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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP1BEK Communications Cooperative’s 72nd Annual Meeting was held on June 13 at the Kidder County School in Steele, ND. “Hometown Roots, Creating Connections” was this year’s theme. The meeting was broadcast live statewide by BEK TV.A beef supper was served by Karri Stroh prior to President Brett Stroh calling the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Pastor Jacob DeBoer of Trinity Lutheran Church in Steele and Dawson Lutheran Church. James K. McAleer, Amvets Post 20, of Steele, presented the flags, and Stacey Svanes, of Kintyre, sang the National Anthem.The meeting began with a warm welcome to members in attendance both in person and via BEK TV. A special welcome was extended to members of BEK’s newest District V. Next, the board recognized Director Gerald Burlack for his years of service. Burlack, from Wishek, served 12 years as Director of District IV before announcing his retirement earlier this year.The meeting continued with the “2023 Year in Review” video, Auditor’s Report from Chris Skidmore of Moss Adams, annual report from BEK Chief Executive Ocer Derrick Bulawa, and election of directors in District II, District V East, and District V West.Continued on page 3...BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE JULY 2024GET MORE WITH BEK FIBERUltimate Internet ConnectivityPAGE 2FOUR THE WINVote BEK TV for a Fourth YearPAGE 5FFA INSPIRATIONLocal Student Receives Presidential HonorPAGE 4888.475.2361bek.coopBEK Hosts 72nd Annual Meeting“Hometown Roots, Creating Connections” – Meeting Highlights
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP2Recently, many of you have been asking about the dierences between fiber internet and 5G home internet. In this ever-changing world of technology, it can be dicult to understand how everything works. My hope is that I can provide you with a clear explanation of how BEK Fiber works and why we’re proud to deliver the best in internet technology.To begin, fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables that are buried underground to deliver a reliable, protected, and high-speed internet connection. In contrast, 5G home internet relies on cellular company towers to provide internet over a wireless connection. This signal passes through the air unprotected, allowing anyone to receive it without your knowledge.A major aspect of BEK Fiber internet that sets us apart from 5G providers is our obligation to meet specific service standards. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that we deliver consistent and reliable service to all our customers. To ensure compliance with the FCC, we are audited four times a year. Unlike BEK Fiber internet, 5G wireless customers share the same cellular towers and frequencies, leading to network congestion and restricted usage to accommodate internet sharing with multiple users. This is explicitly stated in their Terms and Conditions. As a result, their service level experience is often unreliable and unpredictable.Here are some more benefits of fiber internet:• Fiber technology has been around much longer than 5G and has continuously been refined to meet the growing demands of internet users. It is simply the very best internet service.• Fiber oers the fastest speeds available, providing you with a reliable and seamless online experience. In fact, BEK Fiber is so good it’s what the 5G towers use to connect to the internet.• Your connection is never shared with BEK Fiber. The internet service comes directly from our oce to your home, ensuring a private, consistent, and dependable connection.• Fiber users will not experience interruptions due to weather conditions because fiber lines are buried underground.• BEK Fiber includes excellent customer service from local professionals. If you encounter a service issue, we can quickly dispatch a technician to your home or business. 5G providers do not have any field technicians who can come to your home and resolve issues. With 5G, you need to either reach out to a call center or visit one of their stores if you need help.Thank you for choosing BEK as your fiber internet provider. We are proud to oer you the best internet technology available and are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of service.DERRICK BULAWA Chief Executive Ocer Understanding the Dierence Between Fiber and 5GBEK Fiber: Your Best Option for Reliable Internet ServiceFROM THE CEO
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP3The BEK Beacon is a bimonthly newsletter published by BEK Communications, © 2024. 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 72 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 IVSec./Treas. William (Bill) BeckerWishekDISTRICT V EASTEdwin (Ed) EversonHannafordDISTRICT V WESTCharlie DunbarBaldwinMAY 2024BEK Hosts 72nd Annual Meeting Continued...New BEK Terms and ConditionsResale of Services ProhibitedElection ResultsNew this year, BEK entrusted a third party, Survey and Ballot Systems, with the task of managing the election process. Members voted to re-elect Brett Stroh, of Tappen, to District II. They also elected the first directors of District V: Edwin Everson, of Hannaford, to District V East and Charlie Dunbar, of Baldwin, to District V West. After elections, President Brett Stroh asked for old business, of which there was none. He then asked for new business, of which there was none. The meeting was then adjourned.At the reorganization meeting immediately following the annual membership meeting, the Board of Directors re-elected Brett Stroh to serve as President, Kevin Bernhardt to serve as Vice President, and Bill Becker to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.The BEK Terms and Conditions have been updated to include section 17(k), prohibiting the resale of BEK services without a separate agreement giving consent to terms of resale. The addition reads as follows:17(k) Service Account Sharing or Resale of Services: Customer will not share, resell, or distribute the Services obtained from BEK to others not authorized by BEK to use those Services. Each account is limited to a single household or business. The resale of BEK’s Services is strictly prohibited unless authorized under a separate agreement establishing terms and conditions satisfactory to BEK for the resale of its Services.To read the full BEK Terms and Conditions document, visit bek.coop.Back L to R: Shane Morris, Holly Will, Ed Everson, Sanford Williams, Bill BeckerFront L to R: Bob Subart, Brett Stroh, Kevin BernhardtNot Pictured: Charlie Dunbar
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP4Agard, Scyra 760-5044 Valley CityEl Valle Taco Shop 490-3460 Valley CityFormo, Dianna 490-3744 Valley CityJanke, Margaret 475-2623 SteeleJohnson, Allan & Arlene 663-5042 MandanKartes, Cortney 475-4445 SteeleKartes, Jorey 475-4409 SteeleNilsen, Roger 490-3243 HannafordNitas Attic 475-4948 SteeleOld 10 Saloon And Grille Llc 633-5317 Bualo CityPine Country Nursery 845-5550 Valley CityRay, Richard & Betsy 204-7935 BismarckSeidler, Bruce 490-3164 Valley CityUnison Bank 254-4453 LintonWolfer, Donnie 254-4892 LintonNEW PHONE LISTINGSNAME PHONE CITY Teagan Erbele, a recent graduate of Napoleon High School, has received the Presidential Scholar Award, one of the highest academic honors for high school students in the nation!The White House selects students from each state to receive the award based on academics, with an additional selection of students in Performing Arts and Career and Technical Education. Erbele, who grew up in Lehr on her family’s cattle farm, TNT Simmenals, was nominated by her FFA teacher. Known for her dedication to agriculture, Erbele credits FFA for much of her success. “FFA embodies everything that I love,” says Erbele. “It’s not only centralized on agriculture education, it also teaches leadership skills and public speaking, and it allows students to compete as a team and individually.”Despite the daunting application process, involving a detailed 16-hour packet from the White House, Erbele successfully secured the award. She is one of only 161 recipients nationwide and the first from her school to achieve this distinction. Just last month at the North Dakota FFA Association state convention, Erbele also was selected as State Secretary.Erbele plans to attend NDSU, majoring in Agricultural Education and Animal Science. As the state’s fourth all-time leading rebounder, Erbele was a five-year Varsity basketball starter for Napoleon. She says she was tasked with the dicult decision to choose between FFA and basketball on a college level. And despite the fact that she had several oers to play ball, she chose to pursue FFA. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order to recognize the most distinguished graduating seniors and their accomplishments. All Presidential Scholars were invited to receive their award in Washington, D.C. in June, sponsored by The White House.Napoleon Student Achieves Presidential Scholar HonorCredits FFA for Her Success
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP5Applications are now being accepted for two significant grant opportunities aimed at fostering growth and development in rural communities. The Foundation for Rural Services Program (FRS) oers funding across several key areas including economic development and education, specifically for communities associated with NTCA members like BEK Communications. Additionally, the Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) provides financial support to community-owned entities and non-profit projects within the BEK network. These grants represent a vital resource for enhancing community services and infrastructure. For more information, or to apply, visit www.bek.coop/coop/grants.Empowering Rural Communities Through GrantsApplications Now AcceptedBEK TV has been nominated again as ‘Best Local TV Station’ in the Bismarck Tribune’s annual Best of the Best contest! We’re thrilled to be recognized, but we still need your support to win for a fourth year in a row! If you enjoy our sports and news programming, please vote for us!Voting starts on July 10 and ends on July 31. You can vote for BEK TV twice every day, once by text and once online. It’s easy to vote—do it online, by text, or just scan the QR code. Let’s keep BEK TV at the top. Cast your vote daily and help us win this prestigious title again!Help Crown BEK TV as ‘Best Local TV Station’bek.tv2024Vote BEK TVBest Local TV StationVote Twice Dailyby texting 983 to 701-353-2709 and online by scanning the QR code or visiting bek.tv
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP6BEK is proud to have been a sponsor of the Wilton Archery Team at the US Western National Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah, in April. The annual competition is organized by the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). The team, with athletes from grades 4-12, competed in both the Bullseye and 3D Targets categories. Here’s how they placed: • Elementary Group 24th out of 100+ • Middle School Student 26th out of 374 • High School Student 58th out of 378Three qualifying students also competed in the NASP Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, which took place in early June. They are Caiden Cleveland (10th Grade), Stella Rust (8th Grade), and Ellie Rust (6th Grade).Preparation for this level of competition begins months in advance, with the team practicing diligently twice a week starting in December. Throughout the season, athletes participate in state-level contests, building their skills. “It’s really hard to ask them to travel so many miles to compete in front of thousands of people,” says Coach Emily Risty. “They really need to be disciplined and focused, and that’s what we work on throughout the year.”Risty also credits the community for their generous support in helping them to participate in the national tournament.As the Wilton Archery Team continues to make strides in the sport, their success at the national level not only highlights their individual talents but also underscores the power of community support and the impact of committed coaching.Wilton Archery Teams ‘Hit the Mark’ at National TournamentYouth Archers Excel in Competition
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP7Runza Casserole SUBMITTED BY: LINDA KAPP FROM TAPPEN, NDINGREDIENTS:2 lb. hamburger1 chopped onion4 c. chopped cabbage2 pkgs. crescent rolls1 lb. shredded cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)salt and peper to tasteSubmit a recipe to Dakota Table. If we publish your recipe, we will mail you some kitchen goodies!DIRECTIONS:1. Preheat oven to 350˚. Spread 1 tube of crescent roll dough in a 9x13 pan and bake for 7 minutes or until golden.2. Brown hamburger with onions and salt and pepper. Drain grease and add shredded cabbage. Cook until cabbage is soft. 3. Let hamburger cool before adding shredded cheese. Mix well and pour on top of baked dough.4. Top mixture with the second tube of crescent roll dough. Bake for 35-45 minutes. Cover the last 10-15 minutes with foil to soften the crust and prevent burning.Optional tip: Instead of mixing in the cheese, sprinkle on top of meat mixture before adding second crust.Submit your favorite recipe to Dakota Table by mailing it to: PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482 or email bekcomm@bektel.coopRecipes will be randomly drawn for a chance to be published in the Beacon.Participants only have the opportunity to win once.
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP8BEK TV Hosts Shine in Best of the Best ContestBEK TV is excited to announce that six of our hosts have been nominated for the Best TV Personality in the Bismarck Tribune’s Best of the Best annual contest. Congratulations to the “Ladies of Another View” hosts—April Lund, Heidi Ripplinger, Jan Wangler, and Mary Graner—as well as Gary Emineth from “Open Range” and Special Reports and “Made Local” host Lori Hinz.Out of 15 personalities nominated in our market, Lori Hinz has made it to the voting phase as one of the top five with the most nominations.Congratulations to all of our hosts for your well-earned recognition from the viewers!Just o Highway 34, near Napoleon, ND, a unique sight awaits travelers. On the Grenz family property, a line of rusted threshing machines stands in single file, a formation known as the “Dinosaurs on the Prairie.” This unusual display of old farming equipment has become a landmark, drawing visitors from far and wide.The Grenz family is well-known in the area. John ‘Custer’ Grenz and his wife, Irene, once farmed in Napoleon before moving into town to open a grocery store and restaurant, Irene’s Cafe, on Main Avenue. Now, at 72 years old, their son Steve Grenz recalls how his father began collecting threshing machines four decades ago.“My father was a farmer who loved the communal aspect of harvesting,” Steve reminisces. “He enjoyed the big cookouts, and the way people came together to work.” Years after retiring from farming, Steve says his father started buying old threshing machines at farmstead sales, sometimes for as little as a dollar. Over time, Custer’s collection grew, much to the fascination of his family and neighbors.Steve and his brother, Harley, watched as their father’s passion for vintage items expanded. Custer had an eye for finding beauty and value in items that others discarded. His collection included everything from gopher traps and tobacco pouches to Piggly Wiggly grocery store signs and train sets. Each piece held a story, a fragment of history that Custer felt compelled to preserve.Ten years after his passing, the threshing machines still stand proudly on the Grenz property. “People from all over use Highway 34 just to see them,” Steve says. “They tell me they’re amazed by how futuristic Dad was. Nobody else would have collected old threshing machines like Dad did. Nobody else really appreciated them.”When asked about the future of the collection, Steve jokes, “I hope that the wind will blow them all over.” He says he hopes the tradition will continue through the next generation. Custer’s collection has transformed what many saw as junk into a treasured landmark. For the Grenz family and the visitors who pass by, these old threshing machines are more than just relics; they are a reminder that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.Dinosaurs on the PrairieA Treasure Trove of Threshing Machines
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP9Care Facility Purchases New Van with Help from BEK GrantJune 10, 2024:BEK District III Director Holly Will presents a check to Maren Gemar at SMP Health – St. Raphael in Valley City. With the grant dollars received through BEK’s Community Partnership Program, the long-term care facility will purchase a new wheelchair-accessible van to replace their current 2001 vehicle. The van will be used to transport patients to and from medical appointments outside the city. SMP Health – St. Raphael serves 170 residents of Valley City and Barnes County with 24-hour nursing care.NTCA Celebrates 70th Anniversary with Tribute to BEKBEK is a proud member of NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association. The relationship between the two dates back to 1955, the year the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) was established. BEK was NTCA’s very first member!NTCA is headquartered in Arlington, VA. Each of the building’s conference and meeting rooms is named after one of the eight rural telephone systems that were NTCA’s founding members. To celebrate their 70th anniversary, NTCA is unveiling artwork that represents each founding member’s service territory, starting with BEK!In this photo, two NTCA representatives stand in front of the artwork that represents BEK Communications Cooperative.Phonebooks Now AvailableMissouri Slope Telephone Directory Pickup LocationsMissouri Slope Telephone Directories have been distributed. If you are looking to get your hands on additional, free copies, you can find them at a variety of locations throughout the BEK service area. They are as follows: • Bismarck - BEK Communications • Braddock - Hager’s Bar • Hague - Hague Store • Hazelton - Bank of Hazelton • Linton - BNC National Bank of Linton • Napoleon - Stock Growers Bank • Pettibone - T&V Grocery • Robinson - First Security Bank - West • Steele - BEK Communications • Sterling - Tri Energy Cooperative (CENEX) • Strasburg - Strasburg State Bank • Tappen - Tappen Farm Supply • Valley City - BEK Communications • Wilton - City of Wilton – Auditor’s Oce/Union Bank • Wing - Farmers Union Oil (CENEX) • Wishek - Unison Bank • Zeeland - McIntosh County Bank
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP10It’s that exciting time again! BEK is gearing up to create its 2025 Community Calendar, and we’re on the lookout for striking photographs to feature for each month. If you have taken a photograph that you’re particularly proud of, this is your chance to showcase it in our calendar! We’re looking for photos that capture the essence of nature, farming, or the agricultural lifestyle, or anything quintessentially North Dakotan!Photo Entry Requirements: • Must be in color • High resolution • Taken in North DakotaPhotographer must be a recipient of any BEK service (internet, phone, security, or EPIC IPTV).Please submit no more than 10 photos. Remember to include your full name and the city you reside in with your submission.How to Submit Your Photos:Email: marketing@bektel.coopSubject Line: Calendar Photo Contest 2025Submission Deadline: September 1, 2024Please attach photos directly to the email. If storing photos in the cloud, ensure to download and attach them individually to your email.BEK 2025 Calendar ContestA Call to Amateur Photographers
BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP11CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSTrue Crime Storiesof the MidwestNOW ON BEK TVSUNDAYS AT9:00PM CTKNGF | FARGO • GRAND FORKSKNDB | BISMARCK • DICKINSONWatch LiveKNDM | MINOT • WILLISTONDownload & Streambek.newsCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS • CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS
BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE200 East Broadway, PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482ECRWSS LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER1What two grant programs are currently accepting applications?2In what year did BEK become the very first member of the NTCA?3TRIVIA ENTRYENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 15, 2024Name: ______________________________________________________________________Phone Number: ___________________________________________________________Town: _______________________________________________________________________Clip and send to BEK at:PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482 You also can email answers to bekcomm@bektel.coop We will be drawing for twenty $5.00 credits to be applied to the winners’ bill.CONGRATS! TO OUR BEACON MAY WINNERSBEACON TRIVIAJim Egeberg | Valley CityMarge Horner | NapoleonHolly Bender | HazeltonLloyd Hehr | WishekBryce Weber | LintonGloria Wolf | LintonMyron Weigel | ZeelandLisa Noel | LintonJames Fleck | MandanNancy Kainz | HopeTyler Getzla | DawsonEric & Janel Eckroth | BismarckDavid Gruman | FingalSharon Jangula | AliceKenneth Frownfelter | PettiboneLeah Bittner | LehrLarry D. Knecht | NapoleonMargaret Mittleider | TappenSimon Mack | PettiboneRosie Erhardt | MandanWhat does 5G rely on to provide internet service?