FATHERS // MR. FULL-TIME DAD
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: BEN HANSON
LIFE LESSONS FROM A TREE
When my wife and I moved into our home nine years ago, I didn’t pay much attention to the tree out our front window. It was a modest tree at the time, relatively well-kept but more or less forgettable. To this day I haven’t even bothered to find out what type of tree it is. The fact that our neighborhood was well-established and had fullgrown trees lining the streets was not an insignificant factor in our decision. But they’re just trees, right? So I thought.
When we made the decision to pull Macklin out of daycare, it was the beginning of the holiday season. Thanksgiving was about a week away, and the vibrant colors of summer had begun to fade. The trees were nearly bare. During the next several months, as I settled into life as a full-time dad, those overlooked life lessons started to present themselves on a more regular basis. And I had even more unhurried time in between loads of laundry, bottle feedings and diaper changes to finally pay attention. What a gift.
As you get older, you start to notice things you’ve effortlessly overlooked in your haste to grow up, get a job, make some money, define yourself, start a family and rub all of your amazing success in your friends’ faces. The ol’ stop and smell the roses cliche is as enlightened as cliches get, but you don’t have time to look like an idiot staring at trees all day until your life slows down some... and enough people have figured out that you maybe are an idiot and won’t bother questioning it.
After a few months of only having one real obligation to attend to (my son), I started to pay more and more attention. The first signs of spring had started to appear. The snow began to melt. The sunshine began to linger a bit longer into the evening. And the trees began to bud. Our front tree, in particular.
For me, it took quitting my job to become a stay-at-home parent who has the time to stare out his front window every day while doing the daddy slow dance to get his infant son to fall asleep. There was also a serendipitous bit of timing involved… though the dancing didn’t help dispel any idiot rumors. 2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
The six or seven days of the year when the buds on that tree burst open to embrace the spring sun have become my favorite time of year. The combination of beauty and sweet perfume is so powerful, so overwhelming and so perfectly fleeting. It’s about the most perfect experience… if you’ve got the time to let it sink in. Late one evening during this most recent spring, when our tree was in full bloom, a friend and I had the good
fortune of having enough time to experience that near perfection together. I told him about how I’ve started to look at this tree as a metaphor for life as I’ve come to barely understand it. Every year, year after year, the tree bursts into life with brilliant white flowers and the scent of spring. A short few days later, those white petals give way to the greens of new growth, followed not long after by a prolonged season of dark reds and purples before frost hits and everything lets go for winter. It’s the cyclical nature of life… but it took me years to catch on. That tree is a mirror of our existence. For my existence as a parent, the seven-day bloom of beauty reminds me of the fleeting nature of childhood, that if I don’t pay attention, I’ll miss out on the purely innocent beauty of Mack’s early years. The green of new growth excites me about what’s ahead. And the deep reds and purples of enduring summer remind me of the challenges of really growing up, forcing me to consider the fact that I may have to just let go and trust that beauty will return again… post-teenage years, I’m guessing. Zooming in for a close-up view on our current stage — potty training — we go through this cycle on a daily basis. Sometimes four or five times. Putting on that first pair of underwear in the morning is pure joy. The next hour or so is full of anticipation. Inevitably, we find ourselves cleaning up an accident… followed by the rush of a fresh start with a fresh pair (or entire outfit). According to the highly educated member of the family, my wife, I’m just experiencing the world’s slowest mindfulness revelation. It took me nearly a decade to comprehend the impermanence of life… You know, what any Buddhist monk sitting criss-cross-applesauce gets his first half hour in. Oh well. I got here. And I have my family and our tree to thank for it. The simple truth is I’ve come to the realization that Mack is about to turn three, and I want to hold on to this beautiful full bloom as long as I can. •
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Contents JULY-AUGUST 2018
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 1
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FATHERS / MR. FULL-TIME DAD LIFE LESSONS FROM A TREE
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OPTIONS FOR SURVIVAL NEW LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES PUT YOU IN CONTROL
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EXTERMINATOR
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HAVING A BEER WITH GUNNER & DEVYN
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ON THE COVER • CHAD ERICKSON LIFE IN THE CLOUDS - AIRMED PILOT BRINGS VETERAN POISE TO EMERGENCIES
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8 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE UNITED WAY SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
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LOCAL HERO PETER NIELSEN & K-9 DISCO A SERGEANT'S BEST FRIEND READ A PAST ISSUE issuu.com/thegoodlifemensmag
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/urbantoadmedia
OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com
PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com
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OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com
FOLLOW US TWITTER @urbantoadmedia
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Alexandra Floersch Ben Hanson Kristi Huber Katie Jenison
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Beth Reich / beth@urbantoadmedia.com Jack Spade / jack@urbantoadmedia.com The Good Life Men’s Magazine is distributed six times a year by Urban Toad Media LLP. Material may not be reproduced without permission. The Good Life Men’s Magazine accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this publication. The opinions expressed, or advice given, are the views of individual writers or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of The Good Life Men’s Magazine.
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OPTIONS FOR SURVIVAL NEW LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES PUT YOU IN CONTROL WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH
All too frequently our televisions, newspapers and social feeds inform us of the horrifying school shootings, sending terror and disbelief running through our veins with every life lost to violence. "Columbine is what literally changed my career path into doing this for a living," said Chris Potter, Cass County deputy sheriff and school resource sheriff. Today, Potter is part of a group called Cass-Clay Unified School Response (CCUSR) – established in 2006 – which protects approximately 42,000 students, school staff and faculty in 16 school districts. For years, the traditional lockdown has been the prominent procedure for keeping students safe, "but a lot of that thought process came from an incident that happened in California quite some time ago with drive by shootings," explained Captain Jesse Jahner
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PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. "Of course, those incidents are quite a bit different because you had a person who was trying to engage from the outside of the building as opposed to an active shooter who actually makes it inside.” With North Dakota clutching its treasured title as one of seven states still untouched from a school shooting, law enforcement knew they needed to make a change to keep it that way. Thus, Options-based Lockdown was created.
REDEFINING SAFETY
Back in 2005, law enforcement knew they couldn’t implement a new lockdown procedure before they ensured they were on the same page with protocols and strategy. That meant pairing up for active shooter training.
"We can't make things 100 percent structurally safe all the time, so there needs to be another option people can revert to and try and protect themselves." – Jahner 6 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
"It took a few years to get everyone on the same page and really hone those tactics," Jahner said. But eventually – like a well-oiled machine – Cass and Clay County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and North Dakota State University (NDSU) police departments were speaking the same language. The next step was to define the new procedure. Having used (1) 'Run, Hide, Fight'; (2) 'Get Out, Hideout, Take Out' and (3) ‘Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE)’ in the past, CCUSR combined the methods to form a hybrid program. "The average school shooting in this country is over within 4 to 6 minutes,” Potter said. The transition to Options-based Lockdown meant buying time for teachers, students and school faculty until law enforcement could arrive on-scene to address the threat. "There's just a short window (of time) and, if people are able to defend themselves, there's a better chance of survivability in these types of situations," Jahner explained. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 7
Demonstrations on how to apply a tourniquet, how to use a strap or belt to secure a door, how to swarm a shooter and take control, and the use of a tool to break windows. "We can't make things 100 percent structurally safe all the time, so there needs to be another option people can revert to and try and protect themselves.”
of the assailant as well as what weapons they have. Jahner also informs those who choose to evacuate to do so cautiously – with their hands fully visible.
The human body has three responses in a stressful situation: fight, flight or freeze, Jahner explained.
As part of the second tier, healthcare professionals touch on medical care, explaining if you can’t evacuate, you may need to help yourself or others until medics can enter the building.
"Under stress, you revert back to your lowest level of training. If you have no training, you freeze and panic," Potter said. "The bottom line is that we keep kids alive. We don't want kids and teachers turning off lights, locking doors and just hoping for the best."
TRAINED TO SURVIVE
When it comes to training, Jahner and Potter say it’s a three-tiered approach. Step one is educating citizens on what they can expect from law enforcement, should an active shooter incident ever arise. “My whole piece of this puzzle is to give them the perspective of what law enforcement is going to do when they show up," said Jahner, who also serves as the assistant commander of the Red River Valley SWAT team. Though it may be surprising, law enforcement may not immediately render aid to the injured. Instead, their first priority is to stop the threat so more people don’t get harmed. Along the way, they'll likely ask for information, including the description and last known location 8 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Lastly, Potter – who also serves as president of the North Dakota Association of School Resource Officers (NDASRO) – is in charge of teaching the program options. “Your first choice is to barricade where you're at. Your second choice is to get out or get away from the danger. And – if both of those fail – then your third choice is to take back control,” he said, “by making noise, creating distance, throwing things and – in an absolute worst-case scenario – swarming the shooter, taking control of the limbs and using body weight to drop down.” Perhaps one of the biggest changes is that those options come in no particular order. "You pick and choose what makes sense for that situation," Potter said. "We're emphasizing survivability over accountability. That's a major philosophical switch.” Though these new tactics have paved the way, the question still remains: what can we do to make our schools safer?
"The bottom line is that we keep kids alive. We don't want kids and teachers turning off lights, locking doors and just hoping for the best." – Potter “The No. 1 thing we can do is get rid of denial. Admit that, yes, bad things can happen here... so what are we going to do to protect ourselves?” Potter said. "The other thing we need to ask ourselves is: what's our school climate like? What are we doing to about making sure kids are feeling connected to somebody – at least one trusted adult in the building?” Although first intended for schools, Jahner and Potter found the interest for Options-based Lockdown expanded beyond their intended reach. Since June 2017, they have trained more than 1,000 people in Cass and Clay counties and are beginning to widen their reach to Valley City, N.D., and Mahnomen, Minn. •
WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON
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After a winter that seemed to drag on and on, it is safe to say summer is finally in full swing. There’s no doubt we’re all looking forward to days spent in the backyard or chilling at the lake, but a change of season can often come with the nuisance of unwanted pests. From flies and spiders to wasps and ants, pests can easily put a damper on your summer plans. Having a reliable pest control service on speed dial can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your property pest free and your plans on track. There are many options when it comes to exterminators, so choosing the right one can be slightly daunting. One way to narrow down the choices is to do your research. The very best exterminators will have a great track record, positive reviews,
Ants, flies, bees and wasps are a few of the most prevalent pests in the summer. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 11
and specialize in treating whatever pest problem you may be experiencing. Not only will they treat your property for pests, they will also make it a goal to teach you solutions for future prevention. Worried your pest problem might be unique? Don’t be! Exterminators that have worked in the pest control industry for an extensive period of time will have likely seen it all. In fact, if you ask an exterminator what the weirdest thing they’ve encountered during their career is, they’ll probably have no trouble producing a few different stories. Even so, it’s fair to say what seems strange to us, probably seems normal to them! From an influx of bedbugs in the FargoMoorhead area, to pulling buckets of rats from an old turkey barn, no two days in the pest control industry are the same.
Don't be! Exterminators have likely seen it all.
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Worried your pest problem might be unique?
When it comes to preventing a pest infiltration, there are some simple steps to take to eliminate pests in and out of your home. Repairing gaps and cracks in windows and doors, holes in the siding, and tears in window screens will go a long way in keeping pests at bay. Practicing good lawn care habits will also help prevent pests. Keeping your yard free from weeds, garbage, and standing water eliminates nests and breeding grounds. Ants, flies, bees and wasps are a few of the most prevalent pests in the summer. To limit the possibility of a problem developing, always make sure to clear kitchen counters of crumbs
with a thorough wipe down after meals, properly store fruits and don’t let them sit out too long and try to time taking out the kitchen trash with your weekly garbage pick-up. Even with preventative measures, there is a chance a pest problem could develop, so being diligent can help catch a problem before it gets out of control. So, when is it a good idea to throw in the towel on your pest problem and call a professional? The answer can vary but one thing to remember is calling a professional can ensure the problem is taken care of the first time around, which can save time and money in the long run. There’s also the added benefit of the peace of mind and knowledge a professional service can offer. As part of the pest control service, the exterminator will also give you tips on how to prevent
a repeat occurrence and protect yourself and your property in the future. Another great reason to call in the big guns is if you’re experiencing a problem that can impact your health. It may be obvious, but people with allergies to the pest, such as bees, shouldn’t try to exterminate them on their own. Even if it seems like a quick and easy fix it is always a good idea to contact an exterminator and reduce the chance of a life threatening allergic reaction. The day to day activities of the job vary, but one thing is for sure; every day is interesting. With so many changes in the area, it’s likely each new day will give them another story to tell friends and family. •
practicing good lawn care habits will also help prevent pests.
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HAVING A BEER WITH // GUNNER AND DEVYN
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR
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PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Most people aren’t paid to talk to a friend, but that is one gratifying aspect of Gunner Haznogunz and Devyn Ryder’s job as “on-air extraordinaires” on Q105.1. Haznogunz, an Illinois native and the program director for the station, has been in Fargo 7 years longer than he assumed he would stay. After moving to the real (emphasis on “real”) windy city for a position at the station, he met his now wife with whom he’s had three children. Ryder, a Bemidji native and co-host to Haznogunz, has worked at the station for almost five years and worked in sales prior to that. After working as a hair cosmetologist and moving various places, from Jamestown to the East Coast, she started at the radio station three weeks after coming back to Fargo. While the two best friends claim to keep few secrets from their listening audience, I tried to glean less commonly known information about the duo over a beer and two waters at Drekker Brewing Co. in Fargo.
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Good Life: Do you feel like you’re just two friends having a conversation with hundreds of people eavesdropping? Gunner Haznogunz: That’s kind of what it is. Devyn Ryder: That’s pretty much exactly what it is. A few Sundays ago, he couldn’t get his car to start, and his wife was like, “Just let me go look at it,” and he was like, “You’re not a mechanic. What are you going to do?” She went outside, and we saw her drive by. I was so glad I was there to witness that. GH: Of all the people to be there while it happened, it had to be you. DR: So Monday we were in the studio and I was like, “You know what we’re talking about, right?” GH: We talk about real-life stuff, and it’s like therapy, just cheaper. DR: Gunner is the last person I let know about anyone I date. GH: Once I know, I will let everybody in on the secrets because it’s funny. We do respect boundaries too, though.
GL: If I were to give you a puppy right now, what would you name it? DR: Bentley. The first dog I had was named Bentley, and I lost it in a breakup. I have a dog, but if I get another dog, I’d want Bentley Round Two, I guess. I love that name. GH: I would name it Lightning Bolt because the other day, when I was trying to give my son Myles a Mohawk, I tried to give him a lightning bolt on the side of his head and failed miserably. GL: So now it’s just a misshapen line? GH: He has the worst Mohawk of all time, but he’s 2 and doesn’t really know. DR: Gunner and his wife both try to give their kids haircuts, and one day Gunner called and was like, “I need your help with something. Katie tried to cut Roz’s hair, and there’s a huge gash taken from it.” So I had to go and try to cut her hair.
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HAVING A BEER WITH // GUNNER AND DEVYN
GL: Have either of you fallen asleep during a concert? GH: No, but my dad did when he took me to a Metallica concert when I was 12. I was so embarrassed. I looked over and saw him sleeping and was like, “Dad, Dad! Wake up! You’re at a Metallica show,” and he’s like, “Oh, yeah. This is great.” I plan to give back to my kids and do the same thing. DR: Better keep that tradition going. I went to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert when I was 18 in the cities. I wasn’t a huge fan of Mars Volta. They opened and played forever. I didn’t actually fall asleep, but they were on for at least an hour and a half. At one point, I was hunched over and in and out waiting for them to be done. GH: You sound like my wife at a movie. I look over and she’s asleep, and I’m like, “Did you just come to get a nap?” DR: Okay, those DreamLoungers are incredibly comfortable. GL: Do either of you play instruments? DR: Oh, Gunner… GH: I’ve dabbled in guitar. I’ve been in many failed bands over the years. DR: His senior picture is like the douchiest thing you’ve ever seen. GH: I’m wearing a basketball jersey holding a guitar wearing cargo shorts, and I had spikey hair and blond tips. 16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
DR: He looks 12. It’s crazy it’s his senior picture. GH: I have one hanging up in my office. Right now, I’m in a band with my daughter and son called Rainbow Princess. They fight over the drums.
GL: What’s the worst name of a band you were in? GH: In college I was in Beer on Ice. We actually played a few gigs in front of nobody. We came in second place in a battle of the bands out of two bands.
always come to a point where I’ve gotten out of whatever situation that was because it’s not worth being miserable. So, yeah, just be happy whatever you’re doing. That’s all that matters. •
GL: What’s a little-known fact about both of you? DR: I have five brothers and two sisters. Gunner and I are open books, and if there are little tidbits, we laugh about it on air. We take all our embarrassing moments and just exploit ourselves. GH: We’re not really embarrassed by much. I made a halfcourt shot in 8th grade. DR: Can I say what I want yours to be instead? GH: Please. DR: Gunner wanted to be a rock star, so he applied for Jimmy Johns. GH: It said, “Rock stars wanted! Apply within!” I thought I was so cool. Everybody probably hated me. I used to wear a bandanna with a backwards hat thinking I was like the Avenged Sevenfold guys. Then I cheated on the sandwich test. So that’s me. GL: What does living the good life mean to you? GH: Being happy and making sure my kids are happy. That’s the priority for me now. I want to be as successful as I can be for them so they can have the best life they can. Family is good. Really, that’s it. DR: I’ve been a lot of places over the past 10 years, both professionally and personally, where I’ve just settled. I’ve
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ON THE COVER // CHAD ERICKSON
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WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
The steady hum of the twirling chopper blades groan in the distance. Cars on the freeway slow to catch a glimpse. Eyes fixed on the sky, people stop to stare, holding their breath at the thought of a nearby tragedy. Witnessing a life flight in action often produces a visceral reaction for many. But for Chad Erickson it’s just a part of the job. "It's all in your perspective,” said the lead rotor wing Sanford AirMed pilot. One morning at work, Erickson ran into a woman whose husband had been admitted to the hospital. She offered her perspective – one he hears often. “We have the perfect view of the helicopter landing, and I hate seeing that thing flying,” she told him. “That means somebody needs help.” “That's not how I look at it,” Erickson quickly responded. “I wouldn't be able to do my job if I just focused on the bad stuff. I look at it as we're helping people.'" EARNING HIS WINGS Growing up on a farm west of Walcott, N.D., Erickson graduated from Kindred Public School in 1983. Having an uncle who flew for the Air National Guard and was also a crop duster, the now 53-year-old was introduced to flying early on. “It never dawned on me that it was something I wanted to do, but somehow it just stuck in the back of my mind,” Erickson said. "I liked being at airports and going to air shows. I had a fascination with flying.” The summer after graduation, Erickson joined the Army as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division. After serving for three years, he returned to Fargo and was accepted into flight school in 1990 at the age of 25. After 8 months of flight school, Erickson earned his wings and shiny warrant officer bars. His first assignment as an aviator was overseas at Camp Humphreys, Korea. With a year rotation oversea as the norm, Erickson was one of many young pilots. "You had to make pilot in command relatively quick because there were other guys shipping out,” he said. “You were flying around with two, W-1s – which are guys right out of flight school. We knew what we were doing but we weren't very experienced.” urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 19
ON THE COVER // CHAD ERICKSON
“I wouldn't be able to do my job if I just focused on the bad stuff.” – Chad Erickson The mission tested his abilities as a pilot from the start. From there, he was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort Riley, Kan.; and Fort Eustis, Va. In Alaska, most calls came from passersby who witnessed tragedies in secluded areas and called in with grid coordinates. "You were the first one on-scene for the guy who fell while sheep hunting in the middle of the mountains,” Erickson said. After serving deployments in Somalia, Thailand and Iraq, Erickson retired from the Army in 2008. He spent the next four years at his dream job as a Department of the Army Civilian (DAC) flying with his regular Army counterparts.
"I have a flight physical every year where they check everything out,” Erickson said. “We have a limit on our crew weights of 240 pounds (each).” Thankfully, Erickson’s Army background – combined with his calm demeanor – has equipped him to endure high amounts of stress and react with poise in traumatic situations. The aircraft, however, requires a bit more preparation. “I know who my crew is, I know the aircraft I'm flying and I know how much gas it has in it – so I get a flight plan together to know how much weight I can carry.” Weather forecasts also play a vital role in Erickson’s job.
PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF
"I'll check the weather out to Jamestown, Grand Forks down to the Twin Cities and Sioux Falls to see where problems may arise,” he said. “Sioux Falls and the Twin Cities are the longest flights we take at about an hour and a half. The shortest flights I'd say are a 20-minute ring around Fargo.”
Meticulous planning is key to responding efficiently during emergencies. In fact, part of the pre-flight check starts with the pilots themselves.
Between Fargo’s Sanford AirMed helicopter and airplane, pilots respond to approximately two to three calls per day out of Fargo (or 800 to 900 per year), on average.
"I was flying VIPs around in D.C.,” he said. "Then I got the call to come back home."
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Determining which aircraft to send at any given moment is often based on distance and weather conditions. "There are dispatch algorithms that our dispatchers use for location and returning areas,” explained Katy Kressin, Sanford AirMed outreach development specialist. “There are different weather situations the airplane can fly in that the helicopter can't. The helicopter can't deice.” However, in shorter distances, the helicopter has a faster response time as it can land on-scene or at a hospital for a transfer flight versus the fixed-wing plane, which is required to land at an airport and travel by ground to the patient. TAKING (AND MAKING) THE CALL When the request for a flight comes in, it's just that: a request. Ultimately, it's up to Erickson whether or not the helicopter leaves the pad. "Initially, they give us limited information – where we're going and patient weight,” he explained. “They want to take all the emotion out of the pre-planning criteria for us to launch.” Without the potential sway of sentimental details, Erickson analyzes the facts and makes an educated decision. It’s not until he accepts the flight that the crew is informed about patient age, injury, status and other details.
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ON THE COVER // CHAD ERICKSON
From there, Erickson performs a risk assessment and creates a flight plan based on distance and weight of the crew, patient and fuel – which cannot exceed 3,585 kilos, or approximately 7,900 pounds. In fact, “if we have a 20-minute scene flight and three to four people onboard, we might have to leave somebody behind at the scene because we don't burn off much gas on the way out there," he explained. Using a large remote control cart, he pushes the helicopter out of the hangar and onto the launch pad as the medical crew gathers the necessary supplies. On board, a typical crew consists of a flight paramedic and flight nurse, but depending on the call, NICU nurses, respiratory therapists or maternal nurses may also get tapped.
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"Then I'll jump in and start my pre-flight checks. By then, the crew is back in the aircraft, so I start it up and go," Erickson said.
Within 8 to 15 minutes of getting the call, the helicopter is off the ground and en route, traveling 150 miles per hour. Sometimes, Erickson responds to “scene flights,” flying over the incident (usually within a 40-mile radius of Sanford), assessing the situation and observing the landing zone and any potential obstacles. "A lot of times, from the description of the 911 call, local responders and EMTs will launch us without even seeing a patient," Kressin said. "Early activation is key. If we get out there and we don't transport a patient, no one gets billed.” A DIFFICULT WAITING GAME With just one rotor wing pilot on duty at a time – working 12-hour shifts, seven days on, seven days off – when he isn’t flying, Erickson anxiously awaits a call at the hospital. "In the wintertime, you'll sit here for a week and not be able to fly because of weather, nobody calls you or people are in their houses not doing anything. So you'll sit here for hours," he said.
While boredom can set in, perhaps the biggest challenge is making the judgement call when a request does come in. “There's times when, man, you really want to go but you have weather rules you have to abide by. I have to try and look into the future and see what's going to happen,” he said. “The worst part is turning down a flight and the weather doesn't do what the forecast says.” Luckily, if that’s the case, there are other options. "If I turn down a flight, we’ll send the fixed wing (airplane). Those guys fly in almost anything,” he explained. That is, unless their airport – or the destination airport – is closed. If neither are available, the third option is to go by ground via ambulance. For both dispatchers and those in emergency medicine, part of the job means accepting they may never know the outcome of their work. Flying with up to 15 different crew members in 7 days, Erickson is lucky if he hears in passing about a patient outcome. Some days, he reads about it in the newspaper. "You'll hear bits and pieces of it, but a lot of times, you don't know," he said. Often times, Erickson says doing his job means staying in the zone and accepting you did what you could. In fact, at the end of the day, Erickson says he often grins, overhearing the crew talk about the flight experience and what they achieved on board. In the end, the good life means "having every other week off," Erickson said, laughing and poking fun at his colleagues. "I like coming to work. Look at this facility we have, the people we work with, the equipment we run – that's the good life.” But perhaps what’s most rewarding is "knowing you just saved somebody's life," he said. •
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8 THINGS
YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE UNITED WAY SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE WRITTEN BY: KRISTI HUBER
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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: UNITED WAY
Imagine walking into third grade for the first day of school. The little boy next to you has a brand-new Superman backpack, and he pulls a few pencils out of the pocket of his new pair of jeans. The little girl in front of you has a sparkly, pink backpack and is sporting equally sparkly, white shoes. You glance over, but instead of smiling, you try to hide your backpack, which is a crumpled, white, plastic grocery bag with a nearly empty notebook and a few short pencils. You look down at your worn out, too-small shoes as you 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
walk sheepishly into the doors of the school to find your classroom, hoping no one notices you. How would this scene be different if you had a new backpack you could be proud of? Would you hold your head high and confident as you walked into school? Ready to meet new friends? Ready to take on the activities and homework your teacher would assign? When it comes to the United Way of Cass-Clay School Supply Drive, we want to give local kids the school supplies they need to feel confident and successful on their first day of school.
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NEARLY 6,000 STUDENTS WERE IMPACTED LAST YEAR. During the United Way School Supply Drive last year, 5,800 students in need that attend school right here in Cass and Clay Counties received a backpack and set of supplies for the school year, thanks to the generosity of this community. THE NEED IS GREAT: MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE IN CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES LIVE IN POVERTY. That could fill Scheels Arena four times! One in seven children in our community live in poverty – that’s 2,400 children. Based on school data, we know approximately 10,500 local K-12 students in Cass and Clay Counties access free and reduced lunch programs. These families are often making choices about whether to pay their bills or buy new school supplies and clothes for their children going back to school. Last year, more than 83% of the students who received supplies self-reported being enrolled in a free-and-reduced lunch program. This community program is impacting families in need. THE BIGGEST NEED ISN’T IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. One of the most surprising facts about the School Supply Drive is that it primarily serves elementary urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25
Drive is an opportunity to teach their own children to be aware that not all kids are as fortunate as they are when it comes to the opportunity to go back-to-school shopping and load up on supplies and cool new clothes.
school kids, but there is a great need for school supplies for middle and high-school students as well. Last year, half the backpacks – nearly 3,000 of them – went to help kids in middle school and high school.
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MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED LAST YEAR. Imagine what a heap of 5,000 empty backpacks looks like. Now imagine how many volunteers it takes to fill each one with all of the notebooks, pencils, crayons and markers needed. Many local businesses choose the School Supply Drive as an opportunity for team development and to build camaraderie among their coworkers and leadership teams, and for many parents, volunteering for the United Way School Supply
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EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN FARGO, WEST FARGO AND MOORHEAD HAD STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FROM UNITED WAY LAST YEAR. More than 65 schools throughout Cass and Clay counties received supplies last year and had students walk through their doors with the supplies they need to succeed.
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IT COSTS ABOUT $25 FOR UNITED WAY TO EQUIP ONE CHILD WITH A BACKPACK AND SET OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES. While we are grateful for all of the donations we receive, the way to make the biggest impact is to donate financially. Because of relationships and partnerships we have in the community, United Way is able to leverage the dollars people give by buying supplies in bulk. Giving financially means helping more kids.
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THE SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE IMPACTS OUR TEACHERS, TOO. “The teachers, counselors and staff in our schools have enormous hearts," says Rachel Lerum, a counselor at Horizon Middle School in Moorhead. "We have stashes of supplies that we purchase out of our own pockets for students, but when kids come to school with supplies from United Way, students in need don’t have to wait until we, as a staff, figure out that they need something. It eliminates the barrier of students needing to seek support and ask for supplies at school, which can be so shameful for many kids." POVERTY IS A CYCLE. A STUDENT WHO DOESN'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL IS TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY THROUGHOUT ADULTHOOD. Having school supplies is one of the first steps to giving students the tools and confidence they need to succeed. If we as a community can prepare young people for the right path to success, we can stop the cycle of poverty and allow young people to grow into successful adults. •
GET INVOLVED • Donate school supplies July 11-27 • Give online any time at: www.unitedwaycassclay.org • Volunteer July 23 - August 7 • Email: schoolsupplydrive@unitedwaycassclay.org IN NEED OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES? Any K-12 student attending school in Cass or Clay County is eligible to receive a backpack and supplies at the FARGODOME on: • Saturday, August 4, 8 - 11:30 a.m. • Tuesday, August 7, 4 - 7 p.m. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
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LOCAL HERO // SERGEANT NIELSEN AND K-9 DISCO
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A Sergeant’s Best Friend WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR
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For Sergeant Peter Nielsen of the West Fargo Police Department and his K-9, Disco, their friendship extends far beyond work hours. After serving as a police officer for over 20 years, Nielsen decided to become a K-9 handler. He was paired with the black, long-haired German shepherd from Slovakia, and following five weeks of training in Iowa, the new friends headed home together to West Fargo.
PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
position, he will continue being a vital part of the Nielsen family. “He’s done a lot for the department,” Nielsen said. “I tell him he’s on his farewell tour. He’s at the vet today, and I was thinking about how this is one of the last times they’ll see him as a police dog. He’ll stay with me, but we’ll just cut out the training and let him be a dog.” Keeping Skills Sharp
As his handler, dog daddy and best friend, Nielsen has been with Disco through thick and thin. They’ve saved each other’s lives and saved the lives of others in the process.
Retirement will be completely foreign for Disco. For the entirety of his life, he has participated in regular training, a requirement for all police officers, as well. Ongoing drilling is essential for them to stay physically and mentally fit.
It’s been a great run for the pair, but later this summer, the beloved dog will be retiring. Although he will be leaving his
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LOCAL HERO // SERGEANT NIELSEN AND K-9 DISCO
it in training, you’re going to build muscle memory and remember so you react appropriately on the street. That’s why the continuous trainings happen.” Nielsen, a training supervisor, puts in additional time with Disco twice a month to keep their senses and stamina sharp. “Disco came to the U.S. when he was a year and a half old. He came partially trained from overseas. Then he came to an organization called North Iowa Canine where Disco was trained to be a police dog,” Nielsen said. “I went to Iowa and learned how to be a handler, and now I train him. He knows how to do so many things. You have to keep that at a high level or that skillset will fade.” The duties of police dogs vary. Single-purpose dogs are trained to find narcotics. Nielsen said any canine with a high-drive, like a Labrador retriever, could fit that role. Dualpurpose dogs have a lot more responsibility in their dishes. From sniffing out narcotics to protecting their handlers, criminal apprehension to building searches, article recovery to tracking, dogs like Disco are vital members of any department. As a German shepherd, Disco is one of three dog breeds specifically used for this more intelligent and aggressive line of work. Breeds chosen for dual-purpose positions are the German shepherd, the Dutch shepherd and the Belgian Malinois. Those are the breeds that won’t bat an eye at apprehending criminals. “The lab isn’t bred to chase down a person. They are trained to go get ducks, pheasants or geese, not a human. The dogs we get are working bred dogs, the ones that aren’t bothered by chasing a person down. It would be very hard to train a golden retriever to chase a person down. They’re not wired for that, whereas a German shepherd will do that.” 32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
"He’s done a lot for the department. I tell him he’s on his farewell tour." – Nielsen
Dangerous Missions As any police officer and his family can tell you, every day brings new surprises — some good and others bad. Throughout his time working at WFPD, Nielsen has had serious back injuries and has dodged bullets — not the figurative type. For Nielsen’s family, his job brings mixed emotions. “My wife is worried a lot. There are obviously things that have happened to me at work,” Nielsen said. “I don’t think my kids worry about it. It’s just my job and they just know that’s what I do and like to do. They just kind of accept that. Their friends come over and ask me questions and mess with me a little bit because they know who I am. I think my kids think it’s a little cool. Things could happen, but hopefully they won’t.” Like Nielsen, Disco has faced wounds brought on by the job, as well. During a training drill, Disco’s back became increasingly painful, which made him hesitant to jump. He had to undergo a major back surgery that took him six weeks to recover. But three days after he was back on the job, Disco had to rescue his best friend. Nielsen had broken a hand during a fight trying to arrest a man, leaving him unable to fight at full capacity. One pop of the car door with Nielsen’s remote and his loyal compadre came to his rescue.
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LOCAL HERO // SERGEANT NIELSEN AND K-9 DISCO
"He knows how to do so many things. You have to keep that at a high level or that skillset will fade." – Nielsen “He came out of the car and cleaned up the mess.” Along with that heroic save, Disco has two of the largest drug seizures in the history of the state. “He’s got many street apprehensions and bitten people. He’s been used by a U.S. Marshal Task Force to go into a house to get a guy who was hiding and by our patrol officers to go into a house into an attic to get a guy who was holding someone hostage,” Nielsen said. “He’s been hit, kicked and punched, all while doing his job. He’s done a lot of cool things in his career.” As his handler, Nielsen has to determine whether it is wise to bring Disco with on a mission.
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“I’m not going to bring him to a call where there’s a guy with a gun because that would be a suicide mission. The guy’s going to shoot him. The handler is trained to know when to deploy his dog,” Nielsen said. “Ultimately, I’m responsible for him and everybody around him. If I let him go and I don’t know what’s in a building, he doesn’t necessarily know who the bad guy is. His senses are his nose, and his mission is to find the human and get them. All of it is on the handler and they have to be cognitive of where they should be deploying the dog.” While the job brings innumerable dangers, there are also more lighthearted missions for which the teammates have put in much time and energy. Nielsen and Disco have competed in four regional police dog competitions where
each dog is judged on their agility, obedience and speed. Although it’s an accomplishment to win, they mean little to Nielsen, in comparison to his sidekick’s reputation. “We have a couple trophies, but I think the biggest accomplishment is when people in the community and other officers say, ‘That’s a really nice dog.’ That’s the biggest compliment. I’d rather have officers compliment, trust him and call for him when they need help than a big trophy.” Living the good life, according to Officer Nielson: Being a good person, being someone who’s respected, somebody that is able to help and being able to give back to my community. As long as my family is healthy, I’m happy. That’s the main reason why we look forward to living the good life. As long as people are healthy and happy anything else you get on top of that is a bonus. •
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