My Thursday started with a trip to the Minot AFB. I had several appointments, and hey, I’m used to this cold weather, right? As I approached the base I was able to watch a B 52 take off. The smoke generated by the takeoff on this -18 degree day was amazing. Quickly my mind slipped […]

When I worked as ag reporter for the Minot Daily News, I did an annual report on the crops in North Dakota. This was generally a fairly long article because as you know, this state produces a lot of agricultural products. We produce a lot, but many of those crops and livestock don’t get the […]

Well, that’s different. So different that it is normal. Huh? When purchasing a cup of coffee a few days ago at a local convenience store, choosing what brew I would try, I found myself staring at normal as a selection. I was expecting to see Caribbean sunrise, morning breakfast blend, or maybe extra-dark French roast. […]

Minot Air Force Base Schools All Qualify for Special Award For a year and a month Joy-Nicole Smith, School Liaison Program Manager, has worked to gain recognition for the three Minot AFB Schools as Purple Star Schools, a special recognition from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. “Military students move an average of seven […]

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. —Missile Alert Facilities (MAF), which can be up to 75 miles away from Minot Air Force Base, operate with a lone chef that ensures the site has well-fed troops. Missile Alert Facilities are the heart of the 91st Missile Operations Group’s mission. The Group is composed of three squadrons, each […]

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. —Airmen from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana participated in Exercise Prairie Vigilance/Bayou Vigilance 24-2 here, Jan. 4-7, 2024. The Vigilance exercise series showcases Air Force Global Strike airpower and capabilities, ensuring Airmen are […]

Minot Air Force Base is familiar territory for Brig General Colin Connor. General Connor served as commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base from June of 2016 through August of 2018. General Connor returned to Minot and was the guest of the Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday in his new position […]

We are about to celebrate MLK Day, a day in which we remember the values for which Dr. King lived, and for which he died. But it’s important that we do more than just remember, or even celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. We must make MLK Day one in which we deliver on Dr. King’s dreams […]

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —It’s been called “a laboratory of human endurance,” testing the physical, mental and spiritual grit of the officer and enlisted leaders who undertake it. It’s the Army Ranger School and the Department of the Air Force is looking for Airmen and Guardians who are ready for the challenge. Through […]

The Minot Public Library wishes to invite all community members, big and small, young and old, to our Grand Re-Opening Party on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The party will begin at 1:00 pm with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the rollout of our new reading challenge, “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.” Followed by a dance party for […]

Let’s face it, there are those kids who can walk into a new school and immediately fit into the fabric. They find friends, they are not afraid to get involved, in general they fit in right away. Well, that would not have been me. In our small-town school, the traumatic move was from the grade […]

When the big water freezes is something that has captured my attention as long as I can remember. By big water, I’m talking about Lake Sakakawea, which is actually a reservoir. Garrison Dam, Lake Sakakawea, call it what you want. By any name it is North Dakota’s largest body of water and a major attraction […]

There have been some new developments regarding Canadian Football League expansion, developments that could spawn teams in North Dakota and South Dakota. I’ve written about this topic in the past, but this time there seems to be a bit more urgency.For the past seven years, the CFL has been looking to expand to Halifax, Nova […]

(MINOT, ND)—New Year’s Day came and went, but Trinity Health’s Family Birth Center finally welcomed its first baby of 2024. Evelyn Grace Kroft came into the world at her own pace, arriving on January 2 at 10:16 a.m. Parents Meredith and Stephen Kroft Sr., who reside at Minot Air Force Base, say they were surprised […]

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Minot AFB hosts several tenant units that are critical to the success of our mission. These units all play a role in Team Minot’s daily operations and provide unique capabilities to Team Minot’s skill set. The 54th Helicopter Squadron is one of these units. The 54th HS is a […]

2023 is now a thing of the past. Life moves us all forward and into 2024 we go. As with any year in the military community, last year we saw many goodbyes and welcomes, or otherwise known as “Hails and Farewells”. We miss those who have left, but embrace the new editions to the base […]

This year’s theme “101 Days of Summer” invited photographers to capture the essence of Summer through their lenses and showcase their creativity, talent, and love for the vibrant season. The nearly 400 entries included joyful beach days, refreshing poolside moments, delightful family gatherings, captivating sunsets, thrilling outdoor adventures, and quiet moments in nature’s embrace. For […]

Basic allowance for housing, or BAH, rates for 2024 will increase by an average of 5.4%. The new rates, which are paid to all U.S.-based active-duty members of the uniformed services when government quarters are unavailable, take effect Jan. 1. “The proposed 5.2% basic pay increase plus the 5.4% increase in the basic allowance for housing […]

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. —A new program, Operation Home for the Holidays, was recently instituted by U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Hoadley, 5th Bomb Wing commander, U.S. Air Force Col. Kenneth McGhee, 91st Missile Wing commander, with the city of Minot Chamber of commerce. This program was put in place to raise funds for […]

When one year comes to an end and the other begins, it is a natural time to reflect on the year past and to hopes for what the new year may bring.Of course, resolutions abound – lose weight, quit smoking, finally take that trip you’ve been promising yourself. There’s an infinite number of possibilities. I’ve […]