Norval Baptie 

Another Story on the legend of Norval Baptie.  The Bathgate native, is a member of the National Speed Skating Hall of Fame and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Do It Backwards

• by 1pen, Mar 23, 2012, 11:38:42 AM

Once upon a time, long enough ago for this tale to become muddled folklore, there was a talented young man who desperately wanted a pair of skates.  Times were hard, there was war and rumour of war, and hockey was fast becoming a popular diversion from all of it.  Skates, and a very good pair of skates, ones designed by the fastest skater in the world, Norval Baptie, were particularly special and this particularly talented young man wanted them more than he had ever wanted anything.  All he would have to do to get them would be to beat Norval Baptie himself in a race.  Ever the showman and the gentleman, Norval Baptie offered to race backwards while his challengers could skate forward.  Norval Baptie was at the height of his speedskating career at the time, but facing him while he skated backwards especially for such a pair of skates was a tempting challenge.  The young man entered and the race was on, but as the race unfolded the young man realized something very quickly.  He was losing.  Not only could Baptie skate as fast backwards as the young man could skate forwards, the advantage was in Baptie's favour. He could see his opponents, and he could block them as they attempted to pass.   With every stride, the young man's frustration grew and grew, till he was so angry he could spit.

Story Link

Plaque located in Bapties hometown.

From a North Border Farm...

...to the Governors Mansion.  Online Exhibit of Former North Dakota Governor Walter Welford on the North Dakota Historical Society webpages.  Welford's farm was located between Neche and Pembina.

ND State Historical Society Online Exhibit Link

As lieutenant governor, Welford became governor after Thomas H. Moodie was disqualified. Welford was a staunch supporter of the Nonpartisan League (NPL), a farmers' political group. During Welford's administration the state was caught in the grip of the Great Depression. The 1936 crop yield was disastrously low because of drought. Welford met with President Franklin Roosevelt and obtained federal aid for drought-stricken farmers.

Governor Welford and members of the Highway Patrol at the
state capitol.

In 1936, Welford decided to run for office again. He beat former Governor William Langer for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, but Langer refused to drop out, and entered the general election as an independent. Welford lost the three-way governor's election to Langer. (The third-place candidate was Democrat John Moses, who became North Dakota's twenty-second governor, following Langer's second term.) Walter Welford became governor when Thomas H. Moodie was removed from office shortly after being elected. Welford served during a time of drought and depression

Maris' bat and ball to be displayed at tournament

FARGO – The bat that Roger Maris used to hit his record 61st home run and the ball that landed in the right-field stands of Yankee Stadium in 1961 will be on display at the 31st annual Roger Maris Celebrity benefit golf tournament.

The bat and ball will be on display on Monday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Roger Maris Museum at the West Acres Shopping Center. The viewing is free and open to the public.

The bat and ball will also be on display at the tournament auction which will be held Sunday, June 22, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. They will also be displayed at the tournament banquet that night at the Holiday Inn.

Fargo Forum Link

Best Food Stands at Target Field, Home of the Minnesota Twins

For those heading to Minneapolis this summer to watch the Minnesota Twins, here are a couple of Stadium food recommendations.

1. Andrew Zimmern Canteen - Minnesota Crispy Belly Bacon” with jalapeno jelly and vinegar slaw.  

2. Tony O's - Cuban Sandwich

3. Talenti Gelato - ( Italian word for ice cream) - Sea Salt Carmel

Mention of Former Neche HS Grad Gary Vollrath in this 1973 Fergus Falls Newspaper.

80 boxers in Upper Midwest 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) - A field of 80 boxers from Minnesota and the Dakotas will compete Friday and Monday nights at the Minneapolis Auditorium in the Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Tournament Regional teams will be representing Minneapolis, St. Paul Wadena, Hibbing, Rochester Fairmont, Wahpeton, N.D., and Watertown, S.D. No less than three former champions make the heavy- weight division the most attractive on the card. Bob Culbertson of Rochester is the defending champion, Scott LeDoux of Minneapolis won the 1971 title and Gary Vollrath of Wahpeton was the 1970 king. The individual champions ad- vance to the national tournament in Lowell, Mass., in mid-March. 

Daily Journal Link