Den Kuhnemund of Souris Basin Transportation, Minot, took first place in the North Dakota division of the Dakota Transit Association Roadeo in Minot Sept. 19. A four-time national winner, Kuhnemund, of Rugby, will represent North Dakota at the national event in Portland, Ore., next May.

Souris Basin Transportation also was named the North Dakota DTA Innovative Agency during the DTA conference in Minot.

Ralph Miller, Minot, Souris Basin Transportation, received the North Dakota DTA Driver of the Year and North Dakota DTA Above and Beyond awards.

Other place winners in the roadeo were: second, Terry Condon, Standing Rock Public Transit, Ft. Yates; third, Laurel Buchholz of Minot, Souris Basin Transportation; fourth, Craig Kohl, West River Transit, Bismarck; and fifth, Susan Bohmbach of Parshall, Souris Basin Transportation.

The roadeo is an opportunity for paratransit drivers to gain recognition for their driving skills. The competition includes a written test, pre-trip inspection, wheelchair securement and driving course.

The DTA was formed in 1985 to address the need for greater communication between transportation providers and to serve as a unified voice for public transportation agencies within the states of North and South Dakota at the national level.