McKenzie County ND

Nolan Swenson, who will be a Senior at Watford City High School, organized a revitalization of a tall playhouse in Arnegard’s park, one in which he used to play. For the Eagle Scout honor, he has put materials, supplies, tools and local carpentry talent together to remake the structure, in addition to staining it a dark brown, inside and out.

The “small fry” of Independence Day play found the restored playhouse in the trees plagued by chalk graffiti and set to work scrubbing the writing off the dark boards.

“We want the playhouse to look nice and not be all marked up,” said one young boy with a wet eraser in his hand.

Nolan is pictured near the doorway of the plain board building standing high on six or seven foot footings.

Children played and Nolan smiled. More play was to be had on the large air-filled “inflatable games” just across the roped-off street.

Arnegard Boosters threw another marvelous party for the 4th of July Celebration. The parade was lead by Old Glory in the care of Watford City’s American Legion Color Guard. Remarkable in length, with horses, cars and fire trucks, its end meant the beginning of the dinner line. The plate of baked beans and tender roast beef was served by the Arnegard Lions and the ice cream dessert cups came from the McKenzie County Bank in Watford City.

The Family that provided the beef for the meal presented song and history of the Oluf and Annie Hovde family, whose homestead celebrates its centennial this year in the early afternoon. All veterans were honored near the dedicated memorial under the flag prior to the program.

Games continued for the children all afternoon, while adults visited in the picnic shelters, enjoying music provided first by Ordean Tweden and his wife, then by Jeff Nelson. Suppertime found the Lions serving up their usual Friday evening ‘Burgers in the Park’ and the line was long in the 94-degree sun.

Wilmington Lutheran Church’s cool basement provided education and entertainment with a DVD virtual walking tour of Washington, D.C. Newt Gingritch’s record of God in the Founding Father’s manuscripts and nation’s buildings ended at Arlington National Cemetery. Most amazing was the cameo of Martin Luther, whose work made possible the settlement of North America with Protestant Christian ethics.

The fire alarm went off around 9 p.m. and a grass fire on the northeast edge of town was quickly put down by the local fire department.

The Arnegard fireworks started around 10:30 and went on to around midnight, with boom, bang and “ahhhhhes……” Arnegard once again put on a marvelous 4th of July celebration.

Saturday, May 31st at the Watford City Fishing Pond would have been the place to be with your youngster, grandchild or young friend! The US Forest Service, the City of Watford City and the ND Game and Fish led the charge in sponsoring a Kids Fishing Day at the Watford City Fishing Pond. It was great fun to be had by all with the big catch of the day being a turtle! 122 kids registered for the event plus parents! All kids earned a prize by participation and all involved enjoyed a free lunch thanks to the generous donations.

I am quoting a friend of mine from Fargo who responded to the WC Fishing Day with some great philosophy that I want to pass on: “Fishing has really shaped who I am. Weird to think of it that way, but the millions of hours that I have spent in a boat talking and learning from friends and family while watching the world pass by is priceless. There are so many lessons to be learned by osmosis when you fish. To me it’s a sign that a community cares about its future when they put effort into a park and activity like that, Go Watford!”-Jon Scraper

Sometimes the most simple act of kindness, whether it be in contributions towards an event or actual “time” spent with our youth can have monumental and positive consequences! Keep up the great work and thank you, everyone!

View the linked website to join in with all the smiles!

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie/recreation/fishing_derby/08_fishing_derby_files/frame.htm

Pictures courtesy of Holly Helling.

Holly Helling and Teresa Forthun represented the Lewis and Clark Trail Museum of Alexander at the two day 2008 North Dakota Tourism Conference in Mandan April 21 and 22.

Eight Governor’s Travel and Tourism awards, recognizing outstanding leaders in the tourism industry, were presented Monday, April 21, at the 2008 North Dakota Tourism Conference in Mandan. During the conference, Governor John Hoeven, Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman, and Destination Marketing Association of North Dakota President Wendy Howe, presented the awards in eight travel and tourism categories.

“As the second-largest industry in North Dakota, tourism accounts for $3.8 billion in visitor spending,” said Hoeven.”

Each dollar spent on paid media in 2007 brought in $123 in visitor spending. “Our efforts in aggressively marketing North Dakota as a great place to live, work and play are coming to fruition,” said Gov. John Hoeven.

ND Tourism will spend $1.9 million on the 2008 advertising plan. The plan includes broadcast, direct response television; print, radio, online and out-of-home advertising; as well as newspaper inserts, direct mail and outdoor (hunting and fishing) marketing. Some media has begun, with the majority starting April 1 in target markets of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, and Montana. These targets reflect potential travelers age 35 to 64 within a 1,000-mile radius of North Dakota.

Many thanks are extended to the Horizons Program for the funding to make this conference possible for Holly and Teresa. Also thank you to Holly for the pictures.

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!!

Have you heard of the Sons of Norway? I didn’t know much about them until this past weekend. I was asked if 4-H could serve food at a meeting for them on March 29.

Nine of us served Sons of Norway dancers and other members a banquet meal in Watford City. It was a special district gathering of over 100 people from across North Dakota, Rapid City, South Dakota and Kalispel, MT. In addition, Heritage Dance Instructor Bob Holman and his daughter traveled here from Red Lodge, MT. This special evening featured a Grand March of Scandinavian Folk Dancing, which was the highlight of our evening.

Our group served these gracious folks a special meal, catered by Mike’s Super Valu in Watford City. We followed orders given by Jeanette Anderson of the grocery store. It was a sit down meal, so we were meal servers and also completed dish washing afterwards.

This was an excellent activity intergenerational activity for our youth. We were able to visit with dancers afterwards and found out that they have learned 72 different Folk Dances. The workshop introduced them to new dances and also gave them the opportunity to continue with their more traditional steps.

It was an enjoyable and inspiring evening!

The Smithsonian Exhibit “Between Fences” continues at the Pioneer Museum until April 25th. We offically opened on Monday March 17th with a ribbon cutting and reception. We have seen great traffic through the museum to visit the display (about 175 people to date). There was a great discussion on March 10th with Dr. John Helgeland, NDSU, about the book Their Fathers God. In attendance were about 40 adults and 20 students. The art students of the WCHS Art Class/Ms. Erickson teacher, competed in an art contest and interpretation of “How We Build Our Fences. Winners were: Mamie Kieson, First; Joey Trumpower, Second & Ross Norby, Third. The art interpretations of the class are on display at the museum. Also on display are some wonderful quilts designed and sewn by the Prairie Rose Quilting Guild and the “Picket Fences” designed & painted by the 4th grade(last years class) students of WCES.

In the last 2 weeks we have had people from many areas including Bismarck, Jamestown, Noonan, Minot, Williston, Dickinson and from Minnesota, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Wahington, and Idaho along with many local visitors. There have been classes from Horse Creek School, Round Prairie School, and Watford City High School and other schools scheduled for the next couple of weeks. There are also other group tours of “out of town” people scheduled to come through. I believe that this has been a great commerce event for our community in that most of these people eat, shop and visit other sites in our community. If you haven’t all ready done so, stop by the Pioneer Musuem/Visitor Center.

The McKenzie County Archery Club hosted their 3-D Indoor Tournament on March 8 and 9. My son and I have been shooting with the group for three years now, and this year helped with setup and running of the tournament.

We assembled old Christmas trees, dry weeds, tree stumps, tree limbs, antlers, bones, tree bark and even bones around 25 targets, simulating natural surroundings. Tools like saws, drills, hammars and nails are used in the setup process. President Wayne Foreman says, “It’s a long process but we have fun doing it.”

Kids could shoot at 10 targets in a cub division, as well as all targets in the adult category.

This is a wonderful skill building event that allows plenty of interaction between all ages (our two-year old neighbor shoots as well as senior citizens.)

The tournament attracted 140 archers from across North Dakota and Montana and including all ability levels from state champion shooters to people who picked up their first bow this season.

The event also serves as a fund raiser for the group, as many participants shoot throughout the day.

It is exciting to see the numbers of archers, especially children, grow each year. Our club’s goal is to construct a new facility in the coming years.

(Resource: McKenzie County Farmer March 12, 2008 edition “Archery Club Hosts Indoor 3-D Tournament” story by staff writer Tina Foreman)

Can McKenzie County mimic Miner County, South Dakota’s success?

At least 20 people, six from outside McKenzie County, and one foreign exchange student from Germany, came to hear and see first-hand March 7, 2008, how local leaders change their rural community, to see what it takes, how Miner County’s movement 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, their story begins in 1995 with a three-year successful effort to connect rural schools with their communities.The vision of Miner County? 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.The interactive television address noted that poverty was addressed by their economic efforts in improving the overall general conditions for everyone.Poverty was “significantly reduced” through their multi-dimensional approach.The FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) students of Howard, SD did a Community cash flow survey, employing the students as agents of change. An economic spending factor of 3.1 was discovered, and local purchases rose. Over 30 pages of information was generated by every question posed in the questionnaire pushed by students. And the results, positive and negative, were reported upon by the students themselves to those they interviewed.

The people listened to the students.

So, could McKenzie County duplicate the success of Miner County?

Here is the vision: (more…)

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.