5/18/2005 – News
Volume 122, Number 15
General praises Wald
General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), US Secretary of State (2000-2004) congratulates Jeff Wald, 18, of Maddock (center) and John Oyloe, 14, of Williston (right) on being named the top two youth volunteers in North Dakota for 2005 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. They were honored at a ceremony May 1 at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, where they each received a $1,000 award. "These young people embody the leadership skills that will help make a better community, a better nation, and a better world," General Powell said. "They are the leaders of tomorrow and collectively, they are setting the course of our global future. I thank and congratulate them for their outstanding work."
Retirement doesn’t suit Heimdal area educator so he’s back at work for area school districts
BY ERIN WOOD
The Northeast Education Services Cooperative and Lake Region State College are happy Paul and Harriet Gunderson decided to retire at Harriet’s family farm near Heimdal.
Gunderson recently joined the Northeast Education Services Cooperative and Lake Region State College as grant writer for the two organizations. He will split his time between the two entities.
More than 15 area school districts are members of the Northeast Education Service Cooperative, which permits coordination of education services and provides opportunities for shared and new services for school districts.
Leaders of participating schools are active in governance and administration of the cooperative. The NESC is directed by a governing board, made up of member’s school board members and an administrative board, manned by principals and superintendents of member schools.
Paul Gunderson retired in 2000 from his position as director of the Marshfield Medical Research and Education Foundation for the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisc.
The Marshfield Clinic is a large rural Health Care Center serving Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Eastern Minnesota. Gunderson also served as director of the National Farm Medicine Center from 1992 to 1996.
Gunderson was only retired seven months when he got the itch to work again and so he assisted at First Lutheran Church in Harvey and Trinity Lutheran Church in Carrington in educational and visitation areas. He also helped the Harvey School by teaching physics and assisting students and administration in starting a greenhouse fundraising project. The greenhouse was built with donations and external funds "and the biology, chemistry, agricultural students and the community have a great resource at their fingertips," he says.
But his love of education and research spurred him to apply, interview and be hired for the grant writer position shared by Lake Region State College and the Northeast Education Services Cooperative.
Writing grants that support education won’t be a huge shift from his former career in the medical field where Gunderson wrote many grants, developed courses, and was published in professional journals and textbooks.
One of Gunderson’s first tasks will be writing science-related grants that will benefit the college and NESC, says Dr. Sharon Etemad, LRSC president.
Gunderson, who has a doctorate in education, retired in 2000 and moved to the Heimdal area where his wife was reared. His professional career started as a teacher and then administrator in Hitterdal, Minn., near his hometown of Ada. His adventurous spirit later took him to the South Pacific where he taught children for four years, an area where more than 600 languages are spoken.
"The experience taught me that educating students was important, but more important was keeping these children alive," he said.
That was the catalyst that spurred his career path change from teaching to public health.
Once he returned to the states, Gunderson moved to Minnesota where he played a crucial role in rebuilding the public health delivery system in Minnesota. From the mid 1970s to 1991 he held the position of director for the Center of Health Statistics and Surveillance. In 1991 he and his wife Harriet, who is a nurse, moved to Wisconsin where his career with Marshfield began.
Gunderson still keeps a high profile in his former career. He serves on the High Plains Center for Ag Safety and Health based out of Ft. Collins, Colo.
and he chairs peer review processes. Locally, he created a grantmanship school where people meet monthly for pointers on writing funding applications.
The Northeast Education Services Cooperative was formed on Jan. 4, 2002.
The cooperative permits coordination of education services and provides opportunities for shared and new services for school districts.
Since its inception, the cooperative has made tremendous strides, says Esmond native Denise Wolf, NESC executive director. "To have such wonderful accomplishments in a few years is the the result of joint efforts, communication and collaboration among the participating 16 school districts," Wolf said. "I’m excited to see what else can be accomplished in the future to benefit the students in our school districts."
The Northeast Education Services Cooperative currently comprises 16 public school districts: Adams-Edmore, Bisbee-Egeland, Border Central, Cando, Devils Lake, Four Winds, Lakota, Langdon, Leeds, Minnewaukan, Munich, Rock Lake, Rolette, Starweather, Warwick and Wolford. Lake Region State College and Candeska Cikana Community College (Little Hoop) serve as cooperative partners.
Charter members
Five charter members of the Robert Tovsrud VFW Post 757 of Harlow were present at the Auxiliary’s cancer benefit dinner April 24. The post was chartered 50 years ago and it has 87 members today. Left to right are Vern Thompson, Gilmen Gunderson, Lyle Warner, Hjalmer Hermanson and Magnus Lysne.
Dental care explained
Shelley Aabrekke, Benson County public health nurse, and Jenny Steinhaus, Benson County Extension agent and nutrition education agent, Family Nutrition Program, educated 109 second and third graders in Leeds, Maddock, Minnewaukan, Oberon and Warwick on the proper way to take care of their teeth. Students learned the proper way to brush and floss their teeth and they learned that drinking milk and avoiding soda and candy will help to give them healthy teeth. Each student received a toothbrush to take home.
Pictured above are second and third grade students from Leeds along with Shelley Aabrekke and Jenny Steinhaus.
Recognition given
Erin Dunlap, right, a senior at Leeds High School, received the 2005 Annual Masonic Music Award. Making the presentation was past master Allan Young, left, of Welcome Lodge 54 AF & AM of Churchs Ferry. The award reads, "For outstanding dedication and participation displayed as a member of the Leeds High School Band and Choir." She is the daughter of Robert and Marie Dunlap of Leeds.
Lisa Anderson of the Leeds Music Boosters accepts a $100 donation from the Churchs Ferry Masonic Lodge. Making the presentation was past master Allan Young of Leeds.
Seven sisters meet
The seven daughters of Edward Sigfred and Emma Catherine Magnuson Berg, former residents of Tokio, met recently for a reunion at the home of Edward and Ruby Linde in Everett, Wash. and also celebrated Ardys’s 89th birthday.
Present were, left to right, standing Ferne (Robert, deceased) Ullestad of Marysville, Wash., Ruby (Edward) Linde of Everett, Wash., Cleo (Leo) Carlson of Burlington, Wash. and Ardys (Clarence, deceased) Zetter of Hillsboro, Ore. Seated: Bonnie (James, deceased) Kensinger and Winifred (Kenneth, deceased) Heltne of Marysville and Evelyn (Harold, deceased) LaBruyere of Sanger, Tex. Unable to attend were brothers Dennis (Angeline) Berg of Corona, Calif. and Ralph (Gladys) Berg of Frisco, Tex. Brothers Lowell and Roger are deceased. The sisters grew up in North Dakota and were employed in the area a number of years. Ardys was the last to leave the state, moving from Devils Lake in 1998 to be with family.
Music students
Minnewaukan music students participated in the Region 4 Music Festivals held recently. The vocal music contest was held April 1 at Edmore. The Minnewaukan mixed ensemble received a star rating at both the region and the state competition. Left to right, back row, are Tyson HolyBull, Kenny Schmid, Aaron Longie, Beth Beecroft and Sarah Friestad. In the front row are Megan Langley, Dawn Teigen, Audrey Wold, Katie Clifton, Jordan Callahan, Katrece Thompson and Alyssa Erickson.
The girls’ vocal ensemble received a star rating and also received a special outstanding performance award. Left to right, back row, are Megan Langley, Dawn Teigen, Audrey Wold, Katie Clifton, Sarah Friestad, Jordan Callahan and Katrece Thompson. In the front row are Alyssa Erickson and Brandi Weed. Additional entries all received a 1 rating. They were Aaron Longie and Jordan Callahan, vocal solos; Jordan Callahan, Katrece Thompson and Alyssa Erickson, girls trio; Jordan Callahan, Katrece Thompson, Kenny Schmid, and Aaron Longie, mixed quartet; and Brandi Weed, Jordan Callahan, Katie Clifton, Katrece Thompson, Sarah Freistad and Alyssa Erickson, girls sextet.
The instrumental festival was held in Rolla April 23. Left to right are members of the woodwind trio, Katrece Thompson, flute, Alyssa Erickson, clarinet and Jordan Callahan, bass clarinet. They received a star rating at both the region and the state competition. The saxophone trio, consisting of Megan Langley, Carrie Hillebrand and Brandi Weed received a 1 rating.
Entities get funds
The Minnewaukan Endowment Fund recently provided a total of $4,300 for non-profit organizations in Minnewaukan. The funds come from interest earned on more than $100,000 in the endowment. Minnewaukan School superintendent Myron Jury, left, a member of the committee, presented $700 to Jason Feldner, president of the Minnewaukan Community Club. The money will be used to hire a live band for a street dance during Summerfest on July 30. Minnewaukan librarian Cathy Burkhardsmeier accepted $600 for the library’s book lease.
Lori Cline accepted $500 from the endowment for use at the Minnewaukan School’s Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site Project. Roger Huffman of the Minnewaukan Fire Department accepted $400 for purchasing flails to assist in putting out grass fires. Mark Motis of the Benson County Amateur Radio Club accepted $300 for equipment for the club. Cathy Nord of the Minnewaukan Ambulance Service accepted $500 for equipment. Ed Tomlinson, science instructor at the Minnewaukan School, accepted $500 for the Science Olympiad. Dorothy Hovden, president of the Minnewaukan 55 Club, accepted $800 for the club’s treasury.
Grondahl gets award
Pictured at the FFA banquet are, left to right, Bernard Meyer, Jean Meyer, Joan Grondahl, Wendell Grondahl, Brian Grondahl and Tammy Meyer. Brian Grondahl, son of Wendell and Gail Grondahl, was selected to receive the Jim Meyer Memorial Diversified Production Proficiency Award at the 75th annual Maddock A.S. Gibbens FFA Banquet. His supervised agricultural experience project consisted of beef production, forage crop production and specialty crop production during his six years in the FFA. He received numerous awards at the district, state and national FFA level, including a top award at the state and national FFA agriscience contest, and was a member of the state winning dairy foods and food science team.
Tammy Meyer, Jim’s sister, presented the award. Tammy works for the National FFA Foundation located in Indianapolis, Ind. Also present at the banquet were Bernard and Jean Meyer, Jim’s parents, who have been active supporters of the Maddock FFA Chapter for many years.
Jim was a member of the Maddock A.S. Gibbens FFA Chapter and received his State FFA Degree in 1978. He was the State FFA Star Farmer that year. He received many awards in 4-H and FFA for his diversified production projects in beef and swine production.
Appropriate funeral procession
Family and friends of long-time Harlow residents Melvin and Ella Alveshere provided a special escort as their caskets were taken by horse-drawn wagon from the church in Harlow to Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery just east of town for the committal service on May 14. Riders on horseback followed while other friends and family accompanied the couple’s caskets to the cemetery in cars. The weather was blustery and cold, but everyone who participated was warmed by the satisfaction of providing this sendoff for the Alvesheres. Melvin grew up farming with horses and riding, and he loved working with horses all his life. Ella rode in her younger days, as well.
Melvin Alveshire died in February of 2005 and Ella, his wife of 70 years, died in March. Pastor Richard Budd led the committal service. The Auxiliary to the Robert Tovsrud VFW Post 757 of Harlow provided lunch. Duane Alveshere’s team pulled the Buchta wagon. (Photo by Pastor Richard Budd)