was good for 4th place in the pole vault.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Audrey Longtine placed 6th with a personal best jump of 4'4" on April 4 in Grand Forks . Photo by Larry Stokke.

Lianda Jacobs threw the shot put for a personal best of 22' 7.5" at the Red River Valley Meet in Grand Forks on April 4.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Collin Longtin takes the baton from Gavin Bjornstad who, along with teammates Logan Heuchert and Kylan Schafer, took 9th place in the 4X300 relay. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Logan Heuchert hands the baton to Kylan Schafer in the 4X300 relay. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Gracelyn Moe leaped to a personal best of 13"4' in the long jump. Photo by Larry Stokke.

Emerson Helgoe and Delaney Denault placed 7th and 9th in the 1500 meter run.

Photo by Larry Stokke.

Sports

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page B2

Jake’s Take on Sports iffy yet on when Langdon-Munich and Pembina County North will get going with games, but we do have tentative schedules in this week’s paper for both teams.

By Jake Kulland, Sports Editor A little glimpse of spring brings a load of activities As we write this week, it is beginning to feel sort of spring-like here in the Tundra. Anytime it gets over 50 degrees in April, we are normally dancing in the streets. Snow does linger in some spots, however, and that has been making it tough to get outdoors for any kind of spring activities. Not sure why, but there are many things going on April 12. Let’s talk them all up.

Cardinals baseball team set to start their season in Burlington Area high school baseball and softball had hoped to get started this week, but things are not quite dried out yet.

American Legion Field in Langdon still has lots of snow on it in the infield and around home plate. Hopefully, warmer temps will help get rid of it all, but it’s going to be awhile before any home games will be played there even after the snow leaves. The Cards will open their 2025 season at Des Lacs-Burlington in Burlington on April 11 then will hopefully start the Region 4 part of their schedule at Grafton on April 14. From there, we will see what the weather has in store. The Cardinals were to have had a game in Munich on April 8 versus Bottineau, and that will be rescheduled at a later date. For softball, things are still

Men’s Amateur Basketball Tournament coming to the Munich gym April 12 Let’s begin the many activities happening on April 12 (you’ll see that date in here a lot, if not already) with word that the annual Langdon-Munich Mens Amateur Basketball Tournament is coming on that day. Due to it being Prom Night in Langdon, the tournament this year has been moved to Munich in the Munich school gym.

At press time, there were seven teams in this year’s tourney - from Grand Forks, Grafton, Midkota, Devils Lake, and two from Langdon-Munich.

A team from Cando had to pull out of the tourney, so organizers were still looking for one more team at press time.

The action is set to begin at around 8:00 a.m. on April 12 in Munich with games going on all day. The public is very much welcome to attend. The Munich senior class will be offering concessions all through the action, and everyone is encouraged to stop by and enjoy that goodness, too. It should be a fun day and a nostalgic, magical one at the Munich gym.

All tournament proceeds go to the Langdon-Munich boys basketball program.

Danny Roy Memorial Poker Tournament coming to the Langdon Eagles April 12 The Langdon Country Club and the Langdon Eagles will hold their annual Danny Roy Memorial Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament on April 12.

It will be held at the Langdon Eagles Club. Registration will be held from 12-1:00pm with the dealing to start shortly thereafter. The entry fee is

$150, but extra chips are available if you sign up by 12:45pm. There will be many prizes awarded with all net proceeds going to the betterment of the Langdon Country Club. All players 21 and over are welcome to play.

They would love to see a nice crowd there. A little plug for the Eagles, dues are now being accepted through May 31. They are $40 this year and are payable at the club during business hours. Please get your dues in, as that’s what makes things go for the Eagles to host many events such as the one above.

We told you last week that boys high school golf numbers were expected to be high for both Langdon-Munich and North Border, and indeed they are. In grades 7-12, Langdon-Munich has 21 boys out, and North Border, a whopping 25. The high school schedules for both teams are in this week’s paper.

One more golf note: Tuesday Men’s League golf will get underway at the LCC in May. Please sign up your 2-man team for either the 3:30pm or 6:00pm shifts (Or both!) by calling or texting league secretary Randy Hill at 701-370-1118.

MudFest happening in Wales April 12 Last, and certainly not least, we want to get in a shout-out to the Wales Fire Department, who are having their 18th Annual MudFest on April 12.

They welcome everyone out at 12 Noon to enjoy some chili and beverages with their big raffle drawing happening later in the afternoon with a chance to win a Polaris Ranger 1000 XP, among many other prizes. The magic all happens at the Wales Fire Hall, and everyone is welcome to attend. I guess this Saturday you can take a nice drive through Cavalier County and take all these April 12 activities in - making a day of it!

The Borderland Press

2025 Pembina 2025 LangdonCounty North Girls Munich Girls Softball Schedule Softball Schedule (Schedule subject to change due to the weather)

Monday, April 14 Langdon-Munich at Pembina County North in Cavalier, 4:00pm Tuesday, April 15 Larimore at Pembina County North in Cavalier, 4:00pm Tuesday, April 22 PCN at Larimore, 4:00pm Thursday, April 24 PCN at Grafton, 4:00pm Monday, April 28 Northern Lights at PCN in Walhalla, 4:00pm Thursday, May 1 --Midway-Minto at PCN in Cavalier, 4:00pm Friday, May 2 --PCN at Nelson County in McVille, 4:00pm Friday, May 9 --At Fargo Invitational Saturday, May 10 -At Fargo Invitational Monday, May 12 --PCN at Langdon-Munich, 4:00pm May 29-May 31 -State B Tournament in Fargo

(Schedule subject to change due to the weather)

Monday, April 14 -- Langdon-Munich at Pembina County North in Cavalier, 4:00pm Thursday, April 17 --Langdon-Munich at Nelson County in McVille, 4:30pm Tuesday, April 22 --Langdon-Munich at Carrington, 4:00pm Thursday, April 24 --Larimore at Langdon-Munich, 4:00pm Friday, April 25 --At Des Lacs-Burlington Jamboree Saturday, April 26 --At Des Lacs-Burlington Jamboree Monday, April 28 --Grafton at Langdon-Munich, 4:30pm Thursday, May 1 --Langdon-Munich at Northern Lights in Rolla, 4:00pm Monday, May 5 --Langdon-Munich at Midway-Minto, 4:00pm Friday, May 9 --At Fargo Invitational Saturday, May 10 --At Fargo Invitational Monday, May 12 --Pembina County North at Langdon-Munich, 4:30pm May 29-31 -State B Tournament in Fargo

“See ya!” next week!

2025 Region 3 Boys Golf Schedule Varsity Date/Location/Time 4/11 McVille 10:00 am 4/15 Larimore 10:00 am 4/17 Grafton 10:00 am 4/22 TBD (Ray Richards or Lakota)10:00 am 4/24 Langdon 10:00 am 4/29 Creel Bay (DL) 10:00 am 5/1 Northwood 10:00 am 5/2-5/3 Des Lacs-Burlington 10:00 am 5/6 Park River 10:00 am 5/9 Lakota (Q) 10:00 am 5/13 Walhalla 10:00 am 5/15 Cavalier (Q) 10:00 am 5/20 Larimore 10:00 am 5/22 Grafton 10:00 am 5/27 Regionals-DL 9:00 am 6/3-6/4 Jamestown CC TBD

Sub-Varsity Date/Location/Time 4/14 McVille 10am/12pm 4/28 Grafton 10am/12pm 5/5 Langdon 10am/12pm 5/8 Northwood 10am/12pm 5/12 Pembina 10am/12pm 5/19 Drayton 10am/12pm

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page B3

The Borderland Press

United for Ukraine parolees in North Dakota awaiting fate Decision to remove other humanitarian parolees stokes concern

By Michael Standaert/The North Dakota News Cooperative Hundreds of Ukrainians who settled in North Dakota to escape the war in their homeland are now waiting to learn whether they will be forced to leave the U.S. in the coming months.

A pending decision by the Trump administration would impact programs like the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, the lives of new residents, and the communities who welcomed them.

They’ve experienced births, marriages, new employment and other life milestones while in North Dakota, but may soon face a new transition.

News that 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who came to the U.S. after October 2022 under similar humanitarian parolee programs will return to their countries in April has Ukrainians, along with the groups and individuals who’ve helped them settle in, on edge.

and groups who’ve supported Ukrainians to temporarily settle in North Dakota as the war in their homeland drags on for a full third year.

This includes helping them get to North Dakota, finding apartments, helping get furniture, assisting them as they looked for work and welcoming them into their communities. It’s been both a solid time commitment and a monetary investment.

Michael Southam, co-founder of the FM Volunteers for Ukraine in Fargo, a group that has helped around 200 Ukrainians settle in the area, said there’s a lot of anxiety among parolees about what comes next.

“The majority of them are very, very concerned and anxious,” Southam said, adding he was speaking in a personal capacity and not as a spokesperson for the group.

Estimates range from around 600 to 800 Ukrainians who have settled in the state as part of the U4U program, and over 1,500 North Dakota sponsors submitted applications after the program started in April 2022 a little over a month after Russia invaded.

“If they’re given, you know, a 30-day window, for example, like the Cubans, to depart, there’s a lot of business to be handled. And, most importantly, where will they go? How will they live?

How will they support themselves?

Who is going to accept them?”

It is hard to get an accurate count on the numbers in the state since they aren’t managed like those migrants coming through refugee resettlement programs.

He added that some Ukrainian parolees feel a sense of betrayal regarding how the U.S. has changed course in just a couple of months from strong support of Ukraine to a less staunch commitment.

Anxiety rising Their fate matters to businesspeople like Mitchell Page, administrator of Golden Acres Manor skilled nursing facility in Carrington.

Page employs around eight Ukrainian parolees out of a staff of around 70.

Losing them would set off a scramble to staff difficult to fill positions due to long standing workforce shortages.

“They’re excellent workers and wonderful people,” Page said. “I certainly hope we don’t have to see them depart. It would leave a void at our facility, both in the workforce as well as in losing folks that we now consider friends.”

His Ukrainian employees are now pondering their future here and next moves with some anxiety.

“Some are a little anxious,” Page said. “Others are making plans based on some of the news, and looking at setting some time frames to begin working towards getting back to the Ukraine.”

Their fate also matters to the sponsors

“Ukrainians that are here in a sense, lost their country, their future, their politics, their way of life by the war itself, and I feel, and I believe, that there is a feeling of a sense of betrayal now by our country,” Southam said.

Southam also said that sponsors across the country are also unhappy with how the situation has taken a turn.

“We’ve done what we are supposed to do, and we were asked by our government to do it,” he said. “And now the rug’s kind of being pulled out from under us as sponsors. These beneficiaries are now our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers. They’re members of our family to a degree.”

Return to uncertainty Another who has lent a hand is Cory Thrall, lead pastor of Legacy Church, a United Methodist church in North Bismarck.

Thrall became involved from the start of the U4U program as families began arriving in Bismarck, helping them navigate living in a new country and community.

This included assisting with getting driver's licenses, helping with language classes, and offering cooking get-togethers where they could learn American cooking and showcase their own home dishes.

He had around a dozen families and individuals regularly attending services until recently. With the news that they may have to depart, fewer have been active because of obvious concerns and the busyness of making plans for their next steps.

Thrall had hoped to become a sponsor himself of a single mother with two children before applications for new U4U sponsorships were ended in January.

“The city they were in was on the front and being rocketed, there was no stability for the kids, no school. They were in fear for their lives all of the time,” Thrall said.

“Until there is peace, that’s what these people would be going back to.

Going back to the threat of a rocket taking out their neighborhood at a moment’s notice,” he said.

In one of its first acts, the Trump administration issued an executive order on Jan. 20 canceling all humanitarian parolee programs for the 875,000 migrants from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who had legal U.S. resident sponsors to support their temporary status in the country.

There are currently around 280,000 Ukrainians and 70,000 Afghans in the country through humanitarian parolee programs who await decisions on whether their stay will be extended.

Derrick Gross, executive director of CATCH, works with rural communities in welcoming immigrants and filing much-needed workforce shortages, including a number of Ukrainian parolees.

Gross said it is important to note that nearly all adult Ukrainian parolees in North Dakota are working and accompanying children are in schools here, meaning any sudden shift in their status would wipe out those positive impacts.

Differing from migrants with refugee status, humanitarian parolees are the responsibility of their sponsors and their own hard work. Parolees must secure employment and care for themselves with few benefits other

than what they may get from employers.

Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was keeping tabs on the situation and is advocating against deporting Ukrainian parolees for several reasons.

“They are basically refugees from a war-torn ally,” Cramer said. “They are culturally very similar, for obvious reasons, meaning they’ve acclimated well. And perhaps most relevant is, they are very productive in an economy that is workforce starved.”

Cramer said Ukraine will need citizens to return to the country to help with reconstruction when the time comes, but he saw no reason to rush their removal.

A piece of bipartisan legislation is currently being circulated in the Senate by Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois to grant Ukrainians in the U.S. temporary guest status. This would allow them to stay until the U.S. Secretary of State determines that hostilities have ceased in Ukraine and it would be safe for them to return.

Cramer said he was interested in the legislation but hadn’t yet decided if he’d support it.

Gross said people often don’t see the post-war reconstruction part of the picture when thinking about humanitarian parolees. Most will eventually return to Ukraine unless they go through other le-

gal processes to stay in the U.S. “The whole point was to get them out of harm's way in a situation that wasn't safe and sustainable,” Gross said of the initial aims of the U4U program.

“When the war does end, Ukraine has a massive reconstruction to undergo, and they’ll need their citizens to execute that,” he said.

The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit 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.

Send comments, suggestions or tips to michael@newscoopnd.org. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NDNewsCoop.

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page B4

The Borderland Press

It’s the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week; HHS recognizes public health professionals for providing important health services BISMARCK, ND - North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, April 7-13 and recognizing the contributions of public health professionals on its team, in local public health units, and in other settings who work to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of North Dakotans in communities across the state.

Public health professionals include physicians, nurses, nutritionists, other community health workers, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, emergency response professionals, food and lodging licensers, health facility inspectors, health program administrators, laboratory scientists, tobacco cessation and prevention experts, forensics experts and other

professionals.

Their work supports healthy and vibrant communities by reducing the risk for infectious and chronic diseases, enhancing systems of care, strengthening population-based health to meet local needs, and promoting public health readiness and response.

“We are grateful for the dedication and expertise of the public health professionals on our team and to our local public health partners for the health and safety services, support, education and outreach they provide to North Dakotans,” said HHS Interim Commissioner Dirk Wilke.

In N.D., HHS provides state aid to help fund local public health units while

also supporting local community health. The 28 single and multi-county local public health units provide varied, valuable health services that meet local needs.

Public health workers and programs support community health through health screenings for early detection and intervention, nutrition education and support, chronic disease prevention and treatment, routine wellness vaccines and injury prevention activities. Public health professionals also promote oral health, conduct health and sanitation inspections and work to reduce alcohol abuse, opioid overdoses, youth vaping, and use of tobacco-related products as they focus on local community health priorities.

In addition to health surveillance and monitoring, data collection, analysis

Fraud Watch snippets from AARP Fraud losses increased in 2024 Fraud reached unprecedented levels in 2024 with a staggering $12.5 billion lost, a shocking increase of 25% over 2023. The number of reports remained stable from 2023 to 2024, but the percentage of reporters who had money stolen jumped from 27% to 38%.

Key takeaways: • Impostor scams continue to rise with criminals impersonating trusted individuals, companies, or government agencies to deceive victims.

•One in five victims of impostor scams had money stolen from them with an average loss of about $800 per person.

•Many scams were tied to gift card purchases or cryptocurrency with a total of $2.95 billion being stolen from consumers across the country.

Email remained the most popular method for criminals to reach their victims with a 25% increase in its use compared to last year.

These numbers are shocking, but the true extent of fraud is likely much higher, as a significant amount of fraud goes unreported. Last October, the FTC factored in underreporting from 2023, estimating that the $10.4 billion in losses reported to the agency that year was more like $158.3 billion.

Avoiding fake tax preparers April 15 is almost here, and many Americans are realizing that their plans to do their own taxes this year didn't work out. If you're one of them and looking for some last-minute help, here's what to look out for to avoid fraudulent tax preparers.

Pay attention to payment and promises. Tax scammers may ask for

payment in cash up-front or ask to be paid a percentage of your return.

Some might also promise a large return before they even see your paperwork. These are all red flags. No one can guarantee you a return nor should anyone be paid in advance or more than a standard fee.

Another warning sign is someone who avoids filling out their tax preparer ID or refuses to sign your return. Anyone who isn't willing to identify themselves on your tax forms or asks you to sign your tax return before it's completed shouldn't be trusted.

Tax season can be stressful, but resources are available at IRS.gov to help you find a reliable and safe professional to help you through it.

TSA deadlines and real ID scams The deadline is coming – in fact, it's almost here. Beginning May 7, 2025, airline passengers need an enhanced driver's license, known as Real ID, or a passport to board a plane. This change is based on a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission as a way to improve airline safety. Beware anytime there is a deadline, there will also be scams.

Most Real ID scams will likely be phishing attempts that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as your state DMV or the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Be wary of emails, texts or phone calls claiming to be from these agencies - or another state agency - and never click on links. These government offices will not contact you about Real ID. It is an optional license and is up to each individual to obtain it on their own.

For more information about obtaining a Real ID, contact your state or local DMV office or visit dhs.gov/real-id.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

How to avoid fake check scams Several scams rely on convincing the target to deposit a check as a first step of the crime. They then convince the target to use the money in a specific way. For example, in some workfrom-home scams, the “company” will send a check for deposit, and then once it “clears,” they direct the target to purchase needed office equipment from the company’s “catalogue.”

The catch? The check was fake and it bounced, and the equipment catalogue was fake, too. The money the target spent on “equipment” came from their own money, and the equipment never comes.

Even though a check deposit may appear to be cleared on your banking app or website, the process can take several weeks. The criminals rely on most of us not knowing this, so they get us to deposit and then quickly transact against the deposit. When the check is determined to be fake, the target is out that money.

Be suspicious anytime someone wants to send a check that you then must act on with some immediacy – making purchases, paying a fee or sending funds to a third party for example.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop it. Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

and reporting and program administration and support, HHS public health professionals provide direct support to communities and health systems routinely and during disasters and health emergencies as a key part of the state’s emergency readiness and response team.

HHS team members provide gap staffing when requested at understaffed long-term care facilities and hospitals to support quality care. They also respond with resources if a facility’s water, heat or electrical service is interrupted and support facility evacuations, if needed.

HHS Public Health team members also conduct laboratory testing through the department’s State Laboratory, including microbiology testing,

water testing, and testing related to mosquito and tick surveillance programs, biothreats and biosafety resources. The lab’s primary customers include clinical labs across the state.

The public health system focuses on supporting all populations in N.D. to have the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health in a manner that meets their needs.

Learn more about local public health services and find nearby local public health units at hhs.nd.gov/service-locations/local-public-health.

To find out more about how the HHS Public Health Division team is working to help N.D. become the healthiest state in the nation visit hhs.nd.gov/ health.

Classifieds

The Borderland Press

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Solution on Page B3

Public Notices

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page B6

The Borderland Press

Cavalier County Commission Proceedings On March 18, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. the Board of Commissioners of Cavalier County, North Dakota, met at the Cavalier County Courthouse in regular session. Greg Goodman was not in attendance. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Nick Moser called the meeting to order and proceeded as follows: Moser asked if there were any changes to the agenda. Austin Lafrenz made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Shane Gallagher; motion carried. Austin Lafrenz made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Shane Gallagher; motion carried. Terry Johnston, Road Supervisor; Sheldon Romfo, Road Foreman; and Jeff Daley, KLJ; met with the commissioners to review current road projects. Shane Gallagher made a motion to approve a Construction Engineering Contract with KLJ for the County 17 overlay project, seconded by Stanley Dick, motion carried. Terry Johnston informed the commissioners that he would be compiling the gravel and equipment bids.

The commissioners asked that the private contractors that have been doing snow removal be contacted to get a bid submitted. Sheldon Romfo discussed the recent group meeting

of the roadmen. The commissioners stated that future roadmen group meetings would be mandatory for all operators. Shane Gallagher made a motion to approve the Beer and Liquor License for the Langdon Country Club, seconded by Stanley Dick, motion carried. Stanley Dick made a motion to appoint Chris Olson to the JDA board, seconded by Austin Lafrenz, motion carried. Department Heads met with the commissioners to get directive if they wanted a salary proposal for the 2026 budget. The commissioners suggested a 3-4% increase, but stated their concern with the 3% cap on levy increases being proposed by legislature. The Department Heads were asked to try to trim budgets where possible. Angelo Mondragon, State’s Attorney, visited with the commissioners regarding the effects of federal funding cuts for the county/ state agencies. Austin Lafrenz made a motion to transfer $1,100.00 from Road & Bridge Fund to Road & Bridge Equipment Replacement Fund, seconded by Shane Gallagher, motion carried. Shane Gallagher made a motion, seconded by Stanley Dick to review and approve the following audit of claims; motion carried: •LISA GELLNER | $405.20 | AUD

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Taxiway B Construction & Apron Expansion Robertson Field Airport Langdon, North Dakota AIP Project No. 3-38-0031-021-2025

ing, and electrical construction.

Sealed bids, subject to the conditions contained herein, for improvements to the Robertson Field Airport, Langdon, North Dakota, AIP Project No. 3-38-0031-021-2025 will be received by the Langdon Airport Authority at the Mead & Hunt Fargo Office, 2505 N. University Drive, Suite 100, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102, until 11:00 AM local time on April 25, 202510/4/2120, and then publicly opened and read aloud.

Project work consists of but is not limited to the following:

The complete set of Plans, Specifications, and Contract Documents can be obtained for a non-refundable fee of $200.00 at the office of Mead & Hunt, Inc. located at 2505 N. University Drive, Suite 100, Fargo, ND 58102 or may be downloaded for a fee of $25 at www.questcdn.com #9612290. Those wishing to download the bidding documents electronically, do so at their own risk for completeness of the bidding documents.

Each bid must be accompanied by a separate envelope containing the contractor's license and bid security. The bid security must be in a sum equal to five percent of the full amount of the bid and must be in the form of a bidder's bond. A bidder's bond must be executed by the bidder as principal and by a surety, conditioned that

Construct Taxiway B and Expand Apron will consist of pavement removal, excavation, grading, aggregate base construction, asphalt paving, storm sewer installation, underdrain installation, pavement marking, seed-

Construction for this project shall be completed by October 31, 2025, for all bid schedules.

•EVERSPRING SUITES | $198.00 | COMM/AUD •PREMIUM WATERS, INC. | $42.48 | CLERK •QUADIENT LEASING USA, INC. | $977.10 | MISC •VANGUARD APPRAISALS, INC | $9,137.50 | TX DIR •SIDWELL | $1,887.00 | TX DIR •FARMERS UNION OIL CO | $290.05 | MAINT •BORDERLAND PRESS, INC. | $657.04 | COMM •SAMSON ELECTRIC LTD. | $13,617.00 | MAINT •ECOLAB INC. | $135.45 | MAINT •INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPT. | $4,733.99 | GEN/E-911 •LANGDON HARDWARE & RENTAL | $718.07 | GEN/R&B •UNITED COMMUNICATIONS | $1,664.66 | GEN/R&B/VSO •LANGDON CITY | $550.54 | GEN/R&B •VERIZON WIRELESS | $115.52 | R&B/WEED •OTTER TAIL POWER CO | $2,494.70 | GEN/R&B •CHRISTIE MOTOR SALES, INC. | $243.50 | SHERIFF •JP MORGAN CHASE BANK | $1,346.08 | SHERIFF/K-9 •FARMERS UNION OIL CO | $3,283.34 | SHERIFF •JOHN METZGER | $32.97 | SHERIFF •PREMIUM WATERS, INC. | $24.96 | DISP •PEMBINA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE | $2,610.00 | SHERIFF •AT&T MOBILITY | $1,189.48 | SHERIFF •LEXIPOL, LLC | $3,699.74 | SHERIFF •AUTO VALUE OF LANGDON | $5.99 | SHERIFF

if the principal's bid is accepted and the contract awarded to the principal, the principal, within ten days after notice of the award, shall execute a contract in accordance with the terms of the bid and the bid bond and any condition of the governing body. If a successful bidder does not execute a contract within the ten days allowed, the bidder's bond must be forfeited to the governing body and the project awarded to the next lowest responsible bidder.

The airport reserves the right to reject any and all bids and rebid the project.

No bid will be read or considered if the bid does not fully comply with the bidding requirements. Deficient bids will be resealed and returned to the bidder.

The award of the contract is subject to approval of the Federal Aviation Administration and availability of federal funding. See instruction to bidders for additional information. The following Federal Provisions are required:

Notice of Initiation of the Section 106 Process: Public Participation

Notice of Annual Meetings and Harmoni Towers proposes the con- feet above ground level with appurtestruction of a monopole style tele- nances). Proposed project will include Election communications tower within a 100’ x 100’ lease area approximately 0.51 miles west-southwest of 103rd St. NE and 127th Ave. NE, Walhalla, Pembina County, ND. The height of the tower will be 47.2-meters above ground level (155-feet above ground level) and 49.7-meters above ground level including appurtenances (163-

ground disturbance. Members of the public interested in submitting comments on the possible effects on historic properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places may send their comments to Andrew Smith, RESCOM Environmental Corp., PO Box 361 Petoskey, MI 49770 or call 260-385-6999.

CITY OF LANGDON/TAX EQUALIZATION

Nekoma Rural Fire Department Annual Meeting

The City of Langdon will hold its Tax Equalization meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 6:00pm in the Langdon City Hall meeting room. Anyone wishing to may attend the meeting to address the council regarding the assessment of their property taxes.

Nekoma Rural Fire Department Annual Meeting will be April 15th, 2025.

Held on the South end of Pain Reliever in Nekoma. Meal at 6:00pm with meal to follow.

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Munich Rural Fire District will be held Tuesday, APril 15, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Munich Ambulance Center.

Purpose of the fire meeting is to elect directors for the townships of Henderson, Moscow, Huron, Bruce, and Sievert and also the City of Munich.

Action will be taken on any other business.

Rita Wirth, Sec./Treas.

Munich Rural Fire District

•GOLDEN VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC | $160.00 | SHERIFF •BUSINESS ESSENTIALS | $50.49 | SHERIFF •UP NORTH GARAGE DOORS & MORE | $110.99 | R&B •ALSEN FARMER'S ELEVATOR | $157.06 | R&B •DUBOIS OIL CO.,INC | $3,332.50 | R&B •CAVALIER RURAL ELECTRIC CO-OP. | $589.62 | R&B •FARMERS UNION OIL CO | $5,401.46 | R&B •FARMERS UNION OIL DEVILS LAKE | $1,678.78 | R&B •RICHARD'S WELDING, INC. | $335.20 | R&B •MAC'S HARDWARE | $363.46 | R&B •UP NORTH OIL, INC | $2,531.52 | R&B •DAHL TRUCK & AUTO | $5,685.44 | R&B •LINDE GAS & EQUIPMENT INC | $1,718.45 | R&B •AUTO VALUE OF LANGDON | $123.88 | R&B •UNDERGROUND VAULTS & STORAGE | $219.00 | DOC PRES •AMBER SCHNEIDER | $396.00 | EMG MGR •VERIZON WIRELESS | $90.08 | EMG MGR •UNITED COMMUNICATIONS | $62.76 | E-911 •UNITED COMMUNICATIONS | $42.23 | E-911 •CENTRAL SQUARE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC | $4,770.90 | E-911 •FARMERS UNION OIL CO | $99.12 | VSO •UNITED COMMUNICATIONS | $68.49 | NDSU EXT. •LEEVERS FOODS | $21.41 | NDSU EX TR •SANFORD HEALTH OCC MED CLIN-

Affirmative Action Requirement, 41 CFR Part 60-04 & Executive Order 11246 Buy American Preference (49 USC § 50101; Executive Order 14005; Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Pub. L No. 117-58); Build America; Buy America (BABA)) Civil Rights – Title VI Assurance, 49 USC 47123 & FAA Order 1400.11 Davis Bacon Act, (2 CFR Part 200, Appendix II (D); 29 CFR Part 5; 49 USC § 47112 (b); 40 USC § 3141-3144, 3146, and 3147) Debarment and Suspension, (2 CFR Part 180 (Subpart B); 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix II(H); 2 CFR Part 1200; DOT Order 4200.5; Executive Orders 12549 and 12689) Disadvantage Business Enterprise, 49 CFR Part 26 Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 USC § 201, et seq & 2 CFR § 200.430 Foreign Trade Restriction, 49 USC § 50104 & 49 CFR Part 30 Lobbying and Influencing Federal Em-

IC | $245.00 | GEN/NVHSZ •LANGDON CITY | $117.00 | SS •BORDERLAND PRESS, INC. | $34.92 | NVHSZ •BUSINESS ESSENTIALS | $550.19 | NVHSZ •VESTIS | $118.03 | NVHSZ •ADVANCED BUSINESS METHODS | $442.58 | NVHSZ •CARL HOFFARTH | $60.00 | NVHSZ •WALSH COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPT | $283.81 | NVHSZ •TERRI MACHART | $39.20 | NVHSZ •JILL DENAULT | $152.13 | NVHSZ •KRISTI BRINTNELL | $120.40 | NVHSZ •STANLEY DICK | $133.00 | NVHSZ •BLAINE PAPENFUSS | $29.40 | NVHSZ •HOLLY FETSCH | $44.80 | NVHSZ •SCHUMACHER & SONS | $218.93 | NVHSZ •TOLLEFSON FUNERAL HOME | $3,500.00 | NVHSZ •INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPT. | $56.25 | NVHSZ • CAVALIER COUNTY HEALTH | $50.00 | NVHSZ • PREMIUM WATERS, INC. | $41.95 | NVHSZ •VERIZON WIRELESS | $1,365.93 | NVHSZ •VISA | $2,679.81 | NVHSZ At 10:15 a.m., Stanley Dick made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Shane Gallagher; motion carried.

Cavalier County, North Dakota Nick Moser – Chairman Attest: Lisa Gellner – Auditor

ployees, (49 CFR Part 20, Appendix A; 31 USC § 1352 – Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment; 2 CFR part 200- Appendix II(I)) Procurement of Recovered Materials, (2 CFR § 200.323; 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix II (J); 40 CFR Part 247; 42 USC § 6901, et seq (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA))) Government wide Requirements for Drug free Workplace, (49 CFR Part 32; Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988(41 USC § 8101-8106, as amended) The full text of the above provisions can be found in the bid documents or will be provided by request.

Any questions regarding bids are to be directed to: Mead & Hunt, Inc. Address: 2505 N. University Drive, Suite 100, Fargo, ND 58102 Phone: 1-701-566-6450 Advertised on: April 4th, 11th and 18th 2025

Grey Township Equalization Meeting

Walhalla Country Club Annual Meeting

Grey Township Equalization Meeting will be held April 16th at 5pm at the Chuck Peebles residence.

Walhalla Country Club Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, April 22nd at 7:00pm at the Walhalla Country Club.

Public Notices

The Borderland Press

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF CAVALIER COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA In the Matter of the Estate of Harold P. Harder, Deceased NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed co-personal representatives 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 the notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be presented to Barbara Harder, Personal Representative or the estate, at ℅ LS Law Group, PO Box 127, Park River, ND 58270 or filed with the Court.

DATED this 2nd day of April, 2025.

Barbara Harder Personal Representative Document prepared by: LS Law Group, PC Attorneys at Law By: Tracy L. Laaveg Attorney ID 5839 304 4th St NE, Ste 1 Devils Lake, ND 58301 Telephone: (701)661-1967 service@lslawgroupnd.com Attorney for the Petitioner First publication on the 11th day of April 2025.

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page B7

DAKOTA DATEBOOK: North Dakota Quarter DAKOTA DATEBOOK: North Fargo April 14, 2025 – On this day in 2004, Governor John Hoeven launched the selection process for the design of the North Dakota state quarter. According to Governor Hoeven the state quarter represented a unique opportunity to “share North Dakota’s many cultural, commercial and recreational wonders with the rest of the nation and the world.”

The 50 State Quarter Program Act, passed by Congress in 1997, authorized the redesign of the reverse side of the U.S. quarter dollar. Each new design would bear images emblematic of each state’s heritage, customs and history. Five quarters were to be released each year in the order that the state was admitted to the Union.

When it came time for the design of North Dakota’s quarter in April of 2004, a selection commission was organized under the leadership of Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple. The commission asked all North Dakotans to participate in the design process by writing a narrative discussing how North Dakota should be seen on a national level. By July, Lt. Governor Dalrymple had received nearly 400 narratives, which the selection commission divided into five groups: agriculture, landscape, International Peace Gardens, Badlands and Native American culture.

Based upon these narratives, the selection commission recommended three concepts to the U.S. Mint. From these recommendations, artists from the Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program created three concept coins. The concept coins were then sent back to the ND Commission, who then narrowed

the choice to two. The final selection of the quarter design was put to a public vote.

In May of 2005, thousands of North Dakotans participated in the quarter’s selection, and voted for a design emblematic of the states ‘roughrider’ heritage; two buffalo grazing peacefully under the setting sun in the rugged North Dakota Badlands. Brought back from the brink of extinction, buffalo now flourish in their native Badlands, a sight bringing to mind settlers’ recollections of the large herds that once flourished in the plains.

More than two years after the selection process had begun, the North Dakota State quarter was officially launched on August 30, 2006, by John Hoeven in the Bismarck Civic Center. The design, bringing to mind scenes from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, home to hundreds of wild buffalo, was heralded by Hoeven “as a great symbol to showcase our state for generations to come.”

Dakota Datebook written by Lane Sunwall “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.

April 16, 2025 – Despite their similar names, Fargo and West Fargo have been separate cities for many years, and only in the past few decades have they grown enough that their boundaries touched. Until 1923, Fargo was also neighbors with the city of North Fargo, but their relationship wasn't as polite as it is with West Fargo today.

The village of North Fargo was incorporated as an independent city, with its own government and constable, just south of where Fargo North High School sits today. By 1922, the city of Fargo had grown so far north that its boundary touched the south end of North Fargo. In September of that year Fargo annexed an area that contained half of North Fargo without asking the citizens of North Fargo for permission. North Fargo sued, and in the spring of 1923 the state Supreme Court ruled that the annexation was illegal.

The citizens of North Fargo weren't united against becoming a part of the city of Fargo. Opinion was split almost 50-50, making regular village business difficult. After a bond issue to fund the village was voted down, on this date in 1923, North Fargo decided to put annexation to a vote. Two weeks later, the votes were cast. Annexation won by just six votes, to take effect November 1, 1923.

The citizens against annexation sued,

on the basis that the polls weren't open during the hours required by law. Annexation was tied up in the courts, and the conflict with the city of Fargo reached a peak in the summer of 1923. In June, it was discovered that the village of North Fargo had secretly tapped into the Fargo water mains. Fargo water works employees were sent to disconnect the illicit pipes, but the workers found the site guarded by North Fargo constables with shotguns. The connection was left intact, but the City of Fargo billed North Fargo an unduly high rate of $0.50 per thousand gallons for the water North Fargo used.

The animosity – and the water rates – shrank after the State Supreme Court ruled that the voting irregularities were not made in bad faith, and the annexation was made official.

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.

Friday, April 11, 2025 - Page B8

The Borderland Press

Creating, and gifting, crazy critters At Langdon Area Schools, Mrs. Mindi Lill’s art classes created some crazy critters. Her 2nd graders were instructed to use 2D media to construct an assortment of monsters and wacky creatures. Her high school sculpture class was then assigned a critter to recreate using sculpture techniques.

Little did the 2nd graders know last Friday that these sculptures would be gifted to them based off of their drawings. “They were so excited,” said Lill.

“It was such a fun challenge, and my high schoolers really leaned into the creativity of the 2nd graders.”

“I’m incredibly honored to have been named Teen Miss for North Dakota.

The best part of the weekend was connecting with such inspiring young women and becoming part of a lifelong sisterhood. I’m looking forward to an amazing year of service, growth, and representing North Dakota with pride,” shared Lund.

Lund also received the highest score in evening gown and the onstage question portion of the competition.

Jaxson Lee and Karter Lien.

Matilda Lawson with Layla Kakela.

Cont’d. From Page A1 Borderland Beauties take the stage for the North Dakota State Pageant queens, directors, and pageant staff.

She embodies kindness, positivity, and true sisterhood. Her warm spirit and uplifting presence made a lasting impact on everyone around her.

Zoey Skjerva in her evening gown. Skjerva was Teen Miss Pumpkinfest and resides in Cando.

Photo by Rebecca Davis.

Destiny Aguilar with Jayde Lafrenz.

Mother-daughter duo, Tara and Isla Emerson, had the honor of competing together at the pageant.

McKenzie Azure was the winner of the Victoria’s Voice Award, an award given to the contestant who shows the most dedication and advocacy for the Victoria’s Voice Foundation.

The mission of Victoria’s Voice Foundation is to advance initiatives against the drug epidemic, seek policy changes, and develop programs and projects — or support those created by other credible organizations— that prevent substance use disorder, address the intersection between mental health and drug abuse, and save lives from overdose.

Two awards were given to Reigning Queens. Adelae Bry, Junior Miss for North Dakota, received the Sunshine Award. The Sunshine Award is given to the reigning queen who has shown the most outstanding commitment to recruiting new contestants and promoting the pageant. Charlotte Sonterre, Miss North Dakota for America Strong, and Lucy Blackmun, Teen Miss for North Dakota, received the titles of Queen of Queens.

LITTLE MISS CONTESTANTS: Sydalee Bry, Little Miss for Bismarck Corbynn Corbit, Little Miss Pumpkinfest JUNIOR MISS CONTESTANTS: Charlotte Krogfoss, Junior Miss for Thompson Zoey Sveen, Junior Miss Pumpkinfest Isla Emerson, Junior Miss for Pembina County Avery Pastir, Junior Miss for Garrison JUNIOR TEEN CONTESTANTS: Amelia Ripple, Junior Teen Pumpkinfest Mia Whitmore, Junior Teen for Bismarck Rorie Christenson, Junior Teen for Grand Forks TEEN MISS CONTESTANTS: Abigail Kirby-Speck, Teen Miss for Nelson County McKenzie Azure, Teen Miss for Dunseith Natalie Lund, Teen Miss for Red River Valley Zoey Skjerva, Teen Miss Pumpkinfest MISS CONTESTANT: Deserae Wanner, Miss Bismarck MRS. CONTESTANTS: Tara Emerson, Mrs. Pumpkinfest

Amelia Ripple in her formal gown. Ripple was crowned as Junior Teen Pumpkinfest before competing at the Empire Arts Center last weekend. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

Marissa Sanders, Mrs. Renville County Makenzie Widmar, Mrs. Williston Dana Henry, Mrs. Capitol City Walhalla’s Annual Giant Pumpkinfest Pageant was an official preliminary to the pageant opening up new opportunities for girls in the Walhalla area.

Paisley Marting, Baby Miss Pumpkinfest, and Amelia Keogh, Tiny Miss Pumpkinfest, served as ambassadors for the pageant.

Henry, Sanders and Wanner will travel to Las Vegas in August to represent North Dakota at the Mrs. America, Mrs. American, and Miss for America Strong pageants, which is held each year at the Westgate Resort and Casino.

For more information on the pageant, please visit forevermorleypageants. com or email nddirectors@gmail.com.

Mia Whitmore was the recipient of the Patricia Coffey & Jane Grzadzielewski Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest.

Amelia Ripple, Junior Teen Pumpkinfest and Rorie Christenson received honorable mentions.

“I plan to use the scholarship money to attend the International Music Camp held at the International Peace Garden in Dunseith, N.D., this summer,” said Whitmore.

Evva-lyn Macdonald and Daisy Kuhn.

The essay contest is in loving memory of Patricia Coffey and Jane Grzadzielewski, who were both devoted advocates for reading and literacy; a $300 cash award was presented to the winner. For contestants to enter the scholarship contest, they had to write a 300 word or less essay that demonstrated a deep passion for reading and a profound commitment to promoting literacy. Eight Junior Queens participated in the contest.

Charlotte Krogfoss received the Publication Award for submitting the most program ad pages. Krogfoss also received the overall high score across all areas of competition; she received high scores in her interview, state costume and activewear.

Natalie Lund received the Congeniality Award. Natalie was chosen by her fellow contestants, the reigning

Taya Feist and Sam Borchardt

Borderland

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