Author Archives: Chris Witkowski

Downtown Resource Officer

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With downtown being a huge part of the community it could be relieving to know that there is someone out there making sure everything is under control. Officer Todd Wahl is the Downtown Resource Officer and a graduate from NDSU. In 1999 Wahl went to Police Officer Academy in Devils Lake and got his foot in the door. Ten years after Wahl became a police officer he was then assigned as a Downtown Resource Officer. “Generally, they have had one Resource Officer on days and one on at evenings, this year we just had our evening guy retire and the administration doesn’t know if they are going to fill that position. I’m the only one,” said Wahl.

Officer Todd Wahl

 

Ever since the downtown area revitalized and opened more stores a Resource Officer has been needed more then ever.  A Resource Officer’s job is to keep an eye on the area to make sure it is a safe place to live and work. Prior to the new job position downtown has had problems with people drinking in public and panhandling. “Now that there is a resource officer in downtown people know better to drink in public because we will cite you and you will go to jail or be fined,” Wahl stated.

 

http://www.cityoffargo.com/CityInfo/Departments/Police/

Wahl says that drinking in public doesn’t seem too harsh because there is no damage to anyone except for the person who is drinking but it is a B misdemeanor and a person could be slapped with a fine of $1,000. “Generally a person will not get that exact fine, it’s just the maximum penalty and could possibly get up to 30 days in jail. But it is all up to the courts and your past history of that offense,” said Wahl.

 

Safety First

The Fargo Police Department wants officers to keep a close watch on Broadway with foot patrol so they now use a smaller use of transportation. When it is nice out Officer Wahl will use his bike to monitor the area. “You get to see a lot of things you wouldn’t see in a car, you hear a lot of things you wouldn’t normally hear,” says Wahl.

 

If a person is being uncooperative with a police officer the officer can then do whatever it takes to subdue an individual. A huge plus to being a downtown officer is that The Fargo Police Department is only a few blocks away. “In the Downtown area we are kind of spoiled because the Department is in reach and a person will always be ready to assist,” said Wahl. With Broadway being the busiest part of downtown Wahl can get anywhere faster on a bike then driving in a squad car because he can cut through alleys and parking lots.

 

Officer Wahl recommends people to keep all your windows and doors locked downtown and to never leave valuables in a car or on a bike. Residents should always keep their area lit up Wahl says because it is easier to commit a crime if a person is hidden in the darkness then when something is well lit. “We have crime prevention officers that work with businesses and homeowners that can help out if a person is concerned about something and they can give them pointers to make their property safer,” said Wahl. Wahl says that people should always be aware of suspicious activity. If something doesn’t seem right people can call The Fargo Police Department and we will come out to check the situation.

 

Helping Hand

Officer Wahl and his other fellow officers are part of the program called Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) where they are trained to help people who suffer from a mental illness or suffer a crisis. “I work very closely with Southeast Human Services, Fargo Housing and The Salvation Army,” says Wahl.   “We are pretty lucky in Fargo to have the resources we have here than in a smaller community and that is why our homeless population is low.”

 

The downtown area also has a detox center where if a person is too drunk to take care of themselves an officer will hold them in the center until they are sober. This center is a place where people can sober up and they are not charged with anything. There are also shelters connected to the detox center such as The Gladys Ray Shelter. The Gladys Ray Shelter is a homeless center and it is closed during the day and opened at night. The shelter opens its doors to the public at 6 o’clock. A person could go there to spend the night and in the morning they would need to leave. Another facility is the Cooper House and is owned by Fargo Housing and people can apply to live there and if they are accepted they can move in. Cooper House is designed to help people who are homeless or people who have an alcohol abuse and substance/drug abuse also problem.

 

There aren’t many crimes, aggravated assaults or homicides downtown. Most of the crimes are property crimes, items stolen or cars broken in. “We have a very low amount of personal crime in Fargo and we also have a low amount of property crime,” Wahl says.

 

The Fargo Police Department is here to assist and help anyone’s needs and if a person happens to be in the downtown area and see a police officer on a bike it could be Officer Todd Wahl or another officer. Don’t be afraid to say hello.

(Edited by Natalie Lindburg, MSUM Public Relations and News Broadcast Major)

Fargo: More Heart Than Water

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De ja vu all over again

Welcome to Sandbag Central where everyone from all over the state and even the country has come to Fargo-Moorhead to help out for this year’s flood. Two years have passed since the last major flood, and it looks like city officials are once again calling on the students to give them a helping hand.  These are all just part of another spring for people in the Red River Valley.

Photo Courtesy from Inforum.com

Students play Superman role

In 2009, school was canceled due to flooding. Students who came to campus and didn’t know it was canceled were put on a bus and transported to areas that needed help. Many of the students in the Fargo-Moorhead area could put an “S” on the front of their shirts because it was their responsibility to report to hundreds of sandbagging sites and help save our community. This year is different, however, with classes still being held. And, if the campus is shut down because of severe flooding almost every class turns into an online class.

Cold, exhausted, hungry and frustrated

The biggest struggle residents had in 2009 was the environment we were working in. My roommate and I made our way to MSUM to sign in as flood-fighting volunteers. We got there at 11 a.m. The temperature was in the teens, and there was blowing wind and snow. It was cold enough to make a person’s fingers numb. We were then transported to different locations to help out. After a while, the shovel began to scrape on my hands. The wounds were so bad I had to stop working and go inside to do a little first aid to my hand. About 4 p.m., we began to get hungry and sore. Our group wanted to go back to MSUM so we could get our cars and some food. When the bus came to pick us up, I remember hearing the bus driver say, “We need more people down south.” What was I supposed to do? Get shipped to a new location and be angry at the way this process was going? My roommate and I had done all that we could so we called a friend to come pick us up. Exhausted, we were finished for the day. Other students on the bus seemed to feel the same way after struggling with the cold, wind and now exhaustion and hunger.

“My hands were so cold I could barely hold the bags and what we did is take turns holding the bags and pouring the sand in the bags with the shovel,” said NDSU student Tom Jangula. “We played a game with the other sandbaggers and it was who can fill a pallet faster and correctly, we won.”

Courtesy by USA Today Fargo Flooding in 2009

Taking baby steps

Since the 09’ flood, Fargo and Moorhead have been in discussion trying to create a diversion channel that would send the Red River’s overflow around the two towns, much like the flood protection West Fargo enjoys from the Sheyenne Diversion. In the meantime, what they have come up with is building “Sandbag Central,” or what the riverside residents of Fargo-Moorhead call “hope.” Some of the bigger sandbags filled at Sandbag Central will be placed around the city of Fargo in new sandbag holders.

Play time is over!

Photo Courtesy from Inforum.com

We may be running out of ‘fight’

So, it’s once again April, and city officials are ready to fight the river again. We did it before and we can do it again, but how many times do we need to say that until someone steps up and finds a solution to the problem? Grand Forks figured out a way, and so did West Fargo. Even if we do figure out a solution for Fargo-Moorhead’s flooding, are we creating more problems for surrounding areas?

Photo Courtesy from Inforum.com I walk a lonely road the only one that I have ever known.

This year we win a real weather ‘prize’

Thanks to our flood fighting, dangerous winters and below-zero temperatures The Weather Channel has awarded us the title of toughest/worst city in the United States. Is it an honor? Or is it a way for others to look down on us for because we live here? Yes, Fargo is a great place to live, but it can be a struggle from November through March or April. Fargo allows one to spend summer the way it should be spent; with friends and family enjoying the outdoors. But in order to get to those nice days we must stop our enemy: H2O.

‘WE WANT YOU’

Once again, it’s time to get back out and fight to save our town. In the next few days the river will crest at about 39 feet, according to the National Weather Service. In 2009 the Red River hit 41 feet. Another two years, another flood, another call for student help. How many years will students be called on to help out? When will city officials have a solution to control the Red River?

(Edited by Ryan Ellingson, mass communications major)

1910-2010: How 100 Years Can Make a Difference

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Welcome to the 2011 updated version of Broadway where visitors from all over can come and experience Fargo’s way of dining, the local clubs and most importantly the history of Broadway itself. Broadway is an interesting place to hang out, shop boutiques and enjoy the culture of Fargo. Broadway has always been a local attraction for college students and adults, where it is easy to walk from one establishment to the other.

It is the history of Broadway that makes going downtown a unique experience. 100 years ago in 1911 the population of Fargo, ND was 14,331 and today Fargo is at 99,626.

Image retreived from http://www.fargo-history.com/broadway/broadway.htm

While celebrating the 100th anniversary in1911 the Fargo National Bank was burned down and rebuilt. The old bank is now where the Bank of the West is on Broadway.

Broadway is Booming and the Future looks Bright

On a casual date night in 1910 seeing a romantic flick at the Historic Fargo Theater would cost only a nickel. Now movie-goers are lucky to score a ticket, food and refreshment for under $20 at a movie theatre.

Even though prices have increased since 100 years ago, Broadway is still bursting with life and is worth every penny.

Visitors from all over can come and experience Fargo’s way of dining, local clubs, art galleries and walk along a street filled with history.

Video produced by Dan Francis Photography

Everyday Living

With the market not doing so hot right now just imagine being back in 1910 living on Broadway. If a person wanted to buy a two-story 8 room home on Broadway between 9th and 10th avenue it would cost $6,500. A similar type of house on the market today costs around $125,000.

In order to quench your thirst with a classic glass bottle of Coca-Cola you only had to reach in your pocket for 5 cents. Now a can of Coca-Cola is 75 cents or a bottle for $1.25.

In 1910 a man named Ted Evanson owned a men’s suit department and overcoats store on Broadway and sold suits for a steal of $25 dollars. Now businessmen have to spend a portion of their paycheck to look snazzy with suits costing around $150-300 dollars.

In history things are bound to change overtime but it’s evident that Broadway is still a strong staple of downtown Fargo. One can only imagine what Broadway has in store for the next hundred years.

Image retrieved from http://www.fargo-history.com/broadway/broadway.htm

(Edited by Natalie Lindberg, MSUM public relations and news broadcasting major.)