Amy Olson of Minot has joined Sen. John Hoeven's, R-N.D., Minot office as an intern.
"Our internship program attracts bright and energetic North Dakota students, like Amy, who are interested in giving back to the community through public service," Hoeven said. "These students bring great energy and talent to the office and provide valuable insights on some of our state's and nation's most pressing issues."
Olson is a 2008 graduate of Minot High School and is a senior at Minot State University in Minot, triple majoring in Spanish, Spanish education, and public relations. At Minot State University, Olson is involved in student government and is president of their chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.
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Submitted Photo - - Amy Olson of Minot has joined Sen. John Hoeven’s, R-N.D., Minot office as an intern.
"I'm honored to be working for Senator Hoeven at his Minot office. I hope that I can be of service to North Dakotans impacted by the recent flooding and help them to continue their lives here in North Dakota," Olson said. "I look forward to learning and growing from this valuable experience."
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REAP awards contract to MSU
The Great Plains Center for Community Research and Service at Minot State University has been awarded a $69,000 contract from the Rural Economic Area Partnership Investment Fund, Inc., to complete a project intended to enhance the economic development network across the state.
The center will use a web-based delivery system where both community volunteers and professional developers will have access to training, best practices, networking, educational videos and mentoring opportunities.
"We are pleased to have been chosen for this project as it fits very well into our mission of serving rural communities," said Great Plains Center for Community Research and Service director Neil Scharpe, in a press release. "We plan to create a platform that continues to encourage collaboration and information sharing and will be valuable, particularly to new developers and those in rural communities."
Great Plains Center for Community Research and Service will be working with Cavalier County Job Development Authority and SJB Consulting in Dickinson, both of which received sub-grants, for a year. The project will provide groups with access to new tools for economic development and a central location for information and education, according to a press release.
The Rural Economic Area Partnership Investment Fund conducted an assessment of people working in economic development, using individual interviews and a web-based survey conducted with those offices, as well as staff from the USDA Rural Development State Office and Dickinson Office, NDSU Extension Service Center for Community Vitality, North Dakota Department of Commerce Division of Community Services and the Economic Development Association of North Dakota. The assessment began in May and data was gathered by the end of August. In October, the Rural Economic Area Partnership made a call for proposals to implement a work program.
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Police academy still open at Lake Region
Registrations still are being accepted for the Minot Police Academy which begins on Jan. 17.
The Minot session of the program was made possible by a partnership between the Ward County Sheriff's Office, Minot Police Department, Minot State University, and Devils Lake-based Lake Region State College.
In a press release issued by Lake Region, Lloyd Halvorson, director of the Peace Officer Training program said about 10 slots remain.
"We've had strong interest in the program with 18 students ready to start in January," he said.
The academy can handle a maximum of 28 students.
The Peace Officer Training Program is a one-semester ND Peace Officer Standards and Training-approved basic academy that has trained approximately 1,200 license eligible graduates since 1987. A law enforcement partnership similar to this one was forged with the Grand Forks Police Department in 2010 and the Fargo Police Department in 2002.
Lake Region State College is collaborating with the Criminal Justice Department at Minot State University so that Criminal Justice majors at the university will have the opportunity to complete this training as part of their bachelor degree plan, Halvorson said.
"Being able to partner with Minot State University helps serve students and the community. The Peace Officer program will be built into the Criminal Justice degree at Minot State. Qualified students can plan their four year Criminal Justice Degree Program so that they can graduate with both a bachelor's degree and academy certification," he said.
Halvorson said adding the Minot academy location gives Lake Region State College the opportunity to provide a needed educational service for western North Dakota in a flexible and accessible manner.
"The program has an almost perfect employment rate for students that actively pursue a position after graduation," Halvorson said. "If the graduate is willing to go to where the openings are, all of them will be afforded the opportunity to work as a full-time police officer or deputy sheriff in North Dakota."
Those interested in attending the Minot academy should contact the peace officer training program at 662-1681 or send e-mail to (lloyd.halvorson@lrsc.edu).
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Ed tech group gets USDA grant
The North Dakota Educational Technology Council has received a $392,277 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to upgrade distance learning classrooms in 46 schools across the state, according to a press release. New equipment will replace older video technology that is no longer serviceable and out of date. The grant funds will be matched by state funds to purchase and install the video classroom equipment.
Area schools receiving funding will include Carrington, Goodrich, Harvey, McClusky, Mohall, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Newburg-United, St. John, Standing Rock, Surrey, Granville, Towner, Westhope, Beulah, Center-Stanton, Garrison, Glenburn, Halliday, Hazen, Kenmare, Berthold, Max, Parshall, Turtle Lake-Mercer, Underwood and Wilton High Schools.
The technology upgrades will be instituted over the next year.
Rural schools offer courses over interactive television. More than 3,100 high school students are enrolled in classes delivered via video. Some rural schools have found it difficult to hire qualified teachers and the video network enables schools to reliably send and receive courses by video, thus sharing math, science and other teachers with neighboring districts.
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Farm Rescue group picks up $100K grant
Farm Rescue has received a $100,000 grant from the WalMart Foundation. The organization was voted as the nonprofit of choice among WalMart associates through their Associate Choice Program. This online campaign allows associates to select one nonprofit organization to receive funding within their home state.
Farm Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which provides free planting and harvesting assistance to farm families that have experienced an unexpected major injury, illness or natural disaster. The organization gives families a chance to continue their livelihood by providing equipment and volunteers to plant or harvest crops in a timely manner. Since operations began in 2006, Farm Rescue has assisted 160 farm families across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana.
Selfless people from 15 states have traveled to the Upper Midwest to help farm families as volunteers through Farm Rescue. WalMart associates have been among the growing volunteer team. WalMart has been a sponsor since the inception of the nonprofit organization six years ago.
"We are very thankful to be the winner of the Associate Choice Program," said Bill Gross, founder and president of Farm Rescue. "I have always said one of the best things about Farm Rescue is that it creates an avenue for businesses and individuals to help farm families in a time of need. We provide an opportunity for farm families to continue viable operations for future generations. The success of our mission in helping family farmers bridge crises is due to the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers."
Farm Rescue is currently accepting applications for spring planting assistance. For more information or to make an online donation, visit (www.farmrescue.org).