7/5/2006 – News
Volume 123, Number
Tree planted for Home Ownership Month
Clare Carlson, state director for USDA Rural Development in North Dakota, and other Rural Development staff members visited the home of Kristin and Michael Jones in Maddock June 28 to personally congratulate and honor them in recognition of June as National Home Ownership Month.
The visit is part of a series of events held throughout the nation by USDA Rural Development in celebration of June as National Home Ownership Month and President George W. Bush’s initiative to increase home ownership opportunities.
"These home owners, with their hard work and our efforts, together, help President Bush’s Five Star Commitment on increasing minority home ownership throughout the country," Carlson said. "Our congratulations go out to Kristin and Michael for enduring all challenges and obstacles they faced while achieving the dream of home ownership."
The story of Kristin and Michael is no different from any other American family wanting to own their own home and a yard where they can enjoy the privacy and have space for their two pets.
Following many years of renting, Kristin and Michael decided they wanted to own their own home. After reading about Rural Development’s housing program from a poster hanging in their local post office, they contacted the local Rural Development office and completed an application. They purchased a single-family ranch style home and qualified as first-time home buyers using Rural Development’s 502 Direct Loan program. The home, being recently remodeled both inside and out, will be maintenance-free for many years to come.
In honor of Kristin and Michael, a seven-foot Malus Wealthy Apple tree has been planted in the family’s yard. This tree is cold-hardy, small in size, and usually bears alternate years. Its fruit is red, large, has somewhat rough skin, and can be used for either eating or baking.
The Northern Plains RC&D donated the tree through the efforts of coordinator Jill Haakenson.
In Fiscal Year 2005, USDA Rural Development provided over $79.8 million in loan and grant financing to North Dakota citizens.
USDA Rural Development is the lead federal entity for rural economic and community development needs. It administers financial and technical assistance through a network of state Rural Development offices, various non-profit and educational institutional partners, and its national office.
Further information on these and other rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
A tree was planted in the yard of Mike and Kristin Jones in Maddock in observance of USDA Rural Development’s Home Ownership Month. Left to right are John Riske of Rural Development; Jill Haakenson of the Northern Plains RC&D; Rep. Arlo Schmidt of Maddock; homeowners Mike and Kristin Jones; and Clare Carlson, state director of Rural Development.
Water tour held in area
The ND Water Education Foundation provided a tour of the Devils Lake area June 29. Ramsey County commissioner Joe Belford of Devils Lake conducted the tour which included the Kenner Marsh, gardendwellers Farm at Churchs Ferry, the BTR Co-op Elevator, an irrigation project which uses water from Lake Ibsen on the Duane Anderson farm near Leeds, a tour of the state’s outlet to Devils Lake in Benson County, a tour of Sully’s Hill, and other points of interest in the Devils Lake area. Lunch was served at the Trinity Free Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan. Tour participants are shown here at the outlet’s sand filter south of Round Lake. The outlet is not operating at present due to water quality problems in the Sheyenne River.
Pole replaced
It takes a lot of equipment and manpower to replace a power pole, as this photo shows. Two men in sky buckets work on reinstalling power lines on a new power pole on the west side of Minnewaukan. One man is on the ground at the base of the new pole. The partially rotted stub of the old pole, which was in the ground many years, is in the foreground. The Otter Tail Power Co. crew did the work June 29.
Learn about waterfowl
Benson County 4-H Project Day was held June 9 at Sully’s Hill National Game Preserve near Fort Totten. The event helped 4-H’ers begin projects that they later finish and show at Benson County Achievement Days. Mark Fisher of the US Fish and Wildlife Service presented a waterfowl session. Participants learned about numerous species of waterfowl, including how to identify them, their migrating patterns and nesting habits, and various calling techniques. Other sessions included making crazy T-shirts, painting rocks and creating book safes. Kara Martin won the watermelon seed spitting contest. Demonstrating calling techniques were, left to right, front row, Landyn Swenson, Cooper Knoke and Teri Howatt. Back row: Mark Fisher, Kya Knoke, Kara Martin, Katie Rice, Megan Wald and Adam Howatt. Not pictured are Jakob Schmid, Hailey Kallenbach and Jakob Martin.
Visit Bismarck
Maddock Head Start and Early Head Start students made a trip to Bismarck to visit points of interest there. Left to right, front row, are Malachi Dosch, Jay Garcia, Abigail Grossman, Kaden Lee and Andrea Arnold. Back row: Mary Hoffner, Charity Dosch, Kyia Dosch, Garrett Tandeski, Kenadi Lee, Keringten Lee, Connor Arnold, Jacob Arnold and Russell Ramsfield.
Benson County native helps on Gulf Coast
Retired pastor Jim Hetler and 15 parishioners went to Gulf Port, La. in March to help in a church building ministry. They traveled by bus and spent seven days on the project. "The work we did down there brought the satisfaction of a job worth doing," said Rev. Hetler. "Most of the people we met were not able to help themselves because they had lost everything. The man who lived next door to our project said he took 20 percent of his house to the dump and he did not know where the other 80% was. I worked on the sheetrock crew. The church group before us had torn down the ruined sheetrock. We saw signs all around that said ‘Thank You FEMA!’ In case you heard reports to the contrary FEMA was not late in getting to Gulf Port. It was called in by the governor. My niece worked at a project in Biloxi where people also had no funds to get start putting their lives back together.
"Church Building Ministries, Inc. was started in 1983 by Joe Brewer. They started helping churches that needed materials and manpower to do projects on their buildings. It has grown into assisting communities that have had devastation like that left by the hurricane on the Gulf Coast. People from all churches have helped this work."
On the way home the group visited the French Quarter in New Orleans, where Pastor Hetler had his picture taken with a New Orleans mask. He is a former resident of Benson County and is a retired pastor in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Pastor Jim Hetler
YES Ride Team visits Minnewaukan in June
Recently fourteen YES Ride team members from age 18 to 30 stayed overnight in Minnewaukan. Their goal is to raise funds for beneficiaries who are committed to improving the lives of individuals in the poorest regions of the world. The team has raised $75,000 to date.
The ride began in Seattle, Wash. in early June. Riders came through the Cascade Mountains, across the continental divide in Glacier National Park, through the rolling hills of the Midwest and across the headwaters of the Mississippi River. They will go along the coast of the Great Lakes, across the Alleghenies, through New York City, ending their trip in Boston.
Trinity Free Lutheran Church of Minnewaukan coordinated the team’s stay in Minnewaukan. Garry and Darlene Thompson welcomed the team to the Minnewaukan School Saturday, June 24 and prepared an evening meal for them. Sunday the team enjoyed breakfast at the American Legion courtesy of Trinity Free Lutheran Church.
The Presbyterian Women’s Group, the Minnewaukan Community Club, St. Peter WELCA, Bremer Bank and Trinity WMF helped cover the cost of the Saturday evening meal. Information on the group is available at http://web.maccom/yesride/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html.
Take part in choir
Ten members of the A.S. Gibbens FFA Chapter of Maddock were selected to participate in the 2006 State FFA Choir at the State FFA Convention held in June. The State FFA Choir consisted of 48 FFA members from 23 FFA Chapters throughout North Dakota. Left to right, front row, are Michelle Olson, Courtney Foss, Kimberly Randle, Kassandra Griffin, Renae Slater, Anne Backstrom and Elisa Buehler. Back row: Jordan Backstrom, John Sears and Paul Rice.
Maddock Independence Day Celebration
Winners of the "Parade of Pretty Pickups" contest held during the Maddock Independence Day celebration on July 2 have been announced. There was a three-way tie for the prettiest pickup.
Those winners were Dan Hermanson of Maddock and his baby blue 1957 Chevy pickup, Tee Kurtz of Devils Lake and his yellow and green John Deere Chevy pickup and Frank and Deloris Johanson of Devils Lake and their white 1957 Chevy ?-ton pickup. The John Deere Chevy also won the oldest pickup designation. The ugliest pickup honors went to Randy Simon of Oberon and his Dodge Rampage, even though he prettied it up with Maddock girls basketball players Kimberly Randle, Courtney Foss and Michelle Olson and his dog, Honker.
Above is the BCATS Class of 1956.
The Abrahamson Septic Tank Service royalty were Princess Pee Pee and Prince Poo Poo.
The Active Women of Maddock claimed to be the prettiest "pick ups."
This 1957 Chevy, owned by Dan Hermanson of Maddock, won an award for being one of the prettiest pickups.
Grandchildren of the late Chester Harmon paid tribute to him.
Clark and Levi Slater led the parade on this Oil Pull tractor.
The North Star Community Credit Union offered Hot Tamales to spectators.
Nikita and Natalia Wright drove by with puppies from their Little Barks kennel.
Randy Simon of Oberon added high school girls to make his Dodge Rampage look better.
Maddock Memorial Home residents enjoyed throwing candy to the kids.
This Model T touring car was driven by Paul Erickson of rural Maddock.
Scenes from the Leeds All-School Reunion Parade Saturday, July 1
The Devils Lake Elks Band provided marching music for the entrants.
Tee Kurtz of Devils Lake drove his 1953 Chevy with the John Deere emblem.
Here is a pickup load of members of the 1954 Leeds Lions State Basketball Championship team.
The class of 1966’s motto was "Tonight We Launch. Where Do We Anchor?"
Dean’s Aircraft Repair had a couple of its younger pilots flying.
This mail carrier car from the Dale & Martha Hawk Museum near Wolford is prepared to deliver, no matter what the weather.
The 2006 Leeds All-School Reunion parade grand marshal was Hazel Fox Fosen.
Harold Halvorson drove his little German car.
This John Deere A tractor is from the Dale & Martha Hawk Museum near Wolford.
This 1947 Farmall tractor is owned and was restored by Richard Jorgenson.
This sharp vehicle represented Kenner Simmental Ranch.
Shown here is the Leeds High School band, under the direction of Lucia Jacobson.
The local Lions Clubs International organization flies the colors.
The small horses are fun to watch — like this pony following the sulky.
Reg Urness is shown driving his 1931 Model A.
DeWayne Streyle and United Community Bank of Leeds entered this sharp Model A in the parade.
Jim Savaloja pulls one of his TerraCarry ATV emergency transport trailers, which is equipped for firefighters.
The Sons of Norway Heim Lodge of Devils Lake entered its replica of a Norwegian church.
Tony and Carol Thompson and Arnikka also represented the class of 1966.
Tracy’s Market of Leeds urged people to stop in and shop with Willie (the Willie Nelson look-alike).