6/25/2008 – News
Volume 125, Number
Grandpa’s saxophone plays a fresh tune
Editor’s note: The following article concerns Minnewaukan native Paul Anderson, a 1942 graduate of Minnewaukan High School. Milson Ball was his band teacher in high school. Anderson’s wife, Miriam (Crane) is also a 1942 MHS graduate.
BY KAITLIN MANRY
The Daily Herald (Everett, Wash.)
The first few notes in the saxophone’s life are a mystery.
When Paul Anderson got his fingers on it in the early 1940s, he was a high school student in tiny Minnewaukan, North Dakota. His parents bought the instrument secondhand.
After playing it in several small-town bands and passing it on to his children, he put the saxophone in the attic of his Mukilteo home, where it remained, buried under dust for nearly 30 years.
It seemed the saxophone’s song was over, but Anderson’s grandson was determined to wring melody once again from the vintage instrument.
Evan Duvall wanted to play his grandpa’s saxophone in one of the most prestigious and historical concert halls in the world: Carnegie Hall.
In sixth grade, he took clarinet lessons to prepare himself to play his grandfather’s saxophone. Soon afterward, he switched to the sax and began saving money to restore the instrument.
The saxophone was a mess. Key pads dangled from its silver-coated body, rendering it basically unplayable.
Over the years, as Evan advanced through saxophone classes, he remained determined to restore his grandfather’s instrument.
He mowed neighbors’ lawns and saved money his parents gave him for Christmas. Then, in his sophomore year at Henry M. Jackson High School in Mill Creek, Wash. he had the $500 needed to fix the sax.
Restored, the saxophone shined. Built sometime in the ’30s, the instrument is a Pan American, an old, discontinued brand. It has fewer keys than most modern saxophones and is silver instead of the more common brass color.
Duvall proudly played the instrument with the school’s wind ensemble, but he still wanted Carnegie.
A week ago, the graduating senior’s dream finally came true.
The 18-year-old sat onstage at Carnegie Hall in front of a well-dressed New York City audience and played.
Under the lead of the band director, Lesley Moffat, the wind ensemble performed "Ave Maria," "The Marriage of Figaro" and other classics on May 24.
"To get to play at Carnegie Hall is like every musician’s dream," Duvall said. "Some of the best musicians in the world have played there. For us to basically start our music careers at Carnegie Hall is pretty amazing."
Now 83, Anderson wasn’t able to make the trip to New York to see the greatest crescendo in his saxophone’s life. Nonetheless, the retired Scott Paper Co. machine adjuster is amazed at his instrument’s reincarnation.
"It started in a tiny town in North Dakota," he said. "And to get to Carnegie Hall — that’s a story."
This story was originally published in the June 3 issue of The Daily Herald at Everett, Wash.
Senior Evan Duvall played at Carnegie Hall with the Jackson High School (Wash.) wind ensemble. Photo by Jennifer Buchanan of The Daily Herald.
Waterfall now in operation
The Garvin and Pearl Plummer Memorial Park at the Minnewaukan Cemetery now features a waterfall. Constructed by Myron Jury, the waterfall is a major addition to the tranquility and beauty of the cemetery. Jury received help, equipment and volunteer labor from Ebach Construction, Roger Huffman and Troy Backstrom. The large rock in the center contains the fossilized remains of what may be a dinosaur. The Plummers devoted many hours of volunteer labor to the cemetery. The Minnewaukan Cemetery is the only cemetery in the area which boasts running water, electricity, street signs and a waterfall. Pearl Plummer died in 2005 and Garvin Plummer died in 2006.
A fieldstone was engraved in memory of the Plummers. Both were lifelong residents of Minnewaukan.
S-N Lodge honored
Sharon Tandberg, left, District IV president, presented the "Family Lodge of the Year Award" for 2007 to Mavis Maloney, president of Mollargutten Sons of Norway Lodge of Maddock. Mavis Maloney and Flo Kallenbach were recent delegates to the District IV biennial meeting of Sons of Norway held in Grand Forks. District IV includes North Dakota, Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Besides the business conducted there, they took cultural classes in Norwegian cooking and music. Another event was the buffalo barbecue at the Draxten farm near Northwood. (This is where Jane Draxten Orvik, former music teacher at Maddock, and her husband, Earl live. They owned the Maddock Clothing Store for several years.) This is a historical farm and the barn has been remodeled into a large reception hall and dance floor. Old time music was played and a dance was held. Mollargutten Lodge and President Mavis Maloney also received Gold Lodge awards for both 2006 and 2007.
Grann wins all-around title at high school rodeo finals
Anyone following the Benson County Wildcats girls’ track team has noticed Bobbi Grann’s name missing from the stats this year. There’s a good reason for that.
She was busy achieving her goal of winning the girls’ all-around state championship at the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association finals in Bowman June 12-15.
The junior from Minnewaukan was in a tight race for the title with the Gjermundson cousins. Jori Gjermundson of Marshall entered the state finals with 245.5 points, Bobbi had 244 and Sadie Gjermundson of Halliday had 228.5.
When the dust settled at Dakota Winds Arena, Bobbi had 329 all-around points, Jori 312.5 and Sadie 294. Bobbi also won the state title in goat tying and qualified for the national finals rodeo in three events, goat tying, breakaway roping and barrel racing. She and her family will travel to Farmington, NM the end of July for that rodeo.
So why not compete in both track and rodeo like the last two years?
Bobbi said to be a contender in high school rodeo it’s important to keep adding to your point total. And to do that a competitor must give 110% at each and every rodeo.
Juggling both sports, plus keeping grades up and being in science olympiad, music contests and the school play, made Bobbi feel like she wasn’t able to truly give her best to the sport she loves — rodeo.
As they say, something’s gotta give, and she made the choice to concentrate on rodeo and give up track.
Looking back on this spring, Bobbi commented that she and her parents, John and Donna Grann of Sheyenne, are still trying to figure out how they managed the last two years.
While in track, Bobbi was either at practice or a meet when she wasn’t at a rodeo. Her parents would exercise and work with her horses.
Now she is able to spend the time needed with the three horses she uses. The rotating schedule with each horse when school was in session began at 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. and ended around 8 or 9 p.m. each night. Those four to five hours a day are on a flexible schedule now that school is out.
Sometimes giving up something is a good thing. For Bobbi it meant fulfilling a dream. With one more year of high school rodeo, don’t be surprised if she brings home another all-around championship.
After all, back-to-back titles are nothing new to her.
Bobbi is shown with the belt buckle and saddle she received for being the all-around state champion. She also received a buckle and saddle for the goat tying state title.
Bobbi secured not only the calf’s head, but a first place finish in breakaway roping. She was the third place roper for the year.
Pole bending was not the best event for Bobbi at the state finals.
The one qualifying ride of the weekend netted six points.
Both the horse and Bobbi eye the barrel and hope they clear it.
Bobbi signals to the judges that the goat is tied.
Injury brings end to high school career
Against her doctor’s wishes, Laura Waldo of Warwick takes part in the senior ride at the North Dakota High School Rodeo Finals.
On a horse borrowed from Bobbi Grann, Laura made the ride around the arena so fans could honor the seniors before the last rodeo of their high school career.
A shoulder injury requiring surgery caused Laura to miss the spring portion of the high school rodeo season and a chance to go to nationals again. She was runner up in goat tying at the 2006 high school national finals.
Earns silver
Lindsay Anderson, the daughter of Karen and Greg Anderson of Leeds, earned a runner-up finish on Saturday, June 7 at the adidas Golden West Invitational. The meet, which is held in Sacramento, Calif., is one of the top national high school track meets in the country and requires a qualifying time to compete. Her time of 10:35.27 was eclipsed by Nastia Bishton of Glendale, Ariz., who had a time of 10:28.32. Jennifer Bergman of San Jose, Calif. placed third with a time of 10:59.19. Left to right are Bergman, Anderson and Bishton.
Bike-a-thon riders
Before the wind became too strong on Saturday, May 17, these Maddock Park Board bike-a-thon participants rode from the Maddock School to the golf course, a total of five miles round-trip. Their efforts, plus the efforts of those who couldn’t ride that day, raised over $1,400 for youth summer programs at Maddock.
Enters art show
Sheri Groff Tuchscherer of York has entered her watercolor painting of a red and yellow parrot tulip in the Pekin Days Art Show. The show is June 25 to 29, Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is one of the largest judged art shows and sales in North Dakota. Tuchscherer has participated in the show since 1996 and has won awards and had her paintings purchased. She is the daughter of Opal Groff of Harlow and the late Walter Groff.
Donates US Flag
Benson County Sheriff Steve Rohrer, left, donated a new US Flag to fly at the Benson County Courthouse. He is shown helping custodian Lyle Dodds raise the new flag last week.
Board meets for York recount
Members of the Benson County Special Recount Board are pictured going over ballots cast in the city of York on June 10. Left to right are County Auditor Bonnie Erickson, Rhoda Pfeifer, State’s Attorney James Wang and Michael N. Steffan, chairman of the Benson County Board of Commissioners.
York City Council incumbents Janet Nybo and Jim Ritterman were the only ones who filed for the positions. There were five votes for Janelle Hanson, who was elected to one of the positions. Receiving four votes each were Nybo, Ritterman and Art Pederson and there was one vote for Willie Mears Jr.
The recount board threw out one ballot because on the day of the election the judge or inspector did not place his or her initials on the ballot. That resulted in Art Pederson receiving four votes and Nybo and Ritterman receiving three votes each. The board voted to declare Art Pederson the winner.
There was a 4-4 tie on whether or not to publish minutes of city council meetings. When the one ballot was thrown out, the result was 4-3 against publishing the city council proceedings.
This photo of the women of Sheyenne was taken in 1908 at the Richter farm home. Left to right, back row: Jett Richter, Nettie Warren, Ellen Wickstrom, Mrs. Knute Eggar, Mrs. Tuleen, Mrs. Lars Walhus, Mrs. James McCue, Baby Eva Flaskrud, Mrs. Lloyd Whitman, Mrs. Addie Bartley, Mrs. Charles Fisher, Baby Merle Fisher, Mrs. Henry Miller, Baby Dorothy Miller, Mrs. Adeline Richter, Mrs. McFarlane and Nettie Brand Glasrud. Seated in the middle with striped blouse: Mrs. B.L. Garnaas. Ladies standing in front: Florence McFarlane, Maggie McFarlane, Sadie Warren. Ladies seated in front: Mrs. Hans Norin, Mrs. Henry Flaskrud, Floy Richter Johnson, Mrs. Ned Thompson, Mrs. R.B. Warren. Children in front row: Thelma Norin, Harry McCue, June Bartley and Mary Bartley.
One hundred years later this photo of the 2008 women of Sheyenne was reproduced by Stan Kruger of Sheyenne in front of the very same house, now owned by Peter and Patti Larson. As in the original photo, the new photo includes a boy and a dog. Left of the post, back: Pastor Sharron Lucas, Charlotte Larson. Front: Holly Evenson, Hazel Evenson, Denise Labrensz, Allison Labrensz, Patti Jo Larson. Right of post, back: Sharon Witmer, Karen Rieger, Lois Swenson, Linda Drake, Marilynn Kruger, Laurie Westby, Paula Myhre, Chris Warren, Kathy Albrecht, Charlotte Franks-Erickson, Diane Hanson, Marvel Ebenhahn, Alyson Myhre. Middle row: Ida Phyllis Wahlstrom, Shirley Thueson, Emily Garnaas, Dolores Benson. Front row, seated: Becky Meredith, Shirley Westby, Marian Lewis, Frances Eggar, Rhoda Stenberg. Seated on grass: Sandra Larson, Collin Hanson, Emme Myhre, Joanna Larson.
(Photos courtesy of Stanley Kruger.)
Maddock FFA takes part in state convention; many awards received
Twenty-seven members of the A.S. Gibbens FFA Chapter of Maddock participated in or were honored at the 79th annual ND State FFA Convention.
Nominated for the American FFA Degree were Jeffrey Wald and John T. Rice. The American FFA degree is the highest degree that a FFA member can receive and is given to just two percent of the 500,000 National FFA members.
The State FFA degree was presented to Courtney Foss, Michelle Olson, Kimberly Randle and Paul Rice. The state degree is the highest degree that the state FFA can bestow on its members.
Paul Rice, son of John and Barb Rice, was selected the State FFA Star Farmer and Kimberly Randle, daughter of Wayne and Diane Randle, was selected the State FFA Star of Agriscience. Kimberly was also selected the outstanding FFA agriscience student at the convention. Courtney was selected a finalist for the State Star of Agriscience.
Kimberly, Courtney and Beau Buehler received gold awards on their officer books. Paul Rice was a co-chairman of the very important State Officer Screening Committee at the convention. That committee had the difficult task of interviewing and selecting the candidates who were selected to run for the six state FFA offices.
Paul, Kimberly, Michelle, Courtney and John Sears all received gold awards and were the fifth high gold team in the State Dairy Foods Contest. Beau, Alexis Buckmier, Kaidi Kenner, Tyler Sears and Erin Leier were a silver team in the Food Science Career Development Event. Janna Rice, Sharisa Yri and Rachel Olson were a silver team in the horse judging contest with Janna ranking third place gold high individual in the contest. Mikel Buckmier received a silver award in the basic ag mechanics contest. Beau Buehler and Patrick Johnson received silver awards in the advanced ag mechanics contest. Also participating in the advanced ag mechanics contest was Andy Backstrom. Mitch Olson participated in the 10th grade ag mechanics contest.
Members of the State FFA Band were Alex Brandvold, Alexis Buckmier, Noah Engels, Ashley Foss, Kaidi Kenner, Rachel Olson, JD Schmid, John Sears, Tyler Sears and Jason Smith. Members of the State FFA Choir were Preston Gilderhus, Drew Lauinger, Erin Leier and Sharisa Yri.
Preston Gilderhus was runner-up in the Agri-Entrepeneurship Education Award, District 3 winner in the Ag Sales Proficiency Area; and received a silver award fifth high individual in the State FFA Creed Contest.
Delegates from the Maddock FFA to the 79th State FFA Convention were Paul Rice (co-chairman of the State Officer Selection Committee), Michelle Olson, Kimberly Randle, Beau Buehler and Levi Slater. Paul Rice and Levi Slater presented the colors at the opening session.
Maddock FFA members who attended the North Dakota State FFA Convention at NDSU June 2 through 6 are pictured. Left to right, front row are Drew Lauinger, Beau Buehler, Mitch Olson, Noah Engels, Sharisa Yri, Ashley Foss, Alexis Buckmier, Kaidi Kenner, Erin Leier and Rachel Olson. Back row: JD Schmid, Andy Backstrom, Preston Gilderhus, Alex Brandvold, Tyler Sears, Paul Rice, John Sears, Mikel Buckmier, Jason Smith and Patrick Johnson.
Maddock FFA members who took part in the State FFA Band and State FFA Choir are pictured. Left to right, front row: JD Schmid, Noah Engels, Drew Lauinger, Sharisa Yri, Ashley Foss, Alexis Buckmier, Erin Leier and Rachel Olson. Back row: Preston Gilderhus, Alex Brandvold, Tyler Sears, John Sears, Jason Smith and Kaidi Kenner.
Members of the horse judging team, left to right, are Rachel Olson, Sharisa Yri and Janna Rice.
Members of the dairy foods gold team are, left to right, front: Michelle Olson, Courtney Foss and Kimberly Randle. In the rear are John Sears and Paul Rice.
Holding their gold award officer books are, left to right, Kimberly Randle, secretary; Courtney Foss, treasurer; and Beau Buehler, reporter.
Paul Rice is shown giving the screening committee report.
Acting as color guard are Levi Slater, left, and Paul Rice.
