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IPY $1.00 ISSUE NUMBER 40 • PARK RIVER, NORTH DAKOTA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014
Things are heating up after up to
20 inches of snow were dumped
on Walsh County just a week ago
Photos: Larry Biri
Left: Ty Tharlakson of Park River went in search of
grass last Friday as he had his toy lawn mower
ready to go but with the recent blizzard he tried it
out for snow removal instead. Right: Not everyone
was upset aut last week's spring blizzard.Cam-
den Riskey (Front) and brother Shay take advan-
tage of the recent snow for some snowcatting with
dad Brent Riskey. The three comprise Riskeyrac-
ing. The blizzard set snowfall records in Grand Forks
and Bismarck. Grafton received the most snow from
the storm with 20 inches. This week, higher tem-
peratures have made quick puddles of last week's
snowfall indicating spring may not be too far
away.
Walsh County committee selects economic development strategies
GRAFTON, N.D. -- The Walsh
County Strategy Committee met on
April 2 and 3 to begin a five-year eco-
nomic development strategic plan
that will be recommended to the
Walsh County Job Development Au-
thority and the Red River Regional
Council for adoption in the near future.
During the two-day meeting, the Strat-
egy Committee reviewed statistical in-
formation on the current state of the
county and regional economy; evalu-
ated key success factors, assessed the
community's organizational capacity;
hosted a Town Hall meeting; and se-
lected economic development strate-
gies that should be pursued within the
county.
"We used the Building Communi-
ties planning process which provided
a way to effectively evaluate 25 dif-
ferent economic development strate-
gies based on our key strengths and
abilities to be successful," said Dawn
New pesticide inspector
to be based in Park l00er
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Agri-
culture Commissioner Doug
Goehring has appointed An-
drew Erickson as a pesticide in-
spector for the North Dakota
Department of Agriculture
(NDDA).
"Andrew has firsthand ex-
perience in using pesticides,"
Goehring said. "His academic
background and work experi-
ence will help him in working
with producers to ensure com-
pliance with pesticide laws and
regulations."
A native of Grand Forks,
Erickson graduated from the
University of North Dakota
with a degree in fish and
wildlife biology. He worked
as a pesticide applicator for
the Walsh County Soil
Keeley, Executive Director, Red Riv-
er Regional Council. "This process ac-
tually opened our eyes to some of our
strengths that perhaps we had not
readily identified as key to potential
new technology-based business de-
velopment taking advantage of our
strong technology infrastructure in
the region and the trend in today's
world, you can work from anywhere."
The same planning process has been
utilized in the 19-county Vision West
ND project in western North Dakota
in the past two years with completion
of 26 economic development strategies
and a regional plan.
"It was a breath of fresh air to see
our area community and business
leaders come to the table to provide in-
put and get feedback," said Sen. Tom
Campbell. "Our area has a lot of po-
tential and I was excited to spend time
with these enthusiastic people who are
energized about the future of Walsh
County. I appreciate the Walsh Coun-
ty JDA and the Red Regional Coun-
cil hosting this conversation and
learned so much more about the re-
sources these agencies provide."
The Walsh County Strategy Com-
mittee selected 14 economic devel-
opment strategies including: Business
Economlc Stx'a teies
Co, vx, page' 6
Dundee Mutual of PR celebrates 125 years
By Luther Meberg
PARK RIVER, N.D. -- The
Dundee Mutual Insurance
Company of Park River is cel-
ebrating its 125th anniversary
this year. On March 14, 1889,
a group of farmers in Dundee
Township, Walsh County, met
and organized the Dundee,
Walsh County Farmers Mutu-
al Fire
Insurance Company, which
was later shortened to its current
name.
This group of 30 Charter
The first fire policy was. issued
June lO, 1889 to Ole H. Kmde. In
189o, the first claim was paid to
T.H. Kmde for loss of a calf
killed by lightning."
members were community-
minded individuals who rec-
ognized the need for low cost,
adequate fire insurance on rural
farm property. They were per-
mitted to form this corporation
by an act of the Legislature of
Dakota Territory passed on
February 25, 1887.
The company exists and
functions for the purpose of pro-
viding the best possible pro-
tection against hazards out-
lined in the policy at the lowest
possible cost. As a county mu-
tual insurance company, this or-
ganization is owned by the pol-
icy-holders and they meet once
a year to elect the Board mem-
bers and transact whatever oth-
er business as needed. The
Board of Directors is the gov-
eming board. They meet peri-
odically to make decslons
which effect the operation of the
Dundee Mutual
Cowe. page 5
Obituaries
See page' 2
PRA math students excel
See p,a,g,e 8
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From "Frozen"
Hylden to have book signing
See page 6
In celebration of reading
See pag, e 9
