Dean Bresciani, the president of North Dakota State University, gave Presidents Day a new twist Monday when he lent a hand at Sandbag Central.
He was one of the more than 800 volunteers who turned out Monday to resume efforts to fill 3 million sandbags in preparation for an expected major flood this spring.
Monday's tally was 163,000 bags, bringing the running total to about 795,000, said Jesse Schmidt, a Fargo firefighter who is helping coordinate the effort.
Fargo city officials hope to fill about 850,000 bags this week, a goal that, if reached, would place the city at about the halfway mark.
The day got off to a good start when 100 Noridian employees showed up at 8 a.m. and stayed until noon, Schmidt said. "We were humming right away," he added.
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The group was joined by an estimated 160 NDSU students, far more than the 40 who had signed up. Members of the Bison football and volleyball teams planned to lend their help Monday evening, Schmidt said.
Surprisingly, students from Minnesota State University Moorhead also helped fill bags.
"I couldn't believe it," Schmidt said. "A couple of Moorhead businesses also showed up."
The turnout from college students was all the more impressive since Presidents Day meant a three-day weekend for many, Schmidt said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522
