Minot boy to be honored by ND Highway Patrol
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The winter storms of April were memorable for the mountains of snow and ice dumped on the region and for the examples of sacrifice and charity from individuals and organizations in the days that followed them. One such individual was 11-year-old Dayson Dannewitz of Minot, who will be awarded the Colonel's Award for Excellence by the North Dakota Highway Patrol for his actions aiding two stranded patrol officers.
Dayson and his father David Dannewitz woke up to find the world snowbound on April 13, and decided to go cruising around on their snowmobiles near their home south of Minot. While their snowmobiles had no issue zipping across the snowbound roads, most other travel had been shut down, and they passed ditches filled with ditched semis and other vehicles.
Among the stranded were two N.D. Highway Patrol troopers coming off their shift, but who found themselves stuck going nowhere fast as the snow continued to pile up.
"They had reached out to Dakota Trailblazers, the snowmobiling club, but we happened to be right there," David Dannewitz said.
The Dannewitz’s initially helped the troopers dig their vehicles out, but found them in the ditch again a little farther down the road. The troopers hitched a ride into town with the Dannewitz duo, grateful to be returned to safety.
The Colonel's Award is given to citizens or employees who have performed actions that benefit the Highway Patrol and the state, and will be presented to Dayson on June 16 in Minot.