Located in Carrington, Milestones Early Learning, LLC is a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and community support. Founded by Whitney Carter, this childcare center has quickly become an integral part of Carrington’s economy, offering early childhood education and care for families since its establishment in 2022.

Whitney’s journey to creating Milestones began with a deep-rooted passion for early childhood education and a commitment to addressing the pressing need for quality childcare. After teaching preschool for several years, Whitney left the public-school setting to start her own business. The original Milestones location was established in Parshall, ND in 2019 as a way for her to not only fulfill a need in the community but to also raise her children while supporting her family at the same time. Upon moving to Carrington, Whitney was met with overwhelming support from the whole community and was able to bring Milestones to life in Carrington by transforming a former church into the vibrant daycare facility it is today. Reflecting on the journey of Milestones, Whitney emphasized: “Everything I do is for this beautiful community, so having the support of so many friends and even strangers means the world to me.”

One of the missions of Milestones is its unwavering commitment to providing enriching experiences for children beyond traditional daycare services. With separate classrooms for each age group, they are able to keep student to teacher ratios low. The center boasts a fully interactive art room, where children can channel their creativity and have fun. Additionally, a fenced-in
playground offers ample space for outdoor play and organized sports, promoting physical activity and social development. “We
will soon offer a full indoor children’s gym that will also be available to the community outside of daycare hours,” Whitney added.

Central to Milestones’ mission in Carrington is its dedication to supporting working families by offering comprehensive childcare and preschool services. By implementing the Learning Beyond Paper Curriculum, the center seamlessly integrates preschool education into its program, alleviating the cost for parents of having to pay for both childcare and preschool.

For Whitney, the joy of running Milestones extends far beyond the day-to-day operations. Interacting with the children, witnessing their growth and development, and building meaningful connections with families are among the most rewarding aspects of her role as founder and director. Whitney expressed, “I work really hard to be a trusted adult, mentor, and friend that every child needs and to provide a safe and nurturing environment that parents can feel confident dropping their children off at every day. Being a working parent is hard, and my only hope is that I can make it a little easier.”

In addition to its commitment to educational excellence, Milestones prioritizes the safety and security of its students and staff. “I love to keep my business local and give back to the community that has given so much to me, so it was a no-brainer when I learned Dakota Central offered [security systems] in addition to phone and internet services,” Whitney said. With the help of Dakota Central, the center has implemented a cutting-edge security system, as well as a feature-rich phone system and a secure and hassle-free managed Wi-Fi network, providing peace of mind for families and ensuring a secure environment for all. Managed services allow Whitney to hand off the worry and maintenance required in their phone, internet, and security systems to Dakota Central and focus on providing a safe place for children to learn and grow. “My security system gives me peace of mind and allows me to monitor from my phone if I’m ever out of the office,” Whitney mentioned.

As Milestones continues to evolve, its dedication to enriching the lives of children remains steadfast. With the unwavering
support of the community and the visionary leadership of Whitney, Milestones serves as a shining example of the positive impact that early childhood education can have in a community, laying the foundation for a brighter future for generations to come.

Attention daktel.com email users-
Don’t click the links!

There has been a mass of scam emails going around pretending to be from us, Dakota Central. We did not send these messages! It could be anything from your account will be de-activated, your bill is past due, update your account following a service outage, and others.

These messages will either include a link for you to click and enter your account information, or reply to the email.
DO NOT enter your account information or reply to these messages! Once you “log in”, they have your password and your account is hacked. After an account has been compromised, hackers use your account to send spam messages to gain access to other accounts, creating a snowball effect.

What you can do:

• Delete and disregard the email messages. Or, if you think it might be legitimate, visit our website directly instead of clicking on links in the message to log into your account, to ensure you are on the correct website.
• If you happened to enter your information, call us right away to reset your password and secure your account
• Just to be safe- if you have an old or short password it should be reset to a longer, stronger password
• Tell your friends and family to be careful and never click the links!

In regards to Dakota Central’s BEK TV channels, we want our customers to know that it is our full intention to keep the BEK channels on our lineup. We are actively negotiating with BEK to keep the channels at an affordable rate. They are asking unrealistic rates, and due to the already rising rates of TV content we are conscious of how any increases will affect our customers. We appreciate your input on the matter, and hope to come to a fair resolution soon. 

We have reached an agreement with BEK and are pleased to confirm that we will continue to provide BEK Sports to our TV subscribers.

The Farmstead, founded by Bonnie Hofmann, has quickly become more than just a local eatery; it’s a manifestation of dreams and a hub for community connection. Since its doors swung open in May 2023, this quaint Medina café has been serving up not just delicious treats but also a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from the rest.

Inspired by personal challenges and the desire to better her community, Bonnie’s journey led her to dream beyond just a café—a dream she’s had since she was a kid. Her dream began to feel more like a reality when the opportunity arose to purchase the old Medina General Store. With the building being large enough for multiple businesses, Bonnie decided to tackle the growing need for childcare first by renovating the larger area of the building with her husband and kids. Now, since the continuation of the renovations has been completed, Bonnie’s dream of having a café has come to life. The building, now housing both The Farmstead and the Country Kids Corral daycare, forms a harmonious relationship; each business contributing to the other’s sustainability.

“It was my desire to serve in my community that really pushed me to pursue this,” Bonnie said.

What sets The Farmstead apart is a commitment to being more than just a place to grab a quick bite. Bonnie’s journey, from a chef’s assistant at a Colorado dude ranch to experiences in burger and ice cream shops, forms the culinary backbone of The Farmstead. A Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Energy Management adds a business perspective. The menu, inspired by Bonnie’s travels, boasts specialty drinks, espresso delights, and a diverse array of breakfast and lunch options different from
the other choices in town.

“I also wanted the full coffee experience,” Bonnie explained. “I know how much the teachers in Medina love coming to get a specialty coffee and it makes my heart so happy.”

At The Farmstead, it’s not just about the food; it’s about creating an atmosphere where the community thrives. The peace that permeates the space makes it an ideal spot for both a casual latte catch-up and a cozy meal.

Despite quickly becoming a local gem, The Farmstead faces the typical challenges of a small business. Establishing brand recognition in a new market proves to be a difficulty, with passing foot traffic often oblivious to the café’s existence. Bonnie is also juggling multiple responsibilities, from being a parent of four to ensuring the success of more than one business–a delicate dance of time management that has kept Bonnie on her toes. Striking the right balance between being adequately staffed and maintaining a consistent schedule is an ongoing concern. Bonnie is hopeful that by summer, with the help of high schoolers, she will be able to go back to being open five days a week. Until then, she has decided to always be open on Thursdays and Fridays. Check out The Farmstead’s Facebook page for schedule updates and specials.

Behind the scenes, Dakota Central plays a pivotal role in The Farmstead’s operations.

“Dakota Central set up a network in my building to add both security and public Wi-Fi,” Bonnie explained. “I told them what I needed, and they were able to install it. From multiple computers, TVs, and a POS system, to multiple phone lines, everything works flawlessly.”

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Peering into the future, Bonnie has grand plans for The Farmstead. Beyond just being a café, retail sales featuring floral arrangements and a boutique are on the horizon. This expansion aims to transform the café into a one-stop local shop, offering not only delectable treats but also a curated selection of gifts, fashion, and décor.

For Bonnie, the joy of running The Farmstead is deeply rooted in connecting with customers and letting creativity flow into the culinary creations. After pouring so much time and energy into it, the café is more than a business; it’s a canvas for expression, where every recipe tells a story, and every customer interaction adds a stroke of color.

This holiday season, make a statement with gifts that go beyond the ordinary. Dive into our Gadget Gift Guide and discover the perfect tech treasures that will leave your loved ones in awe!

Portable Projector

For the movie lover

An affordable option for home use, the TOPTRO portable projector can help you create your dream home theater. Using an ultra-fast 5 gHz Wi-Fi connection, it makes movie night a breeze. Popcorn not included. Currently available at Walmart for $99.99.

TOPTRO Portable Projector, 5G WiFi Bluetooth 5.2, 1080P Supported, for Home Theater, Outdoor Party, Gifts for Famlily – Walmart.com

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder

For the avid birdwatcher

See bird friends up close and personal with this smart bird feeder. With a high-resolution smart camera and bird arrival notifications, the AI bird species recognition and in-app learning experience will make them the bird expert they’ve always strived to be. Available from mybirdbuddy.com starting at $199.99.

Bird Buddy: Home (mybirdbuddy.com)

Oura Ring

For the health nut

One of the smartest health wearables recently developed, this ring accurately tracks heart rate, sleep cycles, and activity, then provides insight and guidance based on what it tracks. Considering how discreet it is, that’s quite a feat of engineering. Available from ouraring.com for $299.

Oura Ring. Smart Ring for Fitness, Stress, Sleep & Health.

Meater Smart Thermometer

For the grill master

This wireless thermometer takes incredibly accurate readings in two seconds and paired with the mobile app, will have you cooking like a pro. Giving you suggested cook times to reach desired results, you’ll achieve grilling perfection every time! Available at meater.com for around $80.

MEATER® | Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer | For BBQ & Kitchen Cooking

AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden

For the (not so) green thumb

It’s nearly impossible to accidentally kill anything growing in this self-watering, self-lit planter. The AeroGarden Harvest is an indoor hydroponic gardening system that grows vegetables, herbs, and flowers in water without the mess of soil. Available at aerogarden.com starting at $48.97.

AeroGarden: Indoor Gardens, Grow Lights, Seed Kits and More

Hatch Restore

For the night owls

Short of sleeping potion, Hatch’s sound and light machines help even the worst sleepers catch some quality zzz’s. Or choose the Rest version, made specially for littles. Everyone will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day! Available from hatch.co starting at $69.99.

Devices to Help You Sleep Better | Hatch

Attention daktel.com e-mail users,

As you were recently notified by mail, we will soon be adding new features to enhance your daktel.com e-mail service, effective Wednesday, November 15, 2023. We hope the new features make your e-mail more convenient and manageable!

If you utilize webmail to access your e-mail account you will see a difference in the appearance of the platform, which can be accessed at https://mail.daktel.com.

Your e-mail spam filter will still be accessed at https://spamfilter.daktel.com.

If you have trouble accessing your account after November 15, a quick restart of your device should resolve any issues you may be having. If not, please contact us or stop by one of our offices!

Simply put, fiber is the way in which service is delivered to your home. In telecommunications, fiber-optic cables are thin strands of glass or plastic that are used to transmit data in the form of light pulses. These cables are designed to carry information over long distances and at high speeds, making them a crucial part of modern communication networks. Dakota Central began its Fiber-To-The-Home project in 2000, as the first company in North Dakota to deploy a fiber network!

Here’s how fiber-optic cables work:

Light Transmission: Instead of using electrical signals to transmit data, fiber-optic cables use light pulses. A laser or light-emitting diode (LED) generates these light pulses, which travel through the core of the fiber-optic cable.

Total Internal Reflection: The core of the fiber-optic cable is surrounded by a cladding layer with a lower refractive index. This design allows for total internal reflection, which means that the light pulses can travel through the core without significant loss of signal strength.

Data Transmission: The light pulses represent binary data (0s and 1s). By modulating the intensity or frequency of the light, data can be transmitted rapidly and accurately through the fiber-optic cable.

Fiber-optic cables offer several advantages over traditional copper cables, including:

Higher Bandwidth: Fiber-optic cables can carry much more data compared to copper cables. This high bandwidth makes them ideal for transmitting large amounts of information, such as high-definition video and complex data.

Faster Speeds: Data can be transmitted at the speed of light through fiber-optic cables, providing incredibly fast communication and internet speeds.

Low Latency: Fiber-optic connections have lower latency, which means that there is minimal delay in transmitting data signals. This is especially important for real-time applications like online gaming and video conferencing.

Less Signal Degradation: Unlike copper cables, fiber-optic signals do not degrade as much over long distances. This allows for reliable communication over extended geographical areas.

Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference: Fiber-optic cables are not affected by electromagnetic interference, making them suitable for areas with high electrical interference.

Due to these advantages, fiber-optic technology is widely used in various applications, including internet connections, telephone systems, cable television, and networking infrastructure. Curious about how fiber-optic technology benefits you? Follow the link below for more information!