FATHERS | DAD LIFE
Six Totally Legit Dad-Approved Side Hustles WRITTEN BY: PAUL HANKEL
As the holidays approach many families find themselves tight on funds. While this situation is stressful, it has never been quicker or easier to pick up a side gig or side hustle to help supplement your main income streams. Below are six seasonal options that could add some quick holiday cash to your coffers. Snag a local seasonal or temporary position. There are lots of great temporary or seasonal gigs available during the holidays. Many large retailers and businesses are looking to supplement their staffing in order to deal with the increase in business during the holiday months. • Retailers such as Target, Scheel's, and Hobby Lobby are extremely busy during the holidays and are always looking to hire for retail, stocking, and overnight positions. 2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
• The recently opened Amazon distribution center is another great option for those looking for temporary work. They offer training, and flexible scheduling. • UPS/FedEx These two shipping giants, along with Amazon, reported shipping close to 3 billion parcels during the 2021 holiday season. To accomplish this feat, they hire thousands of seasonal workers to help sort, process, and ship those parcels. While physically demanding, these temporary positions pay well and have a lot of different hours and shifts available. Consider starting an e-commerce site and selling products online.
It has never been quicker or easier to start an online business. Will you become an overnight millionaire? Probably not. However, there are millions of online entrepreneurs who make or supplement their living by operating an online business. Of all of the suggested side hustles in this list, an e-commerce store will undoubtedly be the most timeintensive. However, if done properly, it could become a permanent revenue stream for you and your family. While I want to tell you the process is as simple as finding a product or service you like and then selling it online, the real process does take some research and time to bring to fruition. That being said, online
sales spike 45% during the holidays, meaning billions of people are online and spending money. Why not be one of the online retailers selling them a product? To find out more about this very viable potential side hustle, I would recommend beginning by going to YouTube and watching some general informational videos on how to best get your e-commerce store going. I'm not going to lie to you – there are a lot of scammy YouTube videos that are trying to get you to sign up for their e-commerce training packages that they promise will lead to millions in sales for your business. Meh, highly unlikely. Instead, look for general informational videos that offer a free overview of dropshipping, e-commerce, and selling online. • Uber Eats If being a standard Uber driver and driving people to their holiday parties sounds a little too..."COVID-y" for you, consider delivering Uber Eats as your safer less people-y option. Drivers report earning up to $12 on average after gas expenses. While that hourly rate isn't particularly high, the flexibility of being able to work however much or little you want and being able to pick when you work makes food delivery seem like a great option for those looking to make some quick holiday cash. • Concert and Event Staff The holidays are prime concert and event season and those events need staff! Local promoters and event venues such as Jade Presents and the Fargodome are always looking to hire motivated staff to help work their various holiday conc erts and events. You can check with any local events company or venue to apply. • Snow Removal Are you a night owl with a valid driver's license? If so then an overnight snow removal job may be right up your alley! Snow removal jobs are seasonal and typically highpaying and duties are performed in the early mornings or late at night. This is especially ideal for those who work a regular day job. A quick web search will list all the seasonal snow removal jobs in your local area. The holidays are filled with lots of potentially stressful situations. Travel, getting time off, planning or hosting for family or work parties…it's a lot. The last thing you want on your mind is not having the funds to make ends meet. While everyone's situation is different, the advancement of the internet and the gig economy has made it so that anyone with a pulse, a little bit of motivation, and even just a few free hours per week can make some serious supplemental income. Look into it! • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3
Contents
VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
Dad Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 Six Totally Legit Dad-Approved Side Hustles Strapped for cash this holiday season? It’s never been quicker or easier to snag a seasonal or temporary position to support your holiday spending.
A Heart for the Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 Professional bagpiper and instructor, Dan Aird, shares about his love for piping and his unconventional path in life.
Fargo-Moorhead Adult Hockey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 A Club for Everyone No matter your skill level or gender, the Fargo-Moorhead Adult Hockey Club is the perfect fit for you.
Helping Hands Save Lives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Fargo Rescue Works with Nature's Gentlest Giants Pride and Joy Rescue, a Fargo nonprofit, is working to create a better life for some of nature's gentlest giants.
On the Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Coaching Justice: From the Rink to the Courtroom Assistant United States Attorney Chris Myers shares his personal story and the lessons he’s learned in life as a hockey coach and prosecutor.
Having a Beer with Alex and Kevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Alex Taylor and Kevin Flynn of “The Need to Know Morning Show” sit down for a beer with Meghan Feir to discuss important topics, such as whether dolls or clowns are creepier.
Salute to Blue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 D-S Beverages held a "Salute to Blue" event to say "thank you" to our local law enforcement. Area businesses were happy to sponsor the event and show their appreciation and respect.
Local Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tom Krabbenhoft From Minnesota to Alaska to the Middle East and back again, Local Hero Tom Krabbenhoft attracts adventure and strives to serve meaningfully.
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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 Krissy Ness Alexis Swenson Emma Vatnsdal ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Dawn Siewert dawn@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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hen you meet Dan Aird, the first thing you might notice is his calm demeanor. But behind those dark blue eyes and softspoken voice lies a treasure trove of unexpected stories. Aird’s life has been anything but average. From choosing to play the bagpipes as his instrument of choice to teaching students in Scotland how to play their national instrument, he has made many captivating choices. He was a member of the Air Force, studied archeology, and has been a teacher in various capacities. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, Aird and his family moved around the state of North Dakota. Born in Devils Lake, Aird moved as a child to Lawton, where his native Scottish grandfather built and managed a grain elevator in 1903 after finding gold in the Yukon.
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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Aird and his family also lived in Dickinson for a short stint before moving to Medora in 1957. He went to high school in neighboring Montana before coming to Fargo to attend North Dakota State University for a degree in zoology and a minor in physical science. Aird eventually joined the Air Force in 1969. While serving in the Air Force, Aird had both of his desired station requests granted. “When I was in the service, they had a wish sheet for where you’d like to be stationed,” Aird said. “I put in Spokane, Wash., because it was near where there was a pipe band, and I knew some of the people who played.” After spending two and a half years in Spokane, Aird had a second request granted and was next stationed at the only Air Force base in England at RAF Lakenheath for over a year. “When I was leaving the service, they had a program where if you were stationed in some other country when you got out, you could stay there for awhile and they’d fly you back,” Aird said, “so I then went up to Scotland and went to The College of Piping in Glasgow. I taught beginners and gave lessons there at the college, one year at Glasgow High School, and one year at Kelvinside Academy. I got a half-hour lesson from the head instructor in the morning and another half hour in the afternoon.” Before his feet ever tread on Scottish soil, Aird was already hooked on the pipes. Prior to his Fargo and Air Force days, one of Aird’s friends got him into piping after high school.
Piper ~ Dan Aird When i was leaving the service, they had a program where if you were stationed in some other country when you got out, you could stay there for awhile and they’d fly you back. so i then went up to scotland and went to the college of piping in glasgow.
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It is an instrument steeped in history, embodying a strong vein of Aird’s heritage. “I had a friend my age who helped me get started. I had been doing exercises on the practice chanter before Doug really got me going and on to the bagpipe itself. Then I went to his teacher,” Aird said. “There were no other pipers around, so I would go up to Canada where my friend’s teacher was, and sometimes I’d play in parades with him and his son.” A Strong Set of Pipes With two Gaelic-speaking grandfathers who had emigrated from Scotland with wild stories of their own, it is no wonder Aird’s rich Scottish heritage is a source of immense fascination and pride. Clearly, the independent spirit of the Scots flows through his veins as he’s carved out his unconventional path through life. Aird’s bagpipes also have a tale to tell. Decades ago, his friend, Douglas Bremner, the same man who got him into piping, ordered a $28 bagpipe from a shop in Pakistan. The order didn’t arrive.
Years later, the instrument was delivered with an extra set of bagpipes and a note. In the letter, the sender of the package explained how his shop had been bombed in the Indo-Pakistani War. It took him a few years to start his life’s work over again. To honor his word and show remorse for the delayed order, he’d sent two instruments. The quality of both sets of pipes was impeccable and has since been the envy of other pipers. Aird bought that extra set of pipes from his friend for only $14, and it’s proven to be the most worthwhile $14 he’s ever spent in his life. The Plaid Piper Years after he serendipitously acquired his bagpipes, the two instruments from that little music shop in Pakistan have been reunited in song. Aird and his friend Doug’s daughter play together in the Heather and Thistle Pipes and Drums band in Fargo. He’s been a part of the musical group since its inception in 1992, using his passion for the pipes to
teach students, direct and play for the many events they perform every year. They most often play for parades, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Fargo, but some of the events they play for are far less joyful and lighthearted. One of the experiences that stand out the most for Aird was when they played for a 9-11 memorial service, along with playing at a service for a man who had died in that national tragedy. Whether for joyful or solemn events, Aird and other skilled bagpipers have a distinct way of evoking pride, excitement and tears from those who listen to the moving drone and skirl of the pipes. It is an instrument steeped in history, embodying a strong vein of Aird’s heritage. Thanks to his interest, dedication and tutelage, the skills needed to play the bagpipes have been passed down to younger generations, keeping the traditions alive. •
bagpipes 101
Good Life: Does rain hurt bagpipes? Dan Aird: Not really. In Scotland it rains all the time. The problem is you can get water run down the drones and stop the reed, so they don’t sound. If you hold it at an angle it doesn’t go in as easily. GL: How many people in this area play? DA: There are around 20 pipers in our band. GL: What are five of your favorite songs to play? DA: I like “Calum Campbell’s Caprice,” “Crossing the Minch,” and “The Carnival Reel,” and “Big John O’Neill’s Hornpipe,” and “The Highland Wedding,” but there are so many other good ones too. GL: How can someone know they’re buying a good set of bagpipes? DA: Usually people order them on the internet now. Any pipe made in Scotland is a good pipe, no matter which maker it is. The average spend is around $1,200, but you can get them for any price. If you want a $1 million bagpipe, you can get one. They’ll encrust it with diamonds if you want and make it out of solid gold, if you like. GL: If you treat pipes well, how long can your instrument last? DA: Forever. The only thing to happen is if you’re a really wet blower, the blowpipe sometimes cracks, but that can be replaced. All the good pipes are made of wood. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 9
FARGO-MOORHEAD ADULT HOCKEY
A CLUB FOR EVERYONE
WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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hen it comes to hockey in the Fargo-Moorhead area, there are a few different options. Still, nothing can compare to the Fargo-Moorhead Adult Hockey Club (FMAHC). Founder and player, Skyler Severns, moved to Fargo from Seattle, Washington and wasn't sure what he would find when he arrived here. Having no previous skating experience before his move, where he needed to start looking was a challenge. Of course, there are bar leagues and the Fargo Parks district leagues, but he was looking
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for something more, something different, so he created it. The FMAHC more closely resembles a minor league team with all skill levels instead of a bar league. "We try not to call it a bar league, largely because we don't let bars advertise on an individual team," said Severns. However, "we do allow bars to advertise for the whole league." What is unique about this club is they run three drop-ins, which are not officiated games, per week year-round. Additionally, they have development sessions for new
players and this is all open to the public. "We have some players who have played in the junior leagues and then some players, like me, who haven't played very much hockey at all," stated Severns. In addition to drop-ins, the perks of this league include personalized team jerseys, playing cards with your picture and stats on them, pre and post-season gatherings, and the ability to hit the ice during any reserved practice times at the Scheels Arena – where the games take place.
All games, including playoff and championship games, are streamed online via Facebook live, Vimeo, and YouTube. This isn't your average run-of-the-mill, fish-eyed lens camera; FMAHC really got into production with live commentary, a score bug, and onair advertising. For this club, there are six teams, 10 skaters per team, and one goalie. Each team plays 15 games, and if you advance, there are also playoffs and a championship game. The season goes from January to April, and you must be 18 years old to join the drop-in games and development sessions, but at least 21 to be in the league. When the roster fills up, or you are not sure you can commit to an entire season, you can also jump on the substitutions and waitlist. "If we get enough active players on the reserve list, then we will open up the reserve line and have 15 skaters and one goalie per team," mentioned Severns. Another bonus of this league is that it is co-ed. It is exciting to see a club strictly for adults and not just for men or women. "There isn't a lot of opportunities for women to play hockey once they get out of college," said Severns. "We have been trying to reach more of the women in the community, and with this club, we have the ability to."
WE HAVE SOME PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN THE JUNIOR LEAGUES AND THEN SOME PLAYERS, LIKE ME, WHO HAVEN'T PLAYED VERY MUCH HOCKEY AT ALL." – SKYLER SEVERNS
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Severns' passion for this club goes much farther than playing the game and having good production value for viewing the games. The sense of community he has created within this club is incredible. "We had a few visitors from Switzerland join our drop-in and
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skated with us three times a week for the three months they were visiting family in town. A father and son playing hockey together when they normally wouldn't get to," said Severns. As I mentioned earlier, Severns
hails from the west coast, and he brought a little of his home life to the club. You might notice the team names are not ones commonly used in this part of the country, with names like Mountaineers, Sea Kraits, and Albatross, to name a few. These small touches and the
ambition to create a club that makes you feel more a part of the community prove Severns is unique and driven. I have watched a few of the previously streamed games on Facebook, and it was fun and exciting to watch. Watching sporting events when they can really have fun and get the crowd invested is always a treat. Not only does it make the environment in the arena more fun, but it also makes viewing it from home that much more enjoyable. "It's fun to sit back and think; I get to be involved in a league that has hats thrown on the rink when there is a hat trick," exclaimed Severns. The FMAHC is an excellent example of what you can do within your community. Being passionate about something doesn't have an expiration date, and it is never too late to make it happen. This club is a beautiful addition to the Fargo-Moorhead area, and I can't wait to catch a couple of games when the season starts up in a couple of months. Finally, I asked Severns what the good life means to him. "To me, the good life is having an opportunity to play hockey with friends and family. The good life is being able to be a part of a franchise and experience hockey as we observe it in the stands or on television, and to meet my exercise and health goals without the mundane life of a gym membership." •
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Helping Hands Save Livesi X It started with a little girl, a question and a ton of morals — and grew into a nonprofit operating on its own ranch just a few miles northwest of Fargo. "(Our daughter) asked what a kill truck was," said Robert Faulkner, owner, operator and director of Pride and Joy Rescue. "She didn't want them to do it. She wanted to help as many horses as we possibly could." Pride and Joy Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit in Fargo, N.D., that works to connect the community and horse rescues. "Horses have such a healing power to them," said Connie Faulkner, co-owner, operator and director of Pride and Joy. "If you save them, they'll save you." And save them they do. Connie and Robert have saved more than 10 horses since their inception in 2021. Roughly 1-2 percent of the U.S. equine population is slaughtered each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, with their bodies being sold at livestock auctions for human consumption in places like Mexico, Japan, China, Germany and Indonesia, to name a few. The Faulkners, like many other equine rescues, attend these auctions with the intention of buying the creatures and providing them a loving home until they're deemed ready for adoption.
WRITTEN BY: EMMA VATNSDAL PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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"I grew up around horses, they kept me out of trouble," said Connie. "This is me paying them back. So we're saving them, they're saving (our daughter Rainey)." It's a family affair, too. Everyone has their role within Pride and Joy — some work as ranch hands, some help with the business side of the nonprofit, and Rainey, a spitfire of an 8-year-old, runs to the beat of her own drum as a ranch hand in training.
"It's usually about five of us against six, seven, eight of the kill buyers (those who attend livestock auctions with the intention of purchasing horses to ship to countries who will pay for their meat)," said Connie. "It's legit a complete bidding war. And if the kill buyers win (the bid) you'll see the rescue group following them to their trucks to buy the horses off them." After these gentle giants are taken off the truck, they're brought to the rescue to begin their new lives — with food, medical care and love waiting for them.
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Pride and Joy currently has 11 horses — 10 of which are at their ranch, with the other at training in preparation for her adoption — and every single one has a story. Lil' Horse and Corky's, the two that started it all, original owner was unable to provide the attention they needed and they were getting ready to be sent to the unknown. The stars aligned and the Faulkners were able to take them in, creating a bond between the horses and their owners that is completely unbreakable. Two more came from an Amish farm, while a couple of others were saved from the kill truck, just like their brothers Corky and Lil' Horse. But the most incredible story started just five weeks ago, with a very
underweight guy named Forty. His original owners tried to keep weight on him, but ultimately did what they thought was best: sending him to Pride and Joy. But the rescue had their work cut out for them from the get-go. "He was extremely, extremely, extremely underweight when we got him," Connie said. "He was like 900 pounds." For context, a healthy horse generally weighs between 1,800 and 2,000 pounds. "When we got him he couldn't pick his feet up," Connie said. "His entire hips were sticking out and you could see his ribs and spine. When we got him, he had absolutely no energy whatsoever." However, through a strict diet of feed, along with many, many other caloric-rich foods, Forty has started to gain — weighing in at over 1,100 pounds on the day of this interview. The Faulkners aren't the only ones getting the chance to love on these creatures, though. Pride and Joy hosts groups out to the ranch to learn from and about the horses, as well as help out with the chores and feeding.
"We've had Project RAI out," Connie said. "That was kind of fun, we got to tie in the educational part of horse rescue with that." Project RAI is a Fargo nonprofit with a mission to reduce suicide statistics among LGBTQ+ youth by helping them feel comfortable in their own skin. "I basically set things up for them to do ahead of timebased on their ages," she said. "We had them washing feed buckets, we had them wash a water pail and clean stalls. And I showed them what the horses looked like when they come in and what they look like now, and when they're all done, we do a training demo." They're hoping to open their rescue to more groups, too. "My end goal would be to find some way to help sheriffs, veterans, any type of that entity, work through their PTSD," Connie said. "That means a lot to us. We've talked to a couple of sheriff groups already and they know they have an open invitation out here, but there's such a stigma around it. We want to break that. I know what (the horses) can do for PTSD, I know what they can do for depression, I know what they can do for anxiety. I know what grooming them can do for people, I've seen it, I've experienced it — if people need to do that, they just need to reach out." And through all their work, all the long hours and money spent, the Faulkners say it's all worth it. "I think we're living the Good Life," Connie said. "We're giving Rainey a place to play, she has responsibilities, she has compassion, she's learning something that kids her age don't get to learn, she gets to take care of these guys. For us, that's the Good Life." The Faulkners are always welcoming volunteers to help around the rescue. "The biggest thing for us is the community support," Connie said. "We want to support Fargo with this place. We're trying to do things that help the community, but we can't do that without the community helping us." •
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ON THE COVER | CHRIS MYERS
Coaching Justice:
From the Rink to the Courtroom Chris Myers, assistant United States attorney for the District of North Dakota, has a job that often involves high-profile, high-stakes cases. Yet even with the difficult scenarios he encounters every day, his high-stress job still feels like the perfect fit. As a little boy living in Wahpeton, N.D., in the ‘70s, Myers knew he wanted to go into law enforcement. He’d been inspired by his father, Earle “Bud” Myers, who fought for justice as a prosecuting attorney. Once his college years came around the bend, the choice was clear; he’d study sociology and criminal justice at North Dakota State University, followed up by two degrees in public administration and law at Drake University in Iowa. With his fiancée (now wife) still living in the FargoMoorhead area, Myers knew he wanted to move back home. It was a community he loved and wanted to be a part of once more. After moving back to Fargo, he quickly started a position with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation as a special agent before becoming an assistant state’s attorney for the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office the following year. “It was another opportunity to do what I wanted to do and be where I wanted to be,” Myers said. Since those posts in the mid-1990s, Myers has
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gone on to hold numerous positions in the North Dakota, Minnesota and United States’ justice systems, including his most recent roles for the United States Department of Justice for the District of North Dakota as a United States attorney and his current title as assistant United States attorney. Whether he’s speaking at a conference in Spain, taking on larger cases in foreign countries and around the United States, or keeping it local by cracking down on crime in the Fargo area, Myers stressed the importance of remembering your roots. “Don’t ever forget where you came from,” Myers said. “I’ve had cases that span across the United States and other countries, but I kind of smile because I’m from Fargo.” Even with all the traveling he has done for his career, Myers never doubted where he wanted to live and grow a family. His roots were already established; his love for the community already planted. “To me ‘the good life’ means raising a family in this community and having excellent schools for your kids. The overall quality of life here doesn’t get any better, if you ask me,” Myers said. “I’ve been fortunate to be blessed working with top-notch law enforcement and staff in our office to make this community a little bit safer. That sums it up for me. Fargo is a great place with great people.”
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ON THE COVER | CHRIS MYERS
FRoM THE RiNK TO THE COURTROOM
As a teenager, he and his family packed their bags and moved from Wahpeton to Fargo. The Myers wanted their son to be able to play hockey at Fargo North High School. The move proved to be worth it. Myers basked in the joy of playing hockey and made lifelong memories when he and his team went on to win a state hockey title in 1986. After a year of playing junior hockey for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Myers returned home for school and hockey at North Dakota State University. Thirty years later, Myers is still enthralled with hockey. For the past 15 years, Myers has been coaching girls and boys hockey and has even coached all three of his children in their favorite sport. It’s taken a lot of time, dedication and commitment from their family, and Myers has enjoyed every minute of it. Winter for their family remains consumed with the game they love, cheering on daughters who play Division 1 hockey and a son who plays high school hockey. 20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Myers with his dad, Earle “Bud” Myers. Myers’ father went to all of his hockey games and would watch his trials. “This summer was the first big trial where he wasn’t there,” Myers said.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS
Myers’ three constants in life have always been his love for family, work and hockey.
Myers coaching his two daughters in hockey.
On his own, Myers still takes time to hit the rink every week to keep his skating skills sharp, providing a brisk mental break from the occasional heaviness of his job.
For most of his career as a prosecutor, Myers has worked to identify, target and dismantle criminal organizations, prosecuting hundreds of drug trafficking cases and associated violent crimes. It takes the work of Myers and a team of law enforcement agents working together to serve justice for long-term investigations. In those cases, Myers is the supervisor and manager of the teams, often using the lessons he’s learned as a coach to effectively lead the investigations. “They compliment each other,” Myers said. “You want to be a good leader, teacher and mentor. As a coach and as a supervisor in the investigations, I want to put people in the best roles for the team to allow them to succeed and flourish. It’s a team endeavor.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS
Whether Myers is giving a pep talk in a locker room, being a minister of justice in a courtroom, or teaching lessons to his kids in their living room, the experiences he’s had as a coach, prosecutor and father have shaped how he handles every area of his life.
The phrase Myers and local law enforcement try to live by in their daily work is “One team, one voice, one fight.”
Over the years, Myers has won innumerable awards for his work, including the 2020 Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the 2019 Leadership in the Prevention of Transnational Crime Award, and the 2018 National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area’s Prosecutor of the Year Award. Myers was also inducted into the Fargo North Hall of Fame in 2017. But when
Myers working undercover as a delivery driver in the mid-‘90s.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS
“It ties back to the hockey thing with teamwork,” Myers said. “The concept in sports that I’ve heard used is ‘The name on the back of the jersey isn’t as important as the name on the front of the jersey.’ It’s the idea that we need to put the team first. If you comprise your team with people who have that mindset and are hardworking, ethical people, you’ll succeed.”
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ON THE COVER | CHRIS MYERS
these accolades are mentioned, Myers immediately gives equal credit to his teammates, saying these are team awards. “All of those represent a team award because in all those cases, it’s not just one person, it’s a whole team of people doing the work,” Myers said. “We have some of the best law enforcement in the country, and I’ve worked with law enforcement all over the country and in foreign countries. I feel very fortunate to work with the people I do, not only with law enforcement, but our staff and my support staff as well. I’ve basically had the same support staff my whole career in the US Attorney’s Office. Lori Daly and Deb Wilson have been there since I started in ’02, and they’re a huge part of the success.”
Words Matter In every role Myers plays, his knowledge, people skills and speaking abilities are the strengths and tools he uses to do his jobs effectively. He knows the power words have on influencing the world around him. “As a coach, I try to talk to my players during practice. You might not know what’s going on at school for them or what’s going on at home, but make your contact with them a positive one. You might change their whole day, their whole week or their whole year,” Myers said. “When you think 22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“The overall quality of life here doesn’t get any better, if you ask me. I’ve been fortunate to be blessed working with top-notch law enforcement and staff in our office to make this community a little bit safer.” - Chris Myers
about it, that’s true not only in coaching but in regular dayto-day life. Be kind.” PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS
Many principles Myers tries to follow in life have been collected from observing the lives of his mentors and other coaches, his father, “Bud,” being his greatest influencer of all. Myers always looked up to his dad in more ways than his career path. Bud was gregarious and would talk to everyone, generous with his time, treating people with dignity and respect. A year ago, Myers’ father passed away, but the way in which he touched the lives of others carries on through his son’s life and work. “I don’t know if he said it or if I just learned it from watching him, but one thing he imparted on me is how important it is to treat everybody the same, whether they’re the janitor or the judge,” Myers said. “You don’t know how much impact you can have in your contact with people, whether it’s a brief or long-standing relationship. You can be an influence on them, either positive or negative. What you say matters.” •
Myers talking with Former United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2018.
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HAVING A BEER WITH | ALEX & KEVIN
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Alex Taylor and Kevin Flynn, the hosts of “The Need to Know Morning Show” on AM 1100 The Flag, are two peas in a pod. Flynn even says Taylor is his “sister from another mister,” and they often think of what the other person will say before it’s spoken. On a rainy autumn day, the two seasoned radio hosts joined me at Drekker for a beer or two as we chatted about dolls vs. clowns, risky life choices and other hot topics.
Good Life: How do you handle your unusual working hours? Kevin Flynn: I get up at 3:20 every morning, drive about an hour to work, we do our thing, and then I drive an hour back to the lake. I’m just loving life in the north country. Alex Taylor: I can beat that. I get up at about 2-2:30 a.m. I get to work at 4 a.m., hit the computers and see what I missed when I was sleeping. I get a nap every day at 2 o’clock, so that’s a bonus. I’ve been working at The Flag for probably 5 or 6 years, and I love morning radio. I’m done by 9:30 most days. After that it’s like I didn’t even work. KF: I, on the other hand, started morning radio so I could make a 1 o’clock tee time. That’s pretty much my motivation. I started exclusively doing mornings in ’85 in Arizona. Last fall was my 40th year of
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being on radio. Talk radio is even better for me because I don’t have to shut up. GL: Are dolls or clowns creepier? AT: Dolls. I’ve seen some scary dolls. Chucky is probably scarier than Pennywise. I think I could reason with Pennywise. I don’t think I’d have a chance with Chucky. KF: Clowns, no doubt. They’re living and breathing. They could be anything. GL: What’s the worst gift you’ve ever been given? KF: Probably a bottle of liqueur that was the most rancid, nasty stuff I’ve ever tried in my life. It was like toxic, rotten licorice. AT: I’m not a big fan of surprises. I’m the one who picks out my gift and says, “This is what you got me!” Then he doesn’t have to think and everybody’s happy. You don’t waste your money
on junk I don’t like, and I get what I want. GL: When you were a kid, what did you think would be a bigger problem as you grew up? I—and every other child of the ’80s and ’90s— thought hot lava was going to be a way bigger issue in life than it has been. KF: Authority. GL: How did that turn out? KF: Okay, thank goodness. For a lot of reasons, I had a certain disdain when I was younger for authority, but I came out of that. The good Lord said I wouldn’t be that guy. AT: I was never really scared of anything, but my dad tried to make me water ski once. He was like, “Get up. You have a life jacket and you’re going to waterski.” We must have been out there all afternoon before he gave up on me. I just didn’t want to. I didn’t know how to swim, and I didn’t urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25
HAVING A BEER WITH | ALEX & KEVIN
want to be in water over my head. I don’t like my hair wet, and I just want to float—nowadays with a beverage. GL: What’s one current cultural thing you’d be happy to see go? KF: For me, it’s some of the language. “To be honest,” “Honestly,” “Right?”—it drives me crazy. I could go down the list. AT: All this politically incorrect stuff. KF: Too much freakin’ wokeness. AT: You can’t say what you think anymore. I’m sick of people being sensitive and offended. I think it was better when we could all just say what we wanted and you got over it. You don’t have to agree with me, and I don’t have to agree with you, but we’re all entitled to our opinion. GL: What’s the riskiest or weirdest thing you’ve done in life that actually ended up turning out well? 26 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
AT: I went to college as an older student. I was a hairstylist for a few years. Then I had my son and decided that once he was in 1st grade I’d go back to school. It was a different experience as an older student, but I knew why I was there. KF: Mine was buying a lake lot 25 years ago with money we didn’t have. It worked out. GL: What does living the good life mean to you? AT: Having fun. Making every day the best day because every day is a gift. If you’re not having fun, don’t do it. Why waste the time? Just have fun. KF: I worked for a guy whose mantra was, “Dare to be great.” He ended up being the VP of FOX Sports Radio. I always liked his mantra, but it seemed long to me. So I just started saying, “Be great,” and tagged it on everything. Being anything else is shortchanging yourself. •
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“Law enforcement personnel put themselves in harm’s way every day protecting the City of Moorhead and its citizens. Preserving public safety isn’t an easy job, and in today ’s world it can be a thankless, stressful task . Officers make great personal sacrifices – often working long hours away from families and friends – to ensure our communities are safe. As the Mayor of Moorhead, it was a privilege and an honor to be part of the Salute to Blue and to thank officers everywhere for their service.” – Shelly Carlson, Moorhead Mayor
" We are fortunate to live in the Fargo Moorhead Community as law enforcement officers because of the support we get from our citizens and businesses. The D-S Beverages "Salute to Blue" is just another great example of one of our local businesses thinking of ways they can recognize the efforts of local law enforcement. The Cass County Sheriff ’s Office appreciates the partnership and support of D-S Beverages and wants to thank them for their hospitality."– Jesse Jahner, Cass County Sheriff 28 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“ This was a great event to be part of and I would like to thank D-S Beverages for their continued support of law enforcement in our communities. The members of the Sheriff ’s Office that attended the appreciation were grateful that D-S Beverages hosted such an awesome event and went all out to show their support to law enforcement. We appreciate the support that our community continues to show to law enforcement and we are very lucky to live and work in the area that we do. Thank you!” – Mark Empting, Clay County Sheriff
The “Salute to Blue” event in August was simply D-S Beverages saying “ Thank You” to all our great people in local law enforcement. In light of all that is going on across the countr y, we wanted to let law enforcement here know that in this community you are appreciated and respected. The Fargo Air Museum provided the perfect venue to have up close and personal interaction with the Budweiser Clydesdales while sampling some great Anheuser-Busch beers. We really appreciate the food provided by Hornbachers, the ice cream from Cass Clay, games from Games Galore and the photos from Urban Toad Media. – Doug Restemayer, President D-S Beverages
"D-S Beverages of Moorhead hosted an appreciation event for law enforcement in August. It was a family event held at the Fargo Air Museum with food, beverages, games for the kids, with an appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales Hitch Team. Doug Restemayer and his team went above and beyond in letting the law enforcement community know they are supported and appreciated. The event was well-attended, beautifully done and our staff thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you D-S Beverages for your support!" – Shannon Monroe, Moorhead Police Chief
“It is always great to see our community showing support for its law enforcement officers. I know the men and women of the Fargo Police Department never expect it , but still greatly appreciate the gesture. Careers in law enforcement are difficult but important work , and events like "Salute to Blue" which display the community ’s backing of its guardians help show the impact each of them has on those they protect.” – Tim Mahoney, Fargo Mayor
“ The Fargo Police Department was honored to be a part of the Salute to Law Enforcement event , and appreciate the support and collaboration of members of our community and service providers who help enable us to carry out the vision and mission of the department each and every day.” – Jessica Shindeldecker, Fargo Police Dept.
LOCAL HERO | TOM KRABBENHOFT
WRITTEN BY: ALEXIS SWENSON PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
At age 17, Tom Krabbenhoft joined the Minnesota Army National Guard on a part-time basis. Krabbenhoft was interested in joining in part due to coming from a military family. Beyond that, the year was 1984—when teachers were on strike. Krabbenhoft asked for a challenging role and was placed in Infantry where he experienced significant culture shock from the rigid discipline and routine. "I wasn't going to be the teenager that mapped the human genome. Sometimes you just gotta be honest with yourself," said Krabbenhoft. "You're going from teachers on strike and not really succeeding in academia to doing things that you read about and see on TV." Service Life Upon finishing Basic and Advanced Individual Training, Krabbenhoft returned to Moorhead, MN where he often volunteered to accompany Army key personnel utilization program (KPUP) tours. In 1987, Krabbenhoft became a Forward Observer, controlling artillery and mortar fire along with calling in air strikes. Two and half years later, he pursued Stinger Missile training and became one of the chief instructors for the weapon in the United States. Krabbenhoft also joined a newly developed Air Defense Artillery unit in Grand Forks, ND. "I was the third enlisted person to join and the lowest-ranked. It was ground floor of something unique and different. I was there for the opportunity and adventure," said Krabbenhoft. "It was an incredible thing at the time to get in on a fairly new, proven weapon system." 30 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Krabbenhoft's unit provided air defense for the 6th Infantry Division in Alaska, affording him many trips north. With each trip, Krabbenhoft's exposure to danger elevated. First, he and another military member became stranded in a shack for several days while protecting air missiles due to dangerous ice fog. Ice fog occurs when the temperature is so cold that condensation is pulled out of the ground resulting in small ice crystals suspended in the air. The pair rifled through the garbage looking for Meal, Ready-To-Eat (MRE) scraps during the day while the wolves sifted through it at night until the ice fog cleared up. Another time included enduring a 14-hour bus ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks where the external temperature was -50 F and the temperature on the bus was -30 F. While the heat was on inside the bus, the heating system simply could not compete. On another occasion, a tent fire erupted due to a combination of Yukon Stoves fired up with gas and highly flammable old canvas tents.
Most notable for Krabbenhoft was a helicopter crash in 1992 due to a hydraulic actuator failure. "Everything you do there is completely different. You need to eat more calories because your body generates so many more calories to keep warm in an arctic environment. We were given an extra 2500 calories a day. It was brutal to do that for extended periods," said Krabbenhoft. Most notable for Krabbenhoft was a helicopter crash in 1992 due to a
hydraulic actuator failure. His mission in Alaska concluded and he was looking for a ride back to Anchorage, 160 miles away. When he had the unexpected opportunity to tag along on a flight to Anchorage on a Boeing CH-47 Chinook, he graciously moved forward with it. "All of a sudden, it started to rotate really slowly. I looked behind and the guy behind me hit the floor. I reached up and urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 31
LOCAL HERO | TOM KRABBENHOFT
The only thought I had was I was going to get sucked out of the helicopter. I was completely sold on the idea that I was doomed. grabbed a nylon harness; I was not strapped into the helicopter," said Krabbenhoft. "I was thrown forward a couple of feet and hit a door lined up with a firewall closet where it's open on the bottom. It was absolutely terrifying; I could feel the wind rushing and the helicopter beneath me. It sounded like I was in the middle of 20 trains. The only thought I had was I was going to get sucked out of the helicopter. I was completely sold on the idea that I was doomed." Of the 19 individuals on the helicopter, all survived, but sustained injuries ranging from mild to serious. Krabbenhoft didn't realize how bad his injuries were until several weeks later when issues with his legs and spine showed up. He was unable to do the things he loved to do in Infantry and transferred to the Air Guard to serve in a Logistics role. Despite the fact that none of his leadership education credits transferred and the sense of loss for losing the combat aspect of his work, Krabbenhoft enjoyed the brotherhood of his new unit. Serving Post 9/11 Following the events of 9/11 in 2001, Krabbenhoft took a full-time job at the Air Guard, managing weapons and war readiness materials. "Like most people, my life was forever changed when the second plane hit. I realized things were never going to be the way they had been," said Krabbenhoft.
It was absolutely terrifying; I could feel the wind rushing and the helicopter beneath me. It sounded like I was in the middle of 20 trains. 32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
In 2009, he was deployed to the Middle East. Although Krabbenhoft's deployment was intended to last six months, a lifethreatening infection cut his time short in the most poignant experience of his life. He was given a verdict of less than 24 hours to live in a location where advanced medical care was not available. Krabbenhoft had the option of either being sent in his uniform to a high-risk area known for American kidnappings or to take his chances at the base. He chose to try his luck on base where doctors promised to give him all the knockout punches they had.
With no way of diagnosing the infection, Krabbenhoft was hooked up to multiple IVs where several dozen bags of antibiotics were dispersed over several days. Those medications, although ultimately saving his life, left him with major long-term effects including serious hip, back, shoulder, and neck issues. Impact of Serving A few months after Krabbenhoft was sent home, he found himself prescribed and sometimes taking over 20 pills a day to manage the debilitating pain throughout his body. He gained 100 lbs, was diagnosed with heart disease and diabetes, and experienced intense anxiety. "It felt like watching yourself from the outside. I didn't believe in anxiety before that happened to me. Now, I was having trouble leaving the house which was mindboggling for me. I kept taking those pills and it got so out of hand it was unbelievable," said Krabbenhoft. "Within a two-week time frame, I found out I was getting kicked out of the military, losing my job, and getting a divorce. It felt like I was in an unfaithful world. When you're taking that many pills, it distorts your reality."
It felt like I was in an unfaithful world. When you're taking that many pills, it distorts your reality." Krabbenhoft struggled for three years with his new reality of pills, distorted reality, and lost relationships. "When I came back, I was salvageable, but I didn't have anybody reach out to me from my unit or help me through," said Krabbenhoft. "Therefore, it was easier to discard me than salvage me. My situational awareness has always been above average, so it was easy for me to know something was wrong, but it wasn't being fixed. My kids lost their dad." Turning a Corner Today, Krabbenhoft's life looks vastly different and part of that is due to his motivation to learn how to ride a motorcycle. To do so, he knew he needed to lose weight, reduce the number of pills he was prescribed, and do a lot of physical therapy. Krabbenhoft hired a personal trainer, urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33
LOCAL HERO | TOM KRABBENHOFT
began a workout program, and tried various alternative pain relief methods including chiropractic care, massage, and dry needling. Over four years, he lost a substantial amount of weight to walk away pill-free with the exception of over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. Krabbenhoft credits much of this to his girlfriend, Shannon, an orthopedic nurse for many years. "Shannon enlightened me to alternative pain relief which has been a huge blessing. Her guidance has been immeasurable to me; I am pretty much indebted to her," said Krabbenhoft. Current Life Currently, Krabbenhoft works as a realtor referral agent for Coldwell Banker-Element and serves as Director of the FM Legion Riders, an organization of motorcycle enthusiasts who are dedicated to supporting veterans and children's charities. Krabbenhoft is passionate about his work with the group and their biggest event held in the winter. Every February, the group spends the night in a tent, outside the Moorhead American Legion to bring awareness to veteran suicide prevention and homelessness. He is also abundantly grateful for his children, striving to build
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back was lost when he first returned from the Middle East. "I have a couple of wonderful daughters who are very creative culinary and musically. I also have a 15-year-old boy who is very physically fit and athletically oriented. He's a talented football player and wrestler. Their lives got affected as well with everything that happened—losing them was hardest" said Krabbenhoft. The Good Life For Krabbenhoft, the good life is one filled with meaning and balance. "Being around for tomorrow and being able to make a positive difference. It's even better when you can do that with a good group of people. Also, a motorcycle ride on a hot day with a cold beer waiting at the end," said Krabbenhoft. •
Being around for tomorrow and being able to make a positive difference. It's even better when you can do that with a good group of people. Also, a motorcycle ride on a hot day with a cold beer waiting at the end.
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