Volume 124, Number 48            Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

2007 Achievement Award farm
Jarvis and Patty Hegland of Oberon, the 2007 Achievement Award winner from the North Central Soil Conservation District were honored at the 69th annual convention of the ND Association of Conservation Districts held in Bismarck November 19-20. A slide of their farmstead and the soil conservation practices used by the Heglands were shown at the banquet that honored all the districts winners from across the state. Jarvis and Patty were presented a 16x20 inch colored aerial photo of their farmstead and a second photo will be placed in the traveling Soil Conservation Achievement Awards Program exhibit for one year. After being displayed at numerous events throughout the next year, the photo will be placed in the North Central SCD office "Wall of Fame." The ND Soil Conservation Achievement Awards program is a statewide program where each of the 56 Soil Conservation Districts recognizes farmers and ranchers who have made an outstanding effort to conserve their valuable soil resource. The ND Achievement Awards Program is the only program of its kind in the nation and has continued annually since 1948.

Beecroft chosen for concert tour
Elizabeth Beecroft, daughter of Nichole Beecroft of Minnewaukan, has been selected to perform with a national performing organization known as The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus. Elizabeth, who has served as a member of the Minnewaukan High School Choir, participated in North Dakota's All-State Women's Choir in 2007, the Northwest Music Festival in 2005 and 2007 and North Dakota's Junior High All-State Choir in 2004 and 2006. She will be performing in the
2008 UND Honor Choir. She also sang the National Anthem for the 2007 Boys' Class B State Basketball Tournament in Bismarck. She was the only soloist chosen for that event. Elizabeth has also sung for events and meetings in her community.
She will join other select student musicians chosen from applicants representing nearly every state when The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus begins its 2008 European Concert Tour next July. Selection is a distinguished honor for all participants. All applicants are carefully screened and chosen only after a rigid character and musical evaluation.
All student performers will meet on the campus of Elizabeth-town College, Elizabethtown, Pa. on July 4. After four days of intensive rehearsal and orientation, the group will depart by jet from the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for Frankfurt, Germany.
The group is scheduled to present 10 performances in European concert halls and major cathedrals during its 25-day concert tour.
The students will visit Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Luxembourg. Some of the cities they will visit include Paris, Venice, Strasbourg, Salzburg, Stresa, Verona, Rothenburg, Grindelwald and La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Students who have qualified for the concert tour are responsible for all costs involved with the trip. Frequently, however, local businesses and civic clubs who have an interest in helping deserving students will offer some financial sponsorship to the student representing their community.
The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus, celebrating its 32nd year in 2008, is recognized as one of the finest and most successful European Concert Tour programs in existence. It has received international acclaim for its exemplary success in achieving outstanding cultural relationships with European countries.
The Sound of America, Inc. is registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the US Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. Therefore, donations made in check form, written to "The Sound of America/Elizabeth Beecroft" are tax-deductible. Donations can be sent to: Elizabeth Beecroft, PO Box 32, Minnewaukan, ND 58351.

Beth Beecroft

Fox in Minnewaukan
This fox was seen hanging around in Minnewaukan in recent days. As a matter of fact, the fox was hanging around in the yard of Minnewaukan's animal control officer, Jim Ripplinger. The fox was under the complete control of Ripplinger because it was dead.