701 Rundown: September 11, 2023

Here’s your weekly rundown of some of the most interesting headlines from newspapers across North Dakota.

Active threat drill held at Hope-Page school

On Monday, Aug. 14, emergency crews with Steele County and the surrounding area participated in a training exercise at Hope-Page High School in Hope, N.D.

The exercise simulated a full-scale emergency involving an active shooter, and multiple agencies were able to practice how to handle such a tragic situation.

Agencies participating in the drill included first responders, fire departments and emergency crews from Hope and Finley, as well as the Steele County Sheriff’s Department, Steele County Emergency Management, Traill County Sheriff’s Department, Griggs County Sheriff’s Department, N.D. Highway Patrol and the West Traill Ambulance.

Steele County Sheriff Wayne Beckman said that when these types of exercises are done, it’s important that all agencies involved maintain focus and learn as much as possible.

Active shooter drills are held in over 95 percent of schools in the United States. Steele County Director of Emergency Management/911 Coordinator, Ben Gates, said that they are taught that this specific type of training is good every 3-5 years.

He added, however, that it’s all dependent on staff turnover and other aspects that determine whether such training exercises need to be conducted sooner or later.

“For this specific training, we had an actor playing our aggressor that is literally running the halls of the school firing a blank weapon,” said Gates. “Law enforcement is equipped with similar weapons, and they have to enter the building and deal with the aggressor appropriately.

“From there, Fire and EMS have the job of dealing with the patients that come out of the building,” added Gates.

(Story by Lisa Saxberg, Steele County Press)

New Post 25 leaders look to the future

John Raymond O'Hara American Legion Post 25 of Carrington took a giant step towards securing its future viability as a veterans' service organization.

At a community meeting held on Tuesday, August 22, at the Carrington City Library, the post elected Tom Sauby as the new Commander of Post 25 and Ryan Zink the new Adjutant.

The ascension of Sauby and Zink ensures that "younger blood" will oversee the leadership of the post for the foreseeable years to come, and that recruitment of younger local veterans to membership will be a priority moving forward.

It also means the retirement of former Commander Bob Scott from the top position, who has been a member of John Raymond O'Hara Post 25 with distinction for 27 years since 1996.

Scott served two 12-month terms in Vietnam, and also 16 months overseas in Korean defense.

"With two people going to be here full-time, the post can do more things for the community," said Scott. "Right now, we've only really been able to do Memorial Day and Veterans Day services, and that's it."

He explained that with Adjutant Geoff Theurer's impending move to Wisconsin, there became a potential leadership vacuum at the top of Post 25.

But with Sauby and Zink in the fold, things should be more stable for John Raymond O'Hara.

"It's whatever Tom decides to do, since he's the commander now," Scott added.

Post 25 was in danger of closure if post membership did not show signs of increasing, which was one of the main points of emphasis driven home by North Dakota American Legion senior leadership in attendance at the meeting.

(Story by Erik Gjovik, the Foster County Independent)

Rolla family trapped in disastrous Hawaiian fire

A convention took the Canapi family of Rolla to the O'ahu island of Hawaii in early August.

After the three day event ended, the group of four headed to Maui as tourists looking to spend some time on the island known for its world-famous beaches.

What they got instead was an up-close look at disaster, tragedy and heartbreak.

“It was really emotional when you see people who’ve lost everything,” said Romel Canapi, who is the director of lab service at SMP Health St. Kateri Hospital in Rolla.

Romel and his family arrived on the island Sunday morning, a day before the first fires were detected. A restaurant the family attended Tuesday was totally destroyed a day later.

The family was trapped for long time without electricity or internet service, and had a travel directly through some of the worst-hit locations before they were finally able to travel home.

One of the places they traveled through was Lahaina.

“There was nothing left but the cinder blocks of houses,” Romel said. “We felt sad and sorry for the locals who lived there. Nothing was left, all their possessions, those things of sentimental value, were all lost.”

(Story by Jason Nordmark, Turtle Mountain Star)

DRMC announces resignation of Middleton

Dakota Regional Medical Center (DRMC) of Cooperstown has accepted the resignation of Deb Middleton, FNP-BC. Currently in her 10th year of working with their organization, Middleton will be finished there effective October 2.

According to DRMC CEO Nikki Lindsey, Middleton had been talking for the last few years about how it was getting more difficult to commute to Cooperstown from her home which is over two hours away due to the fact that her grandchildren were growing up, and she was missing their activities.

“During that time, we worked with her to try and help with some schedule changes to allow for more time off,” said Lindsey. “It just didn’t always work out, especially while trying to maintain consistent coverage at our 2 clinic locations in New Rockford and Lakota. This is the main reason she voiced to the administration that she was needing to resign.”

Lindsey went on to explain that recently Middleton had also found out she needed to have a fairly urgent minor medical procedure that would keep her out of work for an undetermined amount of time.

“This short notice, understandably, is upsetting to our clients, and we apologize for that,” said Lindsey. “Unforeseen circumstances make things hard at times, that is for sure, but we are dealing with it as best as we can.

“With this being her 10th year working with us, I do believe that is the longest she has worked at one location, so we are completely honored that she gave us so many years of her time and dedication.”

(Story by Lisa Saxberg, Griggs County Courier)