The Good Life - Sept-Oct 2013

3

Wining and Dining For Guys
A Man’s Guide to Wine and Champagne
By: JESSICA BALLOU | PHOTO: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
M
en are known to grab an
ice-cold beer or two after
a particularly long day at
work or on a night out with
the guys. But Joe Docimo,
general manager at Mezzaluna in
Fargo, encourages guys to reach for
a classier beverage: wine.
While most tend to lean toward
sweeter wines like Moscato when
first trying wine, Docimo encourages
people to sample the dryer flavors
that accompany red wines since
they tend to pair better with meaty,
savory, “manly” dishes.
“It’s more popular now for guys,”
he said. “It’s classy. It’s nice to just sit
down with a bottle of wine.”
Cabernet sauvignon is a bold
and assertive red wine that features
2
aromas such as cedar, dark earth,
green pepper and smokiness. Due
to these manly scents, Docimo
considers it a real “man’s wine.” This
dry red wine can pair nicely with juicy
steaks and other grilled items.
Tempranillo is a grape from
Spain that makes full-bodied red
wines. Because of the deep, rustic
aromas like tobacco, leather and
spice, this wine pairs nicely with
pizza, barbeques and other typical
“guy” foods.
Syrah, or shiraz, stems from a
dark grape that makes dry red wine
with powerful flavor. It features an
aroma full of fresh cracked black
pepper with a full-bodied, robust
taste that pairs well with steaks,
chops and other savory foods.
Another typically girly alcoholic
beverage is slowly making an
appearance as well: champagne.
Docimo said men are typically
appealed to champagne by the
flavor and texture. “And women
like it, which is a good reason for
men to like it, too,” he said with a
chuckle.
Despite the fancy nature of the
beverage, you don’t have to eat
something fancy to accompany
it. Docimo recommends potato
chips, buttered popcorn or pretzel
rods with hummus as a tasty snack
with champagne.
Despite the stereotype, wines
with robust, big flavors and
champagne have plenty to offer
men looking to try something new.

in...
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IN EVERY ISSUE
ARTICLES
28
Local Hero
Detective Chris Nichtern -
A Hero Behind the Badge
2
Wining and Dining for Guys
A Man’s Guide to Wine and
Champagne
18
ON THE COVER
Music Man Steve Stine -
Living the Good Life
6
8
The Garbage Man Can
One Man’s Trash … Is This
Guy’s Job
Hooves, Hope & Hard Work
Let the Races Begin
26
18 28
2
4
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Dawn Siewert
dawn@urbantoadmedia.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Darren Losee
darren@urbantoadmedia.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Soo Asheim
Jessica Ballou
Cantrell
Meghan Feir
Paul Hankel
Jessica Jasperson
Jenessa McAllister

8
12
ARTICLES
The Truth Behind
Colonoscopies
An Interview With North
Dakota’s “Queens of
Colonoscopy”
26
34
35
Manly Hats
Dads Are Heroes
You and Your Child’s Teacher
14
Saying Goodbye to Man’s
Best Friend
Memorializing and
Remembering a Pet’s Life
16
Boys and Their Trucks
14 34 12
read a copy online:
issuu.com/thegoodlifemensmag
visit our website:
www.urbantoadmedia.com
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/urbantoadmedia
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permission. The Good Life magazine accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this publication. The
opinions expressed, or advice given, are the views of individual writers or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views
or policies of The Good Life.
5

The Garbage Man Can
One Man’s Trash … Is This Guy’s Job
Sanitation specialist. Garbage man.
Trash collector. Sanitation engineer.
No matter what you call him,
Paul Hirchert is here to help.
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By: JESSICA BALLOU | PHOTO: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
“
Sometimes you’ve got
loose dog doo doo, or
people throw away a
chainsaw. It’s basically
anything and everything.”
— PAUL HIRCHERT
He and the others who work for West Fargo’s garbage department are out
every day rain, shine, sleet or snow to serve the citizens and the city the
best they can.
The West Fargo Sanitation crew grew from eight guys in 2005 when
Hirchert first started to 19 now. Comradery is an important part of the
job, and they work as a well-oiled machine tasked with picking up garbage and
providing great service every single day of the year.
Each person runs on a route for two weeks and then changes routes with a
different guy for the next two weeks, and so forth. Since there are six different
routes a day, it takes a while to learn it all.
Their days start by meeting around 7 o’clock a.m. to go over the previous
day’s work and updates for the current day. The city’s six trucks are checked for oil
changes, tire pressure and other safety measures before three leave on residential
routes and three leave on commercial routes.
After a lunch break at 11:30 a.m., the team meets to discuss any route
adjustments or other updates. Then they go back out “and knock it out,” as
Hirchert said, until about 3:30 p.m.
The men run what Hirchert calls a 10-15: One person drives 10 miles an
hour while the other hangs on the side of the truck grabbing garbage for 15
minutes, and then they switch.
When winter weather reaches a frosty 20 degrees below zero, the men
are decked out with good gloves and heavy outfits thanks to the city’s
clothing allowance. But even with those few extra layers, “it’s dang
cold,” Hirchert said with a chuckle.
Due to the drop in temperature, the teams may change to a 10-10,
allowing the person hanging from the back of the truck to be out for
10 minutes at a time rather than 15. The same principle applies in
the summertime when the heat and humidity are rising.
One of the many redeeming qualities of the job includes
seeing what people choose to throw away.
“It’s everything from some of the nicest furniture I’ve ever
seen to diapers and everything,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve
got loose dog doo doo, or people throw away a chainsaw. It’s
basically anything and everything.”
Despite being around big, foul messes every day, do they
ever get used to the smell?
“To a point you get used to it, but nah,” Hirchert said with
a laugh.
He likes to make it clear that the smelly, messy part of their
job doesn’t spill into their personal lives.
“Because we handle garbage by hand, we get dirty, and not
necessarily because we like it,” he said. “What we look like
on the street isn’t what we look like outside of work.”
If the town keeps growing, will West Fargo follow suit of
surrounding cities and move to a mechanical way of trash
collecting instead?
“I think West Fargo likes a small town atmosphere and it’s
a city on the grow, no doubt about it, but I think the system
will be like this for a while,” he said.
And what does the good life mean to him? “A good life means
being able to go to work and being able to do the job and being
healthy doing it,” he said.
7

Hooves, Hope &
Hard Work
By: Jessica Jasperson | PHOTOS: Urban toad media
8

Let the Races Begin
D
ifferent factors led to the closing of the North
Dakota Horse Park, which first opened in 2003,
but many are working hard towards a successful
return.
“The North Dakota Racing Commission, North
Dakota State University, and the North Dakota
Horse Park foundation found common ground,”
NDHP officials said. “If you build it, they will come.”
Throughout the 10 years of existence, the horse park has
undergone improvements and additions including concessions,
bleacher seats and the auxiliary Don Hart Memorial Barn. Since
2008, a permanent indoor tent serves as a wagering facility and a
sit-down cafeteria.
9

10
The park holds events for thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, and
is one of the two horse parks found in North Dakota.
The NDHP is located at 5180 19th Ave. N., Fargo, ND. The NDSU
Equine Complex is situated within the North Dakota Horse Park on 14
acres of land.
Mike Schmitz, long-time volunteer for the NDHP, is hopeful and
excited about the park’s future.
“There are so many opportunities with the track and the location of
Fargo,” Schmitz said. “This is too good to let fall by the wayside.
After being dormant for two years, the park reopened in the summer
of 2012 for two weekends and has been persevering ever since.
“The crowds returned and the horsemen did as well, making for the
most successful and contentious meet in the Dakotas,” Horse Park officials
said.
Next season, three or four weekends of horse racing is their goal.
“It’s been a long road,” Schmitz said. “We were very successful last year
and this year and we’re banking on having a lot of success next summer.”
The NDHP welcomes all area horsemen to their six and a half furlong
racing track and stabling for up to 450 horses.
“Fargo’s proximity, in the southeast corner of the state, offers an “allpoints”
opportunity to attract horsemen and equine athletes from a variety
of sites,” Horse Park officials said.

During weekends the horse park holds events, Northwest Fargo is
transformed into “Derby City” as popular jockeys, horse trainers and racing
fans from across the tri-state area visit “the little track on the prairie.”
Two popular events, both estimated at a $10,000 purse in 2013, include
the North Dakota Derby and the North Dakota Futurity.
“The five and a half furlong North Dakota Futurity is one of the most
unpredictable and exciting events of the meet,” Horse Park officials said.
Although, horse racing comes with the option of placing bets,
monetary values are not the only prized possession of the NDHP.
The park complex, jockeys, horse trainers, families, fans and the
dedicated announcer, Bubby Haar, possess passion for the sport of horse
racing.
Haar has been calling races for almost 20 years, nine of those years
calling in Fargo, and the NDHP keeps pulling him back.
“It’s a real thrill. I like driving up here to Fargo,” Haar said according to
Horse Park officials. “I like the people and the horses, and this is without
a doubt the best stop on the annual circuit.”
Visit our facebook page to view more photos from the ND
Horse Park at: www.facebook.com/urbantoadmedia
11

By: Meghan Feir | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
The Truth Behind Colonoscopies
An Interview With North Dakota’s “Queens of Colonoscopy”
When you first imagine a 6-foot tube (a
colonoscope) going up your butt, it
often warrants an immediate cringe. But,
just as you discovered by your mother
forcing you to eat vegetables as a child,
sometimes you need to take some rather unappealing
precautions for the sake of your health.
By now, you may have seen the “Queens of
Colonoscopy” ad that features the medical royalty of the
Midwest commanding their subjects to get their colons
checked regularly. Based out of Lisbon, N.D., at the Lisbon
Family Medical Clinic, these professionals told us why it’s
so vital to get colonoscopies, especially after age 50.
Cleaning is the worst: Preparing for your
colonoscopy
Though drinking a mass quantity of diarrhea-inducing
formula is less than pleasant, that is the worst part of the
process, according to Meredith Kelsen, CNP. Kelsen said
the day prior to the procedure is the worst because “You
have to have clear liquids the day before, and you have to
do a colon cleanse.”
By using an IV medication at the clinic, patients are
able to sleep through the actual procedure, anesthesia
blanketing their experience in a dreamless slumber,
without even the faintest recollection of what was just
inserted in their “behindular zone.”
“After you’ve had the colonoscopy, you’re tired and
drowsy because of the medication that was used, but
afterwards very few will experience some nausea.”
Putting it off unnecessary
Another member of royalty, Stacey Spilovoy, MPAC,
said she had one gentleman who had put off having a
colonoscopy for several years, a no-no in the eyes of the
crowned. “Finally, at the nagging of his wife and after
seeing the commercial, he came in and had it done,”
said Spilovoy. “He didn’t remember anything. There was
12

Queens of Colonoscopy
Left to right:
Katie Tanner PA-C
Stacey Spilovoy-Walton PA-C
Meredith Kelsen C-NP
Barbara Scheets-Olson MD
no discomfort and he’s
spreading the word, as
well.”
Katie Tanner, PAC,
said the procedure
typically takes 45
minutes, but it depends
on how “cleaned out”
and thorough you are
with your preparation,
so poop long and
prosper, guys.
“Some people are
fairly straightforward.
Others are not as well
prepped and they need
to do a little cleansing, but
basically it’s just 45 minutes.”
With a little help from
their wives: Women urge
men to get checkups
“I’m here because my wife
made me come,” a common
phrase Dr. Barbara Sheets-Olson
has heard declared more than a
few times from her male patients.
“Married men live longer and have
healthier lives,” said Sheets-Olson.
“A lot of times it is the woman who
pushes them to come in, but even
if they don’t have a woman pushing
them, they just need to come in and
have a checkup. The best thing is
prevention and to catch it early and
the colonoscopy is the best way to do
that.”
Before you deny the rights of your
colon by skipping out on another
exam, remember that “the Queens of
Colonoscopy will be looking for you,”
ready and waiting to make sure your
colon is cancer-free.
13

Memorializing and Remembering a Pet’s Life
Teri-Lee James, DVM, MPH
Two Rivers Veterinarian Hospital
By: Jenessa McAllister | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
It can be one of the hardest things to deal with in life: the loss
of a pet. Besides the loss or sickness of a loved one, pet death
can be one of the most difficult experiences for a person to go
through. There are obvious emotions tied to the event, and
there are some even surprising emotions. After it happens,
there are popular, respectful and even unique ways to memorialize
and remember a pet’s life.
Teri-Lee James, DVM, MPH is a veterinarian at Two Rivers
Veterinary Hospital in West Fargo. Two Rivers is a small animal
and exotic pet practice, which means that James sees a lot of dogs
and cats. While she performs regular physical exams, she also
administers the not-so-exciting euthanization processes. Because
of her experience in the area of pet euthanization, James sees the
emotions families and individuals go through during this tough
time.
“It’s hard, because a lot of people who don’t have pets
don’t really understand,” James said. “If they’ve never had that
connection to a pet; they just don’t get it. It can be a very profound
loss for some people. It is very real grief.”
James said that while pet owners most often deal with sadness
as an emotion, another overlooked aspect is guilt. When a human
gets sick, it’s no question that everything will be done to help to get
that person better. However, in the case of pets, it’s often difficult
for people to justify the cost. “If, say, a dog develops some kind
of cancer, and we decide it would respond well to chemotherapy,
GILMORE
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Companion Gardens Pet Cemetery
4108 3rd Avenue North - Fargo
Penelope and Richard
that can cost anywhere from $5,000
to $20,000,” she said. “Sometimes
people feel guilty because they simply
cannot provide the type of treatment
that’s needed.”
Another form of guilt comes in
the case when pet owners feel they
are keeping a pet alive simply for
their own enjoyment, not because it
would lead to a better life for the pet.
“There comes a time when you have to
consider what’s best for the animal,”
James said. “Would they be happier
riding in the car to appointments, or
instead spending time at home with
family?”
When a pet dies — either
naturally or through an owner’s
decision — there are many ways
to memorialize and
remember that pet’s
life. At Two Rivers,
James said they
make a print of
every pet’s paw
for the owner
to take home.
These can be turned
into wall hangings,
and even tattoos.
James also said that the most
common way she sees people
memorialize their pet is through
cremation. “We have a service that
will come to pick up the pet and take
it after euthanization, and return the
ashes to us to give back to the owner,”
she said. “Probably 90 percent or
more of people choose that.”
There are multiple places where
pet owners can buy items in which
they can store the ashes. One local
company, dogIDs.com, sells a solid
maple box made specifically for pets’
ashes. With a removable divider —
perfect for memorabilia — and a
place for a photo on the outside, this
makes a respectful, beautiful option
for storing ashes.
The company also sells
a memorial dog tag that
can be engraved with your
pet’s name; it works well
on a necklace, car keys or
anywhere you might want a
reminder of your beloved pet.
www.dogids.com
Some of the more unique and
even bizarre things people choose
to have done with the ashes include
turning it into gems for jewelry,
having them put into bullets for
hunting, and pressing them into
vinyl records. These, among many
other options, are available online.
No matter if it’s a tattoo, a
donation made in a pet’s name or a
piece of jewelry, memorializing a pet
is important. Pets are a huge part of
one’s life, and they definitely leave an
impact worth remembering.
15

By: MEGHAN FEIR
Boys and Their Trucks
Trucks garner mixed reactions from women
If there’s one thing many men in this area love, it’s trucks. If there’s one thing many women in this area
don’t care about, it’s trucks. I’m generalizing, but there are reasons for that.
If this article offends you, take heart; I’m doing this for your benefit. I, Meghan Feir, am here to lead
you through the jungle of various women’s thoughts.
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How you think you’re perceived vs. what she actually thinks
of you
Romping down the street, burning fuel in your gas-guzzling monstrosity
as you show off earsplitting pipes down Main will turn ladies’ heads, but
for all the wrong reasons.
The following are a few thoughts that may cross a woman’s mind
when put in the situation of witnessing such an act (in order of no
importance):
1 “Another one.”
2 “He’s probably wearing a muscle tee and a bandanna,
too.”
3 “That is so incredibly attractive. Wow, what a beast. I
want a ride in his sweet truck.” (The latter statement is said
only in jest.)
Bonded for life: Love for trucks runs
deep
I tried digging deeper into this bond men
have with trucks, specifically.
As a young boy, the adventurous male turns to
vehicles, and in turn, develops a need for speed.
And, as competition among their sex heightens, the
need for bigger and manlier possessions germinates,
as well. Thus, the wild male delights in oversized
trucks, with wheels the size of a small car and larger,
more obnoxious pipes, used as a sort of unsuccessful
mating call.
I enjoy riding in trucks, but the behaviors that often
accompany the driver are like a fork grating against a
dinner plate (porcelain, not paper).
Tricking your truck will only impress your equally
truck-obsessed friends, not the majority of women. Yes,
there are women out there who love trucks, but I’m
stereotyping, so stay with me.
With all of that being said, enjoy your truck, but
be wary of the attitude that often accompanies
truck ownership.
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By: SOO ASHEIM | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
he morning I reached Steve Stine
about setting up an interview time,
he was about to serve his two daughters,
Lanee and Immy, their lunch. Thinking
back to that phone call, I realize Steve’s
calm demeanor in the midst of making his
daughters lunch plus his polite request to call me back –
after his children were fed – impressed me. But beyond
just impressing me, it blew apart my stereotype about
metal music guitar playing rockers.
Knowing only that Steve Stine is now a well-known
and well respected rock ‘n roll guitarist from West Fargo
with a considerable resume packed with names such as
Steve Grimmett (a heavy metal British singer from the
band Grimm Reaper) who Stine recorded an album with
(GRIMMSTINE) and with whom he still collaborates.
The GrimmStine album is still available today on two
major labels. My stereotypical brain was trying to fuse
together either of them taking the time to prepare a
nutritious noon lunch for themselves, never mind two
little girls. As I have learned since meeting Steve Stine in
person and finding more about him, “typical” is not an
adjective anyone would use to describe Steve Stine.
My second impression was as confusing as my first.
For a supposed maniacal rocker in his forty’s, Steve
could pass the “look” test with his waist long hair and
tattoo’s. However, the newer built townhome and chalk
18
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Steve stine

colored driveway that Mr. Rogers Neighborhood would love just wasn’t where I figured a world traveling heavy metal
guitarist would call “home.” Steve invited me in and as we settled in to discuss his music, career and life, I began to
understand this was a man who has the “been there-done that” attitude that over time has morphed into a person
who found early in his life that, “what I give I always get back to reap the joy and witness the benefits our gifts mean
to others.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Steve stine
Living the Life of Love and Rock ‘N Roll
During the many school holidays and summer vacation hours Steve Stine spent at Schmitt Music he could have
been their number one salesman. Anything and everything that made a melody that Steve could learn, practice with
or play began at Schmitt Music. On Steve’s thirteenth birthday his parents gave him his first guitar and not just a
guitar, but an electric guitar. Soon Steve started his own “mini music school” by offering guitar lessons, performing
summer concerts, who also wanted a life playing rock ‘n roll music. Word got around pretty quickly and before long
Steve Stine was a well-known name in a variety of music circles. Steve formed “garage bands” and followed every
major musical trend and troupe playing all the 70’s and 80’s heavy metal tunes. While at West Fargo High his
band teacher allowed him to use one of the school’s practice studios during his study halls. He
admits he was a decent student who never gave anyone in reason not to say yes when it
came to his music.
After graduation from West Fargo High School, in 1988, Steve enrolled
at Moorhead State University in Moorhead where he studied under
Mike Coates and Bill Law, both noted musical professors. Shortly
after college, Stine and two fellow musician friends formed
“Dozer,” a rock band that lasted over ten years and played an
19

PHOTO: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
average of forty
to fifty week-ends
a year. Before long,
Steve Stine’s music
endeavors were no
longer a hobby. With
teaching, composing,
practicing and performing
- music was his life. And
Steve says he was “okay with
that. I loved the life. I was doing
exactly what I felt I am meant to
do and I was okay with that.”
As the years rolled from one
January to another, Steve met his
soulmate. Her name is Jessica
and during Stine’s active rock star
guitar playing days performing
with heavy hitter names such as
Journey, Mötley Crüe, Dokken and
multiple others as well as teaching
private guitar lessons (at one time
as many as 100 a week) Jessica
and daughter Lanee stayed,
even when Steve was gone on
the weekends, which was far
more often than not. The road
gets old after many years of not
being home for birthdays or special
family events and as with many hard
core performers, time eventually catches
up. It doesn’t have to be a bolt of lightning or
even a major “crisis” to awaken an individual’s
sixth sense. In Stine’s case, it wasn’t either of
those. Sometimes it is an overall awareness
that there is simply “more” or the happy times
could be even happier. In Stine’s mind, it was
time to reassess his true passions and goals.
As a younger man he knew his love for music
would always be a major factor in whatever he
did. He just needed to find a way to be able to
make and share his music while spending less
time on the road his family.
20

PHOTO: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
When he joined the Red River Valley Academy Montessori to
teach music, he realized another passion that had fallen by the
wayside: teaching music and experiencing the wonderment in his
students eyes as they lit up as they learned new skills and progressed
to a new level of musical understanding, just as he had with each
new musical feat he mastered.
Teaching anything to a novice or a bare-bones beginner is always
challenging. But, teaching on-line guitar lessons for both teacher
and student can be doubly rewarding. It not only allows the student
to learn in the privacy of their own home but at their own comfort
level by interacting or asking questions on a chat room link that is
included if the student would like to interact with Steve during the
lesson. The on-line lessons led to private in-home guitar lessons with
students who varied in their lesson needs by how much education
and motivation they have. But, always remembering the primary
reason for trying any of it was to have fun. Steve Stine now teaches
ONLINE MASTERCLASSES to groups of students at: LESSONFACE.
COM and for others who would like some instructional education
with DVD’s go to GuitarZoom.com
In 2007, Steve and Jessica decided to get married. Of course few
people can actually boast they were married in a Scottish Castle, but
Steve and Jessica can. Steve’s GrimmStine collaborator and great
friend, Steve Grimmett was Stine’s best man and as any best man and
friend would, he offered his home for their wedding reception.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Steve stine
21

The 2000’s Bring
Big Changes
Professionally and personally
as well, 2010 was another big year
for Steve as he joined North Dakota
State University’s Music Education
Department as a guitar instructor.
Remembering how intense and
exciting a time college can be made
Stine an instant hit with his students.
On a personal level, life began to
make a lot more sense as he finally
found a pocket of people, who like
Steve and Jessica, felt a need to find a
place to “belong” without pretending
to be people they were not. They
22
Steve with Student angela hartje

Steve with Student tristan hartje
began joining Steve’s rock buddy Karl
Kreutz (the “Dozer” years) at Prairie
Heights Community Church. Steve
explains he never saw himself as a
“Sunday morning,
put on a suit to
go sing kind of
person.” Stine feels
deeply about life
and love and how
we should treat one
another and has his
own viewpoint on
what happens after
life. But sitting in a
church pew next to
someone who was
more concerned
about his hair
length or what he
was wearing just
didn’t play the right chords for him.
Prairie Heights Community Church
isn’t anything like that. And when he
has a question he isn’t afraid to ask
it. Steve’s feeling is this is a church
that meets his spiritual needs in “real
time” and while facing the hazards
living in today’s world. It’s about
figuring out who you are, where you
belong and how to be the best you
can be in the world
we live in today.
And the bonus
with this church
is Steve gets to
play his guitar for
a congregation
he loves and who
love him for who
he is, off and on
stage.
In 2011 Steve
joined ELEVATE
ROCK SCHOOL
whose students
stole his heart with
what they wanted
to do. Students at Elevate have lessons
once a week. The lessons alternate
between a “Core Lesson” and a Rock
Band session. Elevate students learn
how to jam with other students just
as a live rock band would. They will
also have the advantage Steve Stine
and many others never had prior to
experiencing it in “live, living color”
in learning the art of performing
live concerts as well as the pitfalls
to sidestep along the way. Who else
better to teach such a course than
Steve Stine?
23

24
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CHURCH

When I met Steve for our
interview, he was already up
against the clock as he had an
“Anniversary lunch” planned
with his wife, Jessica. I wondered
when the man sleeps. Steve
confided his days are “sometimes
very tight time wise” and I can
certainly see why. Steve loves the
summer months as he gets to see
and spend much more time with
Jessica and the two girls he loves
so much – Lanee who is twelve and
Immy who is four. The schedule
Steve keeps is a break-neck one
that would wear out even the
most robust “forty-something”
person. And yet Stine has taken
yet another job. The prestigious
and world-renowned magazine
“Guitar World” has recently hired
Steve to write columns for them.
The first one is out now and online
at: www.guitarworld.com.
So how does a kid from
podunk West Fargo, North
Dakota, growing up in a mobile
home park with two brothers, two
loving and encouraging parents
make his way into the lime light
of adoring music fans locally and
world-wide, meet other famous
guitar players, and manage
to write his own manifest for
happiness and success with not
a lick of embarrassing conquests
or an arrest record? Steve said it
best: “believing in something
more, something way bigger.
God has always opened doors of
opportunity for me.”
Is Steve Stine living the
good life? He thinks so and is
a subscriber in remembering
that having and living the good
life requires nurturing the
relationships you have with
the people you care about. “I
would never, ever do anything to
embarrass or hurt my family.”
Steve Stine, musical virtuoso,
teacher, mentor, husband, father,
rocker, and believer in the positive
side of life.
Are you living the good life?
25

By: CANTRELL
THE FEDORA
The first and obviously the coolest hat on
the planet. The Fedora. An old school La
Cosa Nostra favorite - this lid is popular with
the goombahs and can never go out of style.
Wear it with your favorite t-shirt for that
tough kid on the block look or pair it up with
your favorite three piece and you’re sure to
impress or intimidate those that dare hang
out with such a cool fella.
$99.95 • fedoras.com
THE NEWSBOY
By far the most comfortable hat on the
list. A soft floppy cloth hat often with a
button brim that was first associated with
the working class. This lid is a great everyday
casual hat. $55.00 • hatsinthebelfry.com
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Are you too old to pull off the young hip look? Are you old enough to sport
the sophisticated ever so cool Sinatra lid? Either way gentleman, lose that
baseball cap and try your luck with some of these covers.
STETSON MAN
You know who you are. And if you don’t you may not
deserve to wear this manly hat. A hat with purpose and
an attitude only a true cowboy can carry. You’ll know a
real Stetson by the dirt and sweat caused from hard work
and possibly a bar fight or two. Not a hat for you city boys
and those of you that sport this hat have earned it and
wear it with pride.
$74.00 • stetsonhat.com
THE BOWLER
And I’m not talking funny shoes and a heavy black
ball. The Bowler is a hat with history. Since 1849
this cool cover has protected the heads of many
Londoners. Also known as a Derby Hat this hat is a
great choice for those windy days and always a hit
while placing your trifecta bet at the horse track.
$218.00 • hats.com
SOMBRERO
A traditional Mexican hat that may be seen on the
wall of many mexican restaurants or college dorm
rooms. Wear this festive hat if you are participating in
a traditional Mexican celebration or if you’ve had too
much to drink during spring break.
You can find these at your local party supply store.
THE TUQUE OR TOQUE
Often confused with the knit beanie. This cold weather
head warmer is a Canadian favorite and a must-have
for any hockey player. After scoring a hat trick or
crushing your opponent into the boards, throw this
hat on and head for the pub for a cold beer eh.
$18.95 • fanatics.com
27

DETECTIVE CHRIS NICHTERN
By: PAUL HANKEL | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
28

29

One of most well-known benefits about
residing in the Fargo-Moorhead area
is the low crime rate and the sense of
safety that its residents enjoy. It’s even
been said, “Fargo’s so safe that you can
leave your car running while you run
into the store!”
Most residents believe that this sense of safety is a key
combination of several factors: the cold weather, “It keeps
the riffraff out,” said one resident, and our dedicated
force of law enforcement officers whom tirelessly patrol
our streets.
One such dedicated lawman is Detective Chris
Nichtern of the Fargo Police Department. Not only is he
a hero with a badge and nearly 17 years of experience in
law enforcement, but in 2012 he was selected as the Fargo
Police Department’s Employee of the Year.
His Path to Becoming a Local Hero
Nichtern grew up in Starbuck, Minnesota and
graduated from Minnewaska High School in 1992.
After high school, Nichtern attended Minnesota State
University-Moorhead where he received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Criminal Justice. Then, in the summer of 1996,
he attended the Police Academy at Alexandria Tech where
he completed the 10-week training course.
30
Following his police training, Nichtern became a
part-time Sheriff’s Deputy in Meeker County, Minnesota
and got his first taste of what it was like to be working in
law enforcement. When asked about his first duty post,
Nichtern said, “It was my first real job in law enforcement.
It was an exciting, but terrifying time! In the beginning
you rode around with an officer for two or three weeks
and then it was like ‘well here’s your gun and your car,
good luck!’”
During his time as a Deputy, Nichtern also worked as
a police officer in Dassel, Minnesota, a small town within
Meeker County. “There were days where I would, literally,
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: chris nichtern

get done with one shift, switch uniforms, and go to the other shift. It was
a fun time.”
His Time With the Fargo Police Department
In January of 1997, Nichtern joined the Fargo Police
Department. He credits his time as a Sheriff’s Deputy in
Meeker County for making it an easy transition. “I really
valued my time there [Meeker County]. I gained a lot of
experience.”
Nichtern worked as a patrol officer before becoming a
detective within the department. He has been a detective
for close to nine years and investigates Domestic Violence
cases, primarily.
“We have two different teams. There’s a Property
Team, which investigates things like property thefts,
vandalism, vehicle break-ins and things like that.
Anything really having to do with property being stolen
or damaged.”
Nichtern then described the Personal Team, of which
his branch of investigations is a part of. “I’ve been working
primarily Domestic Violence cases for about two years now.
However, our unit, the Personal Team, investigates anything
that has to do with a physical crime such as rape, an assault
or murder. However, when something serious occurs, such as a
murder, the whole department gets involved.”
When asked about the transition from patrol officer to becoming
a detective, Nichtern said, “Going from being a police officer to being a
31

“
The cases we work on
aren’t solved in
44 minutes!”
— DETECTIVE CHRIS NICHTERN
detective isn’t really a promotion in the sense that you
don’t make more money and you don’t have a higher rank
or anything like that. It is a promotion in the sense that
it is a step up and there is, I think,
a higher regard for the work that we
do and the cases that we work on.”
When asked how being a police
detective in real life compares to
the detectives we see portrayed
on police dramas on television,
Nichtern chuckled and said “The
cases we work on aren’t solved in 44
minutes! It takes time and there’s
lots of paperwork!”
His Award
Currently Detective Nichtern
deals mainly with Domestic
Violence cases. It was for his work
within this unit, which consists of
just him, that he earned the 2012
Fargo Police Department Employee
of the Year Award. Detective Nichtern was selected from
a department of roughly 140 officers and was nominated
by his Sergeant.
32
The award was a complete surprise, said Nichtern. In
fact, he didn’t even know he was nominated. “It was a huge
honor and a total surprise. I would not have expected it at
all.” Although, perhaps it shouldn’t
have been since, in 2011, he received
the Chief’s Distinguished Service
Medal, another award given to
officers who go above and beyond
the call of duty.
Nichtern went on to explain that
the Employee of the Year award is
different from the other awards that
are given out in the sense that it is
not specific. “It’s different in the
sense that it’s not a specific awards
such as the Life-Saving Award, given
to an officer whom, for example,
saved a child that was choking. This
award was more of a culmination of
all the work I had done within the
Domestic Violence unit within the
last year or so.”
The Fargo Police Department Employee of the
Year award was the direct result of all of the hard work
Nichtern had done and the successful relationships he

she was a dispatcher within the Fargo Police Department.
She currently serves as a patrol officer. The Nichterns have
two children: a son, 15, and a daughter, 10, and live in
West Fargo. They also have three dogs, to which Nichtern
said, “They’re family too!”
Hero Status
In summation, Detective Nichtern is just one of the
humble, hard-working and dedicated law enforcement
professionals that work tirelessly to ensure that the
Fargo-Moorhead area is, and remains, one of the safest
places in the country. His passion and drive for the work
that he does is evident and his humbleness about his
accomplishments and awards is palpable.
When asked what the good life meant to him,
Nichtern, without hesitating, said, “Family, being happy
with where you are in life and being healthy, happy and
supported.” Spoken like a truly humble hero.
While we all go about our daily lives, it’s the
commitment from the officers and detectives, such as
Detective Chris Nichtern, of the Fargo Police Department
that ensures we can all live the good life.
had built while working with local agencies such as the
Rape and Abuse Crisis Center and the Cass County State’s
Attorney’s Office.
Along with the award, Nichtern also received some
good-hearted ribbing
and rubbing it in from
his fellow officers.
This is evidenced by a
picture that hangs near
his desk and hilariously
depicts his face photo
shopped into a picture
of Army General David
Petraeus who’s in
uniform and has a chest
full of medals.
Nichtern chuckled
and said that, even
today, a few of his
fellow officers still give him a hard time. “It’s all good
fun,” he said.
His Family
When not dutifully serving as a detective, Nichtern
spends time with his family. He met his wife Connie, while
33

dads are heroes
JBy: CAREY CASEY | www.fathers.com
34
eff runs camera for music and drama productions
at his church. Last December, he was behind the
camera for the kids’ Christmas production. His own
daughter, Emily, was a member of the cast.
As part of the program, slides came up on the screen
showing photos of the kids and some interesting facts about
them — their siblings, favorite color, and all that.
As the program began, Emily’s bio came on the screen.
Jeff scanned the information and smiled at his daughter’s
photo and funny answers.
Then he got to the last question: “Who is your hero?”
Emily’s answer was, “My Dad.”
Jeff told us he was stunned; he pretty much melted as
tears came to his eyes. He had never thought of himself in
those terms. He said: “That little one-line response — that I
had no idea about — changed me inside.”
Jeff is a great dad; he’s involved, devoted to his family,
and takes his role seriously. He’s committed to passing on a
legacy of faith to his kids. I suppose it’s just his nature not to
think of himself as a hero. But he is a hero to his daughter.
And that’s a message most dads need
to hear. You are a hero to your children.
You might not want to admit it; you may
not even realize it. But your children look
up to you, dad; they depend on you.
You probably aren’t a “Superman” kind of hero, where
you swoop in to rescue them and then you zoom off to
another emergency. You’re actually even better. You’re there
for them every single day. And even if you can’t see them
that much, you’re still there for them. You’re available and
willing to serve.
One of your great powers is in the words you speak.
One morning I was waiting with my son Chance for his bus
to come, and we were joking around. We were looking out
the window, and we couldn’t see anything, but I told him,
“Son, the bus is coming.”
“No it’s not, Dad.”
“Yeah, Son, it’s coming.” About that time, the bus did
come around the corner and he had to scramble out to
meet it.
That night I was tucking him in. Chance said, “So, Dad,
you don’t really know everything, right?” And I said, “Sure I
do, Son, just like with the bus.” I really laid it on thick: “I can
see through walls and I saw that bus three blocks away.”
So he said, “Okay, then where’s Mom on the other side
of the wall in your bedroom?” And I told him, “She’s not on
in there, Son. She went down the hall.”
“No she
didn’t.” So he
yelled for her,
and sure enough,
she wasn’t in the
bedroom. I had
seen her go past
the door, but
Chance hadn’t
noticed. “Dads
just know,” I told
him.
For a minute,
he just looked
at me. Then he
asked me about
PHoto: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
somebody across
town, and I told him that, of course, my powers are limited
to a five-mile radius.
As I said, we were just joking around. He knows I don’t
have psychic powers. But all kidding aside, dad, you and I
do have super powers. Can we predict the future? Probably
not. But we can definitely shape the future by suggesting
things and planting ideas in our children’s minds that will
actually come true. That’s the power of a father’s words.
It’s sad — and it makes me a little angry — that we hear
too many negative examples of this, where a dad says, “Son,
I’m not sure you’re cut out for this.” Or, “You’re probably
not gifted that way.” The dad may be speaking truth. But
he’s also creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that just about
guarantees failure in his own child.
So the point is to use that power for good. Tell your kids
they can reach their dreams. They can do whatever they set
their minds to. Point out skills and gifts you notice in them,
and then cast a vision of how that gift could turn into a life
calling and help them make a difference in the world.
Dad, embrace your superhero identity. Not to puff
you up on the outside, but to change you on the inside. This
is a role we need to fill with confidence and intentionality.
Heroes protect; they persevere; they show selfless love; they
are faithful to their convictions; they understand right from
wrong and they act on it. Heroes are humble, but when they
come to the rescue, they are bigger than life.
Whatever your fathering role calls you to today,
approach it with confidence. Stand tall in your role. Exercise
superhuman patience with your children when they get
difficult. Display incredible courage when you are called to
stand up to culture.
You really do have special powers, dad. Please make sure
you use them to build up your child.

You and Your Child’s Teacher
By: Ken Canfield | www.fathers.com
There are many things you can do to
ease the transition into a new school
year. If your kids are like mine, they
already have the scoop on their new
teachers. Mrs. So-and-so is strict; Mr.
So-and-so is really hard; Mrs. So-and-so lets you
get away with anything.
One study found that, for 64% of the parents
surveyed, the number one concern in their
children’s education is the teacher.
Not every teacher will be perfect for your
child. And sometimes it’s easy for us parents to
get caught up in our children’s negative or even
hostile feelings toward their teachers. But as
caring, involved fathers, we can do a lot to ease
the tension and help our kids do their best with
their teachers. I have six positive ideas to share
with you.
First, get to know the teacher. Establish a
friendly relationship early, so your first meeting
isn’t over a problem.
Second, keep your child’s teacher up-to-date
on problems at home. She’ll be better prepared
if she knows about the illness, divorce or death in
the family.
Third, be quick to give praise. If the teacher
handled a certain project with certain creativity,
and it really paid off with your child, send her a
note to say “thanks.” One compliment will go a
long way.
Number four: deal with problems early. If
your son or daughter is confused in some subject,
notify the teacher and ask how you can help
before it becomes a serious problem.
Fifth, be realistic. Teachers today are under
a tremendous amount of stress. Lower your
expectations, and allow them to make a few
mistakes.
Finally, don’t jump to conclusions. Sometimes
children come home and tell you only the most
sensational incidents-which may have already
been through two or three stages of gossip. Do
your best to stay calm and work out the problem
in a constructive manner.
The new school year has just started. Let’s all
do our best to start the year as the partner of
your child’s teacher-not her adversary. That one
teacher may turn out to be the best your child
ever had.
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