Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Articles from the January 11, 2021 edition


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  • Proposal to allow year-end fireworks sales on ice

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 11, 2021

    Readers, we want to hear from you. Should New Rockford allow fireworks to be sold and ignited in celebration of the new year? Answer our poll here: https://fastpoller.com/takepoll/1609986279258. The overall results will be shared with the commission. If the feedback city commissioners have heard so far about New Year fireworks is any indication of widespread public opinion, there's not likely to be any fireworks for sale in New Rockford in late December anytime soon. Commission President Stu...

  • Thompson named emergency manager

    Amy Wobbema|Jan 11, 2021

    Lisa Thompson is now serving as the Eddy County Emergency Manager. She began her new role on Jan. 1. Tax Director Kristy O'Connor, who held the emergency manager position as recently as a few years ago, will assist Thompson with the transition. There are grants to close out, reports to be submitted and other items requiring Thompson's attention in the very near future, according to Commissioner Glenda Collier. Right now, her office hours at the courthouse are not set. She has worked part-time...

  • Winter Fun

    Jan 11, 2021

     The physical education instructors at New Rockford have been teaching the students a thing or two about playing it cool. Both Elliott Belquist and Cherry Heinz took advantage of the fair weather this past week and took the kids outside for a little fun on the ice....

  • 2020: It wasn't all that bad

    Rachel Brazil|Jan 11, 2021

    We reconvene our review of 2020 at the beginning of summer. Despite the challenges posed by a global pandemic, dynamic events and dedicated people were the hallmarks of the second half. Fair food in town It was a highlight for many when Ron Lende offered his delicious fair food to locals. From brats to Philly cheese steaks, Lende served up summer meals right. His tent on the Cities Service Station lot at the corner of 7th Street and Central Avenue was a fixture throughout the summer. Outdoor...

  • NDTC donates to New Rockford-Sheyenne second gymnasium fund

    Jan 11, 2021

    NDTC recently made a donation to New Rockford Public School. The funds will be applied to the New Rockford-Sheyenne Public School Second Gymnasium Fund. Donations such as the these are made every month from the NDTC Dollars in Motion program. This project aligns nicely with NDTC's history of supporting programs and projects that encourage youth, enhance communities and promote education. To request an application from the NDTC Dollars In Motion program contact NDTC at (701) 662-1100 or online...

  • Local library offers new titles for young readers

    Rachel Brazil|Jan 11, 2021

    Eddy-New Rockford Librarian Susie Sharp has been busy shopping, thanks to a $2,000 grant from the North Dakota State Library Coordinating Council. "Our young adult section was becoming a bit outdated," says Sharp, who applied for the grant this fall. Now, with an updated selection of new books, readers can choose from more classic reads as well as modern works. Below are a few of Sharp's favorites, but keep in mind, there are many more to choose from- 120 newly acquired youth books to be exact....

  • Northern Plains Electric Operation Round Up approves charitable grants

    Jan 11, 2021

    At its December meeting, the Northern Plains Electric Operation Round Up board of directors approved grants totaling $9,300 to help support worthy causes. These charitable grants are made possible through the generosity of Northern Plains Electric Cooperative members who voluntarily elect to have their electric bills rounded up to the next dollar. The donated amount averages about 50 cents a month for each participating member, and raises approximately $37,000 each year. Since the program’s beginning in October 1998, grants totaling $824,362 h...

  • Northern Plains RC&D Council and FARRMS offer farmer education in northeast N.D.

    Jan 11, 2021

    The Northern Plains Resource Conservation and Development Council has partnered with the Foundation for Agriculture, Rural Resources Management and Sustainability (FARRMS) to offer the Farm Beginnings course for northeastern North Dakota. The sustainable farm business course for beginning and transitioning farmers will be held online from late January through early April 2021. Participants will learn goal setting, whole farm planning, business plan development, financial management, marketing practices and natural resource stewardship....

  • N.D. House Update: Jan. 11, 2021

    Rep. Bill Devlin and Rep. Don Vigesaa|Jan 11, 2021

    Members of the upcoming 67th Legislative Assembly gathered in Bismarck on January 5, 2021 for the start of the session. Tuesday morning the legislature was scheduled to receive addresses from Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Chairman Mark Fox who represented all tribal governments in the state and Supreme Court Chief Justice Jon Jensen, on the state of the judiciary. The Legislature officially convened at noon Tuesday and went into a joint session at 1 p.m. to hear the State of the State Address from Governor Doug Burgum. There were no floor...

  • Talk of the Town: January 11, 2021

    Charlotte Koepplin|Jan 11, 2021

    New Rockford and area folks extend sympathy to the family of Iona (Plancich) (Duda) Johnson. Janet Laube got New Year calls filled with good wishes from Lois Ockert, Scott and Travis Laube and Robin Westall. Heidi Schneider and Callie visited at mom Eloise Lucht’s Saturday. There they helped to take down the Christmas tree and set up an internet Skype. Soon they were communicating with Larry and Irene Lucht of Virginia and Scott and Kim of Rochester. Eloise is enjoying her Christmas gift. Sunday found Marilyn Gedrose enjoying a visit with L...

  • Pleasant Prairie: January 11, 2021

    Charlotte Koepplin|Jan 11, 2021

    Margie Anderson enjoyed a phone call with Beverly Ellefson recently. Beverly lives in Minneapolis. Monday brief stoppers at the Charlotte Koepplin home were Karen Koepplin and Martin Koepplin. Afternoon found Charlotte driving to Carrington on errands. Pleasant Prairie folks extend sympathy to the family of Donald (Donnie) Weisenburger. He recently passed away in Arizona where he and wife Beverly have lived for many years. Donnie was the son of the late John Weisenburger who once was a former resident and farmer in the Brantford area. Margie An...

  • AARP Scam Alert: COVID-19 vaccine scams surface

    Jan 11, 2021

    With the first coronavirus vaccines in the U.S. now authorized, government officials are warning that scammers will try to capitalize on the historic step to steal your money. Fraudsters are using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams, according to the U.S. Department of Health. Be wary of anyone who offers you a vaccine or asks for money to enhance your ranking for vaccine eligibility. If you see an offer to reserve your vaccine for a fee, you know it’s a s...

  • Sheyenne News: January 11, 2021

    Patti Clifton|Jan 11, 2021

    Jeff and Denise Labrensz celebrated Christmas Eve at the Pfeiffer farm, rural New Rockford, enjoying time with family and friends. On Christmas Day Jeff and Denise drove to Mobridge, S.D., to spend the day with Jeff's mom. New Year's Eve afternoon, Kathy Magnan, Bonnie Deegan, Jan Loe, LaRhae Dodds, Dianne Hanson, Shirley Westby and Patti Clifton got together for a visit and coffee at the Sheyenne Senior Center. Patti Clifton picked up Jan Loe Saturday afternoon and they drove to New Rockford to do a little shopping....

  • Oberon Oracles: January 11, 2021

    Linda Madson|Jan 11, 2021

    I have visited with several people this evening looking for some news items, but the news is pretty slim this week. I am glad to have the following items, however. Lacey Grann spent the weekend with friends skiing at Terry Peak in South Dakota. Bobbi Grann spent an additional week with her parents to attend a couple of Johnny Grann’s basketball games. Wednesday, Donna, Bobbi, Brittany and Dutton Grann went to Perth, N.D., to visit John Grann’s siblings and families. Dave and Linda Madson had Melodie, Kennedee and McKenzee Madson over for sup...

  • Obituary: Leslie Whetham

    Jan 11, 2021

    Leslie John Whetham of St. Paul, Minn., passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. Leslie John Whetham was born on April 2, 1959 to Mervin "Mickey" and Vivian (Koplin) Whetham. He was born and raised in New Rockford, N.D. He joined the Navy right out of high school and began an exciting 20-year career as a Submarine Sonar Tech. After retiring from the Navy, Leslie worked at Applied Materials, Austin Texas, before moving to St. Paul to work at Polar Semiconductor as a Maintenance Tech....

  • Longing for authenticity, even if it's fake

    Tom Purcell|Jan 11, 2021

    The older I get, the more I am turning into my father. You see, the world makes less sense to me every day. My fellow man puzzles me more every day. I cite exhibit A: crappy stone walls. I know a woman who recently paid $10,000 to have a stone retaining wall built along her driveway. Now I used to be a stonemason – I rebuilt close to 200 such walls during my college years – and I was shocked to learn that hers was a NEW wall. It was buckling and full of gaps. Not one stone was properly cut or...

  • COVID-19 isn't the whole pandemic story

    Greg Glasner M.D.|Jan 11, 2021

    Vaccines are the hot topic right now, as they should be. I believe effective vaccines will go a long way toward helping control spread of the COVID-19 virus. Does that mean over the next few months, we'll all get the vaccine and then life will return to normal? That question requires a two-part answer. The first answer is yes. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice and recommending North Dakotans get the vaccine as it...

  • The picture of health in America is not so rosy

    Trudy Lieberman|Jan 11, 2021

    For end-of-the-year columns, it’s customary to recap the events of the past 12 months, usually highlighting a mix of the good and the bad. Because this year has been dominated by health, in particular COVID-19, and my beat is health, it seems fitting to reflect on where we are. Where we are is not good. A headline in the Los Angeles Times seemed to sum up the current state of the U.S. health care system: “Bodies pile up, patient care falters as COVID-19 devastates L.A. County hospitals.” In the Times’ story a hospital critical care nurse s...

  • Letter to the Editor: January 11, 2021

    Bill Ziegler|Jan 11, 2021

    Only a minority ignore the city's ordinances concerning pets and parking but enough to be annoying. Pets in city limits must be on a leash, kennel, or in a fenced yard. So why am I often seeing dog tracks around my livestock and doo-doo droppings all over. If I wanted to step in it I'd get a dog. And parking!! Vehicles can only sit on streets and avenues for 72 hours. With snow removal in winter and street sweeping in summer I see the city crew having to go around vehicles, boats and hunting trailers left parked for weeks. I think some ticket...

  • Obituary: Joan Schaefer

    Jan 11, 2021

    Joan Marie Schaefer, age 54, of Fargo, N.D. passed away peacefully under the care of Sanford Hospice on Dec. 21, 2020. She was also comforted by family in her final days. Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 at St. John's Catholic Church, New Rockford, N.D. Burial was held at St. John's Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford. Fr. Courtright, Fr. Ermer and Fr. Weber officiated with special music by Annette Hovey. Casket bearers were Andrew Schaefer, Jack Schaefer, Benjamin Schaefer,...

  • Obituary: Jean Irmen

    Jan 11, 2021

    Jean Marie Irmen, 68, Minot, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 27, 2020 in her home. Jean Marie was born on July 3, 1952, a daughter of Arthur and Alberta (Klumph) Irmen in New Rockford, N.D. She was raised and educated in New Rockford, graduating from St. James High School in 1970. Jeani furthered her education by attending the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, where she graduated as an LPN. She began a career in healthcare by working at the Carrington Nursing home....

  • Sermonette: January 11, 2021

    Pr. Jeff Halverson|Jan 11, 2021

    A Happy and Blessed New Year to you. I've got a question for you. How many of you made a new year resolution this year? I have another question. How many of those resolutions are still being kept? My guess is not very many but hopefully I'm wrong. Unfortunately, many of these resolutions that do fail to work are worthwhile and following through with them would certainly be beneficial to you and those around you. Some very good resolutions that you may have made might have been to quit smoking, start exercising, start eating healthy, cut down...

  • History of New Rockford: January 11, 2021

    K.C. Gardner Jr.|Jan 11, 2021

    On Oct. 9-10 [postponed from 2 to 3], 1903, the FEW Tri-County Teachers’ Association met in Fessenden. Several teachers drove over for the meeting. Eddy County participants included a discussion of psychology and education with New Rockford principal Robert T. Muir; Miss May H. Young of New Rockford presenting “Organization of a School and Value of Daily Program”; a discussion of “The Value and Selection of Seat Work” led by Miss Olive Saunders of New Rockford. On Oct. 10, R.U. Austin, W...

  • We the People: Reversing Electoral College vote?

    David Adler|Jan 11, 2021

    Efforts by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to subvert the clerk-like, ministerial and ceremonial counting of electoral votes on January 6 is a witches’ brew for undermining the Constitution and American Democracy. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb) has justly characterized as a “dangerous ploy” the efforts of President Donald Trump and a handful of congressional Republicans to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Trump’s pitch to Vice President Mike Pence to throw out the duly certified votes for President...

  • Savvy Senior: How Seniors Can Make Their Bathrooms Safer and Easier to Use

    Jim Miller|Jan 11, 2021

    Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom senior-friendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems and fell getting out of the bathtub last month. I’d like to modify her bathroom with some safety features that can help keep her safe. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Great question! Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify, especially for seniors with mobility or balance p...

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