Life slowly returns to normal in Grand Forks
By Paul Sloca
Associated Press
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Two weeks after floods and fires ravaged this city of 50,000, there are signs that life is slowly returning to normal.

The citywide curfew has been lifted and services such as running water and cable television are making a gradual comeback. In other parts of the city, dikes are being removed and traffic volume is on the rise.

Mayor Pat Owens said her visit over the weekend to a local restaurant proved to her that the city is recovering.

"Seeing people back again and talking about rebuilding, it kind of brought back that comradery within the community," she said. "It’s good to see our community come alive again."

Further evidence of a return to normalcy came Sunday morning when Roman Catholic parishioners gathered for mass at a local motel.

The Rev. Gerard Braun of the St. Thomas Aquinas Center greeted people as they made their way into the makeshift church.

"It’s not quite normalcy, but people are coming back to pitch in and begin to do the hard work of cleanup. That much is normal in one sense," Braun said. "It certainly is providing them with hope."

City Engineer Ken Vein said officials expected about 75 percent of the city’s homes to have water by today, though the water is still unsafe to drink unless boiled.

The Army Corps of Engineers said a $600,000 contract has been awarded to an Alabama company to remove dikes and pick up contaminated materials.

Meanwhile, U S West officials plan to restore phone service to an estimated 7,000 customers by June 2.

Two residents busy getting their lives back together are Tom and Margaret Zidon, who attended mass Sunday.

The couple agreed that life appears to be slowly returning to pre-flood conditions. But they are worried some people may be rushing to make things normal again.

"I’m tending to drag my feet a little bit, trying to make sure things are being done right as opposed to just getting back to normal in as little time you can," said Tom Zidon, 51. "Some people are stressed because of it. We see some people are not themselves just because things have been disrupted."

The Grand Forks Herald newspaper, whose offices were ruined by a downtown fire that damaged or destroyed 11 buildings, is also showing signs of recovery with increased service.

"It’s been a strange trip for us," editor Mike Jacobs wrote in Sunday’s editions. "Thank you for coming along. We look forward to many more mornings in your hands."

North Dakota first lady Nancy Jones Schafer made an appearance Sunday on the Rev. Robert Schuller’s nationally televised "Hour of Power" from Garden Grove, Calif. She asked the congregation and viewing audience to offer any help they could.

"First and foremost is their support and prayer," the first lady said. "I believe very strongly in the power of prayer. I know God answers prayers, and nothing is more powerful than when everyone joins together and prays for the health and well-being of our people."