Forum photographers present their favorite photos of 2021.
North Dakota Army National Guard members Sgt. DeSeandra Conner and Sgt. Collin Brumskill conduct the flag folding ceremony for Paul Holje and George Kelley from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, during the military funeral honors for David Lee Oliver on Feb. 1 at the Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood.
Over the past 12 months, Forum photographers witnessed many sights and events, some of which had recently been on hold. Life moved closer to normalcy in 2021, and this sampling of our favorite photographs illustrates moments of joy and sadness as our community came together again.
A group stops in the Community Light Tunnel for a photo Feb. 2 in Viking Ship Park, Moorhead. The park hosted a walk along a lit trail followed by s'mores and hotdogs as part of the Frostival.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
Sarah Nygaard, Sanford Health Nursing Clinical Services Leader, prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 5 at the vaccination center in the former Gordmans location, Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
Kenyon Williams, director of the Minnesota State University Moorhead Percussion Ensemble, plays ice blocks for a performance with the ensemble Feb. 17 on the campus mall.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
West Fargo Sheyenne's Carter Zink competes with Bismarck's Ben DeForest in the North Dakota State Wresting quarterfinal dual on Feb. 20 in the Fargodome.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
People of all ages ice skate in the snow Feb. 23 at Broadway Square, Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Press operator Joel Olson's hands are covered in ink after repositioning a page plate Feb. 23 on The Forum's press, Fargo.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
West Fargo's Carter Birrenkott cuts the final strand of net to the delight of his teammates after winning the North Dakota Class A boys basketball championship March 14 at the Bismarck Events Center. Carter's father, Mike, was the hero for the Packers' state title team in the same building in 1991.
David Samson / The Forum
A coneflower mural is refracted in raindrops April 8 along First Avenue South and Eighth Street, Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
Red River Zoo executive director Sally Jacobson holds Arya, a domestic ferret, during the Red River Zoo’s National Zoo Day Activation event April 8 at Broadway Square in downtown Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
The casket carrying West Fargo Police Lt. Adam Gustafson is loaded into the hearse following his funeral May 26 at Northview Church, Fargo.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
Hillsboro’s Parker Gallagher competes in the boys Class B pole vault during the North Dakota State Track Meet on May 28 in Bismarck.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
Laina Gunderson, 7, dances through the water fountains June 24 in Broadway Square, Fargo.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
The Blue Angels perform July 24 during the Fargo AirSho at Hector International Airport.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
A blazing red sunset descends on the horizon in the smoke filled western sky July 31 near Harwood, North Dakota.
David Samson / The Forum
People wave their pride flags as they march in the Fargo-Moorhead Pride Parade on Aug. 15 in downtown Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Larry Evans listens to his sentence Aug. 16 in district court, Fargo, for the Aug. 4, 2020, beating death of Cameron Camacho.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
A female monarch butterfly lands on the cheek of Gwen Erickson, 97, on Aug. 17 in her Moorhead home. Erickson raised 70 monarch butterflies over the course of the summer.
David Samson / The Forum
Concordia's Andy Gravdahl makes an over-the-shoulder catch to run it into the against Presentation during their football game Sept. 11 in Moorhead.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
Concordia College freshman Quinn Christianson from Halstad, Minneosta, takes in the fireworks during the annual homecoming bonfire Sept. 30 outside Jake Christiansen Stadium, Moorhead.
David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Christian Watson smiles and points in celebration of his touchdown against Northern Iowa in the first quarter of their game on Oct. 9 in the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Khary "K.F. Jaques" Laurent poses for a photo Oct. 25, in Fargo to promote his character as he plays the lead role in FM Opera's "Don Giovanni."
David Samson / The Forum
Minnesota State Moorhead receiver Grady Bresnahan and Wayne State's J'Von France battle for the football in snowy conditions Nov. 13 at Alex Nemzek Stadium.
Michael has been the Forum's photo editor since 2002 and has covered all types of news. He has worked at four other daily newspapers since 1990 from Nebraska to Texas. He has an M.A. in journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism and a B.S. in mass communication from North Dakota State University. You can reach him at mvosburg@forumcomm.com in English or some Spanish.
“This is sensationalism at its finest, and it does not deserve to be heard in our state capitol,” Rep. Erin Healy, a Democrat and one of 10 votes against the bill in the 70-person chamber, said.
