North Dakota
Minot’s Warren Pietsch named to North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – Minot’s Warren Pietsch has spent a lifetime lifting North Dakota Aviation to new heights.
That dedication now earns him one of the organization’s highest honors: induction to the Hall of Fame.
“Right out of high school, I started flying charter,” said Pietsch.
Raised in the aviation business, he grew up at Pietsch Flying Service, where his pilot parents pioneered the industry in the Magic City. You know it today as the Minot Aero Center.
“This is my touchstone,” said Pietsch.
Throughout his career, he flew commercial planes, air ambulances and had some fun at airshows all across North America and beyond.
“Did a lot of stuff in the Middle East during the Gulf conflicts,” said Pietsch.
He has flown for more than four decades.
“I’ve been around and seen a lot of stuff, but North Dakota hasn’t changed as much as the world has,” said Pietsch.
Even at just four years old, he already knew this was his life’s calling.
“I was given a wonderful opportunity, and I took it,” said Pietsch.
The trailblazer has traveled the world, but he and his wife, Jolene, never left Minot for a new home.
“It’s a good place to be from and to come back to,” said Pietsch.
He also plays a role in one of the world’s premier collections of World War II aircraft, helping recover and rebuild its pieces together.
“I found that airplane was originally owned by the actor Jimmy Stewart. That was a 24-year project for me,” said Pietsch.
He also brought some of these vintage aircraft to the Dakota Territory Air Museum, that draw thousands of visitors each year.
His family started the museum in the late 80s.
“I just enjoy experiencing what other generations and other pilots have done in the past. And be able to see how far we’ve come by comparing those airplanes to what we’re flying now,” said Pietsch.
Now he will be the 51st inductee to the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
“It’s a huge honor, and I’m humbled by it,” said Pietsch.
For this industry pioneer, it’s more than just an award.
“The awards are neat, but the friendships? That’s the best thing,” said Pietsch.
He said he’ll continue to rebuild airplanes for the years to come.
The Hall of Fame will induct Pietsch during its annual banquet in Minot on March 10.
His ceremony will be a part of this year’s Fly North Dakota Conference.
The Bismarck Municipal Airport has an exhibit honoring all inductees in the lower level of the terminal building.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Roads in northwest North Dakota are reporting extremely low visibility due to blowing dust and dirt.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol shared photos of an intense dust storm that led to a crash in Williams County on Highway 85 at 1:30 p.m.
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Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Highway Patrol -
Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Highway Patrol
The NDHP is advising the public to stay home if possible, and if you must travel, slow down, turn on your headlights, increase following distance, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
KELOLAND News also received photos from our viewers of dust storms in South Dakota.
WILLIAMS COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol is urging drivers in northwest North Dakota to stay off the roads Thursday afternoon as blowing dirt creates near-zero visibility in some areas.
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, troopers were reporting low to no visibility in parts of the region, including along Highway 85 in Williams County near mile marker 212, where a crash occurred. The Highway Patrol shared a photo from the crash scene showing extremely reduced visibility.
Officials are asking people to stay home if possible. Those who must travel are urged to slow down, turn on their headlights, leave extra space between vehicles and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON — The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services has been recognized for its wildfire prevention efforts with a national Bronze Smokey Bear Award.
“These awardees demonstrate what fire prevention looks like in action,” said U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher. “Their efforts protect lives, support firefighters and make a real difference in communities across the country.”
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and with North Dakota experiencing another active spring wildfire season, each fire prevented is one that local responders don’t have to put out, underscoring the importance of each individual’s responsibility to work and recreate safely outdoors. The award to the N.D. Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) recognizes its efforts in communicating just that.
The communications team is led by Strategic Communications Chief Alison Vetter and is supported by Autonomous Systems and Communications Specialist Clint Fleckenstein.
According to information from the Forest Service, the team’s creative products are visually appealing, engaging and effective. The “Learn Before You Burn” tagline urges North Dakotans to visit the interactive N.D. Fire Declarations and Burn Restrictions map to learn their local restrictions, fire danger and red flag warnings before burning or recreating outdoors. Vetter and Fleckenstein consistently take initiative to address fire prevention issues proactively and go above and beyond to become the best possible storytellers of wildfire prevention messaging.
Alison Vetter
Their statewide efforts identify unique and effective avenues to communicate these important public safety topics, addressing top human-caused fire causes like open burning and equipment use through reels, interviews, Gas Station TV, visits with local students, and GoodHealthTV kiosks found in local health units, schools and other public buildings.
During the historic October 2024 wildfires, NDDES mobilized the Joint Information Center, responding to the elevated need for education, prevention and response to determine messaging needs in real time. This included topics like publicizing daily fire danger, sharing resources for affected landowners, advocating for defensible space and safety tips, and messaging ways to minimize fire risk when harvesting, hunting, or enjoying the outdoors. Alison and her team worked over the winter of 2024-2025 to identify prevention efforts and causes, and crafted effective communications strategies to reduce wildfire occurrence, which proved necessary into an active spring 2025 fire season as well. After the devastation of the October 2024 wildfires, they created a documentary to highlight the value and appreciation for those who responded to the call and showcase the unique way North Dakota communities show up for one another in crisis.
The 2026 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at the National Association of State Foresters’ annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, in September.
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