North Dakota
‘Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase’ draws thousands to Alerus Center in Grand Forks
GRAND FORKS – The Alerus Center bustled with thousands of eager shoppers Saturday, Nov. 15, as the Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase opened for the start of its two-day event.
The facility became an enticing, can’t-miss mecca for those in search of unusual or unique items for themselves or Christmas gift-giving. It was expected to draw more than 9,000 visitors, one of the hundreds of vendors told the Herald.
Administered and hosted by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Pride of Dakota program is an opportunity for businesses and organizations to connect with people in this region and beyond. More than 500 member companies participate in the program.
The event is also held annually in several other cities throughout the state.
“I come here every year,” said Autumn Maurstad, of East Grand Forks. “It’s one of all my stops.”
She was shopping for Christmas gifts, along with her husband Adam Maurstad.
At the “Holly the Potter” booth, she held up a natural-colored ceramic mug. Holly Van Santen Knipe, of rural Grand Forks, is the creative potter who has operated this business for many years.
“This coffee cup just spoke to me,” Maurstad said. “The bottom is not too gritty, the handle is good, it holds nice – it’s the perfect coffee cup. I’ve been looking for the perfect coffee cup for two years; I broke my last one.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Tanya and Rick Anderson, of Grand Forks, have operated Tan and Jay Creations for two years.
“We have something for everybody,” Tanya said.
They hand-assemble items including pens, zipper pulls, coffee stirs, key chains and other items.
The work takes “many, many, many hours,” Rick Anderson said.
“It keeps us busy, but I enjoy it,” his wife added.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
At the Pride of Dakota Showcase, the range of products are as vast and diverse as one could imagine – from the decorative to the functional, most of them handcrafted by North Dakotans. Available for purchase were artwork, food and beverage items, pet supplies, books, pottery, jewelry, photography, kitchenware, products to enhance personal health and well-being, and much more.
Carleen Hennenfent, a retired mortician from Bismarck, displayed her book, “Incomplete,” which offered insights on dealing with grief and the loss of loved ones – people as well as pets.
With memories that are stirred, the holidays can heighten that sense of loss, said Hennenfent, a grief educator. “It’s the nostalgia” that permeates the holiday season.
“People want yesterday to come back,” she said, “and they’re frightened of tomorrow. (It’s important) to live in the now, where at least we have some control.”
Nostalgia also plays a role in attracting customers to the traditional sock monkeys Keith and Leslie Ogden, of Cavalier, North Dakota, offered at their “Smitten with Mittens” booth.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Leslie has been making these stuffed figures for 18 years, she said. Each one requires “two socks – original, red-heeled socks – one for the body and one for the extremities.”
When the Odgens go south for the winter each year, neighbors in their retirement community like to buy them for their grandkids, to carry on the memory.
Her husband Keith, a retired state trooper, was selling his second book, “More Humor on the Highway,” which recounts the fun incidents that happened and the funny things people said to him, as a trooper on the job, and regretted later.
“I don’t want to remember the bad things,” said Ogden, a native of East Grand Forks who worked 26 of his 28-year career in Cavalier.
His first book, “Humor on the Highway,” sold 2,500 copies in Pembina County, he said. “(People) wanted to see who’s in it.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
On Saturday, the Alerus Center parking lots were nearly full and, inside, lines formed as additional security measures were in place, with personnel checking purses and totes and wanding visitors before entering the venue.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
The Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase is also planned for Nov. 21-22 at Scheels Arena in Fargo and Dec. 5-6 at the Bismarck Events Center. Showcases were held earlier this fall in Minot and Dickinson.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Long Beach State hosted North Dakota State on March 10 where they suffered a 5-2 loss. Freshman Nina Sepulveda had two hits in the loss. Long Beach State will resume Big West play this weekend when they travel to UC Riverside for a three-game series starting Friday, March 13.
GRAND FORKS — Four area athletes were selected to the North Dakota Division A all-state girls basketball team, which was released by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association on Tuesday.
The North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association will release all-state teams later this month.
Thompson’s Addison Sage led the way as a first team all-state pick, as well as receiving the division’s Outstanding Senior Athlete honor. Her coach, Jason Brend, was the Coach of the Year.
All-state second team choices from the area are Devils Lake junior Tylie Brodina, Four Winds-Minnewaukan sophomore Suri Gourd and Thompson senior Kya Hurst.
Sage, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged 22.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Sage has more than 1,900 career points and holds the Tommies’ all-time scoring record.
Brodina, a 5-8 guard, averaged 18.8 points and 2.6 steals per game. She shot 82 percent from the foul line and 32 percent from 3-point range.
Hurst, a 5-6 forward, averaged 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She added 3.7 steals and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Hurst has scored more than 1,600 points and grabbed more than 840 rebounds in her career.
Gourd, a 5-8 guard, averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.4 steals per game. Gourd has more than 1,600 career points in her career with two more seasons to play.
Gourd led Four Winds-Minnewaukan from a 5-17 record last season to a 16-8 mark this year.
Funeral Mass for Annabelle Weber, 95, of Dickinson will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Queen of Peace Church with Msgr. Thomas Richter celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, with Rosary and Vigil service taking place at 6:00 PM. Annabelle passed away Friday, March 6, 2026 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Annabelle S. Weber was born on December 8, 1930, in Killdeer, North Dakota, to Frank and Eva (Kowis) Schmalz. She grew up in Killdeer and graduated from Killdeer High School in 1947. At the age of 17, Annabelle began working at Zimbrich’s Department Store in Killdeer. She later moved to Dickinson, where she worked at S&L in retail sales and spent many years at Kessel’s Bridal Shop. While working at the Esquire Steak House, she met Gerald Weber, the love of her life. The couple was united in marriage on November 1, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson, where they made their home and built their life together. Annabelle was a woman who loved staying busy and caring for her family and home. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, along with hobbies such as crafts, sewing, and gardening. She was well known for keeping an immaculate home and took great pride in caring for those around her. Faith was an important part of her life. She joined the Catholic Daughters in 1957 and was active in church circles, often helping with funeral dinners and parish gatherings. Annabelle’s greatest joy was her family. Annabelle is survived by her sons, Greg (Barbara) Weber of Grand Forks, Russ (Rhonda) Weber of Dickinson; daughter, Sharon (Tony) Allen of Andover, MN; nine grandchildren, Christi (Ryan), Tiffani (Tim), Shane (Kayla), Tonya (Adam), Samantha (Scott), Kevin, Tracey (Analisa), Stacie, Tyler; 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Eva Schmalz; husband, Gerald Weber; siblings, William (Evelyn) Schmalz, Elaine (John) Buresh, and Vernon (Dolores) Schmalz; and daughter-in-law, Coleen Weber (Krance). Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.
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