2023 December Beacon : simplebooklet.com

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP1In the heart of the new BEK District 5, an exciting opportunity is unfolding! BEK Communications Cooperative continues to extend a warm welcome to new members. The response has been overwhelming, with countless residents embracing this invitation! If you haven’t done so yet, we want to extend a heartfelt invitation to you, urging you to consider the numerous beneﬁts of joining our cooperative family.Upon becoming a member of BEK Communications Cooperative, you’ll not only receive a “Coop Strong” t-shirt as a token of our appreciation, you’ll also unlock a world of advantages that come with being a part of our community.One of the greatest beneﬁts of becoming part of the cooperative is having an equal vote to elect representatives to the Board of Directors, entrusting them to champion your voice in how our cooperative operates. Your input shapes our policies, services, and direction, ensuring that your needs and ideas are heard and acted upon. With that said, a Nomination Committee for District 5 has been established and will collaborate to generate a roster of potential candidates for the two District 5 positions of Director. Members will vote for the District 5 Director positions at the 2024 Annual Meeting in June.Another beneﬁt of being a member of the cooperative is access to several grant and scholarship opportunities. BEK believes in supporting its members’ educational aspirations and community projects. Our grants and scholarships empower our members to pursue their dreams and foster personal and community growth.At BEK Communications Cooperative, we operate on a non-proﬁt basis, returning the allocated margins back to the members in proportion to their usage of the cooperative’s qualifying services.BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE DECEMBER 2023FOOTBALL’S RETURNBismarck Bucks plan for 2025 indoor football season.PAGE 4LIFESAVING CAMERASGrant aids ﬁre crew in safety and response.PAGE 3DAKOTA TABLECHERRY CREAM DESSERT A cherry dessert you’re deﬁnitely going to want to try!PAGE 7888.475.2361bek.coopJoin A Thriving CommunityBEK Welcomes New District 5 MembersContinued on page 3...

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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP2DERRICK BULAWA Chief Executive Ocer A Year of Achievements: A Look Back on 2023A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Community ConnectionFROM THE CEOAs we approach the end of another year, I want to take a moment to reﬂect on the incredible journey we’ve had together in 2023. I am grateful to all members, customers, and employees for your commitment to BEK. You are the driving force behind our continued success. Without your support, none of our accomplishments would be possible, and for that, I am truly thankful.In the fast-paced world of telecommunications and broadcasting, it’s no small feat to have had yet another busy year. We began 2023 with the acquisition of KNGF, a television station in Grand Forks. BEK TV is now the only North Dakota-owned station with complete statewide coverage. BEK TV continues to produce more local content than any other station. This year alone, BEK TV unveiled four additional news programs, along with adding NDRA rodeo and RedHawks baseball to the sports schedule. We also launched the application, BEK TV+. Shortly after that, BEK TV won “Best Local Television Station” for a third consecutive year.BEK continues to provide leading-edge ﬁber broadband technology to rural areas. At the start of summer, BEK announced it had secured grant funding to extend ﬁber broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved residents in the Eastern part of our state. BEK was voted “Best Internet Provider” in Valley City, and the Technology Council of North Dakota recognized BEK as a “Premier Technology Business” for our consistent demonstration of outstanding performance, innovation, and community engagement.More recently, BEK announced the expansion of the cooperative membership area, giving more customers access to the beneﬁts of membership. As District 5 continues to welcome new members, a Nomination Committee has been selected to identify candidates for Director, and members will vote on two new Directors at the annual meeting.These accomplishments reﬂect the dedication and hard work of our incredible team at BEK Communications Cooperative. I am inspired by your commitment to providing outstanding service, innovation, and community engagement.As we move into the holiday season and look ahead to the new year, let us remember the importance of community, connection, and gratitude. I want to thank each one of you for being an integral part of our cooperative, and I am excited to see what the future holds for BEK in 2024.Weekdays at 7:00 AM CT on BEK TV

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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP3BEK Communications Cooperative and The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) have awarded the Napoleon Rural Fire Protection District $4,900 to assist with the purchase of specialized infrared cameras. The cameras will be worn by ﬁreﬁghters as a tool to aid in keeping ﬁreﬁghters safe and help them respond quicker when people are in danger.“These heat-sensing cameras will help us do things that our regular eyes cannot do,” says Roger Kristiansen, Training Ocer for the Napoleon Rural Fire Protection District, a ﬁre crew in Logan County that consists of all volunteers. “One of those things is to see through heavy smoke to help ﬁreﬁghters safely navigate through a burning structure.” Kristiansen says the cameras also are able to detect hot zones in a ﬁre that would be too dangerous for ﬁreﬁghters to enter. Likewise, they can assist in locating victims thrown from a vehicle accident, particularly in dicult to spot conditions, like the dark or snow, and they can be used to detect heat sources in ﬁre investigations, helping to prevent ﬁres from happening in the ﬁrst place.“Our goal as a cooperative is to help meet the current and future needs of the communities we serve,” says Bill Becker, BEK Board Director. “Together with the FRS, we will continue to work to support and empower the organizations that work tirelessly to enhance the lives of our members.”The FRS announces its grant recipients once a year to community organizations served by members of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, like BEK. This year, 23 separate community organizations received grant dollars, totaling more than $105,000. Napoleon Rural Fire Protection District was the only organization within the BEK service area to receive funds and only one of two in the state. BEK contributed 10% of the total award amount.To learn more about BEK Communications and its partnership with FRS, or to apply for a grant, visit bek.coop/coop/frs-grant-application. The FRS also provides several scholarship opportunities to high school senior members of the BEK Cooperative service area. Visit frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships to learn more and to apply.The BEK Beacon is a bimonthly newsletter published by BEK Communications, © 2023. It is distributed without charge to all customers.BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVEwas founded in 1952 as a local telecommunications cooperative serving Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder Counties. Since then, we’ve invested in state-of-the-art infrastructure, developed new products and services, and expanded to also serve Morton, Oliver, McLean, Logan, McIntosh, Barnes, Griggs, Cass, and Steele counties. BEK has changed quite a bit in 71 years, but we’re still a small-town cooperative at heart. This institution is an equal opportunity employer.BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE 888-475-2361P.O. Box 230 200 East BroadwaySteele, ND 58482220 4th Street NortheastValley City, ND 58072923 East Interstate AvenueBismarck, ND 58503BOARD OF DIRECTORSDISTRICT IShane MorrisReganSanford WilliamsWingDISTRICT IIBob SubartRobinsonPresident Brett StrohTappenDISTRICT IIIVice President Kevin BernhardtLintonHolly WillHazeltonDISTRICT IVSecretary/Treasurer William (Bill) BeckerWishekGerald BurlackWishekDECEMBER 2023Join A Thriving Community (cont...)Rural Fire Crew Receives National Grant from FRS and BEKIn today’s digitally-driven world, having reliable, high-speed internet is crucial. With BEK Communications Cooperative, you gain access to the best ﬁber internet available, ensuring you stay connected to what matters most in your life. The expansion of BEK Communications Cooperative into District 5 is not just about services; it’s about embracing a supportive community that cares about your well-being. We invite you to take the step to become a member and experience the countless beneﬁts of joining our BEK family. Your journey toward excellence, innovation, and community engagement begins with us. Join us today, and let’s shape a brighter future together!

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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP4Hancock, Steve 754-4129 NapoleonHoberg, Gordon O 754-4153 NapoleonJohnson, Tom 332-6359 KintyreMoran, Scott 223-1662 BaldwinRu, James 452-4523 LehrSutton Sports Bar & Grill 769-2575 SuttonYouth Sports Complex 490-3232 Valley CityNEW PHONE LISTINGSNAME PHONE CITY Bucks Gear Up for Return in 2025The Bismarck Bucks, an Indoor Football League (IFL) team owned by the BEK Sports Network, has revealed that the team will not be active for the 2024 season. However, as we look ahead to the 2025 season, the team, in collaboration with Scheels Arena in Fargo, is set to bring the action of an IFL game to Fargo on Saturday, April 27, 2024. This event marks a groundbreaking moment as the ﬁrst “Fargo IFL Gridiron Classic,” featuring the Sioux Falls Storm and the Massachusetts Pirates.Meanwhile, the Bucks are currently in discussions with the RoughRider Center in Watford City, exploring the possibility of hosting the 2025 pre-season training camp and one regular season home game. Additionally, talks are ongoing with Scheels Arena in Fargo and the Bismarck Event Center, both of which are potential venues for future home games. Bismarck has been the proud home of the Bucks since the team’s inception in 2017.BEK is making the commitment to ensuring that the Bucks remain a valuable asset to North Dakota communities. Bucks games always provide family-friendly entertainment as the only professional football franchise in the state.Local weather at your ﬁngertips 24/7!Download Today!• Live Radar• 10-Day Forecast• Personalized Weather InSight™• Severe Weather AlertsThe BEK Weather app provides real-time weather. View the 10-day forecast, including precipitation, humidity and wind speeds.

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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP6What is the name of the only professional football team in North Dakota?123TRIVIA ENTRYENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 5, 2024Name: ______________________________________________________________________Phone Number: ___________________________________________________________Town: _______________________________________________________________________Clip and send to BEK at:PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482 You also can email answers to bekcomm@bektel.com. We will be drawing for twenty $5.00 credits to be applied to the winners’ bill.What will Napoleon Rural Fire Dept. purchase with the FRS grant dollars they received?CONGRATS! TO OUR BEACON NOVEMBER WINNERSBEACON TRIVIAKaren Martineson | BismarckVicki Grin | MandanEleanor Magrum | BraddockDonald Fanta | TappenShirley Brusven | SteeleEric Wilson | SterlingDennis Weber | LintonHeidi Kalberer | HazeltonDanika Owen | BaldwinLaRae Madsen | EmbdenEmma Berg | WiltonScott Ulmer | Valley CityMarie Leadbetter | Valley CityJames Fleck | MandanLarry Bjerke | AyrPeggy Bettenhausen | WishekJodi Combs | BualoDanielle Sayler | SteeleJan Thoreson | FingalAlbert Sayler | WishekWhat new BEK TV show is airing at 7:00AM CT?

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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP7DIRECTIONS:1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the butter, sugar, ﬂour and coconut. Mix well.2. Pat into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.3. Combine the pudding mix with the milk and mix until thick. Spread on cooled crust.4. Spread the cherry pie ﬁlling over the pudding.5. In a seperate bowl, fold the marshmallows in with the Cool Whip. Spread over the pie ﬁlling.6. Sprinkle nuts over the top. Keep refrigerated.Cherry Cream DessertSUBMITTED BY: ELEANOR MAGRUM FROM BRADDOCK, NDINGREDIENTS:½ c. butter softened¼ c. sugar1 c. flour1 c. coconut3.4 oz box instant coconut pudding2 c. milk21 oz can cherry pie filling2 c. Cool Whip1 c. mini marshmallows1 c. chopped walnutsSubmit your favorite recipe to Dakota Table by mailing it to: PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482 or email marketing@bektel.comRecipes will be randomly drawn for a chance to be published in the Beacon.Submit a recipe to Dakota Table. If we publish your recipe, we will mail you some kitchen goodies!

2023 December Beacon