>>> EAGLES SOAR IN LATEST MATCH See Pg. B3
The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
In this issue:
Ag: NDSU Extension to hold Best of the Best in Wheat Research meeting, Pg. A3
Community: We’ll let the pictures tell the story for this week’s PNC update, Pg. A5
Views from the Borderland: St. Alphonsus celebrates Catholic Schools Week! Pg. B8
New Extension agents bring fresh perspectives to Cavalier and Pembina counties
Friday, January 31, 2025
Volume 4, Number 4
HITTING THE HOMETOWN ICE Three former Langdon Blades players to face Golden Eagles at Dakota Spirit Arena By Andy Wakeford, Admissions Director at LRSC
Three young avid hockey players will return home to the Dakota Spirit Arena Hockey Arena on Friday, February 14 at 7 p.m. Brady Regner, Alex Gellner and Brody Steinmetz were members of the Langdon Blades 2023 State Championship team in Junior Gold hockey. They are now members of the Lake Region State College Royals Men’s Hockey Program. The Royals will take to the ice against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Valentine’s Day at the Dakota Spirit Arena. This special home game away from home in Devils Lake is hosted in the players’ hometown. “This home game means a lot. It will be fun playing in the old barn and seeing familiar faces that supported me while I grew up” said Alex Gellner. “It will also be special for the kids that look up to us and give them an opportunity to watch a different level of hockey. I have lots of expectations, not only as an individual but for our team. My favorite memory growing up here was clinching the #1 seed in our home barn.” Regner, Gellner and Steinmetz are
all in their second year of play and sophomores in the agriculture program at LRSC. Lake Region State College launched hockey programs in 2022. The inaugural season started in 2023. The trio has traveled to many arenas around the upper Midwest, traveling as far as Iowa, Montana and Utah for competition. The Royals, in their second season, are coached by Brady Stein. As of press time, their record is 1313. The most recent wins for the club were a weekend sweep January 18 and 19 over Waldorf University as well as a sweep of NDSU on January 25 and 26. Game one of the NDSU Series was an overtime shootout. Regner scored the winning goal in the overtime shootout, sealing the win, 5-4.
(L-R) Alex Gellner, Brody Steinmetz, and Brady Regner. The trio now play for the Lake Region State College Royals Men’s Hockey Program and will be hitting the hometown ice at Dakota Spirit Lake Arena on Feb. 14.
“We wanted to take a home game on the road because we have three Langdon players and Crookston also has two on their team. It will be exciting for them to come back to play in front of their hometown. With LRSC hockey being a new program, we want to show other communities what we have to offer for future players. My hope is the team plays their hearts out and skates away with a win,” said the LRSC Royals head men’s hockey coach, Brady Stein. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. at Dakota Spirit Arena. The Royals will also play the UND Mens club team at Dakota Spirit Arena Jan. 31 at 8:00pm, and Feb. 1 at 6:00pm, everyone is welcome!
(L-R) Brody Steinmetz, Brady Regner, and Alex Gellner. The trio when they were a part of the Blades 2023 State Championship team in Junior Gold hockey.
Protecting children from online predators
Keeping Kids Safe CyberSafety Course to be hosted for adults by BCI, LAS, and CCHD By Hilary Nowatzki
ing the class. Topics range from ‘take it down,’ a free service to help remove or stop the sharing of explicit images taken when the individual was a minor, ‘talking to teens about sexting,’ and ‘sextortion - what parents need to know.’
By Rebecca Davis
Two counties in northeast North Dakota are welcoming new Extension agents, each bringing unique expertise and enthusiasm to their roles. Alissa Sharp has joined as the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension Agent for Pembina County, while Lahni Stachler steps into a similar position for Cavalier County. Both are eager to make meaningful connections and provide resources for their respective communities. Alissa Sharp – Pembina County Born and raised in Hamilton, N.D., Alissa Sharp is a fifth-generation farmer with deep roots in the region. A 4-H alumni and graduate of the University of Minnesota Crookston with a degree in agronomy, Sharp is no stranger to agriculture or community involvement. As the new ANR Extension agent, Sharp plans to focus on community engagement and education. Her responsibilities will include working with 4-H programs, organizing classes for farmers and youth, and offering guidance on topics such as gardening and natural resources.
Special Agent Jesse Smith actively investigates Cyber crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.
Jill Krone is a Victim Witness Specialist for Eastern N.D. currently employed with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Victim Services Unit.
Parents strive to keep their children safe - look both ways before crossing the road, don’t talk to strangers, wear a coat, - the list could go on. However, when it comes to technology and the use of the internet, they may not know how to protect children from ever evolving algorithms and newly generative AI advancements.
don Area High School Commons Area on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. A light meal will be served and attendees will be joining Jill Krone from Fargo Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI); her colleague, Jesse Smith; as well as their dog, Jib, to learn how to protect children and teens from online predators. This presentation is open to any adult who wants to learn more about how to keep children safe online.
An upcoming event will focus on cyber safety and emphasize the importance of protecting children from online predators and the evolving tactics used by them.
"I'm most excited about the opportunity to connect with the community and see the creativity and innovation from kids and farmers alike," she shared.
“I think AI brings us wonderful benefits to society, but it also really gives people who want to do harm a lot of resources where they can really rapidly pivot and kind of prey on vulnerable individuals,” said Steph Welsh, registered nurse with Cavalier County Health District.
cont’d. on page B7
The free event will take place at Lang-
“I really would encourage people to come to the BCI event,” said Welsh. “I've heard BCI present several times on this, and it's a really nice local take on what BCI is seeing in N.D. and what you can do to prevent it from ever happening.” According to Welsh, now more than ever adults need to be informed about what’s happening on the screens of children’s devices, as AI and other technology is evolving at a fast rate.
K-9 Jib is a six-year-old Black lab trained as an electronic scent detection canine. K-9 Jib is used to locate items such as cellphones, hard drives, thumb drives, SD and Micro-SD cards that are sometimes hidden or missed by investigators.
“I think the technology is changing rapidly,” Welsh emphasized. “I think the tactics they use change every single day, and obviously we all want to protect our kids from online predators. We want to protect our communities.” Krone from BCI will provide tools for parents to monitor and protect their children, including setting parental controls on apps. Representatives will also be onsite from United Communications to show adults other ways to control their internet access and services. “United Communications has tools where parents can monitor, block or adjust what kids can see and what they can or can't do,” said Welsh. Cyber safety resources will be discussed and offered to adults attend-
“Now you can take somebody's picture, you can take their voice. You can edit it with AI in unimaginable ways to be different from what the original content was,” said Welsh. “We're finding predators take those tools and use them, in addition to maybe actual pictures of youth, and use them to extort them for either additional content or money or both.” This modern dilemma of sextortion can have devastating consequences, said Welsh. “It's sad because I think kids, just because of the sensitive nature of a lot of that content, won't seek help,” Welsh added. Another topic that will be discussed is ‘so, you need some help?’ which is a guide with tips for talking to a trusted adult and how to navigate these conversations. “We find that the unintended consequences are suicides and just all kinds of these additional harms, unfortunately,” explained Welsh. “So it's important to protect their kids as much as they can and inform them on how they can protect themselves and then what to do if they need help is cont’d. on page B7