4/25/2007 – News
Volume 124, Number 12
Fate of Leeds Old City Hall to be decided by Leeds City Council
The fate of the former Leeds City Hall is being considered by the Leeds City Council and the people of Leeds. A public meeting on the subject was held Monday, April 23. The city council has scheduled a bid opening May 7 at 7 p.m. for demolishing the building.
In February of 1901 the north 100 ft. of lot 1, Block 5 of the NP Addition to the city of Leeds was sold by Uriah and Dora Hunt to the Farmers State Bank of Leeds. In July of 1901 this lot was sold to The Bank of Leeds. The Bank of Leeds sold it to the First National Bank. In 1909 the title was corrected to add "the" to the title as it had been left out of first filing.
Although an exact building date is not known, it is believed it must have been built in 1901. On July 4, 1901 Indians from the Turtle Mountains area did a dance on the floor of the First National Bank, as the floor had just been laid. This comes from "Our Heritage," the history of Leeds and York, 1886-1986.
The architectural style is of the Roman Grecian model. Only the finest materials and building techniques were employed in construction. This is noted by the granite pillars and roof over the entry plus other distinctive features.
It was operated as The First National Bank until 1926, when it was closed. According to records it went into receivership in 1931 and was sold to the city of Leeds at a sheriff’s sale in 1934 for $1,000, plus back taxes of $309.20. The city of Leeds took out a mortgage for $1,350 for five years to be paid at the rate of $270 per year.
Upon purchase, the Leeds City Hall and library moved into the building, where they remained until 1996. In 1941 the Leeds Fire Department moved into the rear of the building and remained there until 1977. Over the years this building also housed the police station and even a jail cell.
This building was used by several organizations as a meeting place. A few of these are the Leeds Civic Club, the Masonic Lodge and the Leeds Alfredian Club. After being closed as city hall it was used as a haunted house for a few years.
The building is among the last of this era remaining on the Main Street of Leeds. Preservation North Dakota and the State Historical Society of North Dakota have inspected the building and believe it is worth preserving and is eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Water boards working to repair three dams in area
BY RICHARD PETERSON
There may be a possibility that three dams in the area will finally be repaired after being in a state of decay for many years.
The Upper Sheyenne River Joint Water Resource Board has been working with Eddy County to rehabilitate the Sheyenne Dam north of the city of Sheyenne and less than half a mile south of the Benson County line. This dam is a priority because it has economic importance to the area. Aggregate Industries (formerly Sheyenne Sand & Gravel) uses the water backed up behind the dam to wash its gravel.
The board gained funding from a diverse group of local, state and federal entities, including Eddy County, the Upper Sheyenne Joint Board, the Devils Lake Basin Joint Board, the Southeast Cass Water District, Aggregate Industries, the State Water Commission, the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the ND Game & Fish Dept.
In addition, Eddy County has been working on getting the Warwick Dam repaired.
On April 9 of this year Ben Varnson of Lakota, chairman of the Upper Sheyenne River Joint Water Resource Board, wrote a letter to the State Water Commission requesting that Bouret’s Dam in Benson County be included in the project. A fish passage system is planned at both the Warwick and Sheyenne Dams. In order for the fish passage system to work, Bouret’s Dam would have to be included because it lies between the two dams and fish would never be able to reach the Sheyenne Dam if it were not included.
Brian Maddock of Maddock, a member of the Benson County Water Board, said the county water board is pursuing the repair of Bouret’s Dam.
"We’re working on it," he said. Maddock is Benson County’s representative on the Upper Sheyenne River Joint Water Resource Board.
The repair of Bouret’s Dam would result in saving wildlife habitat on the river between Bouret’s and The Springs (Irish Mike’s). The water backed up behind the dam provides recreational fishing and water for wild animals. A boat trip from Bouret’s to The Springs provides beautiful, relaxing scenery. Boats cannot travel farther west than The Springs because of a rock dam at that location. The rock dam impedes the flow of water but does not keep fish from traversing it.
In 1994 the State Water Commission estimated the cost to repair Bouret’s Dam to its original condition with concrete was $200,000. However, Ducks Unlimited estimated using different materials and a different process would result in a cost of $80,000. No current estimates are available.
All three dams were built in the 1930s. Bouret’s Dam was built in 1939.
Bouret’s Dam is located 6.5 miles east of Sheyenne on the Eddy County paved road, two miles north and half a mile east. The Warwick Dam is located 2.5 miles south of Warwick on the Eddy County paved road.
Sheyenne Dam
Sheyenne Dam side view
Bouret’s Dam
Bouret’s Dam side view
Warwick Dam
4-H winners
The 2007 Benson County 4-H Communication Arts, Consumer Choices and Project Expo events were held Saturday, April 14 at the Minnewaukan School. Judges for the events were Julie Zillmer, Lisa Wold, Kathy Tofsrud, Ellen Huffman and Doris Randle. The Project Expo winners were, left to right, Preston Gilderhus, grand champion teen; Janna Rice, reserve champion teen; and Kristine Keller, honorable mention teen.
Winners in the Consumer Choices event were, back row, left to right, Ben Backstrom, blue ribbon teen; Andy Backstrom, blue ribbon teen; Preston Gilderhus, blue ribbon teen; Logan Gunderson, grand champion teen; Kevin Slaubaugh, reserve champion preteen; Jesse Hoffert, blue ribbon preteen; Cody Hoffert, blue ribbon teen; and Jenae Johnson, honorable mention preteen. Front row, Anne Backstrom, reserve champion teen; Kristine Keller, blue ribbon teen; Janna Rice, honorable mention teen; Katie Rice, grand champion preteen; and Julissa McGarvey, grand champion 8-10 year olds.
The Communication Arts event winners are, left to right, Caleb Johnson, honorable mention interpretive reading preteen; Ben Backstrom, grand champion commercial teen and grand champion dramatic presentation teen; Preston Gilderhus, white ribbon short take teen and grand champion commerical teen; Andy Backstrom, grand champion public speaking teen; Anne Backstrom, grand champion demonstration teen; Janna Rice, blue ribbon short take teen and reserve champion commercial teen; Katie Rice, reserve champion demonstration preteen and grand champion interpretive reading preteen; Kristine Keller, reserve champion commercial teen; and Jenae Johnson, reserve champion interpretive reading preteen. Not pictured are Chelsy Weigler, reserve champion demonstration preteen; Cooper Knoke, honorable mention interpretive reading preteen; Carah Hestdalen, honorable mention interpretive reading preteen; Charity Dosch, cloverbud ribbon; and Dalton Bonn, cloverbud ribbon.
Leeds DI teams
The Leeds Destination Imagination teams recently competed in state competition at the Central Cass School in Casselton on Saturday, April 14. Both teams competed in the CSI:DI problem. The Leeds Elementary team, which received a trophy for 3rd place, consisted of, left to right, Taryn Bjerke, Nikara Nelsen, Mathias Follman, Richelle Darling and Carlito Woods. Team manager was Tami Nelsen.
The Leeds Middle School team consisted of, left to right, Danielle Redetzke, Chelsi Olson, Kayla Wangler and Colton Wangler. Team manager was Lauree Wangler. The coordinator of these teams was Jana Darling.
School carnival
Kendall Boyles and Amber Bracken are ready to paint Evan Follman’s face at the recent Leeds School Carnival. The carnival was sponsored by the National Honor Society with proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Arnikka Thompson tries her luck at the duck pond while Kaitlyn Bingham and Haley Gunderson look on.
Jr. high win Elks
The Harlow Co-op Elevator sponsored a team of junior high boys from Maddock who won the Elks Baskeball Tournament held March 23 and 24 in Devils Lake. They played three games between the two days, meeting up with Midkota for the championship game on Saturday. Pictured are, back row, left to right, Coach Shawn Knudson, Matt Knudson, Jaden Kallenbach, Noah Engels and Trey Benson. Front row, left to right, Dylan Gigstad, Karl Kenner, Brady Kallenbach, Mikel Buckmier and JD Schmid.
Performance set at LRSC
The Lake Region State College Playmakers will present the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown April 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. and April 29 at 2 p.m. at the Robert Fawcett Auditorium on the Lake Region State College Campus in Devils Lake. The play is based on the comic strip "Peanuts", and is an average day in the life of Charlie Brown and all his friends both, human and animal. It is a day made up of little moments: a Valentine’s Day, A baseball game, a dance with Linus and his blanket, the World War I flying Ace battling the Red Baron, and many more.
The play is directed by Jeanette Kenner, with choreography by Miki Noltimier. Josh Gunderson is musical director along with Michelle Nybo at the piano. The cast includes: John Neis, Sarah Anderson, Peter Foss, Angela Loff, Justin Jossart, Wes Wakefield, Emilie Plemel, Wendy Polcin, Jessica Scott, Kyla Delorme and Dusty Wolf. Tickets are available at the door.
Dede to be on TV May 5
Dede (Backstrom) and Jeremy Roberts were married Oct. 29 in an oceanside wedding in Kona, Hawaii.
They will be on a two-hour show featuring the preparations for their wedding and the wedding on the Food Network. The first broadcast will be Saturday, May 5 beginning at 8 p.m. (CST). Subsequent broadcasts are May 6 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; May 11 at 8 p.m.; and May 12 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. All the times are Central Standard Time.
They are also scheduled to appear on Emeril’s show at 7 p.m. May 5.
Dede, a native of Minnewaukan who now lives in Huntington Beach, Calif., won a Hawaiian wedding from the Food Network, which took her and her fiance to New York, Savannah and Hawaii twice. The elaborate and expensive wedding was free for them.
Team takes first
Bonzer’s Pub won the Grand Am Men’s Basketball Tournament March 25 in Grand Forks. Bonzer’s reached the title game for the fifth year in a row, winning the championship in 2004, 2006 and again this year.
Among players on the Bonzer’s team are Leeds natives Jason and Eric Haagenson and Oberon native Monty Stensland. In this year’s championship game, Bonzer’s defeated a Grafton team that featured former UND Fighting Sioux greats Todd Johnson and Steve Brekke, by a score of 75 to 74. Left to right, standing, are Dan Syrup, Pete Myszkowski, Matt Hanson, Chad Caya, Monty Stensland, Matt Fontes, Paul Vraa and Rich Bernhardt. Kneeling: Jason Haagenson, ballboy Johnny McWilliams, Bob McWilliams, Tarvis Porter, John Schumacher and Jim Joraanstad. Not Pictured is Eric Haagenson.
Mwkn. teams compete at regional science olympiad The Minnewaukan Public School Science Olympiad teams competed at the regional science olympiad held at the MSU-Bottineau campus on March 22.
The Division B team placed sixth overall. Team members receiving medals, along with the event they won in, are: Jacob Cline and Vincent Fox, 1st, Road Scholar; Alex Beecroft and Vincent Fox, 2nd, Storm the Castle; Jacob Cline and Alex Beecroft, 3rd, Awesome Aquifer; Errin Ambers and Jacob Cline, 3rd, Rocks and Minerals; and Miriah Thompson and Rachael Tollefson, 3rd, Tower Building. Students also placed in four other events.
The Division C team placed third overall and competed at the state science olympiad on the NDSU campus in Fargo April 21. Medal winners and their events are: Katrece Thompson and Alyssa Erickson, 1st, Designer Genes; Dallas Welch and Gregor Schmid, 1st, Remote Sensing; Dallas Welch and Gregor Schmid, 1st, Scrambler built by Ben Grann and Travis Myklebust; Katrece Thompson and Carrie Hillebrand, 1st, Write It, Do It; Ben Cline and Dallas Welch, 2nd, Wright Stuff; Ben Cline and Tyson Holybull, 2nd, Rocks and Minerals; Carrie Hillebrand and Dawn Teigen, 2nd, Forensics; Aaron Tollefson and Katrece Thompson, 3rd, Boomilever; and Brandi Weed and Jordan Callahan, 3rd, Food Science. Students also placed in three other events. Those unable to attend the competition were Ben Grann, Travis Myklebust and Louis Swiftbird.
The teams are coached by science teacher Andrew St. Vincent and Lori Cline.
Olympiad participants
The Division C competitors consist of students in grades 10 through 12. Back row, left to right, are Dallas Welch, Louis Swiftbird, Aaron Tollefson, Travis Myklebust, Ben Grann, Ben Cline, Coach Lori Cline and Alyssa Erickson. Front row, left to right, are Coach Andrew St. Vincent, Gregor Schmid, Brandi Weed, Katrece Thompson, Dawn Teigen, Bobbi Grann, Carrie Hillebrand and Jordan Callahan.
The Division B competitors are in grades seven through nine. Back row, left to right, are Jacob Cline, Vincent Fox, Mandee Neeland, Coach Andrew St. Vincent, Chandra Anderson, Shayna Sherman and Coach Lori Cline. Front row, left to right, are Alex Beecroft, Kylee Rallo, Rachael Tollefson, Miriah Thompson and Errin Ambers.
Award scholarships
The Valence Pascal Scholarship was awarded to Johnny Lawson (left) of Maddock, a December 2006 graduate of the Lake Region State College (LRSC) Peace Officer Training program, and Christopher Mathson. Holding the plaque is training program director Lloyd Halvorson. The annual Named Endowment Recognition Event was held February 15 at LRSC. The event is sponsored by the Community College Foundation, which supports Lake Region State College. Lawson is a Benson County deputy sheriff. He and his wife Christine have nine children. Valence Pascal was a graduate of the Lake Region State College Peace Officer Training program. He died of a gunshot wound in August of 1993 while performing his duties as a Benson County deputy sheriff. He was the son of Darcie and Robert Pascal of Williston.
Wins MP3 player
Hailey Kallenbach, daughter of Tracy and Mark Kallenbach, promised to wear her seat belt in the back seat and became the owner of a "Buckle Up in the Back Seat" MP3 player as part of this year’s 2007 Child Passenger Safety Month activities. The contest, sponsored by the ND Department of Health and the Lake Region District Health Unit (including Benson County Public Health), encouraged children to sign a pledge to buckle up in the back for a chance to win. Hailey’s name was drawn from about 3,500 pledge forms. Benson County Nurse Shelley Abrekke is shown presenting Hailey her new MP3 player.
Legion donates
The Theodore A. Togstad American Legion Post 123 of Maddock presented a donation to Preston Gilderhus (second from right) to help him attend the International Music Camp. Left to right are Adjutant David Daeley, choir instructor Rachel Markestad, Preston Gilderhus and Commander Lonnie Nelson.
Kimberly Randle (second from left) was presented funds to attend the International Science Fair. Courtney Foss, who is not pictured, will share in the funds and will also attend. Left to right are Adjutant David Daeley, Kimberly Randle, science instructor Sam Gutormson and Commander Lonnie Nelson.
Students raise funds
The Leeds Elementary School students raised $2,611 for Hoops for Heart. The third grade raised the most which added up to $711.50 and the top individual was Katelyn Nelsen with $200. Taryn Bjerke shoots a basket as other students wait their turn. Left to right are Taryn Bjerke, Julissa McGarvey, Seth Bisbee, Dylan Torgerson and Alyssa Anderson.
The third grade class is pictured. Left to right, front row, are Taylor Bisbee, Lane Ritterman, Joe Silliman, Devin Schwanke and Richelle Darling. Back row: Nikara Nelsen, Tyler Blegen, Cameron O’Brien, Mathias Follman, Katelyn Nelsen and Carley Baker.
Katelyn Nelsen Mwkn vocalists earn honors at Region IV music festival
Minnewaukan High School music students participated in the Region IV Vocal Music Festival held April 5 at the Maddock School. They entered seven events and received star ratings in six of them. The girls’ ensemble, the girls’ sextet and a girls’ trio, along with soloists Beth Beecroft, Jordan Callahan and Katrece Thompson received the ratings.
These students are now eligible to participate in the state music festival to be held May 5 in Bismarck.
Beth Beecroft, a sophomore, also participated at the ND All-State Music Fesitval held March 22-24 in Bismarck. She was chosen based on the audition tape.
The festival consisted of two days of rehearsals culminating with a concert held at the Bismarck Civic Center. The concert featured a jazz ensemble, band, orchestra, mixed choir and women’s choir.
Pictured are members of the girls’ ensemble. Back row, left to right, are Emily Swenson, Brandi Weed, Bobbi Grann, Shayna Sherman, Jordan Callahan and Alyssa Erickson. Front row: Kylee Rallo, Beth Beecroft and Katrece Thompson.
Trio members Alyssa Erickson, Katrece Thompson and Jordan Callahan received a star rating for their performance of "Where ‘er You Walk."
The MHS girls’ sextet consists of, left to right, Beth Beecroft, Brandi Weed, Bobbi Grann, Jordan Callahan, Alyssa Erickson and Katrece Thompson.
Beth Beecroft performed a star rating solo at the festival and performed at the all-state festival in March.
Soloist Jordan Callahan earned a star rating at the Region IV festival.
Katrece Thompson also earned a star rating for her solo.
Princess Inez to receive lifetime achievement award
Inez Green of Oberon will receive the lifetime achievement award in music during the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame awards ceremony at the Medina Entertainment Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Saturday afternoon, April 28.
She is a native of Fort Totten and grew up in the musical McKay family. She played the piano and guitar at the age of six. She played in nightclubs in Montana and Washington State. She moved to Minnesota in 1962 and played at the Flame Cafe using her stage name of Princess Inez. She played backup for Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn, to name a few. She later played with the Houle Brothers, drawing large crowds.
She returned to North Dakota in 1975 and played for Cliff Foreng, the Lowell Peterson Trio and Earl Rohde of Jamestown. They played at John’s Country House near New Rockford for several months.
She and her husband, Gerry, live in Oberon. They play gospel music in the summer in North Dakota and during the winter travel to Texas to play in the Rio Grand Valley and Corpus Christi areas.
She has three children, Linda Gardell Marcil of Minneapolis, Minn., Sharon Gardell Midstokke of Maddock and Shane Gardell of Oberon.