CREATING A LASTING LEGACY WITH STEVE THE WILLISTON TATTOO ARTIST AND RED CLOUD
By Rachel VentureLocal tattoo artist honors leader of the Oglala Lakota tribe, Red Cloud with mural in his new shop.
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PI DAY MATH MEET
By
Alyssa Stromberg
Medicine Lake students spent Pi Day (March 14), participating in math competitions.
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Natalie Cain, a recent graduate of yoga teacher training program done through Transitions School of Yoga in Bismarck, has brought her passion for yoga to three towns in northwest North Dakota through her creation of Willow Tree Yoga. Her goal is to make yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or level of experience.
Yoga is known for its numerous health and wellness benefits, including stress reduction, improved flexibility and balance, and increased strength and endurance. By bringing yoga to these small communities, Natalie hopes to help individuals improve their overall health and well-being, while also fostering a sense of community and connection. Natalie offers a variety of classes, from the deeply
relaxing yoga nidra to the more physically demanding vinyasa flow. Her classes are held at the Tioga Community Center, Acro Star Gym in Ray, and various other places in Wildrose. She encourages individuals of all skill levels to attend, as there is a class suitable for everyone. She even offers a chair yoga class and a kids yoga class.
The name "Willow Tree Yoga" holds a special
meaning for Natalie, as it is inspired by her childhood memories of visiting her grandmother's house
THERE IS AN “I” IN
By Heather Thusen
Heather shares her journey of helping people through their mental health struggles by using massage.
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CURIOUS KENMARE
By Alexa Althoff-Garro
Williston and the surrounding area has gone through multiple oil booms that has allowed the area to grow in ways that may not have always been expected. One of the most unique areas of growth is the job mar-
ket, which still sees a need for workers in so many different industries. The NW North Dakota Semi-Annual Job Fair, which takes place on Thursday March 30th from 3 P.M. to 7 P.M. at The Well at Williston State
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Lots
A postcard tells a tale 100 years ago in this article that delves into the history of Kenmare and the surrounding area.
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Red Light and Tanning Package
Proven Benefits: Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Blood Circulation, Skin Tightening , Age Spots, and More!
To Have Your Community Event Added Email: info@vocella.com
FORTUNA
Every Tuesday- Range Night at Northwest Sportsman Club
March 24th & 25th- 3rd
Annual Fortuna Curling Club
Women’s Bonspiel. Contact Cassie Rauser to sign up your team: 701-641-8891
RAY
Friday March 24th - Ray High School Prom 7:00-11:00PM
Saturday March 25th - Elem
GBB at Trenton Jamboree
Monday March 27th - Senior
CPR Certification
Thursday March 30th - Science Olympiad Bottineau
CROSBY
Thursday March 23rd - Veteran and Community Resource Fair Crosby Community Center 4:00-7:00PM
Friday March 24th - Cards & Games at Crosby Senior Citizen Center 1:30-2:30PM
Saturday March 25th - Annual Country Club Smoker at the Crosby Moose Lodge 5:008:00PM
Wednesday March 29, 10:0010:45AM - Storytime at the Divide County Library
Friday March 3th - Cards & Games at Crosby Senior Citizen Center 1:30-2:30PM
LIGNITE
Saturday March 25thSpeech Meet at Bowbells
Friday March 31st - Speech at Alexander
WILLISTON
Friday, March 24 at 5:40 PM: Free Kids Craft Night during Burgers by James Memorial Art Center at Moose Lodge #239
Saturday, March 25 at 4:00PM: 2023 United Sportsmen of Williston Annual Banquet at Upper Missouri Fairground
Saturday, March 25: Teton Booster Club Casino Night &
with the willow tree by the driveway. The moment she saw the tree while driving there, she knew she was in the right place - a place that made her feel safe and loved.
She chose this name for her business as she hopes to create a similar safe and welcoming space for her students. Natalie has received an outpouring of support from the communities she teaches in and has worked hard to create a class where everyone is welcome. She is grateful for the encouragement of Haley Felber from the Tioga Community Center and Tanya Hill from Acro Star Gym in Ray, who have helped her to bring yoga to these communities.
Those interested in joining a class with Natalie can find her calendar of classes by searching for "Willow Tree Yoga" on Facebook and Instagram. She invites individuals to meet her at
the willow tree when they are ready to begin their yoga journey. Make sure to check out the amazing classes that
she offers and keep checking out The Oracle for your guide to local events.
Vehicle Raffle at The Well at Williston State College
Saturday, March 25 at 10AM: Luck of the Irish Craft & Vendor Show
TIOGA
Monday March 27, 6:307:30PM: Tioga Municipal Court at Tioga Commission Hall
Tioga Community Center
Schedule
Mondays: Yoga Flow 9:30am10:30am
Wrestling practice 3pm6:30pm
Tuesdays: Wrestling practice
3-6:30pm
Pickleball 6pm-8pm
Wednesdays: Youth Group 6pm-9pm
Thursdays: Wrestling practice 3pm-6:30pm
Slow Flow 6pm-7pm
Friday, March 10th- Community Blood Drive at Tioga Medical Center 10:00 am3:00pm
Bantams State: Fri - Sun; March 10th - 12th in Fargo
Spring Break March 15th17th
Nearly 30 states provide direct funding to community health centers, and there's a push to add North Dakota to the list. Supporters say the extra boost would help maintain care in medically underserved areas.
Community health centers are non-profit providers that address barriers to certain types of care - including primary, preventive, dental and behavioral. They see all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
Shelly Ten Napel - CEO of the Community Healthcare Association of the Da-
kotas - said they're asking for approval of a bill that for the first time, would lend state support to North Dakota facilities as they navigate current headwinds.
"It's a tough time across the health-care system," said Ten Napel. "There's been pretty significantly rising wages - just a lot of workforce shortages after the pandemic."
These centers rely on federal funding, insurance billing, and a sliding fee scale. The state Senate approved a bipartisan bill providing $1 million in the next budget after an initial request of $2 million.
College, is an excellent opportunity for job seekers and those looking to change careers to explore new job opportunities and connect with local businesses.
The job fair is open to the public, and everyone will receive a packet containing a list of the different employers that are looking for employees and a map of the booths to help plan their visit. Each employer will have information about the positions they are hiring for and details about the industry they serve. This is a great spot to learn more about the local job market and the types of jobs available in the area.
There are also high-top tables near the concessions where attendees can strategize their day and have networking conversations. In the past job fairs, this has been the spot for people to really figure out what their game plan is. This is also an excellent place to make professional connections and learn more about the different industries in the area through social interaction.
The job fair is a collaborative effort between Job Service North Dakota,
TrainND, Williston State College, and a few other organizations which means that attendees will have access to a wealth of resources and information about job opportunities and career development.
According to Paula Lankford from Job Service North Dakota, there are currently 1,308 jobs open in the Job Service North Dakota system and only 170 resumes filled out. This means that there are more jobs than people, and there are plenty of job opportunities available in the area. Williston has one person for every seven jobs open, which is a clear indication that there is a high demand for workers in the area. The job fair is an excellent opportunity for job seekers to explore different job opportunities and learn more about the types of jobs available in the area.
Lankford emphasizes, “The job fair is not just for people who are looking for a job, but is also a community event where attendees can learn more about different industries and make professional connections.” In addition, the job fair is an opportunity for attendees
to enhance their current career and explore new career paths.
NW North Dakota Semi-Annual Job Fair is a great opportunity to enhance your current career, explore new career paths, and learn more about dif-
Steve Hebrance is wellknown in Williston for his tattoo artwork. From traditional linework to lifelike depictions of relatives and famous celebrities, his artwork is recognized around the Bakken and in a few hushed voices in the upscale tattoo shops of Las Vegas.
His tattoo shop in the William G McAdoo building, built in 1914, offered just the antique charm that Steve and piercing expert Jasmine Johnston always enjoyed, so their move was an easy choice to make. In their new “Bob’s Burgers”
style building at 109 Main St, they have begun renovations to make it not only a tattoo and piercing shop, but an artist’s
ferent industries in the area. You know that there is always work in Williston. Check out your local NW North Dakota Semi-Annual Job Fair on March 30th to explore all that these industries have to offer.
Also remember to al-
haven.
Their big ideas include a space to teach art classes, display local artwork and live demonstrations, and make a space for friends and family of tattoo and piercing customers to hang out. Steve noticed, working in Las Vegas, that having company or visitors in tattoo shops was frowned upon. Not many people go to Las Vegas alone, so this seemed almost counterintuitive to Steve. He and Jasmine wished for a space where people could see the tattoo process but also see other features; maybe try their hand at a mini art lesson
ways keep an eye out for The Oracle for details about everything going on in the area, and The Community Shopper for the classifieds, including Help Wanted ads. Both publications come out each Thursday.
or even design a tattoo themselves. The building also sits on top of the historic tunnels that once connected all of Williston's downtown.
Not wanting to leave the wall space a blank void, Steve began a mural of the image of Red Cloud who was the leader of the Oglala Lakota tribe from 1868 to 1909 in full traditional headdress on the white wall. As the mural progresses, Jasmine and Steve encourage visitors to stop by and peek in the window or come down to their current shop and have a chat about what the future holds for these antique dreamers.
When it comes to blizzards in Westby, residents prefer that the wind come from the northwest.
On the evening of Friday March 10 through most of Saturday, 10 inches of snow coupled with wicked winds from the east made travel nearly impossible for Westby-ites. As for local ranchers, getting chores done required even more grit than usual.
Westby rancher Lexi Hansen said, “It was different; just from so much east wind. Few ranchers, or homes in general, have windbreak or shelter belts protecting them from the east, so the snow seemed to fill into the yards more than from a northwest wind.”
Post Season A LOOK AT THE SNOW REPORT FROM 103 YEARS AGO THE WESTBY NEWS MARCH 19, 1920
By Heidi Whitney
Medicine Lake School’s math teacher Anna Forizs had 8 students who went to the math meet: Rebecca Nelson, Wyatt Edwards, Ryah Petty, Avery Johnson, Lilli Barrick, Zoey Ator, Kash Ator, and Aleah Johnson.
The competition they attended was the annual MTCM Math Contest held in Sidney with students par-
ticipating from all over the state. (Sidney, Fairview, Glendive, Circle, Lambert, Culbertson, Froid, Medicine Lake, Plentywood, and others). All the Students took a round of exams for the competition. Medicine Lake students didn't win any of the team tests. However, they are still waiting for the results for the individual exams. The school will be notified
By Annie Waldow
MLS art students are spending the month of March (Women’s History Month) learning about female artists over the years. Starting with Lavinia Fontana, one of the most successful Italian women artists working in the late 16th and early 17th centuries when women were still an exception, (Lavinia Fontana and Lucia Bonasoni Garzoni: Talented 16th-Century Women) to contemporary and indigenous women that are making art.
Students are learning about women making visual arts, examining the times and styles of when these women created art, and creating work in the styles of the various artists. Some of the fascinating artists the students have researched
and discovered include Alma Thomas, (Alma Thomas’s Tiptoe Through the Tulips in Living Color ) Thomas sold her first painting at age 80.
Other artists include Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, from Montana, an enrolled Salish member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation (News — Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (jaunequicktoseesmith.org); Mary Cassatt, an American Impressionist Mary Cassatt Brings Girls and Women into the Museum and the only American Impressionist invited to show in France at the Impressionist’s exhibit. The students are doing amazing work here at MLS.
via email on how each contestant did. Overall, the students had a great time. How better can you celebrate PI Day than having a math meet!
Each participant took three tests. Here is a list of the tests the students took:
7th Grade StudentFoundation, Number Concepts, and Potluck
8th Grade StudentNumber Concepts, Potluck,
and Dimensions and Shapes
9th Grade Student - Dimensions and Shapes, Problem Solving, and Applied Math Test
10th Grade StudentProblem Solving, Applied Math Test, and Intermediate Math Test
• 11th Grade Student - Intermediate Math Test, Finite Math Test, and Advanced Math Test
• 12th Grade Student - Fi-
A cardinal sin of any writing is to never open an article with a question, but we will today.
What is integrity?
Can integrity be measured by weight, a ruler, or physically see it on your desk in front of you?
No.
Integrity is what makes you, you. It is not measured in the physical sense, but is measured in your actions.
Integrity, said author C.S. Lewis, “is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking.” Integrity is a foundational moral virtue, and the bedrock upon which good character is built. Acting with integrity means understanding, accepting, and choosing to live in accordance with one’s principles, which will include honesty, fairness, and decency. (ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu)
The right thing when no one is looking. Mmmm… Short and powerful in one sentence.
In this business model, as member servants, we strive to be the best we can to serve everyone.
But in all instances, and even other business models, there are always the ones who bend and twist to become non honorable.
We have a few, they are confronted and corralled and quickly become a mi-
nite Math Test, Senior Test, Scholarship Math Test
After the 3 tests the students took the team tests:
• 7th and 8th Grade Team
• 9th and 10th Grade Team
• 11th and 12th Grade Team
nority making no impact to the balance of the majority.
I am a firm believer in confronting quickly when these traits become known. Confront and corral. Put the sideboards up so they cannot maneuver to create havoc in a pure business model.
The coop business model is based on seven basic principles.
1. Voluntary and Open Membership The members are the most important part of a cooperative. Without dedicated and participating members, no coop can succeed. ...
2. Democratic Member Control Cooperatives are founded on the ideals of democracy. ...
3. Members’ Economic Participation ...
4. Autonomy and Independence ...
5. Education, Training and Information ...
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives ...
7. Concern for Community
Listed above, how pure than that be? This list pertains to all coops, and not only electric coops.
It is the job of the member owners to keep coops aligned within these simple statements.
They represent integrity.
This coop membership and employee group pride
Scott Westland, CEO/General Manager of
themselves in pure integrity, even when no one is looking. All coops in this region should be doing the same.
To do this, it becomes not about the person behind the desk, but should be all about the member owner.
It is the member owners who we serve.
Whether this is electric coops, telephone coops, grain coops, or credit unions, we serve the membership.
I challenge everyone to confront low integrity and help these folks see what it really looks like. Demand it from your cooperative, our membership does.
As member owners of any coop, it is your right, and job, to get your coop back on track and demand integrity.
We look for that feedback all the time
By Michelle Svangstu
“Team sports teach life lessons…commitment, responsibility, team work…” It’s a phrase you often hear when you live in a self-proclaimed “sports town.” While team sports can play an intricate part of developing a student’s character, organizations like Divide County’s FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) provide every student an opportunity to be part of a team while developing leadership skills and learning life skills along the way.
Mrs. Lisa Dohmstreich, a veteran 15 year FACS (Family and Consumer Science) instructor and FCCLA Advisor, says of the organization “This is a personalized leadership experience for each student. They can choose to do solo projects, compete with their projects at Districts and State, be part of the projects our Chapter is supporting – As their advisor, I will help
manage the funds and facilitate, but it really is up to them to decide how involved they want to be and take the initiative.”
The Divide County FCCLA chapter, open to students grades 9-12, currently has around 15 members that participate in a variety of community service projects, including collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald house and ‘Pink Night,’ notes Mrs. Dohmstreich. Our members work in conjunction with the volleyball team to do different activities to support breast cancer awareness. They’ve done everything from a ‘chuck a duck’ to a silent auction, and all the funds raised are sent to a local cancer center. We’ve also helped with the Noonan Lions club play in years past.”
Junior Sofia Dohmstreich expounds “We do a lot of different things throughout the year. We organize the Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day programs each year,
and work with our National Honor Society to organize a yearly blood drive. We are making birthday cake boxes for the food pantry and can also do projects for District competition. Last year a group of us made a “Chapter in Review” board to present at Districts, and scored high enough to advance to and compete at State competition. It was a really good experience, especially for developing our public speaking skills. That’s something we’ll have to do in the future, for school and probably for job presentations, so it’s important to start learning them now.”
In addition to presentation skills, says Sofia, each student in FCCLA has the opportunity to experience a leadership role. “We take turns leading on projects. Finding help, figuring out what we will serve and how much food we need to prepare, contacting speakers – it really makes you more aware of the work that goes into these events and [how to do it] for future events in your life.”
Students not only help with figuring out the logistics of serving a meal, notes Lisa, they also help with the preparation. “They do everything, from shopping for the ingredients to the actual preparation. I’m fortunate that I also teach FACS, so we can utilize those class times to actually prepare food and baked goods for events while learning life skills and get more students involved in the process.”
The FCCLA works with the local VFW and Lions clubs for funding, as well as support from outside organizations, like Vitalant, for the upcoming blood drive on March 21st. Sofia adds, “Myself and Kiyah [Wolt-
ers] from the National Honor Society worked together to set up the blood drive. We had to contact Vitalant to set up a date for them to come, and work with the school to make sure we had a place to hold the drive, and of course advertise so people can sign up.”
“The great thing about FCCLA,” notes Mrs. Dohmstreich, “is that there are so many areas students can choose from and engage in, from community service to competition. Child development, career
goals, service projects, food innovations (where students actually have to develop a plan for a nutritional product based on a variety of ingredients, meet nutritional requirements and ‘market’ their ‘product’)….truly, if a student has a passion for something, there is an opportunity for them to explore, compete and excel.”
“Providing opportunities for student-led leadership and community service is really my focus for FCCLA,” notes Lisa. “The opportunities they have to
serve others, to learn about caring for people outside of themselves is so important – it’s something they will encounter their entire life.” Students and parents interested in FCCLA can visit
with Mrs. Dohmstreich directly or call the high school at 701-965-6392. More information can also be found on the North Dakota FCCLA website: ndfccla.org
As adults, we set the tone. Have you ever been in a good mood, and then you're around a negative person for a few minutes, and suddenly your mood completely changes, or the other way around?! Consider a time when you've been having a bad day, and you find yourself around someone who is just fun to be around. Doesn't it positively impact you?
You impact the people around you, and you have the opportunity to impact people, especially children, in a positive way. Adults' responses determine children's reactions at home, work, and the community. Kids are especially sensitive to mood changes because they look to us for cues and guidance. Kids don't understand adult stressors and shouldn't take on adult moods.
I get asked a lot about why I became a massage therapist, and really, that’s a story for another day. I feel the more important question is, why am I inspired to remain a massage therapist?
Understand your impact. Others are not at fault for your mood; you are!
Recognize how you are feeling, accept it, and take accountability so you can take action to deal with it.
Make it your mission to find the silver lining, to be a change-maker, and refuse to let your struggles or the struggles of others ruin the day for you and those around you.
Jess and Melissa Crosby CounselingEver since I was a child, I loved stories. Hearing them, writing them, sharing them. Massage therapists can often be like holistic bartenders, of sorts. We hear all kinds of things. Each massage therapist is bound by a sense of confidentiality and offers a safe haven to clients to either rest and have the sanctity of silence, or be a safe container for clients to share the stories and experiences that have brought them to the space.
The thing is, there is a scope of practice for massage therapists, which means we have a unique place in a person’s wellness routine. We study anatomy and physiology, but we are not doctors. We study pathology in order to identify things that are contraindicated to practice massage, but we cannot prescribe or diagnose a condition. We cannot cure, or “fix” or perform some magical process for our clients. This may seem that our place in health and wellness is rather limited.
However, there is a vast power in the sense of touch, the sense of connection, and the sense of presence. For where touch is limited as a scope of practice for diagnosis and cure, it has unlimited potential to allow people to practice feeling connected and safe. My career was shaped pretty early on by the clients that came in with chronic pain. Many of them suffered from frequent migraines, cluster headaches or autoimmune disorders.
Then came those suf-
fering from PTSD, trauma, depression and anxiety. Because I’m not a doctor, I would research a bit about what was known about the conditions I was presented with to have a better understanding of potential contraindications or client needs and there often was not a ton of information about how to relate all of that to massage therapy. I found that my best “research” came from listening to my clients, hearing their stories.
So I did that. I listened to their stories.I listened to the things that brought them joy, the things that frustrated them, the things they wished they could do that their health issues impeded. As I progressed in my practice, things came not about finding a “zero” on the “pain scale” for clients, but how to reduce or manage the pain they were experiencing so they could add to the list of things they could do.
If it was to lessen the frequency or duration of headaches, we worked together to do that. If it was to increase the feeling of rest and promote better sleep, that was our goal.
If it was to decrease anxiety at feeling over-sensitive to touch, we worked together (and sometimes with a mental health practitioner) to engender the feeling of safety.
If it was to decrease the reactivity of an old injury, we added some gentle movement to reduce the fear of re-injury.
During that time, I also spent time enhancing my education with continuing education classes that addressed not only techniques, but also understanding of conditions. Instead of studying only anatomy and structures, I delved into the biopsychosocial model for pain. Because there are so
many sensory receptors in the skin, I started looking at the framework of DermoNeuroModulation, which approaches manual therapy with consideration to the nervous system, instead of breaking the body down into muscular parts.
I completed studies in migraine management, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disorders. I acquired courses in further understanding of PTSD, with focus on veterans and those experiencing sexual trauma. I took CEUs on sleep studies, studied research on the effects of massage on conditions such as anxiety and depression, learned about the mechanisms of pain, and how to approach an effective massage therapy routine with clients.
I learned how to expand my practice to engage adolescents, who are under a variety of their own unique pressures in school, athletics and peer groups. Also, as someone who has lost people I have cared about to suicide, I studied social connection as well, gained resources in who to call and how to help as a complement to the mental health industry.
One of my favorite quotes is that of Heraclitus, where he writes, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
It reminds me each time I read it how much we grow and change our shape, every single day. Some days are great, and we feel alive and inspired. Other days, we are barely scraping through the day mentally. But every day that we are fortunate to be above ground, we are shaped by the experiences of that new day.
These are the things that I started to really pay
(Story Continues on Page 9
attention to with my clients. The way they felt this week versus the last time they came in. I kept hearing over and over again that such-and-such chiropractor said how “messed up” their back was, or this doctor told them, “I’ll never be able to do XYZ ever again.” Or I would hear the sentiment, “Well, now that I’ve turned 35, it’s all downhill.”
Now, these things may
be true in a variety of cases but there is nothing in me that believes that our age determines how much we can do, or that an old injury should keep us in fear of being able to move at all.
I’ve seen 89 year old clients still boxing and able to bench press ME, and basically run circles around most people half their age. New studies on the neuroplasticity of the brain indi-
cate that we absolutely can continue to learn and grow throughout our lifetimes, even though there are notable milestones of brain development at particular life stages.
I may not be able to have the cure for many of the ailments out there, but I do firmly believe that even the temporary benefits of finding relief in massage can absolutely increase the quality of life for each of my clients. Humans are social creatures; we thrive where there is community and connection. We have a variety of places we gather, such as local hangouts, meetups, hiking & biking clubs, coffee shops, church socials, and the neighbor-
hood taproom. Our society was deeply impacted by the pandemic, with many of our work-life activities being analyzed in a new way, giving us an idea of what is important as a culture. Resoundingly, what many people missed was connection with each other. Having many clients, and also a partner, working in the oilfields, reminded me how many jobs can feel isolating and chaotic in their schedules, creating a disconnect both socially but also in mind/body.
During the pandemic, I had to step away from massage in order to focus on my family, but during that time I still kept learning. I studied a lot about massage therapy
techniques, teaching English as a second language, networking, even accounting and project management. I was not quite certain if there would be room for massage therapy post-pandemic, and I am incredibly delighted to come back to it in a new community of people here in North Dakota.
I remain inspired to be a massage therapist because of my clients, because I truly believe in being a helper in my community, a facilitator to something good in times of stress, and a feeler of something good when people share with me their joys. We are each an individual “I” but it takes each one of us to be a community “team.”
By Kevin Litten, Tioga Commission President
It has been many years since the City of Tioga has had its own economic development position. In early 2023 the City of Tioga hired Chelsy Weisz as the part-time Economic Devel-
opment Director. The City’s goal is for the Economic Development Director to work hand-in-hand with the Tioga Area Economic Development Corporation and the Tioga Chamber of Commerce to strengthen and grow Tioga’s economy through economic and community development. I hope this partnership between the City, and these entities will help equip new and established businesses with the tools they need to thrive in the City of Tioga over the long haul.
I have met with the new Tioga Area Economic Development Corporation board President, Wendy
Print a Classified in the Oracle for $7 up to 25 words. Place it in the Community Shopper, also, for $10 total.
Lenzen, and we have developed a plan for moving forward together. Moving forward, Tioga’s Economic Development Director, Chelsy Weisz, and I will work directly with Wendy, her board, and the Chamber to serve the businesses of Tioga. Chelsy will meet with local businesses to ensure their needs are met and to make them aware of the economic resources and incentives available to them in the City of Tioga. The City of Tioga and I are dedicated to ensuring the growth and development of our community and will work with everyone to accomplish that goal.
FOR SALE: Mayrath 10-inch x 65-foot grain auger with swing hopper. $6500 or Best offer. West Williston. 701-770-0295
The “Jolly Jumper” baby jumper device patented in 1957, was invented by Olivia Poole, who was born in Devils Lake, ND. She was inspired by the traditional practice of using a bouncing cradleboard to sooth babies that she observed while living on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. She later moved to Canada, married, and had 7 children who used her invention. Poole was one of the first Indigenous women in Canada to patent an invention.
It’s the spring of 1913 in Kenmare, North Dakota. A few cars are putting about, the clop of hooves is faint, and you stroll along the park where tiny saplings are budding and the view offers peeks of the Middle Des Lacs Lake.
Residents today may find the park, now called Danish Mill park, commonplace. However, it’s quite unique to towns in our tri-county area.
Upon examining plat maps from 1915, cities like Crosby, Fortuna, Ambrose, Tioga, and others are suspiciously devoid of parks located on the main thoroughfare. (See Figures 1 through 3 for comparison). Built along railroad lines, it was far more customary to see a long Main Street coming off the tracks with no town square.
As the town grew in population during the early 1900s, business space was at a premium and our cities packed as many structures on the main thoroughfare as they could. Diverging from the European tradition of town centers and the Victorian trend of picturesque parks, the tough life on the frontier caused towns to be developed in a more utilitarian fashion.
Historically, city parks are meant to simulate nature
in dense urban areas. In the pre-industrial ages, parks offered places more commonly frequented by the upper class during their leisure or social time.
Since the homesteaders in rural North Dakota were already quite close to nature, and mother nature tended to be a fickle beast at times, their limited resources were put into building structures to protect them (and their goods) from the elements.
But Kenmare has some interesting features that areas in Divide County lack. It was a popular place to settle due to its proximity to water and gentle rolling hills. A large cattle company from Texas chose ran cattle in the region, coal was found, lignite became popular, and the boom was on.
The first known squatter
in the present town of Kenmare was Augustine Rouse. Rouse apparently came here about 1891 and prospected for coal. By 1910 the population had already expanded to over 1,400 people, and that was just the official census record.
Kenmare could have taken the route Crosby did, and placed a Court House on a vacant lot in the middle of town, where the park now stands. Crosby became the County Seat in 1912, and by 1915 the maps show a designated parcel for the County Courthouse and “town square”. History had some-
thing else in store.
Circa 1907, the “town square” was just a rough dirt patch smack-dab in the middle of the burgeoning city.
(See Figure 4)
The City of Kenmare website states:
The story was told that when the town was first plotted that vacant block was intended for court house space, but when the famous Gooseneck section of Ward County came into being the decision was made to make a city park of it, not without several good political scraps, however. The Park Board began functioning in 1910.
A postcard dated 1913 showed the newly formed park well appointed with growing trees and an impressive gazebo with pathways crossing the entire square. It would have truly been a wonder to behold in the warmer months. (See Figure 5)
For those unfamiliar with Kenmare history, it should also be noted that the park is now home to one of only three Dutch Mills in the entire USA.
The Kenmare News reported in 2019:
The Kenmare mill, which was nearly destroyed by fire Jan. 6, was built here in North Dakota in 1902 by Christian Jensen, a Danish immigrant who came to the United States in 1890 and operated the mill 11 miles north of Kenmare for 13 years. Although the mill is no longer operational, most of the original structure remains intact. Parts of the blades were rebuilt after the mill was moved into Kenmare in 1958.
If the reader would imagine themselves in the Kenmare park in 1913, what would you have seen or felt on a warm summer day? It’s a wonder the residents completed such a beautifying feature so quickly and with such aptitude that it in some ways resembles a Victorian park. Did young love happen here? Most certainly. Did people sit and ponder their life on the prairie? Absolutely.
Perhaps this summer you’ll take a stroll through the trees and think back to 100 years ago when those green towers were tiny saplings.
The North Dakota Adult & Teen Challenge “Freedom Choir” is coming to Crosby Assembly of God. They’ll be singing songs about God’s love and sharing testimonies of how God has changed their lives. The service will be held at the church, 401 S. Main Street, on Sunday, March 26, at 11:00 AM. There will be a fellowship dinner afterward. Everyone is welcome.
North Dakota Adult and Teen Challenge is a faithbased residential recovery program for people battling with drug and alcohol problems. Adults, ages 18 and over, from every ethnic, socio-economic, and religious background are welcomed with open arms as they embark on their journey to a new life. Statistics derived from 200 centers across the nation indicate that 90% of program graduates are maintaining stable employment and 100% report obtaining an improvement in their employment situations. More importantly, 70% of Teen Challenge graduates across the USA reported no relapses of alcohol or drug abuse and have maintained total sobriety.
The North Dakota Adult
& Teen Challenge, originally “Mon-Dak Regional Teen Challenge”, began in Williston in March of 2003. The rapid growth of the program and the need for its services prompted a move to a more central location and in 2005 a former addiction center was secured for use and the program was moved to Mandan, ND, providing services to men only. In 2006 the Women’s center was established. Both men and women’s programs continue to operate.
More than 300 families across the region are experiencing restored relationships as a result of this program. Mothers and fathers have been reunited with their children. Parents have regained their sons and
daughters and communities have gained responsible citizens able and willing to contribute to the good of their cities.
Pastor Dave Sjostrom, Executive Director, and his wife Connie, Choir Director, will accompany “Freedom Choir” members as they come to Crosby. In addition, Pastor Dennis Huenefeld, a former pastor of Crosby Assembly of God, will be with them. He is currently serving as a Men’s Counselor for the program in Mandan. The public is invited to this special service and welcome to stay for the fellowship dinner that follows. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call the Church Office at (701) 965-6535.
– Gov. Doug Burgum is encouraging school, community and church bands, orchestras and choirs across North Dakota to apply to serve as the Governor’s Official State Band/Orchestra Program and Choral Program for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Governor and First Lady will select the Governor’s Band/Orchestra Program and Governor’s Choral Program from the applications received based on musical talent, achievement and community involvement. The band/orchestra and chorus may be invited by the governor to perform at official state
functions held throughout the year, including the State of the State Address.
Interested groups should submit an application, references and a musical recording to the Office of the Governor by 5 p.m. Monday, April 17. The Governor’s Band/Orchestra Program and Governor’s Choral Program will be announced in late April and may be invited to perform at the Capitol in May 2023 and at events throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the application and provide materials at https:// www.governor.nd.gov/ governors-chorus-and-bandorchestra-program-application.
In Loving Memory of Bobert Frederick Moltzan. We didn’t know we were adopting a senior dog, but we are so glad to have been the ones to have his love in his final years. He was a true companion to our whole family, and the ‘goodest boy’ we could hope for.
The Moltzan Family
Chinese President Xi Jingping is beginning a state visit to Moscow on Monday. It’s an alleged show of support to Russian President Valdimir Putin as his war in Ukraine has continued to not achieve its changing goals. The Government in Beijing has stipulated this is a diplomatic mission carrying peace plans for the war in Ukraine but has not officially condemned the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine. The EU and NATO had hoped that Russia’s biggest ally China would push Putin to find a path to peace and this week’s state visit Charles Michael, the European Council President spoke of the matter this week “We expect China to fully use its influence on Russia to bring Russia to respect international law.” In February, the government in Beijing put out a 12 point peace plan to end the violent conflict, this plan has been widely condemned by the west for not making specific ultimatums but any push towards peace seems to most citizens of Ukraine to be a good thing.
Switzerland’s Largest Bank UBS has made a deal to take over its biggest rival Credit Suisse for over $2 billion. The deal comes on the heels of the recent downfall of Silicon Valley Bank and large rumors of an upcoming banking crisis that has the ability to destabilize the entire banking system. Banking jobs are also projected to be on the list of eliminated jobs with the rise of chat GPT.
UBS and Credit Suisse both trade actively on Wall Street and the buyout has been fast tracked by the Swiss government and UBS will receive emergency liquidity assistance from the state. The urgency of the buyout and transitions is unique as Credit Suisse was worth over $8 billion at market close on Friday, March 17th, 2023. This deal also stipulated that no shareholders have a vote on the buyout, only the board members of the two banks are voting on the buyout going through. The Swiss National Government Bank has made available a credit line of $100 million
to UBS to help the credit lines of account holders and business owners remain unchanged.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Ecuador and Peru on Saturday which has killed 15 people and injured 350 more. Several cities in the andean coastal highlands are reporting crumble buildings and rubble blocking roadways. Most of the destroyed buildings were old and not up to code due to the large impoverished population. Eulogio Zambrano, a local of Puerto Bolivar said of the natural disaster “My neighbors house fell and he lost 5 family members. We are poor, humble people who build our houses with our sweat. We have it here thanks to god and look what has befallen us. Several smaller aftershocks followed but the United States Geological Survey has stated there are no risks of tsunamis at this time. Emergency services are finding people alive under rubble and all national guard services from both nations have been called in for immediate aid.
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