In honor of Father's Day, we present ...
DAD JOKES! Q: What do you call a bear with no teeth? A: A gummy bear.
Q: Why did the coach go to the bank? A: To get his quarterback.
Q: What is Forrest Gump’s password? A: 1Forrest1
Q: What did the fisherman say to the magician? A: Pick a cod, any cod.
Q: What’s red and smells like blue paint? A: Red paint.
Q: What’s brown and sticky? A: A stick.
Q: Two flies are in the kitchen, which one is the cowboy? A: The one on the range.
Q: How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? A: 10 tickles.
Q: How does a penguin build his house? A: Igloos it together.
Q: What do you call an illegally parked frog? A: Toad.
Q: Why did the man fall down the well? A: Because he couldn’t see that well.
Q: How do you get a country girl’s attention? A: A tractor.
ha! ha! ha!
Two guys walked into a bar. The third guy ducked. Q: Why do bees have sticky hair? A: Because they use a honeycomb. Q: Want to hear a joke about construction? A: I'm still working on it. Q: Why did the picture go to jail? A: Because it was framed. Q: What do you call a hippie's wife? A: Mississippi. Q: Does anyone need an ark? A: I Noah guy! Q: What do you call a man with a rubber toe? A: Roberto. Q: When does a joke become a dad joke? A: When it becomes apparent!
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Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: “Does this taste funny to you?” Q: Why did the scarecrow win an award? A: Because he was outstanding in his field. Q: What do you call a man who can’t stand? A: Neil. Q: What do you call cheese that isn't yours? A: Nacho Cheese. Q: Why do cows wear bells? A: Because their horns don't work. Q: Why can't you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom? A: Because the pee is silent. Q: What did the drummer call his twin daughters? A: Anna one, Anna two. If you see a robbery at an Apple Store does that make you an iWitness? Q: Why did the tomato blush? A: Because it saw the salad dressing. Q: Why did the invisible man turn down the job offer? A: He couldn't see himself doing it. Q: How many apples grow on a tree? A: All of them. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3
CONTENTS
MAY-JUNE 2020
Volume 7 • Issue 6
18
FARGO'S TOP DOG K-9 FALCO AND OFFICER DAVID COCHRAN
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2
DAD JOKES
6
7 SIGNS OF LOW T 20-30 PERCENT OF OLDER MEN SUFFER FROM LOW TESTOSTERONE
8
MACK TACTICAL CUSTOMS ARTISTRY WITH A BANG
12
A RESILIENT PRAIRIE
14
RECYCLING IS ABOUT MORE THAN SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT HOW RECYCLING BENEFITS THE ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITY
24
FATHERS A FATHER'S DAY TO REMEMBER
26
HAVING A BEER WITH KEVIN FLYNN WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING
30
LOCAL HERO NORTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER GABE IRVIS SERVES WITHOUT FLASH
The
GOOD LIFE MEN’S MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Ben Hanson Katie Jenison Jeffrey Miller Krissy Ness Alexis Swenson ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com
READ A PAST ISSUE yumpu.com/user/thegoodlife FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @urbantoadmedia
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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MEN'S HEALTH
7 SIGNS OF
LOW T
20-30 Percent of Older Men Suffer from Low Testosterone
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
As if getting old wasn’t embarrassing enough as it is, Mother Nature decided to throw in some hilarious hormone curveballs later in life to accompany the more outward signs of old age like gray hair, wrinkles and ill advised jokes. The good news is that a decrease in testosterone levels isn't exactly life threatening. But, the symptoms associated with Low T can still impact your life.
characteristics unique to each gender. In men, testosterone plays a role in appearance, sexual development, sperm production, sex drive, muscle development and bone mass. It’s really when the balance between estrogen and testosterone gets out of whack — when we start talking about Low T — that you start to notice some external symptoms.”
Before running through the warning signs, let’s first take a quick look at what exactly testosterone is and what it does in the human body. For that, we turn to our resident men’s health contributing specialist, Dr. Forrest Sauer, founder of Twin Oaks Health Solutions in Fargo.
According to Dr. Sauer, testosterone levels naturally start to decrease the older men get, and some studies indicate that upwards of 30 percent of men over the age of 70 will likely experience some symptoms associated with Low T, which is diagnosed when levels fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). A normal range is typically 300 to 1,000 ng/dL, according to the Food and Drug Administration. A blood test called a serum testosterone test is used to determine your level of circulating testosterone. Let’s review seven of the more common signs you may be experiencing Low T and a call to your primary healthcare provider may be in order.
“The two big hormones everyone is at least vaguely familiar with are testosterone and estrogen,” explains Dr. Sauer. “Both are found in differing amounts in both men’s and women’s bodies, and they contribute to your body’s overall function. The two need to maintain a certain balance specifically in order to support sexual function and sexual
Decreased Sex Drive It’s natural for some men to see a decline in sex drive as they age, but a more pronounced loss of arousal may be a sign. Testosterone plays a key role in libido in men, and someone with Low T will likely experience a more drastic drop in their desire to have sex. Your partner may pick up on this more than you, and they may be the first to notice something’s not quite right. Erectile Dysfunction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is not that taboo subject it once was — thank you, little blue pill commercials — and it’s another sign of Low T, as testosterone plays a role in helping men get and maintain erections. ED is tricky, though, as it could also be a sign of more serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease or mental health concerns like depression or anxiety. When testosterone levels are too low, a man may have difficulty achieving an erection prior to sex or having spontaneous erections (for example, during sleep). If this sounds familiar, it may be worth that call to your doctor to get a professional’s opinion… to be on the safe side. Hair Loss If your family has a history of baldness, chances are good you’re in line for some hair loss. But genetics isn’t the only factor. Low T may also be to blame, as testosterone also plays a role in natural hair production. If you’re losing hair everywhere — not just on your head — low testosterone levels may be the culprit. Special thanks to Dr. Forrest Sauer at Twin Oaks Health Solutions, medical consultant for our Men’s Health section.
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Extreme Fatigue When you reach senior citizen status, you’ve earned your afternoon nap. After all, we tend to get worse sleep the older we get. But, if you’re feeling really, really, really tired all the time, it’s a sign of an underlying issue and Low T may be it. Pay attention to your motivation. If you’ve been a regular exerciser — even a routine daily walk — but are having no interest in lacing up and breaking a sweat, that’s an even stronger signal of Low T. Decreased Muscle & Bone Mass Because testosterone plays a role in building muscle and maintaining bone mass, men with Low T might notice a decrease in both — the muscle loss being the easier of the two to catch. Testosterone helps produce and strengthen bone, so men with low T may end up suffering from osteoporosis, a decrease in bone density and are therefore more susceptible to fractures. Increased Body Fat Back to the discussion Low T more of a concern about the balance between testosterone and estrogen… men with Low T may find themselves packing on some extra fat — especially in their breasts. It’s called gynecomastia, which is a condition of enlarged breast tissue. It’s a sign of Low T, but more so a sign of a hormone imbalance. Mood & Memory Oh, I almost forgot. Memory loss is another sign of Low T. In fact, so is changes to your overall mood, as mood and memory are closely linked. Studies show that men with low T are more likely to face depression, irritability and a general lack of focus. And because both testosterone levels and cognitive functions decline with age, researchers are beginning to link the two together… perhaps more of a correlation than causation, but one more sign of potential Low T to monitor. •
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WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Whoever said building a gun couldn't be artistic? Definitely not Jeff Mack. Mack is in the business to not only hand build your gun(s) but to add a bit of uniqueness and artistry. He has been a gunsmith and designing exceptional guns for 10 years. More recently Mack Tactical Customs became a full-time gig three years ago. The demand for his work has only grown from there. "Gunsmithing is first and foremost what I do – and then I expanded into the cerakote," said Mack. Cerakote is a porcelain-based film, which is very thin but very durable, that is applied to a gun to provide color and texture. "On handguns, I do polymer frames, I can do frame manipulation and texturizing for grip, and slide work," said Mack. "Slide work is where you cut holes into the gun and kind of make them look cool and not like every other gun you see out there." That is not the only thing Mack does at Mack Tactical Customs, after all this is a one-man operation. "I'm the gunsmith, I'm the builder, the guy that does all the modifications, I'm the receptionist, billing, and bookkeeper," laughed Mack. It's not always easy to work alone or out of your own garage, but what does work is passion. Mack has been fascinated with guns most of his life and the artistry of cerakoting and slide work came with the territory. To be able to take your hobby and turn it into a business truly shows what determination and drive Mack has.
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"The variety is what I like best about my job," stated Mack. "It's not mundane and it's different every day." I would have to agree with this and how nice it must be to get to work on a different project every day. That is not to say Mack doesn't have a couple of specialties up his sleeve. "I get a lot of Glocks that come through my door," stated Mack. "I've kind of gotten the reputation that I'm the expert on Glocks." Glocks have always been Mack's personal handgun choice. They are very customizable, reliable, and easy to take apart. On top of that, he has also perfected the Mack Tactical Customs trigger jobs for Glocks.
Mack Tactical Customs is growing, "We are expanding again and building our own brand of AR rifles," said Mack. Something you will find with Mack Tactical Customs is that you will always get quality professionally built guns with an abundance of artistry. "A gun is a gun, let's say an AR-15, all the internal moving parts are essentially the same," said Mack. "But, when you make them look different from what you're just buying off the shelf somewhere it stands out and people feel like, 'Hey, I got something no one else has – this one's mine.'" With that kind of dedication, it is assumed you would pay a pretty penny. "These big AR companies – they are just assembling guns on an assembly line going from one person to another to another, and the quality control – it's got to be tough, but I know what I'm putting on these guns because I build them myself from start to finish," stated Mack. "Mine – there's no junk in them, which is why mine falls into the more midrange price as far as quality and price."
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On top of getting to be creative and utilize very delicate skills comes the final step – test firing the weapon. "The nice thing with fixing customer guns and building new ones is that you have to test-fire them," laughed Mack. "I show up at the range and they are like 'Oh, here comes Jeff.'" These days Mack is working seven days a week working on guns, whether it is building and cerakoting from scratch or fixing a gun from another company, but that doesn't mean he is content where he is. "I'm always expanding my business as well," stated Mack. "I have recently partnered up with United States Conceal and Carry Association (USCCA), and in June I will train to become a certified conceal and carry instructor and defensive shooter instructor; like I need to have more stuff to do," laughed Mack. "On top of that people will also be able to buy memberships to the USCCA through me," said Mack. This membership is particularly important if you plan to conceal and carry. "You can get different online training through USCCA," stated Mack. These days more and more people are legally carrying guns, and it is important to practice gun safety and receive the proper education. When asked what the good life means to him, Mack said, "Living the good life to me means enjoying our freedoms in this country. Living a balanced life between work, family, and fun. Surrounding myself with great people, and of course getting out there and shooting guns." •
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a resilient prairie WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER
• PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: JEFFREY MILLER
Restoration of even small areas back to prairie can have an enormous impact on everything from water infiltration, insect and wildlife habitat, and soil health. Fargo is located smack dab in the middle of the tallgrass prairie. This sea of vegetation used to stretch northsouth from Manitoba to Texas and west-east from the eastern Dakotas to Indiana. The tallgrass prairie area has only been on the landscape for the last 8,000 years. In that short amount of time, the prairie has developed into one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, second only to the Brazilian rainforest. Speaking of the Brazilian rainforest, when I was in elementary school in the early 1990s, we learned that the rainforest was under attack. That was true, and illegal deforestation of the rainforest is terrible. However, the textbooks never mentioned that the 12 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
tallgrass prairie, right outside of our window, was suffering as well. Native tallgrass prairie survives on less than 1% of its original range today. There are a wide variety of reasons for the reduction of tallgrass prairie, and it would not be possible to restore it to its original range. Restoration of even small areas back to prairie can have an enormous impact on everything from water infiltration, insect and wildlife habitat, and soil health. Prairie advocates point to the fact that most of the perennial grass on the landscape today is not native to the ecosystem. Found in China, Europe and Siberia, Smooth brome is a grass that was introduced to the United
States in the late 1800s. An extremely aggressive species, Smooth brome will outcompete the myriad of different species in a prairie and replace them with a monoculture. Even worse, Smooth brome forms a dense sod that will further reduce biodiversity. A field full of Smooth brome holds little value for livestock, wildlife or insects. In contrast, the native tallgrass prairie has a variety of species. 80% of the biomass would be grass, consisting of 40 to 60 different species. The remaining 20% would consist of forbs (also known as flowers), with up to 300 different species! All hope is not lost for the tallgrass prairie. It can be restored to its former glory, and all it needs is landowners
committed to seeing the sea of grass return. Even better, restoration can occur in a small urban backyard garden all the way up to a quarter section of land. There isn't any piece of land too big or too small! The most important aspect of prairie restoration is the use of local ecotype. Big bluestem, for instance, is the most iconic and common warm-season tallgrass prairie species. It is found on native prairies from Manitoba to Texas. In that enormous range, however, there are many locally adapted variants. Seed harvested from big bluestem in Texas would be ill-suited to the harsh, cold climate of North Dakota. For the best success, the seed source must be from the local generalized area. In order to help homeowners in urban areas and on small acreages contribute to the restoration of prairie, the Cass County Soil Conservation District has developed the Pocket Prairie Initiative (PPI). We help select species suitable for the project location's soil and prairie height and offer costsharing opportunities to help defray the financial outlay. For even smaller locations, such as apartments and townhomes, we suggest the Planter Prairie. The Planter Prairie is simply a plastic planter containing native prairie plants. The profusion of life growing in the planter attracts a wide variety of pollinating insects, proving that even the smallest prairies are a conduit for a healthy ecosystem. The beauty of the tallgrass prairie can take our breath away. With some planning upfront, along with financial assistance, the Red River Valley can witness a rebirth of our prairie heritage. •
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Recycling Is About More Than the Saving the Environment How Recycling Benefits the Economy and Our Community
WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON
There’s little doubt that recycling is good for the environment. By actively recycling, we can reduce the need for extracting, refining, and processing raw materials. Processes such as mining, quarrying, and logging not only deplete the earth’s resources but also creates substantial water and air pollution. The energy saved by recycling and reusing materials also reduces emissions and helps tackle climate change. While recycling plays a significant role in the health of our environment, the benefits don’t stop there. Many may be surprised to learn that recycling also has a profound impact on the economy. Mary Aldrich, Sales Manager at MinnKota Recycling in Fargo, explains that “The recycling industry generates approximately 32 billion dollars a year and employs over one million people in the United States.” Though the industry is relatively profitable, the markets are considered to be very volatile. Recycling is a “commodity14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
driven industry that can be very complicated, and it has everything to do with supply and demand,” Aldrich says. “If we have a clean product, it eliminates all these other costs or factors that can drive the price of services up. So that’s why we really want people to think about what they’re putting in their recycling bin.”
The recycling industry employs over 1,000,000 people in the United States.
The secret to clean recycling? Doing it responsibly. Aldrich stresses the importance of not assuming something can be recycled. There are a lot of products and packaging that have a recycling label on the bottom, but that doesn’t always mean the item can be recycled. The symbol is actually a legend depicting the grade of the material, as well as the safety and use of the item. When it comes to recycling best practices, Aldrich suggests, “When in doubt, throw it out.” Recycling contaminated with non-recyclable materials can be problematic for many reasons. Items like
extension cords, holiday lights, and hoses can get tangled, causing delays and damaging machines used in the recycling process. In turn, the unnecessary wear and tear to the equipment and setbacks can increase the price of recycling services. Luckily, Fargo-Moorhead residents are a step ahead of the rest of the nation when it comes to responsible recycling. According to Aldrich, our community is composed of conscientious recyclers. She estimates that MinnKota Recycling has a contamination rate of less than 10%, while the rest of the nation ranges between 25-40%.
YES!
RECYCLE THESE ITEMS PAPER
Newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, cardboard, food and beverage boxes.
PLASTIC
Plastic bottles and jugs and tubs (1, 2 and 5). Leave plastic caps on.
GLASS
Glass bottles, jars (clear and colored).
METAL
Steel or tin food and aluminum beverage cans.
RINSE
PAPER
PLASTIC
GLASS
METAL
Rinse out containers before putting in bin.
NO
NEVER RECYCLE THESE ITEMS NON RECYCLABLE
Shredded paper, tanglers (hoses, extension cords, holiday lights, etc), plastic bags, diapers and pet waste, hazardous materials (sharps, motor oil, propane tanks, etc.) styrofoam or e-waste.
WHEN IN DOUBT... THROW IT OUT!
Do not place food waste, plastic bags, plastic film, cellophane, bubble wrap or aluminum foil in bins. Do not recycle mirrors, lightbulbs, drinking glasses, ceramics or cookware.
NON RECYCLABLE
E-WASTE
HAZARDOUS
EXPIRED DRUGS
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Overwhelmed? Alrich recommends starting small.
Aluminum beverage cans
are a great starting point, as they make up a large chunk of recyclable materials in our landfills.
Start Recycling Today Despite the many environmental and economic benefits of recycling, some people don’t take advantage of their city’s recycling programs. For some, it’s because they don’t quite see the merits of recycling. Others may feel overwhelmed trying to adhere to the guidelines. If you fall into the latter category, Aldrich recommends starting small. Aluminum beverage cans are a great starting point, as they make up a large chunk of recyclable materials in our landfills. So much so, that we are essentially throwing millions of dollars away each year. MinnKota Recycling also has an answer for those who don’t recycle out of laziness or the belief that their recyclables won’t make an impact. The company offers a donation program at redemption centers in Detroit Lakes and 16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Fargo. For every pound of recyclable material you bring in, you’ll earn a penny. Those earnings can then be kept or donated to local charities and nonprofit organizations. A penny per pound may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but when you’re recycling heavy paper materials like old magazines and newspapers, it adds up quickly. MinnKota Recycling distributed over $10,000 to various community organizations last year alone. “For those organizations, every penny counts. We support over 180 programs, including food shelves, animal shelters, and schools. The few extra bucks your donation supplies can help a kid buy a carton of milk. There’s a lot of kids that can’t afford those things, and recycling your aluminum cans and junk mail can help them out,” Aldrich notes.
MinnKota Recycling Brings The Process Full Circle Running an efficient and environmentally conscious business is crucial to MinnKota Recycling and Beverage Wholesalers, the company that started MinnKota in 1975. Both have grown into the businesses they are today largely in part due to product stewardship. Olympia Beer required Beverage Wholesalers to offer a redemption program for its aluminum cans, which would reduce the product’s effect on the environment during its lifecycle. MinnKota added multiple materials recycling in 1989 and a document destruction division in 1998. Today, the company operates three recycling facilities and maintains a strategic partnership with Reliance Transportation and local companies owned by Randy Christianson of Fargo, ND. The addition of a trucking company is a large part of what makes MinnKota Recycling so successful. Aldrich says, “The recycling industry is all about logistics, and we have a really well-organized process that lets us transfer material in the most economical way. We ship our recyclable material out east to be processed, and our trucks will drop it off at the paper mills in Wisconsin. They’ll then pick up beer for the wholesale beverage division and bring it back to our facility. It’s essentially a looped system of transport.” Minnkota Recycling’s geographic location helps keep recyclable materials in domestic markets, as well. The company exports very little material to foreign markets and the recyclables it collects are remanufactured into other products in the United States. Keeping recycled materials in domestic markets reduces the cost of products we use daily, including items like toilet paper and napkins. For that to happen, citizens have to do their part. Each of us can contribute to the success of the economy—and our community—by making it a point to recycle responsibly. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 17
ON THE COVER | K-9 FALCO AND OFFICER DAVID COCHRAN
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WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Every day for the past 8 years, Officer David Cochran and his Belgian Malinois, Falco, have worked side by side, "Taking a bite out of crime," as Scruff McGruff would say. Cochran has been with the Fargo Police Department for 16 years. Since 2010, he's been a K-9 officer, and in his words, "It's been awesome. I've done lots of things throughout the department. All those things are fine, but you can't hold a candle to handling a dog." Cochran and Falco have been through a lot together, from sniffing out drugs to tracking missing people. What they didn't anticipate getting involved in together was something a lot less criminal in nature. In March 2019, an agent from A&E's "America's Top Dog" approached Sergeant Collin Gnoinsky asking if Cochran and Falco would apply to compete on the show. "He thought it was kind of a joke, and I thought it was too. But then he was like, 'No, this is legit. They want you to audition.' So I hemmed and hawed, and then I thought, what the heck, and we had two auditions over Skype," Cochran said. Each interview lasted nearly two hours as they observed how Falco and he interacted with each other. Soon the
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ON THE COVER | K-9 FALCO AND OFFICER DAVID COCHRAN
PHOTO BY: NICO THERIN / A&E 2020
pair was selected and eventually flown out to Los Angeles for the filming of the show. "They took care of everything and took great care of us," Cochran said. "Falco got a ticket on the plane, just like I did. He even got the window seat."
"THEY TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING AND TOOK GREAT CARE OF US," COCHRAN SAID. "FALCO GOT A TICKET ON THE PLANE, JUST LIKE I DID. HE EVEN GOT THE WINDOW SEAT." While traveling with a restless dog and competing on a national television show can cause some anxiety, Cochran enjoyed the entire experience. "It was a blast," Cochran said. "The most stressful part was taking a high-drive Mal and flying across the country, but once we got there, meeting the other teammates and the cast and production people were awesome." The entire crew, Cochran and Falco hit it off right away and still stay in contact with each other. 20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
"They said, 'We love working with you cops. Usually, we work with actors and they're very entitled. All you guys do is talk and hang out with us and we love it.' Falco even had his own trailer with his name on a star. They absolutely loved Falco. They thought he was the best." After filming their first episode, Cochran knew they had won that round, landing them in the top seven out of 50 dogs entered. Falco and he stayed in Los Angeles for a week to shoot the grand finale, competing for the winning prize of $25,000. Although they were eliminated in the first round, the two won $5,000 to donate to an animal charity, PHOTO BY: NICO THERIN / A&E 2020
along with $10,000 for the Fargo Police Department's K-9 fund. Falco was the oldest dog in the finals, a testament to his tenacity. The pair headed for home, but that wasn't the end of their star-level escapades. They were featured as the first episode of the season and were flown out to New York for the show's premiere, providing live commentary with the hosts of Live PD. "That was awesome. What an experience," Cochran said. "It was just Falco and I there for the premiere."
A MAN'S BEST FRIEND AND COWORKER Falco isn't the first in his canine family to protect and serve the area. A few years ago, there was Earl, Falco's uncle, who so impressed the Fargo Police Department they wanted their next K-9 from the same dogged bloodline. Falco has another uncle who works for Cass County named Ed. Across Minnesota and Winnipeg, Falco has siblings working for other police departments. "It's a fabulous bloodline," Cochran said. "If he could he'd push me aside and drive the squad car. It's no-nonsense." This ambitious, hardworking, dog version of the Energizer Bunny isn't only in work mode during business hours. When Cochran and he go home, Falco's hardwired to stay on the job. "Belgian Malinois are full of energy and can be over the top with drive. I knew I was walking into a handful of a dog," Cochran said. "He's the dog that brings work home. It's constant with Falco. He never stops. If you harness that drive, they'll work their heart out."
"BELGIAN MALINOIS ARE FULL OF ENERGY AND CAN BE OVER THE TOP WITH DRIVE. I KNEW I WAS WALKING INTO A HANDFUL OF A DOG." – OFFICER COCHRAN
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ON THE COVER | K-9 FALCO AND OFFICER DAVID COCHRAN
Beyond the excitement of competing and being featured on a national TV show is the bond the dog and his officer get to experience with each other every day. "I spend more time with Falco than with my own family," Cochran said. "There's a saying that when people need help, they call the police. When the police need help they call SWAT. Then they call K-9. It's always nice to be wanted, and you form this bond with your dog and help
your teammates. There's no better feeling. I can't even put it into words." Out of nearly 200 sworn-in officers, the Fargo Police Department just added a fifth K-9 to the unit. "A dog works 8-11 years, so those spots don't come available often. Not many people get to do it. I'm very blessed to have this opportunity with Falco." •
Falco Facts
• Falco will be 9 years old in August. Cochran is hoping Falco will be able to work 2-3 more years before retiring. • He loves food to no end. "You really have to keep your eye on him. It doesn't matter what it is," Cochran said. "It was very embarrassing at the time, but he was brand new and we got sent to an alarm at a sub restaurant in town. I was like, 'All right. Time to show off our training.' We had him on a long leash and he goes around the corner and the line drops. I'm waiting and waiting. I'm like, 'Falco, come!' and he won't. So we work our way up to him and he's just chowing down on loaves of bread. He even ate a petrified donut in someone's car once. • According to Cochran, he absolutely loves beds. "He'll roll on them and grab the blankets with his teeth and roll up in them. We got called to an alarm one night at a furniture store and made it to the bedroom section. There was a line of beds and he jumped on every single one on the way down." 22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Get to know the Belgian Malinois
• The breed was developed in the Belgian city of Malines. • The Belgian Malinois was originally intended for herding and is one of four breeds of Belgian sheepdogs. • With their high energy levels, they can become extremely destructive if they aren't exercised enough. • They often get confused with German shepherds, but German shepherds are usually a bit slower and more methodical than Belgian Malinois. In comparing the two breeds, Cochran said he compares them to cars. "German shepherds are Cadillacs and Malinois are Ferraris. One is a little more fun to drive."
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FATHERS | MR. FULL-TIME DAD
A Father's Day
to Remember
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
I hope I'm not the only one who doesn't recall Father's Day having much of an impact on my childhood. It's hard as a kid to get excited about someone else's special day, watch them open presents that aren't toys to play with and sit through three meals of not-your-favorite foods. Honestly, I still don't get all that excited for a made-up holiday. There, I said it. From my usual glass-is-half-empty perspective, Father's Day is more or less a trap for us fathers. We're told it's our day to spend however we wish, all while being showered with presents and praise seemingly for the previous year's job well done. Trap, I say! What I really want, if I'm being honest, is to lay in bed for a while, go golfing, take a couch nap, grill a steak for dinner and watch something R-rated in the recliner… none of which involves my offspring. If the premise of the day is me being a good father, how can I ask
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for what is essentially a day off from parenting and not suffer from an above-average amount of guilt? But this year is different. Much different. As I sit writing this column in my home office — now just "the office" — it's late March. We're still on the uphill climb of the much talked about COVID-19 pandemic curve. The whole family has now been self-isolating at home for three weeks, the first of which was marked by a visit to the ER… the last by a basement flooded with groundwater. It's been a month, and I'm not sure the end is yet in sight. Not to sound trite, but everything is different now thanks to this tiny, powerful virus. Things may circle back to normalcy, but even so, the memories of this period will last our lifetimes and that normalcy may still feel different. In early March, before the full weight of the situation had come crashing down, I posted this on Twitter: "On the upside, the older you get the fewer milestones your memory has the opportunity to capture. This moment in time is rich in emotion. Moments slow, suddenly important. This is a milestone. This... is going to be a most unique memory."
Not everyone agreed with me at the time, but I think we're all convinced at this point, our psyches permanently altered. What I can confidently say is this Father's Day will be one to remember, unlike the bulk of the previous 37. And what I truly hope is that it is memorable for unremarkable reasons. I want to take a walk through the neighborhood without awkwardly avoiding passersby on the bike path. I want to let Mack play on the playground without worry. I want to go to Costco... with the whole family… unmasked. I know, not the wish list I started this story with, but a wish list — altered — for the times we're living in. Of course, baby number two could arrive early and completely steal the show. Oh, what a wonderful diversion that would be… and a perfect excuse for a guilt-free nap! •
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HAVING A BEER WITH | KEVIN FLYNN
PHOTO BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Having a Beer with
Kevin Flynn (while social distancing)
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: MEGHAN FEIR AND KEVIN FLYNN
Some people seem to be magnets for out-of-the-ordinary experiences and run-ins with the rich and famous. During his 40 years of working in the radio industry, Kevin Flynn, the senior producer of The Flag 1100 AM, has brushed shoulders with the likes of Sally Field, James Garner and many others. As we chatted via Zoom to ensure the Coronavirus was held at bay, he regaled me with a couple of his life stories, from impromptu dinners with Bruce Willis and Demi Moore to spending the day with John Travolta. Hearing of these surreal experiences reminded me of bygone days when we actually wanted to stumble into other people; when we didn’t have to be paranoid about strangers being closer than six feet away, of shaking their hands and noticing audible signs of allergy season. Although we couldn’t sit in Drekker’s fine establishment, Flynn enjoyed a Drekker brew from the comfort of his home as we chatted about lake life, Corona isolation, and if he’s watched “Tiger King” yet. 26 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Good Life: With all the COVID-19 stuff happening, how has that changed your job in radio? Kevin Flynn: We’re deemed essential, since we’re a news organization. Working at The Flag is a little more weighted than my years working in music radio. People are tuning in to find out what’s going on and relying on us to be there. It’s a different world being in news talk radio, but I love it. GL: Have you stocked up on anything? KF: I live on a lake in the Detroit Lakes area. This will be our 24th summer here. We live in the country pretty far out, so I always stock up on stuff. I live on a food and water source. Let the zombies loose. I’m good. I have plenty of ammo out here, too. What got to me was the toilet paper business. Do you poop yourself to death with this thing or what?
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What got to me was the toilet paper business. Do you poop yourself to death with this thing or what?" - Kevin Flynn
GL: Yeah, that definitely seems to be the thing people don’t want to run out of during isolation. I guess they don’t want to wipe with moldy leaves. KF: People were grabbing paper towels, too, and I thought, “Ooh, that’s going to be a rough wipe.” GL: Plus, are they septic safe? I doubt it. GL: Have you guys watched “Tiger King” yet? KF: Funny you asked that. I just came home and started watching. I have to see what it’s all about. I’m 10 minutes in and—I don’t know. What’s funny is I spent a couple years living in San Antonio and I actually met a guy who owned a big cat farm outside of the city. He had seven lions, three tigers and a couple of other things. They were all his personal pets. They would roll around with him and one of them slept with him in the bed. He’s going to wind up with a leg off one of these days, but okay, dude. GL: If you were in the WWE, what would your wrestling name be? KF: I’m Irish, so probably the Irish Kid, Irish Tornado or something like that. I’m Irish and Norwegian, which usually means I’m too stupid to know when I’m too drunk. GL: Maybe the Irish Viking. KF: There you go. If I have a UFC name, it would be Kevin the Irish Hound Flynn or something like that. The Irish
beast. Kevin the Irish beast. Then I’d have some Dropkick Murphys as my walk-out music. GL: How did you end up having dinner with Bruce Willis and Demi Moore? KF: I spent two years in Los Angeles and worked for a station called Pirate Radio. I basically covered all the red-carpet stuff, so I got to meet a lot of stars. Bruce Willis was coming down the line for the “Diehard 2” premiere and we were at the very end of the line. The guy I worked for at the time knew him from years back, so I said, “Scott Shannon says hi,” and he stopped for a second and was like, “Pirate Radio, oh yeah!” Then he was like, “Are you hungry?” and I was like, “Yeah, sure.” Demi Moore was with him and she’d just gotten done doing the movie “Ghost.” I got to tag along with them back to the VIP area where all the food was and ended up hanging out for 45 minutes and interviewed him and Demi. It was pretty cool. GL: What’s a little-known hobby of yours? KF: I’ve been working on a few screenplays and working on a pilot. It’s kind of an old west, Black Hills tale set in the mid-1800s. Maybe someday it’ll come together. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
HAVING A BEER WITH | KEVIN FLYNN
GL: When did you begin to have an interest in acting? KF: A little in high school. As soon as I was out of high school I got into radio and didn’t really focus on it. About five years after I graduated my dad died, so I decided I was going to go out to Los Angeles, but I basically got stopped in Phoenix. I ended up staying in Phoenix for five years and did five films, including an HBO film with Sam Elliot and a movie called “Star Man” with Jeff Bridges. I’m just an extra in most of these films, but I got on to a film called “Murphy’s Romance,” which was with Sally Field and James Garner. I got to know and babysit Sally Field’s kids and golfed with James Garner. It was an amazing experience. GL: If you had to say you have a hero now, who do you think it would be? KF: I’m just a fan of people who do good and are positive. When my dad died when I was 22, I fell into a funk for a while. I worked for a guy in Phoenix who ended up being the vice president of FOX Sports Radio. He was kind of my mentor. His thing was “Always dare to be great.” I was working for Andy, still doing radio and not being as good of a guy as I should have been and he said, “Here. You need this.” It was a book and cassettes by Tony Robins. The more I listened and read, I realized that my mood and day is up to me. If I let the 28 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
world dictate my mood, I’ll never be happy. Wake up in the morning and don’t question if it’s going to be a good day. It’s always awesome. You’re still above ground, so why live your life halfway? My heroes now are like Steve Hallstrom. His passion, compassion, cheerleading and overall demeanor is a pleasure to work with every day because he doesn’t let anything get in his way for being great. Same with Alex and the whole team that I work with, which is a breath of fresh air. GL: What does living the good life mean to you? KF: The lake. I commute an hour in and an hour home, but on my way in I get updated on the world, and every day I’m going home to the lake, so it’s not really a bad deal. I was in LA for a little over two years and then I went down to San Diego for about a year, which only solidified my hatred for southern California. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Neither one of my parents made it to 60, so when I turned 30 I thought I was halfway. I was like, “I’m going to go and see if I can get a place on the lake because I always loved the lake life.” If you have a lake place you know what I’m talking about, so for me, it’s the lake. •
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LOCAL HERO | GABE IRVIS
Humility Behind the Wheel North Dakota Highway Patrol Officer Gabe Irvis Serves Without Flash WRITTEN BY: ALEXIS SWENSON PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
North Dakota Highway Patrol Officer Gabe Irvis has always wanted to be a cop. In fact, he remembers telling his mom so at age seventeen. She dissuaded him from the career choice and after graduating high school, Irvis studied Business Administration. He lasted about one year before coming to terms with the fact that school was not for him. On a whim, Irvis enlisted in the Army National Guard on September 12, 2006 at 20 years old. Just 13 days later he shipped for boot camp. “It looked like something I wanted to do. I liked wartime movies and stuff like that. I loved the atmosphere of boot camp; it looked like fun to me. And, I wanted to ship as soon as possible,” said Irvis. After serving two years in the Army National Guard as a 21 Whiskey (Carpentry Masonry Specialist), Irvis transferred to the North Dakota Air National Guard where he served for 6 years as part of the Security Forces Squadron, the Air Force’s version of Military Police. “When I transferred to the ND Air Guard, it kind of reignited that desire to be in law enforcement and I made a conscious decision to try to get into that field,” said Irvis. In 2012, Irvis began working for the ND Highway Patrol while serving as a Guardsman on a part-time basis. As both jobs are huge commitments, Irvis decided to focus his efforts on one position and in 2014, he made the difficult decision to leave the ND National Guard. 30 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“It’s an honor to be there for people when they need you. That’s what I like about public service; just being there for people.” – Gabe Irvis
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LOCAL HERO | GABE IRVIS
“I’m proud to be part of removing criminals from the roadways.” – Gabe Irvis
“I was excited to get out, but I remember my last Guard drill where I turned in all my stuff that had been a part of me for the past 8 years. It was a big transition leaving and not having that be a part of my life,” said Irvis. Life as a Trooper In his current role as a State Trooper, Irvis said the job is pretty much what people think it is. He makes a lot of traffic stops, does crash investigations, helps people who need help, and mostly maintains a visible presence on the roadway. He also works some criminal cases and DUI investigations as well as takes people to jail. “It’s something different every day. I like getting to help people and knowing that you’re changing lives. It’s an honor to be there for people when they need you. That’s what I like about public service; just being there for people. I’m proud to be part of removing criminals from the roadways,” said Irvis. Irvis cites debriefing as one of the greatest resources to cope with the harder parts of the job including memorable arrests and crash scenes. “We’re all professionals and all recognize that everybody handles it differently. We’ll do a critical incident debrief where we get together and talk it out. I think it’s helpful,” said Irvis. Irvis also strives to take advantage of the many opportunities to learn how to better carry out his role. In his work as a Standardized Field Sobriety Instructor, Irvis is privileged to create generational impact by teaching other law enforcement professionals how to accurately administer various sobriety tests to help evaluate psychophysical signs of impairment. “It’s pretty cool to think that some of the people that I’m teaching could someday be teaching another class or that they’re utilizing skills to make the roadway safer. They’re going to be taking drunks off the road and hopefully having success in terms of conviction rates with this because of the tests,” said Irvis. Moreover, Irvis worked for two years as a Certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) which helped further his skills in dealing with people, drugs and arrests. The DRE course teaches individuals how to identify controlled substances inside of people’s bodies through the evaluation of clinical signs of impairment.
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Ivis likes to joke that, “The only thing flashy about me is the lights on top of my vehicle,” and he’s humbled to be the recipient of any award and recognition. Recent awards include the Luther Ford Salute to Law Enforcement sponsored by AM 1100 The Flag WZFG and being recognized internally by the agency for his efforts in terms of criminal arrests, drug arrests, and DUI enforcement. For those interested in a career in law enforcement, Irvis suggests doing what he did—reaching out to the agency to set up a ride-along to get a better idea of the role of a State Trooper.
members. The first funeral I was a part of was Officer Moszer’s funeral. That was unbelievable to be a part of. It was an honor, it was humbling, and it was probably one of the most powerful experiences that I’ll remember in my law enforcement career,” said Irvis. Another memorable experience for Irvis is attending a funeral for Anthony Borostowski, a fallen State Trooper in WI. After saluting Borostowski, Irvis, along with other Troopers from various states, turned to pay his respects to the family.
Saluting with Honor While a member of the ND Highway Patrol Honor Guard team, Irvis traveled to funerals for State Troopers in Colorado, Wisconsin, and northern ND to honor fallen patrol officers by paying respects to the individual and their family as well as playing “Taps” on the bugle at one funeral. “I think it is very important for law enforcement agencies to pay their respects and to have a team that is able to, on a moment’s notice, go to another state or another part of the state for a funeral and pay their respects for the fallen
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LOCAL HERO | GABE IRVIS
“Borostowski’s dad gave me a hug and said, ‘My son was the epitome of squared away and when I saw you, I said, ‘My goodness— this guy is squared away, just like my son was’. That meant a lot to me. For this man on one of his darkest days to compare me to his son...It’s an honor to put on the uniform,” said Irvis. Due to scheduling conflicts, Irvis has recently made the difficult decision to resign from the team. “That was hard for me to give up because I believe in the team and I believe in its purpose,” said Irvis.
"Borostowski’s dad gave me a hug and said, ‘My son was the epitome of squared away and when I saw you, I said, ‘My goodness—this guy is squared away, just like my son was’. That meant a lot to me. For this man on one of his darkest days to compare me to his son...It’s an honor to put on the uniform.” – Gabe Irvis
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: GABE IRVIS
When initially asked by his supervisor if he would like to “take a picture with the President”, Irvis envisioned a hurried, blurry selfie with President Trump far in the background. He was more than a little surprised on the day of to find himself driving with Secret Service in the Presidential Motorcade and then sprinting into the building.
A Presidential Handshake Another unique experience Irvis is grateful to have had is when he was selected to meet President Trump. When traveling, President Trump often does meet and greets with various officers if time allows. Such was the case when President Trump recently visited Fargo, ND.
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“We went into the back room and it was completely surreal. I could see him and thought, ‘Holy smokes. No way.’ It was an honor to shake his hand. Regardless of political affiliation, that’s something I will always be proud of and always take the opportunity to do—to shake the President’s hand,” said Irvis. Off the Clock When he’s not on the road Irvis spends a lot of his time at, Metroflex, his favorite gym. He initially became a Metroflex member to train for a bodybuilding show and has quickly grown to love the gym.
"I’m living the good life. I chose a career that I’m passionate about. ” – Gabe Irvis “Fitness has become an important part of my life. My job demands me to be physically fit and the people I serve demand me to be physically fit. My bodybuilding show days are over, but Metroflex will always be my home. The gym has so much energy, I love the workout equipment, the owners are fantastic, and it’s very military and law enforcement friendly,” said Irvis. Beyond gym time, Irvis enjoys his sacred days off with his fiancé and two boys aged 11 and 10. “They are two incredibly different boys. One is quieter and reserved while the other is more outgoing. We do “men’s night” where we eat popcorn, watch Marvel movies, play video games, have Nerf gun wars—regular guy stuff. They’re easy; they’re like mini-mes,” said Irvis. The Good Life For Irvis, the “good life” isn’t an unattainable far-reaching goal. He believes that we’re all responsible for our own happiness and can choose to create a good life which is exactly what he has done. “I’m living the good life. I chose a career that I’m passionate about. I believe in what law enforcement does and believe in the critical part they play in the criminal justice system. I’m grateful to do it here in an area that is highly supportive of law enforcement at the community and state level. I have my health, my happiness, a beautiful fiance, and two handsome boys who have their health too. Outside of the weather, I love this area. It’s full of wonderful people,” said Irvis. •
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