4/7/2010 – News

BY ANNE-MARIT BERGSTROM

Devils Lake Journal

Darlene and Lyle Dodds of rural Leeds are the recipients of the Unsung Hero Award for March of 2010.

Presently, two of their three sons, Sergeant First Class David Dodds and Sergeant Josh Dodds, are serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo, the former Yugoslavia. Derek, their third son, now a civilian, is a six-year veteran of the US Air Force at the Minot Air Force Base.

With great enthusiasm, Lyle and Darlene say, "We are proud of all three of our sons." And they have just reason to be proud. Their family serves their country well.

David and Josh are among nine soldiers in the 116th Public Affairs Detachment. Their unit, KFOR-12, is made up of 700 North Dakota National Guardsmen and 700 to 800 guardsmen from other states.

This isn’t the first time the Dodds brothers have been deployed. David spent time in Quatar in the Persian Gulf in 2006-2007. He has spent 20 years in the National Guard.

David said, "I was in the guard for four years before going anywhere.

Now this is my second deployment."

He has been in the service since he was a junior in high school.

The Dodds know of at least two other Benson County natives who are serving in KFOR-12. They are Captain Brock Larson and Spc. David Young, both natives of Leeds.

Darlene and Lyle are grateful for the great system of support made possible by our modern means of communication. She says, "With e-mail, spouses and families can keep in touch and support one another. David has three children and he saw the youngest take her first steps on ‘Skype.’ "

Darlene says, "We’re living every day with them until they are back on our soil. They are always your ‘kids.’ I don’t care if they are three years old or 30."

Darlene and Lyle have lived other places in North Dakota during their married life, but are happy to once again be living in the Lake Region.

They own the farmstead formerly occupied by her uncle and aunt, Jorgen and Leila Jorgenson.

Recently, the Dodds have enjoyed restoring the one-room Coulee Country School. They moved the school one-fourth mile to a spot in their farmyard. As a child Darlene attended school in this schoolhouse, so it brings back fond memories for her.

Coulee School was built near York in 1885 and served the community as a school until 1957. Darlene and Lyle are careful to make certain that everything in the school house is authentic. The bookcases, sandbox and many of the furnishings are original. One of the desk tops has the Missouri River carved on it. Darlene confides, "My father carved it when he was a student at the school."

It is a great joy for Darlene to see her grandchildren playing school in the schoolhouse.

Darlene and Lyle, who met when they were students at Lake Region State College, have been married 40 years. With her warm smile, Darlene says, "We’ve been blessed."

Now they prayerfully await the return of their sons from Kosovo.

Ramsey Bank and Lake Chevrolet, both of Devils Lake, sponsor the Unsung Hero Award each month. Pictured, left to right, are Nikki Johnson of Lake Chevrolet; Vickie Heit of Ramsey Bank; and Lyle Dodds, Darlene Dodds (with arms around granddaughter Eliza) and David Dodds (holding daughter Josie), who was home for a one-week leave from his duties in Kosovo.

Although no vote was taken, the majority of people present seemed to be in favor of staying in Minnewaukan. Nobody spoke in favor of the city council asking for a buyout. In fact, however, no buyout is possible at this time because the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan has not yet been written. Benson County Emergency Manager Dawn Flemmer and Rick Anderson of North Central Planning are presently working on the plan but it may not be completed this year.

A number of officials were present. Michael Hall of FEMA and at least three people from the US Army Corps of Engineers were present. The spokesman for the Corps said he was not able to give possible solutions because the city has to tell the Corps what it wants to do. He did say that the Corps is not interested in temporary dikes or temporary solutions. Because of the risk involved in holding back water for long periods of time, "you need better standards than emergency levees," he said. All Corps projects require a 25% match. The match money could come from the city, the county or the state — it doesn’t matter to the Corps.

In 2003 it was estimated a dike to protect Minnewaukan would cost $10 to

$12 million. The annual cost of pumping rainwater and drainage water from the dry side of the dike to the lake would be in the neighborhood of $100,000 annually. Council member Steve Huffman said this would be an annual cost of about $700 per household.

There were a number of elected officials present, including city council members Trish McQuoid, Mark Motis, Steven Huffman, Rita Staloch and Shane Monda. At least three county commissioners, Lowell Haagenson of Leeds, Jason Lee of Maddock and Davey Davidson of Fort Totten were present.

Legislators present were Sen. Joan Heckaman (D-New Rockford) and Rep.

Don Vigesaa (R-Cooperstown) of District 23; Rep. Jon Nelson (R-Wolford) of District 7; and Rep. Dennis Johnson (R-Devils Lake) of District 15.

Bill Devlin of Finley, Republican house candidate in District 23, was also present.

Rep. Vigesaa and Sen. Heckaman said they would do whatever they could in the legislature to help Minnewaukan. Rep. Johnson said it was important that the city prepare a plan of action so the legislators have something to work with.

Among state officials present were mitigation specialist Ray Morrell and Jeff Klein and Bruce Engelhardt of the State Water Commission.

Local officials included Rick Anderson of North Central Planning and Joe Belford of Devils Lake, who has been immersed in the water issues of this area for more than 17 years.

Mayor McQuoid told of the many meetings she has been attending in an effort to come up with solutions and financing to fund those solutions.

She said the $300,000 in federal funds that were earmarked by Sen.

Dorgan do not necessarily have to be used on the water tower, but could be used for the repair or replacement of any portion of the city’s water system.

Mrs. McQuoid said the sandbags and sand used to build a dike to protect the Risovi home were paid for through the emergency disaster declaration proclaimed by President Obama last month. These funds can be used for temporary measures to protect the city from flooding.

She said if further sandbagging is necessary, the Salvation Army has offered to serve lunch. The Salvation Army will also provide free cleanup kits to people who have had water in their basements.

A Community Development Block Grant of $55,400 was awarded for concrete barriers to be placed on the edge of the school parking lot to break the waves and save the parking lot from damage. The barriers will not keep water off the parking lot if the lake rises high enough.
"We want to know what you want us to do," Mrs. McQuoid said. It was decided that another public meeting will be held in two to three weeks for the council to get an idea of what the people want and to give some possible courses of action.
Council member Rita Staloch said the three sewage lift stations in town had been raised in 2009 and those sewers which were not lined in 2000 were lined in 2009. "We believe the sewer system will function up to a lake level of 1455," Mrs. Staloch said.
The sewer main in the north part of town on D Street was successfully plugged recently by Black Construction of Devils Lake. Water from the lake was infiltrating the sewer main because of improperly plugged sewer services after structures were moved out of town.
She explained that as homeowners settle with flood insurance, they must apply for a permit to remove their houses from town. The sewer must either be plugged at the main or provide proof that the sewer service was replaced with PVC pipe in 2000, when many people did this. If such proof cannot be provided, the sewer must be relined or the sewer plugged at the main. The work must be done by a certified plumber. This will require digging up the pavement and the cost will be in the neighborhood of $10,000. Homeowners who plan to negotiate with the National Flood Insurance Program should be certain to include this expense in the negotiations.
Former Mayor Al Staloch told the gathering that he received a flood insurance settlement of $65,000 and relocating in Minnewaukan cost about double that.
Staloch and Trinity Free Lutheran Church are the only ones who accepted a flood insurance settlement and relocated in Minnewaukan. Others who have negotiated settlements with flood insurance and moved their houses out of town were Liz Stensby, Clinton and Ellen Huffman, the late Fred and Alma Johnson, Carrol and Joyce Rognlie, Millie Banet, Hermoine Jorgenson, Jim Ripplinger, Gary King and the late Harry and Evelyn Cline home. At least three more homes are apparently eligible for settlement and there will be more as the level of the lake increases.
Council member Steven Huffman told the gathering that when he was elected to the council in 2006 he was appointed to handle the water, sewer and garbage portfolio. At that time, said Huffman, the water and sewer fund was $31,000 in the hole. It is in the black today. "A big part of our problem," said Huffman, "is that the city didn’t have any reserves and we’re trying to build up some reserves, but under the present conditions, that’s pretty difficult."
He said the council has increased water fees and reduced man-hours.
Another cost cutting program will be put into effect soon. Water meters will be read only twice a year. Homeowners will pay a regular rate five months and then the meter will be read and homeowners will pay the overage during the sixth month. It was estimated this program would result in a reduction of 458 man-hours per year.
Huffman said the city currently has 175 water and sewer hookups. He felt the city would be viable with 121 hookups. "Anything less than that figure and you’re going backward (financially)."
He said 111 flood insurance policies have been taken out by people with Minnewaukan addresses.
Council member Shane Monda said the city simply can’t afford the 25% cost share for permanent diking as envisioned by the Corps. He felt operating the pumps which would be needed are beyond the city’s ability to fund.
Bruce Engelhardt said the state’s 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) outlet will be in operation by May 1. It will be increased to 250 cfs by early June. "But we probably aren’t going to be able to operate at 250 cfs all the time," he said. If there are heavy rains the pumps will have to be shut off because the Sheyenne River won’t be able to handle all the water. There’s also the constraint of water quality below the Baldhill Dam near Valley City.
In response to a question, Engelhardt said he thought it was unlikely a dam would be built between Stump Lake and the Tolna Coulee to keep water from flowing out naturally. "I don’t think regulations would allow that," he said.
However, if water starts flowing and threatens to erode the natural outlet down to a level below 1458, he thought there was a possibility the natural outlet might be armored to preclude any such erosion.
Those present were encouraged to write down their thoughts and get them to members of the city council.
Joe Belford said, "We’re all in this together and Minnewaukan is included in whatever plans are made for the basin."

Minnewaukan Mayor Trish McQuoid was moderator at the public meeting held April 1.

Smith given quilt
Gordon Smith of Esmond shows the quilt he received from the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 4251 of Esmond. Smith is a World War II veteran.

17 through March 9. The event was held in conjunction with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in February, Reading Month, Read Across America Week and Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

The event was created to celebrate reading and get the students excited about the school’s new Accelerated Reader program. This program allows students to select books at their lexile level. After reading the book they are able to take a test on a computer or the school’s new neo2s.

Each book is given points based on its level and difficulty. Once a student passes a test they are awarded points which can be tracked in a Web-based program.

The event started with an opening ceremony on February 17 during which classes paraded into the gym to the Olympic theme song with their class flags. Mrs. Arness was the torch bearer. The pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes made up the audience. After the parade of classes the Reading Olympics was outlined to the students. The kids were excited to get back to their rooms and start reading right away!

The Reading Olympics allowed students to earn medals based on how many times they read in school and brought their reading slips (for grades pre-kindergarthen through first grade) or how many Accelerated Reader points they earned (for grades two through six). In addition to winning medals, each participant in the Reading Olympics who earned at least one Accelerated Reader point earned a Reading STAR participant T-shirt and a free book. Bronze medalists won a medal, a bookmark, bookworm eraser and a free book. Silver medalists won the above prizes, a water bottle and two books. Gold medalists won the above prizes and three books to add to their library.

The special event also featured dress up days and special reading time in class in the library. The dress up days included: Olympics ring color days (wear red, wear yellow, wear green, wear blue and wear black).

Other dress up days were: Sweats Day – Reading is No Sweat; Hat Day – Hats Off to Reading; Jeans Day – Be a Jean-ious . . . Read; Funky Socks Day – Reading Will Knock Your Socks Off; and Pajama Day, where students and teachers wore their pajamas to school and enjoyed extra reading time while snacking on popcorn.

Another highlight of the Reading Olympics were the two Culture Days that were planned to teach the students about various countries and cultures.

The first Culture Day took place on Friday, February 26 from 1:45 to

3:15 p.m. The countries featured were Canada, China, Spain and Mexico.

The students visited Canada in the sixth grade room with Mrs. Risovi.

Along with learning about Canada, students learned about the sport of curling by having the school secretary, Rachelle Williams, an avid curler, come and show some curling equipment. The students then were able to head outside to practive throwing a makeshift "rock" like the curlers do. In Canada they were also able to taste vinegar fries and ketchup chips.

China was located in the second grade room with Mrs. Arness. The students learned about the Chinese culture, learned Chinese words, made dragon puppets and tasted General Tso’s chicken.

Spain and Mexico were in the art room with Mrs. Karlin and Mrs. Luhman.

There the students learned about fiestas and made pi?atas.

The second Culture Day took place on Friday, March 5 and featured Mexico, Norway and the USA. Mexico was located in the third grade room with Mrs. Benson. The students enjoyed watching videos of their teachers dancing Mexican dances on a program called Jib Jab. In addition to learning about Mexico, the students were able to enjoy chips, salsa, quesadillas and tried their luck at a Mexican hat dance.

Norway was located in the fourth grade room with Mrs. Heser and Miss Larson. The students learned about Norway, how to say various words in Norwegian and learned about lefse. The third through sixth grades rolled lefse with the help of Miss Larson, Mrs. Salisbury and Ms. Dyste. The first and second graders buttered and sugared lefse before tasting it.

The pre-kindergarten class also visited Norway earlier in the day to read a troll story and taste lefse.

The United States was located in the first grade room with Mrs. Cline.

The students enjoyed apple pie while learning about proper America flag etiquette and folding. The students also participated in a USA word find and the student who found the most words won a baseball.

In addition to the Culture Days, the students celebrated Dr. Seuss’

birthday on March 2. The students enjoyed a Dr. Seuss book display in the hall, red and white striped cupcakes at lunch and were read Dr.

Seuss books in the library by the Cat in the Hat. Guest "Cat in the Hat" readers were Mrs. Callahan, student teacher Miss Hjinos and high school seniors Shayna Sherman and Emily Swenson.
The reading activities ended on March 9 with a closing ceremony. Again, classes paraded in with their class flags. Torch bearer was fifth grader MaKayla Leaf. MaKayla carried the torch because she was the elementary student who had earned the most points during the Reading Olympics. She earned 21 points! Each teacher awarded their participant awards and medal winners. After all medals were given out a special award was given to MaKayla Leaf for being the MVP. She earned a teddy bear and a $20 Wal-Mart gift card.
Just because the Reading Olympics came to an end does not mean reading is over. The next challenge is a teacher vs. student reading challenge. The teachers are working to earn more Accelerated Reader points than their students. So far, it looks like the students are in the lead. This challenge will continue until the end of the year.

Gold medalists are shown left to right, top row: Talissa Ami, MaKayla Leaf, Taeya Thomas, Marissa Volk, Louie Blacklance, Cequoia Santos, Emma Thompson and Tesa Sherman. Middle row: Melissa Olson, Darsie Longie,Gabbie Mudgett, Jenna MakesGood, Shannon Beecroft and Jeremy Vivier. Front row: Zach Littlewind, Tyreese Leaf, Dason Longie, Aaron Green, Kathleen Shively, Chad Poitra, Shelby Beecroft and Kiarra Olson.

Silver medalists are shown left to right, top row: Tayla Thumb, Jaelynn Greywater, O’Shea Redfox, Shania Longie, Rolynda Herald, Dusti Greywater, Angelica Chavelas, Rayann McKay, Koltin ThreeIrons and Lance Gourd. Middle row: Jeremy Rainbow, Shawnathon DeMarris, LaShae Martin, Casey Greywater, Ambrosa Littlewind, Joran Rainbow and Breena Alberts.
Front row: Jalisha Greywater, Jerison Lenoir, Alias Hill, Adriano Martin, Jason Vivier, Jaeshawn Shaw, Brenn Alberts, Tia Brien and Alexis Driver.

Bronze medalists are shown left to right, top row: Tiana Thumb, Nick Greywater, Frank Gourd, Brandon Spottedbird, Julian Cavanaugh, Paul Azure, Thad Schlotman and Kaitlyn Hillebrand. Middle row: Kobe Nestell, Paulson Schlotman, Brooklyn Belgarde, Julieann Santos, Raquel Vivier, Dominique Brien, Cierra Green and Austin Crosswhite. Front row: Shandiin Ami, Austin Littlewind, Vincent Shaw, Ester Dauphinais, Taylor Baker, Emille Driver, Cora Blacklance, Noah Littlewind, Devin Littlewind, Dakota Whiteshield, Sierra Herald and Eric Thompson.

Fifth grader MaKayla Leaf earned the most points during the Reading Olympics and won a $20 Wal-Mart gift card and a teddy bear.

Fifth grader Paul Azure rolls lefse with the help of Ms. Dyste.

Mrs. Benson teaches a Mexican dance to grades three and four.

Sixth graders work on their pi?ata in Spain and Mexico. Left to right are Kaitlyn Hillebrand, Cequoia Santos, Lisa Robertson and Angelica Chavelas.

Seniors Shayna Sherman and Emily Swenson read to the fourth graders on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

Fifth graders Thad Schlotman, Talissa Ami and O’Shea Redfox learn how to fold the American flag with help from sixth grader Tesa Sherman and Mrs. Cline.

Third grader Julian Azure throws the rock with Mrs. Risovi while curling in Canada.

Fourth grader Miranda Littleghost tries sweeping for Rachelle Williams as she taught about curling.