2024 Rewind: Jan. 20, 2025

In addition to setting new resolutions and looking forward to the next 365 days, the new year is also a great time to look back on the previous year and the moments which made it special and unique.

And there’s plenty to look back on in Eddy County from 2024.

This week, the Transcript will review a number of the most interesting articles published last year between the months of September through December.

Former Eddy County deputy charged with Class C felony – published Sept. 16

Michael Beaver, the former sheriff of Griggs County and a former deputy in both Eddy and Wells counties, was charged with a felony last September for tampering with public records.

The charge relates to Beaver’s time as Griggs County Sheriff earlier last year, and his response to a controversy about aggressive policing at a community event.

Beaver was criticized by residents and Griggs County commissioners when several troopers of the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) were patrolling in and around Cooperstown the night of an annual April fundraiser called, “The Smoker.”

According to court documents, he told commissioners in April that he only requested one additional trooper, and then submitted a redacted email chain between himself and the N.D. Highway Patrol showing he hadn’t requested assistance specifically for the charity fundraiser.

However, court documents allege that the email chain he showed commissioners – which is a government record – was altered by Beaver.

Local EMT aids hurricane survivors – published Oct. 21

Hurricanes Helene and Milton pummeled much of Florida and the southeast United States last fall.

In their aftermath, close to 300 people lost their lives and hundreds more had been rescued as of October 14. Many thousands more also suffered severe damage to their homes and property.

As pictures and video continued to emerge, people throughout the country got a sense of just how much devastation the region suffered.

Thankfully for residents of the region, they had the help of emergency response personnel from across the country, including New Rockford-Sheyenne alum Josh Homiston, an EMT now living and working in Lisbon, N.D.

City, Mindy’s Clubhouse negotiate lease terms – published Nov. 4

The lease allowing Mindy’s Clubhouse daycare to operate in the Brown Memorial Auditorium in New Rockford expired on Friday, Nov. 1, and a newly-proposed lease had owner Mindy Dockter looking for investors to acquire their own building.

The proposed lease – which included a $300 per month rent hike – came as discussions had been ongoing in recent months between Mindy’s Clubhouse and the City of New Rockford about expanding the daycare further into the Brown Memorial Auditorium.

However, those plans had been met with resistance by some individuals concerned the daycare center’s use could limit the building’s availability for other community activities and events. The two parties finally agreed to terms earlier this month.

Fatal train collision in Eddy County– published Nov. 11

At approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, local first responders were called to the scene of a fatal vehicle versus train collision about 2 1/2 miles northwest of New Rockford, N.D.

The collision took place near the intersection of 64th Avenue NE and 20th Street NE in Eddy County, involving a train from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway and a BNSF service vehicle.

Eddy County Sheriff Paul Lies told the New Rockford Transcript that the BNSF service crew was out there to begin work on the railroad tracks when their vehicle was struck.

The driver's side of the service vehicle was hit directly by the locomotive, and Lies said the vehicle's driver – identified Tuesday, Nov. 5 as 58-year-old Darrin Polansky of Brainerd, Minn. – was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Rockets make history at Dakota Bowl XXXII – published Nov. 25

The New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock Rockets are the 2024 N.D. 9-man football state champions.

The Rockets claimed their second state title in program history on Friday, Nov. 15, as they triumphed over the LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes in a record-breaking 62-26 victory at the Dakota Bowl.

The two undefeated squads had been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state throughout this season, and they'd consistently proven themselves in a league of their own. But in a battle of heavyweights at the Fargodome, the Rockets proved a cut above the rest.

Local architects and designers take on theatre rebuild – published Dec. 23

The Rockford Theatre rebuild took another significant step toward reality late last year.

JLG Architects, a regional architectural firm, completed much of the design and engineering for the new theatre, including a proposed rendering, specifications and floor plan.

The renderings show a vibrant new theatre that's reminiscent of its former look, and the floor plans show an improved layout with a modern interior.

The architectural firm is loaded with local talent, including Tracy (Cudworth) Jordre of Warwick, a Principal Architect for JLG; and Riley Longnecker, a 2017 graduate of New Rockford-Sheyenne and Project Associate with JLG.

Choosing a different path – published Dec. 30

The Eddy County Sheriff’s Department welcomed a new deputy to their office just before the new year.

Tristin Peltier’s first day on the job as an Eddy County Sheriff’s Deputy was on Christmas Day, Dec. 25 – a fitting start to a new chapter for him and his family.

Peltier said much of his prior law enforcement experience comes from the other side of the law, and it’s what inspired him to pursue police work in the first place.

“Growing up, all my life my family seemed to have poor decisions included. So I just wanted to make a difference in my family and show that I can be better,” said Peltier.