News Around Town

For the 16th year in a row, gift cards are the preferred gift to give others, according to research from NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics. On average, a consumer will purchase 36 gift cards — both physical and digital — this holiday season.

For Casselton residents, we wanted to make it easy to find gift cards (and gift certificates) to support all the local businesses in our community, so we put together this round-up of Casselton Business Association member businesses that offer gift cards. 

Bremer Bank offers gift cards that can be used anywhere VISA is accepted.	Purchase a gift certificate from Cass County Reporter to use for a newspaper subscription.
A gift card from Casselton Drug and Floral can be used for all items in the store.	Use a gift card from Casselton Hardware Hank on all items in the store.
Gift cards can be purchased at the Central Cass Squirrels Den to be used for any products, such as a wide variety of Squirrel Wear-or other items sold in the school store.	Recipients can use Mane Street Hair gift cards for haircuts and other services, plus hair products.
GIft cards can be purchased for use with the Storyline Collection women's clothing brand offered by Style with Char.	Use a gift card from TK3 Designs to get personalized apparel and other items.

Want to get your Casselton business added to this list, email us! 

We have a great team running the city of Casselton, and they do a lot to keep us up to date on what’s happening. But we wondered if they may have something they want you to know that they just haven’t taken the time to say.

So we asked them. And here’s what we heard.

Auditor Sheila Klevgard

“I want people to know that they should sign up for the citywide email list.  They will get emergency notices and council meeting agendas.  They can also find city information on the Facebook, website, digital sign and notices in the newspaper.  And ALWAYS open mail from the city.  We don’t send junk mail, we are just trying to keep people informed about important city topics.”

(Sign up for city email blasts by contacting depaudit@casselton.org)

Deputy Auditor Nikki Geist

“I want everyone to know that the line of communication is open.  If anyone has questions about anything, even if they are just curious, please ask!  Who knows, we might both learn something.  There are several ways to contact, whether it be phone, email, Facebook messenger, or an old fashioned drop in.   I welcome problems, praises, concerns, questions, coffee and Diet Cokes!”

Community and Economic Development Director Melissa Beach

“I want our community to know how much our businesses do "behind the scenes" of their business. We have business owners that spray weeds all around town, not because it helps their business but it helps the community. We have business owners volunteering for many many groups and events, not because it helps their business but because it helps the community. Our businesses are the backbone of our community's character and it's not often we see and acknowledge the little things they do to make the community flourish."

Public Works Director Kevin Mayer

“The Public Works Department works hard every day to keep the city utilities and streets working as they should to maintain a good quality of living in Casselton.

But also, Public Works does not enjoy pulling garbage out of the recycling dumpsters.”

Mayor Mike Faught

“There are 5 words I would like to tell the city of Casselton. 

• 1.      Inspire
• 2.      Change
• 3.      Excite
• 4.      Community
• 5.      Respect

These 5 words put into one sentence is what I believe Casselton is and or should be. Inspire change, excite a community, and respect everyone.

Lastly I have a quote from Vince Lombardi,  one of my ideals -- "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

The Essentia Health-Casselton Clinic is proud to welcome Cassandra Plante, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine.

“My previous background in emergency nursing taught me the importance of prevention through quality primary care,” said Plante. “I look forward to continuing to work with all ages throughout the lifespan in achieving optimal overall health and well-being.”

Plante received her education from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and is certified by the American Board of Nurse Practitioners.

“I value creating an environment where patients can feel comfortable being their authentic selves, feel listened to and where we can work together to achieve shared goals,” said Plante.

Our insurance representatives located in Casselton always want to be sure you’re prepared in the best way possible. We invited them to provide their thoughts on what you need to consider to be prepared for  what you might encounter in the next few months.

Check coverage on sewer backup or sump pump failure

It is no secret that our area often faces of periods of time with excess moisture and precipitation, especially during the spring thaw.  Most insurance policies specifically exclude losses caused by sewer backup or sump pump overflow/failure.  Typically, you must add an endorsement coverage to your policy.  If your sump pump can’t keep up or quits, are you covered?  If so, do you have adequate coverage? 

We have seen several instances in the last year where a sump pump failure resulted in a homeowner needing to replace carpets, padding, trim, doors, drywall/paint, and even furniture.  With the prices of materials and labor steadily on the rise, it would be wise to visit with your agent to make sure your coverage levels are appropriate to cover you should that scenario arise.

A tip from Farmers Union Insurance

Gain peace of mind when you’re most vulnerable

Are you aware of the limits of coverage on your home, auto, or farm policies?  An umbrella policy will go over your home, auto or farm policies.  Unfortunately, bad things can happen to good people, usually in the blink of an eye.  An umbrella policy can offer additional liability coverage and cover legal fees to defend against lawsuits from claims covered by the policy.  The more assets you have, the higher umbrella coverage you should carry.  We never know what the future may bring, but an umbrella policy will provide peace of mind when we are most vulnerable.

A tip from Weber Insurance

Find ways to cut insurance costs

Your insurance agent can help you reduce your costs across your portfolio. Think about what you own and what you insure. Here are some examples.

• Are you getting a multi-line discount if your coverage is with the same company/agent?
• Look at the deductible options available as well as that can factor into the cost of your coverage
• We all drive somewhere, and your auto policy can provide some cost savings to you also.
• Don't overlook if your son/daughter excels in the classroom. Take that GPA transcript to your agent to take advantage of the student discount that is offered there.
• Approved defensive driver courses are a way to not only brush up on your driving habits but will provide a little savings to your premium as well. But be sure to check with your agent to make sure you enroll in an approved course. These are available to all ages as we are never too experienced to learn.

A tip from Nodak Insurance Company

When two ash trees had to be taken down in 2021 due to disease, Jim and Jayne Meyer decided to turn that negative into a beautiful positive in their yard at 361 4th Ave N in Casselton.

“The boys and I thought of doing something cool with a wood carving,” says Jim, who prepared for the carving by having the tree topped off at 12 feet instead of complexly removing it. His friend suggested that he contact Andy Lake of Glyndon, MN to check out their front yard tree.

After some creative thinking, the Meyers decided to make their tree patriotic by having it carved into an American eagle. Jim says they first thought they might make it into a yeti, the small “manlike” animal, not the insulated mug.

“We thought of the kids on the school bus looking at it,” added Jim. “Hopefully they can feel proud.”

If you ever have a moment, stop and check out all the intricate cuts made with his chain saw., says Jim. The project took Lake about 3 days to complete.

by Emma Schneider, a freshman at Central Cass High School

My cousin comes to Casselton from St. Cloud, MN every year. Here are five things we love to do here in Casselton:

1. Percy's Place
2. Tinta Tawa Park
3. Governor’s Inn water park
4. Vibe Nutrition
5. Bike riding around town

The first thing we like is to go to Percy's Place. Percy's Place is a small American bakery that has anything from cookies to burgers. It's great to go with family or friends. You can order in the bakery or order online and pick it up there. My cousin and I always get their cookies. They're the best because they have many great exotic flavors including my favorite: lemon poppyseed.

The second place is Tinta Tawa Park. They have many trails you can walk, take your dogs, or bike on. They also have three playgrounds, baseball fields, picnic tables and a lake where you can fish, take a boat, kayak, or paddle board. In the winter you can sled down a big hill, ice skate on the lake, or ice fish.

The third thing to go to is the Governor’s Inn water park. It is a hotel that has an amazing water park and arcade. You don’t have to get a room to go to in the water park. You can buy a wristband to get in. They also have a diner where you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The fourth place is Vibe Nutrition, it is a shake and tea place. It's the most positive shake place I have ever been to. The people who work there are so kind. One person who works there is the sweetest. I walk in and she knows my name and what I always have. My first time ever going there was with my cousin and it was amazing. I aways get the pina colada pineapple shake with vanilla protein powder. It's delicious.

The last thing we do is ride our bikes around the town of Casselton. We ride our bikes wherever we go. Our favorite place to go when riding our bikes is the reservoir because of the trails they have there. Casselton is a great town to ride bikes in because so many people do the same things and it’s peaceful.

Schneider is the daughter of Steve and Susan Schneider.

by Matt Wendel of Grand Farm

In May 2022, Grand Farm announced that after nearly a year of searching for the right community to call home, Casselton was selected for its permanent location. With the area’s long history in agriculture and abundant community and industry partners, we decided the Casselton area was a perfect fit for our Innovation Facility, and we couldn’t be more excited to join the community.

Grand Farm enables technology to feed the world by facilitating collaboration on innovations solving some of the world’s largest challenges in agriculture technology. Our approach combines an Ecosystem of relevant stakeholders, AgTech project facilitation through our Program Management Office, and research and development at our future Innovation Facility.

Grand Farm started around a community challenge and has transformed into a global leader in AgTech innovation. A local entrepreneur challenged the Fargo-Moorhead community to define our region’s major - a specialty that attracts innovation and new businesses to the area. What followed was an idea to lean into our community’s heritage of agricultural innovation and create a place where stakeholders across the globe could come together to solve the biggest challenges facing agriculture.

Since our launch in 2019, we’ve facilitated and hosted hundreds of AgTech projects in the field - all on donated acreage south of Fargo, North Dakota. With continual expansion of projects and research, we determined that constructing an Innovation Facility on our own acreage would best allow us to continue our impact in agriculture technology innovation.

While Grand Farm’s current test site has exceeded expectations, we continue to add projects and seek to provide additional capabilities. When we look across the Casselton area, we see a network of established organizations from agriculture to transportation to finance, so we’re really joining as another piece of a deep-rooted ecosystem.

Grand Farm’s Innovation Facility will be intentionally designed to be a continually adapting, demonstration and innovation space that will stay at the forefront of agriculture technology innovation. It will provide expanded acreage for the facilitation of additional AgTech projects, rapid prototyping capabilities, and increased research capacity.

Earlier this year, the North Dakota Department of Commerce announced it had selected Grand Farm as a recipient of the department’s Autonomous Agriculture Technology Matching Grant. The $10 million grant was created with funding from the 67th Legislative Assembly to encourage and support the advancement of autonomous farming technology by awarding a 1:1 match of funding for the deployment of an innovation facility, project management for complex North Dakota-based and global autonomous agricultural concepts, and workforce initiatives to upskill the autonomous agriculture workforce with qualified professionals to ensure advanced farming techniques. 

by Becky Kingsley, who is a volunteer at the Casselton Heritage Center

What do a South Dakota couple in town for specialized treatment for their dog have in common with a museum researcher working on a project about rural Cass County women who have served in the armed forces?

They were all recent visitors to the Casselton Heritage Center.

The Heritage Center, known by many in town as The Stone Church, is a Gothic Revival-style church which is on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. It was built in 1886 for the St. Stephen’s Episcopal congregation. In the 1950s, the Casselton Mennonite congregation purchased the building, and they worshipped there for many years.

After the Mennonite congregation disbanded, the Casselton Heritage Center was established in 2004 through the initiative of Twila Schrock and others. The Heritage Center’s mission is to preserve this beautiful structure and collect historical assets from the surrounding areas.

The Heritage Center building is unique. Made of field stone from the local area, it contains many of its original stained-glass windows, as well as many original furnishings such as the pews and organ.

But that’s not all there is for visitors to see. There is a large school collection that includes class pictures and yearbooks. One room is devoted to information and items from the five governors from Casselton. Many other photographs and documents from the beginning of Casselton to present day are a part of the Heritage Center collection.

So many times we hear people ask "what’s there to do in Casselton?" We would answer that by saying “Come visit the Heritage Center.” Contact Julie, 701-238-4782, Bernie 701-238-0536 or Ron 701-261-0460 to arrange a tour. The facility is also available for area residents to rent for programs, weddings, funerals, open houses, tours, educational and entertainment activities. Follow us on Facebook for updates.

Every so often on our Casselton Business Association page on Facebook, we ask our followers to share a favorite item that you can get in Casselton that others probably don’t know about. We always get some fun tips from savvy residents.

Here are nine of their recent current recommendations:

• Louisiana Grills from Maple River Grain – Need a new grill? No problem! No matter if you’re stopping in to talk farming, or just grill shopping, you can find a Louisiana Grill out at Maple River Grain.
• Sheets and towels at Dollar General – The Dollar General is a treasure trove of items. We are often surprised by what you can find there. Maybe you are too? The item that our Facebook friends told us about was the sheets and towels you can always pick up there.
• Cinnamon roll dough at the Casselton Cold Storage –Who doesn’t love a fresh cinnamon roll? Everyone, right! Stop in at the Casselton Cold Storage to pick up a dozen frozen cinnamon rolls so you can bake a delicious breakfast treat whenever you need one.

• Charcuterie boards from Creative Grain Woodworks – A charcuterie board is a nice gift for a wedding, a bridal shower, Mother’s Day or nearly any holiday. But keep in mind that a charcuterie board from Creative Grain Woodworks also is the perfect gift for yourself.
• Electric toothbrush at Hagen Dental – It’s not just dental work that you can get at Hagen Dental, They also carry electric toothbrushes that you can take home (along with their best advice for using it).
• Golf club regripping at Hack's Regripping – You can get your golf clubs regripped right here in Casselton by Hack’s Regripping, own by Mark Hackmann. He’s been in this business for more than 11 years and even can provide special order grips.  

• Corn Nuggets at the Red Baron Lounge and Pizza Pub – We weren’t sure what a “corn nugget” was when it came in from a local recommendation. We placed an order, snapped a picture and gave them a taste. It’s sweet corn on the inside with a crispy deep-fried batter on the outside. Try them yourself anytime at Red Baron Lounge and Pizza Pub.
• Light bulbs at Casselton Drug and Floral – We all know we can medicine, gifts, flowers, jewelry and so much more at Casselton Drug and Floral, but they also carry many household basics, like light bulbs.
• Quickcrete cement mix from Casselton Hardware Hank – If you get into a bind while working on a home project (inside or out), stop into Casselton Hardware Hank to pick up what you need. One Facebook reader shared how glad she was to get a bag of Quickcrete cement mix there when she was in a pinch.

If you’ve got a special product or service that you like from Casselton, feel free to drop us a comment and make your local recommendation. 

Written by three Health Science II students at Central Cass School: Catie Sinner, Alexandria Lade, and Cassie Bartholomay. 

Is your high school student looking into health science career opportunities? The health career field is ever expanding with new technology and a demand for workers. At Central Cass School in Casselton, Health Science 1 and Health Science 2 introduces students into the wonders of medicine.

Expanding students’ knowledge and fascination starts here in our classes. Through Central Cass Health Science groups, students learn to take vital signs and practice basic CNA skills. They also study basic anatomy and medical abbreviations nurses use on the daily. The class prepares students on how to conduct themselves professionally in a working environment.

Skills are not only learned in the classroom. Health Science students have a hands-on experience through taking community member’s blood pressures, riding along in the Casselton ambulance, and interviewing health care professionals. They are able to explore fields of health they did not know existed. This broadens their career options and allows them to find a job they are sure to love!

Here is what one of the students, Alexandria Lade, has to say about the class, “Throughout high school I’ve become interested in the health career field. This class has given me the experience to finally say I want health to be my lifelong career. My favorite part of the class has been going on a job shadow to a dialysis center. Getting to meeting the doctors, technicians, and patients inspired me.”

If you would like more info about our health science class, or would like to be a speaker, contact Missy Jacobson at melissa.jacobson1@k12.nd.us