CLAY COUNTY DMV ISSUES MALL LEASE STATEMENT
MOORHEAD – With the ongoing discussions about the redevelopment of the Moorhead Center Mall area, county officials have been contacted about the status of the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV). Roers recently submitted a press release that stated tenants with month-to-month leases at the Moorhead Center Mall will no longer be renewed after December 31st, 2023. Clay County’s current lease runs through November of 2025. The Clay County Board of Commissioners have requested that a strategic plan be developed for a future location. The Commission has approved a pre-design study to assess options, including building a new facility or moving to an existing location. Clay County will provide additional information as it becomes available.
RODEO CLOWN, WESLEY “HIPPIE” ENGELKES IS COMING TO HAWLEY
Iowa Rodeo Clown, Wesley “Hippie” Engelkes is coming to Hawley, Minn. June 9-10, 2023. The hilarious entertainment and impromptu comedy make Hippie a crowd favorite. In his own words, “almost all of my comedy is improv, no two shows are the same,” he acknowledged.
The father of four is in show business and travels the world. His passport stamps include Australia and Saudi Arabia. Hippie entertained at The King Abdul-Aziz Festival for Camels in Saudi Arabia under royal patronage. Hippie is a regular entertainer with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) with three trips to Australia.
Hippie joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2008. “The PRCA has given me the opportunity to take my family from coast to coast, border to border, and around the world to entertain and bring joy to the greatest sports fans there are,” mentioned Engelkes.
Face paint is one of the trademarks of rodeo clowns. Each entertainer has their own unique application of grease paint with designs. “I get asked often why I have three crosses on my face when clowning,” stated Engelkes. “If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t have the talents to entertain that I do.
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR DESTINY HOLIDAY COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD
MOORHEAD – Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, promotes freedom for all people, and honors the contributions that enslaved African Americans and their descendants have made to this country.
Destiny Holiday organized the first community celebration of Juneteenth in Moorhead in 2019. In 2020, the Moorhead City Council passed a resolution on the recommendation of the Moorhead Human Rights Commission to designate June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day in Moorhead.
In addition to leading efforts to have Juneteenth commemorated in Moorhead, Holiday was the founder of “The Birthing of a Diamond” and “Diamond Kids” nonprofits, which empower and support single mothers and children from disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. Moorhead is more united and resilient because of the efforts of Destiny “Grandmamma” Holiday, who was able to take the hardships she endured as a struggling black woman and create programs and community that strive to give others the resources and tools they need to succeed.
Holiday passed away in 2022. She received the MoorHeart award in June 2022. The Moorhead Human Rights Commission established the Destiny Holiday Community Champion Award in 2023 to be given annually in conjunction with the city’s Juneteenth celebration to a Moorhead resident whose contributions to the community exemplify the compassion, resilience, and commitment to lifting up others exhibited by Destiny Holiday.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Sunday, June 4 (nominees must be Moorhead residents); the award will be given at the Moorhead Juneteenth event on June 19.
Nominate someone for this award today here: https://cityofmoorhead.com/government/boards-commissions/human-rights-commission/juneteenth-award-nominations/
NOMINEES SOUGHT FOR MOORHEART AWARD
MOORHEAD – Do you know a person or organization that makes Moorhead a great place to live?
The MoorHeart award is an opportunity to recognize individuals/organizations that go above and beyond to demonstrate community within our City by their actions and service. A team of volunteers from city boards and commissions selects award recipients.
Winners represent a wide range of individuals and organizations in our community. You can view the past winners of the award in the MoorHeart Hall of Fame.
Nominate a person or an organization. Contributions large and small are worthy of nomination. https://www.cityofmoorhead.com/about-the-city/moorhead-more-heart-award/
RECOVERED BODY FROM RED RIVER IDENTIFIED
MOORHEAD – The body of Harold Anderson, age 53, Moorhead, MN, was discovered in the Red River on Saturday, May 20.
An autopsy report from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the body recovered from the Red River as Harold Anderson. The provisional information from the Medical Examiner stated the cause of death was freshwater drowning and did not find any evidence of significant injury or trauma. A final autopsy report, including toxicology, is still pending. Anderson had been reported as a missing person in Moorhead and was last seen on April 23, 2023.
The investigation is still active. Anyone with information is asked to call the Red River Regional Dispatch Center at 701.451.7660 and ask to speak to the on-duty Moorhead Police Supervisor.
Memory Cafe sponsors conference on living well with dementia
A day-long program on living well for people experiencing dementia is coming up Tuesday, June 6 at the Fargo Holiday Inn.
Sponsored by Memory Cafe of the Red River Valley, the program titled “Redefining Memory Loss: Learning to Live Well with Dementia” features national expert Sharon Johnson of the Hearthstone Institute of Boston. She is the co-developer of Hearthstone’s “I’m Still Here” training program addressing dementia and memory care training. Johnson has consulted with organizations around the world on the institute’s approach to dementia care, bringing a message of hope to those living with the challenges of memory impairment.
The conference will provide insight into what the speaker calls a “major paradigm shift taking place in the field of dementia care.” Every community member and care partner, Johnson says, has the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of people living with memory challenges.
Presentations will discuss evidence-based strategies that enable those living with all stages of memory loss to continue to learn, achieve and give back to their community in collaboration with the Memory Cafe. The interactive course also provides instruction in effective research-based verbal and nonverbal techniques for communicating with those experiencing all stages. Strategies for handling common challenging situations will be discussed and practiced, including how to prevent or decrease anger, agitation and fear.
The deadline for preregistration is Friday. Cost is $40 for community members and $65 for professionals. Walk-in registration is also available for $50 and $75 respectively. To register online, go to eventbrite.com and search for “Redefining Memory Loss.”