5/25/2005 – News
Volume 122, Number 16
The grave of Robert Tovsrud is marked with a lone American Flag at the Flanders Field cemetery in Belgium. Tovsrud was from Harlow and died while fighting in WWI. The Robert Tovsrud VFW Post 757 of Harlow is named for him.
Students of Quarter
The Leeds High School announces its Students of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of the 2004-2005 school year. Students are selected for this honor based on academic performance, cooperation, personal behavior, attendance, responsibility and school spirit. Left to right, back row, are freshman Dallas Johnson, daughter of Richard and Roxanne Johnson; 8th grader Daniel Luhman, son of Michael and Valerie Luhman; and junior Michael Tofsrud, son of Allan and DeShawn Tofsrud. In the front row are senior Courtney Larson, daughter of Gene and Sharon Larson; sophomore Gina Ritterman, daughter of Bob and Cindy Ritterman; and 7th grader Ashley Manley, daughter of Jeff and Michelle Manley.
Production slated
Forever Plaid, a production by members of the Lake Region State College Playmakers and the Fort Totten Little Theatre, will be presented June 9, 10, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert Fawcett Auditorium at LRSC in Devils Lake. The four-person musical will feature (left to right) Josh Gunderson, David Gowryluk, Peter Foss and Darren Sheldon. Forever Plaid brings back the 1950s. Cost is $8 for students and $12 for adults. A silent auction also will be held each night starting an hour before curtain and running through intermission and one-half hour after the shows end. Proceeds will help offset medical costs for Playmaker and Little Theatre director Judy Ryan, who is also an English and humanities professor at LRSC. Donations for the silent auction are being accepted at this time. Anyone with packages or baskets for the silent auction should call 662-1520.
Students visit DC
Five students from Four Winds High School took part in a Close-Up trip to Washington, DC April 10-16. The travelers are shown at the new Native American Smithsonian. Students selected for the trip were Lane Adams Jr., Francisco (Paco) de la Paz, Kateri DeMarce, Lora Greybear and Terry Herman Jr. They were chaperoned by Eilene and Mauritz Carlson.
Thrivent helps alumni
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided a boost for the Esmond Eagles Alumni Assn. by presenting a Join Hands Project grant of $450 to the group. The money will be used for grounds beautification and painting in preparation for the 2006 all-school reunion which will be held the second week in July. Kathy Jensen and Dwight Leier are co-chairmen of the reunion. Left to right are Kathy Jensen of Minot; Arlene Lybeck of Esmond, representing Thrivent Financial; Jane Wolfe of Esmond, alumni treasurer; and Faye Jensen of Esmond, representing both the alumni and Thrivent Financial.
The Esmond Eagles Alumni Assn. will hold a quilt and art exhibit July 9 and 10 at the former Esmond School. The public is encouraged to bring quilts and art to the school July 8 so it can be displayed for viewing. Students are encouraged to bring their art. Mary Ellen Gumeringer and Susan Bachmeier are co-chairmen of the event. Admiring a quilt are, left to right, Mary Ellen Gumeringer of Esmond, Ann Streifel of Harvey, Jamie Murphy of Minot and Eris Hoffner of Esmond.
Arthur Lee Rice of Grand Forks, left, and Vern Erck of Minot hang a framed advertisement telling of a big sale at Waxman’s general store in Esmond. The alumni gathering this year will be in conjunction with the Young Men’s Club of Esmond annual demolition derby and street dance.
Kathy Jensen admires a display of memorabilia from the 1950’s prepared by Vern Erickson of Bismarck, class of 1954. Among activities planned for July 8, 9 and 10 are a barbecue at Buffalo Lake served by the class of 1975, a pancake breakfast served by the class of 1965 and a softball tournament under the direction of Bobby Hoffner. Concessions will also be available.
Benson County public health nurse Shelley Aabrekke, R.N., displays the Lake Region District Health Unit State Immunization Leader Award.
County nurse attains 100% immunization
Lake Region District Health Unit/Benson County was recently recognized as an Immunization Leader by the North Dakota Department of Health. The award was presented for outstanding childhood immunization rates in 2004. The Department of Health Healthy People 2010 goal is an immunization rate of 90 percent. Benson County achieved the exceptional rate of 100 percent in the 2004 calendar year.
According to Karen Halle, Lake Region District Health administrator and director of nurses: Our public health nurse Shelley Aabrekke has done an excellent job of protecting our children and communicating the prevention message.
Since the introduction of routine vaccination, the number of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States has dropped 95-100 percent. However, there is a danger with so much success. Since there has been a dramatic decrease in these diseases, there is a perceived lack of risk from the same diseases. Safety concerns have led to questions regarding the need for vaccination.
Vaccinations have been blamed for causing diseases such as SIDS, multiple sclerosis and autism. Studies have shown no direct correlation between SIDS and DTP vaccination; multiple sclerosis and hepatitis B vaccination; MMR vaccination and the development of autism. As a result of the perceived lack of risk from these diseases and unfounded safety concerns, some parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. Shelley Aabrekke, R.N., Benson County public health nurse noted, Parents who choose not to vaccinate unfortunately put an entire community at risk. Vaccine-preventable diseases are only a plane ride or border crossing away.