North Dakota
ND HHS encouraging medical students to work in rural areas using scholarship programs
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – It’s no secret that medical school is expensive. A lot of would-be doctors might opt out of the field because of those costs. Those who do go often need to take jobs in larger hospitals in bigger cities to be able to pay their student loans back. North Dakota Health and Human Services (ND HHS) wants to change that.
Dr. Tyrone Berentson has been working in family medicine at SMP St. Andrew’s in Bottineau for about two and a half years. He grew up on a cattle ranch, and while he completed his residency in Grand Forks, he missed working in a rural community. When he finished training, he landed a job at the hospital in Bottineau.
“I love what a rural community offers. I think being a part of a tight-knit community where you know three generations of the family that you’re working with— I really appreciate that aspect of it. So, my intention is to stay in rural North Dakota,” Dr. Berentson said.
State scholarship programs like the one Dr. Berentson is in can help cover anywhere from $22,000 to $50,000 in tuition for healthcare students. Would-be nurses, physician assistants and counselors qualify, too.
In a news release from ND HHS, Interim Commissioner Dirk Wilke said: “Recruiting and retaining a trained, qualified health care workforce, including in rural and underserved areas, is vital to reaching our goal of being the healthiest state in the nation.”
Dr. Berentson said working in a rural healthcare system lets him connect with his patients. He said people often worry programs like these will attract students who only plan on living in small communities for the duration of their contract, but he said that is definitely not always the case.
“That would discount the benefit for keeping the rural people who were born here and want to stay here,” Dr. Berentson said.
Once Dr. Berentson finishes his five years at St. Andrew’s, his loan repayment contract with the state will be up, but he said he has no intention of leaving anytime soon.
Scholarship applications are open until March 31. You can apply through HHS’ website.
Copyright 2025 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
North Dakota voters to decide single-subject requirement for future constitutional amendments on June 9
BRECKENRIDGE — Coaches, teammates, friends and family gathered in the south parking lot of Breckenridge High School for another state tournament sendoff.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
This year, it was Troy Berndt taking the ceremonial convertible ride. He is headed to St. Michael-Albertville High School for the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet on June 4-6.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
He will be running in the third heat of the 400-meter prelims, scheduled for 4:52 p.m. June 4. There are seven athletes in each heat, 21 total, and nine will advance to the finals at 6:20 p.m. June 5.
The top two finishers in each heat advance, along with the next three best times. Berndt’s personal best time of 50.67 has him seeded 13th, but the 10th-, 11th- and 12th-seeded runners are less than five hundredths of a second ahead of him. The eighth- and ninth-seeded runners are also close, at 50.33 and 50.39, respectively.
Berndt dropped nearly seven-tenths of a second from his previous personal best at the Section 6A West Subsection Meet on May 21, running 51.35, and shaved another 0.68 seconds off at the Section 6A Championships on May 28 with a time of 50.67. If he keeps lowering his time, he will have a shot at reaching the podium against the best runners in Class A.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
Results and photos will be available online immediately following the race June 4 and in the June 10 print edition of the Wahpeton Daily News.
Corbin Lee is a sports reporter for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News-Monitor. Corbin can be reached by calling (701) 291-3551 or emailing corbin.lee@wahpetondailynews.com.
On this day in 1971, Rugby repeated as North Dakota’s high school sand greens golf champion behind medalist Dwight Stempson’s winning performance.
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
Rugby Repeats As Sand Greens Golf Champion
RUGBY, N. D. — Rugby repeated as North Dakota high school sand greens golf champion here Wednesday, posting a four-man total of 293 strokes for 18 holes.
Led by medalist Dwight Stempson’s medalist 36-35 — 71, the Panthers were eight strokes ahead of runnerup Stanley, which had a 301. Following were Garrison 311, Beulah 315, Leeds 322, Ashley 323, Bottineau 328, Pembina 329, Tioga 332, Parshall 341 and Hettinger 342.
Stempson and teammate Bruce Carlson each had one-under par 71s, but Carlson was unable to be at the regional and wasn’t qualified for individual honors.
Rounding out the Rugby totals were Delwin Wilson 40-37 — 77 and Dennett Hutchinson 35-39 — 74. Gary Kirchoffner, 41-39 — 80, was Rugby’s fifth entrant with the best four-of-five scores counted.
Runnerup Stanley was led by Steve Springan’s 34-38 — 72 and Joe Springan’s 36-38 — 74. Their two-man total of 146 strokes was good enough for the doubles title. Two strokes back with a 148 was the duo of Stempson and Wilson. Stan Saathoff and Mike Stepina of Garrison each had 76s for a 152 total and the Ashley combo of Steve Maier (76) and Dave Kretschmar (78) was fourth with a 154.
Stempson was the driving contest winner with a distance of 280 yards. Chris Knutson of Garrison headed the pitch and putt competition.
Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.
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