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STORIES FROM OUR HEROES

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. – Growing up in the foothills of North Carolina, I developed a love of fishing from an early age. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of days spent out on Lake Wylie with my dad and uncle reeling largemouth bass, catfish and crappie into our boat. For those who have never visited the Tar Heel State – whether you’re in the Appalachian mountains, on the coastline of the Outer Banks or somewhere in between, there’s always a body of water close by to cast your line into.
When I received orders to Minot AFB two years ago, I began researching things I could do to make the most of my time stationed here. To my delight, I read that North Dakota boasts some of the finest fishing in the continental United States; and soon discovered that to be the case.
During my time in Minot, I’ve enjoyed many weekends on Lake Darling and Lake Sakakawea catching northern pike, walleye and the occasional bullhead catfish. But there comes a time every year where all of the lakes are frozen over; not good if you’re a fisherman – or so I thought.
Recently, I heard about a resort on Devils Lake, N.D. that offers the unique experience of ice fishing; something I had heard of people doing up here in the Midwest, but it seemed very foreign to me.
In North Carolina, if you were to mention the idea of going out onto a frozen lake and ice fishing you’re likely to catch a funny look or two; but as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I decided to seize the opportunity.
I was joined by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum, 5th Bomb Wing public affairs specialist, who has been fishing occasionally, but considers herself more of a journeyman at the sport.
“I’ve been fishing from time to time over the years,” said Ransum. “I know how to tie a hook on, but I certainly wouldn’t consider myself an expert.”
Upon arriving at the resort, we were greeted by Landen Blanchfield, Devils Lake ice fishing guide, who provided us with some gear and told us to follow him in our vehicle out onto the ice.
As we left the familiar asphalt roadway and our tires began crunching over the ice, I began to nervously roll my window down.
“We may need to make a quick escape,” I joked to Ransum with a smile.
Soon enough, we arrived at our home for the day – a small shack on the ice, known as an ice house. It was comfortably warm inside and there were holes drilled through the floor and ice, ready for fishing. With rods in hand, we dropped our lines into the frigid water hoping for a bite from whatever lurked beneath.

“You want to drop your line about a foot above the bottom of the lake bed and gently move it up and down to attract the fish,” Blanchfield instructed, gesturing to the fishing sonar, a gadget that let us see the precise depth of our lines.
Curious, I asked Blanchfield what types of fish people commonly catch while ice fishing on Devils Lake. He explained that the lake is famously known as the ‘Perch Capital of North America’, and that yellow perch are mainly what ice anglers target there; but it’s also home to walleye and northern pike.
Over the following hours, we repeatedly brought our lines up to the surface empty-handed with our bait stolen. Unfortunately, on this day, the fish had won.
“Man, I really hoped we were going to catch something,” said Ransum.
“That’s why they call it fishing, not catching,” I grinned.
I couldn’t help but imagine a school of yellow perch just below the ice, gleefully celebrating the feast we were providing for them as they gracefully evaded our hooks time and time again.
“Ice fishing is really hit or miss,” explained Blanchfield. “It all depends where the fish are located on the lake that particular day and if your ice house is in the right spot.”
Deciding to call it a day, Ransum, Landen Blanchfield and I packed up our gear and headed back to the resort. There, I got the chance to speak with Kyle Blanchfield, the owner of the resort and Landen’s father.
“Once you get bitten by the ice fishing bug, for a lot of people, it becomes a passion,” said Kyle Blanchfield. “Every winter, there are people from all over the Midwest who drive 12-plus hours to come here and go ice fishing.”
Something I commonly hear about Minot from fellow Airmen is that there’s not much to do in the winter. For anyone who feels that way, I encourage them to give ice fishing a try.
“I’m sure if you’re from a warmer area and you’re stationed up here, during the winter, you might be wondering ‘what can I do’,” said Kyle Blanchfield. “I always tell people to embrace it because you’ve gotta find stuff to do outside; you can’t be stuck in the house all winter.”
I found myself reflecting on something Landen Blanchfield had shared with us earlier that day. He said ice fishing is more of a social experience; an opportunity for people to come together, spend time with each other, and connect – and he’s right.
Throughout our time in the ice house that day, Blanchfield, Ransum and I shared stories, laughs and a sense of camaraderie; and I can definitely say I got to know both of them better through it all.
While we didn’t catch anything, I still really enjoyed the experience and thanked the Blanchfields for the opportunity. It was a one-of-a-kind experience that I probably wouldn’t have had if not for being stationed in Minot, and I would love to try it again sometime. Even though the fish claimed victory that day, the battle is far from over – they won’t have the last laugh. I’ll be back.
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Trump Takes Multiple Questions From Reporters During Oval Office Meeting With NATO Sec-Gen

Washington, D.C. – March 13, 2025 – In a dynamic display of transparency and leadership, President Donald Trump welcomed reporters into the Oval Office today for an open question-and-answer session during a high-profile meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The event, which took place just after 1:00 PM CDT, underscored Trump’s commitment to direct communication with the press and the American public, while reinforcing the United States’ pivotal role within the NATO alliance.
Reporters seized the opportunity to probe Trump on a variety of issues, and he responded with his characteristic blend of humor, decisiveness, and optimism. When asked about NATO’s role in countering emerging threats, Trump highlighted the alliance’s adaptability. “NATO’s tougher than ever—believe me, nobody thought it could be this strong,” he said. “We’re keeping the world safe, and we’re doing it together. That’s what matters.” His remarks drew nods of agreement from Rutte, who later told reporters outside the White House that Trump’s leadership has been “instrumental” in fortifying NATO’s resolve.
The president also addressed domestic concerns, offering an upbeat take on the U.S. economy and his administration’s agenda. “We’re bringing jobs back, we’re cutting taxes, and we’re making America the best place to live and work—nobody does it better,” Trump declared in response to a question about economic policy. His infectious enthusiasm seemed to energize the room, with several reporters smiling as they scribbled notes.


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Osage Beach Police Report Busy Week with Multiple Arrests and Incidents March 10, 2025 – Osage Beach, MO

The City of Osage Beach Police Department released its weekly summary for March 3-9, 2025, detailing a range of incidents and arrests in the community. According to Administrative Lieutenant Michael O’Day, the department handled a total of 77 traffic stops, 56 fire-related calls, and 49 building or area checks, among other activities, during the week.
The report highlights several arrests made over the period, reflecting the department’s efforts to address crime in the area. On March 5, Richard K. Underwood, a 33-year-old Osage Beach resident, was arrested on a Camden County warrant for third-degree domestic assault. The following day, March 6, saw multiple arrests, including Sean A. Skaggs, 35, of Dixon, Missouri, taken into custody on a Morgan County warrant for failure to appear on a traffic offense, and Gerald D. Davenport, 47, of Shawnee, Kansas, arrested on a Saline County warrant for driving while suspended or revoked.
Also on March 6, two Osage Beach residents were arrested on drug-related charges. Bennie J. Jett, 48, faced charges of possession of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs, receiving stolen property, and a Camden County warrant for violating a court order. Michael P. Stewart, 58, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs. On March 7, Teresa M. Whittle, 54, of Osage Beach, was arrested for stealing and possession of a controlled substance.
In addition to arrests, the department responded to a variety of calls, including 24 ambulance requests, 18 alarms, eight traffic hazards, and five reports of suspicious activity. Other notable incidents included four accidents, three disturbances, and one fraud case.
Lieutenant O’Day emphasized the department’s commitment to public safety and encouraged residents to stay informed by signing up for city alerts at www.osagebeach.org under the “Notify Me Sign Up” section.
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Firefly’s Blue Ghost Spacecraft Begins Journey to Moon, Supported by Rocket Lab Software and Components

Long Beach, Calif. January 23, 2025 – Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, celebrates the successful launch of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 on January 15. Rocket Lab is supporting Blue Ghost’s 45-day journey to the Moon with the Company’s MAX Flight and MAX Ground Data Software suites.
Rocket Lab also provided three high-efficiency photovoltaic assemblies, comprising our interconnected space-grade solar cells, mounted on the lander’s sides and top deck, providing 400 W of power over 1,470 operational hours to support the lander during its journey to the lunar surface.
During the Blue Ghost mission, the Rocket Lab team will also support Firefly’s execution of multiple burns and management of orbit determination and attitude control throughout the cruise and landing phases of the mission.
Firefly’s Blue Ghost mission is advancing lunar science and exploration by delivering state-of-the-art instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
“Congratulations to the Firefly team on the start of Blue Ghost’s lunar journey. We’re immensely proud to support the team and enable an ambitious lunar mission with our flight-proven components and software,” said Rocket Lab’s Vice President, Business Development & Strategy, Space Systems, Richard French. “The new era of commercial lunar exploration is underway, and we’re excited to be part of making it possible.”
Encapsulated and ready for launch. The QPS-SAR-9 satellite for
@QPS_Inc has been attached to Electron and is now safely housed inside the rocket’s nosecone. Four days to the opening of the launch window for ‘The Lightning God Reigns’ on March 10th UTC. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/
Mission Overview
“The Lightning God Reigns” will launch from Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on March 10th UTC.

The mission will launch a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite to a 575km circular Earth orbit for iQPS called QPS-SAR-9 (nicknamed “SUSANOO-I”). The spacecraft will join iQPS’ growing Earth-imaging constellation that delivers high-resolution monitoring from specific locations every 10 minutes.
‘The Lightning God Reigns’ is the first of eight upcoming launches for iQPS across 2025 and 2026 to build out iQPS‘s constellation, and follows the Company’s earlier successful mission for iQPS launched in December 2023. Each upcoming mission includes a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband, used to separate and deploy the satellite from Electron once in space.
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