McKenzie County ND

Spend two hours in the McKenzie County Courthouse, from 10 a.m. until noon, watching a video conference about how a rural county reversed outmigration?

The only cost is your time, and you will be fed afterward.

Yes, a pioneer in revitalization is Miner County in eastern South Dakota. Inspirational to McKenzie County and others seeking improvements, the Miner County Story will be told via 2-hour video conference “aired” at the McKenzie County Courthouse. Lunch will be served immediately by the Horizons Community Leadership to Reduce Poverty in McKenzie County group afterward on Friday, March 7.

You are invited to hear and see first-hand how local leaders change their rural community, to see what it takes, how they started (with youth!) and the lessons they learned. Their grassroots efforts reversed population decline and was a feature story on the Wall Street Journal’s front page in 2005.

Heralded as “the most extraordinary rural development project in the nation” by Dr. Forrest Calico of the National Rural Health Association one year ago, the story begins in 1995 with a three-year successful effort to connect rural schools with their communities.

The vision? To sustain a community by meeting basic needs, for a community is only as well off as its most destitute citizen; and to grow within ecological lines, for the people must inhabit the community in ways that sustain it for future generations.

You must pre-register by March 3. Contact Sandy Erickson at 701-328-9718 or email

sandra.k.erickson@ndsu.edu.

Northwest Area Foundation, a sponsor of this local Horizons program, chose Miner County as a partner in January 1999 because the county showed community cohesion and the ability to work together; they showed an understanding that economic , social and environmental issues are interconnected and must be addressed together; the county had already worked with at least one outside organization on community development and showed motivation to build on that work, plus, success seemed difficult without further access to outside resources.

The rest of the story may be seen and heard at 10 a.m. central time in the McKenzie County Courthouse, Watford City, on Friday, March 7, 2008. See the above information to pre-register.

Equipping community members with tools needed to move them into the future are goals of McKenzie County Horizons as well as the Community Coalition based out of Watford City. These two groups are partnering; helping one another tackle tough issues.

“Mapping Successes for Our Children” will be held on March 31 starting with a 6 pm supper at the Watford City Civic Center. Area community members are invited to attend this session and learn research based information about the dangers of underage drinking. Local and regional experts and community leaders will speak out about the issue and opportunities to share problem solving ideas leading to action will follow. The North Dakota Youth at Risk Behavior Survey results for Watford City, 2007, reveal that 1 in every 1.6 high school kids had consumed alcohol in one or more of the past 30 days. This figure, as well as numbers indicating binge drinking behaviors, top regional average figures statewide.

“Sources of Strength” suicide prevention training for youth and adults will take place on April 14 at the Civic Center in Watford City. This “Gatekeeper” training is designed to equip those who want to be part of solutions with the tools and skills they need to identify and assist others who are or may become suicidal. McKenzie County is one of six areas in the state identified by the North Dakota State Health Department as high-risk for youth suicide.

I’m excited to share these upcoming sessions, sponsored by Horizons and Community Coalition, and designed to help create awareness, solve problems, build skills, empower youth and adults and strengthen our communities. Please give me a call at 444-3451 or e-mail me at marcia.hellandsaas@ndsu.edu if you would like to participate or receive more information.

On Monday February 25, 2008 the some local 4-H youth met at the Nursing Home in Watford City to help cut denim squares from recycled blue jeans.

I can hear your thoughts what do 4-H kids and recycled jeans have to do with quilts, well the story is just beginning.

The activities department at the nursing home raises funds from home made quilts. These funds are used to purchase items that the residents use to enhance their home. Raynette Samuelson, Activities Director is always brainstorming on what they could use next.

But back to the quilts. Just how do we get from donated jeans to warm, durable, gift for any occasion, made with love quilts.  Here is the journey.

The jeans come in from members of the community, Raynette calls her dependable crew of Jeannie Thorgramson and her sister Frankie Faulkenhagen, they cut the jeans apart and mark theme with squares. Then they are brought back to the Nursing Home to be cut into individual squares, this is where the 4-H kids come in. It is becoming difficult for our residents to cut the squares, so as a 4-H leader I suggested we could ask the local clubs to come i and help cut the squares. This would be a good community service project and it would let the residents share some time with the youth. Each group enjoys the time they spend together. When the squares are all cut then they are delivered to Lillian Gravos who sews all the squares together to make the quilts. The sizes range from baby to queen size quilts. Once Lillian has the quilt pieced together then they travel once more to the Senior Citizens Center where the residents there tie the pieces together. And once again the quilts travel back to Lillian for the final touches. When Lillian is finished with the quilts they come back to the nursing home to await a final destination. Lillian has been sewing the quilts for many years, no one can say the exact years.

Many of these quilts are purchased by local families for their loved ones. The quilts make great gifts as they are all made with love. Just imagine being wrapped in love every time you went to bed or took a nap on the couch or to watch TV.

Thats how we at the nursing home think of the quilts, LOVE surrounding each and everyone who has purchased a quilt. Through everyones efforts these quilts benefit the residents who live at the nursing home.

Once again generations gathering together helping each other out.

If you would like more information contact Raynette Samuelson at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Watford City and if you have a project that needs getting done contact Marcia Hellandsaas with the 4-H in McKenzie County.

Wow, folks, here is some great news from Deeann Long at Community Action!

Individuals can get an extra $300 and married couples filing jointly double that to $600. Tell your friends and make sure everyone gets the good news.

This is what Deeann has written:

The tax stimulus package is available to retired individuals who normally do not have to file an income tax return. This includes individuals who receive: Social Security, Veterans Disability, Rail Road Benefits and SSDI. Anyone receiving over $3000 in these benefits will receive:

$300 for Single Individuals and

$600 for Married Filing Joint Returns

To receive the benefit individuals must:

Complete Form 1040A

Write on top of form 1040A ”Stimulus Package” in red Ink

Complete Name – Address – Social Security Numbers

Check Filing Status – Single or Married filing jointly

Insert Social Security benefits in Line 14A

If Married Filing Jointly, the total of both would be input in 14A

For faster refunds complete line 44a – bank and routing numbers (not required)

Sign the return and mail to:

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service Center

Fresno, CA 93888-0015

And more good news from Deeann is that the Watford City area will have access to these forms locally.

Form 1040A – with the above required information hi-lighted will be available at the McKenzie County Senior Center after March 10.

Deeann said, “The forms and envelopes will be provided locally.”

She didn’t say anything about a stamp, but I bet you can come up with that stamp in return for such a nice check! Many of you will be able to do your Christmas Shopping early this year!

And even better, if you need some help with all of this paper work check out your local McKenzie County, Outreach worker, Nadine.

Nadine Sovig will be available at the Senior Center in Watford City on March 19 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to help anyone who might need assistance.

If you know of anyone who doesn’t know about this incentive, please help them get the information. Our country needs your help both to receive and spend the money!

The picket fences that you see as you walk through the Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County are those painted by the 2007 Watford City Elementary 4th Grade. As part of their ND History Project they worked with the Pioneer Museum and explored the different types of fences in North Dakota History. They concluded with painting different symbols of North Dakota on each of their “pickets”. The pickets were then put together as one to form a union of all of the 4th grades. The pickets will eventually be placed in the Children’s Play Park.
This project was done in conjunction with the Smithsonian Exhibit “Between Fences”. Please click on and read further article on link!

A Picket Fence of North Dakota HistoryA Picket Fence of North Dakota History

Faith, Fences, and Fears
A Presentation By
Dr. John Helgeland, North Dakota State University

March 10th
7:00pm
Outlaws Bar & Grill – Lower Level

The third volume of Norwegian-born author Ole Rolvaag’s great trilogy is Their Father’s God. In it Rolvaag brilliantly captured how fear of the religious backgrounds of others has operated in constructing boundaries between people. In his presentation, Dr. Helgeland uses the context of Rolvaag’s novel as a springboard for examining the role fear plays in creating boundaries, both necessary and problematic, in our contemporary society.

Dr. Helgeland will give his presentation, we will have a short break and then he will continue with an interactive book discussion on Their Father’s God. There are books that have been returned so that if you choose you may still pick up a book at the Pioneer Musem to read before Dr. Helgeland comes to Watford City. However, it is certainly not required to read the book prior to his presentation. I hope to see many of you there!
This event is in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute Exhibit, Between Fences, that will be on display at the Pioneer Museum, in Watford City; March 14th-April 25th .

…..and why? I am very excited to share with you that the Smithsonian Institute is coming to Watford City. The Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County has been fortunate enough to be chosen by the ND Humanities Council to exhibit the the Smithsonian Exhibit Between Fences. It will be at the musuem March 14th through April 25th.

I am part the Rural Leadership of North Dakota Education program and as part of the program we are required to initiate a project in our community. I have chosen this project as my effort to further extend arts and humanities in my community. There are many programs, grants available to our communities by simply applying and participating. I feel that the arts and humanities are a very integeral part of communities and is important that we further our education in these area. As a primary goal I entertain the idea that this promotion will follow with continued support and involvement of the community with the arts/ humanities and consequently creating another aspect of a desirable community where we can live and grow.

Color Painting: Spring Yard Work, by Thornton Utz. Cover of The Saturday Evening Post, May 18, 1957  1957 SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN.

Please read the linked press release for a full story about the project.

Smithsonian Exhibition Explores Both Sides of the Fence (click once here on “Smithsonsian”  and once again after you jump)

Between Fences (click once here on “Fences”  and once again after you jump)

Monday, February 25th, the Alexander Lions Club heard Tim and Dale Swenson, McKenzie County Horizons Steering Committee members, share the vision.

After good food, a short meeting, and a welcome presentation by Lion Llewlynn Rustan of New England, the Alexander club got caught up on the history, purpose, and vision for the county and its people arising out of its Horizons program.

One discussion topic around our Arnegard Round Table Study on Poverty one year ago was the need for an easily and readily accessed Community Bulletin Board.

Might this blog site work for this purpose of community bulletin board? We are already a chronicle of how conditions of poverty will improve and how dynamic leadership is developing.

This blog is also intended to lift up the good, the charitable and the helpful in our community. We highlight the helping people and organizations already kindly at work and post information important to the economy of our community.

Each blog has a comment button at the very bottom of the story line. People write their response to the post and the conversation has begun.

Anyone need a scooter chair, needing only a battery to be as good as new?

Write your request in the comment area.Should this site include a community bulletin board?
Click on comment and give us your opinion, please, ASAP.

With all the publicity the McKenzie County Community Blog has been receiving: announced in the Farmer, presented at several meetings, and dozens and dozens of personal cards and invitations handed out, it’s HIGH TIME we have some subscribers!

I know you’ve stopped by to read and look at the head lines, NOW take the next step!

SIGN UP!

All you have to do is ask.  (more…)