North Dakota
Special Olympics of North Dakota hosts ‘Polar Plunge’
GRAND FORKS – Taya Lulay, 6, of Michigan, North Dakota, looked a bit apprehensive but eager as she waited with her team to participate in the annual “Polar Plunge” on Saturday, March 21, at Choice Health and Fitness.
Taya was among about 40 courageous souls who braved the 39-degree temps, chilly winds and a tank of frigid water to raise funds for the Special Olympics of North Dakota organization.
“She’s the reason we’re doing this,” said Erick Houde, of Grand Forks.
The daughter of Brandon and Amy Lulay attended the event last year and apparently convinced five others to join her in taking the plunge, all for the first time.
Members of “The ReNewed Penguins,” ranging in age from 6 to 53, have raised about $700 for the Special Olympics of North Dakota.
Erick Houde, Brandon Lulay and Luke Syrup are employees of PCL Community Contractors.
“We do a lot of volunteering” as employees, Houde said, “and we like to keep on doing it. We decided to do it as our own team this year.”
“And it’s fun,” said Joan Houde, Erick Houde’s wife, who confessed to being “a little bit” nervous before the plunge. “It’s just the cold.”
“We felt the water,” she said, “and we shouldn’t have.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Dressed in black-and-white penguin costumes, Erick Houde added that “the layers are pretty cozy.”
At the far end of the tank, three volunteers from Grand Forks Water Rescue were positioned in the water to help the plungers steady themselves after the jump and exit the tank.
Others on hand to help, if needed, included Altru ambulance, fire and police personnel.
This is the 17th year the Polar Plunge event has been held here, said Nancy Hanson, president and CEO. The funds raised support year-round competition and sports training for Special Olympics of North Dakota athletes.
Anyone who raised $100 or more before the event was welcome to walk-up and participate, Hanson said.
The organization set a goal of raising $25,000 through this event, about the same as last year, Hanson said. People could participate as individuals or as members of a team.
Travis Nelson, a trooper with the North Dakota Highway Patrol, was taking the plunge for the 12th time. He has served on the event’s organizing committee since 2011.
He does it because Special Olympics “is a great organization to raise money for,” he said, emerging from the water.
Awards were given for best costume, best belly flop, oldest and youngest plungers, the team and individual who raised the most funds for the Special Olympics of North Dakota organization.
Judges for the event were Rod Clark, UND chief of police; Mike Hedlund, East Grand Forks police chief; Jeremy Moe, Grand Forks Police Department; Captain Joel Lloyd, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office; and Tyler Lee, SOND athlete.
This spring, SOND will host another major fundraising event, “Dancing for Special Stars,” on April 16. Local celebrities and other well-known residents team up with dance instructors to learn routines which they perform for the audience. The dance couple with the most votes wins the competition at the Mirror Ball Trophy; a People’s Choice Award is also presented.
GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks man is working to overturn his conviction for killing his friend.
Donald Bartlette’s attorney, Kiara Costa Kraus-Parr, wants the North Dakota Supreme Court to declare a mistrial when he was found guilty of manslaughter in the October 2024 death of Tony Kiehl.
During a hearing Monday, June 22, Costa Kraus-Parr said prosecutors unfairly made jurors biased against Bartlette at trial in August of last year.
That includes referencing past drug use and testimony from a witness who called Bartlette a bully.
That testimony was objected to, and the objection was sustained.
Bartlette was found guilty of manslaughter and was later sentenced in December to 10 years in prison.
Bartlette, 46, maintains Kiehl, 49, came at him with a knife and he acted in self-defense.
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Funeral Mass for Delia “Dee” Sianghio, 91, of Dickinson, will be 10:00 am, Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Father Ryan Martire celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.
Visitation for Dee will be 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Monday, June 22, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, with rosary and vigil taking place at 6:00 pm. Dee passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at her home. Delia was born on September 5, 1934 in Zambales, Philippines to Dr. Aqualino and Solita (Ortin) Edaño. The eldest of 5 children, Delia graduated college in 1958 from University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Delia met Dr. Gregorio L. Sianghio and married in 1960, having 3 children, Leyden, Homer and Lourdes. The family embarked on a great adventure and emigrated to the United States in 1971, ultimately settling in Dickinson, ND, where Dr. Gregorio practiced in Anesthesiology at St. Joseph Hospital. Much to Delia’s dismay, she experienced extreme cold, blizzards, and having to travel to West Fargo, ND for authentic Philippine ingredients for traditional food. Delia was an avid reader, history buff, and enjoyed crocheting and knitting. After her husband died in 1985, she became an active volunteer at St. Luke’s Nursing Home in Dickinson and enjoyed exercising to step-aerobics. Delia is survived by daughter Dr. Leyden Sianghio-Reamer (Joe Reamer), Boerne, TX; son Homer Siañghio (Cindy M. Steiner-Siañghio), Kent, WA; and daughter Lourdes E. Sianghio, TX/ND; 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Delia is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Aqualino and Solita Edaño of Zambales, Philippines; husband Dr. Gregorio Sianghio of Dickinson, ND; sisters Aqualina and Susan; and brothers Aqualino Jr. and Lino, all from Zambales, Philippines. Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.
BISMARCK — The public is invited to the opening of the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s new exhibit, “North Dakota 250 Road Trip: Our American Story,” with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, visitors can enjoy light refreshments, live music by Mythtickle, face painting, Scouting America Pinewood Derby races and opportunities to visit with agency curators, archivists and community partners until 1 p.m.
Developed as part of the America250 commemoration, the free exhibit explores North Dakota’s significant role in the American story through themes of travel, migration, innovation, and community. Visitors can explore highlights of how North Dakota has influenced the nation and how the nation has shaped us, beginning with stories dating back to the 1770s from tribal nations.
“We designed this exhibit as a road trip through North Dakota’s past, present, and future,” Exhibitions Manager David Newell said. “We are encouraging people to discover new stories and explore places they haven’t visited yet.”
Visitors can plan their own road trips, contribute to the state’s story on a kiosk, research longtime owners of Centennial Farms and learn how to explore your roots.
“This exhibit is an American story, a North Dakota story, and a personal story,” Audience Engagement & Museums Director Kimberly Jondahl said. “We invite people to dive into their own family histories using State Archives resources in the genealogy area. Do you know where your own people were in 1776?”
These programs are part of the ND250 commemoration celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.
The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, located at 612 E. Boulevard Ave. in Bismarck, is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.
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