North Dakota
New book by UND alum describes 1918 Spanish flu in North Dakota – UND Today
Outbreak killed more than 1,000 North Dakotans, writes Christopher Price in ‘Big Pandemic on the Prairie,’ published by The Digital Press at UND
Before the 21st century’s COIVD-19, there was the 1918 Influenza pandemic. Christopher Price, who earned his bachelor’s degree in History at UND in 2013 and is now a faculty member at New River Community and Technical College in West Virginia, has published a new book, “Big Pandemic on the Prairie: The Spanish Flu in North Dakota.”
“Big Pandemic on the Prairie” tells the story of how North Dakota responded to the most devastating pandemic of the 20th century: the 1918 influenza outbreak, which killed more than a thousand people in the state and millions globally. By digging deeply into local newspapers and archives, Price developed an engaging and thought-provoking story of resistance, resilience, reliance and sacrifice across the state.
In many ways, this story is uncannily similar to what our communities experienced in the 21st century, he observes.
These similarities explain the origins of this book. “I kept seeing people on TV and the Internet making claims that the COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions were unprecedented,” Price said. “But I’d learned a little bit about the Spanish flu from reading various sources, and I also remember Prof. Kim Porter, my committee chair at UND, mentioning a relative who had died while mustering out of the American Expeditionary Force in Florida. He had gone to Europe and survived the Great War, but he died of the Spanish flu before getting back to his family.”
The book will appeal to a wide range of audiences, from people trying to add historical context to the COVID pandemic to college students interested in the history of public health and medicine, and the intersections of local, global and social histories as well. .
The book offers some surprises for those interested in comparing the Spanish flu and COVID-19 pandemics, Price notes. In 1918, for example, “there was a fairly vocal minority who opposed vaccinations that were created and administered pretty much immediately. On the other hand, there was not the partisan divide in 1918 that was very evident with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Moreover, the book is more than policy and politics, Price said: “The most interesting source was probably letters from the Ferdinand Shoemaker Collection at the University of Wyoming. when Dr. Shoemaker’s worked at an Indian reservation hospital in North Dakota around the time of the Spanish flu,” he said.
“Without giving too much away, his records included a story of sex, drugs and guns.”
Like all books from The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota, “Big Pandemic on the Prairie” is available as a free download and as a low-cost paperback. This is Price’s second book with the press. His first book, “The Old Church on Walnut Street: A Story of Immigrants and Evangelicals” first appeared in 2014 and then as a revised edition in 2018.
William Caraher, publisher at The Digital Press notes: “This book is another fantastic example of the press’s commitment to authors with local connections and the history of the state and the region. Price’s book makes a unique and entertaining contribution to the history of North Dakota and we’re excited to make it available to as wide an audience as possible.”
Interested readers are invited to download the book from the website of The Digital Press.
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.
North Dakota
Armstrong directs flags at half-staff Thursday in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong has directed all government agencies to fly the United States and North Dakota flags at half-staff on Thursday, May 14, and encourages North Dakotans to do the same at their homes and businesses, in observance of national Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The governor’s directive is in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Donald Trump, who also proclaimed May 10-16 as national Police Week.
Armstrong will join North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Supreme Court Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers in delivering remarks during a North Dakota Peace Officers Memorial Service at 7 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Hall of the State Capitol. North Dakota’s 69 fallen peace officers will be remembered and honored during the service, and the Capitol windows will be lit to display a “Thin Blue Line” as a mark of respect for all law enforcement officers, past and present.
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – Todd Cresap, who has served as a North Dakota district judge since 2009, announced he will retire in July.
Cresap wrote a letter to Gov. Kelly Armstrong, R-ND, he would retire effective July 17.
In the letter, Cresap said he had ‘mixed emotions’ over the decision, calling it an ‘honor’ to serve, but said it was time for someone ‘with a new perspective’ to serve.
A Valley City native, Cresap studied at Minot State University and the University of North Dakota.
Then-Gov. John Hoeven appointed Cresap to fill a judgeship in the Northwest Judicial District in 2009 that was created by the legislature. He served in that district until 2014, when it was split into Northwest and North Central.
Voters elected Cresap to the bench in 2012, 2016, and 2022. He served as a lawyer in private practice before his appointment as judge.
Armstrong can appoint a replacement to fill Cresap’s remaining term from a nominating committee’s list, ask the committee for new candidates, or call a special election.
The North Central District covers Ward, Mountrail, and Burke Counties.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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