McKenzie County ND

Map Successes before May:Take time for supper and mapping Monday, April 28, 2008 in the courthouse at 5 p.m.

Eat, then map for successes with facilitator Anita Rohde, retired NDSU Extension agent from New Town. The mapping will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last approximately one hour, with conclusion by 7 p.m.

Eat, then map, so the action-phase of our previous meeting, Mapping for Our Children’s Successes, may be completed.

We recognize your time is precious. Please provide an hour and a half to make this happen!

Who will be there? Horizons Steering Committee, panel presenters from Mapping Successes for Our Children, Community Coalition and Gatekeepers.

You are invited to take a free supper break and an hour or so to Map for Our Children’s Successes.

Looking forward to recruiting your ideas,

the McKenzie County Horizons Steering Committee

the Community Coalition~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Phone 444-3451 if you plan to attend!

Community Coalition offers scholarships to McKenzie County residents.

Kids need to hear the “N” word and parents need to say it, according to Dr. David Walsh’s new book.

With the promise to…”give tools to make the most of online use for the family, while minimizing the risks of cyberhood,” Michael Mann will also advocate the use of the word, “No,” for adults to help children develop skills such as self-discipline, respect, integrity and the ability to delay gratification.

Register for the 8:30 to 4 p.m. Partners in Prevention conference to be held Tuesday, May 6 in Williston’s Research Extension Center (aka the Ernie French Center) and co-sponsor of the event, the Watford City Community Coalition, will pay for your $35 registration fee—provided you reside in McKenzie County!

Contact Region 1 Prevention Program Director Karen McDaniel at 701-572-8191 for registration and also so CEU’s will be considered for Social Workers, Nurses and possible Law Enforcement (as training hours) personnel.

Michael Mann, as featured presenter, is an award-winning storyteller, author, training consultant and speaker. He is an active advocate for the mission of the National Institute on Media and the Family since 1997.

Call soon to reserve your spot at the May 6th event. Tell them you are from McKenzie County and wish to use the fee provided by the Community Coalition, please.

Mud Volleyball, anyone?

About 14 people met in Arnegard’s City Hall to plan events for the annual 4th of July parade, meal and afternoon/evening activities. New ideas converged upon novices and traditional volunteers. President Ardith Mosby thanked one and all: CJ for stepping up as vendor of fluids for the big day; Brent Arnegard for seeking sponsors for large games for children and even more vendors; Kevin Leiseth for orchestrating a Golf Scramble for the after-6 p.m. crowd on Thursday preceding the Independence Day; Lowaine Gudmunsen and the Arnegard Spuds Relay For Life bringing games and goodies for the small-fry crowd in the afternoon; someone for organizing card tournaments; Lynn and Patti Leiseth for representing the family group of 100 that sponsors the beef for the big noon meal in addition to the music of Ordean Tweden for early afternoon entertainment; others for seeking to organize a Classic Cars display (across from the DPQ?)

Anxious for the great parade organized by Bryan Bjornstad 586-3023? And how about that marvelous Independence Day fireworks show run by Mr. Ninneman?

The Boosters take aim and bigger and better each year to celebrate an Independence Day led by the Color Guard from Watford City’s American Legion Club.

And yes, Becki Larson is organizing a volley ball area over the old skating rink, and considers ‘Mud Volleyball’ a very real possibility for fun and entertainment!!

Twenty five people from Watford City, Keene, Alexander and Halliday gathered in Watford City’s Civic Center on Monday night, April 14 to discuss positive ways to prevent youth suicide. Mark LoMurray through Outreach Services, Inc. of Bismarck shared his copywrited materials and had the four groups of people share how they have overcome stresses their lives.

“Remember, tell someone,” states LoMurray. “Get your friend, child or family member to help and begin building multiple supports. Don’t try to keep them safe by yourself.”

Gatekeepers “mug” for the camera

“It is vital that young families move back here,” says Steve Holen, McKenzie County Public School District #1 Superintendent at Watford City. “And we see evidence that a number of families want to move back, for some already have. The attitude here is positive and proactive, which is uncommon to most rural North Dakota small town communities.”

Holen called it a Sense of Optimism.

And because of the declining and aging demographics, “Our hiring time is coming,” says Holen. (more…)

Dr. Gary Ramage, MD at McKenzie County Healthcare Systems says, “There are no good reasons whatsoever to consume alcohol under the age of 21, only serious consequences. Take this message out into the community!’

Excerpts from his panel presentation notes given March 31 in Watford City’s Civic Center will follow.

First, I would like you to follow this link to Tina Foreman’s article in the McKenzie County Farmer. It is good only until early Wednesday morning, April 16, 2008, when the successive Internet issue replaces the current one, so I recommend obtaining the April 9 issue so you, the reader, may also read Neal Shipman’s editorial on page 2, calling for action on the part of parents and community.

Returning to Dr. Ramage’s account of underage drinking…. (more…)

A fable is a story made up to teach a lesson.

Once upon a time in the World of Eom, lived three special families. The family Giraffe, the family Cattle, and the family Deer.

Now it is known that the family Giraffe is native to Africa, mainly found south of the Sahara to eastern Transvaal, Natal, and northern Botswana. And since the Giraffe is a very tall animal, it feeds mostly on leaves, flowers, seed pods, and fruits. To say they feed only on the highest trees and the most delectable foods is part of our story. They choose the foliage with the highest nutritional value. They choose the food found on the tallest trees. And sometimes, although rarely, invaders from the World of Elad raid, and murder the Giraffes for their hides which, of course, are useful to make into buckets, reins, whips, straps for harnesses, and sometimes for musical instruments. Most generally, the Giraffe Family lives far away in an exotic clime, eating exotic foods, and not really contributing much to the welfare of the World of Eom’s general population.

The next character in our story is the Cow. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows are domestic. They are raised for meat (called beef and veal), dairy products (milk), leather and as draft animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). In some countries, such as India, they are honored in religious ceremonies and revered. Their lives are spent in total deliverance of products to the population of the World of Eom.

The third and last character in our story is the Deer.

Members of this family occupy a wide range of habitats. Most species are browsers, but some include a substantial proportion of graze in their diets. From time to time the invaders from the World of Elad come and hunt the Family Deer for sport, for meat, and for their hides.

And so it came to pass (more…)

Youth suicide is a problem in McKenzie County, and we (everyone in this county) has an open opportunity to learn how to prevent it through a Gatekeeper/Sources of Strength training event to held in the Watford City Civic Center Monday, April 14.

There is no school that day, and Mark LoMurray, the contractor and trainer from the North Dakota Mental Health Association, a work record with the North Dakota State Health Department, including some 10 years of experience in suicide prevention which has won him national attention, will present his focused program to the youth from 12:30 (noon) to 4 p.m. and to adults from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

This training is free, thanks to a Youth Suicide Prevention grant award, includes a free meal, thanks to the McKenzie County Horizons program-Leadership to Reduce Poverty, and the information goes beyond recognizing the suicide warning signs.

All people should call Katie Paulson at 842-4584 in order to register and/or obtain more information.

Katie is the coordinator of the Suicide Prevention grant and also serves as the Watford City High School Students Against Destructive Decisions Chapter adviser. Registration could also be obtained through the McKenzie County NDSU Extension Service office at 444-3451. Mark is on the far left and Katie is on the far right.

The bus runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please call the day before to ensure a ride.

Monday-Friday

9:00 to 11:00.……….By appointment
11:00 to 12:00.………Pick up for meals at the Center
12:00 to 12:30.………Driver on lunch break
12:30 to 3:00.………..By appointment
3:00 to 3:30.………….Finish all pickups
3:30 to 4:00.………….Office work

Williston trip

On the 2nd Thursday and the 4th Tuesday of each month the bus will go to Williston providing there are enough riders.

Shopping day

Every Thursday is shopping day. The bus goes uptown at 1:30. It is recommended that you do your necessary shopping on this day.

There are many riders to accommodate so it is important to:

Call at least one day in advance for appointments.
Be ready 15 minutes in advance of the pickup time.
Let the driver know if you need assistance.
If you wish a regular pickup time, let the driver know.

Call Duane Johnson at 842-3760 for appointments.

If you would like more service, different hours of service, night event service, weekend event service, special event service, special events out of town service or any other transportation service please contact:

Carol Mauer
577-6751
Transportation Director
Williston Senior Citizens Program
Williston Heritage Center 18 Main Williston, ND 58801

The McKenzie County and Williams County Elder Coalitions have been advocating for more transportation services for many years. But if the folks who need and use this service do not make their wishes known, little will be attempted.

Although most presume that the bus is for the elderly only, this is not true. Anyone can use the service. Younger folks may have to pay a little more but it is presumed they can afford a little more.

Please bring this transportation information to the attention of those who need the service.

AND a great big thank you to all the folks who posted pictures on the internet for me to use. This is so incredible, so fast, and ever so much fun. Thanks and thanks. I take no credit for any info used above.

Goals and objectives will be planned for the public school’s next three to five years on Monday evening, April 7, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Watford City High School Media Center. McKenzie County Public School District No. 1 and its school board of directors invite the public to participate. They will address the current and future condition of the school district.

Everyone is welcome to attend. A report of the meeting will be made available at the district office regarding the events of the April 7 meeting.