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Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen has presented letters of commendation to

01/24/2022

Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen has presented letters of commendation to Captain Dan Johnson and Firefighters Mike Neels and Brett Czaplewski for exemplary service provided to a citizen of Fargo, who had fallen through the ice on the Red River near Dike East on December 4th. The male had been in the water for 6 minutes from the time of the 9-1-1 call to the arrival of Truck 1 on the scene. Upon arrival, Neels quickly approached the male in the river, who was becoming hypothermic and fatigued. He entered the water and secured the male, then Johnson and Czaplewski, with the assistance of bystanders, pulled both to safety. This rescue was completed within two minutes of arrival on scene. These Fire Department personnel were recognized because of their individual and team demonstration of the Department’s core values of professionalism, responsibility, integrity, dependability and empathy and they demonstrated their sworn duty to protect lives to the best of their ability.

For the Fargo Public Library, the Winter Storytime series for kids is back to in-person sessions; there will be an author visit and creative writing workshop with Jessie Veeder at the Main Library on January 30th at 2 p.m., who will share her first children’s book, “Prairie Princess” and conduct a writing workshop; and the online Winter Reading Program runs through March 6th where participants can read to earn prizes.

The Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation is ready to begin marketing “Document Ready Sites,” sometimes referred to as “certified” or “shovel ready” sites in the metro area. The EDC has worked with Fargo and other multiple partners over the last two years to build the program and qualify sites as “document ready,” which means a significant amount of pre-work, identification and location of utilities and technical reporting on the properties is complete. These programs take significant effort but once complete, having well-understood and fully documented sites provides an economic developer and the site owner with a ready-to-go product to present to expanding local companies and to outside companies. One site in Fargo is already “document ready;” it is a 111-acre site at 37th Street and 52nd Avenue North.

This morning, the Fargo Police Department held a swearing in and promotion ceremony, welcoming five new officers and six civilian team members to the department. New officers include Marcus, Kelsey, Tyler, Morgan and Ezra; the new support staff specialists are Victoria, Kristen and Kelsey; and Shannon, Caleb and Jamie are the newest members of the crime analyst team. Officer Jacob Maahs was promoted to sergeant and the City is incredibly honored to have such a dedicated and committed individual growing his career with the City. Sergeant Maahs has been with the department for several years and has been recognized for his skills and experiences, as well as his potential to lead. Once again, congratulations to all. I know they will make this community proud.

We have two videos tonight - the first showcases the thought and symbolism behind the City’s 150th anniversary logo and the second showcases the newest fire engine in Chief Steve Dirksen’s arsenal.