The Good Life – July-August 2019

JULY-AUGUST 2019
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CONTENTS
JULY-AUGUST 2019
VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 1
FRESH FROM THE FAMILY FARM
DRISCOLL FARMS KEEPS IT LOCAL
VOLUNTEERS WITH A BADGE
SHERIFF RESERVES SWEAR IN
TO ENHANCE SECURITY
IN CASS COUNTY
HAVING A BEER WITH
MIKE KAPEL
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND
MORNING SHOW HOST
ON THE COVER - LOCAL HERO
BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
'10 SECONDS OF INSANITY'
RUCK MARCH RAISES AWARENESS
FOR PTSD AND VETERAN SUICIDE
FATHERS
AN ODE TO BROWN BEAR
LOCAL BAND
THE KNOTTIES
MORE THAN JUST THE FEELS
SCUBA DIVING
IN THE UPPER MIDWEST
NORTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA
HOME TO AVID SCUBA DIVERS
6
10
14
18
26
28
32
FROM THE EDITORS
In this issue of The Good Life, we combined our
Local Hero and cover story. We wanted to highlight
the impact of the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation
and their continued mission to assist our heroes.
If you or someone you know are struggling with
combat-related PTSD and need assistance, please
reach out: bradyoberglegacyfoundation.org
Together we can make a difference.
4 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Dawn and Darren
Urban Toad Media

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urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 5

WRITTEN BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Driscoll Farms Keeps It Local
Driscoll Farms, located near Glyndon,
MN, has been providing fresh
produce and flowers to the Red River
Valley since the 1980s. The current
owners, Jake and Krista Driscoll are
keeping the family tradition alive.
Driscoll Farms operates floral
greenhouses at seven locations in the
Fargo-Moorhead area including the
farm on Highway 9, in rural Glyndon
and also sells produce at The Market
at West Acres from late June through
October.
The farm has been in their family
since 1963 when Jake Driscoll’s
grandfather purchased it. It started
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out as more of a traditional farm,
then in the 1980s the family started
growing and selling produce: “It
was a whole-family deal. My siblings
and I would go door to door selling
produce.” They then started selling
wholesale produce to grocery stores,
then to the Dike East Farmers
Market in Fargo in 1985 and have
been at The Market at West Acres for
five years.
“Everything we offer is locally
grown – you know exactly
where your food is coming
from.” – Jake Driscoll
In 1987, Driscoll Farms dove into the
flower business, selling locally grown
flowers – bedding plants and hanging
baskets. Driscoll emphasized, “Unlike
other places you can buy flowers, all
of ours are grown locally right on our
farm.”
Driscoll, now 31 years old, grew
up on that same farm and has been
working full time there since he
graduated from Minnesota State
University Moorhead (MSUM) in
2012. He married Krista five years
ago. They recently had their first child
together, Daxton (Dax). “Krista helps
out during the flower season and on
weekends,” Jake said, adding, “But

she is not able to work as much at the greenhouses
since we have our 10-month-old son.”
Driscoll asserted, “Everything we offer is locally
grown – you know exactly where your food is
coming from.” Driscoll Farms’ most popular
produce is sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes,
cucumbers (especially pickling sized), peppers,
squash and melons. They also sell their family
recipe Minnesota Lakes Barbecue Sauce.
Driscoll takes pride in their flowers: “We’re one of
a few in the area that grows everything we sell. At
other places, you are getting things shipped in from
across the country. We pride ourselves on a quality
product and we have good help who take great care
to keep our greenhouse flowers looking good.”
Freshness matters, Driscoll explained: “At a
farmers market, you are likely to buy produce that
was picked that same day or the day before. If you
aren’t buying local, think about all the freshness
lost due to the transportation time. If you come to
our farmers market you get something that could
last you a week, week and a half, easily. With our
produce we use very little herbicides. For our weed
control, you either use your hands or a hoe to
control the weeds.”
Driscoll works full time at the farm: “Me, my dad
Mike, my uncle Jim and my friend Adam are fulltime,
year-round. My mom, Tari, is involved heavily
during the flower season, as is my aunt Connie
and my youngest sister Elizabeth.” Driscoll added,
“When you go to one of our greenhouses, even if
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it is not a family member working
there, you are still getting experience,
as most of our employees have been
with us 20-30 years. It gives us an
edge over other places. Plus, it’s all
locally grown.”
Driscoll enjoys his work: “I like being
outside.” While in college, he juggled
between majors, finally deciding
that the family farm was his calling:
“It is really neat to see a seed in the
ground or a flower in a pot grow over
the months – it is neat to be a part
of that process.” Driscoll also loves
interacting with customers, especially
at farmers markets: “There are so
many loyal people coming back year
after year and you really get to know
them.” Working with family is also a
bonus: “It is nice – crazy sometimes
– but it is nice to work with family. It
is a lot of work with ups and downs,
but it can be very rewarding.” He also
loves that “I can walk out my front
door and pick what I need that night
for supper.”
"I can walk out my front door
and pick what I need that
night for supper. "
– Jake Driscoll
Driscoll explained the growing
process: “In the beginning of
February, we start our plants in
greenhouses. Flower season goes
until the end of June. Then we get
into the produce which takes us until
the end of October. During November
we do maintenance and cleanup.”
December and part of January is the
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“downtime” where Driscoll said, “We can relax and
regroup.” That time is important: “Last winter I got to
stay home with my son, Dax, and took care of him for
a few months instead of sending him to daycare. That
was great.”
During his spare time, Driscoll with his wife and son
enjoy visiting his parents’ lake place about 30 minutes
from the farm. He and his family are also very into
playing basketball: “Basketball is a big part of my life.”
Driscoll was raised on the family farm: “Growing up on
a farm was awesome. We have a 10-acre farmstead and
outside of the farmstead, there are 300 plus acres. As
a kid, it was crazy, the amount of space we had to
run around all day long – I am excited for my son to
be able to have the freedom to be able to do what he
wants.” It is also some hard work: “When I was a kid
we started working early, as far back as I can remember
– picking weeds and other farm chores. I have plenty of
fun memories of doing that work with my family and
friends, as well as some memories of just not wanting
to do it – but having to do it. Back in high school, the
summers were fun, but you had to get your work done
first before you could go out.”
When asked what “The Good Life” means to him,
Driscoll answered: “It is doing something that I enjoy
doing and having good people around you – friends and
family. That’s a big thing to me and is very important in
my life.” •
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VOLUNTEERS
WITH A BADGE
Sheriff Reserves Swear In
to Enhance Security in
Cass County
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
“At one point about 40 percent of our patrol
deputies came directly out of the reserve unit.”
– Sgt. Jade Van Den Einde
The uniform is the same. The passion is the same. The
call to serve is the same. Much of the training is even
the same. If you were to find yourself at Ribfest, the Red
River Valley Fair or a local street dance, chances are
almost certain you would never know that many of the
deputies protecting your evening of fun were volunteers.
Salary, or the lack thereof, is not the only difference
between the full-time deputies within the Cass County
Sheriff’s Office and its highly trained, well-qualified
reserve unit; but it certainly is the biggest. In fact,
the Sheriff’s Reserve Unit (SRU) — which first began
training volunteers back in 1979 in an effort to help
better manage the safety and security at the Red River
Valley Fair — has become a prime recruiting tool for the
department.
“At one point about 40 percent of our patrol deputies
came directly out of the Reserve Unit,” explained
Sgt. Jade Van Den Einde, the Sheriff's Reserve Unit
Commander. “It can be a huge feeder program for us, as
it’s basically a very long interview process where we can
evaluate them. In Cass County, we typically only draw for
patrol from the jail, where candidates are often already
licensed, and from the reserves, where some may be
licensed eligible. They can prove themselves through
their training and in the field, and we can evaluate them
at the same time.”
Training for
the Reserves
At any given time,
the Reserve Unit is
comprised of up to
25 sworn deputies
that work under
the authority of the
Cass County Sheriff.
The unit’s primary
responsibilities are working
large events, ensuring public
safety through activities like
traffic control, responding to minor
incidents and writing tickets. For example,
consider the guy in line at the beer garden who clearly
should not be served another drink… if he happens to
get out of line, an SRU deputy will respond to handle
the situation.
But before any recruit gets tossed into the middle of
an unruly crowd at a barn dance — or asked to lead a
small town parade for a little positive PR — he or she
undergoes a rather rigorous training period to qualify
for the job. Ninety hours worth, to be exact, during
an approximately six-month period. After successful
completion of this initial training period, recruits are
sworn in by the Sheriff himself.
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“The training we provide is pretty extensive,”
Van Den Einde said. “We train the first
Tuesday in December all the way up until the
end of June… every Tuesday night. That’s the
most basic training level, after which I’ll allow
them to work a special event paired
up with a veteran deputy.”
For those wanting
to expand their
role and their
volunteering
options,
further
training
is also
available.
Experienced SRU deputies have the option to become
what’s known as Field Readiness Trained (FRT), after
completing a full Field Training program. This allows
an SRU deputy to earn the skills needed to patrol Cass
County in marked patrol vehicles.
To reach this point, an SRU will have completed,
at a minimum, 425 hours of training and at least ten
ride-alongs. The training, which includes use of force
training, OC (pepper spray) training, taser training,
defensive driving training, standard field sobriety testing
training, CPR/AED training and firearms qualifying, is
the same training program used to train full time, paid
patrol deputies. So, while all sworn SRU deputies are
authorized to enforce North Dakota Century Code
and make arrests, only SRU FRTs with this advanced
training are authorized to conduct traffic stops and
issue citations.
“They can work their way up to being able to patrol on
their own like a regular officer,” Van Den Einde said,
“but we still limit what calls they go to and try not to
“We essentially saved
the taxpayers of Cass County about a
hundred grand last year.”
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make them the lead deputy on the scene. Instead, we
want them there to assist. We keep four cars dedicated
to SRU FRTs, so we could have up to four volunteer
deputies out at a time, all being supervised through the
radio, phone and GPS technology.”
Impact on Community
“If you were to put a price tag on the number of hours
our volunteer SRU deputies put in, we’d be talking in
the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Van Den Einde
said. “In 2018 our Reserve Unit donated $99,000 worth
of time based on a deputy’s wages. So we essentially
saved the taxpayers of Cass County about a hundred
grand last year. Other years we’ve had more events
going on, so we’ve hit well above that number. In 2017,
it was $160,000.”
The impact to the community obviously goes well beyond
saving money. It’s more about proving a greater security
presence to ensure public safety at larger events. In fact,
according to Van Den Einde, the enhanced public safety
effect is huge. He says it’s been proven that people
who see someone wearing a uniform are less likely to
commit a crime, so the visual presence alone makes a
difference.
“It gives people who are curious
about law enforcement an
opportunity to explore the career.”
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And when a serious situation arises, the
Reserve Unit is also there to provide muchneeded
backup. “Any critical incident that pops
up where we need all hands on deck,” Van Den
Einde said, “we have up to 25 more people that
can drop what they’re doing and come help
and have the training to jump in and make a
difference.
“The other benefit to the Sheriff’s Office from
a recruiting standing is that it gives people
who are curious about law enforcement an
opportunity to explore the career. Guys have
switched careers after being in the Reserve
Unit. I became a reserve deputy myself to
get my foot in the door. It lets people have an
opportunity to volunteer and give back to their
community, and they’re literally putting their
lives on the line for free. I don’t know how much
better a volunteer you can get.” •
WANT TO LEARN MORE? The Reserve Unit
ramps up recruiting shortly after the Red River
Valley Fair concludes, and anyone interested
can contact Sgt. Van Den Einde directly at the
Cass County Sheriff’s Office: 701-241-5816 or
email: VanDenEindeJ@casscountynd.gov
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HAVING A BEER WITH | MIKE KAPEL
HAVING A BEER WITH
MIKE KAPEL
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND MORNING SHOW HOST
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Good Life: If you were a dog, what would
your name and breed be?
It’s not every day you meet someone who actually became
what their childhood self wanted to become. Mike Kapel is
one of those people, and we chatted outside of Drekker’s
Brewhalla on a sunny Tuesday.
As my too-large sunglasses kept falling off my face, Kapel
told me of how his mother was a regular listener of WDAY
Radio. It sparked his interest immediately, and a dream
was born. Kapel knew he needed to end up there.
Since those bygone days, he’s spent 20 years working in
radio for the likes of FM 105.1 and Y94. Five years ago, he
started working for WDAY Radio as the program director
and a morning show host, and his inner child started
applauding and doing somersaults.
However, my job isn’t to tell his life story but to uncover
the weird, the unexpected, and the unknown (kind of), so
read on.
Mike Kapel: Ooh. Oddly enough, my name for my FM
radio career was Big Dog. I would be a big breed.
GL: Like a Great Dane or a German Shepard?
MK: German Shepards and Rottweilers are my favorite
dogs, but I don’t know if I embody them. I’d probably be a
bulldog. That sounds reasonable.
GL: So a bulldog named Big Dog?
MK: Or just “Big” in that case because I’m already a dog.
“Here, Big! C’mon, Big!”
GL: Unless it’s like how some human males are named
Guy, which I’ve never understood.
MK: I worked with a guy named Guy. I always think of Guy
Smiley from Sesame Street. Do you remember that?
GL: I don’t.
MK: He was the cheesy game show host. You need to
get up on your Sesame Street. You’re getting married,
Meghan. You need to know these things. It’s on HBO
now, so it probably has a little more grit and edge to it.
Probably swearing.
GL: Some nudity.
MK: Probably some mild puppet nudity. Probably some
murder.
GL: They want to stretch the limits as much as they can.
MK: Absolutely.
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HAVING A BEER WITH | MIKE KAPEL
GL: Do you play any instruments?
MK: No, I don’t. I have zero artistic or musical ability.
When I was a kid I played the cello and the bassoon. I was
in orchestra for a short time. I decided to hang it up in
junior high. I wanted to go out at the top of my game.
You don’t want to go out in high school as like a fourth or
fifth chair. I was chair one of one, and I knew there were
two other bassoonists in high school, so I figured if I got
out then I’d always be the first chair bassoonist of Agassiz
Middle School.
GL: Do you think it’s weirder that humans
drink cows’ milk or that humans eat bugs?
MK: I think it’s weirder that humans eat bugs. That’s
really gross.
GL: It’s definitely more foreign to us.
MK: I guess it’s because I’m so far down the consumer
line with milk that, for me, it’s just a clean, easy product.
At some point, somebody had to see the milk coming out
because the cow had some babies and was like, “I’ll give
that a shot!” Because there wasn’t any pasteurization,
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“I was chair one of one, and I knew there
were two other bassoonists in high school,
so I figured if I got out then I’d always be
the first chair bassoonist of Agassiz Middle
School.” – Mike Kapel
they probably died from it. Honestly, at that time, eating
a bug made more sense. As I’m talking here, I maybe
changed my own mind. Maybe bugs were the better way
to go.
GL: Do you have any favorite quotes?
MK: I don’t.
GL: That’s fine.
GL: What’s your favorite climate?
MK: When it’s 40 at night and 70s during the day, that’s
perfect for me.

GL: What’s one thing you
hope people remember
you by?
MK: I hope that we got somebody
listening to the radio to laugh or
think, and I hope we entertain
them and help pass the time
during their day. I remember being
on the other side of that. Some
people go to work every day, and
they might not hate it, but they
don’t love it. It’s just the daily
grind. If I can help somebody just
forget for 5 or 10 minutes that they
hate traffic or aren’t excited about
work, that’s what I like to do.
GL: What does living
“the good life” mean to
you?
MK: Living the good life is just
a good work-life balance, time
with family, not letting work
take over your life, which is so
easy for us to do these days, and
finding the balance for all those
things. Electronics, jobs, screens
everywhere — somehow with all
this technology everywhere, we’re
way busier than we used to be.
Technology is good, but it’s hard
trying to find that balance. That, to
me, is what the good life is; trying
to do all those things and find a
balance. If you figure out how to
do that, let me know.. •
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ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
18 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

LOCAL HERO
WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 19

ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
Flashback to October 23, 1983.
While most Americans lay tucked in bed that peaceful
Sunday morning, John Dalziel’s life changed forever.
The atmosphere of the Marine compound just outside
Beirut's airport was like any other morning as John
grabbed a cup of coffee shortly after 6 a.m. and headed
back to the barracks to wake a friend.
"I was about 100 yards away when the explosion
happened,” says the now 56-year-old retired Marine. “It
knocks you down, and you try to pick yourself back up
and figure out what happened.”
At 6:22 am, a truck toting 21,000 pounds of explosives
charged through the barbed-wire fence, slammed into
the barracks and detonated. 241 Marines, sailors,
and soldiers lost their lives at the hands of Lebanese
terrorist group Hezbollah.
“We spent a significant period of time digging out
our friends plus continuing to do our mission," John
recalls. "My biggest issue was … survivor guilt. Why
did I walk out of the building and my friends – my
brothers in arms – didn't?"
It’s these horrifying stories – similar, yet unique
– that haunt many veterans as they return to
“normalcy” back home.
Both a Marine and retired FBI agent, John was
deployed to Beirut, Iraq and Afghanistan seven
times total. But that's not just seven deployments;
it's also seven times John had to adjust back home.
"Nobody ever comes back the same,” John explains
with candor. “It's easy for the vet to leave the war,
but it's almost impossible for the war to leave the
vet."
L-R: TRACY OBERG DUNHAM, JOHN DALZIEL, KATIE OBERG
20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

LOCAL HERO
"Nobody ever comes back the same.
“It's easy for the vet to leave the war,
but it's almost impossible for the war
to leave the vet." – John Dalziel
Back Home But Still Fighting
Depending on the era in which they served, 11
to 30 percent of U.S. veterans suffer from posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Whether indirect
fire, anticipation of mortars ahead, the unknown in
patrolling outside the wire or just the initial anxiety
of deploying, a number of experiences can cause
PTSD.
"It's the veritable plethora and the entire breath of
knowing you're going into a war zone,” John says.
"What might seem inconsequential to one guy can be
highly traumatic for another. Everyone has different
coping levels."
Life is lived on high alert on deployment. Changing
that mindset – and letting their guard down – is
often the first challenge soldiers face once home.
That’s the same issue the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain
Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team faced after their
year-long deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. With
100 percent mission completion, all 139 troops
returned home victorious.
But even though blood wasn’t shed overseas, 14
soldiers have since taken their own lives. Brady Oberg
was one of them.
‘10 Seconds of Insanity’
A true patriot, Brady’s family wasn’t surprised when
he finally enlisted with the U.S. Army as an active
infantryman in 2009 before deploying to Afghanistan
under Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
“Sometime over there, his job flipped and he ended up
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 21

ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
being a sniper,” says his sister, Tracy Oberg Dunham,
38. “As a sniper, you only have one job."
When Brady returned home from war, a peculiar set
of keys followed him home. After prodding about their
significance without avail, Brady’s wife, Katie, finally
let it go. Not until Brady passed did the Obergs learn
the back story from his sergeant.
The keys were from one of Brady’s first kills.
Taken from the vehicle just thereafter, the set of keys
symbolized the moral conflict that battled within this
soldier from that moment onward.
"Brady had a moral conflict of what he had to do and
what he believed in. He very much believed in his
missions and the military way of life,” Tracy says, “but
you can't be a sniper and have emotion – there's no
last-minute thoughts. When he came home, it went
from separating that to all of a sudden I should have
all these emotions?"
Even though Brady was less forthright about his
hearing loss thanks to explosions, he vocalized the
physical pain he felt from the weight carried overseas.
But one thing Brady didn’t talk about was the mental
repercussions of war.
"He would have visions during the day while he was
awake,” Tracy says. “The crinkling of a water bottle or
reflections in a window was a trigger.”
Whether it was the unavoidable triggers or vivid visions
of warfare, Brady’s family will never know what demon
convinced him to commit suicide on August 6, 2015,
as the result of PTSD.
"I lost my brother to 10 seconds of insanity," Tracy says,
with the insight only a sister could offer. During 10
seconds of terror, Brady made a decision he couldn’t
take back.
The Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation
When Brady died, Tracy searched fervently for
answers. In the days between her brother’s death
and his funeral, the same memory kept replaying
in Tracy’s head – the two of them sitting around a
bonfire, contemplating life after Brady’s high school
graduation.
22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

LOCAL HERO
“He said to me, 'I just want to do
something bigger and better than
myself,'" Tracy recalls vividly.
What started as $20,000 from funeral
gifts slowly grew into the “bigger and
better” that would serve as Brady’s
lasting legacy.
Now Chairman of the Board, Tracy –
along with family and a few friends –
founded the the Brady Oberg Legacy
Foundation in November 2015 to
create community, raise awareness
for veteran PTSD and fund the Brady
Oberg Legacy Scholarship at the
University of North Dakota (UND) to
benefit veterans wanting to become
psychologists – and, in turn, help other
veterans.
Their first mission was to recreate
that camaraderie amongst local
soldiers. From fitness programs to
fishing retreats and exotic ram hunts,
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 23

ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
"everything we do is centered around, 'Would Brady like
this?'" Tracy explains.
Trained to put their country before themselves, many
veterans don’t sign up for these free events. Tracy’s response
to that is simple: “If you don't sign up for you, sign up for
your family. Sign up for the other vets that are doing it, too,
to be support for each other."
The second arm of the foundation’s mission is PTSD
awareness – both reassuring veterans they’re not alone and
educating the public on how they can help.
With a ruck march in May, an annual golf tournament in
June, the Ride for Combat PTSD in August and the Fargo
Defender Dash later in the fall, the foundation organizes
and participates in several yearly events to help shed light
on the matter.
Marching Forward for Fallen Soldiers
Alongside nine board members, John is a valuable
ambassador, having lived through many experiences Tracy
and other civilians haven’t. Last year, he organized a ruck
march from the U.S.-Canada border to North Dakota-South
Dakota border to raise awareness for PTSD – all in Brady’s
name.
Starting at midnight, the four men took turns ruck marching
10 miles at a time, often without another living creature in
sight. "The aches and pains – your feet, hips and shoulders
from carrying 20 pounds to symbolize the 20 veterans that
take their own life every day… you get a chance to realize
why you're doing it."
Rucking 240 miles in 62 hours, the four men finished in
Brady’s honor, raising just over $10,000 for the foundation.
This year, John decided to go bigger, planning a route that
spanned from western to eastern North Dakota – a total of
397 miles split up into 5-mile legs.
Recruiting 16 people to march for awareness, the crew
started once again at Brady’s grave to pay their respects
before heading west to Beach, N.D. on May 21 and finishing
on Veterans Memorial Bridge in Fargo-Moorhead during
Memorial Day weekend.
"We're honoring those who can't spend time with their loved
ones anymore, who can't talk to their dad, their brother,
their sister,” John says. “Our key point is it's not a sign of
weakness to ask for help. Put down the gun. Pick up the
phone."
‘Help One More’
Last year when the foundation took off, Tracy reexamined
what Brady would think about the foundation’s efforts.
“Would he say, 'Keep it up! This is awesome,' or 'What are
24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

LOCAL HERO
you doing? Spend this time with your kids instead,’"
Tracy asked herself. "Then I realized at the ruck march
all of these people took four days out of their personal
life, away from their families and work to help a mission
we started – and they didn't even know him. It made me
think this is really bigger than what we ever thought it
would be.”
Currently a fund at Dakota Medical Foundation, The
Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation has its sights set on
becoming a full-fledged non-profit in order to help as
many veterans as possible.
"We had a veteran tell us, ‘You always say you want
to help one. Well, I'm that one … so help one more,”
Tracy recalls. "If we can prevent another family from
enduring the pain we have in losing Brady, that’s worth
it every day."
Defining the Good Life
Earning an Army Commendation Medal for saving four
of his brothers overseas, Brady’s legacy is so much
more than the foundation that bears his name.
"I want Miah and Skylar to realize, this is Brady's
legacy – this is what it means and this is why we help
veterans," Tracy says of her children. “The good life is
a happy, healthy family and friends to surround you. It's
finding something you believe in with all your heart and
helping a better cause."
For John, “the good life” means “living in a country
that allows us to do the things we can do, protected
by volunteers who go to the sound of gunfire,” John
explains. "We do it so the next generation doesn't have
to – that's what we do as parents, and that's what we do
as warriors."
Tracy often reflects on what Brady would say if he were
here to see his legacy live on.
"He wouldn't be the type to say, 'This is good. Now you
can just relax.’ He would be like, 'What's next? Let’s go
bigger,'" Tracy says. “We're going to help one more, then
we're going to help one more and one more – all in his
legacy." •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25

FATHERS | MR. FULL-TIME DAD
An Ode to
Brown Bear
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
Every kid has their favorite toy. Be it a blankie,
a binkie, a stuffed animal or, in my case, your
right thumb, these favorite items get imprinted
early in life and often grow into an extra
appendage that dangles squarely out the
front of said kid’s mouth. That’s where you’d
find my thumb most hours of the day, and
where you’ll find
Macklin’s go-to
stink bomb of a
favorite,
as well.
Before Mack
was born, his
mama and I
(ok, mostly
mama)
researched,
hunted and
shopped for
different options
we thought he might
like. In hindsight,
it was a total guessing
game, and we were probably a bit
arrogant in thinking we could predict
what this tiny stranger would eventually
latch onto. But we were first time
parents, so of course we thought we
knew everything!
Would it be the small, stuffed moose or the
plush teddy bear that he would choose
to snuggle all night? Perhaps the soft,
heirloom blanket we got at a shower?
Or that other blanket? Or this other
one? Or maybe that one? We got a lot
of blankets. Apparently, people were
worried that even after welcoming a
baby into our home I’d still be too cheap
to turn up the heat. They weren’t
entirely wrong.
But it didn’t take
long before Mack
asserted his
proclivity for the
finer things in
life by claiming
a Pottery Barn
Bear Thumbie
gifted by his God
Mother as his
transition
26 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

object — something kids bring everywhere that provides
comfort and stability, much like grown-ups clutching
our smartphones wherever we go. Brown Bear is there
any time of day for Macklin, even when mom and dad
aren’t. Even when we are, that smelly, well-worn square
of brown fleece with a head no longer even resembling
that of a bear isn’t far out of reach.
Macklin can fall asleep in any new place as long as he’s
got Brown Bear (aka Brownie, Brown B, Brommer,
Browns or Mr. Browns) there to chew on. Brownie has
logged some serious road trip miles with us, including a
few frequent flyer miles. Despite multiple flights, Mack
has only cried on an airplane once, and it lasted for less
than 30 seconds over some dropped goldfish crackers,
because Brown Bear was there to soak up his tears…
and drool.
After taking an extended gap-year with me to find
ourselves (turns out we were just over at the nearby
park), he transitioned with minimal fuss to daycare
because Brown Bear accompanied him to his new
class. New babysitter? No big deal. He’s got Brown
Bear. Vaccinations? Flu shots? Dentist visits? The end of
Game of Thrones? Mr. Browns is always there to soothe.
In fact, Brommer is so good at soothing, he’s been forced
to multiply. Early on, we made the choice to wean Mack
off his pacifier. It worked great. He got over the nuk in
less than a week. Why? Because the soft head of Mr.
Browns was right there, ready to take up the cause. So
we now own multiple Brown Bears purely for the sake of
frequent washings. I asked him about it recently, trying
to understand how we could possibly help break this
habit. Mack’s response: “Brown Bear likes it. It tickles
him and he laughs.” Well then, as long as it’s good for
Brown Bear… and certainly good for Mack’s future
orthodontist.
I don’t feel any competition for Mack’s affection towards
Brown Bear. With each bump, scrape or perceived
injustice, Macklin will still cry for mom or dad (whichever
of us is not currently available, of course). He will be
quickly scooped into a hug and this is where he will ask
for Brown Bear, our closer. Mom and dad provide the
initial comfort and safety, and Brown Bear is the icing
on the cake to finish the job. And sometimes a cartoon
band-aid, preferably PJ Masks if you have them.
Macklin turns four this summer, which feels impossible,
as I still vividly remember bringing his pudgy infant self
home from the hospital not too long ago. At this rate, I’m
already mentally planning to sneak a Brown Bear into
his luggage when he leaves for college, tech school or
whatever path lies ahead in the future. Maybe another
gap year… this time without dear ol’ dad. Regardless, I’m
glad we have extras because I’m going to need one, too,
when the time comes. •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27

LOCAL BAND
28 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

THE
KNOTTIES
MORE THAN
JUST THE
FEELS
The Fargo music scene rolls out
another phenomenal music group;
this time we are taking a look at
The Knotties. These guys tap into a
unique yet timeless sound, mixing
modern techniques that thrive off
70s psychedelic rock/blues. This is
the kind of music that makes you
want to move and let loose – which is
encouraged by the band.
WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
The Knotties joined together almost
three years ago and have been
rocking our faces off ever since; with
Channing Minnema on guitar and
vocals, Michael Mooridian on bass
and vocals, and Jonathan Hunter on
drums and vocals.
Between these guys, you can
find explosive personalities and
phenomenal talent. The drive they
have to push one another absolutely
shows in their music and they accept
nothing less. There is no question as
to why they are so popular.
I had the opportunity to sit down with
Hunter and Mooridian and boy was it
a ride. In between talking about the
band and all the hard work they put
into becoming kickass I found out
a few fun facts about this quirky yet
ambitious band.
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 29

LOCAL BAND
First and foremost, everyone in The Knotties believes
in each other to perform at the best of their abilities
and they cheer each other on every step of the way. “No
matter who writes the song or who comes up with the
music we all go along with it - with no confrontation,”
said Mooridian. They are really good at editing one
another without stifling each other’s creativity and there
is something to be said about that kind of cohesiveness
in a band.
Second, they are an absolute blast to be around and the
passion they have for music is beyond measurable. If you
are looking for a good time then you need hit up one of
their shows, hands down one of the best acts in town.
They perform together in a way that is hard to find these
days - solid and precise.
Third, did you know that not one but two members live
in not so common housing? One lives in an old bank
(Minnema) and the other a church (Hunter) – No, neither
establishment is still running and yes, they are there
legally. In fact, their last album was recorded in the
church Hunter resides in. If that isn’t what rock and roll
is all about – I don’t know what is.
Finally, The Knotties were awarded a grant earlier
this year through The Arts Partnership in cooperation
with Jade Presents in which they used to master their
30 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

full-length album. “This is quite an honor,” says
Mooridian, “we are so grateful to have been awarded
this opportunity.”
“Most people don’t go beyond Spotify, iTunes, or
Apple music, so that is where you can find most of
our music,” remarked Mooridian. Although you can
find their CDs locally at Orange Records, Mothers
Music, or The Electric Fetus in their Duluth location.
They are also working towards getting their music
pressed onto vinyl, which will match well with their
70s psych sounds and give listeners another platform
to listen to their music.
There is something unique about matching your
personality with kind of music you perform – typically
The Knotties don’t play cover music but they strive to
perform their own original music and these guys are
about as original as they come. Each member brings
something to the table that can’t be matched or
duplicated and it makes for stimulating conversation
and even more interesting music. You can catch them
playing in venues all over town like the Aquarium –
which is located above Dempsey’s, The HoDo, and
Sidestreet which are all located in downtown Fargo,
ND. They have also toured around the country and
plan to again when their self-titled vinyl is released.
If you are looking for a new sound or fun shows
to check out – this is your band – you won’t be
disappointed.
You can follow The Knotties on Instagram or
Facebook to find out all their upcoming shows or to
check out what the band is up to and of course on
their Spotify page where you can also find music the
band is listening to.
The good life, according to The Knotties, is to play
together as a band for as many people as possible not
for the fame or fortune but for the feeling. To get out
there and rock as hard as they can and turn around
and do it again tomorrow. •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 31

SCUBA DIVING
IN THE UPPER MIDWEST
NORTH DAKOTA AND
MINNESOTA HOME TO AVID
SCUBA DIVERS
WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
When you hear the term “scuba diving,” what do you
think of? Chances are you’re picturing tropical fish,
coral reefs, and ocean waves. Whatever you think of,
it’s probably the exact opposite of the upper Midwest.
So, what if I told you North Dakota and Minnesota are
home to avid scuba diving fans? In fact, experts say
these two unlikely states have some of the best scuba
diving around.
Part of what makes scuba diving in North Dakota and
Minnesota so special is the wide range of locations to
choose from. Minnesota alone has over 12,000 lakes
for divers to explore as well as the Iron Range’s many
mine pits. Though there are plenty of rivers in the area,
they tend to be less popular with divers because of low
depths and poor visibility. Those that do dive in rivers
are often looking for old antiques left behind by barge
traffic.
Dive spots are generally chosen according to water
conditions and what’s below the surface. Water
conditions can vary from lake to lake depending on the
time of year. In the summer, some lakes offer visibility
up to 30 feet. However, as water temperatures rise
smaller lakes tend to lose their visibility. In those cases,
divers may be able to see only one or two feet around
them at a time.
Another element unique to scuba diving in the Midwest
is the thermocline. A thermocline occurs in large bodies
of water and is a thin layer where divers experience
abrupt temperature changes. The first thermocline can
be found between 24 and 30 feet down. At that point,
the water temperature may drop by as much as 10
degrees in just a foot of water. Thermoclines aren’t the
only chilly temperature some scuba divers experience,
though.
32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Despite winter’s freezing temperatures, die-hard
divers can’t be deterred. Rather than sticking to the
unofficial scuba season between Memorial Day and
Labor Day, they dive well into the winter. All they need
is the right equipment. As temperatures drop, divers
will don thicker wetsuits to keep them warm
while exploring the icy depths of area lakes.
Some may even swap their wetsuit out for
a drysuit, which is completely waterproof.
Doing so offers divers better protection
against frigid water temperatures.
Popular Locations to Scuba Dive
Regardless of the time of year, both North Dakota and
Minnesota offer plenty of great locations for diving.
From the area’s many lakes to old iron ore pits, there’s
a whole other world under the water. Whether enjoying
up-close views of aquatic wildlife or exploring sunken
boats, there’s no shortage of things to discover.
“From the area’s many
lakes to old iron ore pits,
there’s a whole other world
under the water. Whether
enjoying up-close views of
aquatic wildlife or exploring
sunken boats, there’s
no shortage of things to
discover.”
Lake Sakakawea State Park
Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but North
Dakota’s Lake Sakakawea is perfect for scuba diving.
At a max depth of 200 feet, divers are treated
views of paddlefish, rainbow trout, turtles, and
frogs in the bay’s aquatic grass. Other exciting
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33

finds include petrified rock formations and fossils typically found in
deeper parts of the lake.
Long Lake
Near Itasca State Park, Long Lake features unusually clear
water. Once used as a holding area for area logging companies,
divers can expect to see submerged logs near the southeast
end of the lake. Divers will also enjoy exploring the lake’s
scuttled boats and countless other treasures.
Portsmouth Pit
While Lake Superior is technically the deepest lake in
Minnesota at 700 feet, Portsmouth Pit is the deepest lying solely
inside Minnesota. Located in Crosby, Minnesota, Portsmouth Pit
spans 121 acres and has a depth of about 450 feet. The depth is just
one reason it’s a spot many divers frequent Portsmouth Pit. Under the
water is an eerily beautiful underwater forest of trees and a diverse
variety of fish.
Louise Mine Pit
The Louise Mine Pit is another prominent diving location
in Crosby, Minnesota. The eclectic props hidden in the
“Minnesota alone has
over 12,000 lakes for
divers to explore as well
as the Iron Range’s
many mine pits.”
34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

water have divers flocking to the state-owned mine.
A favorite is the emaciated figure of Friday the 13th
character, Jason Voorhees, trapped below the surface.
Other notable displays include a mermaid, a submerged
lawnmower, and a skeleton man fixing an electrical box.
Becoming a Certified Scuba Diver
Interested in discovering the many great diving
opportunities in North Dakota and Minnesota for
yourself? You just need to become a certified scuba
diver! To do so, you’ll need to complete the Open Water
Diver course as taught by a Professional Association of
Diving Instructors (PADI) certified instructor.
The first phase of training is done in the classroom
with students reading from the PADI Open Water Diver
Manual and completing an exam. Divers will then take
part in confined dives in a swimming pool to practice
basic scuba skills with their instructor. Finally, divers
will participate in four supervised open water dives.
Completion of the course will certify divers down to
60 feet, but you can continue to advance with further
training. Once you’re certified, all that’s left is to start
exploring! •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 35

DONATION
VALUE
5¢ PER BOTTLE
DONATION VALUE
for MILLER HIGH LIFE
and MILLER HIGH
LIFE LIGHT.
RECYCLE
Empty and unbroken
MILLER HIGH LIFE and
MILLER HIGH LIFE LIGHT bottles only.
Return in recyclable original carriers,
cartons or boxes.
DONATIONS
Donations go to:
Fargo/Moorhead, Detroit Lakes
CASS/CLAY VETERANS ASSISTANCE FUND
and VFW COLOR GUARD FUND
or any of the other registered organizations at:
minnkotarecycling.com
OTHER OPTIONS
You can also donate the value
of aluminum cans, magazines,
newspapers and #1 and #2
plastic bottles.
minnkotarecycling.com