Burgum surveys damage, thanks crews fighting wildfires, urges vigilance as dry conditions persist
Damage to be assessed for potential presidential disaster declaration
Gov. Doug Burgum and fellow state officials surveyed several large wildfires still burning in western North Dakota on Monday, meeting with firefighters, emergency managers and other local officials in Tioga and Watford City to thank them for their efforts to protect lives and property and urging continued vigilance as dry conditions persist and the wildfire risk remains high.
“Part of what makes North Dakota special is the strong collaboration between agencies and communities at all levels, neighbors helping neighbors, and that’s been on full display during these incredibly challenging wildfires,” Burgum said. “Local firefighters, first responders, farmers and ranchers have fought alongside state, tribal and federal resources against incredible odds to literally save entire communities, and we are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts.
After an aerial tour of wildfires in the Mandaree and Ray areas with the North Dakota National Guard’s adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, Burgum and state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and state Fire Marshal Doug Nelson met in Tioga with firefighters from Tioga, Ray, Williston, Epping, Trenton, Grenora and Alamo, along with emergency management personnel, county commissioners, farmers and others.
The governor also surveyed the Elkhorn fire near Grassy Butte and held a press conference at the McKenzie County Courthouse in Watford City with Johnson, Goehring, Godfread, State Forester Tom Claeys, North Dakota Forest Service Fire Management Office Ryan Melin, McKenzie County Emergency Manager Karolin Jappe and other officials.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Burgum said, noting the extremely dry conditions, lack of rain in the forecast and potential for increased winds. “We could be at this a while, so we’re going to maintain all of the work we’re doing.”
Two North Dakota National Guard Black Hawk helicopters used water buckets to make water drops scooped out of Lake Sakakawea and other sources last Sunday, and a third Black Hawk was added to Monday’s operations. The Guard also had over two dozen firefighters who continued working the fires through this week.
“Emergency Services has gone from the initial spin-up to more of a sustained operation,” Brig. Gen. Johnson said.
Claeys, the state forester, reiterated the need for continued vigilance by citizens, adding the state will be increasing its messaging to emphasize the importance of fire prevention. “Every fire that doesn’t start is one we don’t have to fight,” he said.
Dry air with less than 20% relative humidity and dried vegetation providing plenty of fuel means the state must already start preparing for the next round of fires, Melin said. “We know that we’re probably here until it snows,” he said.
Goehring announced that the Department of Agriculture has activated its Hay Hotline at (701) 328-5110 to provide relief to ranchers. “There’s some people that lost almost everything, and many that lost a lot, so let’s not forget about them,” he said. “Right now, we are asking for those that have a need to give us a call.”
Godfread and Nelson offered guidance for residents impacted by the weekend fires, urging residents to survey and take inventory of their property. “If you have suffered property loss, if you’ve suffered any kind of property damage, the big key point right now is to document it, document it, document it,” Godfread said.
Several residences were reported to be destroyed by fire, along with numerous outbuildings. Citing the widespread damage to pastures, farmland, equipment, fencing and buildings, state Sen. Dale Patten of Watford City said, “The scale of the impact is going to be huge, and it is going to take some time to get that all put together.”
The state will be assessing damage to public and private/nonprofit infrastructure once the fires are extinguished and damaged areas can be accessed. The current state-level threshold to request a presidential disaster declaration for North Dakota is $1,472,488, and if there are enough qualifying damages, the state will likely move forward with a disaster declaration. Damage assessments will be conducted over the next few weeks.
Burgum names Scheels chairman emeritus Steve D. Scheel as 50th Rough Rider Award recipient
Gov. Burgum on Friday announced Steve D. Scheel, board chairman emeritus of the popular Fargo-based sporting goods, apparel and footwear retailer Scheels, as the 50th recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, the state’s highest commendation for its citizens.
“Under Steve D. Scheel’s visionary leadership and focus on exceptional customer service, Scheels expanded from its regional roots into one of the largest and most successful sporting goods, apparel and footwear retailers in the country,” Burgum said. “Throughout this remarkable growth, Steve maintained a strong connection to North Dakota values and the company’s mission to do good in our communities, while actively promoting the state’s outdoor traditions and contributing to its economic vitality.”
Born and raised in Fargo, Scheel graduated from Fargo Central High School and earned degrees in U.S. history, economics and political science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer from 1969 to 1971. The following year he joined Scheels, a brand founded by Frederick A. Scheele in 1902 as a small hardware and general merchandise store in Sabin, Minnesota. Steve D. Scheel started as a delivery driver and salesperson, and later managed stores in Fargo, Casselton, Moorhead, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before becoming president, CEO and chairman in 1989. Under his leadership over the next 35 years, the employee-owned company has grown to more than 13,000 associates and 34 stores in 16 states. Scheels operates the 25 largest sporting goods stores in the United States, including the world’s largest all sports stores at 331,000 square feet in Dallas, Texas, and Boise, Idaho.
"I have been blessed to be surrounded by incredible Scheels associates over the years – people who perform at an ultra-high level in all aspects of our business,” Scheel said. “In the early years I had wonderful mentors, and as our company grew, a team of leaders and partners in our ESOP, who helped lead us to where we are today. Today, I simply walk around in awe of what they do.”
Steve D. Scheel is the fourth generation of his family to be involved in the Scheels company. He and his wife, Eileen, have five adult children and 15 grandchildren.
Throughout the years, Scheels has expanded its offerings to include attractions such as Ferris wheels, restaurants, large aquariums where customers can watch a scuba diver feed the fish and sculptures of American presidents, a reflection of Steve D. Scheel’s love of history.
Scheel also has embraced and expanded the company’s tradition of being a major philanthropic partner to nonprofits, charitable organizations and communities, supporting a variety of causes and projects including athletics, education, conservation, social services and health. Scheels employees also give back to their communities, investing thousands of hours into volunteering and partnering with over 1,000 local organizations and the United Way in Scheels’ 34 markets.
“Steve’s dedication to enhancing the lives of North Dakotans through both his business and enormous philanthropic efforts to local communities is truly commendable, making him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award,” Burgum added. “His accomplishments not only highlight his business acumen but also his lifelong commitment to the state and its people.”
Scheel is a recipient of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber’s Legacy Award and the L.B. Hartz Professional Achievement Award, among numerous other awards and recognitions. Scheel received an honorary doctorate in Leadership and Philanthropy from the University of Mary in Bismarck.
The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award recognizes present and former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens. Established during the 1961 Dakota Territory Centennial, the award was initially given as an honorary rank of Colonel in the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders. North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe and State Historical Society Director Bill Peterson both concurred with Burgum’s selection of Scheel for the Rough Rider Award.
The award will be presented later this year with Scheel in person at a date and location to be announced soon.
North Dakota joins 20-state coalition suing to stop nursing home rule change
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, with the full support of Gov. Burgum, joined a 20-state coalition, led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, in a lawsuit seeking to stop a Biden-Harris administration Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) rule that would cost states hundreds of thousands of dollars and drive nursing homes out of business.
“Twenty states have banded together to push back and hopefully defeat the Biden-Harris Administration’s poorly planned overreach that will weaken care and ultimately restrict patient access when nursing care facilities are forced to close, especially in rural areas,” Wrigley said.
“This new CMS rule will have a devastating impact on access to nursing homes and have unintended consequences to hospitals by impairing their ability to discharge patients into rehab and long-term care facilities,” Burgum said. “North Dakota continues to work on providing quality care to individuals in nursing homes across our state. Federal rules like this that fail to acknowledge the unique needs of North Dakota and other rural states will only worsen the workforce gaps in a nursing profession that is already experiencing a massive shortage following the pandemic.”
Currently, nursing homes are required by Congress to provide 8 hours of continuous staffing per day. The new rule would increase the continuous staffing rule to 24 hours per day. It also requires a nursing staff ratio that 97% of nursing homes would be out of compliance with. Additionally, it requires of states burdensome new reporting requirements.
The coalition of attorneys general argues that the new rule exceeds CMS’s authority and sidesteps Congress.
“This final rule poses an existential threat to the nursing home industry as many nursing homes that are already struggling will have no choice but to go out of business. And the main victims will be patients who have nowhere else to go,” the complaint reads. “…The final rule represents another attempt from the Biden-Harris administration to impose its policy preferences on the rest of the country but is monumentally costly and nearly impossible to comply with.”
In addition to the 20-state coalition, LeadingAge affiliates from 17 states also are joining the lawsuit. LeadingAge is an organization with numerous nursing home members.
Wrigley and attorneys general from Kansas, Iowa, and South Carolina, are joined in the coalition by attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Read the complaint here.
Join us for the eighth annual Recovery Reinvented Oct. 30 in Bismarck
State and national addiction experts will share their insight into how to turn ‘Advocacy into Action’ at the eighth annual “Recovery Reinvented,” an event dedicated to ending the shame and stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.
The experience will be hosted by Gov. Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum and will be free for both in-person attendees and online via livestream broadcast on recoveryreinvented.com.
Recovery Reinvented is free and open to the public, but space is limited, and registration is required. Registrants will be asked to indicate if they will attend in-person or virtually for the day-of experience and may update their registration status at any point.
2024 Governor’s Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism Now Open
The North Dakota Governor's Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism is back, inviting residents to capture the beauty and excitement of our state for a chance to win cash prizes and statewide recognition. This year’s contest is a partnership between the Governor's Office, AAA of North Dakota, North Dakota Tourism and the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
“North Dakota is a state of extraordinary beauty and diverse experiences, and this photo contest is a wonderful opportunity for residents to showcase what makes our state special,” Gov. Burgum said. “We encourage everyone to participate, capture the magic of our seasons, and share their unique perspectives with the world. Let’s celebrate North Dakota’s beauty together and inspire others to discover our great state.”
This year's theme highlights North Dakota's diverse seasons, showcasing the unique appeal of our state throughout the year. Photographers can submit entries in eight categories:
- Winter Scenery & Winter Activities
- Fall Scenery & Fall Activities
- Spring Scenery & Spring Activities
- Summer Scenery & Summer Activities
The contest is open to all North Dakota residents. Photographers can submit their entries online through Instagram, the contest website, or Flickr, or by mail. The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2025.
Winners will be chosen in each category, with a grand prize winner receiving an additional cash prize and a free AAA membership. Winning photos will also be displayed in the State Capitol and used in promotional materials.
Full details and contest rules can be found at https://www.ndtourism.com/governors-photo-contest-entry.