West Fargo Focus February 2023

EDITOR

Wendy Reuer wreuer@forumcomm.com

701-241-5530

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Lisa Tillotson ltillotson@forumcomm.com

701-241-5524

MULTIMEDIA SALES CONSULTANTS

Jessie Andren jandren@forumcomm.com

701-241-5451

Tim Couchman tcouchman@forumcomm.com

701-241-5490

Jamie Dettling jdettling@forumcomm.com

701-241-5493

Keith Harriger kharriger@forumcomm.com

701-241-5435

DESIGNERS

Sara Slaby & Mollie Burlingame

westfargond.gov

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES & STORY IDEAS: advsales@forumcomm.com

701-241-5431

ON THE COVER:

North Dakota snow sculpting team members Jay Ray, Josh Zeis and Mike Nelson work their winter magic preparing their Ten on the Sled sculpture for the metro wide Frostival celebration. David Samson / West Fargo Focus

Submit your photo for the chance to be featured on the cover of future editions.

Submissions can be made online at https://inforum.news/WFPhotocontest or by scanning this code:

An ice sculpture depicting a soldier’s tribute is featured at the West Fargo POW/MIA Plaza along Sheyenne Street in West Fargo.

David Samson / West Fargo Pioneer

Calendar of Events

MONTHLY

Airport Authority

5:30 p.m. last Thursday of every month

@ West Fargo Municipal Airport Terminal Building

Board of Equalization

5:30 p.m. second Tuesday in April

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

City Commission

5:30 p.m. first and third Monday of every month

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Forestry Committee

5:15 p.m. second Tuesday of February, April, June, August and November

@ Riverside Room, West Fargo City Hall

Library Board

5:30 p.m. second Thursday of every month

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Liquor Control Board

1 p.m. second Tuesday of every month

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Park Board

5:30 p.m. second Wednesday of every month

@ Rustad Recreation Center

Planning and Zoning Commission

5:30 p.m. second Tuesday of every month and the fourth Tuesday if needed

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Public Art Advisory Committee

5:30 p.m. Wednesday of every month

Virtual, visit westfargond.gov for link

School Board

6 p.m. second and fourth Monday of every month

@ Leidal Education Center

Technology Tutoring (adults)

3-6 p.m. every Tuesday

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. every Saturday

@ West Fargo Public Library

West Fargo Cribbage Club (all ages)

6:30-8 p.m. every Tuesday

@ West Fargo Public Library

Ready to Read Storytime

(pre-K children + their adults) 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Wednesday @ West Fargo Public Library

Baby Boost Storytime

(ages 0-2 + their adults) 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Friday

@ West Fargo Public Library

FEBRUARY

Teen Hangout

4-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2

@ West Fargo Public Library

STEM Robotics for Kids

10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 @ West Fargo Public Library

Monday Matinee Free Movie Screening of “Selma”

1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 @ West Fargo Public Library

Adult Craft Night: Stamped Books

6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 @ West Fargo Public Library

Registration required

Microsoft Basics Class Series

6-8 p.m. Thursdays

Feb. 9, 16, and 23

@ West Fargo Public Library

Sweetheart Dance

4:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11

@ Rustad Recreation Center

Free Family Movie Screening

“The Bad Guys”

1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11

@ West Fargo Public Library

Monday Matinee Free Movie

Screening of “Harriet”

1:30 p.m. Feb. 13

@ West Fargo Public Library

Monday Night Readers Book Club

6-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13

@ West Fargo Public Library

English Conversation Circle

6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14

@ West Fargo Public Library

Novel Afternoon Book Club

1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15

@ West Fargo Public Library

Third Thursday Book Club

1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16

@ West Fargo Public Library

Community Chat with Library Director: Public Input Event

4-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16

@ West Fargo Public Library

Discovering Your Roots Genealogy Class: Dos and Don’ts of Writing History

1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18

@ West Fargo Public Library

President’s Day: Municipal Buildings and Library Closed

Monday, Feb. 20

West Fargo City Commission Meeting Rescheduled

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Books and Brews Community Coffee Club

6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23

@ Caribou Coffee inside Hornbacher’s West Fargo location

Boys Night Out

4:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 @ Rustad Recreation Center

AARP ND - Legislative Lowdown Lunch and Learn

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 @ DoubleTree by Hilton West Fargo

Monday Matinee Free Movie

Screening “Toni Morrison”

1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 @ West Fargo Public Library

Gardening Club

6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 @ West Fargo Public Library

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE CHANGES

Monday, Feb. 20

• All municipal buildings closed, including West Fargo Public Library

• West Fargo City Commission meeting rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 21

• Monday’s garbage collection is Tuesday, Feb. 21

• No changes to recycling collection

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SCHEDULE CHANGES

West Fargo Public Schools

• Offsite learning Monday, Feb. 20 Park Christian School

• No school Monday, Feb. 20

Oak Grove Lutheran School

• No school Friday, Feb. 17-Monday, Feb. 20

Grace Lutheran School

• No school Friday, Feb. 17-Monday, Feb. 20

Capstone Classical Academy

• No classes Friday, Feb. 17

• School closed Monday, Feb. 20

Trinity Elementary School

Holy Spirit Elementary School

Sacred Heart Middle School

Nativity Elementary School

Shanley High School

• No school Friday, Feb. 17

Dakota Montessori School

• No school Monday, Feb. 20

The Ten on the Sled snow sculpture is seen at the West Fargo POW/MIA Plaza along Sheyenne Street in West Fargo.

David Samson / West Fargo Pioneer

NEWS AND FEATURES

‘World class’ artists on display at West Fargo’s POW/MIA Plaza

By Wendy Reuer | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — “It will blow your mind.”

That was the promise West Fargo Events Executive Director Mike Amundson made to West Fargoans before a surprise display came to life at the POW/MIA Plaza, 400 Sheyenne St., in January.

“It’s going to be something like you’ve never seen

before; it will be seriously impressive to the point you are not going to believe it,” the enthusiastic Amundson said before construction began.

West Fargo officials and West Fargo Events staff kept the exact details of the surprise close to the vest but in the weeks leading up to Jan. 14 when a Shamrock Ice Sculptors descended into West

Fargo to create a life size display of art work carved from nearly 40 blocks of ice. The display was inspired by an idea from West Fargo Public Library staff who suggested bringing the children’s story, “Ten In a The Sled” to life.

Amundson said the display is one of the biggest in the nation, not just West Fargo.

WORLD CLASS: Page

“People will get the opportunity to have world class art right in front of them, if they just go out of their doorstep,” Amundson said.

The POW/MIA Plaza is next to West Fargo’s famed VFW and is owned by the city, but managed by West Fargo Events, along with the Essentia Health Plaza at the Lights on southern Sheyenne Street.

As The Lights just wrapped up hosting a major hockey tournament and will continue to host open skating and other events

throughout the winter, Amundson said the POW/MIA Plaza could not be forgotten.

“That plaza means so much to the heart of West Fargo, we can’t forget about that for the entire course of the winter,” he said. “When you look at all the things going on in West Fargo, don’t forget about the POW/ MIA Plaza, because that thing can really pop.”

Readers can reach West Fargo editor Wendy Reuer at wreuer@forumcomm. com or 701-241-5530.

WORLD CLASS From Page 5

The VFW POW/MIA Plaza in West Fargo offers a green space along Sheyenne Street, the main thoroughfare through town. Michael Vosburg / West Fargo Pioneer

“That plaza means so much to the heart of West Fargo, we can’t forget about that for the entire course of the winter. When you look at all the things going on in West Fargo, don’t forget about the POW/MIA Plaza, because that thing can really pop.”

Mike Amundson

Detail of one of the ice sculptures at the West Fargo POW/MIA Plaza along Sheyenne Street in West Fargo.

David Samson / West Fargo Pioneer

NEWS AND FEATURES

City of West Fargo Presidents Day closures and schedule changes

By City of West Fargo Staff

The City of West Fargo will close Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of President’s Day. The Monday, Feb. 20, West Fargo City Commission meeting is rescheduled for 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21.

There is no garbage collection Monday, Feb. 20. Recycling collection will take place Monday, Feb. 20. Monday and Tuesday garbage collection will take place Tuesday, Feb. 21.

On Monday, Feb. 20, all municipal government buildings will close to the public, including City Hall, Public Library, Sanitation, Public Works and the Transfer Station. Public safety agencies are in full operation but the West Fargo Police and Fire Department buildings will close to the public on this day.

For email or text message alerts regarding holiday closures and sanitation schedule changes, visit www.westfargond.gov/List.aspx.

All

February

Doug Restemayer, DS Beverages

Wild West Moorhead

When the railroad established FargoMoorhead 150 years ago, the Minnesota side was a real Wild West town.

February 13 at 2:00 pm

Sheyenne Crossings Senior Living Apartments

225 13th Ave W, West Fargo

Markus Krueger, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County

NEWS AND FEATURES

Ukrainian family arrives in West Fargo

By Kevin Wallevand | WDAY

WEST FARGO — Just over 100 people have arrived in our state this past year through the formal sponsorship program called Uniting for Ukraine. Now instead of avoiding gunfire and bombings in their home country, they are getting a taste of a North Dakota winter.

When the Bolba family landed in Fargo on Thursday, Jan. 12, the Ukrainian family hugged those who made their trip possible. Former Cass County Commissioner Ken Pawluk is actually related to the family.

Pawluk’s grandfather came to North Dakota from Ukraine, and several years ago, Pawluk and his family

traveled to Ukraine to meet relatives.

The state of North Dakota has approved the sponsorship requests from 230 Ukrainians. Pawluk went through the sponsorship process to bring them from a troubled Ukraine to a peaceful cabin in Cass County.

The Bolba family in a rural West Fargo cabin Friday, Jan. 13. The family had arrived in Fargo earlier in the week from worn-torn Ukraine. Ryan Longnecker / West Fargo Pioneer

“I thought what the commitment was that I was making, and honestly, they were just asking me to sponsor them,” Pawluk said. “But I just really don’t think you can just bring them over and turn them loose, and so it just so happens that we had this cabin available and space that would accommodate the whole family.”

It will take some getting used to.

“I don’t believe the 6-year-old boy has been to school because of the war,” Pawluk said.

There are challenges arriving in a new place. There is the language barrier, registering for schools and applying for jobs. But the Bolbas, along with two girls, Sofia and Maryna, and 6-year-old Timothy knew they had to get out of Ukraine.

Olha Bolbas is an accountant, and her husband Mikola Bolbas had his own business. Shortly after Christmas,

they left their home and everything behind to find a new life in North Dakota. They know it will not be easy.

“(I)t could be shooting in the neighborhood, or it could be shooting in the neighbor state, but because (of the) kids, they just want to keep the kids out of school for a little bit,” said Mikola Bolba through interpreter Irina Tyulandina.

Tyulandina is a Ukrainian from West Fargo who acted as interpreter for the family for WDAY News.

“(It is) a little scary, it’s a different country, different culture, for everyone who’s coming here, you don’t know, the first, the biggest (obstacle) is language,” Olha Bolbas said.

The one thing they brought with them is a special Ukrainian doll as a gift for the Pawluks. A touching way to thank them for sponsoring and getting them here.

“(It is) a little scary, it’s a different country, different culture, for everyone who’s coming here, you don’t know, the first, the biggest (obstacle) is language.”

Olha Bolbas

Ryan Longnecker / West Fargo Pioneer

Blind archers gather to practice sport in West Fargo

By Kevin Wallevand | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — There have been great steps taken to get people with disabilities more opportunities for hunting.

At Sandhills Archery, Zelda Gebhard of Edgeley, North Dakota, is learning more about archery than she ever imagined.

From the bow and arrow, down to the cable, string and arrow rest.

Instructor George Racine has been working with the North Dakota Association for the Blind, summer or winter, getting people like Gebhard comfortable and safe with archery. He finds it inspirational.

“I like to think of it as empowerment,” Racine said. “Any archer out there that shoots, try closing your eyes and try

to shoot, and it’s unbelievable how much sight is part of the shooting experience. So for these individuals, to give them the ability to shoot without sight is unbelievable.”

Gebhard was born with a genetic eye disease that has progressively robbed her of her sight.

“Archery is a family support. My husband is an archer, and my sons are archers, some of my daughter-in-laws and some of my grand kids, and I don’t think grandma should have to stay in the house and do dishes while they were out shooting at targets and having fun,” Gebhard said

Racine has a special setup for the students to help get their feet situated and their wrist in that sweet spot. The North Dakota Association for the Blind funds programs

like Sandhills Archery from money raised during Giving Hearts Day.

“When you have to give up so much, your world shrinks,” Gebhard said. “And doing something new and being successful at it, it helps you broaden up that scope of what you can do.”

Emily Zilka, 25, of Grand Forks has a genetic eye disease that left her with little vision.

More than anything, this sport and these lessons create confidence for those trying to maintain independence.

“Instead of the Little Engine That Could,(...) you think, ‘I can’t do that, I can’t do that,’” Gebhard said. “But that’s the mantra that comes in. So doing something, whatever it is, (...) gives you that confidence to give it a try. Give it a go.”

Zelda Gebhard, a blind archer, draws back as instructor George Racine watches.

City of West Fargo opens branch office

Space at Pioneer Center for Assessing Department and GIS services

By City of West Fargo Staff

The City of West Fargo Assessing Department and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services are now at the City of West Fargo Offices at Pioneer Center, 1405 Prairie Parkway, Suite A in West Fargo. Staff phone numbers and email addresses are the same and available at https://www.westfargond.gov/Directory.

The city recently opened the branch office due to a shortage of space at West Fargo City Hall. Currently, eight city staff members are located in the Pioneer Center with room for up to 12. The move will open up space at West Fargo City Hall for additional staff in engineering, planning and zoning and other departments.

A Building Exploratory Committee is currently evaluating long-term options to address space needs for the City of West Fargo. Agendas and minutes for the committee are available at www.westfargond.gov/agendas.

Maintaining the Maintenance Zones

By City of West Fargo Staff

Maintenance zones are a concept many municipalities use to designate specific days of the week for routine street, sewer and water maintenance activities. This can include snow removal, hydrant flushing, street sign repairs and street sweeping. The purpose of the zones is to provide the community with a standardized schedule of maintenance to minimize disruptions. Maintenance zones also include parking regulations to provide a safe space for crews to repair and maintain equipment, vehicles and infrastructure.

Maintenance zones in West Fargo share the same boundaries as the garbage collection schedule. The assigned maintenance zone day of the week is the day before garbage collection. For example, the northeast section of the city has a Tuesday’s garbage collection route and a Monday maintenance zone day.

During the designated maintenance zone day of the week, the city does not allow on-street parking from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow crews to conduct maintenance. Signs are visible throughout the city to identify the no-parking day of the week in that maintenance zone.

The West Fargo Police Department enforces the no-parking regulations. If residents believe they have a complaint in a maintenance zone, such as a parking violation, there are a few ways to resolve the situation. Before making a complaint, it is highly encouraged to speak with the car’s owner first, if possible. If not, residents can contact the West Fargo Police Department’s Code Enforcement Unit to submit a complaint. To submit a complaint, email ce@westfargond.gov or call (701) 515-5517.

More information on the Code Enforcement unit is available online at westfargopolice.com.

The maintenance zone schedule is active year round. When possible, the City of West Fargo will provide advance maintenance updates using various social media channels. Abiding by the maintenance zone schedule allows Public Works crews to work more efficiently to address residents’ concerns such as street repairs, filing potholes, and snow removal.

For more information on maintenance, zones visit westfargostreets.com.

West Fargo Police Department announces voluntary security camera registration program

By City of West Fargo Staff

The West Fargo Police Department has launched a voluntary security camera registration program. Community members and business owners with security cameras, video doorbells and similar systems can register to inform the West Fargo Police Department of the presence of private surveillance systems that may assist officers investigating criminal activity in the area.

“The West Fargo Police Department requests the

community’s assistance to keep criminal activity low in our city,” said Chief Denis Otterness. “This new program informs our officers that your property has a security camera with recordings residents may be willing to share to assist in solving a crime.”

When a crime is committed near an address with a registered security camera system, officers from the West Fargo Police Department may contact the registered participant and request to see

any available video. Participants registered in the program can determine whether or not to share their video with police at any time. Enrollment in this program does not grant the West Fargo Police Department direct access or control over any privately-owned cameras or security systems.

Those who wish to register their security cameras can easily register through the West Fargo Police Department’s website at westfargopolice.com.

West Fargo schools to gain vital mental health support

By Wendy Reuer | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — With mental health support needs growing significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began, West Fargo Public Schools will see nearly two dozen additional mental health support staff such as social workers, counselors and psychologists join the district after securing a $12 million grant from the Department of Education.

Annie Richards, director of Behavioral Health and Wellness, obtained the grant, which will pay $12 million to the district over a period of five years and

is enough to hire at least 21 additional mental health professionals who will be working in the elementary, middle and high schools.

West Fargo officials, as well as other school district officials, have said the support for more mental health help has increased greatly since the pandemic began.

There was a 4% increase in total referrals in West Fargo during the 2020-21 school year, but that number

increased to 31% the following school year, with referrals growing yet again this year at a disproportionate rate to West Fargo’s enrollment growth.

West Fargo became the first district in North Dakota to create a department centered on behavioral health and wellness, according to district officials.

The West Fargo School Board on Monday, Jan. 9, approved hiring 10 of those positions for just over $800,300.

The district will add over 20 mental health staff as part of $12M grant

Professions include four additional counselors for about $345,820 per year, three social workers for $195,180, two school psychologists for $172,910 and one additional educator wellness facilitator for $86,455.

All positions will be fully funded through the grant program.

The salary numbers represent not just an annual salary, but also the average estimated benefits cost including the district’s cost of retirement contributions.

“It’s a good reminder of how much we spend on benefits,” Business Manager Levi Bachmeier said.

Monday’s request to hire is considered the first phase of using the grant money. Additional positions, like added therapists, will be brought to the board in the future.

Richards said the four new counselors will be mostly assigned to the elementary school level.

“One of our primary goals with our overall number of social workers is to lessen the amount of sites each social worker has to travel to,” she said.

Human Resources Director Brittnee Nikle said the staff will sign grant contracts, meaning the positions may or may not be sustained after the five years. Richards expects the positions can be sustained in the future as the school district continues to grow, however.

“By the end of this grant, we expect to have many more students and we would need these positions anyways,” Richards said.

MENTAL HEALTH: Page 18

“One of our primary goals with our overall number of social workers is to lessen the amount of sites each social worker has to travel to.”

Annie Richards

MENTAL HEALTH

From Page 17

Most of the grant-funded positions already exist in the district, with the exception of the wellness facilitator, which Richards pointed out as critical.

Wellness facilitators will help support the mental health professionals as they get acclimated to the district and track data throughout the next couple of years, Richards said. The position may not be continued after the five-year period, although it could be if data supports it.

Not counting the additional staff, West Fargo has an aggregated ratio of mental health service providers to students of 60.8 providers to 13,020 students.

West Fargo currently has 38 counselor positions, two career counselor positions and 11 school psychologists.

There are currently 10 licensed social workers who accept referrals from any teacher, administrator or counselor through an online referral form. Social workers respond to each referral by following up with the referring educator and the family to determine the level of support needed.

In Fargo, there are 15 social workers/student wellness and family facilitators, 43 school counselors and seven school psychologists, according to Communications Director and Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board AnnMarie Campbell.

In Moorhead Area Public Schools, there are 16.5 counselors, seven social workers, six school psychologists, five student support facilitators, 10 behavioral interventionists and one homeless liaison, according to Executive Director of Community Engagement and Public Relations Brenda Richman.

To strategize the mental health needs of students and staff, the district created Richards’ role as a director in August. Previously she worked as a district behavior coordinator since 2019.

Fargo Public Schools implemented a facilitator in 2014, and Moorhead followed suit the next year.

Between 2014 and 2017, Fargo’s facilitator served about 181 students, over half of whom were elementary students. In Moorhead, 91 students were served in 2016, mostly in the middle schools.

Monday’s hiring spree is the second time in recent years West Fargo has received a grant to implement innovative mental health-related initiatives.

In 2017, West Fargo partnered with United Way of CassClay and Sanford Health and received a $50,000 grant to hire a wellness facilitator for K-12 students.

The student wellness facilitator, a specially trained social worker, connects students and their parents to appropriate mental health providers, and the facilitator can help set up initial and follow-up appointments.

Readers can reach West Fargo editor Wendy Reuer at wreuer@forumcomm.com or 701-241-5530. Follow her on Twitter @ForumWendy.