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69
9
Welcoming Northern Neighbors (Minot AFB)
13
Pioneer Day promotes a historical asset (Kenmare)
16
Threshing bee highlights celebrations (Crosby)
23
21
27
32
Historical threshing displays never get old (Drake)
Best of the West Ribfest gets bigger and bigger (Watford City)
38
Winter Whimsey combines Christmas with community (Velva)
From grief comes positive event (Westhope)
Publisher Editor Managing Editor Advertising Director Art Director Writers
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Minot Daily News
75 61
Contents 52
Let’s go fly a kite (Garrison)
41
A gourmet picnic of tomatoes (Minot)
NOTSTOCK not your usual arts festival
Dan McDonald Michael W. Sasser Kent Olson Jim Hart Mandy N. Taniguchi Jill Schramm Eloise Ogden Andrea Johnson Kim Fundingsland
Hometown: Happenings 2017-18 edition is published by the Minot Daily News which is located at 301 4th Street Southeast in Minot, North Dakota. www.minotdailynews.com
57
Dear Readers:
Neighbors getting together (Rolla)
63
Medora Musical popular destination
79
Little Shell celebration: Time for family and friends (New Town)
67
75
Hazen Jam Session draws many people
76
Bullriding thrilling for cowboys & crowd (Ryder)
Makoti man’s rebuilt tractors inspired start of threshing show
Mohall celebrates 30th anniversary of craft show tradition
74
Beulah boasts major events
Flaxton favorites
Youth fishing derby at Powers Lake
Celebrating a special status (Rugby)
35
72
72
Multiple events annually in Harvey
Bowden for the birds - really!
Lake Metigoshe is ND fishing hot spot (Bottineau)
Keeping Fourth of July alive (Berthold)
29
71
St. John Days is fun for the whole town
14
Dedicated to the ladies (Stanley>
69
St. Ann Days is a special annual event (Belcourt)
80
Mud run event offers new experiences (Surrey)
Musical production tastefully done right (Underwood)
Welcome to this year’s annual Hometown Magazine, dubbed Hometown Happenings for the 2017-2018 edition. This year, we wanted to spotlight signature events, festivals, celebrations and other occasions that define communities in the northwestern North Dakota region. Cities and towns of all sizes have days on their respective calendars that are annual highlights, helping both define a community and bring residents together with guests for memorable experiences. Some of the events might be familiar to many readers; others might be new ones yet to discover. Hometown Happenings is designed to serve readers as a resource for a full year ahead, a handsome reference for your coffee table, and hopefully an inspiration for you to get out and experience something new in the region. We hope you enjoy Hometown Happenings and refer back to it often. We learned a lot about some of the cities and towns in our area, and we hope you will too. Enjoy!
Michael W. Sasser,
5
Editor
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
W E L C O M I N G NORTHERN NEIGHBORS
Eloise Ogden/MDN
ABOVE: Visitors wait in line to see the inside of a plane at the 2016 Northern Neighbors Day open house and airshow at Minot Air Force Base.
Submitted Photo
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE By ELOISE OGDEN
Regional Editor • eogden@minotdailynews.com
6
PLANS
RIGHT: Visitors to Minot Air Force Baseʼs first open house event in May 1959 take a look at a plane on static display.
Plans for the 2018 Northern Neighbors Day open house and airshow at Minot Air Force Base are well on their way with the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team highlighting the event.
Pat Travnicek and Jim Clifford are deputy directors of the event set for Aug. 4, 2018. Visitors to the event can expect to see many static displays and flybys. There will also be a civilian fly-in. “It will be another great open house and airshow with the Thunderbirds,” said Travnicek. Many open house events have been held at Minot AFB over the years. The first open house there was held on Sunday, May 17, 1959, and drew 25,000 to 30,000 people who came to take a look at the new military installation. Ground was broken for the new air base in 1955. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned over the “key” to the base to Maj. Joe Roberts, the first base commander, in 1957.
Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
Minot AFBʼs first open house was in 1959 The first Minot AFB open house was part of a two-day Armed Forces Day event called “Power For Peace” to salute the armed forces and the readiness of this nation. It started on Saturday, May 16, 1959, with an open house at the radar station south of Minot and a Chamber of Commerce-sponsored “Air Fair” at the Minot International Airport. “It was the air base, however, where upwards of $100 million already has been spent on construction, that attracted the most attention,” the Minot Daily News reported in its May 18, 1959, edition. Cars by the thousands, bumper to bumper, jammed the 13 miles of U.S. Highway 83 between the base and Minot and the roads leading into the base on the day of the first open house.
“It was a tremendous display of interest on the part of citizens of this area in the armed forces and in their own Air Force base,” said Capt. Frank J. Kramer in the Minot Daily News. Kramer was the unit adviser for the Army Reserve in Minot who headed the event as Armed Forces Day project officer. The mammoth crowd attending the base’s first open house saw sleek aircraft as the F102, F-89, F-86, T-33, Navy S2F and the B-52 parked and in action plus the base itself, according to the Minot Daily News. Other activities included Tech. Sgt. Robert R. Anderson named “Airman of the Year,” a Cub Scout kite-flying demonstration, displays of National Guard, Army Reserve, Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force equipment, films in a hangar, a ground approach control portable tower similar to one used in
Submitted Photo
Minot Air Force Baseʼs first open house event in May 1959 drew a large crowd to look at the new military installation. the Berlin Airlift and tours of many of the buildings. Visitors heard Rear Adm. Walter F. Rodee, one of the top men in this nation’s defense in his role as Navy commander for North American Defense Command, speak at the 4 p.m.
retreat ceremony. All airmen and officers at the new installation, now numbering more than 500, were on duty to help the thousands of visitors and explain various details about the base, the Minot Daily News reported.
The open house and air show at Minot Air Force Base now is known as Northern Neighbors Day. It rates right up there with the North Dakota State Fair and Norsk Hostfest. The announcement that the ever-popular USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team is coming to Minot AFB for the 2018 Northern Neighbors Day was made earlier this year. Based at Nellis AFB, Nev., the Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots. Their air demonstrations are a mix of formation flying and solo routines featuring the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Thunderbirds team performs about 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. Many other acts and static exhibits are being planned for the 2018 event. Watch the Minot Daily News for information about the next Northern Neighbors Day.
Thank you Minot Air Force Base
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Contestants compete in 2012 in the annual log-cutting contest at Pioneer Days in Kenmare. File Photo
THE LAKE
PIONEER DAY PROMOTES A HISTORICAL ASSET The Lake County Historical Society was looking for a way to promote its growing Pioneer Village, and what better way to do it than to invite the community to a party.
Since 2006, Pioneer Day has been held annually, currently the second Sunday of July. The 2018 event will be July 8. The event can be followed on facebook.com at Lake County Historical Society. The first Pioneer Day featured a display of antique tractors as a major drawing card. There also was a pig roast, which remains a highlight of the event, although the actual roasting has moved off-site due to health codes. The roasters start up at about 3 a.m. to get ready to feed a crowd that can be as large as 500 to 600 people. The event also features a church service, hymn sing, entertainment with local talent, children’s games, a log-cutting contest and a scavenger hunt. The themed scavenger hunt is designed to get visitors to explore the grounds and check out the buildings. It’s a popular event that can win an adult and child partici-
pant each $50 in Kenmare bucks. “Our main thing is to get people through the village. That’s what we want to have happen,” said museum board president Bryan Quigley.“That’s kind of our goal – to make sure people get through it so they learn a little bit about the history of Kenmare and the surrounding area.” Two years ago, a junior division was created in the log-cutting contest, adding to the participation and cash prizes awarded in that event. The contest, along with a raffle, help raise money for the museum. Pioneer Day generates $10,000 to $15,000 each year, which is a huge help in the $30,000 to $35,000 annual budget. Maintenance of the 23 buildings, grounds and thousands of artifacts can be costly, and fundraisers, grants and donations are needed to augment a property tax levy. Started in 1971, the village’s first building was a church. The expansion eventually included two school houses, two cook cars, a dress shop with an extensive display of vintage clothing dating to the late 1800s, a doll house with dolls and children’s clothing and a meat market, newspaper office, blacksmith shop, millinery shop, fanning mill and bank. There’s also exhibits representing early optometry and dentistry, military displays and artifacts representing pioneer life.
By JILL SCHRAMM
Senior Staff Writer • jschramm@minotdailynews.com
Grillfest & Classic Car Show
WHEN: Saturday in June WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Association of Commerce event began in 2015. It includes a judged car show. The cooking competition draws teams from around the area. They grill items of their choice, and selected judges and the public can sample and cast their votes for their favorites. In 2011, a machinery building was constructed to house the larger items. The museum board also has been making improvements such as constructing new building foundations, replacing roofs and adding handicapped accessibility. This past year, the museum accepted a donated house, built by a prefabrication company that once operated in Kenmare. The building has been named the V & R Toy Museum and will be housing the toy collection of Vernon and Rosina Eymann. See KENMARE — Page 11
KENMARE
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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The museum has struggled at times in the past. It had been closed for about 10 years due to lack of volunteers to Continued from Page 9 keep the doors open. Enough interest was renewed to allow the museum to be open at first by appointment and now five days a week. Board member Ron Boughton said visitors are amazed by the size and scope of the village museum. Pioneer Day is an opportunity to expose people to what is available so they can spread the word to draw more visitors and support for the museum, he said. Quigley recalled a couple visiting from Estevan, Saskatchewan, just before Pioneer Day. They decided to extend their visit to attend the event. “They had the time of their lives. They even got in on the log-cutting contest,” he said. In some election years, Pioneer Day has attracted local politicians, which is reminiscent of early pioneer celebrations that drew election candidates. In those days, candidates would share hotel rooms, even if from different political parties, to save money, Quigley said. Pioneer Days is a project of the museum board but support from others in the community has been essential to the event’s success. A local bank
29th Annual Goosefest
rents a tent every year for the event. Gene Eggen has come to start up his 1922 Rumely oil pull tractor, and Stan Anderson has shown up to offer horse and wagon rides. One year a group on a trail ride WHEN: Oct. 23-29, 2018 happened to stop by for supper, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The annual hunting festival adding to the pioneer feel of the falls during the peak migration of snow geese. The event. Goosefest celebration includes hunting contests, weekThere also are volunteers who long entertainment, raffles, free feeds, chili cook-off, help prepare and serve the meal. Texas Hold‘em poker competition and family-oriented Considerable work goes into just activities and more. A Goose Hunter’s Hall of Fame getting ready – in cleaning build- induction and banquet concludes the event. ings and exhibits. WEBSITE: kenmarend.com/goosefest/ “You work right up to the day to get everything done and afterwards we kind of collapse,” Quigley said. At this time, the board isn’t giving in to public demand to turn Pioneer Day into a two-day event. “There’s no way we could physically do two days,” board member Helen Frees said. “But it’s a fun day. No matter what, it’s fun.”
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Dedicated to the ladies By ANDREA JOHNSON
THE
Staff Writer • ajohnson@minotdailynews.com Families donate cups and saucers from The Sybil Center in Stanley hosts many events throughout the their mothers’ collections in memory of year, but one of its most special an- loved ones. “We know where they all come from,” nual events is dedicated only to the said Solberg. “...Ladies love those. It makes ladies of the town. “This is the 14th year that we it very special when we use them.” Some of the special ladies events have have done an event (for ladies),” said Lucy Solberg, the current president of the Sybil included a tea. One of the first events they held was devoted to Center. the health benefits The event held of seven kinds of Aug. 26 included a tea. Solberg said fashion show they have also had showing off vina five-course Engtage wedding Sibyl Center, lish tea for a ladies dresses from the 301 First Street SW event. private collection Variable dates yearly Other ladies of Wanda Rodin. events have inMusic was prowww.sybilcenter.org cluded four garden vided by Gina tours. Another Footh and Linda event was a ChristLumley. There was mas in July, with area homes an art display of “Land in Her Own decorated for the holidays at the Name” by the North Dakota Historheight of summer. ical Society, depicting women as Solberg said the Sybil Center is located homesteaders in North Dakota. at 301 First Street Southwest in Stanley, in Other collections were on disa former Presbyterian church that had play and tea was served. “We’ve sold out every year,” said Sol- been closed for a number of years before it berg, who said the Sybil Center can ac- was renovated and converted into the arts center. commodate up to about 90 people. It is run by volunteers who have One special tradition, dating back to the beginning of the cultural center, is the teas. turned it into a thriving cultural center for “One of our ladies here in town do- western North Dakota, the hub of activity nated about 20 sets of bone china cup for people who live in between Minot and saucers to the Sybil Center,” recalled Sol- Williston. It hosts art shows, children’s events, educational talks, musical conberg. She said she wanted the Sybil Centers certs and much more as well as the ladies to host events for women in Stanley be- events. Solberg said the Sybil Center will cause the town didn’t have anything like begin planning next year’s ladies event, that at the time. “Since then, the china collection has for a date yet to be determined, in the fall of 2017. grown to almost 100 sets,’ said Solberg.
Ladies Day
STANLEY
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
13
THRESHING BEE By KIM FUNDINGSLAND
Staff Writer kfundingsland@minotdailynews.com
CROSBY
THE
HIGHLIGHTS CELEBRATIONS The fair is big but the threshing bee is even bigger. That is the opinion of Casey Lindsey, Crosby’s economic development director.
“The annual threshing bee in July is by far the largest of the two events,” remarked Lindsey. “We get about 3,000 through the gate at the threshing bee. They come from all over, Tennessee, Canada, California, to check it out.”
If you haven’t yet checked out Crosby’s threshing bee, here’s the dates to put on your calendar to do so – July 13-15, 2018. “We do a tractor parade with steam engines and old tractors and, of course, do some threshing,” said Lindsey. “There’s a lot of food vendors, a kid’s tractor pull, games for the kids and, on Sunday, a thresher’s meal, an old-style farm meal.” Yes, it’s a perfect “throw-back” celebration in an ideal setting centered around Crosby’s Historical Society grounds. Those attending the threshing bee can walk through several historic buildings, enjoy an
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Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
antique sale, tour the local museum, purchase items at a flea market, hoot and holler at a talent show and take in a farm toy show. There’s even pony rides for the kids. If attending a county fair is your thing then the Divide County Fair at Crosby is a “don’t miss” event. The 2018 Divide County Fair will likely be held June 15-17 but those dates are subject to change. Check out the Divide County Fair on Facebook to stay informed. The 2017 fair kicked off in style with a Bull-ARama. There were numerous inflatable attractions for children and also the always popular free stage entertainment. Saturday’s list of activities at the fair included a parade, demolition derby, food, crafts and vendor show, and 4H and school exhibits. A “mud run” was held as well. “That was kind of a fun thing to do,” said Lindsey. “It was tough mudder-style, but maybe not quite to that extent.”
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Livestock shows and judging are always part of the Divide County Fair. One of the newer events, which has quickly grown in popularity, is a youth and adult ranch rodeo. “We built a really nice arena and have been utilizing that a lot,” remarked Lindsey. When the warm days of summer are in the rear view mirror thoughts in Crosby turn to late autumn and winter. The changing of the seasons brings a whole new slate of events to the northwest North Dakota community. “The big chamber event is a Christmas stroll. It always happens the Friday after Thanksgiving,” said Lindsey. “It gets people in the stores for the holiday season. There’s prizes to be won and it is something to do as a family. Santa and Ms. Claus come too.” Crosby merchants serve hot cocoa and refreshments during the stroll. Main Street is blocked off to help create a festive atmosphere. Elementary school children
entertain with Christmas carols and, if the weather cooperates, horse and wagon rides add to the event. “We have a real good, thriving downtown area. It’s a good business section,” said Lindsey. “The county is very supportive of what we have.” Crosby is remote, to be sure, but that’s what contributes to maintaining a solid community numbering over 1,400 residents while many small towns are striving to survive. “Our sales tax doubled from 2011 to 2014,” explained Lindsey. “It’s kind of leveled off somewhat but it’s still neat when you look at that. School numbers are up too, over 100 since 2010. There’s always room to grow but this is a good, fun community to be a part of.” Not bad for a town considered by some to be at the end of the world. Nope, says Crosby’s website. “We’re at the center of the world where nobody is a stranger for long.”
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MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
Ice Fishing Circuit tournament is annual event that draws hundreds By ANDREA JOHNSON
Staff Writer • ajohnson@minotdailynews.com
BOTTINEAU
16
LAKE
L a ke Me t i goshe i s ND f i sh i n g hot spot appreciate it. Word/buzz on the circuit is Metigoshe is a must fish event. Teams spend a week to 10 days pre-fishing for the tournament so they get to know the area and Metigoshe does not disappoint.” Many of the out-of-staters also fish at Lake Metigoshe in the summers. According to the Bottineau Tourism Association, past Tournament director Jack Baker, who was born and raised in competitors have come from as far away as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, and Idaho and the Canadian Minot and whose family has had a cabin provinces of Manitoba and New on Lake Metigoshe since 1957, said it Brunswick. is a special event. The event is the season opener. A “Bringing the NAIFC to Metigoshe maximum of 150 two-person teams can is like coming home,” he said. “In compete. Fishing boundaries are set in fact, the second I break the North the ice fishing tournament and teams Dakota border I feel like I am home.” drill their own holes in the ice of Lake Baker said each state holds a qualMetigoshe to locate fish. Competitors are ifying tournament for the North allowed to set up portable fish American National Ice Fishing shelters. They get to their fishing Championship and the event at Lake WHEN: Jan. 5-7, 2018 holes by walking or driving ATVs or WHERE: Lake Metigoshe Metigoshe is North Dakota’s. snowmobiles. WEBSITE: naifc.com Ten teams qualify for the national Other events are also held during the championship at each of the state tournament, including a fishing education events. program called the Friday Night Seminar Series held in con“Teams come from across the ice belt because junction with the tournaments. It is open to the public and is Metigoshe is a fantastic bluegill fishery, one of the free of charge. The seminars are a way for fisherman of varying best in the nation,” said Baker. “Word in the fishexperience levels to learn about how to be successful at ice fishing world is spreading, evidenced by over 440,000 page views of the Facebook Live broadcast of last year’s ing. The seminars are conducted by pros. There is also a free Kids Ice Camp. weigh-in. Bottineau puts out the red carpet and the fishermen
Lake Metigoshe near Bottineau is home to the North American Ice Fishing Circuit tournament. It will be held Jan. 5-7, 2018, at Lake Metigoshe.
Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
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Junkfest & Flea Market
CARRINGTON
Foster County Fair
WHEN: June, usually the third weekend WHERE: Foster County Fairgrounds, Carrington WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The fair includes horse shows, commercial booths, a carnival and a number of static and livestock exhibits. Recent past events have included a mud run, musical entertainment and a ranch rodeo. Facebook.com/FosterCountyFairGrounds
WHEN: September WHERE: Foster County Fairgrounds, Carrington WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Booths are set up with ideas and products for junk-a-holics to browse. Vintage, antique, rescued, upcycled and raw goods are available, along with artisan wares, baked goods, produce. Live music and food also are part of the event. Facebook.com/JunkFestandFleaMarket
Carrington Carrington was founded in 1882, and named after an early settler, M.D. Carrington. The town was designated the county seat in 1883. In the 2010 Census the population was 2065. Carrington is known as the Central City because of our great location within the state of North Dakota.
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Carrington, ND • 701-652-2828 MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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Berthold
4 3 35
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Family ties to Berthold brought the Hoes family of Minneapolis to the area last July. Taking in Bertholdʼs annual Fourth of July parade while showing their patriotism are, from left, Amelia, Nick, Caleb and Kelcie. Photo by Jill Schramm/MDN
By JILL SCHRAMM
Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com
IT’S A
KEEPING FOURTH OF JULY TRADITIONS ALIVE
It’s a celebration as old as time, having likely existed for most of the history of Berthold. A community observance of the Fourth of July is a longstanding tradition.
It’s become so assumed that there will be a parade with the usual games and activities that there really isn’t a need for a planning committee. The event typically is informally organized. People just count on the golf association to host a tournament, the local bar to hire a dance band and entrants to show up for the start of the parade. Every once in a while someone steps things up a bit as Berthold Police Chief Al Schmidt did this past year. He wanted to ensure a bigger, better parade, so took on the coordination, making calls to area businesses and promoting the event. He recruited entries with prizes – courtesy of the local economic development group – ranging from $100 to $200 for categories such as best bike, best golf cart and best parade entrant. Schmidt’s effort was appreciated by the parade’s spectators. “I had someone approach me after the parade and said that was the best parade they have seen in over 20 years,” Schmidt said. The big farm machinery and modern fire trucks that make a big impression in modern-day parades differ from what spectators would have seen years ago. Parades from years ago could be counted on to have a band, lots of marching war veterans, plenty of horses and a stream of homemade floats, said Genovieve Hall of Minot, who until recently had been a lifelong Berthold resident. For decades, she has regularly attended Berthold Fourth of July events. Berthold once had an active business district, with two banks,
BERTHOLD See BERTHOLD — Page 22
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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Berthold
Continued from Page 21
two groceries, a funeral parlor, barber shop, bowling alley, medical offices, lumberyards – just as a start. Many of the businesses would create floats, Hall recalled. At one time, a person with ties to the American Legion, Homemakers Club and church might have been busy helping craft floats for all three. The last float might not get started until the night before, and then after being up until midnight finishing it, you would be back the next morning at 9 a.m. for the parade, Hall said. “But it was all worth it, and everybody enjoyed it,” she said. In keeping with tradition, visitors to Berthold’s Fourth of July celebration can enjoy an ice cream social, a pie-eating contest and old-time games, such as the egg toss. The local restaurant owner supplies eggs and pies for the egg-tossing and pieeating contests. The contests are popular with the kids but plenty of adults participate, too, Schmidt said. Hall said baseball games used to be the afternoon entertainment. Occasionally, a
Submitted Photo
J.W. Calnan Hardware-Furniture had a float in an early Berthold Fourth of July parade. In front is John Calnan. Harold Salter is believed to be the float rider. Having had a golf course for a number neighboring town would bring over a The street dance, often held the night team, but often the community formed its of years, a different type of ball game has before the Fourth, also has a long history own teams, such as fathers playing sons been the featured attraction for modern or mothers playing daughters. celebrations. See BERTHOLD — Page 23
Western Builders, Inc. Grain Elevator & Farm Millwright Contractor
• Design Construction • Metal Fabrication • Repair 22
Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
Berthold
Continued from Page 22
in Berthold. This year in lieu of a street dance, the bar held a celebration gathering in its courtyard. The economic development corporation provides funding to assist the bar in providing entertainment. Even if today’s events look somewhat different from events of the past, one thing that never changes is the sense of family and community that permeates the celebration. It brings back memories for the older generations, but part of the excitement also lies in seeing returning former residents or having scattered family visit, Hall said. “It’s just kind of a homecoming,” she said. “It’s a fun gathering for people. You see people you maybe haven’t seen for many years.” Fourth of July celebrations have
gone the way of changing times for some communities. The celebration has become a victim of better roads and vehicles that encourage travel and more activities that compete for people’s time. Berthold feels some of those pressures. However, with fewer celebrations around the region, Berthold’s festivities attract residents from area towns, too. Schmidt said Berthold has been expanding its offerings. In 2016, the town began holding a monthly Arts in the Park with visual art displays, music and food from June through September. There’s also a new Year’s Eve party for the youth and an annual 5K marathon, auction and golf tournament on a Saturday in June to raise money for the child-care center. But the Fourth of July celebration remains the community’s big event, he said. “It’s just a fun gathering,” Hall added. “It’s something the town looks forward to.”
Powers
Youth fishing derby at Powers Lake
Powers Lake held its 2nd Annual Fishing Derby in 2017. This yearʼs event followed up a successful derby held the previous year. The fishing derby is made possible by sponsors, donations and volunteers. Powers Lake has been undergoing an impressive clean-up for the past few years, including addressing runoff throughout the watershed and actual dredging to remove excessive silt and nutrient buildup from the bottom of Powers Lake. The dominant fish in the lake is northern pike, a perfect complement to the annual fishing derby, which is already set for early June 2018. Submitted Photo
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The Tribune Staff is Proud to Serve Our Area 219 South Main Rugby, ND 58368 776-5252 Fax: 776-2159 e-mail: aberg@thepiercecountytribune.com www.thepiercecountytribune.com Join our conversation on Facebook
Still celebrating a SPECIAL STATUS By ANDREA JOHNSON
THERE
Staff Writer * ajohnson@minotdailynews.com
There is some disagreement over whether Rugby still holds the official title of Geographical Center of North America, but the townsfolk still celebrate their special status every year.
Geographical Center Days, or Geo Days, was held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in 2017. “It’s just kind of a big street fair,” said Miriah Koenig, executive director of the Rugby Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. The celebration was in its fifth year in 2017 and Koenig said it will continue next year and be held at the end of September. Koenig was working to line up bands for the 2018 event already in August 2017. WHEN: Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 Where: Rugby Main Street The celebration inWHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The street fair in cludes inflatables for celebration of Rugby being the geographical the children and a 90center of North America was in its fifth year in foot-long inflatable ob2017. The weekend celebration includes a stacle course for the street dance, games, a kids parade, a pet your older folk. truck event and food and retail vendors. “Little kids can do it WEBSITE: facebook.com/GeographicalCenterDays/ all the way up to adults,” said Koenig, who said Geo Days is definitely a family friendly event that draws people from Rugby and surrounding small towns. There was also a mechanical bull for the adults to ride. Other activities and displays included games, food vendors and retail vendors. There was a three-on-three basketball tournament and a decorate your bike or trike contest for children. There is a photo booth where people can take their picture with a giant cutout of the Geographical Center of North America monument in Rugby. There is also a street dance with different bands performing on Main Street in Rugby. In 2017 there was a “pet your truck” event. Local businesses and services brought out ambulances, combines, street sweepers, and other kinds of motor vehicles and gave attendees a chance to look inside to see how they operate. This was Koenig’s first year overseeing the event, but she said she expects it to grow. “We have hopes in the future of doing a pancake supper,” she said. Rugby built its stone monument declaring itself the center of North America in 1935, according to past news reports, and it has drawn tourists to the area ever since. However, the actual geographical center may be farther afield. Hanson’s Bar in Robinson also now claims the title. Earlier this year, Peter Rogerson, a geography professor in New York, claimed that the actual center of the continent is in Center, 145 miles southwest of Rugby and 90 miles west of Robinson.
Geographical Center Days
Submitted photos
RUGBY
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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By JILL SCHRAMM
Senior Staff Writer • jschramm@minotdailynews.com
A steam engine operates the threshing machine at the Drake Threshing Show as volunteers toss in the grain to be threshed. Submitted Photo
THRESHING
Historical threshing displays NEVER GET OLD Threshing machines, antique tractors and family fun have been drawing crowds to Drake for nearly 50 years. The Drake Threshing Association will host its 50th anniversary show on Sept. 8 and 9, 2018. Visitors can expect special anniversary activities to mark the occasion.
The Drake Threshing Show started at the encouragement of local businessmen who were looking for a way to bring people to the community. The first year, the threshing took place on an area farmer’s land. The following year, the group bought the Soo Line Depot at Balfour and moved the structure to a permanent threshing grounds, about a half mile west of Drake. The show in its early years was mainly a local attraction. There was little money for advertising, but still, word spread. Over time, the show began to draw crowds from other states and Canada. People following the threshing show circuit would come with their campers. Threshing was the attraction with the early shows, said association president Terry Anderson, Butte. People still want to see the threshing but there needs to be variety and new events to continue to bring people back year after year, he said. In 2016, the association had an old combine in action that was a hit with the crowd. About 600 or more people attended the show that year. See DRAKE — Page 30
DRAKE
Drake/Anamoose
Two Communities - Together as One
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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Drake
Continued from Page 29
The Drake show includes a longstanding flea market, which fills up its vendor slots well before the event. It wouldn’t be a threshing show without a tractor pull. In Drake, the pull is a two-day event with categories for antique tractors and pickups, garden tractors and kiddie pedal pulls. Along with a depot, the association now has two quonsets for storing its equipment and the start of a pioneer village with an equipped country schoolhouse and a blacksmith shop. Plans are in the works to bring in a granary and church.
30
A blacksmith offers demonstrations during the annual show. There’s been stationary balers, oldtime music and home-cooked meals served out of the depot. Each year the show highlights a line of machinery. This past year was Massey Ferguson. The last few years, the association has held raffles for a tractor, gun or Medora weekend. This year was the third year for the consignment auction. The first year there were about 11 tractors. Those numbers grew to 56 tractors, mostly antiques, as well as grain trucks, vintage vehicles, antique swathers, augers and anything farm-related. “We’ve got buyers coming from
Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Montana,” Anderson said. Once known for its horses, the Drake show had as many as 14 teams and grain was bindered and shocked. The show changed as fewer farms have horses and fewer people remained trained to handle a team or multiple hookup. “There’s not many teams around any more,” Anderson said. “Once in a while we will get a team that will come.” This year, a team of horses was consigned in the auction. The future of a threshing show relies heavily on older generations passing on their knowledge to younger generations who are tasked with keeping the history alive. Anderson said the association’s 12-
member board, representing area from Velva to Harvey, includes only two members older than 60 – a sign that knowledge is being passed. “My whole family is involved with it. I have two boys on the board,” Anderson said. His daughter assists with advertising. Keeping a threshing show going also requires maintaining licensed operators for the steam engines and threshing machines and having the equipment state-inspected every year for safety. There is a strong core group beSubmitted Photo hind the threshing show that en- A blacksmith demonstrates sures the event comes off each year in grand style. That group includes his craft at the old blackSee DRAKE — Page 31
smith shop on the Drake threshing grounds.
Drake
a cook who handles the planning and production of the meals and a flea market organizer who manages that event. The Continued from Page 30 board doesn’t have to give much thought to those two activities because of the caliber of volunteers, Anderson said. Donors, such as the one who provided funds to help the association acquire a reliable thresher, have been critical to the show’s success as well. One volunteer handles the association’s grant writing. The threshing show is held annually on the first Saturday and Sunday after Labor Day. However, people are pulled off the highway in the weeks before the event when they see preparations being made. The sight of history being re-created is irresistible. “There’s always people pulling in and looking and asking if we have souvenirs. We do have caps and T-shirts,” Anderson said.
Drake Days
WHEN: Aug. 18 and 19, 2018, tentative YOU SHOULD KNOW: Drake Days is a time of summer family fun, organized each year by the Drake Community Club. The event includes a parade, vendors, a street dance, jumping houses and other activities for kids. The community has long had a local day of festivities, which began going by the name Drake Days four years ago. Traditionally held in August, this past year the event moved to the second weekend in July to coincide with a reunion celebrating the 100th anniversary of the school.
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MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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Ribfest
Best of the West
A Best of the West Ribfest team shows off their cooking skills at the Watford City event. Submitted Photo
gets bigger and
BIGGER Watford City By ELOISE OGDEN
LIP
Regional Editor • eogden@minotdailynews.com
Lip smackin’, mouth-watering ribs are on the menu.
The Best of the West Ribfest is one of the biggest and most anticipated events of the year in Watford City and western North Dakota, according to its organizers. Ribfest, a Watford City Chamber of Commerce event supported by McKenzie County Tourism and many others, takes place on Main Street in Watford City. This year’s nearly perfect weather greeted the thousands of folks who came out to this year’s Best of the West event. Food, music and festivities filled the day and concluded with the threetime Grammy-nominated band Little Texas. In the neighborhood of 3,000 to 4,000 people attended this year’s activities. During the Best of the West Ribfest this year on Aug. 11, activities kicked off with a fundraising pancake breakfast for Boy Scout Troop 382. The street fair along with a classic car and truck show were open all day. Rib teams set up on the street cook ribs all day long and serve them at the end of the day. All day long there’s food, musical entertainment, games and other fun for everyone from kids through adults.
WATFORD CITY
32
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Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
Awards are given out for Ribfest. They include: – 1st Place Judge’s Choice for best ribs: $1,000 sponsored by Barrett Pharmacy. – 2nd Place Judge’s Choice for best ribs: $500 sponsored by AE2S. – People’s Choice for best ribs: $250 sponsored by RTC. – Booth Showmanship: $150 sponsored by 701 Clean. New to this year’s event was a Best of the West Ribfest VIP Experience. For a special price, participants were offered the best seat on the street under the shade of the tent from 48 p.m. The VIP ticket included ribs from all the teams, sides provided by Dakotan Roadhouse & Grill, beer and wine provided by Outlaws’ Bar and Grill, pop and water and upfront seating or standing for the Little Texas concert that evening. Many businesses sponsor the Best of the West Ribfest. The event has grown extensively over the years and conSubmitted Photo tinues to grow, organizers say. For more information about Best of the West Ribfest see A young visitor to Best of the West Ribfest in watfordcityribfest.net or on Facebook. Watford City samples the food.
Alexander Old Settlers’ Day
WHEN: Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2017 WHERE: Alexander Park WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: This celebration began many years ago as a community picnic at the end of the harvest and has grown to one of McKenzie County’s larger events. The event includes a bonfire, chili cookoff, barbecue, games and vendors.
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W
inter himsy
combines Christmas with community By JILL SCHRAMM
Getting
Senior Staff Writer • jschramm@minotdailynews.com
Getting into the Christmas spirit comes easy in Velva, where businesses and organizations make shopping, socializing and giving an annual part of the season. Jenica Stone with the Velva Association of Commerce’s Winter Whimsy Committee said the association has for many years held a Santa Day and provided holiday activities for the community. Due to turnover in membership, when she joined the committee in 2012 the committee was down to three people and none had any historical experience with the event. Yet they found themselves in charge and determined the event was ready for some freshening up. So they renamed the annual event Winter Whimsy in 2013 and looked for ways to enhance the offerings. Winter Whimsy is actually two events. The first occurs the Saturday after Thanksgiving and will be held again this Nov. 25. Initially a wine walk, the event now is a wine and beer walk that takes participants from the golf course to downtown Velva and finally to the Lariat Bar. Shuttle buses help transport participants, who can shop, enjoy games or just hang out and visit while sampling the beverages at the various stops. “It’s been getting bigger and bigger,” Stone said of the participation. This year the committee is making 150 tickets available, along with an unlimited number of non-alcohol or designated driver tickets for those who want to come just for the socialization. See VELVA — Page 37
Submitted Photos
ABOVE: A young girl has her list ready for Santa during Wee Winter Whimsy in Velva in this photo from LJC Photography. LEFT: Lucas Siebuhr picks from an assortment of gifts at the childrenʼs shopping day held during Wee Winter Whimsy in Velva in December 2016.
VELVA
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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Velva
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At the end of the walk at the Lariat, drawings are held for prizes and an auction is held. Businesses initially donated decorated trees for the auction. Last year, the auction switched to decorated wreaths. Eleven businesses participated in providing wreaths, and the auction raised moe than $1,000 to go toward new banners on Main Street. The walk runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with the auction closing out the activity at about 10 p.m. However, the Lariat typically brings in a band or DJ for entertainment into the night. The auction and entertainment are open to the public and not just walk participants. Wee Winter Whimsy happens the following Saturday – this year on Dec. 2. The event includes a vendor show, bingo and activities for kids, including photos with Santa. In the past, horse and sleigh rides were offered. Because the Submitted Photo event date correlates with an Ruth Hovland, right, and Krissy Siebuhr assist children Karly Siebuhr, left, and Taryn Frantsen annual high school wrestling tournament, that adds anin finding gifts for family as part of the Elves Project during the 2016 Winter Whimsy in Velva.
Mid-Summer Night’s Jam
WHEN: Typically the second weekend in July WHERE: Velva WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The day-long event features a vendor fair and a ribfest competition. It concludes with a concert, opened by local bands and featuring entertainers that have included in the past Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio and Eli Young Band. WEBSITE: facebook.com/MidsummerNightsJam/
other activity and brings more people into town to enjoy Wee Winter Whimsy. Velva United Methodist Church holds its Elf Project during Wee Winter Whimsy as well. The project provides an opportunity for children to purchase gifts for family from a Christmas store of donated items, priced at around 50 cents. The church collects the donated items and sets up the store, providing free gift wrapping to the young customers. Stone said the Winter Whimsy Committee, now a committee of six, handles the coordination of the wine and beer walk. The Wee Winter Whimsy activities draw on community volunteers, such as those at the senior citizen center who bring in Santa and provide a lunch and craft show. One of the Winter Whimsy committee members has taken on the organizing of the vendor show. Events take place throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details about the upcoming event can found online at facebook.com/winterwhimsy/.
Fourth of July
WHEN: July 4, 2018 WHERE: Velva WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The event generally begins with a parade on Main Street with a variety of following events, which last year included archery, a petting zoo, foot races, bingo, free swimming, a cake walk, turtle races, a ranch rodeo and fireworks. The Velva Association of Commerce sponsors the celebration. WEBSITE: Velva Association of Commerce at facebook.com
MinotDailyNews.com • Hometown 2017
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From grief
When
comes positive event By JILL SCHRAMM
Senior Staff Writer• jschramm@minotdailynews.com
When neighbors come together, they can wring joy from even the worst of sorrows. In Westhope, residents are turning an annual remembrance into opportunities to do good things for their community.
Angel PLAN Walk of Remembrance began in 2013 when Robin Tolstad and Becky Braaten organized a group to raise funds to erect an Angel of Hope statue in the local cemetery. The group of parents all had lost children. The Angel of Hope is a uniquely crafted bronze statue designed by a sculptor in Utah. Currently, just over 100 exist around the world. With her arms held up and wings spread, the angel appears as though she’s being lifted into the sky. The cost to acquire the statue was $7,500. The local group’s first event was a carnival at which families and organizations sold homemade items, from baked goods to a children’s storybook. A youth group set up jumping houses and offered face painting. There was music and a silent auction. People could sign luminary bags with the name of someone who died, and a helium balloon release ceremony was held. “We had so many people talk about what a great day it was,” Tolstad said. “It was such an important day for so many people, and it was an opportunity for those of us that are down the trail. At the time I was six years down the road from losing my daughter. People who were recently living the loss could see and maybe feel some hope and strength, that down the road they won’t feel as horrible or in a dark place as they did at the time.” They raised enough money through the event and from donors to purchase the statue, which was dedicated Dec. 13, 2013. The experience had been so positive for the community that organizers repeatedly were encouraged to hold another event. In deciding to go ahead for a second year, they needed a good cause for which to raise money. The park board needed an improved concessions/equipment building so the second year’s proceeds were directed to that project. “We were able to hand over a check for $10,000 to the park board,” Tolstad said. Angel PLAN (Project of Love Among Neighbors) later broadened to provide a Walk to Remember for not just
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children but any loved one who has died. The event, held on a Sunday in early June each year, begins with a prayer service at the Angel of Hope statue in the cemetery. Participants then walk from the cemetery to town. Anyone can join the walk, for the full distance or part of the way. The school has opened its doors to host the carnival, silent auction and entertainment. This past year featured musician and inspirational speaker Peder Eide and added a kids’ pedal tractor pull. The Angel PLAN has taken on fundraising for a walking path that would extend about two miles, from the cemetery to Westhope and continuing to the Westhope Country Club. Because the cost of the path is high, organizers expect to keep it as the Angel PLAN project for some time. “We would still like to be able to contribute every year to something else, just so that people know we want to help wherever we can,” Tolstad said.
Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
See WESTHOPE — Page 40
Submitted Photos
ABOVE: The Angel of Hope stands in the Westhope cemetery. A committee that raised money to erect the angel in memory of children who have died went on to create an annual fundraising event for community projects. LEFT: Beth Nordmark, Becky Braaten, Robin Tolstad and Perry Schall, from left, stand next to a new park concessions and equipment building, which received proceeds of the 2014 Angel Plan Walk to Remember event.
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Westhope
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The community has rallied behind the event, providing volunteer labor and materials such as tables, chairs and canopies. The carnival also has provided a means for local nonprofit groups to raise money for their organizations, generating funds for basketball camp scholarships, assistance to cancer patients, church missions and other causes. “Not only are we helping our community
by raising funds,” Tolstad said, “but we also help other organizations get their name out there for people to see what’s available.” At this past year’s event, the fire department displayed its new rescue truck, letting people know about the new service in the community. “It’s an event we are hoping gets bigger every year,” Tolstad said. “There are so many things we are trying to do with this event, and I think we have been successful with it.” People can follow the event online at facebook.com/westhopeareaan-
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WHEN: June WHERE: Main Street, Westhope WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A one-day event on a Saturday, the car show will be in its sixth year in 2018. More than 100 cars, pickups, tractors and motorcycles from the region, Canada and occasionally out of state are judged and on display. Sponsored by Tim’s Automotive in Westhope, the show features a 50/50 drawing, raffles, door prizes and food provided by local churches.
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Hometown 2017 • MinotDailyNews.com
Kites big and small are flown at the annual SkyFest Over Fort Stevenson held each year in late May.
Let’s go
Eloise Ogden/MDN
fly a kite
SkyFest over Fort Stevenson celebrates kites By ELOISE OGDEN
KITES
Regional Editor • eogden@minotdailynews.com
Kites sail through the sky south of Garrison each year at SkyFest over Fort Stevenson.
Held during the Memorial Day weekend, people of all ages fly kites of all shapes and sizes on the grounds of Fort Stevenson State Park, three miles south of the city. If someone doesn’t already have a kite, they can build their own at the festival. Many people also come to the festival just to watch the activities as the various kites, big and small, decorate the sky. Special activities are planned each day. SkyFest has grown over the years. Most of the big kite fliers have been flying kites for many years and some of them have been flying kites for as long as they can remember. Many of them are available to give tips to the less experienced kite fliers. See GARRISON — Page 43
GARRISON
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Garrison
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McKaila Matteson, director of the Garrison Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the success of SkyFest and other events in Garrison are many dedicated volunteers along with the businesses who support the events. According to SkyFest history, “the first North Dakota kite festival started in 1992 as Skydance Sakakawea by Deb Lenzen, a counselor at North Shore and Garrison schools. The festival was started with only a few flyers and has since grown into a statewide attended event. “After 20 years, Lenzen decided to retire and pass the reins on to what is now SkyFest. Today, she continues to design, sew and fly her beautiful art kites in Arizona. Her travels take her across the country, always with a few kites along to be flown. “The continuation of this family friendly tradition came with hard work and the dedication of many. With help from acquaintances at the North Dakota Tax Department, and the Garrison Area Improvement Association, Rena Rustad, event organizer, was determined to put a team into place that would work to continue the festival. “Jude Iverson of Garrison Area Improvement Association worked tirelessly writing a grant that would ultimately get the new festival up and running. Along with the hard work of folks at the GAIA, Fort Stevenson State Park, many dedicated fliers and kite enthusiasts, a board of directors was formed. Today, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the past coordinator, this event has blossomed into an annual family friendly festival.” Next year’s SkyFest will be held May 26-28, 2018, according to the Garrison Convention & Visitors’ Bureau. For more information about SkyFest, visit skyfestnd.com and on Facebook.
If visitors to SkyFest Over Fort Stevenson donʼt have a kite to fly, they can built their own. Eloise Ogden/MDN
Other Events AW SHUCKS! CORN FEST Date: Sept. 9, 2017 You should know: Garrison City Park is the site of the annual cookoff, car and tractor show, vendors, games, contests, entertainment and more. DICKENS VILLAGE FESTIVAL Date: Nov. 24-25-26, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 2017. You should know: The Garrison community transforms itself into the “Christmas Capital of North Dakota” with Queen Elizabus rides, lighted parades, entertainment, a play, craft vendor show and more. See dickensfestival.com. FRONTIER MILITARY DAYS Date: June 23-24, 2018. You should know: Frontier Military Days are about life in the 1870s. There are history demonstrations with military encampment and maneuvers at Fort Stevenson State Park, south of Garrison. Visitor appreciation day is on Sunday and there is free admission into the park. N.D. GOVERNOR’S WALLEYE CUP Date: July 20-21, 2018 at Fort Stevenson State Park. You should know: This is North Dakota’s premier fishing tournament with numerous teams competing for the championship. – Source: Garrison CVB. For more events visit garrisonnd.com.
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