5 Things You Need to Know Today: Cemetery Expansion, NDGOP Convention, Insurance Fraud, Ice Storm, Capturing Hearts – InForum

The size of the Fargo National Cemetery has expanded sevenfold with the addition of 30 acres, a space that will allow burials of veterans for generations to come.

Fargo National Cemetery, established in 2019, began with five acres and has enough space to serve the burial needs of more than 30,000 veterans, their spouses and eligible family members, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senator John Hooven, RN.D., announced on Thursday, January 4 that the purchase of the additional 30 acres has been completed.

“We are working to provide the best federal veterans cemetery, matching the quality we have built our state veterans cemetery, and this 30-acre expansion is a key part of that effort,” Hooven said in a statement. “We appreciate the landowners and Deputy Minister Quinn for working to make this land transfer a reality, as it will provide the necessary space for veterans in the Red River Valley and surrounding region to be laid to rest with honor, now and far into the future.”

Matthew Quinn, deputy secretary for memorial affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, visited Fargo National Cemetery in 2021 with Hoven when officials discussed plans to expand and improve the cemetery.

Hoeven thanked landowners Jake and Barb Gust for transferring the property to allow the expansion.

Read more from Patrick Springer on the forum

The North Dakota Republican Party will host its 2024 convention April 5-6 at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo.

The party announced the convention dates on Thursday, January 4, through a news release.

Noting the location of the convention and the upcoming presidential election, party chairwoman Sandy Sanford said in the release that the gathering “could easily be one of our largest conventions ever.”

Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, will be the keynote speaker at the event. The party also plans to endorse candidates in statewide elections, including races for governor, Congress, insurance commissioner, public service commissioner, state auditor and state treasurer.

On Wednesday, John Godfried announced he will run for re-election as state insurance commissioner. In December, State Auditor Josh Gallion, State Treasurer Thomas Beadle and Public Service Commissioner Randy Christman said they plan to seek another term.

Governor Doug Burgum, however, was absent from those announcing his intentions. Since suspending his presidential campaign in December, Burgum has yet to reveal his plans.

Senator Kevin Cramer and Congresswoman Kelly Armstrong, both up for re-election in 2024, have also yet to formally announce their plans. Cramer is expected to run for re-election, though it remains possible that Armstrong could run for governor if Burgum decides not to run.

Despite the lack of an official statement, Armstrong told Forum columnist Mike McFeely in December that he plans to run for re-election to the House of Representatives.

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A Washburn farmer must repay $379,317 to the USDA’s Risk Management Agency after pleading guilty to a felony charge in a crop insurance fraud case.

Kent Pfaff, 59, pleaded guilty Dec. 20 to crop insurance fraud. A sentencing hearing in the case is scheduled for March 26. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, $1 million in fines, five years of probation and a $100 special assessment. However, the plea agreement in the case signed in November indicated that prosecutors would seek a sentence of zero to six months, based on federal sentencing guidelines, along with three years of probation.

Prosecutors also will not ask that Pfaff be made to pay a fine because he has already agreed to pay restitution to RMA for the amount he was overpaid for crop insurance. A plea agreement is not binding and sentencing guidelines determined by a presentence report may exceed those in the plea agreement.

Read more from Jenny Schlecht of Forum News Service

For 10 days, Roxanne and Todd Baumgartner lived in the dark after sunset.

Their generator, purring in the flatbed of a 1995 Chevy Silverado, produces enough electricity to keep their furnace running and devices like cell phones charged.

On the 10th day, Thursday, Jan. 4, Cass County Electric Cooperative officials arrived at Baumgartner’s property and the culprit: a power pole that collapsed under the weight of ice from a storm that hit the area on Christmas Day.

At 10:26 am, Roxanne posted a message to the forum: “We have power!”

The Baumgartners, who live in one of three properties receiving power from the downed power line, are just one family among 4,600 customers without power in Cass, Richland, Sargent, Lamoore and Barnes counties, Cass County Electric Cooperative said.

Read more from CS Hagen on the forum

While many people are still recovering from a frantic, busy holiday with family and friends, the family of 1-year-old Bodhi Rost began their Christmas in the emergency room.

“He’s known for his hair because it just sticks up from birth,” said Bodie’s mom, Ashley Rost.

Bodhi could win the top prize for best stream. His disheveled hair had made him a favorite at Sanford Children’s Hospital. But while Bodhi and his three-year-old brother Hudson are toying with each other, their parents Ashley and Heather Rost embark on a journey that shakes up the family.

It started with something so simple.

“In mid-October, we started noticing the bruise on his back,” Ashley said.

It all started with that bruise. Bodhi was feeling fine and looking fine, but was days away from being diagnosed with B-lymphoblastic lymphoma.

“We couldn’t prepare for what it really was,” said Bodhi’s mother, Heather Rost.

B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma is an aggressive cancer.

Read more from WDAY’s Kevin Wallewand