Thank you, friends, for watching and working for North Dakota Today. It was a sunny December day to talk about Jessica Salinas and Love in Action, my Nice Person of the Week, as well Marty the Elf and his partner, Deputy Steve Austin, my Nice Elf of the Week.

To learn more about Love in Action, click here. As I noted, they are looking for ground beef, men’s clothing of any size, and winter gear. Please contact them directly if you are able to help.

If you would like to follow Marty the Elf’s adventures, click here. I also wanted to share some of the background on Marty that Deputy Scott Austin shared with me:

-On His Work Ethic: His commitment is unparalleled. The guy works 24/7. I once found him at 3 AM trying to use a candy cane to hotwire my electric toothbrush for a ‘midnight patrol.’ His dedication is… concerning.

-On Inter-Departmental Relations: We have a good relationship with the North Pole, but logistics are tough. His required diet of glitter-infused milk and candy canes causes a real mess in the expense reports. Also, his requests for ‘reinforcements’ (more elves) during December get denied every year.

–On His Career Ambitions: He’s gunning for a promotion to ‘Commander-Lieutenant-Corporal First Class of Festive Cheer.’ He’s been practicing his authoritative ‘Ho-Ho-Ho’ in the mirror. It’s a work in progress.

Marty turns the everyday world into a place of playful wonder and a whimsical look on law enforcement. The best part is watching someone—whether a child or an adult—see their ordinary surroundings through Marty’s eyes. The kitchen becomes a patrol zone, a missing cookie becomes a high-stakes investigation, and toys and Christmas items become a party of the scene.

Finally – as I noted, I am holding a fundraiser for the Fire Hall Theatre in Grand Forks. The Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre has been absolutely amazing for my ten-year-old (click here for my Herald article, and click here and here for two of my other stories), and I’d love to help them ensure they can continue their programming for years to come.

Through January 2, 2026, if you make a donation of any amount to the Fire Hall Theatre, Kyle and I will write you a “Roses are Red” poem on the topic of your choosing. Here’s how you do it:

1. Make a donation by clicking here.
2. Let me know you made the donation through the contact page on this website or by messaging me on social media. Also include your poem topic choice and whether you’d prefer the poem hand-written or in a font (both options will be sent digitally).
3. Bask in the glow of supporting the arts.

I hope you enjoy this week’s North Dakota Today segment, which you can watch by clicking on the image below. Have a great week!