GRAND FORKS – Taya Lulay, 6, of Michigan, North Dakota, looked a bit apprehensive but eager as she waited with her team to participate in the annual “Polar Plunge” on Saturday, March 21, at Choice Health and Fitness.

Taya was among about 40 courageous souls who braved the 39-degree temps, chilly winds and a tank of frigid water to raise funds for the Special Olympics of North Dakota organization.

“She’s the reason we’re doing this,” said Erick Houde, of Grand Forks.

The daughter of Brandon and Amy Lulay attended the event last year and apparently convinced five others to join her in taking the plunge, all for the first time.

Members of “The ReNewed Penguins,” ranging in age from 6 to 53, have raised about $700 for the Special Olympics of North Dakota.

Erick Houde, Brandon Lulay and Luke Syrup are employees of PCL Community Contractors.

“We do a lot of volunteering” as employees, Houde said, “and we like to keep on doing it. We decided to do it as our own team this year.”

“And it’s fun,” said Joan Houde, Erick Houde’s wife, who confessed to being “a little bit” nervous before the plunge. “It’s just the cold.”

“We felt the water,” she said, “and we shouldn’t have.”

Dressed in black-and-white penguin costumes, Erick Houde added that “the layers are pretty cozy.”

At the far end of the tank, three volunteers from Grand Forks Water Rescue were positioned in the water to help the plungers steady themselves after the jump and exit the tank.

Others on hand to help, if needed, included Altru ambulance, fire and police personnel.

This is the 17th year the Polar Plunge event has been held here, said Nancy Hanson, president and CEO. The funds raised support year-round competition and sports training for Special Olympics of North Dakota athletes.

Anyone who raised $100 or more before the event was welcome to walk-up and participate, Hanson said.

The organization set a goal of raising $25,000 through this event, about the same as last year, Hanson said. People could participate as individuals or as members of a team.

Travis Nelson, a trooper with the North Dakota Highway Patrol, was taking the plunge for the 12th time. He has served on the event’s organizing committee since 2011.

He does it because Special Olympics “is a great organization to raise money for,” he said, emerging from the water.

Awards were given for best costume, best belly flop, oldest and youngest plungers, the team and individual who raised the most funds for the Special Olympics of North Dakota organization.

Judges for the event were Rod Clark, UND chief of police; Mike Hedlund, East Grand Forks police chief; Jeremy Moe, Grand Forks Police Department; Captain Joel Lloyd, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office; and Tyler Lee, SOND athlete.

This spring, SOND will host another major fundraising event, “Dancing for Special Stars,” on April 16. Local celebrities and other well-known residents team up with dance instructors to learn routines which they perform for the audience. The dance couple with the most votes wins the competition at the Mirror Ball Trophy; a People’s Choice Award is also presented.

MINOT — The North Dakota State Patrol has identified the Minot woman killed in a crash Friday evening, March 20, northeast of the city.

According to a release, Lester Bergstad, 46, of Minot, was driving a 2025 Ford F550 box truck at 4:34 p.m. Friday on 128th Avenue Northeast near 13th Street Northeast, six miles northeast of Minot. Bergstad lost control of the truck and it rolled.

Estoria Bergstad, 46, of Minot, a passenger in the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said. Lester Bergstad was injured and taken to Trinity Hospital in Minot.

Neither Estoria nor Lester Bergstad were wearing seat belts.

Charges against Lester Bergstad are under investigation, the release said.

The Ward County Sheriff’s Office, Trinity Ambulance Service and Minot Rural Fire also responded to the crash.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

North Dakota

Samantha Ann Moore, Bismarck, Chpater 7

Michelle Gladys and Brandon Michael Ross, West Fargo, Chapter 7

Keenen Patrick and Taylor Makenzie Bailey Golliet, West Fargo, Chapter 13

Krystal Marie Cox, Dickinson, Chapter 7

Patrick Howard Ian Salmon, Devils Lake, Chapter 7

Kristi Parrish, Park River, Chapter 7

Kimberly Ann Najac, Fargo, Chapter 7

Daniel Dean Larson, Horace, Chapter 7

Randolph Ray Hamel, Fargo, Chapter 7

Jim Young Myung, doig business as Soho23, West Fargo, Chapter 7

Ashley Ann Hodge, Fargo, Chapter 7

Deborah Lee Wishner, Lincoln, Chapter 13

Delaney Renae Sheehan, formerly konwn as Delaney Olson, Bismarck, Chapter 7

Logan A. and Melanie A. Quimby, Beach, Chapter 7

Susan Mae Georges, Fargo, Chapter 7

Zachary Stephen Anderson, Williston, Chapter 7

Jordan Lenae Young, Parshall, Chapter 7

Clarence Arnold and Brittany Nicole Ruhland, Max, Chapter 7

Ann Marie and Douglas Jacob Vogel, Fargo, Chapter 7

Eric Nels Nesheim, Mayville, Chapter 13

Jesse James Kasowski, West Fargo, Chapter 7

Jacob James Mallick, Fargo, Chapter 7

Kailey Mackensie and Kenneth Robert Faul, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

Minnesota

Bankruptcy filings from the following counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse, Wadena and Wilkin.

Isaac William and Kaisa Lea Lustila, Deer Creek, Chapter 7

Bobbi Jo Marie Hamilton, doing business as Northwoods Velevaera Studio, New York Mills, Chapter 7

Rojelio Castillo Jr., Fergus Falls, Chapter 7

Jeramie Jack Brinkman, Frazee, Chapter 7

Drew Douglas Cvancara, Breckenridge, Chapter 7

Cheri Lynn Luedeke, Miltona, Chapter 7

Malika Marie Louise and Rosenado Alfredo Lopez, Alexandria, Chapter 7

Chapter 7 is a petition to liquidate assets and discharge debts.

Chapter 11 is a petition for protection from creditors and to reorganize.

Chapter 12 is a petition for family farmers to reorganize.

Chapter 13 is a petition for wage earners to readjust debts.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.