Good morning, Minot.

On Dec. 4, the Operation Homebound fundraiser raised $31,235 to help Minot Air Force Base Airmen travel home for the holidays.

The MACEDC event, supported by local Jersey Mike's and Qdoba, continues to receive donations through Venmo (via @MinotAreaChamberEDC).

Downtown Minot has celebrated Christmas since 1886 and retains its festive spirit with locally owned antique shops, boutiques and coffee stops & restaurants offering unique holiday gifts and nostalgic experiences.

The tradition, once defined by large department stores, continues to unite neighbors in joyful shopping and community spirit.

Strengthen ND through its Creative Community Solutions Grantmaking Program awarded $348,720 to four projects that test and spread community solutions.

Total funding now exceeds $6.3 million for 47 projects — boosting local innovation — across the state.

On Thursday, Dec. 18, Hailey Nix launched a cleaning business at Minot AFB that offers paid cleanings and free services for families facing hardship - she has quickly booked appointments and plans to keep her schedule two months ahead.

Dorian Garland, a training officer with the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and missileer Allison Dickerson performed in Mouse River Players’ production of Scrooge today — Garland, who has served for five years, will leave the board in March while Dickerson stepped in as Christmas Past days before opening night.

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Health and Human Services have released the free children’s book Building Literacy Skills, which follows Theo Bison’s first day of Kindergarten and provides practical reading tips.

Educators, parents and FCC providers can pick up copies from Minot Public Schools’ (Elementary Assistant Superintendent Bryn Iverson) office early in the new year.

The 91st Missile Wing and the 5th Bomb Wing Professional Development Center hosted the JEFC 300 course at Minot AFB, graduating 28 airmen with training focused on local mission specifics and updated technology (the program will expand in early 2026 to better prepare future noncommissioned officers).

Ward County property owners received their annual tax statements online this week ahead of today’s state official news conference.

The statements show a $1,600 primary residence credit and a lower consolidated levy for a Minot resident in the school district — $1,442 per $100,000 compared to $1,538 in 2024.

Chief Rex Weltikol retires after 21 years as full-time fire chief of the Minot Rural Fire Department following over 30 years of service; his retirement party (2-4 p.m. today) at the department honors his career, and Darrin Mineke will begin as chief on Jan.

5.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce is accepting proposals for the Base Enhancement Grant Program, which provides $1 million in funding for projects at military installations in Minot, Grand Forks and Fargo.

Applications must be submitted electronically by Jan. 21 and projects completed by June 30, 2027.

On Nov. 22, youth wrestlers from Minot competed at Magic City Campus in the season’s first tournament, where the girls earned strong placements and the boys followed with notable results.

They later faced tough competition in a dual at Williston and a two-day tournament in Sidney.

Minot North played a busy week in early-season basketball as the boys lost to Turtle Mountain Community on Dec.

12 and Grand Forks Central later while the girls won 85-46 over Grand Forks Central on Dec. 13, with both teams focusing on improvement for upcoming conference contests.