The Good Life – November-December 2021

FATHERS | DAD LIFE 

Six Totally Legit 

Dad-Approved 

Side Hustles 

WRITTEN BY: PAUL HANKEL 

As the holidays approach many 

families find themselves tight 

on funds. While this situation is 

stressful, it has never been quicker 

or easier to pick up a side gig or 

side hustle to help supplement your 

main income streams. 

Below are six seasonal options that 

could add some quick holiday cash 

to your coffers. 

Snag a local seasonal or temporary 

position. 

There are lots of great temporary 

or seasonal gigs available during 

the holidays. Many large retailers 

and businesses are looking to 

supplement their staffing in order 

to deal with the increase in business 

during the holiday months. 

• Retailers such as Target, Scheel's, 

and Hobby Lobby are extremely 

busy during the holidays and are 

always looking to hire for retail, 

stocking, and overnight positions. 

2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com 

• The recently opened Amazon 

distribution center is another 

great option for those looking for 

temporary work. They offer training, 

and flexible scheduling. 

• UPS/FedEx 

These two shipping giants, along 

with Amazon, reported shipping 

close to 3 billion parcels during the 

2021 holiday season. To accomplish 

this feat, they hire thousands of 

seasonal workers to help sort, 

process, and ship those parcels. 

While physically demanding, these 

temporary positions pay well and 

have a lot of different hours and 

shifts available. 

Consider starting an e-commerce 

site and selling products online. 

It has never been quicker or easier 

to start an online business. Will you 

become an overnight millionaire? 

Probably not. However, there are 

millions of online entrepreneurs 

who make or supplement their living 

by operating an online business. 

Of all of the suggested side hustles 

in this list, an e-commerce store 

will undoubtedly be the most timeintensive. 

However, if done properly, 

it could become a permanent 

revenue stream for you and your 

family. 

While I want to tell you the process 

is as simple as finding a product or 

service you like and then selling it 

online, the real process does take 

some research and time to bring 

to fruition. That being said, online

sales spike 45% during the holidays, meaning billions of 

people are online and spending money. Why not be one 

of the online retailers selling them a product? 

To find out more about this very viable potential side 

hustle, I would recommend beginning by going to 

YouTube and watching some general informational 

videos on how to best get your e-commerce store going. 

I'm not going to lie to you – there are a lot of scammy 

YouTube videos that are trying to get you to sign up for 

their e-commerce training packages that they promise 

will lead to millions in sales for your business. Meh, 

highly unlikely. 

Instead, look for general informational videos that offer 

a free overview of dropshipping, e-commerce, and selling 

online. 

• Uber Eats 

If being a standard Uber driver and driving people to their 

holiday parties sounds a little too..."COVID-y" for you, 

consider delivering Uber Eats as your safer less people-y 

option. Drivers report earning up to $12 on average after 

gas expenses. While that hourly rate isn't particularly 

high, the flexibility of being able to work however much 

or little you want and being able to pick when you work 

makes food delivery seem like a great option for those 

looking to make some quick holiday cash. 

• Concert and Event Staff 

The holidays are prime concert and event season and 

those events need staff! Local promoters and event 

venues such as Jade Presents and the Fargodome are 

always looking to hire motivated staff to help work their 

various holiday conc erts and events. You can check with 

any local events company or venue to apply. 

• Snow Removal 

Are you a night owl with a valid driver's license? If so 

then an overnight snow removal job may be right up your 

alley! 

Snow removal jobs are seasonal and typically highpaying 

and duties are performed in the early mornings 

or late at night. This is especially ideal for those who 

work a regular day job. 

A quick web search will list all the seasonal snow 

removal jobs in your local area. 

The holidays are filled with lots of potentially stressful 

situations. Travel, getting time off, planning or hosting for 

family or work parties…it's a lot. The last thing you want 

on your mind is not having the funds to make ends meet. 

While everyone's situation is different, the advancement 

of the internet and the gig economy has made it so that 

anyone with a pulse, a little bit of motivation, and even 

just a few free hours per week can make some serious 

supplemental income. Look into it! • 

urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3

Contents 

VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 3 

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021 

Dad Life. 02 

Six Totally Legit Dad-Approved Side Hustles 

Strapped for cash this holiday season? It’s never been quicker or easier to snag a seasonal or temporary 

position to support your holiday spending. 

A Heart for the Highlands. 06 

Professional bagpiper and instructor, Dan Aird, shares about his love for piping and his unconventional path 

in life. 

Fargo-Moorhead Adult Hockey. 10 

A Club for Everyone 

No matter your skill level or gender, the Fargo-Moorhead Adult Hockey Club is the perfect fit for you. 

Helping Hands Save Lives. 14 

Fargo Rescue Works with Nature's Gentlest Giants 

Pride and Joy Rescue, a Fargo nonprofit, is working to create a better life for some of nature's gentlest giants. 

On the Cover . 18 

Coaching Justice: From the Rink to the Courtroom 

Assistant United States Attorney Chris Myers shares his personal story and the lessons he’s learned in life as a 

hockey coach and prosecutor. 

Having a Beer with Alex and Kevin . 24 

Alex Taylor and Kevin Flynn of “The Need to Know Morning Show” sit down for a beer with Meghan Feir to 

discuss important topics, such as whether dolls or clowns are creepier. 

Salute to Blue. 28 

D-S Beverages held a "Salute to Blue" event to say "thank you" to our local law enforcement. Area businesses 

were happy to sponsor the event and show their appreciation and respect. 

Local Hero 30 

Tom Krabbenhoft 

From Minnesota to Alaska to the Middle East and back again, 

Local Hero Tom Krabbenhoft attracts adventure and strives 

to serve meaningfully. 

4 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

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hen you meet Dan Aird, the 

W 

first thing you might notice is 

his calm demeanor. But behind 

those dark blue eyes and softspoken 

voice lies a treasure trove of 

unexpected stories. 

Aird’s life has been anything but average. 

From choosing to play the bagpipes as 

his instrument of choice to teaching 

students in Scotland how to play their 

national instrument, he has made many 

captivating choices. He was a member 

of the Air Force, studied archeology, and 

has been a teacher in various capacities. 

Throughout his childhood and teenage 

years, Aird and his family moved around 

the state of North Dakota. Born in Devils 

Lake, Aird moved as a child to Lawton, 

where his native Scottish grandfather 

built and managed a grain elevator in 

1903 after finding gold in the Yukon. 

6 / THE GOOD LIFE 

WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR 

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

Aird and his family also lived in 

Dickinson for a short stint before 

moving to Medora in 1957. He went 

to high school in neighboring Montana 

before coming to Fargo to attend North 

Dakota State University for a degree 

in zoology and a minor in physical 

science. Aird eventually joined the Air 

Force in 1969. 

While serving in the Air Force, 

Aird had both of his desired station 

requests granted. 

“When I was in the service, they had 

a wish sheet for where you’d like 

to be stationed,” Aird said. “I put in 

Spokane, Wash., because it was near 

where there was a pipe band, and I 

knew some of the people who played.” 

After spending two and a half years in 

Spokane, Aird had a second request 

granted and was next stationed at the 

only Air Force base in England at RAF 

Lakenheath for over a year. 

“When I was leaving the service, they 

had a program where if you were 

stationed in some other country when 

you got out, you could stay there for 

awhile and they’d fly you back,” Aird 

said, “so I then went up to Scotland 

and went to The College of Piping in 

Glasgow. I taught beginners and gave 

lessons there at the college, one year 

at Glasgow High School, and one year 

at Kelvinside Academy. I got a half-hour 

lesson from the head instructor in the 

morning and another half hour in the 

afternoon.” 

Before his feet ever tread on Scottish 

soil, Aird was already hooked on the 

pipes. Prior to his Fargo and Air Force 

days, one of Aird’s friends got him into 

piping after high school. 

Piper ~ Dan Aird 

When i was leaving the service, they 

had a program where if you were 

stationed in some other country when 

you got out, you could stay there for 

awhile and they’d fly you back. so i 

then went up to scotland and went to 

the college of piping in glasgow. 


It is an instrument steeped in history, 

embodying a strong vein of Aird’s heritage. 

“I had a friend my age who helped 

me get started. I had been doing 

exercises on the practice chanter 

before Doug really got me going and 

on to the bagpipe itself. Then I went 

to his teacher,” Aird said. “There 

were no other pipers around, so I 

would go up to Canada where my 

friend’s teacher was, and sometimes 

I’d play in parades with him and his 

son.” 

A Strong Set of Pipes 

With two Gaelic-speaking 

grandfathers who had emigrated 

from Scotland with wild stories of 

their own, it is no wonder Aird’s 

rich Scottish heritage is a source 

of immense fascination and pride. 

Clearly, the independent spirit of 

the Scots flows through his veins as 

he’s carved out his unconventional 

path through life. 

Aird’s bagpipes also have a tale 

to tell. Decades ago, his friend, 

Douglas Bremner, the same man 

who got him into piping, ordered 

a $28 bagpipe from a shop in 

Pakistan. 

The order didn’t arrive. 

Years later, the instrument was 

delivered with an extra set of 

bagpipes and a note. In the letter, 

the sender of the package explained 

how his shop had been bombed in 

the Indo-Pakistani War. It took him a 

few years to start his life’s work over 

again. 

To honor his word and show remorse 

for the delayed order, he’d sent two 

instruments. The quality of both sets 

of pipes was impeccable and has 

since been the envy of other pipers. 

Aird bought that extra set of pipes 

from his friend for only $14, and it’s 

proven to be the most worthwhile 

$14 he’s ever spent in his life. 

The Plaid Piper 

Years after he serendipitously 

acquired his bagpipes, the two 

instruments from that little music 

shop in Pakistan have been reunited 

in song. Aird and his friend Doug’s 

daughter play together in the 

Heather and Thistle Pipes and 

Drums band in Fargo. 

He’s been a part of the musical 

group since its inception in 1992, 

using his passion for the pipes to 

teach students, direct and play 

for the many events they perform 

every year. They most often play for 

parades, such as the St. Patrick’s 

Day Parade in Fargo, but some of 

the events they play for are far less 

joyful and lighthearted. 

One of the experiences that stand 

out the most for Aird was when they 

played for a 9-11 memorial service, 

along with playing at a service for a 

man who had died in that national 

tragedy. 

Whether for joyful or solemn events, 

Aird and other skilled bagpipers 

have a distinct way of evoking pride, 

excitement and tears from those 

who listen to the moving drone and 

skirl of the pipes. 

It is an instrument steeped in 

history, embodying a strong vein 

of Aird’s heritage. Thanks to 

his interest, dedication and 

tutelage, the skills needed to 

play the bagpipes have been 

passed down to younger 

generations, keeping the 

traditions alive. •

agpipes 101 

Good Life: Does rain hurt bagpipes? 

Dan Aird: Not really. In Scotland 

it rains all the time. The problem 

is you can get water run down the 

drones and stop the reed, so they 

don’t sound. If you hold it at an angle 

it doesn’t go in as easily. 

GL: How many people in this area 

play? 

DA: There are around 20 pipers in 

our band. 

GL: What are five of your favorite 

songs to play? 

DA: I like “Calum Campbell’s 

Caprice,” “Crossing the Minch,” 

and “The Carnival Reel,” and “Big 

John O’Neill’s Hornpipe,” and “The 

Highland Wedding,” but there are so 

many other good ones too. 

GL: How can someone know they’re 

buying a good set of bagpipes? 

DA: Usually people order them on 

the internet now. Any pipe made in 

Scotland is a good pipe, no matter 

which maker it is. The average 

spend is around $1,200, but you can 

get them for any price. If you want a 

$1 million bagpipe, you can get one. 

They’ll encrust it with diamonds if 

you want and make it out of solid 

gold, if you like. 

GL: If you treat pipes well, how long 

can your instrument last? 

DA: Forever. The only thing to 

happen is if you’re a really wet 

blower, the blowpipe sometimes 

cracks, but that can be replaced. All 

the good pipes are made of wood. • 


FARGO-MOORHEAD ADULT HOCKEY 

A CLUB FOR EVERYONE 

WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS 

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

When it comes to hockey in 

the Fargo-Moorhead area, 

there are a few different 

options. Still, nothing can compare 

to the Fargo-Moorhead Adult Hockey 

Club (FMAHC). 

Founder and player, Skyler Severns, 

moved to Fargo from Seattle, 

Washington and wasn't sure what 

he would find when he arrived 

here. Having no previous skating 

experience before his move, where 

he needed to start looking was a 

challenge. Of course, there are 

bar leagues and the Fargo Parks 

district leagues, but he was looking 

for something more, something 

different, so he created it. 

The FMAHC more closely resembles 

a minor league team with all skill 

levels instead of a bar league. "We 

try not to call it a bar league, largely 

because we don't let bars advertise 

on an individual team," said Severns. 

However, "we do allow bars to 

advertise for the whole league." 

What is unique about this club is 

they run three drop-ins, which are 

not officiated games, per week 

year-round. Additionally, they have 

development sessions for new 

players and this is all open to the 

public. "We have some players who 

have played in the junior leagues 

and then some players, like me, who 

haven't played very much hockey at 

all," stated Severns. 

In addition to drop-ins, the perks 

of this league include personalized 

team jerseys, playing cards with 

your picture and stats on them, 

pre and post-season gatherings, 

and the ability to hit the ice during 

any reserved practice times at the 

Scheels Arena – where the games 

take place. 


All games, including playoff 

and championship games, are 

streamed online via Facebook 

live, Vimeo, and YouTube. This 

isn't your average run-of-the-mill, 

fish-eyed lens camera; FMAHC 

really got into production with live 

commentary, a score bug, and onair 

advertising. 

For this club, there are six teams, 

10 skaters per team, and one 

goalie. Each team plays 15 games, 

and if you advance, there are also 

playoffs and a championship game. 

The season goes from January to 

April, and you must be 18 years 

old to join the drop-in games and 

development sessions, but at least 

21 to be in the league. 

When the roster fills up, or you 

are not sure you can commit to an 

entire season, you can also jump 

on the substitutions and waitlist. 

"If we get enough active players on 

the reserve list, then we will open 

up the reserve line and have 15 

skaters and one goalie per team," 

mentioned Severns. 

Another bonus of this league is 

that it is co-ed. It is exciting to see a 

club strictly for adults and not just 

for men or women. "There isn't a 

lot of opportunities for women to 

play hockey once they get out of 

college," said Severns. "We have 

been trying to reach more of the 

women in the community, and with 

this club, we have the ability to." 

WE HAVE SOME PLAYERS WHO HAVE 

PLAYED IN THE JUNIOR LEAGUES AND THEN 

SOME PLAYERS, LIKE ME, WHO HAVEN'T 

PLAYED VERY MUCH HOCKEY AT ALL." 

– SKYLER SEVERNS 


Severns' passion for this club goes 

much farther than playing the 

game and having good production 

value for viewing the games. The 

sense of community he has created 

within this club is incredible. 

"We had a few visitors from 

Switzerland join our drop-in and 

skated with us three times a week 

for the three months they were 

visiting family in town. A father 

and son playing hockey together 

when they normally wouldn't get 

to," said Severns. 

As I mentioned earlier, Severns 

hails from the west coast, and he 

brought a little of his home life to 

the club. You might notice the team 

names are not ones commonly 

used in this part of the country, 

with names like Mountaineers, 

Sea Kraits, and Albatross, to name 

a few. These small touches and the 


ambition to create a club that makes 

you feel more a part of the community 

prove Severns is unique and driven. 

I have watched a few of the previously 

streamed games on Facebook, and 

it was fun and exciting to watch. 

Watching sporting events when they 

can really have fun and get the crowd 

invested is always a treat. Not only 

does it make the environment in the 

arena more fun, but it also makes 

viewing it from home that much more 

enjoyable. "It's fun to sit back and 

think; I get to be involved in a league 

that has hats thrown on the rink 

when there is a hat trick," exclaimed 

Severns. 

The FMAHC is an excellent example 

of what you can do within your 

community. Being passionate about 

something doesn't have an expiration 

date, and it is never too late to make 

it happen. This club is a beautiful 

addition to the Fargo-Moorhead area, 

and I can't wait to catch a couple of 

games when the season starts up in a 

couple of months. 

Finally, I asked Severns what the 

good life means to him. "To me, the 

good life is having an opportunity to 

play hockey with friends and family. 

The good life is being able to be a part 

of a franchise and experience hockey 

as we observe it in the stands or on 

television, and to meet my exercise 

and health goals without the mundane 

life of a gym membership." • 


Helping Hands 

Save Lives i 

X 

It started with a little girl, a question and a ton of morals 

— and grew into a nonprofit operating on its own ranch 

just a few miles northwest of Fargo. 

"(Our daughter) asked what a kill truck was," said 

Robert Faulkner, owner, operator and director of Pride 

and Joy Rescue. "She didn't want them to do it. She 

wanted to help as many horses as we possibly could." 

Pride and Joy Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit in Fargo, 

N.D., that works to connect the community and horse 

rescues. 

"Horses have such a healing power to them," said 

Connie Faulkner, co-owner, operator and director of 

Pride and Joy. "If you save them, they'll save you." 

And save them they do. 

Connie and Robert have saved more than 10 horses 

since their inception in 2021. Roughly 1-2 percent 

of the U.S. equine population is slaughtered 

each year, according to the American Veterinary 

Medical Association, with their bodies being sold 

at livestock auctions for human consumption in 

places like Mexico, Japan, China, Germany and 

Indonesia, to name a few. 

The Faulkners, like many other equine rescues, 

attend these auctions with the intention of buying 

the creatures and providing them a loving home 

until they're deemed ready for adoption. 

WRITTEN BY: EMMA VATNSDAL 




"It's usually about five of us 

against six, seven, eight of the kill 

buyers (those who attend livestock 

auctions with the intention of 

purchasing horses to ship to 

countries who will pay for their 

meat)," said Connie. "It's legit a 

complete bidding war. And if the 

kill buyers win (the bid) you'll see 

the rescue group following them to 

their trucks to buy the horses off 

them." 

After these gentle giants are taken 

off the truck, they're brought to the 

rescue to begin their new lives — 

with food, medical care and love 

waiting for them. 

"I grew up around horses, they kept 

me out of trouble," said Connie. 

"This is me paying them back. So 

we're saving them, they're saving 

(our daughter Rainey)." 

It's a family affair, too. Everyone 

has their role within Pride and Joy 

— some work as ranch hands, some 

help with the business side of the 

nonprofit, and Rainey, a spitfire of 

an 8-year-old, runs to the beat of 

her own drum as a ranch hand in 

training. 

Pride and Joy currently has 11 

horses — 10 of which are at their 

ranch, with the other at training in 

preparation for her adoption — and 

every single one has a story. 

Lil' Horse and Corky's, the two that 

started it all, original owner was 

unable to provide the attention they 

needed and they were getting ready 

to be sent to the unknown. The stars 

aligned and the Faulkners were able 

to take them in, creating a bond 

between the horses and their owners 

that is completely unbreakable. 

Two more came from an Amish 

farm, while a couple of others were 

saved from the kill truck, just like 

their brothers Corky and Lil' Horse. 

But the most incredible story started 

just five weeks ago, with a very 

underweight guy named Forty. His 

original owners tried to keep weight 

on him, but ultimately did what they 

thought was best: sending him to 

Pride and Joy. But the rescue had 

their work cut out for them from the 

get-go. 

"He was extremely, extremely, 

extremely underweight when we got 

him," Connie said. "He was like 900 

pounds." 

For context, a healthy horse 

generally weighs between 1,800 and 

2,000 pounds. 

"When we got him he couldn't pick 

his feet up," Connie said. "His entire 

hips were sticking out and you could 

see his ribs and spine. When we got 

him, he had absolutely no energy 

whatsoever." 

However, through a strict diet of 

feed, along with many, many other 

caloric-rich foods, Forty has started 

to gain — weighing in at over 1,100 

pounds on the day of this interview. 

The Faulkners aren't the only ones 

getting the chance to love on these 

creatures, though. 

Pride and Joy hosts groups out to 

the ranch to learn from and about 

the horses, as well as help out with 

the chores and feeding. 


"We've had Project RAI out," Connie said. "That was kind 

of fun, we got to tie in the educational part of horse rescue 

with that." 

Project RAI is a Fargo nonprofit with a mission to reduce 

suicide statistics among LGBTQ+ youth by helping them 

feel comfortable in their own skin. 

"I basically set things up for them to do ahead of timebased 

on their ages," she said. "We had them washing 

feed buckets, we had them wash a water pail and clean 

stalls. And I showed them what the horses looked like 

when they come in and what they look like now, and when 

they're all done, we do a training demo." 

They're hoping to open their rescue to more groups, too. 

"My end goal would be to find some way to help sheriffs, 

veterans, any type of that entity, work through their 

PTSD," Connie said. "That means a lot to us. We've talked 

to a couple of sheriff groups already and they know they 

have an open invitation out here, but there's such a stigma 

around it. We want to break that. I know what (the horses) 

can do for PTSD, I know what they can do for depression, 

I know what they can do for anxiety. I know what grooming 

them can do for people, I've seen it, I've experienced it — if 

people need to do that, they just need to reach out." 

And through all their work, all the long hours and money 

spent, the Faulkners say it's all worth it. 

"I think we're living the Good Life," Connie said. "We're 

giving Rainey a place to play, she has responsibilities, she 

has compassion, she's learning something that kids her 

age don't get to learn, she gets to take care of these guys. 

For us, that's the Good Life." 

The Faulkners are always welcoming volunteers to 

help around the rescue. "The biggest thing for us is the 

community support," Connie said. "We want to support 

Fargo with this place. We're trying to do things that help 

the community, but we can't do that without the community 

helping us." • 


ON THE COVER | CHRIS MYERS 

Coaching Justice: 

From the Rink to the Courtroom 

Chris Myers, assistant United States attorney for 

the District of North Dakota, has a job that often 

involves high-profile, high-stakes cases. Yet even 

with the difficult scenarios he encounters every day, 

his high-stress job still feels like the perfect fit. 

As a little boy living in Wahpeton, N.D., in the ‘70s, 

Myers knew he wanted to go into law enforcement. 

He’d been inspired by his father, Earle “Bud” Myers, 

who fought for justice as a prosecuting attorney. 

Once his college years came around the bend, the 

choice was clear; he’d study sociology and criminal 

justice at North Dakota State University, followed 

up by two degrees in public administration and law 

at Drake University in Iowa. 

With his fiancée (now wife) still living in the Fargo- 

Moorhead area, Myers knew he wanted to move 

back home. It was a community he loved and 

wanted to be a part of once more. 

After moving back to Fargo, he quickly started a 

position with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal 

Investigation as a special agent before becoming 

an assistant state’s attorney for the Cass County 

State’s Attorney’s Office the following year. 

“It was another opportunity to do what I wanted to 

do and be where I wanted to be,” Myers said. 

Since those posts in the mid-1990s, Myers has 

gone on to hold numerous positions in the North 

Dakota, Minnesota and United States’ justice 

systems, including his most recent roles for the 

United States Department of Justice for the District 

of North Dakota as a United States attorney and 

his current title as assistant United States attorney. 

Whether he’s speaking at a conference in Spain, 

taking on larger cases in foreign countries and 

around the United States, or keeping it local by 

cracking down on crime in the Fargo area, Myers 

stressed the importance of remembering your 

roots. 

“Don’t ever forget where you came from,” Myers 

said. “I’ve had cases that span across the United 

States and other countries, but I kind of smile 

because I’m from Fargo.” 

Even with all the traveling he has done for his career, 

Myers never doubted where he wanted to live and 

grow a family. His roots were already established; 

his love for the community already planted. 

“To me ‘the good life’ means raising a family in this 

community and having excellent schools for your 

kids. The overall quality of life here doesn’t get 

any better, if you ask me,” Myers said. “I’ve been 

fortunate to be blessed working with top-notch law 

enforcement and staff in our office to make this 

community a little bit safer. That sums it up for me. 

Fargo is a great place with great people.” 






FRoM THE RiNK TO THE COURTROOM 

Myers’ three constants in life have always been his 

love for family, work and hockey. 

As a teenager, he and his family packed their bags 

and moved from Wahpeton to Fargo. The Myers 

wanted their son to be able to play hockey at Fargo 

North High School. The move proved to be worth 

it. Myers basked in the joy of playing hockey and 

made lifelong memories when he and his team 

went on to win a state hockey title in 1986. After 

a year of playing junior hockey for the Dubuque 

Fighting Saints, Myers returned home for school 

and hockey at North Dakota State University. 

Thirty years later, Myers is still enthralled with 

hockey. 

For the past 15 years, Myers has been coaching 

girls and boys hockey and has even coached all 

three of his children in their favorite sport. It’s 

taken a lot of time, dedication and commitment 

from their family, and Myers has enjoyed every 

minute of it. Winter for their family remains 

consumed with the game they love, cheering on 

daughters who play Division 1 hockey and a son 

who plays high school hockey. 

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS 

Myers with his dad, Earle “Bud” Myers. 

Myers’ father went to all of his 

hockey games and would watch his 

trials. “This summer was the first big 

trial where he wasn’t there,” Myers said. 


Myers coaching his two 

daughters in hockey. 

On his own, Myers still takes time to hit the rink every 

week to keep his skating skills sharp, providing a brisk 

mental break from the occasional heaviness of his job. 

Whether Myers is giving a pep talk in a locker room, being 

a minister of justice in a courtroom, or teaching lessons 

to his kids in their living room, the experiences he’s had 

as a coach, prosecutor and father have shaped how he 

handles every area of his life. 

For most of his career as a prosecutor, Myers has worked 

to identify, target and dismantle criminal organizations, 

prosecuting hundreds of drug trafficking cases and 

associated violent crimes. It takes the work of Myers and 

a team of law enforcement agents working together to 

serve justice for long-term investigations. 

In those cases, Myers is the supervisor and manager of 

the teams, often using the lessons he’s learned as a coach 

to effectively lead the investigations. 

“They compliment each other,” Myers said. “You want to 

be a good leader, teacher and mentor. As a coach and as 

a supervisor in the investigations, I want to put people in 

the best roles for the team to allow them to succeed and 

flourish. It’s a team endeavor.” 

The phrase Myers and local law enforcement try to live 

by in their daily work is “One team, one voice, one fight.” 

“It ties back to the hockey thing with teamwork,” Myers 

said. “The concept in sports that I’ve heard used is 

‘The name on the back of the jersey isn’t as important 

as the name on the front of the jersey.’ It’s the idea that 

we need to put the team first. If you comprise your team 

with people who have that mindset and are hardworking, 

ethical people, you’ll succeed.” 

Over the years, Myers has won innumerable awards 

for his work, including the 2020 Attorney General’s 

Distinguished Service Award, the 2019 Leadership in 

the Prevention of Transnational Crime Award, and the 

2018 National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area’s 

Prosecutor of the Year Award. Myers was also inducted 

into the Fargo North Hall of Fame in 2017. But when 

Myers working undercover as a 

delivery driver in the mid-‘90s. 

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS 



these accolades are mentioned, Myers immediately gives 

equal credit to his teammates, saying these are team 

awards. 

“All of those represent a team award because in all those 

cases, it’s not just one person, it’s a whole team of people 

doing the work,” Myers said. “We have some of the best 

law enforcement in the country, and I’ve worked with law 

enforcement all over the country and in foreign countries. I 

feel very fortunate to work with the people I do, not only with 

law enforcement, but our staff and my support staff as well. 

I’ve basically had the same support staff my whole career 

in the US Attorney’s Office. Lori Daly and Deb Wilson have 

been there since I started in ’02, and they’re a huge part of 

the success.” 

Words Matter 

In every role Myers plays, his knowledge, people skills and 

speaking abilities are the strengths and tools he uses to 

do his jobs effectively. He knows the power words have on 

influencing the world around him. 

“As a coach, I try to talk to my players during practice. 

You might not know what’s going on at school for them or 

what’s going on at home, but make your contact with them a 

positive one. You might change their whole day, their whole 

week or their whole year,” Myers said. “When you think 

“The overall quality of life here 

doesn’t get any better, if you 

ask me. I’ve been fortunate to be 

blessed working with top-notch 

law enforcement and staff 

in our office to make this 

community a little bit safer.” 

- Chris Myers 


about it, that’s true not only in coaching but in regular dayto-day 

life. Be kind.” 

Many principles Myers tries to follow in life have been 

collected from observing the lives of his mentors and other 

coaches, his father, “Bud,” being his greatest influencer of 

all. 

Myers always looked up to his dad in more ways than his 

career path. Bud was gregarious and would talk to everyone, 

generous with his time, treating people with dignity and 

respect. 

A year ago, Myers’ father passed away, but the way in which 

he touched the lives of others carries on through his son’s 

life and work. 

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS 

“I don’t know if he said it or if I just learned it from watching 

him, but one thing he imparted on me is how important it is 

to treat everybody the same, whether they’re the janitor or 

the judge,” Myers said. “You don’t know how much impact 

you can have in your contact with people, whether it’s a brief 

or long-standing relationship. You can be an influence on 

them, either positive or negative. What you say matters.” • 

Myers talking with Former 

United States Attorney General 

Jeff Sessions in 2018. 


HAVING A BEER WITH | ALEX & KEVIN 



Alex Taylor and Kevin Flynn, the hosts of 

“The Need to Know Morning Show” on AM 

1100 The Flag, are two peas in a pod. Flynn 

even says Taylor is his “sister from another 

mister,” and they often think of what the 

other person will say before it’s spoken. 

On a rainy autumn day, the two seasoned 

radio hosts joined me at Drekker for a beer 

or two as we chatted about dolls vs. clowns, 

risky life choices and other hot topics. 

Good Life: How do you handle your 

unusual working hours? 

Kevin Flynn: I get up at 3:20 every 

morning, drive about an hour to work, we 

do our thing, and then I drive an hour back 

to the lake. I’m just loving life in the north 

country. 

Alex Taylor: I can beat that. I get up at 

about 2-2:30 a.m. I get to work at 4 a.m., 

hit the computers and see what I missed 

when I was sleeping. I get a nap every day 

at 2 o’clock, so that’s a bonus. I’ve been 

working at The Flag for probably 5 or 6 

years, and I love morning radio. I’m done 

by 9:30 most days. After that it’s like I 

didn’t even work. 

KF: I, on the other hand, started morning 

radio so I could make a 1 o’clock tee 

time. That’s pretty much my motivation. I 

started exclusively doing mornings in ’85 

in Arizona. Last fall was my 40th year of 

24 / THE GOOD LIFE

eing on radio. Talk radio is even better for me 

because I don’t have to shut up. 

GL: Are dolls or clowns creepier? 

AT: Dolls. I’ve seen some scary dolls. Chucky is 

probably scarier than Pennywise. I think I could 

reason with Pennywise. I don’t think I’d have a 

chance with Chucky. 

KF: Clowns, no doubt. They’re living and 

breathing. They could be anything. 

GL: What’s the worst gift you’ve ever been given? 

KF: Probably a bottle of liqueur that was the 

most rancid, nasty stuff I’ve ever tried in my life. 

It was like toxic, rotten licorice. 

AT: I’m not a big fan of surprises. I’m the one 

who picks out my gift and says, “This is what 

you got me!” Then he doesn’t have to think and 

everybody’s happy. You don’t waste your money 

on junk I don’t like, and I get what I want. 

GL: When you were a kid, what did you think 

would be a bigger problem as you grew up? 

I—and every other child of the ’80s and ’90s— 

thought hot lava was going to be a way bigger 

issue in life than it has been. 

KF: Authority. 

GL: How did that turn out? 

KF: Okay, thank goodness. For a lot of reasons, 

I had a certain disdain when I was younger for 

authority, but I came out of that. The good Lord 

said I wouldn’t be that guy. 

AT: I was never really scared of anything, but my 

dad tried to make me water ski once. He was like, 

“Get up. You have a life jacket and you’re going 

to waterski.” We must have been out there all 

afternoon before he gave up on me. I just didn’t 

want to. I didn’t know how to swim, and I didn’t 


HAVING A BEER WITH | ALEX & KEVIN 

want to be in water over my head. I don’t like my 

hair wet, and I just want to float—nowadays with 

a beverage. 

GL: What’s one current cultural thing you’d be 

happy to see go? 

KF: For me, it’s some of the language. “To be 

honest,” “Honestly,” “Right?”—it drives me crazy. 

I could go down the list. 

AT: All this politically incorrect stuff. 

KF: Too much freakin’ wokeness. 

AT: You can’t say what you think anymore. I’m 

sick of people being sensitive and offended. I 

think it was better when we could all just say 

what we wanted and you got over it. You don’t 

have to agree with me, and I don’t have to agree 

with you, but we’re all entitled to our opinion. 

GL: What’s the riskiest or weirdest thing you’ve 

done in life that actually ended up turning out 

well? 

AT: I went to college as an older student. I was 

a hairstylist for a few years. Then I had my son 

and decided that once he was in 1st grade I’d go 

back to school. It was a different experience as 

an older student, but I knew why I was there. 

KF: Mine was buying a lake lot 25 years ago with 

money we didn’t have. It worked out. 

GL: What does living the good life mean to you? 

AT: Having fun. Making every day the best day 

because every day is a gift. If you’re not having 

fun, don’t do it. Why waste the time? Just have 

fun. 

KF: I worked for a guy whose mantra was, “Dare 

to be great.” He ended up being the VP of FOX 

Sports Radio. I always liked his mantra, but 

it seemed long to me. So I just started saying, 

“Be great,” and tagged it on everything. Being 

anything else is shortchanging yourself. • 



“Law enforcement personnel put themselves 

in harm’s way every day protecting the City of 

Moorhead and its citizens. Preserving public 

safety isn’t an easy job, and in today’s world 

it can be a thankless, stressful task. 

Officers make great personal sacrifices – 

often working long hours away from families 

and friends – to ensure our communities are 

safe. 

As the Mayor of Moorhead, it was a privilege 

and an honor to be part of the Salute to Blue 

and to thank officers everywhere for their 

service.” – Shelly Carlson, Moorhead Mayor 

"We are fortunate to live in the Fargo Moorhead Community as 

law enforcement officers because of the support we get from our 

citizens and businesses. The D-S Beverages "Salute to Blue" is 

just another great example of one of our local businesses thinking 

of ways they can recognize the efforts of local law enforcement. 

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the partnership 

and support of D-S Beverages and wants to thank them for their 

hospitality."– Jesse Jahner, Cass County Sheriff 


“This was a great event to be part of and I 

would like to thank D-S Beverages for their 

continued support of law enforcement in our 

communities. The members of the Sheriff’s 

Office that attended the appreciation were 

grateful that D-S Beverages hosted such an 

awesome event and went all out to show their 

support to law enforcement. We appreciate 

the support that our community continues 

to show to law enforcement and we are very 

lucky to live and work in the area that we 

do. Thank you!” – Mark Empting, Clay County 

Sheriff

The “Salute to Blue” event in August was simply D-S Beverages saying “Thank You” to 

all our great people in local law enforcement. In light of all that is going on across the 

country, we wanted to let law enforcement here know that in this community you are 

appreciated and respected. The Fargo Air Museum provided the perfect venue to have 

up close and personal interaction with the Budweiser Clydesdales while sampling some 

great Anheuser-Busch beers. We really appreciate the food provided by Hornbachers, the 

ice cream from Cass Clay, games from Games Galore and the photos from Urban Toad 

Media. – Doug Restemayer, President D-S Beverages 

"D-S Beverages of Moorhead hosted an 

appreciation event for law enforcement in 

August. It was a family event held at the 

Fargo Air Museum with food, beverages, 

games for the kids, with an appearance 

of the Budweiser Clydesdales Hitch Team. 

Doug Restemayer and his team went above 

and beyond in letting the law enforcement 

community know they are supported and 

appreciated. 

The event was well-attended, beautifully 

done and our staff thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Thank you D-S Beverages for your support!" 

– Shannon Monroe, Moorhead Police Chief 

“It is always great to see our community showing support for its law 

enforcement officers. I know the men and women of the Fargo Police 

Department never expect it, but still greatly appreciate the gesture. 

Careers in law enforcement are difficult but important work, and events 

like "Salute to Blue" which display the community’s backing of its 

guardians help show the impact each of them has on those they protect.” 

– Tim Mahoney, Fargo Mayor 

“The Fargo Police Department was honored to be a part of the Salute to 

Law Enforcement event, and appreciate the support and collaboration of 

members of our community and service providers who help enable us to 

carry out the vision and mission of the department each and every day.” 

– Jessica Shindeldecker, Fargo Police Dept.

LOCAL HERO | TOM KRABBENHOFT 

WRITTEN BY: ALEXIS SWENSON 


At age 17, Tom Krabbenhoft joined the Minnesota 

Army National Guard on a part-time basis. 

Krabbenhoft was interested in joining in part due 

to coming from a military family. Beyond that, the 

year was 1984—when teachers were on strike. 

Krabbenhoft asked for a challenging role and was 

placed in Infantry where he experienced significant 

culture shock from the rigid discipline and routine. 

"I wasn't going to be the teenager that mapped the 

human genome. Sometimes you just gotta be honest 

with yourself," said Krabbenhoft. "You're going from 

teachers on strike and not really succeeding in 

academia to doing things that you read about and 

see on TV." 

Service Life 

Upon finishing Basic and Advanced Individual 

Training, Krabbenhoft returned to Moorhead, MN 

where he often volunteered to accompany Army 

key personnel utilization program (KPUP) tours. 

In 1987, Krabbenhoft became a Forward Observer, 

controlling artillery and mortar fire along with 

calling in air strikes. Two and half years later, he 

pursued Stinger Missile training and became one 

of the chief instructors for the weapon in the United 

States. Krabbenhoft also joined a newly developed 

Air Defense Artillery unit in Grand Forks, ND. 

"I was the third enlisted person to join and the 

lowest-ranked. It was ground floor of something 

unique and different. I was there for the opportunity 

and adventure," said Krabbenhoft. "It was an 

incredible thing at the time to get in on a fairly new, 

proven weapon system." 


Krabbenhoft's unit provided air defense for 

the 6th Infantry Division in Alaska, affording 

him many trips north. With each trip, 

Krabbenhoft's exposure to danger elevated. 

First, he and another military member 

became stranded in a shack for several 

days while protecting air missiles due to 

dangerous ice fog. Ice fog occurs when the 

temperature is so cold that condensation is 

pulled out of the ground resulting in small 

ice crystals suspended in the air. The pair 

rifled through the garbage looking for Meal, 

Ready-To-Eat (MRE) scraps during the day 

while the wolves sifted through it at night 

until the ice fog cleared up. 

Another time included enduring a 14-hour 

bus ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks where 

the external temperature was -50 F and the 

temperature on the bus was -30 F. While 

the heat was on inside the bus, the heating 

system simply could not compete. On 

another occasion, a tent fire erupted due to 

a combination of Yukon Stoves fired up with 

gas and highly flammable old canvas tents. 

Most notable for Krabbenhoft was a helicopter 

crash in 1992 due to a hydraulic actuator failure. 

"Everything you do there is completely 

different. You need to eat more calories 

because your body generates so many 

more calories to keep warm in an 

arctic environment. We were given an 

extra 2500 calories a day. It was brutal 

to do that for extended periods," said 

Krabbenhoft. 

Most notable for Krabbenhoft was 

a helicopter crash in 1992 due to a 

hydraulic actuator failure. His mission 

in Alaska concluded and he was looking 

for a ride back to Anchorage, 160 miles 

away. When he had the unexpected 

opportunity to tag along on a flight to 

Anchorage on a Boeing CH-47 Chinook, 

he graciously moved forward with it. 

"All of a sudden, it started to rotate really 

slowly. I looked behind and the guy 

behind me hit the floor. I reached up and 



The only thought 

I had was I was going 

to get sucked out of 

the helicopter. I was 

completely sold on the 

idea that I was doomed. 

grabbed a nylon harness; I was not strapped 

into the helicopter," said Krabbenhoft. "I 

was thrown forward a couple of feet and hit 

a door lined up with a firewall closet where 

it's open on the bottom. It was absolutely 

terrifying; I could feel the wind rushing and 

the helicopter beneath me. It sounded like 

I was in the middle of 20 trains. The only 

thought I had was I was going to get sucked 

out of the helicopter. I was completely sold 

on the idea that I was doomed." 

Of the 19 individuals on the helicopter, all 

survived, but sustained injuries ranging 

from mild to serious. Krabbenhoft didn't 

realize how bad his injuries were until 

several weeks later when issues with his 

legs and spine showed up. He was unable to 

do the things he loved to do in Infantry and 

transferred to the Air Guard to serve in a 

Logistics role. Despite the fact that none of 

his leadership education credits transferred 

and the sense of loss for losing the combat 

aspect of his work, Krabbenhoft enjoyed the 

brotherhood of his new unit. 

Serving Post 9/11 

Following the events of 9/11 in 2001, 

Krabbenhoft took a full-time job at the 

Air Guard, managing weapons and war 

readiness materials. "Like most people, my 

life was forever changed when the second 

plane hit. I realized things were never 

going to be the way they had been," said 

Krabbenhoft. 

It was absolutely terrifying; 

I could feel the wind rushing and the 

helicopter beneath me. It sounded like 

I was in the middle of 20 trains. 


In 2009, he was deployed to the Middle 

East. Although Krabbenhoft's deployment 

was intended to last six months, a lifethreatening 

infection cut his time short in 

the most poignant experience of his life. He 

was given a verdict of less than 24 hours to 

live in a location where advanced medical 

care was not available. Krabbenhoft had the 

option of either being sent in his uniform 

to a high-risk area known for American 

kidnappings or to take his chances at the 

base. He chose to try his luck on base where 

doctors promised to give him all the knockout 

punches they had.

With no way of diagnosing the infection, 

Krabbenhoft was hooked up to multiple 

IVs where several dozen bags of antibiotics 

were dispersed over several days. Those 

medications, although ultimately saving his 

life, left him with major long-term effects 

including serious hip, back, shoulder, and 

neck issues. 

Impact of Serving 

A few months after Krabbenhoft was sent 

home, he found himself prescribed and 

sometimes taking over 20 pills a day to 

manage the debilitating pain throughout 

his body. He gained 100 lbs, was diagnosed 

with heart disease and diabetes, and 

experienced intense anxiety. 

"It felt like watching yourself from the 

outside. I didn't believe in anxiety before 

that happened to me. Now, I was having 

trouble leaving the house which was mindboggling 

for me. I kept taking those pills and 

it got so out of hand it was unbelievable," 

said Krabbenhoft. "Within a two-week time 

frame, I found out I was getting kicked out 

of the military, losing my job, and getting 

a divorce. It felt like I was in an unfaithful 

world. When you're taking that many pills, it 

distorts your reality." 

It felt like I was in 

an unfaithful world. 

When you're taking that 

many pills, it distorts 

your reality." 

Krabbenhoft struggled for three years with 

his new reality of pills, distorted reality, and 

lost relationships. "When I came back, I 

was salvageable, but I didn't have anybody 

reach out to me from my unit or help me 

through," said Krabbenhoft. "Therefore, 

it was easier to discard me than salvage 

me. My situational awareness has always 

been above average, so it was easy for me 

to know something was wrong, but it wasn't 

being fixed. My kids lost their dad." 

Turning a Corner 

Today, Krabbenhoft's life looks vastly 

different and part of that is due to his 

motivation to learn how to ride a motorcycle. 

To do so, he knew he needed to lose 

weight, reduce the number of pills he was 

prescribed, and do a lot of physical therapy. 

Krabbenhoft hired a personal trainer, 



began a workout program, and tried various alternative pain 

relief methods including chiropractic care, massage, and dry 

needling. Over four years, he lost a substantial amount of weight 

to walk away pill-free with the exception of over-the-counter pain 

medication like ibuprofen. Krabbenhoft credits much of this to his 

girlfriend, Shannon, an orthopedic nurse for many years. 

"Shannon enlightened me to alternative pain relief which has been 

a huge blessing. Her guidance has been immeasurable to me; I am 

pretty much indebted to her," said Krabbenhoft. 

Current Life 

Currently, Krabbenhoft works as a realtor referral agent for 

Coldwell Banker-Element and serves as Director of the FM 

Legion Riders, an organization of motorcycle enthusiasts who 

are dedicated to supporting veterans and children's charities. 

Krabbenhoft is passionate about his work with the group and their 

biggest event held in the winter. Every February, the group spends 

the night in a tent, outside the Moorhead American Legion to 

bring awareness to veteran suicide prevention and homelessness. 

He is also abundantly grateful for his children, striving to build 


ack was lost when he first returned from the Middle 

East. "I have a couple of wonderful daughters who 

are very creative culinary and musically. I also have 

a 15-year-old boy who is very physically fit and 

athletically oriented. He's a talented football player 

and wrestler. Their lives got affected as well with 

everything that happened—losing them was hardest" 

said Krabbenhoft. 

The Good Life 

For Krabbenhoft, the good life is one filled with 

meaning and balance. "Being around for tomorrow 

and being able to make a positive difference. It's even 

better when you can do that with a good group of 

people. Also, a motorcycle ride on a hot day with a 

cold beer waiting at the end," said Krabbenhoft. • 

Being around for tomorrow 

and being able to make a 

positive difference. It's even 

better when you can do that 

with a good group of people. 

Also, a motorcycle ride on 

a hot day with a cold beer 

waiting at the end.

The Good Life – November-December 2021

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