The Steve Hallstrom Show Episode 487: Good News Galore: Zambonis, Forever Homes & Jamaican Joy

🧵 Episode Description: 🎆 Fourth of July is near, and guest host Michelle Kommer brings a radiant, heartfelt, and joyful show packed with good news only!This vibrant episode celebrates: 🏡 Adoption & Foster Care with Lizzy LaFond of the North Dakota Heart Gallery 🐶 Pet Adoption & Shelter Stories with Rep. Greg Steman and foster-fail hero Ellen Dahl ✈️ A Life-Changing Mission Trip to Jamaica with high schoolers Brant and Riley 💍 A marriage announcement from Rep. Julie Fedorchak 🎇 Explosive (but safe!) fireworks news from Governor Kelly Armstrong Michelle fills in with her signature warmth, humor, and surprise dreams (🧊 spoiler: she wants to drive a Zamboni!). ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps: 00:00 – 04:30 | 🎙 “Welcome to the Good News Show”Michelle opens with sunshine, 701 Day spirit, and the promise: no political brawls—only good news today. 04:30 – 10:15 | 🧒 Interview: Lizzy LaFond – ND Heart Gallery ND Heart Gallery’s mission: finding forever homes for kids in foster care through photography Lizzy shares her own adoption story, growing up with 12 siblings (!), and the joy of their first 2025 photo shoot ✨ Best moment: a child choosing an outfit that “screams who they are” for their shoot 10:15 – 21:24 | 🐾 Interview: Rep. Greg Steman – Homeward Animal Shelter Greg shifts from politics to puppies Insight into the shelter’s growth, adoption process, capital campaign, and volunteer needs Highlights their 42,000+ animals saved since 1966 Foster fail stories and NDSU vet student partnerships 21:24 – 26:00 | 🐾 Interview: Ellen Dahl – Prosecutor & Foster Fail Queen A Maricopa County prosecutor with a pack of 5 adopted dogs Ellen shares the emotional (and hilarious) side of “failing” at fostering Big ❤️ for foster-to-adopt test drives for families 26:00 – 38:45 | 🐕 Pet Adoption Story: Samson the Gentle Giant Local guest Paul Oslukson recounts his family's story of adopting a Pyrenees-Retriever mix named Samson Beautiful memory of a massive dog showing gentle love to a toddler 📸 “He just walked up to my daughter and licked her head to toe.” 38:45 – 54:00 | 🌍 Mission Trip to Jamaica – Part 1 Michelle introduces her recent Hope Lutheran mission trip Paul Oslukson, Riley Scott, and Brant Oslukson reflect on serving in Trelawny, Jamaica Cement mixing, school visits, and living out faith—without phones 💬 “We were covered in concrete, but our hearts were full.” 54:00 –…