2022: The Year in Review

Full of history-making firsts, exciting developments and unfortunate tragedy, 2022 was undoubtedly a memorable year, and the “New Rockford Transcript” captured it all in our weekly paper.

This is the final installment of our year-in-review series, which caps off the year’s stories from September through December, a period of the year which was filled with important local news events.

Grace City teen killed in McHenry

Perhaps the most memorable story from 2022 was the tragic death of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson after a street dance in McHenry on Sept. 18.

Shannon Brandt has been charged with murder following the events of that day, which garnered national media attention and stoked outrage nationwide. Brandt’s jury trial, scheduled to begin on May 30, is sure to be another major story in 2023.

Bird Dawg Cafe goes loco

In October of last year, it was announced that one of New Rockford’s favorite dining destinations, the Bird Dawg Cafe, would be undergoing an exciting rebrand, complete with a new name and logo, as well as new and diverse menu options.

LaRae Sifuentes said the new name, inspired by stories of her family’s history with the cafe as well as her children, is Loco Ketchup Cafe. Sifuentes also said they’d be adding more Mexican fare to the menu, which she has followed through on in the months since.

Battling with Bailey

Last fall, 16-year-old Bailey Jacobson went to see the doctor with a cough, and learned that she’d been diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma, the same cancer her sister Taylin had at age 6 in 2018.

In the months afterward, the community rallied to support Bailey and her family. Communities throughout the state showed their support at volleyball games during the season. The fundraiser benefit for Bailey held in early November was also a huge success.

NR-S and Maddock forge forward with football co-op

One of the more exciting stories from late in the year, was the news that NR-S and Maddock Public School would be coming together to form a new football co-op beginning in the 2023 season.

NR-S head coach, Elliott Belquist, said he’s looking forward to the new co-op, saying that Maddock should have a few upperclassmen that can help the team achieve success in 2023, and hopefully beyond.

Charges filed against hunter and landowner after video goes viral

Last November, Charges were filed after a videotaped altercation between a group of hunters and a local landowner went viral on social media.

The video, which has amassed millions of views on social media, showed Jeffery Erman berating a group of hunters in eastern Eddy County. Erman now faces multiple charges, and one of the hunters was also charged with criminal trespass. Both originally pleaded not guilty.

Making History

In their first trip to the Region 4 championship in school history on Wednesday, Nov. 9, the NR-S volleyball team defeated the Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich Cardinals three sets to one, handing their opponents their first loss in the championship game in eight years.

The Rockets then traveled to Bismarck for the State Class B Volleyball Tournament Nov. 17-19, and walked away with an impressive fifth place showing.

County seeks funds to remove Hanson bridge

At their December meeting, Eddy County Commissioners heard from Interstate Engineering about removing the bridge on 6th Street North in New Rockford, known locally as “Hanson Bridge.”

The bridge, which is closed for safety reasons, is one of four structures in Eddy County listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, citing those safety concerns, commissioners told Interstate Engineering to pursue the funding necessary to have it removed.

Roof collapses on 100-yr-old theatre

The year 2022 ended with the awful news that the Rockford Theatre in downtown New Rockford would be indefinitely closed after its roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow in late December.

Thousands of dollars have since been raised to ensure the historic theatre can one day re-open, something theatre manager Glenda Collier has assured residents will definitely happen.