12/31/2008 – News
Volume 125, Number
Leeds native wins trip to Texas
A North Dakota Army National Guard soldier with Leeds roots was chosen to attend the Army All-American Bowl in Texas. He expressed his thanks to a Bismarck Rotary Club December 22, which is helping finance the trip.
Spc. David Young of Devils Lake is among only 20 soldiers in the nation selected for an all-expenses-paid trip to Texas for the ninth annual game on January 3. His wife, Sara, also was given a free ticket, but not airfare. The Bismarck Farwest Rotary Club stepped in to help, collecting $415 for her ticket.
Young is the son of Brian and Linda Young of Leeds and the grandson of Wayne and Mary Brager and Shirley Young of Leeds and the late Allan Young. David Young’s wife, Sara is a native of Bismarck.
"I am very proud of the Farwest Rotary Club’s efforts. Spc. Young has served his country well, both here and overseas, and we’re delighted to see him given this opportunity. I’m sure it will be an unforgettable experience and I’m glad his wife will be able to experience it with him," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, ND National Guard adjutant general. Sprynczynatyk and Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann, deputy adjutant general, both are Farwest Rotary Club members.
Young joined the National Guard in November of 2003 and works full-time as an information technology specialist at North Dakota’s Camp Grafton Training Center south of the city of Devils Lake. He mobilized to Iraq with Company A of the 164th Engineer Battalion from August of 2005 through November of 2006. While deployed, Young received a Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action.
To be considered for selection for this event, soldiers need to be of good moral character and have received at least one of three significant military awards: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with "V" device for valor or a Purple Heart Medal.
The All-American Bowl consists of 90 of the nation’s top high school football players competing in an East vs. West challenge. The Army All-American Band also performs; it’s comprised of talented high school band members, cheerleaders and dance team members from across the United States.
The game will be broadcast on NBC at noon Jan. 3 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tex.
Since the terrorist attacks on America, the ND National Guard has mobilized more than 2,700 soldiers and more than 1,600 airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, more than 200 soldiers and airmen from the ND National Guard remain on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations throughout Southwest Asia. More than 3,000 National Guardsmen remain in North Dakota and are available to provide support for state and national emergencies and homeland defense.
Representing the Farwest Rotary Club in Bismarck, Paul Gurholt (left) stands with Master Sgt. John Yarbrough, Spc. David Young and Sara Young. Yarbrough nominated Spc. Young for the honor of being one of only 20 soldiers to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the All-American Bowl in Texas next month. Farwest Rotary provided Spc.
Young’s wife, Sara, with $415 so she could accompany her husband on the once-in-a-lifetime trip. Spc. Young is a native of Leeds.
Maddock Food Pantry open for business
The Maddock Community Food Pantry is open (the same hours as the church — usually until about 5:30 p.m. weekdays) in the basement of the North Viking Church in Maddock. Signs will direct people to the pantry (go to the end of the entry and the stairway is on the right then down the stairway and turn left). It is stocked with a wide variety of foods, diapers, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products.
The needs in the Maddock area probably lean more to the people who can’t make their Social Security checks or paychecks stretch until the next one comes. If a community member needs those one, or several, days worth of food and supplies, they shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of the pantry. Additionally, if a community member knows of people who are shut-ins or aren’t comfortable stopping at the church on their own, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to take a small bag of goodies and deliver them and encourage them to pick out their own items next time.
Currently the pantry is well stocked with a wide variety, so additional donations are not being sought at this time. Cash donations that will be used to supplement the pantry as supplies dwindle are always welcome.
"Now the challenge will be getting the word out to those people who have the need and then getting them to accept the gifts offered," said Joann Bergrud, one of the volunteers at the pantry. "Ours is a proud community and people don’t like to admit when they’re struggling. We all understand that, but because of the availability of the Food Pantry there’s no need to go hungry so the gas or heating bill can be paid," she concluded.
Fund enriched
The 3 Sisters Quilt Shop of New Rockford showed their wares at the home of Codi and Curt Olson during the Maddock Bleacher Fund Tour of Homes. Christmas decorations were for sale and the Bleacher Fund received a donation of 20 percent of those sales. Left to right are Jodi Carlson of 3 Sisters presenting a check for $150 to Corinne Stadum and Flo Kallenbach, representing the Maddock Bleacher Fund.
