North Dakota

ND church group stuck in Bethlehem amid Hamas attack on Israel

Published

1 year ago

October 9, 2023

ND church group stuck in Bethlehem amid Hamas attack on Israel

WEST FARGO — On Sunday morning, before a church so packed that folding chairs had to be set up in the entryway, Holy Cross churchgoers listened to a reading that seemed especially timely.

“Have no anxiety at all,” the verse from Philippians 4:6 read, “but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”

The words were appropriate for church members who are understandably filled with worry these days.

Holy Cross’ primary pastor, Father Phil Ackerman, many fellow Holy Cross members, and priests from several other parishes are currently stuck in Bethlehem after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a sudden, large-scale attack on Israel Saturday. Its fighters entered communities near the Gaza Strip, killing residents and taking hostages, according to the BBC. Israel has responded with retaliatory airstrikes and a formal declaration of war

on Sunday

Although the West Fargo church group is safe in Palestine-controlled Bethlehem, they aren’t sure when they’ll be able to leave this volatile corner of the world.

The group of 85 is made up predominantly of Fargo, West Fargo and Grand Forks residents as well as congregants’ family members from around the country. Also on the trip are Father Gerard Braun of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Fargo and Father Augie Gotham of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Hawley and St. Elizabeth’s in Dilworth.

Rev. Ackerman, who helped plan the trip, told The Forum in a phone interview that the group had arrived in Tel Aviv last Tuesday. Earlier Sunday, the group had heard they could possibly fly out of Jordan or Egypt as early as Monday, thinking Tel Aviv — at the heart of the fighting — was out of the question, Ackerman said.

But driving to Jordan or Egypt “has other types of complications and would take a couple of days to do as well,” he said.

Ackerman said he’s heard different accounts since then on where and when they can leave Israel. He was told Air Canada had canceled all flights for the week, but then also heard the group would be able to leave from Tel Aviv on Thursday.

“That surprised me,” he said. “It’s changing by the minute.”

Grateful to be in Bethlehem

Ackerman said he’s especially grateful that their tour guides, Jane and Maher Alatrash, who are originally from Bethlehem but live in Michigan, recommended they stay in Bethlehem instead of conflict-torn Jerusalem.

“It’s a godsend,” he said in a phone interview. “Here, in Bethlehem, we went touring today.”

They’ve heard that travelers who are staying in Jerusalem, just six miles away, have not been able to leave their hotel. Tourists in Jericho, about 36 miles away, haven’t been able to leave their bus.

In Bethlehem, located about 45 miles away from the Gaza Strip, tour members saw zero evidence of rockets or bombing, Ackerman said.

“A couple of times I heard some planes flying in the middle of night, which gave me a little sense of being uncomfortable, but I don’t know what that was,” he said.

A day after the attack, there was little traffic and many of the shops were closed in Bethlehem, where the Sabbath is celebrated on Saturdays and a Sunday would be like a weekday, he added.

“But there were a lot of people at Mass this morning, and there were a lot of pilgrims touring the religious sites as we did,” Ackerman said. “Things seem a little more normal. Below all that, we all have some apprehension.”

The day after the Hamas attack, Father Phil Ackerman was invited to read the gospel in English at a Sunday Mass in a chapel next to the birthplace of Jesus.

Contributed / Father Phil Ackerman

After all that has happened in the area, Ackerman said the group wasn’t particularly interested in venturing out to sightsee. Although access to Jerusalem had opened up again as of Sunday evening, tour guide Alatrash said she felt safer staying in the Bethlehem area, where she has friends and contacts.

“We are not worrying about what’s happening there will affect us, but the people who live in U.S., (they) are not used to this situation, so that’s why (they’re) worried about that,” she said.

At the same time, Alatrash said she had not heard of an attack of this magnitude since 1948.

Emily Bernhardt Keeley and her 17-year-old son, Nathan, came on the trip with her mother, Pam Hartwig, a Holy Cross member. Bernhardt Keeley said their group felt “somewhat safe” in Bethlehem, but were struggling with the uncertainty of when and how they would get home.

Holy Cross-Emily.jpg — Emily Bernhardt Keeley (center), her son, Nathan, and her mom, Pam Hartwig, had planned the trip to the Holy Land together but, Bernhardt Keeley says, “this wasn’t the adventure we were anticipating.”

“We are holding up,” she told The Forum. “The people are very kind. I think the scary part is the unknown. We are told we are safe here, but we are watching the news and hearing very scary things from our friends and family back home. The emotional and mental toll on all of us travelers and our loved ones back home is huge. A roller coaster of emotions for sure.”

She also said group members were trying to find ways to at least get to Europe if flights to the United States weren’t available.

“I am really hoping they figure this out sooner than later. My anxiety is through the roof,” she said. “We all just want to get home so bad.”

Tammy Swift hails from a family of storytellers. A graduate of North Dakota State University, she has worked as a Dickinson, N.D., bureau reporter; a Forum feature reporter, columnist and editor; a writer in university relations, and a marketing, social media and communications specialist.

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Related Topics:Catholic group in Israel Father Phil Ackerman Featured hamas in israel Holy Cross Church North Dakotans trapped in Israel

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North Dakota

North Dakota Plans Homeless Point-in-Time Count for Jan. 22

Published

4 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

North Dakota Plans Homeless Point-in-Time Count for Jan. 22

(North Dakota Housing Finance Agency image)

(KNOX) – The North Dakota Continuum of Care (ND CoC) will conduct a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of the people in the state who are experiencing homelessness on Jan. 22, 2025.

“The data collected during the Point-in-Time Count is used to measure homelessness at a local, state and national level,” said Dave Flohr, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) executive director. “The information helps to identify strengths and service gaps, increase public awareness, measure progress, and assist local entities with system planning and responses.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires CoCs to conduct an annual count of sheltered people experiencing homelessness. While a count of people who are unsheltered are only required in odd numbered years, the ND CoC conducts one annually as well. Each count is planned, coordinated, and carried out locally.

“To complete the count requires strong regional engagement that is coordinated by an area lead who works with volunteers to collect clean and current data from homeless service providers while law enforcement, healthcare and other providers work to identify persons who are unsheltered,” said Flohr.

To learn more about the PIT Count or to provide assistance, contact your region’s area lead.

The goal of HUD’s CoC Program is to promote a communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.

The program provides funding to support efforts to end homelessness, promotes access to and effective utilization of programs, and optimizes the self-sufficiency of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

NDHFA acts as the Collaborative Applicant for the state’s CoC whose geographic area encompasses all 53 of North Dakota’s counties, its cities, towns, and unincorporated areas, as well as the state’s five federally recognized tribes. More information about the ND CoC is available online at https://ndcontinuumofcare.org.

NDHFA is a self-supporting and mission-driven state agency dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. The North Dakota Industrial Commission, consisting of Governor Kelly Armstrong as chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Drew Wrigley, oversees the agency

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North Dakota

NDSU Foundation plans new pregame party in Frisco for Bison fans

Published

12 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

NDSU Foundation plans new pregame party in Frisco for Bison fans

FRISCO — The party leading up to the Bison’s attempt to win their 10th national title in 14 seasons is a little different this year.

In past years, the NDSU Foundation has hosted a pep fest in the Frisco area.

This year, they are hosting a tailgate party instead.

“Change is good. I think it is going to allow for some more kids and family time,” said Todd Clark, a North Dakota State University fan from West Fargo who is in Frisco for his sixth title game.

“Because it is a night game, I think it makes a lot of sense to get everybody there right before the game instead of 24 hours before that,” former Bison Steve Sershen said.

Fans will take over a soccer field next to Toyota Stadium on Monday, Jan. 6, ahead of the 6 p.m. kickoff. The event at Dr. Pink Field is a free, family-friendly tailgate party that will include games, kids events, a DJ and food and drinks.

The gates open when the tailgate lot opens at 1 p.m. and goes until 4 p.m.

The traditional team walk will take place at 3:15 p.m., right next to the tailgate party.

“The strength of the Herd is the Bison and the strength of the Bison is the Herd, so how do we make sure we do a pregame event that gets everybody together and ready to go into that stadium and absolutely destroy Montana State and make sure everyone is there?” Bethany Hardwig with the NDSU Foundation said of the mindset behind the change in the event.

After the Bison punched their ticket to Frisco, the NDSU Foundation conducted a survey. With the game being on Monday night for the first time, they wanted to know when fans would be in town.

Hardwig said many people would be driving down and arriving Sunday afternoon or early Monday, and the NDSU Foundation wanted an event that those fans could attend.

“That they don’t feel like they missed the thing was really important to us,” she said.

Attendance at pep fests in recent years noticeably declined as Bison Nation spread out across the Frisco area to enjoy their favorite watering holes and restaurants.

“The Bison are a huge part of what we do on that football field, so making sure people are gathered, ready and hyped is our obligation to our team,” Hardwig sad. “Our team has made it this far — Are we ready to yell loud and get them the rest of the way?”

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.

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North Dakota

NDGF gives preview of 2025 seasons and reflects on 2024

Published

19 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

NDGF gives preview of 2025 seasons and reflects on 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – 2024 was a great year for wildlife activities in North Dakota. North Dakota Game and Fish preview what’s in store for 2025.

Whitetail deer numbers in 2024 were still slowly rebounding from previous bad winters and disease, but upland game bird numbers looked pretty good.

“I think hunters experienced a really good upland game bird season, especially the combination of pheasants, sharptailed grouse, partridge,” said Jeb Williams, Director of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Fishing continues to be good on many waterbodies in North Dakota.

“Fisheries, again, another great year. I think one of the challenges of open water season in 2024 was that we had an exceptional open water 2023. So the expectations I think were really high and sometimes that’s very hard to meet,” said Williams.

Weather always plays an important role in wildlife populations.

“So 2024 started out really good as far as moisture-wise, but in a lot of areas of the state, got pretty tough come middle part of July. And that’s definitely has carried into where we’re at now. So it’s going to be have to be something that we will have to monitor and know that it can and have some impacts on wildlife if that drought persists,” said Williams.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is always looking to partner with private landowners to create wildlife habitat and hunting access.

“Working in partnership with those individuals and for voluntary conservation programs where maybe the piece of property isn’t as productive from an agriculture standpoint, but has some opportunities and benefits when it comes to conservation,” said

And how are things looking heading into 2025 for our state’s wildlife populations?

“Numbers-wise from bird perspective are very good. Obviously, from a big game perspective, deer, we’re at a period of time where we’re kind of in rebuilding mode for some of these areas. But there’s some opportunities out there if people are willing to take advantage of things that are currently on the high of the roller coaster ride that we have in North Dakota with some of our outdoor opportunities,” said Williams.

Another highlight in 2024 was the PLOTS program, which added an additional 40,000 acres for hunting access.

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