Greetings Everybody,

• The winds of change are in the air for Sue and me as our commission president/mayoral term concludes on June 30th. I am very grateful for Sue’s help and support over the years. Not every day was “peaches and cream”! There were times when I brought the job home and shouldn’t have—sorry Sue.  There were many good days as well and the overall experience was gratifying. Remember “Every end is the result of a new beginning” Thank you.
• I have debts of gratitude owed to so many.  As most of you know, for tasks to be accomplished, “it takes a village.” Support from the city staff, city commissioners, Valley City citizens, the North Dakota League of Cities, and Missouri River Energy Services—to name a few—was critical for any success we may have achieved. Thank you.
• One of the administrative successes for our city, county, VCPS, and VCSU was “Leadership Coffee”. VCSU President Tisa organized this monthly meeting with the Barnes County Commission Chairman, the VCPS Superintendent, and the VC Commission President/Mayor. Meetings consisted of discussing challenges and ways we could partner to solve them. Thank you all.
• Citizens of Valley City, please know that you are served by a team of employees who excel at their jobs and take pride in their work. A primary reason for this is that administration actively boosts morale through team-building activities, educational training, and, of course, occasional potluck meals and games. I am proud to have been associated with this Valley City team. Thank you.
• It is fitting that I give a shout out to all of the commissioners with whom I have been honored to serve during my tenure. Much time and effort are necessary to be an effective commissioner. Commissioners have to arrange time away from their families and jobs to serve our community.  An example would be the time required in preparing for meetings as it isn’t unusual to have 175 pages of material to review for a commission meeting.  Thank you all.
• A special thank you to a very good commissioner who wasn’t re-elected this time. Jeff Erickson has devotedly served the citizens of Valley City for eight years and will be sorely missed. Thank you, Jeff.
• “News & Notes” will be taking a break, but will return July 20th. Thank you for your support and kindness.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

      Howdy All,▪     
Thank you to all who organized and facilitated the many events comprising a very successful “Valley City Community Days.” Sue and I attended a number of the fun, well-attended events, beginning
with Thursday evening’s Summer Nights on Central, and continuing through the Bridge City Cruisers Show, Peggy Lee Day, the parade, the car show, and the concluding street dance featuring “Trainwreck.”▪     
A few notes from the day: a large number of
morning parade units ambled by a huge, friendly crowd for more than an hour.
The car show had a record 250 registrations, with a plethora of quality units
for viewing. Food trucks, mini soapbox racing, a cornhole tournament were some
of the offerings that kept people engaged late into the afternoon.  Thank you to all who visited the events and
to everyone who participated.▪     
A quick shout-out to Myron, Jenneice, and Bonnie Sommerfeld—famous for “Myron Sommerfeld and His Orchestra” performing “Music of the Stars” for swing and ballroom dancing lovers. Kudos to them for creating another wonderful program featuring the life and music of Peggy
Lee, a pioneering female artist who both sang and wrote music of her era. Visit
the displays at our Valley City Barnes County Museum for more information.▪     
I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced with our
water distribution. The company contracted to remove two of our old water
towers had a sudden schedule change and arrived a bit early.  Again, I sincerely apologize for the
disruption. ▪     
Our Public Works Department has been spraying for weeds and mosquitoes, though the
weather has not been cooperating due to recent rain, wind, and cool
temperatures. However, progress is being made. We are also trying a new pothole
repair process that seems to be working well, though the
weather needs to be “right” for it—much like the mosquito spraying. Thank you, folks.▪     
Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.•            
“The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an
extent that it changes the world you see.”  ~ Dr. Robert Holden

          Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,DaveDave Carlsrud

Greetings All,

• We could sure use a little rain in our part of town, as some of the grasses are already stressing. I was visiting with some folks from the rural parts of our county; while their farms have good moisture, the conditions are pretty spotty overall.
• Valley City Community Days kicks off this Thursday with “Summer Nights on Central” starting at 5:30 PM! Come out and enjoy food, music, booths, dancing and fellowship.
• Friday and Saturday will feature a plethora of events, including Peggy Lee Day, the Bridge City Cruisers Cruise, the Saturday Parade at 10:00 AM, a car show expecting over 200 entries, a cornhole tournament, a road race and more!  You are cordially invited to come downtown Valley City and join us — hope to see you there!  “Thank you” to all the Chamber SPONSORS.
• The Barnes County Courthouse is celebrating its 100th birthday this Saturday, June 20, 2026, in conjunction with Community Days! There will be free cake and ice cream from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM on the south courthouse lawn. YAY!
• Thank you to everyone who stepped up as a candidate for office in this year’s elections. There are many important committee and board positions available across our city, county, schools, churches, and healthcare facilities. Please explore these opportunities or look into your favorite charities; get involved. You may find the experience incredibly rewarding.
• There is a number of unkept yards around town with long grass and junk items that make the properties look awful. PLEASE maintain your yard so the beauty of your neighborhood can be readily seen. If you have friends or neighbors who are physically challenged and need help, please, step up and assist them. Thank you.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• ” There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”  ~ John Holmes

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Hi Folks,

• The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday (the semiquincentennial) on July 4, 2026, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Nationwide, events are spearheaded by two main organizations: the congressionally established America250 and the White House-backed Freedom250 task force.  ~Wikipedia
• Two-hundred and fifty years ago, June 6, 1776, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia met to review official letters concerning the failing military campaign in Canada, while setting the stage for the formal introduction of the Lee Resolution, which officially called for American independence from Great Britain. Simultaneously, George Washington arrived in New York City after spending two weeks consulting with Congress, immediately resuming command of the Continental Army to hastily fortify the city against the impending British invasion. ~ The American Founding
• “Thank you to Scott Miller, Melissa Remick, and the whole team who managed the Sheyenne Valley Soap Box Derby. It looked like folks were having fun, even though it was pretty toasty out there on Saturday!  A flashback: many … many years ago, Tim Kadrmas managed the Optimist Soap Box Derby.
• The warm weather and recent rains have brought out beautiful leaves on the trees, along with rich, green grass. Because the vibrant lawns are growing so quickly, please remember that the maximum allowable grass height is 8 inches. Please mow your lawn, pick up any debris, and keep your property looking its best. Thank you, and enjoy the season!
• Harmon Killebrew hit his most famous “tape-measure” home run a staggering 522 feet (originally estimated at 520 feet). He launched this historic bomb at Metropolitan Stadium on June 3, 1967, off California Angels pitcher Lew Burdette.
• What a great deal, National Donut Day or National Doughnut Day in the United States is celebrated twice, on consecutive Fridays. The celebration is in honor of Salvation Army members who served doughnuts to Soldiers in WWI.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• ”The Yankees don’t pay me to win every day, just two out of three.”  ~ Casey Stengel

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Hello Everybody,

• Thanks to the Salvation Army, this Friday is National Donut Day or National Doughnut Day in the United States and some other countries. In 1938 the Chicago Salvation Army created the donut event in honor of those Salvation Army members who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. 
• There have been a number of fire and rescue calls recently, please drive safely and be careful with fire. 
• Thank you to the Valley City, ND League of Women Voters for facilitating the candidate forum. There was a very nice crowd in attendance, and a big thanks to Steve and Ryan from KOVC for broadcasting it over the airwaves. A huge shout out goes to all of the candidates, especially those who appeared at the forum!  BE INFORMED AND VOTE! It is our responsibility.
• Why is Valley City a Municipal Power Community?  Being a municipal power community is advantageous because it prioritizes local public service over corporate profit. This model results in lower electricity rates, faster response times during outages, and direct community reinvestment. Unlike investor-owned utilities that answer to distant shareholders, municipally owned utilities are owned and governed by the citizens they serve. In fact, public power customers pay roughly 13% to 15% less on their monthly bills compared to those served by private utilities. To help maintain these advantages, Valley City partners with Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), a not-for-profit joint action agency.
• On Saturday, Fargo and Moorhead hosted the 22nd Annual Fargo Marathon, which drew about 1,600 marathoners and 3,800 half-marathon runners. A young woman from Valley City, who only recently began jogging, successfully completed her very first half marathon! Congratulations! She shared that running along the river, cruising down Broadway past the historic Fargo Theatre, and seeing the massive crowds along the route was an amazing experience. Anyone who has attended the event knows the atmosphere feels absolutely electric, complete with live bands, DJs, and residents creating neighborhood block parties. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make Friday and Saturday such a massive success!
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• ”Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”  ~ William Shakespeare

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Greetings All,

• Thank you to all the people who have stepped up to run for office. Remember “The Man in the Arena”.  The Valley City League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates’ forum on May 30th at 9:30 AM at the HAC. Be an informed voter—attend.
• “The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) is being built using energy-saving architecture, engineering, and construction methods. Key features include a 2-acre green roof with 140,000 native grass plugs that acts as a thermal blanket, hydronic radiant heating and cooling for precise temperature control, and chilled beams that utilize geothermal energy to lower the electrical load on central fans. This amazing facility will open to the public in tandem with the United States’ 250th Anniversary. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you will want to see! For more details, search “trlibrary” online.
• This is a memory for some and history for others: on Sunday, May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. PDT, Mount St. Helens erupted. The mountain had been resting comfortably for a couple of months when it was jolted by a massive earthquake. While some steam had been released previously, by May 17th, the volcano seemed to have settled down and fell silent. The next morning at 8:32 a.m., David Johnston, a 30-year-old U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist, radioed in: “Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!” Seconds after he delivered his final words to colleagues, the snow-capped volcano blew itself spectacularly apart. Leading up to the cataclysm, the region had suffered more than 10,000 earthquakes. Upon eruption, a wave of earth and ice rushed down the mountain at over 150 mph, coursing 13 miles down the North Fork of the Toutle River—scouring the valley bare, smothering it with as much as 600 feet of debris, and entombing 24 square miles of forest. One logger, who was working about 10 miles away, recalled the terrifying moment: “It sounded like a couple of big passenger jetliners coming through the woods. Everything was hot and trees were smoldering.” The searing ash left serious burns over nearly half of his body, and the landscape he once knew was instantly obliterated. “It was barren. You didn’t know where the hell you were,” the logger later told The Oregonian. “One minute you’ve got landmarks all over. You know where the stream is, where the roads are. [The next second] No roads. No streams. No nothing. I mean, just gone. It was like it picked you up and put you on a different planet.”   *Resources were “volcanoes.usgs.gov, Popular Mechanics and The Oregonian.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• ”Hope is the last thing ever lost.”    ~ Italian Proverb

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Hello Folks,

• Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 25, a day observed annually on the last Monday of May to honor and mourn the military personnel who died serving in the Armed Forces to preserve our freedom. Earlier this month, we also observed Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15, alongside National Police Week, lowering our flags to half-staff to remember fallen law enforcement heroes. Blessings, and please remember these sacred days of observance with reverence.
• Our City Beautification Committee handles numerous tasks beautifying Valley City and our surrounding area. Many of these projects are not difficult—they just need doing—and even our elderly residents can be vital contributors! Today, our committee needs some extra assistance. Please call Sharon Buhr at 701-840-0973 to see if there is a project that interests you.
• Valley City Public Schools and local citizens celebrated the groundbreaking for the new school last week. This monumental milestone will provide pride and value to our community for generations to come.” The role of education is to prepare students for careers that will solve problems that don’t currently exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented.” ~ FSW
• “IN GOD WE TRUST” first appeared on the two-cent coin in 1864 and became the official national motto in 1956. 
• Thank you to all the Valley City employees who facilitated our spring cleanup. They cleared massive amounts of material from our boulevards and alleys to keep our city beautiful.
• Do you remember when we were kids, and we used to put our own games together and just play?  “Regarding play in your youth, it is to dream of being excellent through enjoyment. It is too bad financial security takes its place as we get older.” ~ Larry Seljevold & FSW
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• ” Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering “it will be happier.”    ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

• Congratulations to the graduates of Valley City High School, Valley City State University, and all of our area schools! Blessings and be safe.
• Clean-up week branch pick-up is scheduled for May 21–22. Please place branches (four-inch diameter maximum) near your regular garbage pick-up area or the boulevard where trucks can easily access them.
• “God writes straight with crooked lines,” ~ Portuguese proverb & FSW.
• Groundbreaking for the new VCPS Building will be held Wednesday May 13th at 1:00.  The ceremony will be held just north of Hanna Field, near the future site of the new school.
•  Many career opportunities are available in the electrical industry. One of the ways Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) helps educate and recruit is through the following:  “We have been implementing the Smart Energy Squad program from Missouri River Energy Services for five years.  This program provides our fifth-grade students with comprehensive instruction on natural resources, electrical energy, the energy-water nexus, energy efficiency, conservation, and responsible energy uses at home.  At the conclusion of the program, each student receives a kit containing an LED light bulb, LED nightlight, and a digital thermometer.  Students are encouraged to install and use these items in their homes to promote more efficient energy consumption. Upon completion of the unit, teachers are awarded a mini-grant to support additional classroom resources and learning opportunities.”  ~ Ashley Kellogg and Tara Altringer, Valley City Public Schools.
• Red Flag Warnings are everywhere. Please be careful; even the smallest spark can ignite a massive fire. Thank you to our firefighters and emergency responders—be safe out there.
• ** Remember turn signals let drivers around you know you’ll be turning. Keep yourself and others safe, signal early and always, give them a chance to avoid you. Thank you.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• ”There are two kinds of people in this world, takers and givers.  Takers might eat better, but givers sleep better at night.”    ~ Sonny Gulsvig & FSW

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud