Fargo lawmaker hands out his coloring book to colleagues

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - When North Dakota state Sen. Tim Flakoll isn't handing out amendments to fellow lawmakers, he's giving them coloring books he helped create to promote his home area.

The Fargo legislator recently teamed with artist Steve Stark and other supporters to design a youth activity and coloring book that promotes the Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota, area.

Flakoll came up with the idea while watching his niece become engrossed with coloring in a hospital waiting room while his mother was having surgery.

The 50-page book includes illustrations on landmarks, museums, colleges, events, sports and area history.

Flakoll says it's something he's always wanted to do and he was happy to learn that the printing was finished earlier this week.

Flakoll is the provost of the Tri-College University, a partnership among Fargo-Moorhead colleges.