Fargo, ND (December 24, 2013) – The Fargo Fire Department responded to a report of a fire on the ceiling of a residence at 3:32 a.m. at 1827 3rd Ave. N. The first arriving truck found heavy smoke coming from the attic vents outside the house. All of the occupants were able to escape the house without injury, as well as 5 dogs and a cat. The first crews entered the house and were able to quickly knock down the fire, which was contained to the attic space. There was light smoke damage to the main living area of the house.
The fire caused moderate structural damage to the roof of the house and a portion of the ceiling in the kitchen area had to be removed. The electrical system also had to be shut down due to damaged wiring in the attic. Due to the extent of the damage, the family was provided temporary housing from the Red Cross.
The Fargo Fire Department responded with 13 personnel on 3 engines, 1 ladder truck, and 1 command vehicle. The Fargo Police Department, FM Ambulance, Salvation Army, and Red Cross were also on scene.
At this time it appears the fire was accidental and possibly caused by an electrical problem in the attic. The final determination of the cause remains under investigation. Fargo Fire Department personnel will remain on scene throughout the night.
Several space heaters were being used throughout the house. The Fargo Fire Department would like to remind everyone to always plug space heaters directly into an electrical outlet and do not use extension cords as they can quickly overheat.
ABSOLUTE MARKETING GROUP
ENLISTS WEB PROJECT MANAGER
Fargo, ND - Recent Concordia College graduate, Tyler Wahl, has been selected as the Web Project Manager at Absolute Marketing Group. Wahl received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing and maintains six years of Web design experience. Wahl recently completed a Web design and online marketing internship with West Central & Northwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center in Moorhead, Minnesota where he worked one-on-one with clients on design, marketing, content development and SEO to enhance their overall online presence.
LARL’s Hot Reads for Cold
Nights January Through March 2014
Lake Agassiz Regional Library invites you to snuggle up with a good book this winter and participate in Hot Reads for Cold Nights, a winter reading program for adults. Read or listen to four audiobooks, books or eBooks for a chance to win prizes.
To participate, simply pick up an official entry form at your local LARL location, or complete an entry from online at larl.org, for your chance to win. The program runs throughout January, February, and March. You can participate at any of Lake Agassiz Regional Library’s 23 locations.
Don’t know what to read? Visit larl.org for suggestions!
Don’t forget to visit http://digital.larl.org to browse, checkout and download eAudiobooks and eBooks!
For more information about LARL programs and events, visit larl.org.
Extension Program Helps
SNAP Participants Stretch Food Dollars
During the holidays, many spend extra money to buy gifts and food for celebrations. For the more than 80,000 low-income North Dakotans who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to provide food for their families, this can be an especially challenging time.
A national effort called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, or SNAP-Ed, equips SNAP recipients with the knowledge and skills to stretch their limited food dollars in healthful ways. In North Dakota, this program is called the Family Nutrition Program (FNP).
The North Dakota State University Extension Service runs FNP in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Human Services. FNP teaches participants about nutrition, food resource management and food safety at sites across the state with the highest concentrations of SNAP participants.
Here are some tips from FNP that you can use year-round to help stretch your food dollars in healthful ways:
* Plan smart, plan ahead. Plan your menu early to take advantage of sales and coupons on the items you need. Check to see what you have on hand and make a list of what you need to save time and money at the store.
* Save money and time on fruits and veggies. Compare prices of different forms of fruits and vegetables. Frozen and canned versions often are good buys, can save on prep time in the kitchen and provide the same great nutrition as fresh. Rinse canned veggies to reduce sodium, and select canned fruits in water or 100
percent fruit juice.
* Be flexible about your meat choice. The meat dish can account for nearly 40 percent of the cost of a meal. Prepare a whole roasted chicken or lean pork roast for a special but less expensive meal. Factor in defrost time; frozen meats usually cost less. Buy according to your family’s tastes for white or dark meat; turkey breasts or legs can be a cost-effective option (and easier to cook than a turkey).
* Substitute as needed for dollar (and calorie) savings. Be prepared to choose a similar but less expensive item if the cost of a food is up. Use reconstituted dry milk or diluted evaporated milk to save money (and calories if substituting for cream) for cooking and baking. Compare unit prices on similar products.
* Make it yourself. Cooking is generally less expensive than buying a ready-to- go dish at the grocery store. As a bonus, you can control the amount of salt, sugar and fat. Enlist family members to help and make it fun.
* Invite others to bring food. Ask family members and friends to bring a dish to share when they join your celebration.
* Be creative with leftovers. Create fun and healthy lunches and dinners from your leftovers, and save money on grocery store trips the rest of the week. Use leftover meats and veggies for sandwiches and soups. See
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/food/foodwise/recipes-1 for a variety of inexpensive and delicious recipes.
For more information about Family Nutrition Program events in your area, contact your local Extension office. For general information on the FNP, contact Megan Ness, the program’s coordinator, at (701) 231-6515 or Megan.L.Ness@ndsu.edu.
