Burgum highlights impact of Destination Development program with ribbon cutting for Good Bear Bay Lodge at Indian Hills Resort
Gov. Doug Burgum along with North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman and others celebrated the opening of the Good Bear Bay Lodge at Indian Hills Resort, a unique new lodging option on the shores of Lake Sakakawea.
The Good Bear Bay Lodge fills a gap in the area's lodging options, offering a spacious 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath lodge ideal for families or larger groups. It boasts a full kitchen, a comfortable living area and, as a highlight, an extended covered outdoor patio that provides an additional gathering space.
“North Dakota’s tourism industry continues to thrive, and the Good Bear Bay Lodge is a shining example of how expanding services at one of our state’s key destinations, Lake Sakakawea, can help us attract more visitors from across the country and address our workforce challenges,” Burgum said. “This new lodge provides a unique accommodation option for families and groups seeking a memorable escape on Lake Sakakawea.”
The lodge was made possible with the help of the Commerce’s Destination Development Grant program, which was approved by the state Legislature in 2023 and signed into law by Burgum. The program awarded $25 million in matching grants to 14 projects last November.
“There was tremendous interest in the program, with 81 projects requesting more than $151.5 million in funding,” Otte Coleman said. “The Good Bear Bay Lodge stood out for its ability to fill a gap in family lodging and extend the time visitors spend in our state’s most scenic areas.”
The Good Bear Bay Lodge is built on a slab foundation, ensuring easy accessibility for guests of all abilities. The lodge is open year-round, allowing visitors to enjoy everything Lake Sakakawea has to offer, from ice fishing in the winter to summer water sports and fall hunting.
“We are thrilled to open the Good Bear Bay Lodge and provide families and groups with a comfortable and convenient place to stay,” said Kelly Sorge, co-owner of Indian Hills Resort. “We’ve received a lot of interest already, and we’re excited to welcome guests and share the beauty of Lake Sakakawea.”
Indian Hills Resort offers a variety of experiences for guests, including kayak and paddleboard rentals, a pontoon for rent, and guide services. The resort is also pet-friendly and caters to the needs of hunters, fishermen and families with children.
The ribbon cutting marks the first project completed with Destination Development grant support. On Sept. 11, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller attended the unveiling of Citizens Alley, an ongoing project to create public space in downtown Minot for recreation and community engagement. Miller also attended the groundbreaking in August for a new events center at Woodland Resort on the shores of Devils Lake, another Destination Development project.
Sully Creek State Park renamed Rough Rider State Park with major campground expansion
The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department on Sunday announced a bold transformation for Sully Creek State Park. In a proud tribute to the indomitable spirit of Theodore Roosevelt and the legendary Rough Riders, the park will officially become Rough Rider State Park. This renaming celebrates Roosevelt and his Rough Riders’ enduring legacy and our dedication to honoring the rugged beauty and cultural heritage of the West.
This announcement is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 166th birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt, a towering figure in American history who inspired generations to embrace the wild, conserve our landscapes, and embody the pioneering spirit. Roosevelt's commitment to the land and the Rough Riders' legacy inspires us to embrace this proud heritage in a park that invites everyone to explore, connect, and create their own outdoor stories.
Among the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry “Rough Riders” organized by Roosevelt and Leonard Wood to fight in the Spanish-American War were several North Dakotans, including Jesse Langdon, who was the oldest surviving Rough Rider when he died at age 94 in 1975. “The Rough Rider State” also has been one of North Dakota’s unofficial nicknames for more than 50 years.
Nestled along the scenic banks of the Little Missouri River, just two miles south of Medora, Rough Rider State Park is a premier destination for horse enthusiasts, offering a unique and immersive experience that highlights North Dakota’s stunning vistas. With a trailhead connection to the Maah Daah Hey Trail and facilities designed for horseback riding, it’s the perfect spot to connect with nature in true Western style.
With an ambitious $4 million investment, Rough Rider State Park is set to nearly double its camping capacity, bringing the total to 70 campsites, along with additional amenities. Visitors can look forward to more modern facilities that will enhance the experience of camping under the wide-open North Dakota skies, with improved access to the park’s beautiful surroundings. The investment is part of a larger funding package for statewide park improvements proposed by Gov. Burgum and approved by the legislature.
“This transformation is a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt's spirit of adventure and love for the American wilderness. We’re beyond excited to bring these changes to life as part of our commitment to enriching recreational opportunities for everyone,” said Cody Schulz, Director of the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department. “We are so incredibly grateful to the legislature for making this investment possible, as it will be the most significant infrastructure upgrade in the over 50-year history of the park. And we are proud to work with great partners like the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Billings County, Medora, and many others – who all embody a great love of the outdoors and western culture.”
Rough Rider State Park will continue to be a cherished destination for families, outdoor adventurers, history enthusiasts, and horse lovers from across the world. Physical, printed, and electronic signage updates will be completed throughout the winter and spring and the campground expansion is slated to begin in the late summer of 2025. We can’t wait to welcome you to Rough Rider State Park, where adventure, history, and nature await.
Burgum thanks Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force for recommendations in final report
Gov. Burgum expressed his gratitude for the members of the North Dakota Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force for their efforts to provide recommendations that support the education workforce. The task force’s final report is available here.
Burgum established the Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force through Executive Order 2023-08 after a request for emergency rules from the Education Standards and Practices Board was approved on Aug. 8, 2023. The 15-member panel was tasked with developing policy recommendations and identifying best practices to retain and recruit teachers. The task force met four times over the course of the year and received stakeholder input from groups of teachers, administrators and school board members.
“The task force’s final report reflects a dedication to the teaching profession by acknowledging the expertise, passion and commitment of our educators in addition to the experiences shared from additional members on the task force,” Burgum said.
The task force supported seven recommendations, which will be forwarded to Burgum and state lawmakers for consideration during the budgeting process and the next legislative session beginning in January, including:
- Provide a safe and supportive environment for educators and learners in every building.
- Reduce barriers for schools that wish to provide child care.
- Understand supportive school culture.
- Fund mentorship for educators and administrators.
- Fund educator pathways.
- Maximize benefits for educators.
- Optimize educator earnings.
The Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force consists of Burgum and State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, or their designees, and 13 members appointed by the governor and representing stakeholders across the education community:
- State Rep. Steve Swiontek, Fargo
- State Sen. Dean Rummel, Dickinson
- Patti Stedman, West Fargo, a West Fargo School Board member and member of the Education Standards and Practices Board
- Bret Dockter, Harvey, a Harvey Public Schools teacher
- Ashley Seykora, Rugby, Rugby Public Schools instructional coach
- Abby DuBord, Bismarck, a Bismarck Public Schools teacher
- Luke Schaefer, Minot, CEO of the Central Regional Education Association
- Robert Lech, Jamestown, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent
- John Porter, Fargo, executive director of South East Education Cooperative and co-director of the South Valley/Rural Cass Special Education Units
- James Green, Watford City, high school principal at McKenzie County Public Schools
- Sherry Tandeski, St. John, elementary school principal at St. John Public Schools
- Jenny Bladow, Northwood, director of teacher education, College of Education & Human Development, University of North Dakota, and member of the Education Standards and Practices Board
- Erin Jacobson, Bismarck, coordinator of the Teacher Support System.
Join us for the eighth annual Recovery Reinvented this Wednesday in Bismarck
This Wednesday, 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. 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.
Woodside Village residents benefit from care team collaboration and communication
The Nursing Facility Incentive Program, developed in partnership with the Long-Term Care Association and nursing facilities, was approved by North Dakota lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Burgum during the 2023 legislative session. The following is one of the success stories from the program:
Quality care is the cornerstone of resident health and well-being at nursing facilities. It’s this commitment to quality care that has the team at Woodside Village, a 138-bed nursing facility in Grand Forks, excited about a new program that is improving experiences and outcomes for North Dakotans living in nursing facilities.
The state’s Nursing Facility Incentive Program provides incentive payments for improved care in four federal quality measures.
“This is the first time there is some type of bonus payment, above and beyond, for the work that we do,” said Garth Rydland, president and chief executive officer for Valley Senior Living, parent company of Woodside Village. “This program also incentivizes top performing facilities to make improvements.”
One quality measure focuses on the appropriate use of antipsychotic medications to treat mental health diseases and ensures they are not being overused by nursing facility residents.
Rydland knew they could make an impact on residents’ quality of life with this measure, and they did.
Woodside Village reduced the use of antipsychotic medications among residents by about half over the past year. Their roadmap to success involved change and collaboration.
Woodside Village revamped its required resident medication review process by implementing a monthly multidisciplinary team meeting.
Together the facility’s medical director, consulting pharmacist, registered nurse care coordinators, life enrichment and direct care staff; a dietitian and other professionals review and make recommendations about residents who are taking antipsychotic medications. The goal is to either taper or eliminate doses over time.
“Positive change happens when the care team collaborates. The goal to reduce the antipsychotic medications has resulted in improvements for residents that include a focus on individualized care and nonpharmacological interventions that address behavioral symptoms,” said Dr. Christopher Henderson, medical director at Valley Senior Living.
One noticeable improvement is residents are more involved in activities. They have also reintroduced aromatherapy and use music therapy and other interventions to support residents.
“We're very excited and proud, but also know that the work has to continue,” said Jenny Schultz, director of nursing. “When you care about someone, you want to do better for them.”
To learn more about the program, visit hhs.nd.gov/nursing-facility-incentive-program.
Public invited to send ornaments for North Dakota State Christmas Tree
The Office of the First Lady invites artists and craftspeople to provide handmade ornaments for the North Dakota State Christmas Tree. The tree will be on display in Memorial Hall at the state Capitol starting with a tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 5.
Submitted ornaments can vary from traditional to contemporary arts. Items that are commercially produced or made from kits are not eligible. This year’s theme, "Branches of Hope," is inspired by First Lady Kathryn Burgum’s initiative to end the stigma surrounding the disease of addiction. Just as a tree’s branches extend outward, the theme symbolizes how hope reaches everyone impacted by addiction. Ornaments may reflect personal recovery journeys, support systems or community resources, showcasing how hope branches out in many meaningful ways. Designers are also free to create ornaments in any shape or medium of their choosing.
Each ornament should include the name of the person entering it, their email address and a brief one- or two-line description of the ornament, including the art form used and the special circumstances through which it was created, such as a class or senior center project.
Ornaments must be received in the Office of Management and Budget office no later than Dec. 4. The ornaments become the property of the Office of the First Lady and may be hung on the state tree in ensuing years. Mail ornaments to State of North Dakota, Office of Management and Budget, Julie Strom, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, N.D. 58505.
Gov. Burgum and the first lady encourage the public to join them for holiday readings, music and carols at the annual North Dakota State Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in Memorial Hall at the Capitol.
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.