The Oracle - July 20, 2023

TIOGA TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION

Ray garden provides for food pantry

By Erica Kingston

When the community center in Tioga first opened in 2019, it didn’t take long to realize how quickly the

town would outgrow its space. But, that problem is about to be solved.

(Continued on Page 8)

By Michelle Svangstu

It doesn’t take long for one to look around and see that Crosby and the surrounding area is no metro. It’s not full of shopping malls, fancy restaurants, fashion boutiques or downtown nightclubs. The most traffic you’ll see in town is during the Threshing Bee or a Friday night football game, and there are certain-

Continues on Page 6

IN

ND

FOOD

DESERT, TOWN GETS FUNDS FOR ‘SELF-SERVICE’ GROCERY STORE

By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service

In recent years, North Dakota’s smaller towns have seen at least 15% of their grocery stores disappear. That’s prompted a flurry of action, including a local solution tied to an annual grant program.

Page 2

DANCING WAVES OF LIGHT

By Alyssa Stromberg

We’re no stranger to the Northern Lights in this area, but the recent Aurora Borealis were a spectacular sight ot behold..

Page 5

PRAIRIE FARE: EXPLORING NATURE WHILE MOWING CAN PROMOTE HEALTH

By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist Mowing

and other yardwork count as physical activity

Page 10

Story by Erica Kingston on Page 2.

LOCAL EVENTS SPONSORED BY

To

FORTUNA

Every Tuesday- Range Night at Northwest Sportsman Club

RAY

July 7th - July 25th - Gym Floor Finishing at Ray Public School

CROSBY

Friday July 21st - Planning & Zoning Commission 9:00AM - 11:00AM

Monday July 24th - Burger Night 5:307:30pm at Crosby Moose Lodge

Wednesdays: Storytime at the Divide County Library 10:00am - 10:45am

Fridays:

Cards & Games at Divide County

Senior Citizens Center 1:30-2:30pm

Movie at Dakota Theater 7:30pm

Saturdays:

Movie at Dakota Theater 7:30pm

Sundays:

Movie at Dakota Theater 7:30pm

WILLISTON

Thursday July 20th - Week 4 Summer

Nights On Main 2023 featuring Uptown 5-9p Downtown Williston

Friday July 21st - July Out Loud @ The James 6p on the front lawn of the The James Memorial Art Center

Thursday July 27th - Week 5 Summer

Nights On Main 2023 featuring Rock Creek Revival 5-9p downtown Williston

Friday July 28th - Upper Missouri Valley Relay for Life 4-11:30p at Raymond Family Community Center

TIOGA

Thursday July 20th - Tioga Historical

Society Meeting 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM at the Tioga Museum

Thursday July 20th - Airport Authority

Meeting 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM at 2237

Aviator Way Tioga, ND 58852

Monday July 24th - Tioga Municipal Court 6:30pm 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM at

Tioga Commission Hall

Monday July 24th - NO MORNING

FLOW YOGA

Tuesday July 25th - Marketing Class:

HOW TO

ENDAR THAT WORKS 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM at City Hall- use Welo St Door Tioga Community Center Schedule

Mondays: Yoga Flow 9:30am-10:30am

Learn English Class 10:00am-11:00am Tuesdays: Pickleball 5:00pm-8:00pm Wednesdays: Storytime 10:30am11:00am

Thursdays: Slow Flow 6:00pm-7:00pm

In ND Food Desert, Town Gets Funds for ‘Self-Service’ Grocery Store

By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service

In recent years, North Dakota's smaller towns have seen at least 15% of their grocery stores disappear. That's prompted a flurry of action, including a local solution tied to an annual grant program.

Munich is a city of less than two hundred people in northeastern North Dakota.

The area's development arm has been awarded a grant through AARP's Community Challenge program, because the community's lone grocery store - which is nonprofit - struggles to keep regular hours amid operational challenges.

Steve Zimmer, a member of the Munich Area Development Corporation board, said the funds will come in handy as they look to avoid seeing their one option suffer the fate of many others.

"There's two options," said Zimmer. "It was to close the store or to try to do something differentand that's the route that we chose, using technology that we have available to

us."

Zimmer said they're putting together a plan where local residents will be given electronic key access to shop whenever they want, using a self-checkout sys-

tem. He said that cuts down on staffing needs and could prompt customers to come more often.

If it works, organizers say the extra revenue would allow them to expand their

inventory of healthy products, and possibly start a delivery service to nearby towns.

Janelle Moos, the advocacy director for AARP North Dakota, said it's encouraging to see solutions like these take shape under the grant program.

"This was our highest-ever round of applicants," said Moos. "We had over 56 applications and obviously, we can't fund all of those. But what we know is that communities are really looking for funding to help meet the needs in their communities."

While these are intended to be quick turnaround projects, Moos said the grants can often be a springboard to long-term action.

This year, AARP awarded six Community Challenge grants to North Dakota organizations, totaling more than $67,000.

Now in its seventh year, AARP's Community Challenge grant program helps local groups address a range of issues, including food insecurity. A small North Dakota town is using the funds to keep its lone grocery store from closing by switching to a "self-service" operation. (Adobe Stock)

Ray garden provides for food pantry

By Erica Kingston

The plot on the corner of Score Street and Third Avenue in Ray, N.D. looks like a typical garden. The potato plant’s purple buds are blooming and the pumpkin vines are rapidly expanding. But this particular garden is fulfilling a special need in its community.

Volunteers have taken an empty lot and made it into a flourishing community garden that provides fresh produce for Ray’s food pantry.

“We get a lot of stuff (at the food pantry), but not a lot of fresh stuff comes in all the time,” said Eric Viall, founder of the project. “So I thought, last summer, that we could supplement that by trying to get a garden going here.”

Volunteers came together to till and ready the space, plants and seeds were donated by Viall and other community members and the group planted the garden together. While

the food pantry is open on the first and third Tuesday of each month, the garden group meets the Monday before to harvest and gather what is available to be ready the following day at distribution. The pantry, formally named Ray Community Nutrition and Resource Center, is conveniently located just

down the street from the garden in the Ray Mall.

Ray Lutheran church is across the street and owns the land that the garden sits on and the city of Ray pays for the water used. Many of the core volunteers that faithfully tend to the garden are church members, but anyone is welcome to lend a hand.

“We are always looking for more people, if they want to show up on Mondays to help pull some weeds,” Viall said. “If anybody wants to join, come on out. It’s worked pretty well so far … Getting a little produce to them and getting produce to the community.”

Viall is originally from Ray. He and his wife, Janessa, are school teachers and together have two daughters. While attending college in Fargo, Viall was a part of a group through his church that had similar community gardens. He was advised on how to set up and organize the Ray project by Jack Wood, the organizer of the Fargo gardens.

Ray food pantry is happy to receive produce from the project, as fresh items do not come in for distribution too often.

“We just have a great collaboration with them,” said Brenna Hudson, director of the Ray food pantry.

“They are able to funnel the food our way if there is extra and they are able to help our participants as well.”

Most of the volunteers at the garden also help with the pantry, including Viall, who sits on the board. The food pantry serves Ray and the surrounding areas. Between April of 2022 and March of 2023, they were able to provide food for 162 households, 163 adults, 150 children and 124 seniors by distributing 11,098 pounds of food. On average, they serve 10-12 families a month.

“We fed a lot of people last year from this little bit,” Viall said. “I really like the relationship here. You can grow things and get it out to people who need it.”

Excess produce is given to volunteers or set out in the church for anyone to take.

“If people are walking by, we will offer them stuff as well,” Viall said. “It’s pretty open.”

For information about the Ray food pantry, contact the Ray Family Medical Center at 701-586-2796. To help with the garden, get in touch with Eric Viall at 701-446-8194 or email Ray Lutheran church at upc@ nccray.com with the subject “garden.”

• Smile at somebody and say hello.

• Pay somebody a sincere compliment.

• Call a friend or family member to say hello and ask how they’re doing.

• Drop off a baked good for a neighbor.

• Tape some quarters to a parking meter.

• Open the door or hold the elevator for somebody behind you.

• Drop a greeting card or small gift in the mail to brighten someone’s day.

• Share a nice comment or compliment on somebody’s social media post.

Similar to the ripples that result from a pebble being dropped into water, studies show that our words and actions also have a “ripple effect” that can be either positive or negative. So why not create a ripple effect of kindness, helpfulness and happiness? Here are some simple ways to get started today and contribute to a culture of kindness:

• Make space for somebody trying to merge in front of you on the road with a wave and a smile.

Research shows that when we give to others, we also contribute to our own happiness, health and well-being. Scientists have identified something known as the “helper’s hight” to describe the positive emotions that follow acts of helpfulness toward others. Research also associates improved health and longevity with this psychological state, according to he Nation Library of Medicine.

Eric Viall stands next to the Ray community garden that provides for the local food pantry. Photo credit: Erica Kingston

THE WESTBY WATCH

By Heidi Whitney

The Westby Watch will be on summer vacation for the next two editions. Please continue to forward your latest news leads to Heidi at 406-672-5696. The Westby Watch will return on August 2!

A note to readers from Heidi Whitney

Western Native Voice Launches Road Tour to Educate Constituents

By Mark Moran, Big Sky Connection

Indigenous advocates kick off educational listening sessions in rural Montana this month to educate Native Americans about actions the state legislature took this session soon to affect them.

The group Western Native Voice holds culturally tailored community meetings to ensure Montana's Native Americans are engaged in and educated about policy decisions affecting their lives. The group is embarking on a series of listening and teaching sessions to help Native populations around Montana understand

issues ranging from health care to voting rights.

Adam Beaves-Fisher, deputy director of government and political relations for the group, said equal access to polls, mail-in ballots and broadband Internet are especially crucial in rural areas, and disproportionately affect Montana's Indigenous population.

"These are real challenges that when you are faced with raising a family, going to work," Beaves-Fisher observed. "When you have these extra barriers that rural Montanans are facing, that creates a real disincentive to vote and engage in the process."

Western Native Voice is starting its legislative tour in Fort Peck July 27 and will continue around the state into September with stops on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in north-central Montana.

Beaves-Fisher also pointed out Montana's Native American population is chronically undercounted in the U.S. Census, which leaves the state's rural Indigenous people under funded and underrepresented. He added the latest figures are no exception.

"By our estimate, on a conservative basis, Montana tribes are missing out on

over $745 million annually because of that undercount," Beaves-Fisher explained. "I think that it's really important that all Montanans and Native Montanans really prepare for the 2030 Census and that counts all Montanans."

Beaves-Fisher added a lack of communication about the existence of the Census and its importance are the critical reasons for the lack of Indigenous representation, especially in hard to reach rural areas.

Dancing Waves of Light

By Alyssa Stromberg

Stepping out my front door and looking to the north I can see the northern lights, or aurora borealis. With minimal obstructions and interfering light, the show is mesmerizing. I was under the impression the northern lights were something everyone experienced.

What are the northern lights? According to Space. com the lights are beautiful dancing waves of light. To get to the beautiful dancing waves of light, energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds up to 45 million mph. The northern lights' counterparts in the Southern Hemisphere are

known as southern lights. Visually they are physically the same, just differing in their location.

Many former North American beliefs about the northern lights centered on them being souls of the dead. Some Native American stories claim the lights were spirits leading the recently departed away. Other indigenous communities believed they could communicate with the dead when the lights were active. Beliefs about the aurora varied greatly among communities. The Fox Indians of Wisconsin believed the lights were the restless spirits of their dead enemies and an omen of war to come,

whereas the Menominee Indians believed they were torches used by friendly northern giants to aid fishing at night. If you have time and want to go down a mythical rabbit hole, investigate the many myths revolving around the aurora borealis.

Until recently I never imagined there would be people who have never experienced the breathtaking light show of the northern lights. When all the scientific and natural pieces come together, eastern Montana and its wide open spaces and big sky views is a phenomenal place to watch the northern lights.

Photos by Alyssa Stromberg

Hopie’s Honker Pit

Kindness, Caring and Community Spirit Are Essential to Small-Town Survival

ly no freeways lit up day and night with the beaming glare of headlights moving bumper to bumper to their next destination.

What you will find, however, is main streets full of generous business owners, who selflessly donate thousands of dollars to support the local youth programs and events that bring the community together. You’ll find hundreds of beautiful, generous everyday people who spend hours of unpaid time sprucing up the fair and Threshing Bee grounds, planting flowers, and mowing lawns. You’ll find some of them taking tickets at a gate, organizing the parade, planning a benefit for their sick neighbor, helping at the food pantry, organizing a PTA to support positive parent relationships with the local school, volunteering to teach kids’ church or leading the church

youth group. Still you’ll find others who stepped up to coach the local little league team, teach little ones to learn to skate, run an elementary basketball skills camp, chaperone the after-prom party, facilitate a community New Year’s Eve skating party, judge an FFA contest or lead a local 4-H group. You’ll even find some hometown heroes

who rushed onto a football field last fall and performed lifesaving measures on one of our own – and those same hometown heroes would, and continue to, do it over and over again when someone in our community is in distress.

The past few months, you have been reading story after story about local businesses, students, teachers and organizations that are doing good in this community, and as we begin to close in on another summer gone and a school year right

around the corner, it seems fitting to spend a little time reflecting on the good we see in our communities.

Almost every person I’ve interviewed over the past few months makes a point of acknowledging how much the community support and the support of volunteers means to them or their organization. Businesses can’t stay open if local people don’t buy from them, and events like the fair and Threshing Bee don’t happen without the sponsorship of those same businesses, and the countless hours spent by volunteers planning, organizing, preparing and cleaning up. Most of the positions people hold on our local boards are either unpaid or have such a small stipend that it nowhere near covers the cost of the time and efforts they put in to making sure these events go on, parks stay upto-date, the swimming pool and splash-pad can operate safely, roads stay in good condition and the local school district is operating

both efficiently and effectively, setting its students up for future success.

It’s easy to sit back, criticize and complain about a business or organization instead of being part of the solution. It’s easy to critique and judge others, rather than extend grace or a helping hand when someone makes a mistake or finds themselves in a tough situation. Coming from a small farming town myself, I know both the joys and perils of small-town living, where everyone knowing your business can be both good and hurtful. But it’s evident, by the good happening in our communities, that kindness, caring and the sense of community spirit is what ultimately drives us here, in the far northwest corner of North Dakota. We may not get much attention from the rest of the country, or even the state, but here, we take care of our own. We often still operate on a nod and handshake, something that doesn’t happen anymore in most areas of the world. We stop our own harvest to help a fellow farmer get theirs done when they’ve fallen ill. We know not just the names of the people on our local boards, but we know their faces and their families. Our kids play with their kids on the playground, we work sideby-side with them Monday thru Friday and sit next to them in church on Sunday.

As our communities gear up for a new school year and pray for a bountiful harvest, let’s all take some time to reflect on how good we have it here – the variety of goods we can shop for on main street, the safety of being able to allow our children to ride their bikes to the park, the multi-

Eileen Howard volunteered to watch the Roseville Schoolhouse during the 2023 Threshing Bee in Crosby, ND.

Tierany Johnson assists a skater during the 2023 learn-to-skate program.

ple kid and budget-friendly activities we can experience, having neighbors who

care enough to notice when we’re going through a rough patch. This is not a perfect

skill and instill good values in our kids, take a position on a board that might require us to make some difficult decisions, provide a meal for someone in need –the possibilities are endless, but the survival of smalltown America depends on each one of us and the community spirit that binds us together.

Kendall, Ciara, and Jon Sorum drive their team pulling an old horsedrawn fire engine. At least three generations of Sorum’s have volunteered countless hours making the Threshing Bee happen each year.

Lloyd Nygaard and several members of his family bring a horse drawn wagon down the parade route. Nygaard has spent many hours getting the grounds ready for the Threshing Bee.

No act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple that over time can turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.

- Kevn Heath, CEO of More4Kids

TIOGA TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMUNITY

At their meeting on Monday, the Tioga City Commission voted to approve the expansion proposal of the Tioga community center by obtaining a $10 million loan and forming a board to help with the finishing of the buildout.

“We are still in need of more space, that has never changed,” Haley Felber, community center director, explained to commissioners. “We are growing so much that it limits what we can do. We are trying to improve our functionality.”

At the Tioga City Commission meeting Felber and Tioga librarian Sandy Clark (the library is inside the community center) spoke to the commission on how a lack of space has impacted how they serve the community. The community center has had to turn events down due to lack of space and the noise issue throughout the building. The library cannot add material without taking others out.

“We will not continue to grow, and we will remain stagnant, until we get more space,” Clark said on Monday. “I feel that the whole expansion is our best choice right now. What a tremendous thing to give to our community.”

The expansion project had been brought to the city commission last year but commissioners felt the need to wait and revisit the plan and see if it was the actual need of the community. They slowed the process to look at at a later date, but put aside $6 million of the oil and gas tax money that the city receives for the project’s future.

At that time, the interest rate for the loan was 3.53%, which was higher than what was hoped for. The proposed project was also to be

done in phases and cost a total of $22 million.

The current proposal has the project cost estimated at $16 million and to be done in one phase. There has also been some reconfiguration to the building layout. In April of this year, House Bill 1292 went into place that gives North Dakota city infrastructure projects a 2% interest rate – this includes community centers.

that while we are looking at a need, this House Bill just actually came into play by legislation. It just happened to be something that would be a good component as to why we should do it now.”

is hoping they chose a 10 year payoff.

Since 2020, the foot traffic has continued to grow. To better grasp this, I have put together this graph to show the fluctuation from season-to-season through the last year. For anyone that frequents the building, it's no secret that February and March are the busiest months.

at the community center since 2020, has been working on the idea of this expansion for quite some time and is passionate about its need.

“The need for the community center to expand is really there, that is the need,” said Abby Salinas, City of Tioga Administrator/ Auditor. “The good thing is

With part of the cost already set aside, a $10 million loan, with a 2% interest rate, will be taken out to complete the project. This loan will be paid for by the city’s oil and gas tax money and personal taxes will not be affected, Salinas assured.

Please note that these numbers reflect activity during regular business hours only. They do not include community events, weddings or company meetings, which would substantially increase these numbers.

“We have always had the ability for people to give input,” Felber said. “Come in and talk, give suggestions. This has been an ongoing process, this is not new. We need it, so why not just get the ball rolling?”

The Tioga City Commission will meet to discuss if the loan will be paid over 10 or 15 years, but Salinas

There has been some pushback from community members who feel that there has not been enough open discussion and input about this project and that there should be more community involvement in the design concept. On Monday, Bob Anderson asked the commission to pay off the current community center loan, before moving forward with taking out another. The city had taken out a $2.5 million loan for the original building.

Felber, who has worked

It's is impossible for us to always keep track of how many people are coming through the doors. I know we've missed people before because there's usually only one person on shift at a time, and we are busy with other tasks. we aren't just watching the cameras or sitting at the front doors counting heads. So if we did have the time to keep track of every single person, I would have to estimate between 4-6 thousand people coming into the building during those busy months. The halloween party alone had 1,250 people, and that was just one night! During the months of Oct + Nov, almost every single weekend is booked with community events.

Since July of 2022, the community center has seen close to 16,000 people come in during regular business hours. This does not include special events of weddings, community events and meetings. Space is continually being scheduled for the 60+ events they host such as family reunions, vendor shows, fitness classes, Bible studies, sporting events and many others. The community center provides space for not only Tioga, but the surrounding towns as well.

The plans for the addition to the current community center will include a gym with 1000 bleacher seats, more space for the library, a garage, multifunctional

COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION

today because we'd like to talk about moving forward with a full

rooms, a new golf simulator room, concession area, and storage. The expansion will be approximately 29,880

square feet. There will also be an outside warming house with bathrooms for winter skating.

The community has the opportunity to voice their input by being a part of the board for this project by

submitting a letter of interest to the city by August 4. Information on this will run in the Tioga newspaper for

the next two weeks or contact the City of Tioga.

Prairie Fare: Exploring nature while mowing can promote health Mowing and other yardwork count as physical activity.

“You’re doing a good job,” my husband commented.

I needed the positive reinforcement.

I was mowing the lawn with a push mower, which typically is on my husband’s task list. I usually weed and

tend the flowers and vegetables.

Unfortunately, he has an injured shoulder. He is sidelined from physical labor for several months. Lucky me.

Despite his compliment, I knew my mowing was not

living up to my husband’s standards of perfect diagonal cuts. I was mowing like a mouse running around a maze, going round and round the yard. I was trying to avoid leaving fringes of grass, anyway.

As I pushed the battery-operated mower, people walking nearby commented on how quiet it was. I guess I can mow at night and not disturb anyone. I’d need a hat with lights, though.

On the positive side, mowing and other yardwork count as physical activity and can give your heart a workout.

When using a push mower with an engine, a 125-pound person will burn about 270 calories an hour.

A 185-pound person will burn about 400 calories an hour.

If those same people used an “old-fashioned” hand mower without an engine, the lighter-weight person will burn about 400 calories an hour, while the heavier person will burn about 500 calories an hour.

I was getting a free workout while beautifying our yard.

I began observing nature a bit. As an undergraduate, I helped the weed science graduate students with their projects.

Weeds sometimes are called “misplaced plants” by those in plant sciences. Many weeds actually are edible. Foraging has become popular, and some people

call weeds “wild greens” and use them in salads or as sauteed side items with meals or on sandwiches.

Dandelion greens, lambs quarters and amaranth are among the many edible weeds. However, you want to be sure you know what you are eating before consuming wild greens. Before you eat plants, use a reliable source to identify them.

Also, be sure that the weeds have not been sprayed with herbicides.

I noted purslane near the sidewalk. This weed has thick, succulent stems that are reddish in color, and the weed grows to form large mats. Purslane is native to North Africa and the Middle East but found its way to North America long ago. Although we think of purslane as a weed, it is edible and its flavor varies based on growing conditions. Mustard greens and wood sorrel are other weeds that might be growing

Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist

alongside your vegetable crops.

As I pushed the mower around trees, I came upon a patch of mushrooms growing on the woody mulch. I mowed them down.

I am definitely not a mushroom expert, or “mycologist.” Mycologists have expertise in the study of various fungi.

I would be more confident in tasting weeds instead of mushrooms. Mushrooms can be delicious, but they also can be dangerous if poisonous or hallucinogenic mushrooms are consumed.

Although I can identify the spongy black-topped morels from a crowd of mushrooms, I am content buying mushrooms at the grocery store. Work with an expert mycologist if you decide to hunt for mushrooms.

I paused to replace the rechargeable battery in the mower to finish one section of the yard. I felt a sense of accomplishment as I sur-

veyed our natural green shag carpet. I drank a lot of ice water after I parked the mower.

When you have completed an outdoor activity, you might be more inclined to fuel your body with a healthful snack such as these homemade snack bars.

Cranberry Granola Bars

• ½ cup honey

• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar, packed

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil (soybean oil)

• 1½ cups oatmeal oats, quick (uncooked)

• 1¼ cups toasted rice cereal

• 1¼ cups dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine honey, brown sugar and oil in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until well mixed. Mix oats, rice cereal and cranberries.

Add honey mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Pat firmly into an 8-by-8inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes; press firmly into the bottom of the pan once more. Bake for five more minutes. Cool completely. Refrigerate at least one hour for easier cutting. For easy serving, wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Makes 16 servings. Each serving has 120 calories, 2 grams (g) fat, 1 g protein, 25 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber and 15 milligrams sodium.

(Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension food and nutrition specialist and professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. Follow her on Twitter @jgardenrobinson)

NDSU Agriculture Communication – July 13, 2023

Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, 701-231-7187, julie. garden-robinson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Elizabeth Cronin, 701-231-7881, elizabeth. cronin@ndsu.edu

These cranberry granola snack bars provide whole grains and energy. (NDSU photo)

619 2nd St W Ste A Williston, ND

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NATIONAL & WORLD HEADLINES

COVID AMONG DEER

After a couple years of research, the US Department of Agriculture has finally released its finding about Covid spreading to white-tailed deer in the US. At least 109 times the deer have received coronavirus from humans which has led to them spreading the virus among their population. Now, about a third of the deer tested showed signs of infection. As of October 2022, no white-tail deer had died from Covid. The deer that tested positive had died from hunting or being struck by traffic. At the time, deer had a 20% coronavirus positivity rate.

Parakeets

A YEAR OF HELP

It has officially been a year since the Biden-Harris administration launched 988 for accessible and confidential help for mental health. 988 is a national network that you can call or text to be connected with a crisis center for people who need quick mental health care. The new crisis line has fielded around 5 million calls, texts, and chats in its first year which federal officials say is a

THOUGHT OF THE

According to wikipedia, “just society” describes what a society ‘ought’ to be - generally relating to fairness, equality, and liberty. Our quote this week impresses the fact that these things do not happen by accident. It must be very intentional and purposely done. We must actively work for justice and equality not just for ourselves, but for others. Only when we care as much about the well-being of others as much as ourselves will we begin to see a truly harmonious society.

35% increase compared to the old ten-digit hotline.

GIANT SNAKE CAPTURED

The biggest Burmese python ever recorded in the Big Cypress National Preserve was captured last week by an Ohio State University student, Jake Waleri, and an experienced snake hunter. The snake set a record for the state weighing in at 125 pounds and measuring almost 19 feet long.

KEY BRIDGE FROM RUSSIA

MAINLAND TO CRIMEA PENINSULA BOMBED

Early Monday, Russia reported two bombs hitting the Kerch Bridge which connects the Russian mainland to the annexed peninsula, Crimea. This is the second bombing of the bridge which is a key supply line for Russian forces operating in southern Ukraine. Russian officials called it a “terrorist attack”, claiming it was staged by Ukraine special forces. Ukraine has not taken responsibility for the attack. However, with a grain export deal that expired on Monday, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian

military’s Southern Command has said that the bombing could be a staged provocation by Russia to undermine the deal.

IRAN’S MORALITY POLICE TO RETURN

Iranian authorities announced a new campaign to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf and morality police returned to the streets on Sunday. This announcement comes 10 months after the death of 22-year-old Masha Amini who died in the morality police’s custody which sparked nationwide protests and calls for the overthrow of the theocracy. After a heavy crackdown earlier this year, over 500 protesters were killed and 20,000 more detained leading to the protesting largely dying down. Gen. Saeed Montazerolmahdi, a police spokesman, announced on Sunday that the morality police would resume notifying and detaining women who don’t follow the dress code of wearing hijabs in public.

Publishing Team Publisher / Editor: J.C. LaBar

Journalist: Heidi Whitney

Reporters: Michelle Svangstu, Alyssa Stromberg & Rachel Venture

Sports Contributors: Nick Ator & Kristen Ator

Sales Team Sales Manager: Jill Vassen jill@vocella.com

Copy Editing & Production Team Falon Justice sales@vocella.com

Lead Design: Kary Moltzan

Design: McKenna Walter

Ask about our Carpet Remnants Sale! Many sizes and Colors available.

Place a Classified in the Oracle for $7 up to 25 words. Place it in the Community Shopper, also, for $10 total.