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Volume 123, Number
45 Wednesday,
December 13th, 2006
Foster parenting results in adoption for
Almonds
BY ANDREA JOHNSON Minot Daily News
Joseph Almond received a special birthday present this year -- a new
family.
Joseph's adoption by Jim and Sherrell Almond became final on his seventh
birthday in October. Last month, the new family went before a judge to
have the adoption officially recognized.
When they came home, Joseph picked up the ringing telephone and
announced his new name: "Joseph Almond speaking," said his older sister,
Alyssa.
Joseph shared his adoption news with his classmates at Longfellow
Elementary during sharing time. His classmates weren't sure what being
adopted means. Joseph now knows that it means he will never have to
leave his family again.
The Almonds had been Joseph's foster parents since he was two months
old. When a biological relative from out of state came forward and
wanted to adopt Joseph and several of his biological siblings, the
Almonds had to let him go, but they said it was difficult.
When that adoption fell through, Joseph came back to live with the
Almonds. This time, they knew they wanted to adopt him."It was just too
hard to let him go again," said Sherrell Almond.
The couple started adoption proceedings last December and it took about
10 months to complete all the paperwork. Joseph was adopted through the
state's Adults Adopting Special Kids Program, through Catholic Family
Services. His tribe also had to approve the adoption because he is an
American Indian child. The Almonds completed a cultural plan specifying
how they will keep Joseph in touch with his Chippewa heritage. The
Almonds said Joseph's tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, was
easy to work with. Under the Indian Child Welfare Act, a child's
relatives or other members of his tribe are given preference to adopt a
child, but it is also possible for non-Indians to adopt.
The Almonds said that they will also keep Joseph in touch with his
biological siblings, some of whom are the Almonds' former foster
children. Two brothers and a sister called Joseph on his birthday and a
couple of his brothers will come to visit him over the Christmas break.
The Almonds have been foster parents for about 18 years. They said the
need for foster families and adoptive parents for foster children is
still great. Jim Almond said he often sees reports of adoptions of
children from foreign countries, but there are many children in this
country's foster-care system who are in need of homes.
The Almonds currently have two foster children and have had up to four
foster children at a time. They said they generally care for school-aged
children and teenagers. Since both work outside the home, they don't
think they have enough time to devote to an infant.
The couple is also thinking of cutting back on the number of foster
children they care for. They've noticed that foster children seem to be
in the system longer than they used to be and also appear to be coming
from tougher situations.
Joseph is the first foster child they've adopted. Sherrell Almond said
they developed an especially strong bond with him because they cared for
him since he was a baby. The Almonds also have three biological
children, son Jeremy and daughters Alyssa, a freshman at Minot State
University; and Britney, an eighth-grader.
"It's interesting," said Alyssa of growing up with foster brothers and
sisters. "You learn a lot."
Right now neither Alyssa nor Britney think they will become foster
parents themselves. But Jim Almond said it might be too soon for them to
know what they will do as adults.
Joseph was one of seven children adopted by Minot area families whose
adoptions were officially recognized on Nov. 17. November was Adoption
Month.
Joseph Almond, 7, with his new adoptive parents, Sherrell and Jim Almond
of Minot, and sisters Britney and Alyssa. Sherrell Almond is a native of
Esmond and a 1981 graduate of Esmond High School. She is the daughter of
Victor Wolf of Esmond and the late MaryElaine (Dorscher) Wolf.
Minnewaukan Cemetery receives$40,000 bequest
from Plummer
The Minnewaukan Cemetery Association's endowment is $40,000 richer as a
result of a bequest from the estate of Garvin Plummer, lifelong
Minnewaukan resident, who died at the age of 84 on May 31, 2006. The
check was received last week from Gordon Dickinson, personal
representative of the estate. Dickinson, who lives in Oak Harbor, Wash.,
is a native of Minnewaukan and the stepson of Plummer.
The Minnewaukan Cemetery was one of the pet projects of Plummer, who
devoted much of his life to Minnewaukan Community endeavors. He was
sexton and secretary-treasurer of the Minnewaukan Cemetery for 49 years
until retiring in 2005. He planted many of the trees at the cemetery and
installed water and electricity there. He even installed street signs.
Many of the improvements were done at his expense and the expense of his
wife, Pearl Huffman Dickinson Plummer, whom he married Aug. 31, 1978.
She spent many hours at the cemetery tending flowers and doing other
chores. They are both buried in their beloved cemetery.
A few months before his death Plummer also give monetary gifts of $1,000
each to the Minnewaukan Community Club, the Minnewaukan Museum and the
Gunnerud-Dietrich American Legion Post 86 of Minnewaukan.
Garvin Plummer was born Aug. 31, 1921 in Minnewaukan to Clarence F. and
Laura (Nelson) Plummer. He graduated from Minnewaukan High School in
1940. Later he attended the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minn.,
learning the electrician trade. He served in the US Navy from Sept. 3,
1942 until Dec. 30, 1945 in the Pacific Theater during WWII and was
recalled for service during the Korean Conflict, serving in 1950 and
1951. He was a master electrician and was janitor of the Benson County
Social Services office in Minnewaukan for several years. Pearl Plummer
died Aug. 11, 2005.
Plummer's family was prominent in Minnewaukan from the beginning of the
town and were among the first settlers in 1884. His family operated a
hardware store, lumber yard, grocery store and sold farm implements,
among other business ventures. The businesses were sold in the late
1940's. C.F. Plummer and his brother, Bertie, also owned extensive
farmland in the Minnewaukan area. All the farmland was sold before
Garvin's death.
Garvin was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church and a
60-year member of the Gunnerud-Dietrich American Legion. He was a member
of the Minnewaukan Fire Department and served 13 years as chief. He was
the guiding force behind the establishment of the Minnewaukan Historical
Society and was instrumental in obtaining the stone church as its
museum. He was the museum's curator until shortly before his death. He
was the principal founder of the Minnewaukan Ambulance Service. He was a
member of the Minnewaukan Commercial Club and served as its
secretary-treasurer for several years. He enjoyed making plaques, which
were given to those honored by the organizations he served. He was an
accomplished chef who catered many meals for community gatherings. In
recognition of his volunteer activities the community of Minnewaukan
honored him at an appreciation supper in September of 1976.
Upkeep costs at the Minnewaukan Cemetery are in excess of $5,000 per
year. The cemetery's endowment does not yet cover this amount and as a
result, donations are still necessary.
Roger Huffman is president of the Minnewaukan Cemetery Assn. Other
officers are Curtis Yri, vice president and sexton; Richard Peterson,
secretary-treasurer; and board members Ed Schmid, Gordon "Bumpy" Schmid,
Lyle Huffman and Bob Helland.
Garvin Plummer
The Minnewaukan Cemetery, which was cared for many years by Garvin
Plummer, received a $40,000 bequest from his estate last week. The money
will be used to increase the cemetery's endowment. Plummer was sexton
and secretary-treasurer of the cemetery for 49 years.
Champion bulls
Paul Bingham of rural Minnewaukan exhibited the reserve champion pen of
three Hereford bulls at the North Star Classic livestock show at the ND
Winter Show building in Valley City December 1. He and his sister,
Olivea, are pictured with the winning animals.
Opens salon
The Shani Shak Salon & Spa recently opened in Maddock. Owner Shannon
Lauinger, left, and Nikki Arnold offer a wide range of family hair care
and spa services.
Shannon has always enjoyed cutting hair and has been styling family and
friends' hair since high school. When her children, Kayla, Megan, Dylan
and Courtney, reached school age Shannon and her husband, David knew the
time was right. The Esmond native enrolled at the Headquarters Academy
of Hair Design in Minot. After 1800 hours of classes, ranging from
chemistry to salon management, she passed her state boards and purchased
the building that once housed Top Priority Hair and Nail Salon.
Nikki booth rents from Shannon. She has been a stylist for 12 years, a
former salon owner and friends with Shannon "forever." Nikki is from
Dickinson and is married to Craig Arnold of Esmond. She has two
children, Connor and Skylar. She, too, is doing something she enjoys and
is excited about starting this adventure with Shannon.
See the tremendous specials offered by Riggin
Motors this week
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