MOORHEAD POLICE EXPLORER PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
MOORHEAD – The Moorhead Police Explorer program is now accepting applications for membership and will host an informational meeting for students that want to learn more. The Explorer program is a nationally supported program that allows students ages 15 through 21 an opportunity to receive hand on training from current law enforcement officers to help them decide if that career path is right for them. Criminal justice students from FM area colleges and universities are encouraged to apply as there are numerous annual scholarship opportunities for Explorers in Minnesota.
The informational meeting is Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 6:00 pm. Applications are available online at www.moorheadpal.org and will be open through the first meeting.
The Explorer program is presented through the Moorhead Police Athletics and Activities League, a non-profit supported by the Moorhead Police Department helping connect Cops, Kids and Community.

TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR 11TH STREET UNDERPASS WORK
MOORHEAD – Tuesday, Sept. 3, lasting through mid-October, motorists in Moorhead will encounter additional closures and traffic changes near the intersection of First Avenue and Eighth Street. Crews will begin installing and connecting the storm sewer pipe from W.H. Davy-Memorial Park to the future lift station at First Avenue and 11th Street.
The storm sewer work will be done over two phases, each lasting approximately three weeks, weather permitting:
Phase 1: First Avenue to close just west of Eighth Street. Traffic will be detoured to Center Avenue and Seventh Street.
Phase 2: First Avenue closes between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. The detour to/from northern Moorhead will switch from Ninth Street to Eighth Street, and traffic will be directed to Seventh Street to cross the railroad tracks.
When phase two of the storm sewer work is completed, First Avenue will remain closed east of Eighth Street to 12th Street. The new detour will follow Eighth Street, Second Avenue North and 14th Street.
Underpass construction progress
With the City of Moorhead’s project on Second Avenue North now complete, the north detour route has been adjusted and traffic is now using Second Avenue North as part of that detour route going forward.
Work continues on switching the KO line over to the new shooflys, the temporary tracks for the trains while the bridges are constructed. By the end of this week, all trains should be operating on the shoofly tracks.
The Hillsboro shoofly has been operational since July, and work has started on the Hillsboro bridge, including excavation and piling for the west abutment.
At the site of the future lift station, near First Avenue and 11th Street, they’ve finished excavating and will pour the foundation next week. After that, they’ll begin forming the walls. In that same area, they have driven in the sheets for the retaining wall by the Fire Station. For this process, they have to wait approximately two weeks to see if there’s any movement to the sheets before they can continue that work.
Over in Memorial Park, the outfall work is nearly complete. There are several parts to the storm sewer system that are specifically designed for this project to help pump water from the underpasses. The lift station at First Avenue and 11th Street will pump water through pressurized pipes to the force main vault. Once the water gets to the force mail vault, gravity helps the water flow to the river. The gravity flow pipe is done, and now crews are working on laying the pressurized pipe. This pipe is what will be installed across First Avenue when that work starts after Labor Day.
In addition, there is currently work taking place on Second Avenue South, with curb and gutter planned for install next week.

FARGO LIBRARY HOLDING BOOKMARK DESIGN CONTEST
FARGO – The Fargo Public Library’s annual “Design a Bookmark Contest” kicked off Sunday, Sept. 1, and runs through Sept. 30. Artists of all ages are encouraged to take part.
Entry forms and rules for the contest are available at any Fargo Public Library location. Forms and guidelines will also be available at fargolibrary.org. Please note: No late submissions will be accepted.
For the children’s portion of the contest, three winners will be selected, one from each age group: 5 years old and under, 6 to 8 years old, and 9 to 12 years old. Children can submit up to three designs and all entries will be displayed in the Children’s Department at the downtown Main Library.
For the teen contest and the adult contest, two winners will be selected for each. Teens and adults can submit up to two designs. Both the teen and adult entries will be displayed at the downtown Main Library.
Library staff will vote to determine the winners of the contests, and winners will be announced in October. Winning bookmark entries will be printed and distributed at library locations and events.