FATHERS | DAD LIFE
SCREEN TIME
Harmless Distraction or Gateway to Technology Addiction WRITTEN BY: PAUL HANKEL
A completely dad-based musing on my kid's obsession with electronics and online safety. Not going to lie to you, I was struggling to come up with this issue's topic. You would think being given free reign to write about whatever dad-related topic I want would be the ultimate blank canvas. And it is. However, sometimes there are too many or too few topics to choose from, depending upon where I'm at as a parent and how annoyed I am at my son for using slang terms like, "my guy," "yeet," and, "GG," in our everyday convos. It was when I was doing some spring cleaning and picked up my son's yogurt fingerprint and ketchup smear-covered laptop that this month's column topic hit me: screen time.
Pre-tablet Times
Since the dawn of time, we parents have been coming up with ways to pacify, entertain, and distract our crotch goblins. This is all 2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
done under the guise of needing, "me time," or, in the words of my farmer father, needing to, "get some goddamn work done." Sidenote: I do want to point out that, as a father of ten children, I feel that my dad was completely justified in his attempts to secure even a few moments to himself. Historically speaking, parents have been coming up with ways of entertaining their children since the dawn of time. Personally, my favorite tactic stems from the 1970s-1980s where children were kicked out of the house when their mom was sufficiently annoyed and told, quote, "don't come back until the street lights come on." They came home for dinner tired, grass-stained, sunburnt, ravenous for hamburger helper and a big glass of Tang. Good times.
In reality, most times most parents just need a chance to poop in peace or to spend five minutes aimlessly scrolling various social media sites in order to receive their dopamine hit for the day. What Food Channel recipe am I going to stumble across on Pintstagrambook, save to my
phone, and never attempt to make for my family? Don't laugh, you know it's true…
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: PAUL HANKEL
salmon penne alfredo? Really, Bill? Carson has soccer practice tonight, there's no way you're pulling off a fresh seafood dinner on a Tuesday night. Chicken tenders in the deep fryer will do just fine.
Sometimes It's Ok to Not Fight It
Seriously, how did parents road trip, work from home, take an important phone call, or enjoy having company over the pre-tablet era? I can't even imagine. Let's be honest: there will be those days where tablet time and Fortnite sessions extend beyond the pediatricianrecommended, "no more than one to two hours per day limit." I have those days and know darn well that every single one of my perfect Instagram parent friends does too. It's inevitable. But, according to the above-
mentioned pediatrician, as long as those instances don't become routine or the norm, I'm assured that my son still has an ample shot at becoming a productive member of society. The advice I was given was simple: enjoy them (electronics) in moderation and monitor what your child is doing. See below.
What to Watch For
Admittedly, I do allow my son to watch some YouTube and play Xbox online. Also, he does have a nonactivated iPhone, which he can use to call me or his mom at any time.
Child predators and child sex trafficking are REAL. Even in our area. It's never been quicker or easier for pedophiles to contact and connect with your child. Thank you internet. A quick YouTube search of, "pedophile gets caught," will back me up on this. Be aware of this fact and the many ways your child could easily become the prey of a child predator.
Most of the time he is using these various devices, myself or his mother are closely monitoring him. However, sometimes things slip through the cracks. Below are a few things to watch for, from my perspective as a dad and marketing/social media professional: urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3
FATHERS | DAD LIFE
You are the parent. You control what your child intakes, digitally or otherwise. Ensure your child is not becoming brainwashed or overly influenced by their online experiences. You are the parent. You control what your child intakes, digitally or otherwise. Age-inappropriate content. I couldn't believe this was true until I researched it: apparently, there was a rash of perverted YouTube creators that would post a video labeled as children content that would feature a minute or two of children's content ( a clip of a popular kid's show, etc), and then would switch to clips of violent or
graphic content. Sick, I know.
Suggestions
Constantly monitor your child's online activity. In the words of my late mother, "Until you're 18 years and 1 day old, you're my responsibility." Truer words were never spoken. Set passwords on everything. For financial and security reasons! This should go without saying, but it's still an issue today. Don't be that parent whom's child is potentially exploited online or whom's child
rings up several hundred dollars in in-game Fortnite purchases because you gave them access to a game, social media site, or website that isn't password protected or that has parental controls. Set a reasonable and obtainable limit on your child's screen time. There was a phase where I was trying to be that completely holistic parent, full of outdoor activity ideas and a full schedule of screen-avoidant activities. However, while this is a good practice, in today's world, I feel like a completely screen-free existence is unobtainable. Especially amid a year of online learning, due to COVID. Technology is here to stay and, in my non-medical opinion, it is best to embrace what technology has to offer while still adhering to my parenting principles. I had a shift in mindset when, during the lockdown, my son said, "Dad, I NEED to be online tonight. That's where my friends are." While it struck me as an exaggeration, I soon realized that holy cow, he's right: he hasn't seen his friends in months and an Xbox Fortnite session is his only connection to them right now. It was an eyeopener. This revelation did not, however, mean that my son should be allowed to have unlimited screen time. I had to find a balance. I chose to go with a rewards-based approach, where
he gets screen time based on good behavior and chores. Sidenote: chores include putting away his laundry without complaining and unloading the dishwasher. I know...I'm such a task-master!
Consider Child-centered Technology
Such as Kid Messenger, Gismo watch, or Greenlight kid's debit card. The age threshold for kids to be active online has never been lower. Protect your child by allowing them to learn and embrace helpful forms of technology, while still being able to have oversight and control of their electronic interactions. In closing, I want to reiterate the fact that I'm not medically or scientifically qualified to provide any advice with the intent to sway your parenting efforts. I'm just a dad, with an almost ten-year-old whom I'm lucky enough to get to share my random parenting thoughts about. Beyond blessed. My only hope is that my fellow dads take the time to see the absolute humor in what modern-day parenting has become and that you take the time to embrace what I believe to be the best method for surviving raising a tiny version of you: laughing about it….daily. •
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Contents MAY-JUNE 2021
TWO
FATHERS - DAD LIFE
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6
SCREEN TIME - HARMLESS DISTRACTION OR GATEWAY TO TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION
EIGHT
CATFISHING
GREAT FISHING CLOSE TO HOME
TWELVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CORPORATE PILOT
SIXTEEN
ON THE COVER
MICHAEL BLOOM LOVING WITHOUT LABELS
Page 16
TWENTY-TWO
HAVING A BEER WITH
MORNING RADIO SHOW HOSTS JANAE AND PAUL
TWENTY-SIX
GLASS BLOWING
MORE THAN PLAYING WITH FIRE
THIRTY
LOCAL HERO
RICH SCHOCK SHEYENNE VALLEY RESCUE TEAM
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PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Paul Hankel Katie Jenison Jeffrey Miller Krissy Ness Alexis Swenson ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com
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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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Catfishing
GREAT FISHING CLOSE TO HOME
WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: JEFFREY MILLER
When it comes to fishing, most anglers in this part of the world target walleye, northern pike, bass and panfish. While I enjoy fishing those as well, if forced to choose, I would spend my days fishing the bewhiskered river dweller, the channel catfish.
This summer, grab your kids and some fishing gear and enjoy our rivers.
North America's most numerous catfish species, the channel catfish is unique in that it has powerful senses of smell and taste. There are taste buds distributed over the fish's entire body, with the most concentrated in the barbels around the mouth. The barbels resemble whiskers and allow the fish to find food in silty and muddy water. Channel catfish are omnivores, eating a varied diet of everything from other fish to algae to amphibians and even seeds from trees and plants that fall into the river. An angler doesn't have to go far to find great fishing. The Red is a world-class fishery, and tributaries such as the Sheyenne, Buffalo and Maple offer catfish opportunities as well. Chasing catfish is a great way to introduce
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kids to fishing. A medium to a mediumheavy action rod can be had for less than forty dollars at local sporting goods stores and selecting a reel to pair is easy. While I prefer a round baitcasting reel, a sturdy spinning reel or spincast reel will work fine as well. Fluorescent monofilament line in the 15 to 20-pound class is easy to see in the murky river water and will hold up to even the biggest fish. Ask a catfish angler what bait they prefer, and you will get a litany of different answers. Options include cut pieces of goldeye or sucker, leopard frogs, nightcrawlers, commercial dip baits, and even oddities like chicken liver or hot dogs. My family does most of our fishing on the Sheyenne River near our home and finds that either dip baits or cut pieces of goldeye work the best. Dip bait is a concoction of aged cheese and blood that smells terrible. In order to fish it, a bait holder is needed. Dip worms, as they are called, are made of rubber or surgical tube and are "dipped" into the container of bait. The odoriferous bait is something the fish have a hard time resisting. Bringing a variety of baits to the river is a
good practice, as the bait is cheap and catfish can be fickle, changing their preferences daily. Many pre-rigged dip baits come with small treble hooks. I prefer to snip them off and attach circle hooks. A circle hook is sharply curved back in a circular shape. While a treble hook or standard j-shaped hook can be easily swallowed by a catfish, the circle hook nearly always attaches to the corner of the fish's mouth. The angler must resist the urge to rear back and "set" the hook with a circle hook, however. When a fish takes the bait, the rod is simply raised, and the line reeled. The hook will pin in the corner of the mouth of the fish, allowing a healthy fish to be released if a meal of filets isn't desired. Fishing from a boat is a great way to access catfish habitat. Nearly any boat that works on local lakes will work fine on the river. As the Sheyenne doesn't have any public access points, our boat for that river is a flat-bottomed Jon boat christened "Whisker and Barbel", after the appendages that dangle from the catfish's face. Powered with an electric trolling motor, we can fish miles of the river comfortably and safely. Of course, a boat isn't required for good fishing. Fargo and Moorhead have a tremendous amount of publicly accessible river frontage along the Red River. The urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 9
Chasing catfish is a great way to introduce kids to fishing. shore angler should seek out woody debris in the river, known as snags, where catfish congregate to feed and stay out of the swift current. Bends in the river create deep holes where fish rest and are good options too. My kids love spending the afternoon on the river. Each kid holds their own fishing pole, waiting to feel the taptap-tap of a hungry cat. With miles and miles of river, if a fish isn't caught within the first 10 minutes of fishing we simply move and try again. If the true behemoths of the river are desired, a serious angler owes it to themselves to book a day-long fishing trip with famed Red River guide Brad Durick. He knows the river like the back of his hand, spending nearly everyday fishing from May to September. While I love fishing with my family or on my own, a couple of 10 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
friends and I book a trip each summer with Brad. With his guiding and expertise, I've boated 3 giants that stretched the scale over 20 pounds, with the biggest nearly 23 pounds. A fish that big has to be seen to be believed. Catfish are delicious and a welcomed addition to a fish fry. During the summer they can have a bit of a mushy texture, which some people find off-putting. This is easily rectified by soaking overnight in cold water with a splash of lemon juice. My family prefers catfish over any other freshwater fish. When keeping fish for the table, those weighing from 1 to 4 pounds are best. Catfish grow slow in our climate, and fish bigger are getting old and should go back into the water. The conservation of big fish is required to enjoy the resource for years to come.
This summer, grab your kids and some fishing gear and enjoy our rivers. The whiskered fish will provide hours of quality family time and good fishing! •
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WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Have you ever wondered what it takes to pilot a private plane? It’s an easy career to glamourize, but there’s so much more to it than jetting off to exotic locales. Every flight requires extensive planning, not to mention the effort it takes to become a pilot. Making a living as a pilot means investing a lot of time and money into the process. Those unfamiliar with the aviation industry typically categorize all pilots under one umbrella, but it’s not quite that simple. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues different types of pilot licenses,
varying by classification and ratings. The type of license a pilot has determines what kind of aircraft they can fly and whether they can be compensated for their services. Becoming a professional pilot starts with getting a Private Pilot License (PPL), which provides the foundation for future aircraft pilot training. With a PPL, pilots can fly during good weather conditions and even carry passengers. They can then work toward an Instrument Rating (IR) that authorizes them to fly during inclement weather conditions. It isn’t
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until a pilot earns their Commercial Pilot License (CPL) that they are financially compensated for piloting an aircraft. Once they’ve clocked enough flight hours, commercial pilots generally go one of two routes: working for an airline or in a corporate aviation setting. Trent Dawson, a local commercial pilot, has done both throughout his career. Dawson fell in love with life in the air when his dad would take him flying as a kid. His passion for aviation stuck with him all through high school, and after graduation, he
attended the University of North Dakota, where he earned most of his licenses and ratings. After college, Dawson moved to Florida and gained experience as a flight instructor. He eventually began flying for commercial airlines. After a decade-long run, he decided to switch it up and entered the world of corporate aviation. Dawson has been flying mid-size jets for private businessmen for nearly 15 years now. So, how does corporate aviation compare to being a pilot at a big airline? One of the main differences is
“
Corporate pilots aren’t just pilots; they’re also schedulers, maintenance trackers, and hotel-getters.” – Trent Dawson
that corporate pilots aren’t just pilots. “We’re also schedulers, maintenance trackers, and hotelgetters,” Dawson says. Corporate aviation also requires pilots to be flexible to accommodate schedule changes and last-minute flights. Aside from coordinating things like hotel stays and rental cars, his primary focus is preparing for a safe flight. The preflight process usually starts the night before. Dawson and his co-pilot will check weather reports and NOTAMS, which offer vital information about airports and potential hazards along flight routes. From there, they’ll create a flight plan, determine how much fuel they’ll need, and coordinate with the airport
when to pull the aircraft out of the hanger. On the day of the flight, an extensive preflight inspection of the aircraft is performed. “We always get to the airport about two hours early to preflight the airplane,” Dawson explains. “We check tire and oil pressure, all the circuit breakers, and make sure our charts are up to date. We’ll also check the weather to make sure it’s not changing on us and verify we have enough fuel.” Corporate pilots also help prepare the aircraft for their passengers’ arrival. That includes making sure everything is clean and the plane is stocked with ice, refreshments, newspapers, and other
requests. Once the passengers arrive, the flight can get underway. Preparing for the return trip is much of the same, but there are additional steps in postflight procedures. Before the plane is put in the hanger, it needs to be cleaned and inspected. The pilots also fill out the logbook and make a note of any maintenance issues that need attention. There are certainly perks to being a corporate pilot. Over the years, Dawson has flown to some cool places, including Turks and Caicos and Hawaii. That said, most of his corporate flights are domestic and often tend to take place over a day or two.
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“It’s not always as luxurious as it appears. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t see,” Dawson notes. “There’s paperwork and long days. Sometimes we fly for a day, and I sit at the airport for a few hours while the clients have meetings, and then we fly back.” Corporate pilots also work a lot of odd hours as well as weekends and holidays. Flying an airplane also comes with risk. As one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, safety is paramount in aviation — and it’s something pilots take very seriously. In addition to staying up to date on the latest regulations, pilots undergo extensive training each year. “We have to go to Dallas every year for a week-long ground school where we do simulator training. We also train on emergencies like engine fires, engine failures, and smoke in the cockpit,” reveals Dawson. It was a long road to get to where he is today, but Dawson wouldn’t change a thing. “I love flying, and that’s a good life. I get to do what I love and still take care of my family. So, it’s a win-win.” •
As one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, safety is paramount in aviation — and it’s something pilots take very seriously.” – Trent Dawson urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 15
ON THE COVER | MICHAEL BLOOM
Loving Without Labels WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
As a kid growing up in Modesto, Calif., Michael Bloom grew up going to San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's baseball games with his dad. While bonding over baseball is a classic American pastime for a father and son, they also shared a special connection serving others. The two regularly helped the homeless by bringing them meals and visited inmates at prisons. They even walked up to gang members armed only with Gospel rap tapes.
These bold experiences were a regular part of his formative years and went on to inspire and shape every facet of his life and calling, building comfort around a culture of brokenness.
From Modesto to Moorhead
As an 18-year-old, Bloom had spent his entire life in Modesto. Like most young adults, he started getting into the party scene and began to feel lost. But by the time he graduated from high school, he knew he was ready to take his life in a new direction. "I kind of had a transformation in my life. I was really just looking for the next thing, but I didn't know what that was," Bloom said. "I was thinking of the military, and college wasn't really an option, but then I had a personal moment with God. It was a faith thing. I was like, 'I want to get serious about my relationship with the Lord and serve and follow him, but what does that really look like?'" A lifelong church attendee, Bloom knew the basis and the basics of Christianity. But there was still something missing for him. He wanted to know what it meant to put faith into practice outside of church attendance on Sundays. His father was a great example of being "the hands and feet of Jesus" by regularly going out of his way
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to help those in need. And Bloom also admired the strong faith of his sister who lived in Moorhead, Minn., so much so that he took the leap and moved from Modesto to Moorhead to be closer and to discover his purpose. When he moved to Moorhead, he thought it would be a temporary pit stop, but he quickly grew to realize he didn't want to leave. "I really fell in love with the culture of the community," Bloom said. "I got to a really good church where I was learning a lot and also met people who had similar interests. I wanted to have that fresh start and get out of that going-out-on-Friday mentality to a let's-be-soberand-kick-it approach." Single, broke and trying to figure out what to do with his life, Bloom shingled houses during the day, attended
classes for criminal justice and interned as a youth pastor by night. He was also drawn to the idea of jail ministry. After studying criminal justice and graduating from Rasmussen College, he entered the Police Academy in 2011 through Lake Region State College before being hired by the Cass County Sheriff's Office as a deputy. "That was a fantastic experience," Bloom said. "I really fell in love working with people who are at risk, who are hurting, who have gone through trauma. At the same time, I wanted to be stretched a little more." When a grant position for a Community Trust Officer at the Fargo Police Department became available in 2014, Bloom got the job and knew it was the perfect opportunity to build relationships with at-risk kids. The position focuses on taking officers off the street and urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 17
ON THE COVER | MICHAEL BLOOM
having them focus on non-enforcement relationshipbuilding outreach in the community. "You're not getting sent there, you're going there to build relationships and rapport." Officer Matthew Niemeyer and Officer Bloom were the first officers in these positions. Every four to five years, new officers will be placed in these roles. This is Bloom's fifth and final year of being a CTO. "The last five years have been phenomenal because we've built so many relationships," Bloom said. "When it comes down to what we do, it's that we're good friends and mentors with kids. We can't fix all their problems, but our solution is the support we give them. It's visiting them in person when they're locked up or in juvie, or going to the treatment center, or calling them and taking them somewhere on their birthday. It's showing them that support." As much of a joy as it's been for Bloom, the position hasn't been all roses for the officers. "We've had hard times. We've had to arrest kids we love. When I say love, it's not meant to sound too bold,
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but they're often kids who didn't have father figures and we've become father figures to them," Bloom said. "It was an interesting position to be in. You're like a social worker, then you feel like a parent, then you feel like a cop, then a parent again. But it's super rewarding." For many hurting people, deep scars have been left from traumatic issues like abandonment. Bloom and the rest of the CTOs are trying to show that presence and support can transform lives. "You meet kids who are broken and need love from all these different circles and backgrounds, and I'm just drawn to them," Bloom said. "The majority of kids are receptive, if you're consistent on follow-through and showing up again and again and being someone they can trust. Just show up and be present, and do it with the right heart. Kids, no matter how much they hate a police officer or authority, want someone who's consistent. They want someone to go out of their way to think about them and show up unannounced, just to make them feel special. Once they start to trust you, it's a big deal for them."
Louder than words
People's choices are constantly driven by their motivations, but much of the time, they're not aware what those motivations are. Bloom knows the source of his motivation for helping, supporting and encouraging others. It's his faith in Jesus Christ—a name so often disrespected, abused and misunderstood. "We live in a culture where the name of Jesus has been painted in so many different colors. In my job and life, I just want to be a mirror of Jesus, the Good Samaritan who picked up the dude who got abused and beat down; the type of person who picks up a stranger, pays their hotel fee and bandages up their wounds. That's who I want to be," Bloom said. "Showing people honor, respect and grace is not always easy to do. You get tested a lot. It's easy to say you love everyone, but to show everyone you love them when you're ticked off is a lot harder. I think honoring others is louder than words." Along with his faith, Bloom was heavily influenced by his father's heart for hurting people and the audacious approach he practiced regularly. "My dad was a very independent, outreach person. He was this very bold Christian man. He didn't have a ministry or nonprofit.
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ON THE COVER | MICHAEL BLOOM
He just went around Modesta," Bloom said. "Growing up, feeding homeless people was totally normal. We'd drive in his old Chrysler and he'd say, 'Hey, there are three homeless guys. Let's go grab six burgers for them from McDonalds. You're going to come with me and we're going to tell them 'God bless you' and 'we love you.' And we did it. I remember going up to gang members in our community and he would just give out gospel rap tapes and tell people he loved them."
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It can sometimes be intimidating thinking of how to effectively connect with people from different backgrounds than your own, especially if they don't seem eager to get to know you too. Bloom offered some wisdom for that dilemma. "Sometimes the focus is just on the noticeably broken people, but 'broken' looks different in certain circles," Bloom said. "Build relationships and rapport with
people who are in your life because a lot of people are broken. They can mask it well and might be very accepted and successful, but they still have a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, and they need a really good friend. Get uncomfortable in the circle you're currently in. That's how you're going to get comfortable around other people." While it can be hard to build friendships that hold a deeper level of trust and transparency, Bloom believes true friendship can help mend innumerable wounds.
Living the good life
It's common to think that living a good life involves satisfying every idealistic scenario and desire you've compiled in your mind; that completing your bucket list will make life complete; that being happy is attainable, if you could just make more money, have nicer things, go on more trips, or look, talk and act differently. When asked what "living the good life" means to him, Bloom's immediate answer had nothing to do with a bucket list. He simply wants to love others, live out his faith and be the same person around everyone, no matter who they are. None of those goals are simple or easy to do, but it's a challenge that's part of his calling. "I think 'living the good life' is living and loving people without a label. I'm going to be a Jesus follower and a real person. I'm not going to force faith on you. I'm going to show you faith and what it looks like, loving and respecting people regardless of whether they're straight, gay, trans, white, black, Native, Asian, Hispanic. I think I've really seen God just take care of the rest when I do that." •
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HAVING A BEER WITH | JANAE AND PAUL
There’s a longstanding joke in the radio industry that once you’ve been on the air, you’ll always get reeled back in. For Janae White and Paul Bougie (often known as “Bouge”), that joke holds true. Although they both took a break from the industry for several years, they’ve returned to the mics with a new show called The Coffee Club Morning Show that airs weekdays from 8:30-11 a.m. on WDAY 970 AM and 93.1 FM. As we sat in the hoppy atmosphere and enjoyed a few Drekker brews, I had the chance to chat with them about heartfelt and hilarious subjects—much like the conversations presented on their new show. Good Life: What’s your most despised phrase? Mine is when people say, “Livin’ the dream,” in response to “How are you?” Janae White: “Unprecedented times.” I’m so tired of hearing that. We’ve heard it 2 million times in the last year. Paul Bougie: “The new normal.” GL: Yessss. Thank you both.
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOS URBAN MEDIA 22 / THEBY: GOOD LIFETOAD / urbantoadmedia.com
GL: What did you want to do before getting into radio? PB: Right after high school I went to NDSU with a grand plan that I was going to be Mr. Brady. GL: You wanted 3 sons and 3 adopted daughters? PB: I was going to be an architect. GL: Oh. PB: I went to the first couple of classes and basically asked the question, “When can we start building the cities of tomorrow?” They said that would be year two, and I basically got terribly disillusioned. All my friends said I needed to try out for the NDSU campus radio station. My first official shift was Christmas Eve 1980. GL: How did you know you needed to get back into radio? JW: I got a random text from Bouge asking me if I wanted to be in radio again. It had been 15 years since I was last on the air.
PB: After being at various stations for years, I was like, “I need to do something different,” so I did financing for a business in town. GL: What? PB: I’m a mathematical idiot. I did that for two years and then worked in sales. Then I started my own marketing company. One of the last things Pete Miller, one of my best friends, said to me was, “I love what you’re doing with the marketing thing, and I can’t be prouder, but we both know you belong behind a mic.” We cried. We got the word later that he had passed. It was just awhile after that when Steve Hallstrom called and said, “I have an opportunity. Are you interested?” GL: If you guys started your own society what would the first rule be? JW: Just that everybody has to be nice to each
other—like, no meanness. GL: What would the reprimand be for not being nice? JW: They’d get tossed to sea. You can’t keep letting them get away with being mean. They would get a fair trial, and if the jury finds them mean, out to sea they go in a giant slingshot. GL: And you just happen to accidentally spill some oil on them and ignite it in the catapult before they get launched? JW: Don’t you think that would be a fun ride as they’re going out to sea—like a roller coaster! GL: What would your rule be, Paul? PB: Don’t eat the mushrooms. Hey, you don’t know if they’re good or bad. GL: Could mean death or a trip. JW: Well, with my rule, at least you’re going to have to be nice about it. PB: I just told you not to eat the mushrooms! GL: Maybe that’s the punishment for somebody who’s not being nice; they have to be the guinea pig and try
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HAVING A BEER WITH | JANAE AND PAUL
the mushrooms on the island. JW: Meghan, c’mon. Wouldn’t it be more fun to put them in the human slingshot out to sea? GL: Yeah, it would, but you might end up with a dang good mushroom Swiss burger if you knew you could eat the mushrooms. PB: Do we have cows on this island too?! GL: Which TV show do you wish never existed? JW: The reboots of “Saved by the Bell” and “90210.” They were disappointing. I graduated high school in 1995, so I was all excited for the reboots. They were horrible. PB: I will have to say any shows that try to continue with alternate cast members. Like, we have the “Dukes of Hazard” where they were like, “And now we’re going to keep going with it, but we’re going to replace Bo and Luke with Chet and Steve.” Charlie’s Angels shouldn’t have continued with different angels. It’s like taking the ‘60s Batman and replacing Adam West. GL: If you guys were a pizza, what toppings would you be? JW: Pepperoni and cheese. That’s it. I’m simple. PB: All meat, extra cheese and onions. JW: And pineapple? PB: Oh, beep no. You savage. 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
GL: What’s been one of the most difficult times of your life? JW: The hardest year of my life was when my daughter left for college. It was such a different chapter in our lives. My kids and I are super close. I didn’t get remarried until her senior year, so it had always just been the three of us. It killed me when she graduated. Everybody was happy and celebrating, but that week of graduation I just cried. I truly think there should be a support group for parents whose kids just graduated. GL: What do you bring most to your relationships? JW: I’m very loyal to my good friends, husband and family. I bring that. I don’t know if I’ll be loyal to Paul, but…. PB: She was my sixth choice for this. JW: I’m kidding. PB: Seventh. JW: I know that’s a lie. GL: How about for you, Paul? PB: I know every liquor and beer distributor in town. I don’t know. Why do you hang around me, Janae? JW: The tailgating spot. GL: Janae, what does living the good life mean to you? JW: This is it. I am living a good life. I have two beautiful, amazing children, I have a wonderful husband, I love my parents, brother and sister—I am living the good life. I don’t know what more I could do. I’m… “Livin’ the dream.” GL: Noooooooo. JW: No, but I do have a very good life and I’m very blessed. GL: Paul, how about you? PB: Living the good life means being able to be what you want to be, do what you want to do and enjoying yourself. If it’s sitting out back having whiskey and smoking a cigar with friends or hanging out with friends till all hours of the night, so be it. If you’re happy, that’s it. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25
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WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS
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PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Glassblowing goes a far back to the 1st century BC by the glassmakers of Syria. Since then, people have been using this medium for many different forms of art, such as vessels, decorative bowls, wall pieces, and more practical reasons like glassware, plates, and serving dishes. Here in Fargo, N.D., tucked away in a small studio south of town, you will find Jon Offutt perfecting his craft in blowing glass. His studio, House of Mulciber Glass Studio, looks like your typical shop with a garage door out front. Still, once you step inside, it is a whole other world. Almost immediately, I felt intense heat from the furnace, in which glass is heated and shaped. As my eyes bounced around the room I saw three large kilns. Behind them were dozens of pieces Offutt has created. To the left is his workstation, including a handmade workbench used for rolling and blowing up glass along with his collection of Jacks. This tool comes in various sizes and widths and resembles a cross between large tweezers and tongs. I was fortunate enough to come early enough to see Offutt and his assistant, Dave, adding a lip to a new vessel Offutt designed. "When Dave and I are rocking and a rolling, we can get a lot done," exclaimed Offutt. For 40 years, Offutt has been blowing glass. As a young man in high school, Offutt could be found in Clara Barton Elementary School's basement here in Fargo, N.D. "I did a lot of different kinds of art down there, but mostly I did clay," stated Offutt. "I started college for pottery, then I transferred to Minnesota State University Moorhead, and they had glass as an elective in the ceramics department." He came out of college with an undergraduate degree in Ceramics. From there Offutt went on to get a Masters of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. "Glass is a lot of what clay is. It's round, you shape the mass, and it is not additive or subtractive sculpture – it is what I like to call squishy," laughed Offutt. "But I got to play with fire every day." As the years went on, Offutt's work expanded. He is most known for his Prairie Landscape vessels. The inspiration came from Offutt taking many trips to Bismarck, N.D. over the years, "It was the exposure to the prairie," Offutt said fondly. "I would be driving back and forth and would be staring at that horizon for hours." urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
Creating this design takes a lot of preplanning and work. "It is all glass, and I do all of the landscape work before I really start," explained Offutt. "I have to do all the colorwork and design inside of a sphere the size of an apple." Amazingly, something so small can turn into something so precise and beautiful. "No matter how big you blow it up, it is like printing on a balloon; it's not going to change, it's just going to expand," expressed Offutt. In addition to his Prairie Landscape vessels, Offutt creates beautifully textured pieces. As an undergrad, he put himself through college, working as a screen printer, mostly making bumper stickers. Using the 28 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
sticker material, Offutt realized he could transfer the sticker lining onto his blown vessels in various patterns and then sandblast the piece. He makes vessels and plates in this manner, and either the dish itself or the striped pattern will be textured; both are amazing. Although he isn't against creating personal pieces, it can be challenging to meet the customer's requested design. "Part of what makes it special to me is that I get to create what I want to see and try to sell it to people, and they can buy it if they like what they see," exclaimed Offutt. Offutt sells most of his work at various shows around the country,
such as Chicago or Denver, among many other places. "I usually stay one long drive's day away," laughed Offutt. Having been doing shows for over 20 years, he is used to the hustle, including setting up and tearing down his tent and pieces. In his line of work, he relies on a sturdy display to showcase all of his beautiful pieces. "My display has been through thunderstorms, and my vessels are heavy," laughed Offutt." I think I'm good for about 35 mile per hour winds." With his experience attending shows and understanding that the real magic happens in the studio, Offutt had an idea. Put on by The Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists and directed by Offutt, the Studio
Crawl was born. "Each year, I get maybe three dozen artists who open up their studios, and then people tour around," said Offutt. "You get to go into an artist's studio rather than see their work at the museum; you get a better understanding of what it takes to make stuff." This year will be the 18th year of the Studio Crawl, stretching from Glyndon, M.N., through Fargo, N.D., and finishing in Hillsboro, N.D. All studio visits are free of charge to the public. I had a wonderful time watching Offutt work. I am excited to step inside another studio or 10 and watch artists create their work. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 29
LOCAL HERO | SHEYENNE VALLEY TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM
Rich Schock
Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team WRITTEN BY: ALEXIS SWENSON
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PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Rich Schock, Chief of the Kindred Fire Department and Captain of the Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team, has always been a farm kid. Schock grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Forbes, ND. On March 31, 1982, his dad passed away at age thirty-one in a farming accident involving a Holstein bull. After about three more years on the farm, the Schock family moved to Ellendale, ND. Still, Schock couldn’t stay away from working on the farm. After high school graduation, Schock worked for farmers surrounding Ellendale, picking up any and every farm hand job he could. After some time in Jamestown, Schock met his wife, Dona, and moved to Fargo. “I tried doing the work in Fargo thing and just didn’t care for it. You feel like a number because a lot of Fargo businesses are so fast paced and trying to serve lots of people. I missed the farm. I got another job working for a farmer out in Kindred and we moved there in 1998,” said Schock. Kindred Fire Department Joining the local church in Kindred introduced Schock to Lynn Lee who served on the Kindred Fire Department, was a farmer, and quickly became a friend. Lee persuaded Schock into joining the all-volunteer Fire Department in 2004. All members of the fire department are on call 24/7, 365 days a year on top of their full-time jobs. Schock himself is the Public Works Supervisor for the City of Kindred responsible for snow removal, overseeing infrastructure improvements, and other day to day duties. “I’ve always been fascinated by fire trucks and whatnot since I was young. I thought, yeah, you know, I’ll give it a try and see what I think. It just built from there. We trained together and fought fires together; it just grows a family,” said Schock.
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LOCAL HERO | SHEYENNE VALLEY TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM
In 2008, the department and community suffered a loss when Lee died in his grain bin. The department had received safety training on farm equipment, but nothing to prepare them for the magnitude of what they dealt with on the scene. “When I dug my friend out of the bin, I was in there. I was the first truck there and had to stay at the command post for a while. I still remember very vividly uncovering him. Talking about it is one way of coping. It’s hard for anyone to deal with it. The one thing you have to brace yourself for when you’re in a small community is that the chances of running across someone you know are pretty good,” said Schock. That unpreparedness was the catalyst for the creation of the Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue 32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Building the Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team Ben Willey, formerly the Kindred Fire Department Training Captain and currently with the Fargo Fire Department, first led the effort to establish the team and acted as a mentor to Schock.
Team, a team that specializes in grain bin rescue. Furthermore, the team has also placed great emphasis on their Critical Incident Debrief process where they review what happened, brainstorm improvements for next time, and provide volunteers space to reflect on their thoughts and feelings.
“He had a pretty good skill set and a great attitude. For lack of a better word, I just kind of wanted to be like him. We worked and worked, built and fundraised to get pieces of the equipment,” said Schock. As a volunteer run organization, generous donors were and continue to be a huge part of the development of the team. Technical rescue equipment is especially expensive as each piece must be life-safety rated. After Willey was promoted in the Fargo Fire Department,
Schock moved into the Captain role with Kindred, taking over the team’s evolution. “I started to really hone our skills and tried to work on the prevention side. We do tons of trips to pre-plan at different bin sites and co-ops. A grain bin and grain handling equipment is a monster in itself. There’s no book that can prepare you for what you’re going to see,” said Schock. The team runs “what-if” scenarios at various bin sites, building their equipment cache on these visits. These “what-if” scenarios are designed to prepare the team for a call, but are constantly being tweaked. “We’re trying to think outside the box and we’re always trying to better ourselves. We read a lot of the incidents in other places and try to do some legwork, asking ‘What happened here and how did that happen?’ We look at what kind of resources we would need if it happened here,” said Schock. On the call Many grain bin incidents occur when farmers take the grain from the bin—whether they’re moving it around or taking it to market. A lot of the underlying issues lie in bin management, temperature changes, and the presence of foreign materials. “A lot of times these guys will go into the bin because the crust falls and there are big clumps. The clumps roll down the cone and can actually stop the bin from flowing. The guys get in the bin, take a shovel, stand down in the cone, and try to bust up the clumps as they’re going. By the time you get to your knees or more in grain, you can no longer self-rescue. There’s so much force people have hurt victims trying to pull them from the grain,” said Schock. Aluminum bin rescue tubes are used to build a cofferdam around the victim. Grain is removed from the inside of the tube as the tube is slowly pushed downward. The tube
“The one thing you have to brace yourself for when you’re in a small community is that the chances of running across someone you know are pretty good.” - Rich Schock urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33
LOCAL HERO | SHEYENNE VALLEY TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM
neighboring departments and awesome firefighters. That’s what drives me—to work together for the common good,” said Schock.
at least try and guarantee we’re going to save a life. It doesn’t always happen, but that’s one of the things we look at,” said Schock.
Since the team’s inception, there have been five calls for grain bin rescue which is relatively low for the rural area. Schock also takes calls from different departments to walk them through active rescues.
Nearby communities Horace, Leonard, and Davenport expressed interest in being involved with the rescue team. Kindred is centrally located in the response area and rescue equipment is strategically stored throughout the three communities. This helps to ensure contact is made with a patient before the primary truck arrives on scene.
Good Neighbors Having good neighbors, positive attitudes, and a desire to never stop learning is crucial for the success of the Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team. “I love what I do and I admire the guys that do it with me. We are blessed to have awesome
“The Golden Hour is what everyone runs by. From the time of the incident until the time the patient receives medical care depending upon the mechanism of injury, there is a window of time. The goal is always to get the individual to EMS before all of that. That way, we can
A lot plays into the Golden Hour including how much time passed before 911 was called and how much time passed before the team was dispatched to a call or arrived on scene. “Volunteers carry that... heavy. Each one that has to walk away from their job and respond to that incident knows in the back of their mind, ‘Oh, I hope we can save this person.’ You gotta try to distance yourself from the situation, but it’s hard when all you see a lot of the time is tragedy,” said Schock.
has a ladder manufactured on the inside to allow for the individual to climb out. If they’re unconscious, the diameter is widened for a rescue professional to help them out. There are several potential injuries when a person is rescued including crushing injuries and blood clots.
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As a result, there is a significant focus on education and prevention as the positive side of the team’s work. Prevention allows team
members to meet farmers on a happier note rather than a body recovery. Family Support Schock’s wife, Dona, and two daughters, Bailey and Brianna, are very supportive. Dona is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary which is a supporting role attending benefits and functions, coming alongside the department volunteers. “When my kids see a fire truck or things like that, they see my character. Serving is a big part of my life. Both of my kids are very supportive. It’s definitely humbling. They’ve grown to have patience. There’s a certain level of stress and worry that comes along with my serving,” said Schock.
“We are blessed to have awesome neighboring departments and awesome firefighters. That’s what drives me – to work together for the common good.” – Rich Schock
The Good Life For Schock, working in a team environment has been a positive challenge. “My teammates and fellow firefighters make the organization great. They make my job a lot easier because they’re so great. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. They’re consistently pushing me and the department to improve. The good life is fulfillment and the feeling you’ve successfully accomplished things you’ve set out to do. We can never stop setting goals for ourselves,” said Schock. •
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