North Dakota

Lankin, N.D., woman earns “Driver of the Year” award, has been driving for 29 years

Published

10 months ago

September 15, 2023

Lankin, N.D., woman earns “Driver of the Year” award, has been driving for 29 years

LANKIN, N.D. — Julie Hjelle was on the road when she answered the Herald’s phone call. A company driver for Altendorf Trucking, she spends a lot of time behind the wheel.

Hjelle loves the job, and has been interested in trucks since she was small.

“The first book I learned to read was Big Joe’s Trailer Truck,” she said. “And I remember my mom would always have to help me with the word ‘dispatcher’ because that was the hardest word in the book.”

The time she’s spent on the road has taken her across the country and, more recently, to Bismarck to accept an award.

Hjelle was presented with the 2022 Driver of the Year award on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the annual North Dakota Motor Carrier Association (NDMCA) convention in Bismarck. The award was presented both by the NDMCA and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

The award signifies the appreciation of a driver’s “outstanding dedication to safety, and their support and cooperation to the highway patrol,” a press release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol said.

“I was awfully excited,” Hjelle said. “It’s really an honor.”

This isn’t the first award Hjelle has won. In 2019 she won the 5-axle sleeper berth class in the NDMCA Truck Driving Competition, and was also the first woman in North Dakota to be named Rookie of the Year. She went on to the national competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and presented a perfect score on the written exam, higher than her other competitors.

Hjelle’s epiphany about wanting to be a driver came when she was 23, when she took a trip with a friend. That friend let her sit behind the wheel of his tractor trailer.

“I sat in the seat and looked out the windshield and I looked out the side mirrors and I knew I was going trucking,” she said. “And I came home and registered for truck driving school. And the rest is history.”

After school, Hjelle had a harder time than her male classmates in finding a job. One possible employer told her, “I won’t put a woman in a truck.”

Hjelle began driving as a leased-on driver for Altendorf Trucking in 1994. She moved onto being a company driver in 2010, then became the safety director in 2011. She resigned from that position in 2015 to continue as a company driver, which is her current position. Hjelle has never had an accident in her 3 million miles driven, the press release said.

The downside of the job, Hjelle said, was missing out on being with her kids as they grew up. But she still loves it.

“I really loved the early years,” she said. “I would’ve trucked without being paid. It was like being on vacation.”

While the industry has changed, and she’s nearing retirement, Hjelle is still going and loves what she does after 29 years.

“It’s been an awesome ride,” she said.

Otto is a recent University of North Dakota graduate and reporter at the Herald.

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North Dakota

South Dakota Democratic delegates unanimously endorse Harris as presidential pick • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

7 hours ago

July 23, 2024

Press Room

South Dakota Democratic delegates unanimously endorse Harris as presidential pick • South Dakota Searchlight

The South Dakota delegates to the Democratic National Convention met virtually Monday night and voted unanimously to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as their nominee in the 2024 presidential race.

South Dakota Democrats hopeful, not yet ready to endorse Harris as presidential nominee

In voting to endorse Harris, South Dakota Democrats fell in line with other state and national Democratic leaders who quickly followed the lead from President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the 2024 race via social media Sunday afternoon and endorsed Harris as his successor shortly thereafter.

Democrats in Nebraska, Maryland, Florida, New Hampshire, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia were among the states where Democrats backed Harris as of Monday evening.

Harris has also picked up endorsements from key leaders at the national level. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, mentioned as a possible Democratic contender himself, endorsed Harris quickly on Sunday. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Harris Monday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had not endorsed Harris as of Monday evening, but Jeffries said earlier in the day that Harris had “excited the House Democratic Caucus and she’s exciting the country.”

Late Monday evening, the New York Times, CNN and other national media organizations reported that Harris had secured the backing of more than the 1,976 delegates needed to win the nomination in the first round of voting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. The news came by way of a poll from The Associated Press, which broke the story.

The poll listed 2,668 delegates pledged to Harris and 54 undecided as of 10 p.m. CST Monday.

The Democratic National Committee will move forward with the process to formally nominate a presidential candidate Wednesday when its Rules Committee meets in a public virtual session amid ongoing efforts to set up a virtual roll call vote ahead of the convention next month in Chicago, according to reporting from States Newsroom.

South Dakota Democrats backed Biden with around 75% of the vote in the state’s June 4 primary. In a news release, the South Dakota Democratic Party announced that its 20 voting delegates to the August convention had voted unanimously to back Harris.

“We thank President Biden for his leadership throughout his career and for choosing Kamala Harris four years ago to be his Vice President,” said Delegate Chair Jessica Meyers. “Harris has proven that she is more than equipped to take on the Presidency and we as a delegation are looking forward to casting the official vote for her.”

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North Dakota

Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair

Published

14 hours ago

July 22, 2024

Press Room

Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – This is a reminder for servicemembers and their families that the North Dakota State Fair is continuing its long-standing tradition of honoring those who serve with a special Military Appreciation Day on Tuesday.

Military members and their families can enjoy lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the north festival tent.

The event is sponsored by the N.D. Beef Commission, N.D. Stockmen’s Association, and N.D. CattleWomen.

They can also enjoy free carnival rides from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., half-off unlimited ride wristbands, and $2 off go-cart rides.

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North Dakota

Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license

Published

21 hours ago

July 22, 2024

Press Room

Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license

BISMARCK – Hunters can now apply for a 2024 North Dakota swan license

on the Game and Fish Department’s website

at gf.nd.gov, the department said Monday, July 22.

North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $30. The application deadline is Aug. 21.

North Dakota’s statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 28, and 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl license is valid.

All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license when applying. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license.

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