Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Articles written by Amy Wobbema


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  • Ag Week musings

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 18, 2024

    During National Ag Week, all eyes are on the farmers and ranchers who are responsible for keeping the world fed. According to the American Farm Bureau, one U.S. farmer feeds 166 people annually in America and abroad. In the 1800s when North Dakota was first established, a farmer fed 3-5 people, most likely his family members or neighbors. In 1960, one farmer could feed about 26 people. Even though we have the world's third largest population to feed, the United States is still the world's...

  • Regular season ends in Rolla

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 18, 2024

    Rocket archers competed in their last regular season tournament on Saturday, March 16. Mt. Pleasant School in Rolla hosted 10 other schools, offering both bullseye and 3D competition. Layton Jacobson shot bullseye bright and early Saturday morning and set the tone for the entire day. He shot a 293 and finished first among high school boys. It was a sweep for the Rocket archers in the middle school boys’ division of bullseye. Sawyer Huso finished first with a 286, Braylon Alfstad earned the...

  • Garbage pickup, city meeting times to change

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 11, 2024

    New Rockford residents will want to make note of two key takeaways from the March 4 city commission meeting. First, the green garbage totes will make a seasonal appearance in the streets from now on. After discussion with Waste Management staff, the commission decided to set a seasonal schedule for residential trash pickup. The new schedule will go into effect May 1, with residents asked to continue putting their garbage totes in the alleys for pick up until November 1. Then, on November 1,...

  • Sunshine Week

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 11, 2024

    It's Sunshine Week, a national observance of the importance of public records and open government. Sunshine Week occurs each year in mid-March, coinciding with James Madison's birthday, March 16 (1751). Madison, one of our country's founding fathers and an advocate of open government, presented the first version of the Bill of Rights to Congress. He was later elected the fourth president of the United States. Sunshine Week, observed this year from March 10-16, highlights the importance of open g...

  • Shootin' bullseyes at BCN

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 11, 2024

    Rockets archers competed in the home of the Bison on Saturday, March 2. At Barnes County North, the locals had the most success in the 3D tournament, where 15 archers secured top 10 finishes in their respective divisions. Freshman Layton Jacobson brought home the gold for the Rockets in 3D. His 289 was the top score of the tournament for high school boys. The other medal winner for the Rockets was fifth grader Lydia Huso. She scored a 233, good enough for the bronze in the elementary girls'...

  • Dance like nobody's watchin'

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 4, 2024

    I photographed the Forever Dance Spring Show at Carrington School last Sunday. It wasn’t the first spring show I’ve attended (or photographed), but for some reason this performance had me enthralled. It was an absolute joy to see dozens of young girls leave it all on the floor. The energy level was off the charts, and the costumes and props were spectacular. Even coaches Brianne Partlow and Jane Sauby got in on the jazz, wearing outfits adorned with sequins and sparkles. I thought the action...

  • Archers challenged at Oakes tourney

    Amy Wobbema|Mar 4, 2024

    Rocket archers made the trek to Oakes on Saturday, Feb. 24, where they faced stiff competition in bullseye and 3D. Layton Jacobson landed at the top of the leaderboard in both. He was one point shy of his personal best in bullseye, but his 294 was still the top score of the tournament for the high school boys. Bradyn Collier earned the bronze medal in the high school boys’ division of the 3D competition with a 281. He also earned a top 10 finish in bullseye, shooting a 282 and fourth place...

  • Alfstad, Jacobson lead in Cooper

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 26, 2024

    Cooperstown was the tournament of choice for the Rockets on Saturday, Feb. 17. NR-S archers competed in both bullseye and 3D, and more than two dozen of them ended the day on the leaderboard in their respective divisions. In the bullseye tournament, Layton Jacobson led the way for the Rockets. He scored a 294, the best out of all the boys, and took home the gold medal and Overall Male Archer award. Bradyn Collier finished in second place among high school boys with a 282. Sawyer Huso scored a 27...

  • New Rockford city sales tax up by 12%

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 19, 2024

    The City of New Rockford collected $434,351.14 in sales tax last year, according to data obtained by auditor Andrew Presnell. That reflects an increase of nearly 12 percent, when compared to the $388,536.66 collected in 2022. The top two uses of sales tax funds, amounting to a whopping 64 percent of the total, are infrastructure improvements and economic development. Each received $111,193.89 in sales tax funds last year. Amanda Hegland, Executive Director for NRABC, the organization charged...

  • We heart teachers

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 19, 2024

    Congratulations to Amanda Koepplin, third grade teacher at NR-S, on her selection as the Eddy County Teacher of the Year for 2023-24. I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who pursue teaching as a career, and even more so for those who dedicate their lives to teaching young minds. It’s a noble profession. When I was in elementary school, I often said that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I had three younger siblings and four younger cousins to look after, and teaching seem...

  • Archers wow in Wilton

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 19, 2024

    The Rockets performed well in Wilton on Saturday, Feb. 10. Local archers competed in both bullseye and 3D competitions and brought home many accolades both individually and as a team. The middle school and high school teams both took home the first place trophy in the bullseye tournament. In team competition, the top individual scores in each division are combined and the trophy goes to the team that ends up with the most total points. Freshman Layton Jacobson gave his best performance of the...

  • Sheyenne Rodeo Club kicks off season Sat.

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 12, 2024

    Hendrickson Park will be hoppin’ this summer. The Sheyenne Rodeo Club has a July 4 weekend rodeo and the 4th Annual Sheyenne Stampede in the works for Aug. 17. They’re hosting a Kickoff Event this week to give supporters a little preview of what’s ahead, and all are welcome. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, right here at the New Rockford Eagles Club. Rodeo Club members will be serving chili and fry bread, and attendees can hear live music from “The Stick Ponies”of...

  • 2024 Election: 4 seats open on City Commission

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 12, 2024

    The New Rockford City Commission has the potential to look quite a bit different come June. It's an election year, and four of the five commissioners will find their terms up and seats open. Stuart Richter's first term as commission president will end in June, and as of press time he had not announced whether he would seek a second 4-year stint in the city's highest office. The seats currently held by commissioners Kelly McKnight and Justin Ystaas are also up this year. McKnight, who has served...

  • Yes, I'll miss this

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 12, 2024

    It’s another year of “lasts” at the Wobbema house. Yes, I realize we are smack dab in the middle of our daughter’s senior year, but reality didn’t set in until just a few days ago. It all started when a fellow mom of a senior posted a picture of her son on social media last week. That night was the last time he’d play high school basketball on his home court, and she was wrestling with all the emotions that come with it. I replied that I was fortunate that NR-S was hosting the distri...

  • Success for NR-S at home

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 12, 2024

    On Friday and Saturday, archers took aim at the New Rockford tournament and several local students found success in the NR-S gymnasium. Layton Jacobson led the Rockets at home and was named the top male archer in the tournament. He shot a 288, which also earned him the gold medal in the high school boys' division. Jacobson edged Rolla's Connor Cose by two perfect arrows. Cose had the same score, with 18 tens. Jacobson finished with 20 tens. NR-S junior Bradyn Collier finished in third place...

  • Guys on Ice premieres Feb. 15

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 5, 2024

    Ice fishing – where Midwestern men go to shoot the freeze. DPRCA kicks off its blockbuster 2024 season with a reprise of "Guys on Ice," a musical comedy that will have you laughing (and freezing) your face off! Life on the lake is easy, especially when the fish are biting, the jokes are funny, there's a "couple two three" beers in the bucket and the Green Bay Packers are on the field. From the warmth of their shanty "up north," old pals Marvin and Lloyd spin wit, wisdom and hilarious songs...

  • Curiosity (almost) killed the cat

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 5, 2024

    “Things are not always as they appear to be … Curiosity creates possibilities and opportunities.” Roy T. Bennett I’m a curious person. It’s a trait that characterizes many journalists, and for good reason. The drive to know more or to ask just one more question to get to the heart of the issue is often the catalyst for good news articles. According to Dictionary.com, curiosity is “a strong desire to know or learn something.” I usually refer to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for...

  • Archers on the mark in Carrington

    Amy Wobbema|Feb 5, 2024

    More than 300 archers converged in Carrington on Saturday, Jan. 27. It was the second tournament of the season for the NR-S squad, and they found success at all levels of competition. At the end of the day, it was a pair of eighth grade boys who came out on top for the Rockets, Koy Zieman and Sawyer Huso. Zieman rose above the rest of the Rockets in the 3D tournament. He earned the gold medal in the middle school boys' division with a score of 288 and finished second overall among male archers....

  • Archers kick off season in Kensal

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 29, 2024

    The Rocket archery team started 2024 nocked and loaded at the Midkota-Kensal tournament on Saturday, Jan. 20. Eighth grader Sawyer Huso was the top shooter in the entire tournament. He scored 288 and took home first place in the middle school boys' division and the top overall male distinction. Koy Zieman, Huso's teammate and classmate, finished with a 279 and earned third place among middle school boys. On the girls' side, Aubree Kukowski was the top middle school shooter for the Rockets. Her...

  • Blood donation makes hearts happy

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 22, 2024

    Valentine’s Day and Giving Hearts Day are coming soon, but did you know that there’s one more very important heart-related observance we are in the midst of right now? Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. This could be a little girl in the ICU or a grandfather with Stage 3 leukemia. January is National Blood Donation Month, and the need is greater than you might realize. The American Red Cross recently announced that they are experiencing an emergency blood shortage. Blood...

  • DPRCA: There's a lot in store for 2024

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 15, 2024

    The local arts scene is lit for 2024. Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts (DPRCA) is gearing up for its 33rd season. With five shows and over 60 nights of entertainment on the schedule, this year is going to be bigger than ever! That means there will be even more opportunities to experience live theatre right here in New Rockford, N.D. What started as a summer community theatre event in 1992 has grown into a year-round theatre and cultural event center that provides dozens of jobs,...

  • Grateful for the glimmers of goodness

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 15, 2024

    Is North Dakota better off today than it was a year ago?" That's the question asked by Craig Blumenshine, host of the PBS "Main Street" radio program, to a panel of journalists last week. "We have no way to go but up," I replied. The year 2023 was not one of my best, not even close. There were definitely some high points, and I'm grateful for that. Yet, I felt more anxious than I have in years. I'm not alone in that either, as uncertainty about what lay ahead has been all around me lately. The...

  • City shores up deficit in water works fund

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 8, 2024

    City officials knew they had spent tens of thousands of dollars more than expected to treat the city’s water supply last year. They learned just how much, and what they need to do to get back in the black, at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 2 Interim City Auditor Andrew Presnell had prepared two reports for USDA-Rural Development (USDA-RD), the federal agency that provided grant and loan funds to complete the water plant upgrades, water main replacement and water tower renovation projec...

  • Walking in a warm winter wonderland

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 8, 2024

    There’s not enough snow to ride a snowmobile. The trees are bare, and the stubble from last year’s crop is still visible. There’s even water running through the ditches in some areas, in January! It’s “the winter that wasn’t,” some have written. Those that typically revel in that white winter wonderland are depressed to see bare trees and black ground. All I know is that the unseasonably warm temperatures and little to no snowfall have made winter all the more bearable for me....

  • Tribute to Allen V. Stock

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 1, 2024

    “Mention their name. Tell their story. Continue to live their legacy by remembering them with me.” – Nathalie Himmelrich Allen Stock, publisher of the Foster County Independent for 45 years, left this world on Christmas Day. I first got to know Allen about four years ago. He was a fellow publisher, but he hadn’t attended a newspaper convention or other gathering for several years. I remember him calling to ask if he could rerun articles we had printed in the Transcript, and he requested...

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