1/21/2009 – News
Volume 125, Number 51
Schoolmates meet in Persian Gulf
During the 1977-78 school year at Fessenden, Johnny Thomas was a fourth grader and Brian Weigelt a first grader. Fourth graders and first graders are a world apart at that age and don’t typically spend a lot of time together. Johnny and Brian never played together or probably even talked to each other — until they met in the Persian Gulf in December 2008.
Thomas moved to Minnewaukan and graduated from high school in 1986. After several years he decided to join the Navy. Following basic training, he completed additional training to be a sonar technician in San Diego, Calif. and spent the next 12 years there. While in San Diego he met Julie, a New Yorker, also in the Navy. They were married, she completed her time of service and focused on family. Two years ago Thomas became a Navy warrant officer while stationed in Norfolk, Va. He is currently the Combat Information Center Officer in USS RAMAGE (DDG61). The Thomas family, Johnny, Julie, Brendan and Gabrielle, live in Virginia Beach, Va.
Weigelt graduated from Fessenden High school in 1989. After graduating from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kans., he attended Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. While a student there, he became a chaplain candidate in the Navy, then met and married Rosslyn, who came from Adelaide, Australia, also a seminary student. After receiving their seminary degrees, they moved to Coquille, Ore., where they pastored a church and Brian served as a chaplain in the Navy Reserve. In December of 2003, he became an active duty Navy chaplain and is currently the Destroyer Squadron 22 chaplain based in Norfolk. Brian, Rosslyn and daughter Eliza, live in Suffolk, Va.
Both Thomas, right, and Weigelt are deployed to the Persian Gulf. Weigelt is not assigned to RAMAGE, but decided to visit for several days since they do not have a chaplain. During that visit, Thomas and Weigelt learned they were both from North Dakota. The big surprise was that they had both attended school in Fessenden. They had the same teachers for the first three grades — Miss Monk, Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Arusell. They also knew many of the same students from Fessenden.
Their parents, Roger and Sandie Odden live in Minnewaukan and Lewis and Judy Weigelt live in Manfred.
Story and photo courtesy of The Herald-Press, Harvey ND.
Honor Gumeringers
Edward B Gumeringer, left, and Edmund J. Gumeringer, right, of Esmond were honored at the ND Township Officers Assn. in Bismarck December 1. They were presented the 2008 Grassroots Government Leadership Award. The twins have served Alexanter Township of Pierce County for more than 48 years. Ralph Olson of Maddock, center, nominated them for the award.
Successful students
On January 8 several elementary students from the Maddock School were treated to a pizza party with elementary principal Mrs. Penny Leier. The students were invited to the party after being nominated by parents and teachers. At the beginning of the year the students were given a list of characteristics to be a successful student. Some of the characteristics included saying "thank you" when something is given to them and completing homework on time. The elementary teachers and the students’ parents observed the students during the first and second quarters and nominated the students when they consistently exhibited the good behaviors. The students have now received a second list of characteristics and will work on them during the next quarter. Students who attended the party were, left to right, standing and kneeling in the front row: Abigail Grossman, Jacob Arnold, Natalia Wright, Talissa Aabrekke, Blake Buckmier and Madyson Sears. Standing on the right side are Maria Sears and Alexis Gigstad. Second row: Brady Kallenbach, Samuel Hill and Marissa Lunde. Third row: Jessica Hill, Megan Olson, Kenadi Lee and Kennedy Doornbos.
Hoop Shoot winners
Forty students ages 8 through 13 competed in the Annual Elks Hoop Shoot Sunday, Jan. 11 at the Devils Lake Sports Center. The event was sponsored by Devils Lake Elks Lodge 1216. Participants were from communities throughout the Lake Region. This year’s winners include, left to right, back row, Hunter Sand (18/25) of Dakota Prairie (Pekin); Quentin Sears (18/25) of Maddock; and Jayden Komrosky (19/25) of North Star (Cando). Front row: Allie Heisler (23/25) of North Star; Stephanie Miller (18/25) of North Star; and Emily Schafer (15/25) of Devils Lake. They competed in the state competition January 17 in Jamestown.
Students of month
December students of the month at the Tate Topa Middle School in Fort Totten are, left to right, back row: Michelle Spottedhorse, Lacey Brown, Gabrielle Teel and Fabian Wilson. Front row: Maria Joshua, Awashtay Comer, Sarah Robertson and John Conqueringbear.
November students of the month at the Tate Topa Middle School in Fort Totten are, left to right, back row: Gabrielle Iceman, Kara Shaw, Chelsea Longie and Zoe Azure. Front row: Ilana Greybear, Sherea Lenoir, Karaleigh Omen and Mikayla Greywater.
Santa makes visit to Memorial Home
Left to right are Jim Elstad, Santa Claus, Spencer Olson, Colton Green, Chase Benson, Justin Green and Tate Benson. These are just a few people who enjoyed Santa’s visit to the Maddock Memorial Home during the home’s family Christmas party.
Focus on Children
The Warwick FCCLA high school members Samantha Joramo, Shayna Black and Chassie Guthrie teamed up with Mrs. Barb Eversvik’s eighth grade FACS class and Mrs. Charlotte Franks-Erickson’s kindergarten class for a project entitled "Learning Healthy Habits." The three FCCLA members will be entering this project in the STAR event competition called "Focus on Children." The eighth grade FACS class helped by reading four books to the kindergarten class over a month’s time, along with doing related activities planned and overseen by the three FCCLA members and Mrs. Eversvik. The books’ titles were Through the Eyes of the Eagle, Tricky Treats, Plate Full of Color and Knees Lifted High. Johnson Tollefson (center) is shown doing a healthy/unhealthy snack activity with Nathan Cavanaugh (left) and Cole Smith (right) of the kindergarten class.
Dakota Growers
John Rice Jr. of Maddock and Ardon Herman of Brinsmade work on a complex problem at the Dakota Growers Pasta Co. meeting held at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake January 10. Rice is a member of the board of directors of the company. Many stockholders of the company live in Benson County and were among the 200 who attended the meeting. (Photo by Bill Ongstad of Harvey)
Movement and learning at Warwick School
"You Move — You Learn" was the title of a workshop for staff at the Warwick School put on by Mary Ann Johnson, Jann Belanus and Diane Lieppert. Wayne Hooey does his version of "the tunnel." In the background are Ron Jacobson, Stacy Luehring, Barb Eversvik, Roxanne Langguard and Patti Clifton.
Equipment the Warwick School received for checkout by teachers in utilizing movement with learning was demonstrated. Left to right are Sandra Barber, Rita Kaeding, John Sjoquist and Karlene Warner as they try out the balance discs.
Stacy Helm-Sjoquist watches as Kelly Lund tries out the alphabet discs.
Poinsettia gifts
The Heart of America Medical Center and Haaland Estates in Rugby received poinsettias as a gift from the Rugby community. This was a charity drive conducted by Pamida in Rugby over the holidays. Customers were asked to purchase a poinsettia to give to residents at the Haaland Estates and the Heart of America Long Term Care Unit. Left to right are Delphia Moors, Doris Smith, Ila Selzler, Florence Beaver, Eleanor Nerpel, Emily Brossart and Bertha Hagboe.
