The Oracle 02/23/2023

Vol. 3 - Issue 4

February 23, 2023 $2.00 A Community Newspaper a Serving N orthwest North Dakot “DO WHAT YOU CAN, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, WHERE YOU ARE.” - THEODORE ROOSEVELT

DIVIDE COUNTY 4-H MEMBERS AIM TO HIT THE BULLSEYE WITH NEW ARCHERY PROGRAM

By Michelle Svangstu

Archery is one of the oldest disciplines. It has been used for hunting and warfare; now, it can help children and teens in Divide County learn valuable life lessons.

Page 9

LOOKING FORWARD WITH LITTEN

By Kevin Litten

Change.

Transparency. Accountability. Welcome to the Tioga City Commission President’s monthly column. We’re excited to be able to connect with you.

Page 6

FORTUNA BONSPIEL: COMRADERY & CURLING

By Alexa Althoff-Garro The illustrious history of Bonspiels at the small club dates back to the early 1960s.

Page 3

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Creating Your

Part 2 of 4: Missing Person Barbara Cotton

Subscribe Online For Story 1 of 4 at www.vocellaoracle.com

By Kristin Miller Sandee had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

Louise was telling her that Barb had not come home.

Sandee had been out the night before, but she wasn’t with Barb and didn’t know where she could be. Louise knew that the two of them didn’t see each other as often anymore, so Sandee was unsure why Louise had called her.

Sunday morning came, and Barb still hadn’t come home. Kathy, Barb’s little sister, woke up alone in the room they shared. Where was Barb?

Louise went over to Diane’s house to see if Barb was possibly there. Barb had spent many nights there previously, so it would seem a logical place to search. Barb

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Barbara Louise Cotton

wasn’t with Diane either.

Louise told Diane that she had seen Barb the night before at dinner in town. Louise supposedly met Barb’s boyfriend Stacey there, and later that night Barb went to a party, but didn’t come home after.

This was all news to

Diane. She knew nothing about Barb´s boyfriend or any party. Diane spoke with Barb the day before, and she never mentioned a boyfriend. Who was Stacey?

How did Barb have a boyfriend and not tell her best friend? Could she have been (Story Continues on Page 2)

Meet the Teachers

Get to know the educators in your community! This week we meet Ma Rilou T. Vasquez, (Page 7) and Alisha Muse (Page 10).

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2 • The Oracle • February 23, 2023

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FORTUNA Every Tuesday- Range Night at Northwest Sportsman Club March 17th & 18th- Annual Mike Selle Memorial Poll Tournament at The Teachers Lounge March 24th & 25th- 3rd Annual Fortuna Curling Club Women’s Bonspiel. Contact Cassie Rauser to sign up your team: 701-641-8891

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CROSBY February 28th- After Prom Meeting at Crosby Community Center 5:30pm Saturday, March 4th- St. Luke’s Community Foundation Gala at Crosby Moose Lodge March 15th, 16th, & 17thSpring Break at Divide County Schools

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Community Center 3:00pm5:00pm Wednesday, March 1st- District 2 GOP Reorganization Meeting at Tioga Community RAY Center, 7:00pm February 24th, 25th, & 27thMonday, March 6th- Tioga Boys Basketball Districts Commission Meeting at City Saturday, March 11th- Ray Hall 7:00 pm Fire Dept. Social/ Raffle with TIOGA Friday, March 10th- CommuDueling Pianos at Ray Audito- Saturday, February 25th- Co- nity Blood Drive at Tioga Medrium 5:30pm-7:30pm coa With The POPO at Tioga ical Center 10:00 am -3:00pm

hometown secrets keeping him a secret? Diane thought they told each other everything.

The party in question was possibly at Barb’s friend Donna’s apartment.

Louise called Donna at some point after Barb didn’t come home searching for answers. Donna thinks she may have told her that she remembers seeing Barb at her apartment with a “boy”, but she didn’t know who he was. They left together that night, but Donna said she remembered the boy that she assumed was Barb’s boyfriend came back later, and Donna asked him where Barb was. The boyfriend suggested that Barb had gotten a ride, and that was all he knew. The next day, Donna’s sister, Cindy, remembered that the boyfriend came back demanding to know if Barb was there. Louise called Donna periodically for around 6 months to see if they remembered anything else.

Donna and Cindy are not sure who the boyfriend was, and they also are not 100% certain the party was

the same night she disappeared, as they had parties often. However, they strongly feel that the night of that party was the night Barb disappeared. To this day, Donna can still see the vision of Barb sitting in her apartment - beautiful, quiet and kind.

It was now the afternoon on Sunday, April 12th.

Louise called the Williston Police Department and left a message that said, “Barbara has not come home since yesterday. She is 15 years old. Her birth date is 11-10-1965. She has brown hair and brown eyes, a small build, and was wearing a tan short jacket and blue jeans. She was last seen at a friend’s house at about 10pm last night. She was with a guy by the name of Stacey earlier in the evening. Stacey used to wash dishes at Cakes N’ Cones.

Mrs. Cotton contacted him, and he advised her that Barb told him she was going to walk home from Cakes N’ Cones. Mrs. Cotton feels that (a name police wouldn’t mention) may know where

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she is but isn’t telling.”

On Monday, April 13th, Louise called the Willison PD again and reported that she thought her daughter was in Scobey, Montana, with Stacey Werder. She thought they might be in room 205 at the Pioneer Hotel. The police in Montana relayed back to WPD that Barb was not there. It is not known how they confirmed that. There was no mention if Stacey was there or not in reports.

Kent and Kathy remember that after Barb went missing, they wanted to go out, knock on doors and look for their sister. According to them, their mother kept them sheltered from the search and the police investigation. She didn’t talk openly to them about Barb being missing. Louise became stricter with them, which given the circumstances of one of her children missing, one can understand the need to protect the younger children.

They remember their mother continuing to look for Barb, putting up posters and

Part 2 of 4: Missing Person Barbara Cotton (Continued from Page 1)

going all around town. Diane, Barb’s older sister, remembers helping in search for Barb and handing out posters. Multiple calls came into the WPD with tips and possible sightings the weeks following Barb´s disappearance.

Louise called the police on September 1st and left another message to tell them that Stacey’s mom, Cynthia Werder, had allegedly called her 3 weeks prior. Louise stated that Stacey talked to his mother Cynthia sometime prior, and talked about Barbara and told Louise that if Barbara came back to have her call Mrs. Werder.

This is all according to Louise. She also gave the police Cynthia’s phone number.

The WPD cannot confirm that Cynthia was ever contacted.

To this day, it remains a mystery of when or how Louise went about contacting Stacey or his mother.

Louise was friends with the owners of Cakes N’ Cones, so if Stacey did indeed work there, then that is one possibility of how she was able to

get his contact information.

She was the only person that has given information about Stacey being in Williston or with Barb.

Unfortunately, on July 16th,1981, Stacey committed suicide in jail. There is no documentation from the WPD that they ever spoke to Stacey. We will go deeper into Stacey’s story a bit later.

What happened the week Barb went missing?

Was she distant from Diane that week because she had met Stacey? Maybe she felt her friends wouldn’t approve of him? Would she really tell her mom about Stacey and not Diane and Sandee? Did she run away?

Would Barb willingly have left Kent and Kathy?

Would she have intentionally missed her best friend’s wedding? Why were all of Barb’s belongings and money left behind? Was Barb possibly kidnapped? If so, by who?

Check back next week for Part 3 of Barbara Louise Cotton

BRIEFING: Fortuna Bonspiel: Fortuna City Council Meeting February 23, 2023•The Oracle • 3

COMRADERY AND CURLING

By Alexa Althoff-Garro Friday and Saturday brought seven teams together to compete on the ice for the two day event.

The illustrious history of Bonspiels at the small club dates back to the early 1960s.

tured steaks and a wide variety of sides, and Saturday’s lunch delighted curlers with a plethora of soups and bould-your-own sandwiches.

Rob Rust of Alkabo, known for being the best “ice man” around sweeps off in preparation for the next group of teams.

Councilman Kent Wigness (left) and Mayor Gary Rust (right). In a small town like Fortuna, it can be difficult to find people willing to serve on City Council, and the group was grateful for Wigness’s willingness to dedicate his time to local civics.

By Alexa Althoff-Garro The regular meeting of the Fortuna City Council took place on Tuesday, February 14th.

Mayor Gary Rust noted that a water leak was suspected, and the council discussed ways to identify the problem. However, just a few days later, the minor increase in usage subsided and Rust confirmed that it was no longer an issue.

The city is also continuing to monitor the progress of property owners who are required to repair or remove dilapidated buildings in town. Additional letters

will be sent out with specific notes on the individuals properties which remain out of compliance with city code.

Finally, Kent Wigness was officially sworn in as a new City Council member replacing long-time counAmongst the hundreds of photos, you could cilman Randy Haagenson. find original captures of the first ever Bonspiel, and some teams, in Fortuna.

Wigness joins freshman “It started in 1961,” Chris Garro, and senior Gary Rust noted. “Basicalcouncilman Mike Ferris. ly, every year we’ve curled here or had a bonspiel of some sort. It’s about 62 Did You Know? years of Bonspiels.”

1.3 million Americans This year, the Blair have a Top Secret security Team from Canada took clearance. home the title. Friday fea-

DISTRICT 2 GOP REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

By Alexa Althoff-Garro In 2021, the District 2 GOP “Re-Org” meeting drew a record breaking crowd of nearly 300 people. It was the talk of almost every town after the event concluded.

Historically, attendance was very low for our District 2 GOP events (where many of our readers reside). Without going into the factors which lead to the massive uptick in participants, those interested in attending this year should be aware of the reasons to do it again.

The upcoming Reorganizational Meeting will take place on March 1st, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Tio-

ga Community Center. Along with electing party leadership, bylaws and other business will take place.

Current District 2 Republican Vice Chairman Jessica Steel, of Tioga, noted the importance of the meeting for everyone “Local politics is one of the most important roles you can be involved in, allowing your voice to be heard and your vote to count,” Steel said. “Starting at the district level will affect the area you live in and ultimately the state of North Dakota.”

Electing district party leadership is a critical event every two years. The District

2 GOP is in charge of elections funds which are passed down from the State-level GOP, helping to educate the public, and much more.

Ballots will be printed out at the Tioga Community Center for full transparency, and short speeches will be given from candidates. This can be rather exciting because District 2 GOP leadership has not recently been politicians, but instead citizens who have stepped up with a willingness to get involved.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and volunteers will be available to assist with registration for those voting in the election.

sense of history and community through the decades.

Rust gave a hearty thanks to all who particiGary Rust - Photo Submission. The Blair Team from Canada took First Place at the pated and said, “they were 2023 Fortuna Bonspiel. a wonderful bunch of curlKeeping with tradition, ers.” many of the curlers enjoyed a night of comradery and fun at The Old School Center & Teachers Lounge in Fortuna after the games.

In addition to watching the action on the ice, visitors could also see Food and friends are perhaps the biggest draw for curlers during a Bonspiel. Ethan a large collection of photos Feil dishes up a plate and has a good laugh with Gary Rust. which were brought out for the occasion. Some, dating The Women’s Bonspiel back to the very early days will be held on March 24th of the club. Even if you had & 25th at the Fortuna Curlnever visited the Fortuna ing Club. See the club’s Curling Club, one could get Facebook for details.

4 • The Oracle • February 23, 2023

THE WESTBY WATCH By Heidi Whitney BOYER, CLINGMAN & ELSE TAKE THE PODIUM AT STATE

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Talli Else - Submitted Photo. MonDak Thunder wrestlers placing at state were (shown left to right) Cade Else, TJ Boyer, and Kaylie Clingman.

The North Dakota State Wrestling Tournament took place last week at the Fargodome where three of seven MonDak state qualifiers took home hardware.

In the girls division, freshman Kaylie Clingman took 5th place at 125.

Amanda Shields was eliminated after two matches, and junior Madison Leatherman lost her first, won her second, and was eliminated in her third.

For the boys, sopho-

more TJ Boyer took home 4th place at 113. Cade Else placed 8th at 120. Two other state qualifiers Riley Hennager (junior) and Victor Christian (sophomore) suffered losses in their first two matches.

Reflecting on the tournament, Head Coach Troy Jespersen said, “TJ Boyer came out of nowhere and tore up the 113 bracket.

He came in unseeded and knocked off the #4 the first round; beat the #5 the second round; gave the #1 a

ALL TIMES ARE MOUNTAIN Sun. Feb 19: Services at Assembly of God, 10:30 am.

Coffee hour at Immanuel, 10:30 am. Services at 11:30 am.

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good run in the semifinals; If you have an event you would like included in the Hot Dish section of the Westby Watch, please call Heidi Whitalmost making it to the state ney at 406-385-7423. championship.”

Looking forward to next season, Jespersen added, “The most exciting part for the coaches is that we have no seniors on the team.

We’ll get another few years with this group. They are a great group of kids. They work hard every day and I can’t wait to see how far they can go next year.”

Assistant coaches for MonDak are Tad Else and Cole Berg.

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THUNDER BOYS HOOPS SEASON ENDS AT DISTRICT

Coach Tony Holecek’s MonDak Thunder squad ended their season with two straight losses at the district 2C tournament in Sidney last week.

Entering the tournament on Monday February 13, the Thunder took on the Culbertson Cowboys falling short 35-49.

Top scorers for the Thunder against Culbertson were Adam Paine with 13 and Thomas Arnson with 7.

The boys’ loss against

Culbertson put them in the losers’ bracket against the Savage Warriors on February 15. Unfortunately, it turned out to be another battle where the Thunder came up short 33-44.

Top scorers for the Thunder were Cole Gebhardt with 9 and Thomas Arnson with 7.

Assistant coaches for the Thunder for the 2022-2023 season were Brady Olson and Parker Westgard.

February 23, 2023•The Oracle • 5

The 2022-2023 MonDak Lady Thunder, coached by Dylan and Haley McLain.

Last week Coach Dylan MacLean told the Oracle that in a very competitive district, he hoped that the Lady Thunder were ready to play their best basketball of the season at the tournament held in Sidney February 13-20.

The ladies delivered.

Coming into the tournament ranked 6th out of 10 teams with the top 5 advancing to divisionals, the Thunder were pitted against the #3 Circle Wildcats in their opening game February 14.

The ladies had suffered a loss during regular season play against the Wildcats, yet were able to come out victorious this time by a rather large margin, 62-41.

The Thunder led the entire game and had 8 players reach the scoring column.

Senior Kiarra Brunelle led

the team in scoring with 19. Others contributing were Abby Lowes (11), Sayler Stewart (9), Emma Smart (9), Erika Christian (7), Sydney Rudningen (3), Katelynn Folvag (3), and Reign Ledahl (1).

A win against the Wildcats gave the Thunder a few days rest before the semi-finals against the #2 seeded Culbertson Cowgirls on Friday February 17.

Though the Thunder led at the half 14-10 against the Cowgirls, they were unable to pull away with the victory in an absolute edge of your seat game, the final score reading 44-47. Emma Smart had the hot hand, scoring 15 points all from 3-point land.

Kiarra Brunelle tossed in 11 and Erika Christian drained 10.

The loss against Culbertson put the girls into Sat-

urday's battle for 4th place against the Fairview Warriors, where it was touch and go for 32 exciting minutes. In the end, the Thunder came out on top 43-41 after leading at the end of each of

the first three stanzas.

Leading the Thunder in scoring against Fairview was Emma Smart with 12.

Katelynn Folvag and Abby Lowes each added 9. Saylor Stewart also had an impres-

sive defensive effort with 5 deflections and 4 steals.

The Thunder will take on North Country in Wolf Point March 1st in the opening game of the divisional tournament.

The Thunder will play in the Eastern C tournament in Wolf Point March 1-4.

6 • The Oracle • February 23, 2023

By Kevin Litten, City of Tioga Commission President In June 2022, I was elected Commission President for the City of Tioga, promising to bring transparency and accountability to our local city government.

If we haven't met before, my name is Kevin Litten.

Accountability and transparency are something I

aim to convey through this monthly column in partnership with the Oracle newspaper.

I want to give you a brief background on myself. I have worked with local government and public safety my entire adult life. I am currently serving as a sheriff's deputy for Williams County. My long career in law enforcement showed me that if I wanted things to change; I needed to get involved. So, I attended Grand Canyon University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Government with an emphasis on State and Local Public Policy.

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Since taking on my new role as Tioga Commission President, we as a commission have continued projects started by past commissioners and started many new projects throughout the town. As the snow melts, we are gearing up to hit the ground running on some new projects, including two new parks and the Tioga Dam Reconstruction, which will feature a considerable addition to Tioga with a fitness trail around the water.

The groundwork will also start soon for a new soccer field south of Tioga High School. My first eight months on this job have been busy, exciting, and frustrating at times, but I am excited to watch the prog-

ress and momentum continue, like the recently remodeled movie theater which reopened late last year.

As we look toward progress and the future, we look to the next generation of leaders. The North Dakota League of Cities sponsors a statewide "If I were Mayor" essay contest open to third and seventh graders each spring. This contest fosters a mindset of discovery for kids in our community to learn about local government and what it means to get involved as a public servant. I would like to formally challenge Tioga's third and seventh-grade classes to enter an essay in this year's contest.

Students can submit

their essays by mail or email

by March 15, 2023 By mail: North Dakota League of Cities, 410 E Front AVE, Bismarck, ND 58504, and postmarked no later than March 15, 2023.

Email: carissa@ndlc. org no later than March 15, 2023.

If you have questions about the contest, you can find more information and rules at https://www. ndlc.org/DocumentCenter/ View/3465/Essay-Contest-flier.

Best of luck to those who accept my challenge; I can't wait to see how tomorrow's leaders inspire changes today.

Kevin Litten, City of Tioga Commission President

NETWORKING AT THE

TIOGA CHAMBER

AFTER HOURS MIXER

By Jill Vassen On Thursday, February 16, 2023, Hidden Beauty Salon & Spa and The Vocella Oracle played host to the Tioga Chamber of Commerce's second annual member mixer, to which a good turnout of participants and new members joined.

The evening provided an excellent atmosphere for mingling and great conversation over wonderful food and a beautifully decorated environment.

Membership with the Chamber of Commerce

• Full line of skid steer attachments • Large range of products on hand • Quick order time on products that are not on location!

David Papineau, Tioga Chamber President assists Sheila Boyett with signing up for the Chamber.

Chamber members enjoy great food and conversation during the mixer event.

not only comes with many benefits, but it also serves the larger community. Your membership grants you the chance to have an influential voice in helping to shape the community of Tioga. As a private, member-funded organization, The Tioga Chamber of Commerce actively promotes local businesses, sponsors various events such as Freedom Fest, Crazy Days, Pumpkin Fest, Main Street Christmas and Rhubarb Fest, and utilizes multiple media outlets to publicize the area.

Additionally, the Cham-

ber collaborates with the Tioga Area Economic Development Corporation and the local government to make Tioga and the surrounding areas a destination for commerce. For more information on joining the Tioga Chamber go to: www. tiogandchamber.com

Jess Nygaard invited The Chamber in to check out her newly updated Salon in Tioga.

February 23, 2023•The Oracle • 7

12 DIVIDE COUNTY

Meet the

STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN THE REGIONAL VOICE COMPETITION As the Regional Voice Competition quickly approaches, Wendell Nelson’s students are readying themselves for what promises to be a thrilling and rewarding performance.

On Monday, March 13th, twelve Divide County School students will travel to Williston State College and compete against 100 of their peers to win a coveted title.

Anticipation takes hold as each student hopes for success on stage. Mr. Nelson, Band Director for grades 5-12, is the choir instructor for grades 7-12 at Divide County Schools in Crosby. T The voice competition will include eleven schools: Ray, Alexander, Stanley, New Town, Kenmare, and Tioga.

Williston Trinity Christian, Powers Lake, Grenora, Crosby and Burke Central.

The students will perform artfully prepared pieces and be judged overall on memorization, notes, and rhythm to the satisfaction of the judges.

Only one out of three students may receive a ‘Star’, which is the highest rating.

The achievement of a ‘Star’ would lead to students going on to a state-level competition

Wendell Nelson DC Band & Choir Director

held in May at Minot State University.

The events the students will compete in are as follows: solo, vocal ensemble, duet, trio, or small group ensembles.

School choirs of 12 or more students may compete also as a large group. The event is from 9:00am to around 4:00pm.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the star results of these ensembles,” Nelson said. “To show the hard work the students have been putting in for the past three months.”

Divide County is co-hosting the competition in Williston and those involved are seeking volunteers for the event. Please contact Mr. Nelson at Divide County Schools if you are willing to donate your time to this important event.

TEACHER MY NAME IS MA RILOU T. VASQUEZ

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THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Opinion by Dennis A. Lindahl, Stanley, ND Communications Senior Strategist As we all know local appointed and elected officials have a responsibility to serve their communities to the best of their ability.

A community is fortunate when officials prioritize the needs of the community over their own family, personal or politically ambitious interests. Unfortunately, when they don't this can lead to corrupt and unethical behavior, including the targeting of their critics.

Over the years, in many small communities throughout North Dakota, critics of local officials may be sub-

jected to retaliation, harassment, or marginalization.

Officials have the ability to use their power to block access to government services, initiate legal action, or discredit critics by questioning their motives or spreading false information.

In some cases, officials may use their power to reward their supporters and punish critics, creating a culture of cronyism and favoritism that erodes trust in local government. A favorite strategy with local elected officials in the midwest is to employ the 'whisper campaign' which involves spreading false information or exaggerating negative information in order to dis-

credit critics, individuals, or entire organizations.

A good indicator that there is a problem in a community is if many people are afraid to come forward and speak up when they see something wrong because they fear retaliation. Another good indicator is a lack of confidentiality by officials when gathering personal information that should be held private in an ethical and professional manner.

Failing to hold private information can lead to a lack of trust in local government and potentially leaves officials open to libel and slander.

To recognize and combat this behavior, commu-

nity members must remain informed and engaged. This includes attending government meetings, reading local news sources, and supporting organizations that promote transparency and accountability. By speaking out against corruption and targeting of their critics, community members can hold officials accountable and promote a culture of ethics and transparency.

It is also important to advocate for independent oversight and enforcement mechanisms that can hold officials accountable for their actions. These mechanisms can help to prevent corruption and create a culture of accountability, en-

suring that elected officials serve the best interests of the community, not their own personal interests.

To conclude, local elected officials have a duty to serve their communities with transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. When officials prioritize their own interests over those of the community, it can lead to corrupt and unethical behavior, including the targeting of critics.

By remaining informed and engaged, community members can recognize and combat this behavior and ensure that their elected officials are working towards the betterment of the community.

8 • The Oracle • February 23, 2023

Creating Your Dream Home with Teagan Interiors Custom Cabinets

By Rachel Venture The inside of one’s home says a lot about their style and flair. From fine wood cabinetry to thick carpets that make a room warm and cozy, each home is unique to a family.

Now a new family in Crosby is continuing the Garbel’s tradition of interior design. Garbel’s has always been known for their exquisite craftsmanship and installations, Nikita and Tyler Swanson have taken up the mantle to make sure the D FIN ON US E B O O K FAC

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people of Crosby and surrounding communities have somewhere local to go for their home needs.

In 2015, the Swanson’s opened Henny’s coffee shop in Crosby. Henny’s is named after the couple's oldest daughter. Nikita and Tyler saw that Don and Kay Garbel were looking to retire, and not wanting to let the tradition go down, they saw the opportunity and made it their own. Now, Teagan’s Interiors, named after the couple's youngest daughter 2022

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is more than

By Jessica Watterud When you think of rest, what comes to mind? Rest is more than sleep. Our brains recover from daily input and stimulation at night, but did you know your body needs rest too? Our body and mind BOTH require rest. Rest can be more difficult for people to define because it looks different for everybody. Rest can even be something active! I know; that sounds contradictory.

Rest is simply something that improves well-being.

It can be reading, going for a walk, sitting, and talking

sleep

has offered the original inventory of flooring and window coverings that Garbel’s proudly provided, but now they also offer fine cabinetry for both your kitchen or home office amongst other home necessities, including house paint.

Some things are just better in person! Internet shopping has a lot to offer, but the inside of a home is where babies take their first steps, grandmothers open Christmas presents, and prom corsages are pinned on by nervous dates. Seeing is definitely believing in this quaint shop-local store on Main Street in Crosby. Nikita and Tyler happily welcome locals and new friends to come to see the changes they’ve made and the legacy they’ve helped continue.

Nikita and Tyler Swanson

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with a friend, etc.

The impacts of stress are well-known. Rest counteracts the impact of stress and increases our ability to tolerate it.

Rest, like anything else, does not happen on its own.

If you’re like me, you need to put it in the schedule or it won’t happen! Prioritize rest; prioritize your health and well-being.

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February 23, 2023•The Oracle • 9

DIVIDE COUNTY 4-H MEMBERS AIM TO HIT

THE BULLSEYE WITH NEW ARCHERY PROGRAM

By Michelle Svangstu 4-H members will soon have new targets in their sight thanks to four volunteers who took the opportunity to train and bring the archery program back to Divide County (DC).

Travis Binde, Michelle Pulvermacher, Samantha Coates and Hannah Montoya have spent nearly 12 hours just in training to become Certified 4-H Archery Instructors. The certification included an online course with an exam, and once that was passed, the four volunteers spent a full day in Minot doing hands-on training.

Travis Binde, DC NDSU Extension Agent, says he is excited to be able to bring the program back to Divide County “They had a 4-H Archery program a few years ago, but it unfortunately went by the wayside,” Binde Said. “We already have a lot of the necessary equipment, so it just made sense to provide this opportunity for our members.”

Samantha Coates, who is a leader for the Hoppin’ Valley 4-H Club, agrees.

“Archery is another opportunity for kids to get out of the house and do something physical they enjoy,” Coates noted. “Your typical sports [basketball, hockey etc.] are great, but they’re not for everybody. Archery is something these kids can learn and take with them throughout their life.”

Still in its final development and planning stages, archery will be open to all members of the four Divide County 4-H Clubs. As an added bonus, new 4-H volunteer Hannah Montoya will be bringing her skills and experience as a competitive archer to the program.

Samantha added, “It is so awesome to have Hannah come on board with us, I

mean, we all have the certi- service projects such as fications, but she will bring Meals on Wheels, Garbage skills and knowledge to the Pick Up, Cleaning the DC Fairgrounds, and cleaning/ maintenance on the riding arena both in Ambrose and at the fairgrounds.

Binde, who has been the extension agent in Divide County for three years, says the future for 4-H here is bright. Not only has their membership grown over the past few years, they recently were able to revive one of the clubs that had been inacSamantha Coates - Submitted Photo.

Michelle Pulvermacher hits the bullseye during certification training in Minot. tive for a number of years.

“Our four clubs, program that is invaluable Roughriders, Flickertails, in helping our kids suc- Hoppin’ Valley and Sunset ceed.”

Wranglers are all actively Both Coates and Binde involved in growing their hope the program will not programs and providing only benefit current mem- new opportunities for their bers, but encourage others members,” Binde said. “If to join and become “part of someone wants to join but the 4-H family,” Samantha isn’t sure which club is the explained. “4-H provides a best fit for them, they can welcoming, family-like en- reach out to me or Michelle vironment. Members and [Pulvermacher] at our office leaders are always ready to and we’d be happy to help help and encourage each steer them in the right direcother. It [4-H] truly has tion and answer any quessomething for everyone. tions they might have.”

Crafters, livestock showing, If anyone is unsure if horsemanship, pets, cook- 4-H is right for their family, ing, gardening, photogra- Coates has words of encourphy, public speaking….the agement. opportunities really are end“Just try it,” Coates less. If you can dream it, said. “You don’t know until 4-H probably has a place for you try. I really think people it – and hopefully archery is will appreciate the family one more skill for kids to approach to 4-H, on top of add to their bank.” all the awesome opportuniMost clubs meet month- ties they’ll have. There is a ly, and often do some kind need for things like 4-H – of project together during to inspire children to keep their meetings. While craft learning, growing and just projects are sometimes on all around become a better the agenda, the clubs also person to make this world a take time to do hands-on better place.”

Other programs the Divide County 4-H program offers includes communication arts, radio broadcasting, video presentation, clothing/fashion review, and even a program called ‘Fish Tank,’ (a take on ‘Shark Tank’) where students get to pitch a business idea to a panel.

An informational meeting about the upcoming archery program will be held for Divide County 4-H

4-H Emblem courtesy ndsu.edu

members and their parents at 2PM on March 5th at the county courthouse (members should check their email for further details).

Anyone interested in joining 4-H can contact Travis or Michelle at their office by calling 701-965-6501.

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Expanding School MEAL ACCESS Gets Close Look in ND

By Mike Moen Prairie News Service Nearly 50,000 North Dakota children were served by hunger-relief groups last year. Their advocates hope that compels lawmakers to make sure all students have access to meals at school.

The Legislature is considering bills that would expand eligibility for free meals, while also keeping schools from denying a lunch over unpaid debts.

Heather Gades is the 2023 Miss Bonanzaville and a former North Dakota student, who was told she couldn't participate in her school's graduation unless her family paid off a $700 lunch debt.

While they resolved the situation, Gades said she tells her story so that other students won't have the same experience.

"We should not be threatening students with having one of the biggest accomplishments taken away from them," said Gades, "because of socioeconomic status and things outside their control."

One bill would end that type of practice. A separate measure would have provided $89 million to offer free lunches to all students, regardless of income.

But cost concerns pushed Republicans to reduce the extra aid to $6 million.

Hunger-fighting groups want lawmakers to reconsider, arguing that full

access ensures each child has the opportunity to learn without hunger distractions.

Fargo School Board member Robin Nelson said the extra aid is still welcome, noting it means an extra 10,000 students would be eligible for no-cost meals.

But she said a full expansion would help in a variety of ways that go beyond improved learning. She described it as a long-term investment in making the state competitive.

"If we had universal lunch, not only would that be good for the kids, it would be good for families," said Nelson. "And quite frankly, I think it would attract a lot of young families to our state, or keep them here."

Supporters say such a move would also reduce administrative burdens for school districts. The extra aid would be tacked onto the federal subsidies districts receive to offer free and reduced-price meals.

Groups, including the North Dakota AFL-CIO, have testified in support of these measures, both of which have cleared the House and now move to the Senate.

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February 23, 2023•The Oracle •11

FEISTY MARINER ARMED WITH ONLY A SWORD TAKES ON FAR LARGER VESSEL AND WINS An Australian crew was rescued after a 150lb black marlin punched a hole in a fishing boat engine off the coast of New South Wales.

The 21ft boat hooked the marlin at around 1:00pm on Sunday. Suddenly, the marlin turned and punched a hole in the engine’s canvas cover and cowling, disabling the power. The rescue vessel, Merimbula 30, undertook a three-and-ahalf hour operation to reach the damaged boat and tow it back to the Kianinny boat ramp at Tathra. Marine Rescue Merimbula unit commander, Bill Blakeman, said that in his 15 years of volunteer service on the water he’s never responded to an incident involving a marlin damaging a vessel.

H A R L E Y- D AV I D S O N FROM 1908 BECOMES PRICIEST BIKE AT

Did You Know?

In 1947, the Canadian town of Snag, Yukon, saw a temperature of -83F (-64C). It was so cold, you could hear people speaking 4 miles away, along with other phenomena such as people’s breath turning to powder and falling straight to the ground and river ice booming like gun shots.

NATIONAL & WORLD HEADLINES

AUCTION The Strap Tank HarleyDavidson was recorded on vintagent.com as being sold for $935,000 after auction fees last month at the Mecum Auction in Las Vegas. The bike was named Strap Tank because its oil and fuel tanks are attached to the frame with nickel straps. The bike is believed to be one of only 12 such models in the world. A 1907 Strap Tank sold for $715,000 after fees but didn’t go for as much as the record-setting 1908 Strap Tank because it was never restored.

DISARRAY IN PAKISTAN Recent events in Pakistan have grabbed the world’s attention as security threats have threatened the stability of the country. Last month, a suicide bomber killed over 100 people in a Mosque in Peshawar the sixth largest city in Pakistan. The alleged suspects of the attack are known in common English as the Pakistani Taliban or TTP. The TTP has been engaging

in guerrilla warfare with the Pakistani government for over a decade with the desire to establish its own conservative religious government in the western part of the country, near the border with Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs was in München this week for the Munich security conference taking place there to help gather information about stabilizing the country.

that allowed in the JCPOA. The heavy water, water with a chemical composition that allows common uranium to become plutonium, was discovered in Iran in 2019 and US sanctions against Iran began immediately.

This state visit of President Sayyid Ebrahim Raisolsadati to China comes on the heels of the US military shootdown of several alleged Chinese “spy balloons” spotted in US airspace.

CHINA MEETS WITH IRAN Iranian President Sayyid Ebrahim Raisolsadati has criticized sanctions against his country as “weapons of mass destruction” during a rare state visit to China this week. The Iranian government is seeking a closer alliance with the government in Beijing as it is now Iran’s top trading partner. This heavy trading began after the US sanctioned against trade with Iran due to an heavy water accumulation well beyond

EAST MEDITERRANEAN EARTHQUAKE UPDATE A 42 year old woman has been recovered alive from rubble in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras after a week and a half of being trapped. The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated in a recent press release that “rescue efforts will continue despite the rapidly decreasing odds of survival”. A majority of Turkish religious traditions require victims’ bodies to be prepared, cleaned and

honored by relatives so efforts will not cease until as many loved ones can be found as possible. The number of people confirmed dead from the earthquake and subsequent intense aftershocks is around 40,000 but that number is expected to keep climbing.

The aftershocks alone registered at high 7’s on the Richter scale. Humanitarian efforts have been slow in reaching some of the war torn areas and areas with large refugee populations such as Syria, which has been fighting its civil war for over a decade. The Turkish Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy has asked all foreign visitors to return to their countries of origin if they are able but the freezing conditions have made fleeing the situation difficult. The International Rescue Committee is matching donations for aid to victims of the disaster. You can help out at the website below or by bringing it up with your friends at church on Sunday.

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Burgum Supports Lawsuit Filed In North Dakota By 24 States Challenging New Waters Of The U.S. Rule PRESS RELEASE BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum issued the following statement today regarding a lawsuit filed in North Dakota challenging the Biden administration’s new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

North Dakota is one of 23 states that joined West Virginia in bringing the

lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, asking a federal judge to declare the rule unlawful and vacate it.

The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers published the final WOTUS rule in the Federal Register on Jan. 18. It repeals the definition of WOTUS that the Trump administra-

tion adopted in 2020 in its Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The final rule takes effect 60 days after it is published, unless legal action delays it. North Dakota is a co-leader in the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota.

“This overreaching rule would wrongly classify nearly every stream, pond and wetland as a federal-

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ly managed water, creating confusion and driving up costs for consumers by unlawfully restricting the activities of farmers, ranchers, builders and landowners across the country, especially in North Dakota,” Burgum said. “We’re grateful for Attorney General Wrigley’s successful efforts to get this lawsuit filed in North Dakota, as our many wetlands and waterways make our state particularly susceptible to this misguided rule. In North Dakota, we continue to exercise our

PET of the

state’s authority to protect our own waters from pollution, and as a result we have some of the cleanest air and water in the nation.”

The 24 states involved in the lawsuit are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: When experiencing challenging times, consider how different things could be if you thought about them differently. Life can be chaotic and messy. However, it’s our responses causing most of our troubles. For example, sometimes, finding humor in a difficult situation will help you rise above it!

From Angela Mccarter, Divide County “Miss Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a 160 lbs german shepherd Alaskan malamute cross. After a day of being the therapy dog for her owner’s son and mother-in-law, she likes to look at the Fortuna Oracle, and naw on her favorite bone.”

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