Lisa Miller,
New Century Press COO
Gehrtz Construction began demolition of the old Moorhead High School Tuesday. Removal of the 1968 structure, just a few feet from the recently completed wings of the new school, will clear the way for construction of the second phase, which will house the fine arts programs and administrative offices. (Photo/Nancy Hanson.)
GARDEN PLANNING 101 WORKSHOP SCHEDULED AT MOORHEAD LIBRARY MARCH 25
MOORHEAD – The Moorhead Public Library invites the community to get into the spirit of spring with a Garden Planning 101 Workshop. Led by staff from University of Minnesota Extension, the workshop will cover topics including:
Seed starting and basic garden planning
Raised bed and container gardening
Vegetable snack preparation and ideas
The workshop is scheduled Monday, March 25 from 6-8 p.m. at the Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th St. S. The program is offered free-of-charge.
NEW CENTURY PRESS NAMES MILLER AS NEW COO
New Century Press (NCP), parent company of The Extra newspaper, named general manager, Lisa Miller, to the position of chief operating officer during a recent board of directors meeting. She replaces retiring COO Jim Hensley. Miller was also elected to the company’s board of directors.
“Lisa comes to the position well-prepared,” said Hensley. “She has been with NCP 20-plus years, rising to the position of general manager in 2008. As GM she has gained experience in every facet of the operation and added invaluable knowledge from her involvement with state and national professional associations,” he added.
Her newspaper career actually began much earlier as editor of her high school’s newspaper Lions Pride in 1994 at Central Lyon High School. She graduated from University of Wyoming in 1999 with a BS in communications and a BS in social science.
Miller currently serves on the Association of Community Publishers as its second vice-president, the Midwest Free Community Papers as past president and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation as member at-large.
Based in Rock Rapids, Iowa, New Century Press is a multi-state publishing company with 21 titles in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. Its flagship publication, the Lyon County Reporter in Rock Rapids, was first published in 1884 and is the oldest business in Lyon County, Iowa.
“I am a believer in community news and community publications,” said Miller. “New Century Press has a strong team that continues to bring quality local content to all of our Midwest communities. I look forward to the evolving challenges community journalism will face over the next 20 years.”
MINNESOTANS WITH PRIVATE WELLS URGED TO TEST THEIR DRINKING WATER
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is reminding Minnesotans who rely on a private household well for their drinking water to test regularly for contaminants. Testing is particularly important if babies or pregnant people will be drinking the water.
More than 4 million Minnesotans rely on groundwater for their drinking water, including 1.1 million who rely on a private well. A recent MDH study found that less than 20% of well users test their drinking water as frequently as MDH recommends.
Public water systems are required to meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, which MDH enforces, but private wells do not have those same protections. If groundwater is or becomes contaminated, it can affect the health of those who drink it. MDH therefore recommends testing private wells regularly and using an accredited laboratory for that testing (Search for Accredited Laboratories).
“You cannot taste, smell or see most contaminants, so testing your private well is the only way to know what’s in your drinking water,” said MDH Water Policy Manager Tannie Eshenaur. “The good news is that there are many ways to address water quality issues.”
If testing identifies any contaminants, a variety of treatment options are available to improve water quality, depending on the contaminant(s) to be removed. Solutions can include installing point-of-use or whole-home filters such as reverse osmosis or a water softener, repairing cracks where contaminants are entering the well or potentially even building a new well. A limited number of grants and low-interest loans are available to help offset water treatment costs.
Ride FREE LinkFM Bus Service to the Celtic Festival
MATBUS’s FREE LinkFM event shuttle will be operating on Saturday, March 16, 9:30am to 4:30pm, during the Celtic Festival. This event, held at the Hjemkomst Center, celebrates Celtic heritage through food, performances, workshops and more.
The LinkFM event route will run through the Moorhead Center Mall and Fargo City Hall parking lots, and will serve the Celtic Festival at the MATBUS stop on 1 Ave (at the Hjemkomst driveway). Riders can park in the north or east parking lots at the Moorhead Center Mall, or pick up the bus at Fargo City Hall. Each event bus stop will be marked by a pink LinkFM sign. LinkFM will be detoured from its usual route for this event, due to the St. Patrick’s Parade road closures.
DEMOLITION OF MOORHEAD HIGH SCHOOL: A NEW CHAPTER IN HISTORY
MOORHEAD – Moorhead Area Public Schools announces that the demolition phase for Moorhead High School begins this week, marking a significant milestone in the district’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence and community growth.
Constructed in 1967, the Moorhead High School building has been a cornerstone of the community for 56 years. From its groundbreaking in 1966 through several expansions and renovations, the high school has served generations of students, educators and families.
The demolition of the original building is taking place during the district’s 150th anniversary year and comes as part of the district’s visionary plan for the future. In 2019, the Moorhead community rallied behind a bond referendum aimed at building a new high school on the existing site, reflecting the community’s dedication to providing top-tier educational facilities for its students. The plan included converting an existing retail building into a career academy which opened in 2021. The construction of Phase One of the new high school building also began in 2021.
Phase One of the multi-year construction project culminated in January 2024 when Moorhead High School welcomed students into innovative academic wings, a collaborative student commons and state-of-the-art athletic spaces. The opening of Phase One sets the stage for Phase Two, which includes the construction of a 1,000-seat theater; science and fine arts classrooms; and administrative spaces.
The demolition process, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, March 12, marks the beginning of a new chapter in Moorhead High School’s history. While the original building will make way for new facilities, the legacy of Moorhead High School will endure through memories shared by generations of alumni and the values instilled in its students.
As a gesture to honor the rich history of Moorhead High School, a limited number of bricks from the historic building will be made available to the community through the Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation. Click here for commemorative brick purchase information.
Moorhead Area Public Schools expresses gratitude to the community for its unwavering support throughout this transformative journey. Superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunak said, “Together, we look forward to shaping the future of education in Moorhead and empowering generations of students to thrive in an ever-changing world.”