They toured with the Medora Christmas Show, and now they are headed to WILDROSE NORTH, DAKOTA! Arlon Peterson and the Wildrose Alliance Church are bringing The Waddington Brothers from South Western North Dakota for the seventh an-
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From The Tioga Police Department Safety on the roads is a shared responsibility, and ensuring that every person in a vehicle is properly restrained is a crucial component of this responsibility. In an effort to enhance road safety, North Dakota is implementing a new seatbelt law, effective in August. This law mandates that ev-
TEE OFF AND TRAIN: PREPARE FOR THE TIOGA GOLF TOURNAMENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER’S GOLF SIMULATOR
By Heley Felber, Tioga Community Center Activities Director
It’s the perfect time to fine-tune your golfing skills using the community center’s cutting-edge golf simulator.
Page 2
FAIR TIME
By Alyssa Stromberg
Summer may feel like it is flying by, but late summer is when the fairs around the area become the place to be.
Page 5
GIVING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS: CROSBY COMETS ALUMNI HOST HOCKEY CAMP AT ANDRIST ARENA
By Michelle SvangstuIt might be sunny and warm outside this week, but inside Andrist Arena, the ice is frozen and one of Crosby’s favorite winter sports is back in action.
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To Have Your Community Event Added Email: info@vocella.com
FORTUNA
Every Tuesday- Range Night at Northwest Sportsman Club
RAY
Monday July 31st - Coop Meeting 5:30-7:00pm
Thursday August 3rd - Varsity Football Starts
CROSBY
Wednesday August 2nd - Crosby Area Chamber Meeting 8:009:00am at the Divide County Courthouse
Wednesday August 2nd - Divide County Commission Meeting
8:00am-11:00am
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 27th - Week 5 Sum-
mer 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
Saturday July 29th - Williston Basin
Speedway Dirt Track Racing WBRA
Summer Series Grandstand gates open at 6p Races start at 7p at Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds
Monday July 31st - Basin Kruzers
Main Street Block Party 6-8:30p at 4th St to Broadway
Tuesday August 1st - National Night Out 2023 4-8p at Davidson
Park
Wednesday August 2nd - Little Mo Writers Tour 6p at James Memorial
Art Center
Thursday August 3rd - Week 6
Summer Nights On Main 2023 featuring Chloe Marie 5-9p in downtown Williston
Friday August 4th - Blackhawk in Concert with Thomas Mac Gate opens 5p Event starts 6p at Glen Severson Memorial Field, Hwy 2 in Ray, ND
August 4th - August 6th - Family
Fun Weekend Lewis & Clark State Park
Tuesday August 1st - National Night Out 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Tioga City Park
Tioga Community Center Schedule
Mondays: Yoga Flow 9:30am10:30am
Learn English Class 10:00am11:00am
Tuesdays: Pickleball 5:00pm8:00pm
Wednesdays: Storytime 10:30am11:00am
Thursdays: Slow Flow 6:00pm7:00pm
Calling all golf enthusiasts! With three exciting golf tournaments scheduled at the Tioga Country Club in August, it's the perfect time to fine-tune your golfing skills using the community center's cutting-edge golf simulator. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just starting, this opportunity is too good to miss!
The golf simulator at Tioga's community center boasts an impressive selection of 8 different 18-hole courses, each situated in various breathtaking locations around the world. From the picturesque fairways of St. Andrews in Scotland to the challenging sand traps of Pebble Beach in California, this simulator
offers a unique and realistic experience that will enhance your golfing abilities and mental game.
Apart from full-course play, the simulator also provides ample opportunities for you to focus on specific aspects of your game. Whether you want to improve your driving distance, hone your chipping accuracy, or perfect your putting skills, the simulator
has many practice modes to cater to your needs. This cutting-edge technology provides instant feedback and detailed analysis, helping you identify areas for improvement and allowing you to refine your techniques like never before.
Best of all, the community center offers this fantastic golfing experience completely free of charge! However, there are a few
essential guidelines to follow. As the golf simulator is a popular amenity, it's crucial to call ahead and book your tee time in advance. This ensures that everyone gets a fair chance to utilize the simulator and prevents overcrowding during peak hours.
Additionally, it's essential to note that the golf simulator is only available for use by individuals who
are 18 years or older. This policy is in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all users, as the simulator requires a level of responsibility and maturity to operate effectively.
As the August golf tournaments approach, now is the perfect moment to utilize the simulator and elevate your game to new heights. Don't miss out on this golden chance to enhance your skills and make the most of the world-class facilities available to you.
Get ready to tee off and swing your way to success in the upcoming Tioga golf tournaments. Call 701-6643192, ext. 1 to book your tee time, and let the golf simulator propel you toward victory! See you on the virtual greens.
nual ‘Wildrose Music in the Park’. “Our family (the Peterson Family), we had been playing for years and years and things were really starting to slow down. A lot of the events that we went to, they just weren’t happening anymore.” Arlon Peterson shared. “So seven years ago, we decided that we were just going to have a concert in the park and we had a BBQ.” From that, the event has really expanded over the years! 2023 has a full line-up of more than a dozen different musical groups.
The little BBQ has grown as well! Last year around 300 people were served hamburgers and hotdogs, provided by the Alliance Church. They are planning to do the same thing this year. “The church
donates the food. It will be good, and it’s FREE!” said Peterson. He went on to say, “Really it isn’t all about just the music. It’s an opportunity for people to come together and visit… it’s a community thing! People are just so busy anymore and neighbors don’t see neighbors. So I do this so that people can get together
and visit while they’re listening to music.”
This year’s headliner, The Waddington Brothers, have been performing together since 2004. They’ve performed with notable artists such as The Kruger Brothers, Ron Block and others. They are a versatile acoustic bluegrass group that is sure to have your toes
tapping! One of the brothers, Ethan, won second place in the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship one year in Winfield Kansas. The group is also the 1st Place 2023 International Band Champions.
The event is held in the park next to the Alliance Gospel Chapel on 2nd Ave. and Carmody Street. Music will begin at 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 30th 2023 with the free meal served at 6:00 PM. In addition to The Waddington Brothers, there will also be; Zachariah Shipman and the West Park Band (Crosby, ND), RW Evitt (McGregor, ND), the Gilbertson/Qualley Family, Jim Booth (Tioga, ND), The Alliance Band, the Peterson Family Band, Alecia Jan (Alamo, ND), Patrick Crews (Linton, ND) and
many more. Peterson says that Crews has a “Randy Travis voice”. Alecia Jan is a new addition this year. She is a 16-year-old singer/ songwriter and has newly released music out on Spotify! You can download the app for free to listen to her songs. Also in the mix is Crosby/Noonan local, Cody Roland, who will emcee the event and keep the entertainment rolling.
Attendants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to utilize while listening to the groups. Whether it’s to hear great music, visit with your neighbor, or eat delicious free BBQ, the ‘Wildrose Music in the Park’ is the place to be! For any questions regarding the event, people are encouraged to contact Arlon Peterson at (701) 648-9848.
ALL
Summer may feel like it is flying by, but late summer is when the fairs around the area become the place to be. Whether it is concerts, fair food, beer gardens, the rodeo or just perusing the exhibits, fairs bring a sense of excitement for all who attend.
I remember as a child and teenager the fair was a big deal! We were allowed to wear our new school clothes and that was an event, school had only begun the week before. I would see classmates, and maybe even my crush. The lights, the noise, the peo-
ple, the rides, hoping your parents would let you stay a little later. Then came the teenage years, we were dropped off or allowed to ride with friends. Man, were we cool wandering around with our friends, staying until dark and maybe, just maybe, getting to ride a ride with that one cute guy while all your friends made obnoxious noises and innuendos. Oh, to be young again!
As an adult the memories of the fair are there, but somehow the excitement just isn’t the same. As a parent, you want your child to have the same memories of
the fair experience to carry with them as they too get older. I am positive money was no problem. Not the case as a parent, there were times I thought I was going to need that money tree which all children are certain exists.
Behind the scenes of the fair, is a group of volunteers known as the fair board. These individuals spend countless hours making sure everything runs smoothly. It is their responsibility to give their community a memorable time and when they leave, they are looking forward to next year’s fair.
It might be sunny and warm outside this week, but inside Andrist Arena, the ice is frozen and one of Crosby’s favorite winter sports is back in action.
Dakota Roots Hockey Camp, back for its 5th year, was founded in 2019 by Evan Eriksmoen and Lance Knudson, both Crosby Comet Alumni. “We were roommates at the time, and just started talking about hockey camps we had attended when we were younger, how we wished
we’d had an opportunity to have a camping opportunity in our hometown, rather than having to travel to bigger cities all the time. We knew there were kids in Crosby who would come, so we made a plan and pitched it to the BlueLine Club Board, got approval in June and held our 1st camp in July,” noted Evan. “I knew that I had college friends, guys I had coached with who enjoy seeing kids succeed,” shares Lance. “We’re fortunate they’ve kept coming back each year.”
The crew of coaches includes a line-up of highly qualified and experienced players and coaches. In addition to Lance, who teaches math and is the head coach for Dickinson High School Girls Hockey, and Evan, who currently teaches business at Shiloh Christian
school in addition to coaching football and golf, six others have joined the staff at Dakota Roots. Marshall Tschida is the head coach for Mandan High’s Boys Hockey and Kyler Moore just completed his inaugural season as the head coach for the hockey team at the University of Oregon. Coach Drake Hunter is the owner of Pace Puck, Mallory Olson is the owner of Oka Skating Academy, and Nate Speidel is the owner of Goalrobber Hockey School. Michelle Landsverk, another Comets Alum and current player at Dakota College in Bottineau, is also assisting with this year’s camp. “We have a great team with a wide-variety of expertise,” says Lance. “It’s been great to have coaching consistency – these guys really take ownership of their role in camp.”
Dakota Roots has had a few changes since its inception, based on
feedback from the players themselves. “We were blown away, usually kids don’t want to do skating and edgework, but the feedback we got was them asking for more,” notes Knudson. Adds Eriksmoen, “We structure our week to include ice sessions with Mallory on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to increase skating skills and confidence, and in addition to the on-ice, they also do some dryland training, learning about exercises and other tools they can take with them to care for their body during the season.”
Players focus on a different skill each day of the week, including shooting, stick handling and passing. While shooting and stick handling have a lot of basic skill principles, the coaches say that passing isn’t so cut and dry. “Passing is worked on based on each kid’s abilities – it’s not a one-size fits all approach,”
notes Eriksmoen. “While there are a couple of basics, each kid has their own style, and it’s our job to push them out of their comfort zone. Some kids have a great ‘front hand,’ so we encourage them to work on their ‘back hand,’ or put them in situations they haven’t been in before to expand their game. We want them to leave with skills they can work on in their off-time.”
And while the onice skills are important to the game, both Knudson and Eriksmoen agree that the work off the ice is what makes it all come together. “We do 45 minutes of classroom every day,” shares Lance. “And while we go over all the x’s and o’s, we spend a lot of time encouraging the kid’s to think about the mental side of high performance, taking care of ourselves and how the things we do affect others. We work on treating each other kindly, picking up after ourselves – getting pucks off the ice and keeping our locker rooms clean. It starts with the small things.”
Evan agrees. “We want them to understand that how they respond to a situation, whether it be a bad call made by the ref, something your coach tells you to do, or a mistake you make on the ice – it’s going to have a direct effect not just on you, but your team. We walk through different ERO’s (Event, Response, Outcome), and hopefully that will help them think through a situation before they act. For example, if you get a penalty during the game and throw your stick, you’re probably going to get tossed out – hurting your-
self and your team – but if you get that penalty, go sit in the box and serve your time, you’ll be back out on the ice in a couple minutes and the game goes on.”
Both Knudson and Eriksmoen say that their passion for bringing Dakota Roots Hockey School back to Crosby each year is rooted in seeing the kids succeed. Shares Lance, “We get to see these same kids, see them grow into the players they are now. And it’s pretty cool to see all the kid’s that come from out of town too, to see them share their passion and spend time with their grandparents.” “Just knowing that we can give [these kids] an opportunity to skate in the summer, give them the op-
out the families that entrust us with their kids year after and year, or without all the volunteers – everyone who helps get the ice in, Gerald Brady who maintains it for us, our moms who do the cooking, our wives who sacrifice the time to let us be here while they maintain our homes and care for our kids - It’s pretty awesome that we can give back to the Blueline Club and community that helped build us.”
portunity to have this here in their hometown, that’s why we do it. Hopefully one day they can look back and appreciate the opportunities they’ve had right here in Crosby,” says Evan.
Both coaches also expressed appreciation for the community support.
“We couldn’t do this with-
This year’s camp runs through July 28th, with both Fridays being open to the public to come and watch the players scrimmage. Anyone interested in learning more about Dakota Roots Hockey School can call 701-339-2217 or email dakotarootshockey@gmail. com.
ery individual, regardless of seating position, must wear a seatbelt. This article delves into the importance of this comprehensive seatbelt law, highlighting its potential impact on reducing injuries and saving lives.
The implementation of the new seatbelt law emphasizes the significance of wearing seatbelts as an essential safety measure for all vehicle occupants. Research consistently shows that seatbelt usage substantially reduces the risk of severe injuries or fatalities in the event of a crash. By
requiring every person in the vehicle to wear a seatbelt, North Dakota aims to ensure maximum protection and minimize the potential consequences of accidents, including those that occur at lower speeds or involve rear-end collisions.
This new law plays a vital role in cultivating a culture of safety on North Dakota's roads. By extending the seat belt requirement to all seating positions, the legislation sends a clear message that the well-being of every individual in the vehicle matters. This approach helps create awareness among drivers and passengers that seatbelts are not optional but necessary
for personal safety.
To ensure compliance with the new seatbelt law, failure to wear a seatbelt, even in the back seat, will result in a ticket. This enforcement mechanism is designed to reinforce the importance of seatbelt usage
and encourage responsible behavior among vehicle occupants. While the primary goal is to increase safety, the ticketing system serves as a reminder that individual actions have consequences and that non-compliance will be met with penalties. By strictly enforcing this law, North Dakota aims to cultivate a culture of compliance and further reduce the incidence of preventable injuries and fatalities.
North Dakota's new comprehensive seatbelt law represents a significant step towards enhancing road safety and protecting every vehicle occupant. By requiring seat belt usage for all individuals, regardless of seating position, the state aims to instill a culture of safety and responsibility. As the law goes into effect in August, let us embrace this critical measure, recognizing that wearing seatbelts is not just a legal requirement but a life-saving habit that ensures the well-being of ourselves and our loved ones. Together, let's make North Dakota's roads safer for all.
GAME & FISH
North Dakota’s 2023 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 420 licenses available in eight units.
17 units.
“A limited season with a very conservative harvest strategy will be held to provide hunter opportunity while encouraging population growth,” Stillings said.
Hunting units 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A and 7A will be open in 2023. The remaining hunting units will be closed due to low population levels not able to support a harvest at this time.
Bruce Stillings, big game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said license numbers are down significantly from last year, when the department allocated 1,970 licenses in
THE
The July aerial survey indicated the overall pronghorn population is down 40% from last year. The fawn-to-doe ratio of 43 fawns per 100 does was the second lowest on record since 1950. The buck-todoe ratio of 30 bucks per 100 does remains stable and at population objective, Stillings said.
MARK YOU CALENDARS!
horn fawn production was the second lowest on record following one of the most extreme winters on record.”
Each unit will once again have a season that is split into an early bow-only portion, and a later gun/bow season.
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“Significant snowfall fell in early November and winter conditions persisted into April, putting extreme stress on pronghorn,” he said. “Losses due to malnutrition were significant based on results from our aerial survey. Fawns and older adults are age classes impacted the most during extreme winter conditions.”
Currently, Stillings mentioned, habitat conditions are excellent following above normal winter and summer moisture, which provides ample resources for pronghorn.
“Future population recovery will be dependent on upcoming winter conditions and fawning success in 2024,” he added. “Prong-
The bow-only portion of the season is Sept. 1 (noon) – Sept. 24. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.
From Oct. 6 (noon) –Oct. 22, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or archery equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a pronghorn license.
Hunters who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points, but will not earn a point for next year. However, hunters who do not want a license in 2023 have the option to purchase a bonus point on the application.
Applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd. gov.
The pronghorn license fee is $30 for ages 16 and older, and $10 for under age 16. Applicants for a pronghorn lottery license must be at least 12 years of age on or before Dec. 31. The application deadline is Aug. 9.
PRESS RELEASE: ND
GAME & FISH
Hunters applying for a 2023 swan license can submit an online application through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
Columbus, ND | (701)939-4532
North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while
the nonresident fee is $30. The deadline to apply is Aug. 16.
The statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 30. A total of 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may
hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl license is valid.
All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license when applying. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license.
North Dakota will soon boost its infrastructure for high-speed internet, thanks to the latest federal subsidy. In the meantime, low-income households can apply for aid to keep their internet costs lower.
The $130 million federal grant, meant to boost access in underserved areas, is from the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Separately, community action offices in North Dakota are now taking part in the Affordable Connectivity Program under the Federal Communications Commission.
Case managers help people find out if they're eligible for a discount on their internet bill.
Kristina Brownell, executive director of the Community Action Partnership
The web was invented 40 years ago!
But who invented it?
This is one of the most interesting interent curiousities. Its creator was Brit Time BernersLee. He planned it to enable scientists to share their knowledge in a fast and optimum manner with other people around the world, and he gifted it for free to the peoples of the world, forgoing the billions he could have earned.
for the Jamestown region, said it's a big help for those who want to connect to the digital world.
"Whether that be applying for a program - we're seeing, you know, a lot of schools even going into the virtual learning situation," said Brownell. "So, I think it becomes more and more important every day you have the ability to make those connections."
She said a lot of clients also lack transportation, and having high-speed internet could make it easier to take online college classes or telecommute.
Recipients can get a discount of up to $30 a month toward internet service, and up to $75 a month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Haley Klapak is a case manager for the Southeastern North Dakota Commu-
nity Action office. She recently helped a father and daughter, who said they often had to leave their house to use the internet, apply for ACP aid.
"We put in his address and the ACP and Lifeline program sent him a cellphone that was connected to the internet with an internet plan," said Klapak, "so that he was able to reach out to me and connect to services, set up appointments for him and his daughter, and just get back to regular life."
Beyond reducing monthly internet bills, eligible households can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to buy a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if they contribute certain amounts toward the purchase price.
Arnold Edwin Postovit, 101, of Tioga, North Dakota passed away Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Tioga Medical Center Long Term Care in Tioga North Dakota.
Arnold Edwin Postovit was born in McLean County North Dakota on August 20, 1921, to Isaac and Stella Postovit. He attended and graduated from school in Plaza, North Dakota. He entered the U.S. Army in July 1940 and was stationed at Fort Lewis Washington until he was sent overseas in 1942. He served in North Africa and Sicily campaigns in World War II. He was captured at Anzio in February 1944 and was a prisoner of war in Germany until Friday, April 13, 1945.
After his discharge from the Army he located to his
parents’ farm near White Earth, North Dakota. In 1951 he married Marjorie (Marge) Dolan in White Earth. They lived on the family farm near White Earth for several years before moving to Tioga where Arnold worked in, and subsequently retired from, the Tioga Medical Center and Long Term Care facilities.
Arnold was a member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the American Legion, VFW and DAV. He is a Past Commander of the Dakota North Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War, which Arnold and Marge were instrumental in creating. He is also a past North Dakota State Commander of American Ex-Prisoners of War. He was a member of Zion Free
Lutheran Church in Tioga.
Arnold is survived by daughters, Penny (Dan) Berry and Stacey (Will) Wise of Hueytown, Alabama; sons, Craig Postovit and Terry Postovit of Tioga, North Dakota and Mark (Brenda) Postovit of Palm Bay, Florida; brother-inlaw, Darryl (Karen) Dolan of Bismarck, North Dakota; grandchildren, Kristy Berry, Tracey Berry, Justin (Samantha) Postovit, Shawn Postovit, Nicole Postovit, Crystal Postovit, Shawntele (Jake) Crownover, Mark Postovit, Jr., Andrew Rings, and Nathan Rings; great grandchildren, Zachary Postovit, Robert Engels, and Journey Hoose; nephew, Chris Hansen; nieces, Jennifer (Russell) Horning, Ashlee (Luke) Beasley; and
numerous great nieces and great nephews.
Arnold was preceded in death by his wife, Marge; his parents; sister, Lorraine Hansen; and parents-in-law.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Tioga, ND and an hour prior to service time at the church.
Arnold’s Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Zion Free Lutheran Church in Tioga, ND. Pastor Chris Kumpula will officiate.
The Funeral Service will be livestreamed, you can view Arnold’s Funeral Service directly on this page.
PRESS RELEASE. BISMARCK, N.D., July 25, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Erin Oban today announced that USDA is expanding access to health care in Towner County, North Dakota as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
“In the last year, USDA Rural Development has provided over $150 million in financing to sustain and expand access to rural health in North Dakota by helping providers to build and enhance new facilities and update equipment and technologies. More than $4 million of that was in grant funds made available by the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act and through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant program,” said Oban. “North Dakotans of all ages, from children to elders, can continue to access quality care right in the communities they call home, in part because of USDA Rural Development’s deep commitment to investing in rural people and places.”
Today’s announcement of
investments will help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits and Tribes solve regional rural health care challenges. These solutions will build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system for the nation’s small towns and communities.
In North Dakota: Towner County Hospital Authority (TCHA) will use a $1,000,000 ERHC grant to purchase equipment for construction of an approximately 76,000-square-foot Critical Access Hospital and nursing home in Cando, North Dakota. The project will consist of a 10-bed acute care hospital; a 30-bed long term care facility; and a 5-bed basic care unit. The hospital design includes public and administrative support spaces, dietary services, infrastructure support, primary clinic space, specialty clinic space, acute care, procedural suites, emergency, x-ray, CT, mammography, ultrasounds, DEXA, EKG, laboratory, and physical therapy. This consolidated-facilities project will establish modern, code-com-
pliant, inpatient and outpatient care areas. This includes dramatic improvements to inpatient care, emergency department, and diagnostic imaging spaces. Upgrades will also occur across multiple patient care and support areas, including physical therapy, laboratory, and ambulatory surgery. Infection control improvements such as proper space isolation and ventilation will be made throughout the facilities.
USDA Rural Development is investing $129 million for health care services nationwide in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
Background: Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. Within months after the Act’s passage, USDA responded quickly by making this funding available to ensure the long-term availability of rural health care services.
In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-pov-
erty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda. gov.
Chris Freeman; USDA.
In
Dave’s
The contract between UPS and the union, Teamster, expires at the end of the day on Monday, July 31st. This leaves less than a week for Teamster and UPS to finish negotiations, which broke down earlier this month, before UPS workers go on strike. Teamster is attempting to negotiate better pay and benefits for Frontline UPS workers as well as better pay for part-time workers. Since the pandemic, UPS delivery has been up with annual profits from the last two years being almost 3 times what they were before the pandemic. Before negotiations broke down, UPS agreed to install AC in new trucks purchased after January 1, 2024, to end unwanted overtime on drivers’ days off, end the 2-tier wage system, and establish Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a full holiday.
Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota announced his bid for the 2024 Presidential election on June 7, 2023. The first Republican presidential debate for the 2024 election will be held on August 23, 2023. To be able to participate in the debate, according
to the Republican National Committee, candidates must have 40,000 unique donors with 200 in 20 different states or territories and have a national poll of at least 1%. Burgum got the 1% national poll on Tuesday, July 25 when it was released by Morning Consult. To reach the donor requirements, Burgum spent millions of his own wealth to promise $20 gift cards to those who donated as little as $1. However, this tactic may violate campaign finance laws according to legal experts.
On Monday, July 24th after midnight, an overloaded passenger boat traveling from Lanot village in Buton Central regency in Southeast Sulawesi province to nearby Lagili village capsized. Celebrating the regency’s 9th anniversary on Sunday, thousands of residents had traveled by boat to their villages. The boat was meant for 20 passengers but was carrying 40 when it capsized. Of the 40 passengers, 6 have been rescued, 15 bodies have been recovered, and 19 are still missing.
Monday, July 24th, Israel’s
legislature voted to pass a highly contested law that will limit the Supreme Court’s ability to overrule government actions that they deem unreasonable. This is one of many bills aimed at reducing the court’s influence. This series of bills has triggered 29 consecutive weeks of protest as critics of the bills say that they’re giving Netanyahu almost unchecked power and weakening the court.
According to authorities, Greece is executing the largest fire evacuation in its history as wildfires spread across three of their popular islands. Around 32,000 tourists and residents have been forced to flee to safety as hundreds more await evacuations. The spread of the wildfires on the islands of Rhodes, Corfu, and Evia have been contributed to by high winds and a heat wave that was expected to reach highs of between 107 and 111 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday. 600 fires over the last 12 days, with 50 new fires a day have been reported by Greek officials who say that some of the fires may have been started by arson. Neighboring nations and the European Union have sent aircraft and firefighters to help put out the flames.
“No
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