area briefs

CENTER AVENUE BETWEEN 4 AND 5 ST TO OPEN AFTER LABOR DAY

MOORHEAD – Center Avenue between 4 and 5 St will open to traffic for the morning commute on Tuesday, September 6. Traffic lights will not yet be installed, so the intersections will have temporary all-way stop signs for traffic control. There will be some ongoing work on sidewalks and other project features, so portions of the area will still appear under construction. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians should use caution in the area.

Construction from 6 St to 8 St will start next week and continue through October. Until the project is completed, businesses along Center Avenue can be accessed through alternate routes:

Moorhead Center Mall can be accessed via 3 St, 4 St or 7 St

US Bank can be accessed via 4 St or 5 St (south of Center Ave)

Scheels can be accessed by 5 St (south of Center Ave)

Moorhead Billiards and American Federal Bank can be accessed using the Scheels parking area or via 6 St (6 St access may be delayed)

Wells Fargo can be accessed from 7 St or 8 St

M STATE TO OFFER FREE CNA CLASSES THIS FALL

Minnesota State Community and Technical College will again be hosting free Certified Nursing Assistant courses as part of Gov. Tim Walz’s Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative.

M State previously hosted free CNA courses in January, after the initiative was first announced. The initiative offers resources and support to those pursuing a CNA credential, including costs for tuition, fees and materials.

The starting goal of the governor’s program was to recruit and train 1,000 new CNAs before the end of the year in order to combat statewide staffing shortages at long-term care facilities and veteran’s homes.

The program was so successful that the goal was met within just three months, in late March.

In a state announcement released at that time, Minnesota Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson said, “Training over a thousand Minnesotans in three months is no small feat. I commend the staff and instructors of Minnesota State and private training providers for their selflessness in scaling up operations and outreach. It was truly awe-inspiring to watch this public-private partnership problem solve in real-time, moving mountains to ensure this program was a success.”

The Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative continues through this year, and the governor’s office has proposed additional funding to extend it out further.

Nearly 70 students have already completed their CNA classes at M State as part of the initiative, and the college has been approved by the state to offer four more such classes this fall. The classes are coordinated by M State’s Workforce Development Solutions, which specializes in the skills and technology training needed to meet regional workforce demands.

M State’s Moorhead and Fergus Falls campuses will host this fall’s classes at the college. The Moorhead classes will be held Sept. 6-28 and Oct. 4-26, and the Fergus Falls classes will be Sept. 6 – Oct. 2 and Oct. 4-30.

LABOR DAY SCHEDULE CHANGES

MOORHEAD – Monday’s trash routes picked up on Tuesday; City offices closed, no MATBUS service on September 5

City of Moorhead offices will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 5 and reopen on Tuesday, September 6. Important service impacts:

Garbage/Recycling: Monday (September 5) garbage and recycling routes will be collected on Tuesday. All other routes from Tuesday through Friday will be collected on their regularly scheduled day. Please be aware the shift in route schedules may cause early or delayed collection this week; set your trash out by 4 am to ensure it is collected. The City of Moorhead Garbage Transfer Station will also be closed on September 5.

MATBUS: There will be no MATBUS or MAT Paratransit service on September 5; the Ground Transportation Center will also be closed. Services will resume September 6.

All Lake Agassiz Regional Library (LARL) branches and LINK sites will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day, with operation resuming Tuesday, September 6. 

CONCORDIA RECEIVES NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT

MOORHEAD – The National Science Foundation awarded a $303,000 Major Research Instrumentation grant to Concordia College to acquire equipment for geophysical and magnetic materials research. The cryogenic physical properties measurement system has a superconducting magnet and can measure electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties of materials over a broad temperature range (50 to 1000 kelvin).

“This is a big deal for Concordia because this instrument is usually only found at large research universities,” says Dr. Thelma Berquó, associate professor of physics and principal investigator for the grant. “I have been dreaming about this for years and am beyond happy that it is now a reality.” 

Iron oxides have important technological, medical, and environmental applications. Berquo says more data will give scientists a deeper understanding of the world around us. 

“Iron phases are not just in soils and rocks,” she adds. “Birds use them in migration to follow the earth’s magnetic field. Iron is essential for the human body. It’s even inside our computers and cell phones. Plus, there’s so much still to learn for future applications.” 

The instrument will support faculty research and student instruction in advanced physics labs and materials science and geology courses, furthering Concordia’s mission to train the next generation of scientists using modern technology and techniques.

Higher education institutions in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota will also have access to the device.

FARGO’S EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

FARGO – For 50 years, the Emergency Food Pantry has helped feed people in Cass and Clay counties in times of crisis, unemployment, fire, family violence, medical problems, and other challenging times. On Wednesday, September 7 from 3-6 p.m. the Emergency Food Pantry will celebrate 50 years of service to our community. This event is free and open to the public.

The Emergency Food Pantry was founded in 1972 by eight churches in the Fargo-Moorhead community. Today the Emergency Food Pantry has become the largest food pantry in the region serving residents in need in Cass and Clay counties. The Emergency Food Pantry provides a week’s worth of nutritional food every other month, up to six times a year. This includes bread, meat, eggs, dairy, and a variety of non-perishables: cereal, canned soup, canned fruit, sugar, pasta, peanut butter, and vegetables. In 2021, the Emergency Food Pantry connected with 4,800 unique families and provided over 9,300 food baskets.

Join us Wednesday, September 7 to celebrate 50 years of the Emergency Food Pantry from 3-6 p.m. at the Pantry (1101 4th Ave N., Fargo). A complimentary picnic meal and cake will be served and tours will be offered throughout the afternoon. A program featuring Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Emergency Food Pantry staff and board members (past and present), and representatives from the FMWF Chamber of Commerce will begin at 4 p.m.

Guests are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or a cash donation to recognize this milestone for the Emergency Food Pantry.