The Borderland Press, V4, N17, Friday, May 2

Page 1

CARDS BASEBALL

SEES SUCCESSFUL WEEK!

The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com

In this issue:

Friday, May 2, 2025

Volume 4, Number 17

200 Veterans honored with journey to nation’s capital By Rebecca Davis

Two chartered flights. Over 200 veterans. One unforgettable journey.

News: NDSU Extension recognizes achievements at 2025 spring conference, Pg. A2

Ag: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attack on oil seeds and its effects on N.D. producers, Pg. A3

State: Federal funding cuts prolong anxiety for North Dakota institutions, Pg. A10

Teachers of the Year 2025 recognized in Cavalier, Pembina Counties Last Thursday, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler congratulated 48 N.D. educators who were named Teachers of the Year in their respective counties. Out of the group, one will be chosen as N.D.’s state Teacher of the Year in September. “It is a pleasure to honor these outstanding teachers, who have been recognized by their peers and the students and families they serve as being exemplars of their profession,” Baesler said. “All North Dakotans should be grateful for the work our educators do to help develop our state’s new generations of citizens.” In Cavalier County, Rachel Avdem of Langdon Area Elementary School was awarded. In neighboring Pembina County, Adam Riddle, who teaches at North Valley Career and Technology Center, was awarded. The county awards announced Thursday are part of N.D.’s state Teacher of the Year recognition program. County award recipients are eligible to apply for state Teacher of the Year honors, which will be announced in September. The incumbent state Teacher of the Year is Kendall Burgrud, a mathematics teacher at Wachter Middle School in Bismarck, whose term ends on Dec. 31. County Teacher of the Year candidates were nominated in January and February. A total of 254 educators were nominated from 48 councont’d. on page A2

The Veterans Honor Flight of North Dakota and Minnesota recently completed another mission, transporting 200 local heroes to Washington, D.C., for a three-day trip to visit the memorials built in their honor. The back-to-back trips, known as Trip 18 Bravo and Trip 19 Alpha, departed from Grand Forks International Airport on April 20 and returned April 22.

minal echoed with applause, cheers, and heartfelt thanks as veterans were greeted with signs, handshakes, and hugs. For some, it was the first time they had ever been truly welcomed home. Tears welled in the eyes of many veterans as they shook hands with strangers who simply wanted to thank them for their service.

This powerful experience brought together veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War— many of whom were visiting the nation's capital for the first time. A packed and powerful itinerary The April flights followed a tight and meaningful schedule. After early morning departures from Grand Forks, both groups arrived at Baltimore/Washington International Airport and boarded buses to Washington, D.C.

Waldemar Melstad of Walhalla after arriving back home from the Honor Flight trip. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

A veteran and grandfather greets his granddaughters after he arrived home from the Honor Flight. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

Trip 18 Bravo veterans kicked off their experience with stops at the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army memorials, followed by a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Army. Meanwhile, Trip 19 Alpha began with a visit to Fort McHenry then the World War II Memorial before settling in at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, where both groups reunited for dinner and a shared program. On April 21, both groups immersed themselves in the solemn beauty of the nation’s most iconic monuments and memorials. Visits included the World War II, FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials. Veterans also attended the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and visited the Military Women’s Memorial and the U.S. Navy Memorial.

Richard Geir of Edinburg, N.D. after landing back home at the airport. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

On their final day, the veterans explored the National Archives, took group photos at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and concluded with a meaningful stop at the National Museum of the U.S. Army before flying home. An emotional homecoming Veterans were welcomed home by their families, friends, fellow veterans, and community members as they arrived back at the Grand Forks Airport. The parking lot was completely full with shuttles running people from their vehicles to the terminal. The tercont’d. on page B8

Randy Wieler of Walhalla arriving home from the Honor Flight. Photo by Rebecca Davis.

Pictured are Langdon natives Tom Perius (left) and Harvey Metzger (right),who recently went on a Veterans Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Both said it was the trip of a lifetime.

Pop-Up Market hosted in conjunction with new business’s grand opening By Hilary Nowatzki

It was bright and sunny last Saturday, April 26, illuminating the interior of the old Customs and Border Patrol building in Pembina as numerous people walked through its doors. The first of a series of ‘Pop-Up Markets’ was hosted in conjunction with the grand opening of the area’s newest ‘thrift boutique,’ as Mary Lou Swiscoski, owner, described the store. Sherri Carattini is the vice chair of the Fort Pembina Historical Society, which is the entity that owns the old Customs house. She could be found fluttering around the building all day Saturday, ensuring visitors knew where to go and that vendors were taken care of. Sherri's husband, Paul, plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role as the building manager, handling maintenance and upkeep. According to Sherri, over 130 visitors came to the Pop-Up Market throughout the day. They also had 18 vendors with every square foot of the ground floor of the building being filled with various treats, gifts, plants, and other homemade goods and crafts. The idea for the pop-up came as the Fort

Pembina Historical Society was brainstorming ways to raise funds to maintain the building. “The Pop-Up Market was one of the first things that came to mind," Sherri explained. "We formed a quick little committee here in town, and we decided to use the space for popups, hopefully bringing people in and showing everybody what we have and having some fun at the same time." The event was more than just a marketplace; it was a strategic effort to

Mary Lou Swiscoski receives her first dollar bill from Gladys Kemnitz at the grand opening of Coffee, Thrift, and Gift. Photo by Jesus Ramos.

showcase the building's potential and attract tenants. Currently, the building has more space to offer prospective leases.

“We have a lot of offices upstairs. We'd like to have some more permanent tenants. Right now, we're only renting out one office space, so it would be nice [to have more],” Sherri said.

They currently have one individual leasing an office space in the building. A new business is now housed in cont’d. on page B8


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