2/11/2009 – News
Volume 126, Number 2
Minnewaukan plans Fffishtival
Minnewaukan will hold its 4th annual Fffishtival on Saturday, March 7. The event is held at the Minnewaukan recreation area at the east end of Main Street near the boat ramp. There will be games and activities for kids of all ages. Paint ball activities will be provided by Dean Lundin. Some of the favorite activities include tug-of-war on the ice and paddlewheel drawings for prizes.
This year the club will be adding a flea market and craft show at the Minnewaukan High School. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors are invited to call Lisa at 701-351-7029 to reserve a spot. There is no charge for vendors. Tables are available for rent if needed.
The Fffishtival began as an idea shared by local business owners who wanted to bring people to the western shore of Devils Lake and offer an outdoor family activity. The Minnewaukan Community Club sponsors the event. Proceeds from the event go to maintaining Minnewaukan’s state-of-the-art fish cleaning station and two boat landings.
An ice fishing contest will be held. Participants can register and pick up rules at the Fffishtival grounds on the day of the event, March 7. Fishing hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entry fee is the purchase of a $3 raffle ticket. Prizes will be awarded for walleye, perch and pike. First prize in each category is $25, second prize is $50, third prize is $75. Weigh-in is at 3 p.m. at the Fffishtival grounds.
Minnewaukan Community Club members will be serving burgers, barbecues and hot dogs. The Minnewaukan Library will sell fresh homemade doughnuts, coffee and hot cider.
Raffle tickets are on sale now for $3 each or two for $5. They are available at local businesses or from Minnewaukan Community Club members. First prize is $400. Second prize is a bookcase with glass doors. Third prize is a $100 gift certificate from McQuoid’s Grocery. The raffle ticket also qualifies the holder for prizes drawn all day on the Fffishtival grounds. More than 40 area businesses are supporting the Fffishtival with donations. The grand prize drawing for the top three prizes will be held after the fishing contest weigh-in. Ticket holders need not be present to win. Prizes must be redeemed within 30 days.
The Minnewaukan Community Club’s annual Fffishtival will be held March 7 at the boat ramp area northeast of the water tower. Allan Nord is pictured at last year’s Fffishtival beside the paddlewheel which was used to determine drawing winners.
Paul Streifel, Elaine Darling and George Howard are shown at last year’s Fffishtival enjoying some Fffishtival food.
Wolford woman among national delegates working on Army issues
Editor’s note: This article features Kathy Benson, former business manager at the Leeds School and resident of Wolford.
A North Dakota National Guard volunteer was among 117 delegates — and only nine National Guard representatives — selected to attend the Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) World Wide Conference.
Kathy Benson of Wolford spent last week in Alexandria, Va. working on issues relevant to the Army community: soldiers, families, retirees, Department of the Army civilians and employers.
"Kathy has attended this conference in the past and is highly regarded as a representative," said Rob Keller, Family Program Office director for the ND National Guard. "She represents not only North Dakota but the entire National Guard on issues relevant to the families of National Guard members."
This was Benson’s fourth year of participating in the AFAP Conference, having gone in 2003, 2006 and 2007.
At this year’s conference, Benson and other delegates reviewed 67 issues of interest to the Army community. Each of eight subject-specific workgroups sent two issues forward. For Benson, whose group focused on family support, the issues chosen to advance included "Collaborative Community Support of Severely Wounded, Injured and Ill Soldiers and their Families."
"This issue was submitted because of a problem of coordinating the good wishes of a community wanting to do the most for a returning Army wounded warrior and not having awareness of those soldiers and families," Benson said. "It was a combination of security, privacy and personal dignity. I feel this issue can impact any returning service member to home in North Dakota, due to the logistics of access to rural health facilities and the sometimes overwhelming kindness of community neighbors."
The second issue Benson’s group advanced was "Availability of Respite Care for Primary Caregivers of Severely Wounded, Injured and Ill Soldiers."
"This is an issue for anyone in North Dakota recovering from an accident or stroke and living in a rural area," Benson said. "It has greater impact on the young, single soldier who is now dependent on his or her parents for all daily living activities."
The next step for all 16 issues will be review at the General Officers Steering Committee meeting this summer. In the 25 years since the AFAP conference formed to identify and prioritize issues to improve the standard of living in the Army, 633 issues have been identified. The group drove 107 legislative changes, 154 Army policy and regulatory changes and improved 173 programs and services. While Army focused, nearly two-thirds of these issues impacted all branches of service.
"It was a very challenging week, but the results are enormous — a truly rewarding sense of accomplishment to see things ‘get done’ and be part of it," Benson said.
Benson’s husband, Master Sgt. Dean Benson, serves in the ND Army National Guard. She became involved with volunteering for the Guard Family Programs in 1986. She has been the co-chairperson for the Cando-based and Engineer Brigade Family Readiness Groups, leader of the Joint Force Headquarters Family Readiness Group, served on the Family Executive Committee and currently is a volunteer-at-large. She also remains active in military organizations, belonging to the York post of the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary in Devils Lake.
Kathy Benson
Maddock promoter
Debbie Tracy is the new Maddock Community Development director, assuming duties January 1, 2009. The director position was created at the city level through the Horizons Program. Tracy’s duties include developing, planning, directing and coordinating programs and services that promote economic development in the Maddock area by working to expand existing businesses and services and attracting new businesses, services and industry. Tracy and her husband, Pat, also own Tracy’s Market in Maddock. The parents of three and grandparents of two are originally from South Dakota.
Students and bubbles
Mrs. Nybo’s kindergarten class in Leeds braved subzero temperatures in the name of science. Students observed as they blew bubbles to determine how cold weather affects the bubbles. Mrs. Nathan looks on as kindergarten students do their bubble science experiment.
Special visitor
Debbie Tracy, director of Maddock Community Development, and Pam Lee, city auditor at Maddock, received a visit from North Dakota Governor John Hoeven while manning the city’s booth in the Capitol Building during Rural Economic Development Days in Bismarck January 30. Left to right are Debbie Tracy, Gov. Hoeven and Pam Lee.
Wins puppy
Lucky winner Rod Maddock is shown with his new Bichon Frise puppy that was donated to the Maddock School Bleacher Fund by Natalia Wright (left) and her sister Nikita. The raffles of beef, quilt and puppy raised $1,505 for the bleacher fund.
Warwick SOM
December students of the month at Warwick School are, front row, left to right, Amber Rose Redfox, Mark Shaw and Patrick Little. Posing with the students are, back row, left to right, Superintendent Charles Guthrie, school board member Kay Gravdahl and Elementary Principal Steve Jacobson.
Win savings bonds
Winners of the $50 US Savings Bonds at the Maddock High School college financial aid meeting on February 4 were Tyler Lang, left, and Tyler Sears, right. The bonds were donated by Ramsey National Bank and the North Star Community Credit Union. The two financial institutions also sponsored the educational event.
Credit Union donates
The North Star Community Credit Union in Maddock collected dry goods and cash donations from the staff and community for the Maddock Community Food Pantry through the month of December. The credit union matched all donations, including cash donations. Food pantry donations were collected in all four NSCCU branches for donation to their local food pantries and NSCCU will have contributed nearly $3,000 to those food pantries. Pictured are the dry goods that were donated. Left to right, standing, are Joann Bergrud and Nancy Abrahamson. Kneeling are Bernie Kanzelman and Mary Engh.
Food pantry funds
Joann Bergrud, left, a representative of the Maddock Community Food Pantry is shown accepting a check for $1,685 from Judy Kallenbach of Ramsey National Bank in Maddock. The funds represent donations from the community which were matched by Ramsey National Bank during the holiday season. The Maddock Community Food Pantry is housed in the North Viking Lutheran Church in Maddock.
Perfect attendance
Students at the Warwick School who had perfect attendance for the second quarter were, left to right, front row: Elisha Baker, Dominic Baker, Eddie Alcalan, Caley Littlewind, Amber Lovejoy and April Tollefson. Back row: Thorne Poitra, Constance Paul, Collin Delorme, Sangeigh Delorme, Frank Demarce, Samone Motley and Traci Owlboy.
Students in the Warwick Elementary School who had perfect attendance in January are pictured with Principal Steve Jacobson. Having perfect attendance were Marlin Demarce, Julian Hill, Kalista Jackson and Keyen Omen, kindergarten; Jackson Delorme, first grade; Jordan Bertsch, Amber Redfox and Chandler Redfox, second grade; Sage Bertsch, Jayryl Guy and Julia Hill, third grade; Ebonie Hobson and Katelyn Omen, fourth grade; Rainell Hobson, fifth grade; and Jose Guy, Scott Kraft, Danielle Owlboy and Tristan Redfox, sixth grade.
Students who were absent for only one or two days during the second quarter were, left to right, Constance Paul, Sindy Volk and Monae Mendoza.
Students who were absent for only two or three days during the second quarter were, left to right, front row, Wyat Redfox, Johnson Tollefson and Leanna Ross. Back row: Tia Hobson, Coltan Littleghost, Nic Joramo, Sky Littlewind, Tyler Ross, Talen Lohnes, Justine Ross, Thamarah Morin and Felicia Owlboy.
Students who were absent for only three or four days during the second quarter, were, left to right, Erica Tomahawk, Mary Feather, Chassie Guthrie and Jalen Kingbird.
Students of quarter
Students of the quarter for the second quarter at the Warwick School are, left to right, Thorne Poitra, grades 7-9 and Craig Brown, grades 10-12.
Students of the quarter for the first quarter were, left to right, Samone Motley, grades 7-9, Mr. Guthrie and Samantha Joramo, grades 10-12.
Student of the quarter nominees for grades 10-12 are shown. Left to right are Supt. Guthrie, Craig Brown, Brittni Baker, Chassie Guthrie, Ryan Jetty and Samantha Joramo.
Student of the quarter nominees for the second quarter from grades 7-9 are pictured with Mr. Guthrie, left. They are, left to right, Thorne Poitra, Eddie Alcalan, Sangeigh Delorme, Monae Mendoza and Brooke Redfox.
