Greetings All,

• Valley City has been recognized as a 2025 Tree City USA. This is not new for our community, as Valley City has achieved this honor for 38 years, reflecting decades of consistent environmental stewardship. Some advantages our community realizes from these efforts include beautiful visual anchors, clean air, absorbed stormwater, and shade that reduces summer cooling costs. Congratulations and thank you to all who serve or have served on our Beautification Committee! To learn more about Valley City’s Beautification Committee, please email Sharon at sharon.e.buhr@gmail.com
• Absentee/Vote by Mail options are available for the June 9th primary election.  Be patient, research the candidates and the ballot measures.  In addition there will be a Candidates Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters.   Be an informed voter, Thank you.
• May 2026 is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness, fight stigma, and support mental well-being. Focusing on community connection and fostering mental wellness, this year’s theme is “More Good Days, Together.”
• Consider these self-care options to support your mental health:
• Exercise: Benefits physical health, boosts feel-good hormones, eases stress and anger, and improves sleep.
• Restful Sleep: Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep helps the brain recharge, improves focus, and stabilizes mood.
• Mindful Sunshine: Soaking up Vitamin D in the warming sun while noticing surrounding smells and sounds helps us stay in the moment.   ** If you are struggling, help is available. Talk with your physician, a friend, or a family member to get back on track.
• The The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Libraryconstruction uses screws instead of glue to allow for disassembly during future remodels, and recycles slag and potash by adding them to the concrete mix.
• REMEMBER, Clean Up Week is scheduled for the week of May 11th. Materials will be collected on your normal garbage day. Please ensure your items are separated and placed at the curb no earlier than one week before your scheduled pickup. To view a list of allowable items, click here: 2026-clean-up-week-final. For questions, please contact the Transfer Station at 701-845-0314. Thank you for following these procedures to help us ensure an efficient pickup for everyone.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• “We all have known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”~Dorothy Day

Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

• Clean Up Week is scheduled for the week of May 11th. Materials will be collected on your normal garbage day. Please ensure your items are separated and placed at the curb no earlier than one week before your scheduled pickup. To view a list of allowable items, go to https://www.valleycity.us/sanitation/  For questions, please contact the Transfer Station at 701-845-0314. Thank you for following these procedures to help us ensure an efficient pickup for everyone.
• * The City of Valley City is hiring part-time mower operators for the summer season. Flexible scheduling available. To apply, please call 701-845-1700.
• Municipal electric utilities, also known as public power utilities, are not-for-profit entities owned by the customers they serve and operated by state or local governments. Across the nation, about 2,000 public power utilities serve 15% of electricity customers and account for 10% of total generating capacity. Many of these utilities are members of joint-action agencies, such as Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), through which they collaborate to provide a mutual power supply and essential energy-related services.  ~ Electricity 101

• Thank you and congratulations to everyone who tested for Emergency Medical Response last Sunday. Your service is critical to all those you serve. Blessings.
• Please place all garbage containers at street level for collection. The automated truck arm is unable to adjust to containers on elevated surfaces or curbs. Thank you for your cooperation.
• How about expanding Earth Day to all year? We could clean up our properties and pick up refuse wherever we go, while recycling everything possible. Cardboard is especially important to recycle; it is heavy, and we are charged by weight to dump it in the landfill. Please try.
• The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is defined by several “first-of-a-kind” engineering feats. It is designed to meet the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most rigorous sustainability standard. This challenge focuses on “Four Zeros”: zero energy, zero water, zero emissions, and zero waste.
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• “Life is Short, Forgive Quickly, Kiss Slowly and Love Truly.”   ~ Unknown

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Hej,

• Above is a Swedish greeting pronounced “hey.” Repeating the word twice, “hey hey,” makes it sound more cheerful, friendly, and approachable.
• Last week, a search was conducted in and around Valley City for a vulnerable man from Wahpeton, involving our local emergency teams. We recently received a letter and a handwritten card from the City of Wahpeton expressing their deep gratitude for the assistance provided by our Police Department, Fire Department, Dive Rescue Team, Ambulance Service, and the residents of Valley City.  Mayor Brett noted, “Valley City has great emergency services for which all Valley City and Barnes County residents are to be proud.” Thank you, Mayor, and to our neighbors in Wahpeton—you are always welcome in Valley City.
• The Valley City Public School Board has accepted bids for the new 3-12 school. The bids came in significantly lower than anticipated, allowing the project to remain at or under the $46 million budget approved by school district voters.  For more comprehensive coverage, visit NewsDakota.com. Great job to everyone involved—the “face of Valley City” is set for a wonderful transformation!
• Thank you to the folks who brought the dance competition to town last weekend. It is always fun seeing people visit Valley City.  One woman whose daughter was competing said, “This is really a nice town; we are usually just passing by on our way to Bismarck.”  Thank you for visiting Valley City folks.
• The Chamber held its 2026 Chamber Awards and banquet last Thursday in the Valley City State University Student Center’s Skoal Room. The evening featured great food, fellowship, and an engaging program. Kudos to everyone who helped organize such a pleasant event!
• ** The weather is getting nicer, and many people are out enjoying drives. Unfortunately, some are throwing cans, bottles, and other trash into the streets. Try keeping a litter bag in your vehicle and dispose of your waste properly. Before you toss garbage out the window, ask yourself: “What would my Mom think?”
• Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.
• “Kind Words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”   ~ Mother Teresa

        Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Hello Everyone,

The North Dakota League of Cities and communities across the state recently celebrated “City Government Week.” Here in Valley City, we hosted “Mayor for a Day” with Elsie Jorissen, a third grader at Jefferson Elementary. Elsie won the essay contest by sharing why she wanted to lead our city for a day. She highlighted her love for the “City of Bridges” and our local parks, and even recommended a monthly “Clean-up Day” to keep our community beautiful. Nice job and thank you Elsie!

Fun fact: Did you know 9,924 people are employed by North Dakota cities?  We want to say a huge thank you to all our city employees who work diligently every day to keep Valley City “on the move”.

The 31st annual Valley City State University Scholarship Auction will be held this Friday, April 17, at the Valley City Eagles Club. Events begin at 5:00 p.m. with social hour and games. This year’s theme is “Stars, Stripes & Scholarships,” and attendees are encouraged to wear their best patriotic attire! Come out, enjoy the food and fellowship, and support our university students.

Over the weekend, our Valley City Fire and Rescue team performed a difficult recovery of a vehicle and a deceased person from the river. The mission required our divers and water rescue personnel to endure bone-chilling cold water and air temperatures for an extended time. Thank you to the entire team and all who assisted; we truly appreciate your dedication and service.

CHI Mercy Hospital announced last week it has received additional recognition to its Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation placing it in the top 100 CAH.  CHI is a regional leader in emergency care and is also a Cardiac Ready Hospital. Congratulations and thank you for investing in Valley City.

Winter winds have strewn trash all over town. If we each pick up what’s right in front of us—whether it’s ours or not—we can clear the way for spring’s beauty to shine through.  Please do, thank you.

Thank you to all who provided material and to Sue for proofing this column.

“Gratitude is a muscle.”   ~ Unknown

Blessings, Prayers, Respect and Gratitude,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud