Minot, Skien's sister city in the United States, is a city with an exciting future. Minot is not a big city, only 36.567 people lived there in 2000. When Minot Air Force Base is included, Minot will be about the size of Skien, 50.000 people. (more).

A group of 13 young boys and girls came to Skien on Friday Aug 21 to visit Skien Rotary Club. This is a Round Trip group, and they come from eleven different countries: Turkey, Israel, Belgium, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, France, Austria and Tsjekkia.(more).

Harold and Wanda Naess came from Calgary to Skien to visit relatives and to join a family re-union at Bolkesjø Hotel. Only a few family members knew on beforehand that they were coming for the family re-union. Harold and Wanda were therefore "smuggled" from Gardermoen to Skien where they stayed with family until the re-union at Bolkesjø on Oct 24. Their arrival at the event was therefore a great and pleasant surprise. (more).

The delegation from Telemark at Norsk Høstfest in Minot ND in 2008 counted eight people. The Vice Mayor of Skien, Geir Arild Tønnesen, was the delegation leader with City Attorney Rolf Haugen, as Executive Secretary. Ivar Stulen and Hermod H. Monsen from the Telemark Heritage project were hosts and volunteering at the Skien/Telemark booth at the Høstfest, and they were supported by representatives from the Norwegian Ski Adventure at Morgedal.(more).

Nancy Keating and her husband John from North Dakota were part of the Juven tourgroup that visited Skien and Telemark in August 2008. Nancy has many relatives in Telemark, and before they came here Telemark Heritage was asked to find relatives and try to arrange a meeting in Skien.

In August Juven Tours in Fargo ND came to Telemark and Skien with a group of visitors.

At the annual Emigration Festival at Western Norway Emigration Center at Radøy north of Bergen in July 2008, Jørn Olsen from Skien presented his report on "The American Dream - From Serkland in Siljan to South Minnesota 1866".

In June Lloyd and Lauretta Hansen from Oungre in south Saskatchewan in Canada came to Norway to visit relatives. They have been to Norway before, but they have never been to Skien and Telemark.

The Annual Sondre Norheim Wreathlaying Ceremony and Dedictation of the Rannei Aasmundsdaughter Memorial Plaque takes place on September 30, 2008 at 09:00 am at the Norway Lutheran Church & Cemetery in Denbigh, North Dakota. The Master of Ceremonies is Rev. Luther Hanson.

Floral Dedication of the Rannei Aasmundsdaughter Memorial Plaque will be made by Mr. David Gunderson, Great Great Nephew of Rannei Aasmundsdaughter, wife of Sondre Norheim. David Gunderson is genealogist at The Hadeland Lag of America .

Laying of the Wreath on Sondre Norheim's grave will be made by Eilev Omland, President of The Norwegian Ski Adventure at Morgedal in Telemark.

The program for one of the big annual events about emigration from Norway, The Emigration Festival at Western Norway Emigration Center at Radøy outside Bergen, is now completed. The main topic for the seminar in 2008 is: "Why and how did groups and individuals leave Norway - and what did they meet in their new homelands".