2023: The Year in Review

Another year has come and gone, which means it’s time to look back on what was an eventful 2023 to say the least.

Just here in Eddy County a local business reopened, a local legend was honored in Sheyenne, a superintendent faced calls to resign, a big cooperative merger passed and so much more.

For the next few weeks, the Transcript will be telling the story of 2023 via the stories that appeared in our newspaper. This week, we’re looking back on the months of May through August.

Loco Ketchup Café reopens

After a months-long struggle to reopen their doors, the Loco Ketchup Café resumed business on May 9.

The cafe planned to host a grand re-opening just in time for the summer months, and owner LaRae Sifuentes was ready to get reopened.

“I’m really excited to get going, to see everybody and to get busy,” she stated.

Nelson replaces Lura at Central Pharmacy

Kody Lura, the longtime pharmacist at Central Pharmacy in New Rockford, stepped down from his position to enter a new chapter of his life and career.

So too did Madison Nelson, née Wendel, who took over for Lura on June 1.

A Carrington native and 2014 CHS graduate, Nelson recently earned her doctor of pharmacy from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. in 2022.

"No truck left"

On Friday evening, May 26, multiple residents reported a pair of explosions as a semi-truck became consumed by flames on the south end of New Rockford.

The call came in at approximately 5:15 p.m., and emergency responders were soon on the scene as black smoke billowed into the air.

Fire crews quickly extinguished the flames and as the smoke dissipated, what was left behind appeared to be the burnt remains of a semi-truck – now almost unrecognizable.

The mangled vehicle was facing north on 8th Street South, less than 100 yards from the railroad crossing and Fessenden Co-op Association elevator.

Schaefer, Alfstad prevail in NR-S school election

The votes were tallied, and the unofficial results of New Rockford-Sheyenne’s June 6 school board election showed Mike Schaefer and Kyle Alfstad as the winners.

With 225 total ballots cast, the district saw – by far – the most participation for an election in years.

According to NR-S Business Manager Dave Skogen, school board elections have typically only seen around 20 to 30 voters cast a ballot in recent years.

Honoring a local legend

A famous rodeo cowboy with local roots has a permanent home inside a community institution.

Duane Howard, a native of Minnewaukan and long-time resident of Sheyenne, passed away in 2015 known as one of the most successful bull riders in the country.

Last summer, as a way to honor his memory and the legacy he left behind, a display featuring trophies and photos from his rodeo days was installed at the Ostby Hall in Sheyenne.

Louters facing calls to resign

Despite receiving a letter last month that requests her resignation, New Rockford-Sheyenne Superintendent Jill Louters doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

The letter Dr. Louters received was generated by concerned parents and taxpayers and was circulated throughout the district, where it gathered 113 signatures from those who agree with its message.

“We no longer feel that you are a good fit for our school,” states the letter, which was obtained by the Transcript. “It is time for new leadership. Therefore we respectfully request that you submit your resignation to the NR-S board of education.”

Ready for takeoff?

During the Eddy County Commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, New Rockford Commission President Stu Richter presented a multi-million dollar plan to “reclaim” Tomlinson Field.

It wasn’t the first time Richter had appeared before the commission to discuss the local airport, but it was the first time county commissioners seemed particularly receptive to the proposal.

Previously, Richter had approached the commission about plans to rebuild the airport’s hangar, which was blown away in a 2018 straight-line wind storm. However, on this occasion he told commissioners that the plan to replace the hangar has been scrapped.

Cooperative merger passes

Fessenden Cooperative Association and CenDak Cooperative announced that they would join forces in the new year.

The merger was made official on Monday, Aug. 21, when member-owners met separately with their respective cooperatives in Maddock, N.D. to vote on the proposed “Unification Agreement,” which was announced earlier in the month and already approved by both boards of directors.