NORTHWOOD, N.D. - Verizon Wireless has agreed to keep the emergency cell phone tower in Northwood that was set up after the Aug. 26 tornado cut off power lines, Rep. Earl Pomeroy announced Tuesday.
Pomeroy, D-N.D., said he contacted the wireless service company after he heard that the temporary tower was scheduled to be removed.
Pomeroy said he would work with Verizon officials "to devise a permanent solution to the lack of reliable cell phone service in the Northwood area."
Most land-line phone service in Northwood has returned to normal, according to Northwood emergency officials, but people whose homes and businesses were destroyed still need their cell phones to make calls.
Free race night
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River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks will hold a free race night for Northwood residents Friday. Residents need to present identification at the gate to receive a free ticket.
This past Friday, race car drivers passed their helmets throughout the grandstands to raise money for the Northwood Relief Fund. A total of $3,280 was raised, and River Cities Speedway matched that. A check will be presented Friday.
For more information please visit www.rivercitiesspeedway.com .
J.R. Simplot
donates $3,000
Employees at the J. R. Simplot Co. in Grand Forks raised $1,540 for Northwood during a lunch last week. With a company match, a total of $3,080 will be donated to Northwood. Employees also collected food items for Northwood residents.
Hospital gets grant
Northwood Deaconess Health Center, Northwood, N.D., has received a grant in the amount of $10,000 from Dakota Medical Foundation to support tree replacement and additional carpets to match those that were damaged in the tornado.
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Volunteer center
changes hours
The Volunteer Service Center, which coordinates volunteer help for Northwood, has changed its hours of operation.
The new hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Volunteers are urged to call the center before coming to Northwood so work projects can be coordinated. The center is located in a motor home at the McVille Bank next to the Northwood Co-op Oil on state Highway 15.
To reach the volunteer center, call (605) 431-8921 or (605) 431-8922.
Northwood
on the Web
A Web site has been launched with information for residents of Northwood and other people looking for information about how to help the city recover from Sunday's tornado.
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The Web site can be found at www.helpnorthwood.com .
Send tornado-related announcements to:gfhcity@gfherald.com or fax (701) 780-1123.
