MANDAN, N.D. — Grafton’s Molly Bjorneby had eight kills and eight digs as Team Blue picked up the split in the North Dakota Optimist all-star volleyball series.

Bjorneby had an early kill and dig in the fifth set.

Thompson’s Jordyn Tozer kept Team Red close late in the fifth set with a kill to trim a deficit to 13-11 before Team Blue pulled away.

At set point in the third set, South Prairie’s Azjiah Trader tipped a set from Jamestown’s Edie Hegerle that floated past the opposing block to record the kill and win the frame for Team Blue.

The set victory began a momentum shift that redirected a two-set deficit to a 3-2 victory over Team Red on Tuesday at Mandan High School.

Team Blue won 21-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23 and 15-11 in the match.

Trailing 12-7, Team Blue outscored Team Red 10-2 midway through the third set to run away with the lead. Bismarck High’s Madison Foster recorded a pair of ace serves for Team Blue in the swing.

In the fourth set, Team Red fell behind seven points but countered and tied the set at 21-21 on a kill from Dickinson Trinity’s Bella Kovash. Team Blue had a block, kill and scored on a net violation to force set point.

A pair of attacking errors, trimmed the Team Blue lead to one-point still at set point in the fourth set. West Fargo Sheyenne’s Alexa Killoran hammered a kill for Team Blue through the opposing block to force a fifth set.

Hegerle tallied a few key kills for Team Blue in the fifth set, including one in a four-point swing that gave her team a 9-6 lead. Team Blue continued to pressure Team Red with timely offense to close out the set and complete the reverse sweep.

Trader and Williston’s Madison Collings both led Team Blue with 16 kills. Sheyenne’s Mya Bloedow had two blocks. Foster had 29 digs and two service aces. Hegerle led with 28 assists.

Fargo Shanley’s Katelyn Ommen led Team Red with 20 kills. Addison Klemin totaled 16 kills, six ace-serves and 2-½ blocks. Grand Forks Red River’s Emerson Byron tallied 18 assists and Bismarck Century’s Holland Fitterer had 26 digs.

Team Red won Monday’s contest at Fargo South High School 4-0. An extra set was played in the exhibition all-star volleyball series.

Staff reports and local scoreboards from the Grand Forks Herald Sports desk.

BISMARCK — Two books by North Dakota authors have been selected as the 2025 North Dakota Great Read titles.

The North Dakota State Library’s Center for the Book chose “What We Leave Behind” by Minot native Barb Solberg and “Sir Rupert and the Battle of the Squirrels” by RubyAnn Stiegelmeier for the annual honor.

The books will be highlighted at the National Book Festival on Sept. 6 in Washington, D.C., along with books from every other state, according to a press release. The Library of Congress requests that each state’s Center for the Book selects books that represent its local literary landscape.

“What We Leave Behind” published in 2022 and focuses on Norwegian immigrants who come to America in pursuit of a better life, and end up sending three daughters to Norway to live with wealthy relatives. However, the oldest ends up marrying a Norwegian man and Germans invade Norway, tearing the family apart and setting in motion a journey of trying to reconnect.

The historical fiction novel is based on Solberg’s ancestors, according to an

April 5, 2022 Minot Daily News article.

She became interested in her Norwegian ancestors after visiting relatives in 1975 and again in 2015. She supplemented characters for the story from ship manifests, obituaries and other historical documents, according to the story.

“Sir Rupert and the Battle of the Squirrels” follows Rupert, who lives in a castle and aspired to be a knight by helping others, including his friend Bertha whose kitchen is overrun by squirrels. Rupert and his friends turn to creative ideas to solve the problem.

The book, which published in 2024, is the Dickinson resident’s first and developed from an idea to create an engaging story for her nieces and nephews, according to a

May 20, 2024, Dickinson Press article.

Stiegelmeier’s book, which was published by Northern Soul Publishing in Dickinson, was supported by the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA).

Stiegelmeier plans to publish additional Sir Rupert stories, according to a KFYR article.

Danielle Teigen has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and management communication as well as a master’s degree in mass communication from North Dakota State University. She has worked for Forum Communications since May 2015 and is the author of two non-fiction history books.

Edward J Praus, 81, Hettinger, North Dakota, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at West River Health Services.  

Edward Joseph Praus was born on November 16, 1943 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson, North Dakota, to Valentine and Anna (Luptak) Praus. He attended country school south of South Heart, North Dakota and graduated from South Heart High School in 1961. 

On January 11, 1962, Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged on January 10, 1968. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado for two years and assigned to the N.D. National Guard until his discharge. 

On October 31, 1970, he married the love of his life, Charlene Piotrowski at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Belfield, North Dakota. To this union they had 3 children, Kathy, Lori and Mark. They began their life together in Belfied, North Dakota and later made their home in Hettinger, North Dakota. 

Edward worked for John Deere for over 40 years in various positions including Sales, Parts Manager and co-owner in the early ’80s. 

After his retirement Edward took up many hobbies to include Geneology, wood crafting, rock collecting and polishing, gardening, and coin collecting. He loved to go camping and fishing with his family as this brought them together as an important part of closeness with his family. His passion was his Geneology, his plentiful garden and his beautiful yard with the greenest, softest grass you’d find in town. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his kids, grandkids and his dogs. 

Edward is survived by his wife Charlene of 54 years, daughters, Kathy (David) Peterson of Lemmon, SD; Lori (Martin) Camacho, Great Falls, MT; son, Mark (Gwen) Praus, Hettinger, ND and grandchildren Tya Peterson, Rapid City, SD; Owen and Lander Praus, Hettinger, ND; sisters Betty Kadrmas, Eugene, OR, Joan Simon, Bismarck, ND, and Sylvia (Ray) Binstock, Dickinson, ND and special friend Curt Dahl, Hettinger, ND.  Edward is proceeded in death by his parents, Valentine and Anna Praus; brothers Ronald, Donald and Edwin.