Anamoose, ND

Wow, was it hot Saturday!  But that didn’t stop all the activities in Anamoose.  From 7:30am to 2pm there were city wide rummage sales all over town.  What a variety!  1.  Delilah Engen, Barb Helm & Sandy Cartwright joined forces for a rummage sale.  2.  Wayne Vannette’s rummage sale. 

The Domolition Derby started at 2pm north of the tracks.  There were 18 entries.  They really pounded the heck out of the cars, but Zach Ponzer, Anamoose, emerged the winner of the $1000 first prize.  Micky Schmaltz, Anamoose, took the 2nd prize of $500.  Pat Jund did a great job of entertaining the large crowd with music and contests. 

In the evening K-Hook furnished the music for the street dance.  Good music!

Do you like corn?  You will be able to eat corn, visit with friends, and listen to music at the Corn Feed/Silent Auction Fund Raiser on Sunday, August 22 from 11:30-1:30.  The Anamoose Area Community Foundation is having their 2nd Annual Cornfeed at the Anamoose Park.    The menu is corn, grilled hamburgers, cloverdale hot dogs, bars and beverages.  Root beer floats will be sold for $1.  (Click on pictures to enlarge). 

There are many great Silent Auction items donated by businesses and individuals.  Jerry Helm has donated a 16 ft. fiberglass fishing boat, trailer and 65 hp Johnson motor.  Other great articles to bid on are a new 19 inch color TV, decorative mirror, toys, gift certificates, many wood crafted peices, and many more items. 

Frances Seefeld will be entertaining the crowd with his accordian, and the Jim and Kimberly Rott family will be singing gospel songs. 

Anamoose Community Garage Sale 2010 

(CLICK ON LINK TO GET FULL SIZE MAP)

I hope to see you there… I’m uploading this map for everyone.  We will be handing out maps to customers that visit our homes.  There will also be Kuchen and Art Work in the park.  Just look for the balloons and friendly faces ya never know what treasures you will find. I am selling childrens books, pottery & stuff the kids left behind when they moved out… got some art supplies and hot wheels too… I may have some computer goodies just for you.

I just read today that North Dakota was voted “the least lazy state”.  I see this energy in Kailey Lemer from Martin, a 6th grader in the Anamoose School.  During the 21st Century After School Program she built a robot that moves around & shoots little balls.     

Her robot took a blue ribbon Grand Champion award in the Sheridan County Achievement Days July 14th in McClusky.  At the State Fair in Minot this past week she received a blue ribbon 1st place on the robot Kailey entered 10 projects in the County & 8 projects in the State Fair.  she received blue ribbons on all & one award of excellence.  That takes a lot of initiative!

If you want to know something about Anamoose’s history, the person to go to is Helen Nolden.  At age 86 Helen remembers things that happened back in the early days as if  it just happened yesterday.  She gave me  7 more articles to add to our History section on our Anamoose web site-www.anamoose.com.  I laughed so hard reading the article about how she caused all the balloons to pop just before a wedding anniversary celebration at the Catholic Church. 

Helen was a columnist in the late 80s & early 90s for the Velva Valley Star.  For 10 years she wrote articles twice a month.  She also wrote several articles for Harvey, Minot, & Towner newspapers from 1972-1999.  Helen told me “People need to remember these articles were written years ago about things that took place back then.  You need to project yourself back in time.”

Virginia Fairbrother, a columnist for the Mouse River Journal, told us at a Senior Citizen meeting last week that “when a person dies, a library dies”.  —-”See that stories are handed down.  They are history.”

I met 7 candidates for state offices in 2 days.  Sunday evening I went to Ryan Taylor’s 40th birthday party at Blaine & Kim Bruner’s farm.  They had a delicious supper with steak & fresh vegetables from Kim’s garden.  Ryan is running for reelection in the Senate.  The first picture is Ryan in 2008 after Joe & Ana-Moose’s bridesmaid, LeRoy Becker, gave him a big kiss. (Click to enlarge)

Marie Marshall & Cindy Shattuck are running for the House of Representatives.  I know Cindy from the McHenry County JDA board & have seen what a sincere, intelligent person she is.  Merle Bouche was the 4th candidate I met.  He is running as the Democratic candidate for Ag Commissioner. 

Last night the Republican candidates were at our Anamoose Market in the Park greeting people & enjoying Connie’s hamburgers.  They are:  Craig Wollenburg for Senate; & Jon Nelson & Dick Anderson for House of Representatives. 

Bonnie Helm wrote the following article up for our blog:

On July 12, the first organizational meeting of the Anamoose All School Reunion (AASR) 2011 central planning committee met at the Senior Center.  Getting a head start on planning for the reunion to be help July 1-3, 2011 were Sandy Peiler Cartwright ‘59; Ron Cartwright; Donna Reinowski English ‘79;, Barbara Engen Helm ‘61; Norma Martin; Stan Martin ‘63 and AAST Treasurer; Shirley Nitz, Jacque Reis;, Dennis Zimmerman ‘55, Phyllis Peiler Zimmerman ‘56; and led by Bonnie Helm ‘65, AASR Chair.

A full range of events are being planned, including: Friday Night Kick-Off; Joe & Ana Welcome; One-Act Play; Pancake Breakfast; “Moose on the Loose” walk/run; Interdenominational Church Service; Pig Roast; Demolition Derby; Fireworks Show, Street Dance, Street Fair, Horseshoes Tournament, Softfall,  ”Hoops” Competition; Bingo; Movies Under the Tend (of past reunions and centennial celebrations); and a Tribute to Out Veterans & Soldiers.

Two additional events are looking for involvement from our alumni:  the “Blast from the Past” Talent Show, and the Alumni Crafts & Hobbies Show.  More information about these in future blogs. 

You will be receiving your announcement/questionnaire in the mail very soon.  Please take 3 minutes to compete and return it to us.  We want your ideas and suggestions.  Of course, we also encourage you to volunteer to help with the many little details during the reunion itself. 

If you wish to be involved in the central planning of the reunion, the Central Planning Committee will be meeting every 2nd and 4th Monday at the Senior Center at 1pm.  You are welcome to join us. 

Pictured are:  (Standing) Jacque Reis, Sandy Cartwright. (On right) Stan Martin, Shirley Nity, Dennis Zimmerman.  (Sitting) Ron Cartwright, Bonnie Helm, Donna English, Phyllis Zimmerman, & Barb Helm.

Spring & summer brings improvements around Anamoose.  I know of 3 homes that got new roofs-1.  Duaine & Lyla Dockter, 2.  Linda Uhlich  3 & 4 Emanuel & Angie Kesler.  Kesler’s roof is unusual.  It is the only round roof in Anamoose &  I counted 7 different roof sections on the north side of their house.  It is a Victorian home. (Click on pictures to enlarge)

 Emanuel Keslers purchased Selma Swanson’s home on Main St. & are in the process of painting & doing some remodeling inside.  Bonnie Helm has purchased the Kesler home. 

Ron & Sandy Cartwright have a new 20 by 32 ft. storage shed behind their house.  They call it “the Cartwright Hall”. 

Wayne & Arla Vannett just added another garage beside their single car garage.  They are having the cement floor done next week.

At Schmaltz’s Greenhouse Mike built a waterfall area with rocks & flowers. 

The outside of the school has been recently painted.  Pictured are Cheryl Linardon & Mary Jane Schmidt scraped the yellow lines on the curb so they could paint the next day.  

The land north of the track is being leveled for Helm’s Flying Service business.   

  Something that needs improving is the sign 9 miles east & 1 mile south of Anamoose on the gravel road.  The whole sign needs replacing.  Any ideas? 

Barbie Martin, Summer Rec Program Chairman, sent me the following information about the Anamoose Pony Ball team. 

On Friday the 9th we went to a Pony Ball Tournament in Harvey.  Our first match up at 9am was with the Harvey l Team and we took it with a score of 12-11.  We moved on then to play the Harvey ll Team and took that one also with a score of 18-6!  That took us then into the championship round in which we then played Towner.  This was a tough game.  We trailed behind but caught up in the last inning with a tie of 8 to 8.  We then had to play it out with one  more inning but lost 9 to 15.  Our team played very well.  On Monday we went to Towner for a game and got revenge by taking them 16 to 8.  The trophy we are sitting with is our 2nd Place trophy from the Harvey Tournament and it is taking in Anamoose after our home game last  night.  There are a few too many kids because the Tballers wanted to join in the picture.  Those that played in the tournament were: Paige Bromley, Seth Fahy, Samantha Martin, Bradley and Joshua Marquart, Hunter Fletschock, Brock Bender, John Hoffmann, DJ Martinez, & Payton Martin. 

The team played Drake on Tuesday evening and won 19 to 2.  Wednesday night they lost to Harvey 8 to 9.  This coming Tuesday they play Fessenden and Thursday they play Drake at Drake. 

I went to Martin early this morning to see all the tractors in the 1st Annual Mid-Dakota Tractor Trek.  They journeyed 9 miles from Martin to Harvey where they joined the Harvey Fest parade at 10am.  Lawrence Bartz, Anamoose, was asked by the Harvey Chamber of Commerce to organize the tractor trek.  Lowell Dusek was in charge of the cooking with LJ Dusek & Jeff Lemer (all of Anamoose) flipping pancakes.  Lowell said they used 7 dozen eggs.  I even got to sample the sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, juice & coffee.  The breakfast was held in Doug’s Auto Body Shop due to the scattered rain showers. 

Thirty tractors took part in the trek.  Most of the tractors were older models.  Eugene Pillatzke had an old school bus on behind his tractor.  Jacob Ammon was proud to be pictured driving Lawrence Bartz’s John Deere,  a favorite of many.  Four $20 prizes were given out before the tractors took off for Harvey. 

There were 36 sponsors for the event.  From Anamoose the sponsors were:  Pete’s Tractor Salvage, Stan Martin Agency, Heringer Lumber,  Buechler Oil of Harvey, Martin, Anamoose & 1st State Bank of Harvey & Anamoose. 

In North Dakota we try to squeeze a lot of activity into our summer-especially on the weekends.  This past Saturday Selz had their 100th Anniversary with a big parade in the morning.  Some of the Anamoose entries were:  Angie & Emanuel Kesler’s 1928 Whippett car that Emanuel just finished.  Gerald Koble drove his big semi-tractor.  Helm Flying Service, that are putting up a new chemical business here, had an airplane on a flat bed.  I missed getting a picture of Sage Hill Bed & Breakfast. 

In Anamoose the big event was Elroy Stotz’s auction.  He was just selling some things that he “could live without”.  We ate hamburgers at the Anamoose Cafe’s cook-wagon, & again tonight we stood in a long line to get Mike’s hamburgers at the Market in the Park. 

Sunday St. Martin Lutheran church had their service in the park with a pot luck/pig roast afterwards.  The service was well attended.  Rev. Marschner’s brother furnished the pork that was barbecued by Lowell, LJ & Lucas Dusek.  Marion Hase, organist, said it was great. 

I just came from the first Market in the Park for the year.  A rain shower went over, but the people in line for $1 hamburgers stayed put.  I am full after eating a delicious hamburger & bar served by the Anamoose Cafe.  I have a new kind of bread & kuchen on my counter for eating later.   (Click on pictures to enlarge)

The ad in the Harvey Herald says it best:  “Discover the best at the Anamoose Market in the Park.  From fresh vegetables to farm fresh produce, wonderful baked goods and crafts.  We will be serving $1 hamburgers.  Have a picnic in the park.  Visit with old or new friends.  Come join the fun.  You won’t want to miss this.  Starting the first Monday in July from 6-8pm.”

Today was the 10th annual Moose on the Loose Fun Run/Walk.  Pam Heim has been chairman for the last 9 years.  (Pictured is the registration line.) Click on pictures to enlarge. 

The $10 registration fee goes towards the Anamoose Ambulance Service.  Participants get a t-shirt, that each year has a different logo designed by Pam. 

Winners of the 5 k run were:

   First place-Steve Heim (24 minutes,34 seconds) getting a metal from Pam Heim who took 3rd place with 32 minutes, 51 seconds.

   Second place-Rebekah Lehnen (31 minutes,34 sec)

   Fourth place-Caleb Dockter (34 minutes, 26 seconds)

Winners of the 1 mile run were:

   Women- Kristin Reinowski (left) getting metal from Pam Heim

   Men-Lee Reinowski  getting metal from Pam Heim

I also took pictures of the Bonnie & Gary Dockter family with their 5 grandchildren, 2 of their friends, & 2 dogs. 

I have a picture of Kathy Selzler too.  She is the only other woman, beside Pam Heim, that I see out running in Anamoose, & competes in other races. 

It’s amazing how fast you can plant flowers if you have a bunch of dedicated workers.  Last evening in 90 degree weather (the hottest so far), we planted 6 flats of flowers at the park.  The sweat was dripping off us & we were all headed home afterwards to the shower. 

Scott Knutson & his 2 grandchildren tilled & hoed the flower beds (with a little of my help).  Then a crew of 6 women planted the mixture of petunias, salvia, dahlia, & sanvitalia.  Schmaltz’ Greenhouse gave us a real good price.  My camera battery went dead so I couldn’t get a picture of the women, but they were: Janice Buchholz, Barb Helm, Mardi Helm, Barb Martin, Sandy Cartwright, & myself.  Bonnie Helm will be watering the flowers. 

Soon after moving to Anamoose in February Sarah Hase started Sarah’s Grooming.  Sarah has a long background with dog care, & has worked with dogs for 8-10 years.  She was a dog groomer in Fargo prior to coming to Anamoose.  She still works 1 week a month in Fargo where she does 8-10 dogs a day.  She had on the job training at Wags & Whiskers where she worked for 3 years. 

Sarah loves horseback riding.  She also says she “loves to rake hay, bale, & run the chisel plow”  Coming from Fargo, Sarah wasn’t sure how she wuld like it in a small town like Anamoose, but she says “we love it here.  We think this town is beautiful”. 

Sarah’s husband, Dennis, farms with his dad & is also a diesel mechanic. 

Pictured is Sarah with her 2 dogs Biscuit (left) & Ellie Mae.  I was so impressed how well behaved her dogs are.  They are best friends & even sleep together. 

 Bonnie Dockter praised Sarah’s dog grooming.  Bonnie said “She does such a wonderful job on Toby.  I have had him clipped in Fargo & Minot & she’s done better then them.  I am very pleased” 

To contact Sarah call 701-730-1185 or email her at:  cheesekake81@yahoo.com   

July 2-I just had to add another comment from a very satisfied dog owner Bonnie Helm.  Last evening she told me “Toby is 9 years old & had 4-5 different groomers.  Sarah is definitely thee best I have ever seen”. 

It’s almost 2 years since we completed our 18 month Anamoose Horizons Leadership program.  We are still continuing on with projects, but on a smaller scale. 

Our Horizons committee met Monday evening to update our activities.  Following are just  some of the many things we discussed:

• Mardi Helm gives out Welcome packages to all new Anamoose residents.  To encourage them to shop locally the packages  include a $30 gift certificate from the Civic Club that can be used in any business in Anamoose.  Heringer Lumber gives discount coupons & the Anamoose Senior Center gives 2 free meal tickets. 
• Main St. buildings were discussed, as several are in need of repair. 
• Keeping residents informed is done with our monthly newsletter, the marque on Main St., the Anamoose web site-www.anamoose.com, & this blog.   Letting other people know about Anamoose is done with brochures in rest areas on I 94.  
• This fall we will again decorate the posts on Main St.
• Dead trees will be cut down by the Anamoose Fire Dept.
• Discussion was held on our area birding trails & how to promote them.  We will get a group together to go on one of the trails. 

        Pictured are members of the Horizons Steering committee standing in front of one of the 4 Main St. flower pots paid for by the city.  Janice Buchholz & I keep them watered.   (Dennis Zimmerman, Janice Buchholz, Bill Goodwin, Shirley Nitz, Joe Weninger, Mardi Helm, Bonnie Dockter.  Missing are Phyllis Zimmerman, Kaya Engen & myself (photographer). 

Yes,  Market in the Park will be starting again on Monday, July 5th at 6pm.  Time really flies.  Bonnie Dockter has been getting calls from many vendors.  The Cafe will be serving $ hamburgers each Monday, so that will help to draw people to the park. 

Keith Reinowski moved the Farmer’s Market sign closer to highway 52 & the road through Anamoose.  It was on Maurie Becker’s building, but was hard to see from the highway. 

There are 4 gardens planted in the Community Garden.  There is plenty of room for more.  Hopefully people are planting extra to sell at the Farmer’s Market. 

Last night our Anamoose Happy Feet for Life team took part in the Harvey Relay for Life to raise money to fight cancer.  Our team raised $1600, & the Relay raised about $39,000.  Pictured are:  Tony Martin, Shirley Nitz, Mardi Helm, Alyce Heer, Janice Buchholz, Lyla Dockter, Barb Martin, & Darlene Frueh. 

The weather did not cooperate, so the opening ceremony was held in the armory.  It drizzled off & on, so we alternated between walking in the armory & outside.  About 10pm the hundreds of luminaries were lit & we were able to walk around the block to see them all.  Most of the adults headed home then, while the SADD youth, with their advisor Kim Meckle, walked all night. 

Pat Jund had his hair cut off by Angie Siebe , New Image Salon.  His hair was donated for cancer.  Pat told me he has been planning for 2 years to donate his hair. 

The Life Savors team sold 10 tootsie rolls for a $1 vote for one of three contestants to get a pie in their face.  Dave Voeller, Ottertail employee, got the most votes, but all 3 contestants got a surprise pie.   

Sometimes it’s necessary for neighbors to take action when there is a lot that is owned by an absentee owner.  Brent & Joe Weninger have been cutting a lot near them.  Yesterday Joe & Rose Weninger, Judy Derrickson & I spent several hours trimming trees & shrubs, weed whacking, & cleaning out debris around the house.  We took pictures of us, but I had forgotten to put the memory chip back in my camera, so all I can show is the cleaned up yard. 

I just got home from the first Drake-Anamoose High School graduation since they joined in 2009.  There are 12 students that previously attended Drake school.  The 5 that attended Anamoose school are:   Nathan Martin, Andrew Rott, Jessica Rott, Brady Schmaltz, & LaToya Sotelo.  All 17 plan to attend college or technical school.  I was impressed by that, as I just read the other day that in other states, there are few high school students who go on to college, let alone even make it to graduation.   

Their colors of hot pink & line green were very pretty.  I liked their motto:  “Life brings tears, smiles and memories.  The tears dry, the smiles fade, but the memories last forever.”  I saw a few tears as they hugged their families and friends, but mostly smiles.  Some parents were probably thinking “Hallelujah, they finally made it”. 

 Superintendent Steve Heim was recently selected as NW region Superintendent of the year.  He is one of 4 finalist for the state of ND Superintendent of the year. 

It is calm again, but the wind whipped through Anamoose Monday evening & Tuesday leaving branches broken off & shingles peeled off roofs about town.  But the worst damage was in Janice & Buck Buchholz’s yard.  A large evergreen & 2 deciduous trees were pulled out by their roots, plus other trees were broken off.  The odd thing was that the strong wind was from the east & their home is in the north west part of Anamoose by the greenhouse.  (Buck & Janice had already trimmed off some evergreen branches when I took the pictures) 

Otter-tail had to replace a broken off pole in the alley west of Buchholz’s.   

Yesterday I read the new ND Strategic Plan for 2010-2020.  Under ND Opportunities they stated ” ND is naturally recognized as having the greatest potential of any state in its capacity to produce energy through wind power”.   If only we could have harnessed some of that wind that went through here! 

     When you have people that are busy and a bad winter to get around you delay the usually timely “Welcome to Anamoose”.  Wilson & Stacy Roth and their daughter, Dawn have been here almost a year and came to us from Wyoming.  Wilson was a Building Contractor and is now enjoying ranching on the former “Schwartz Ranch” located North and East of the town and on the shores of Antelope Lake.  He is also busy getting things in shape around the farm.  Dawn is in the 9th grade in the Drake/Anamoose School System.  Stacy works for St. Aloisius Medical Center as a CNA and Activities Assistant.  I was able to welcome Stacy at work while I visited several residents on Unit A yesterday.  New citizens are given Anamoose dollars, meal tickets to the Senior Citizens, coupons from Heringer Lumber and a folder that gives them information about Anamoose businesses, church schedules, eating places, points of interest in the area and information that makes the move to our town more enjoyable.  They are also given a handmade sign as shown in the picture of Stacy.

Tuesday students in grade 1-6 were each given 7 pumpkin seeds.  The seeds were furnished by the Market in the Park organization.  Students can use the Community Garden to plant their seeds.  They should contact Bonnie Dockter at 465-3088. 

In the fall the pumpkins will be judged at the annual Halloween Party held at the VFW.  Prizes will be:  heaviest-1st prize-$20, 2nd prize-$10, 3rd prize-$5.

Pictured are Jacob & Josh Ammon with their pumpkin seeds.

“Hats off to Seniors” was the theme for the 14th annual salute to seniors held at the All seasons Arena in Minot on May 11th. The event was hosted by the Minot Senior Coalition and KMOT.  A number of us were bused to the event where we met up with others who decided to drive.  Some of us even wore hats.  We were entertained by several talented musicians.  Arlene Saugstad (96 years old) modeled different hats and had a story about each one.  We were served a turkey dinner and were supplied with cookies and coffee throughout the day by students from the Burdick Job Corp.  Dr. Dawn Mattern lectured us on the importance of exercise.

Many vendors were present advertising their specialities.  Door prizes were given throughout the day.  Buck and Janice Buchholz and Dorothy Thomssen were lucky enough to be recipients by winning hats and Jan won a cactus terrarium.  The session wrapped up by dancing to the music of Bill Merck and Ed Bosch.  Next years event will be May 10th with “Power of North Dakota” as the theme.

Pictured below are: 1. Emanuel Kesler, Dennis Zimmerman, Phyllis Zimmerman, Walter Doubek, Janice Buchholz, & Reynold (Buck) Buchholz.  2.  Phyllis & Dennis Zimmerman 3.  Janice & Buck Buchholz.  4.  Angie & Emanuel Kesler.

The Anamoose Area Community Foundation met this past Saturday to plan for 2 fund raising events this year.  Brent Weninger is in charge of a Calendar Raffle where we will be selling October 1-30th dates.  Winners will get $100 on Sundays, $50 on Saturdays, & $25 Monday through Friday. 

A Corn Feed is tentatively planned for Sunday noon, August 22nd.  Rose Weninger is chairman.  We will serve corn, grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, bars, coffee, & kool-aid.  There will be a free will offering for the meal with a suggested minimun of $5.  A Silent Auction & entertainment are also planned.  Phyllis Zimmerman, Shirley Nitz & myself (Alyce Heer) are in charge of obtaining items for the Silent Auction. 

Letters will be sent out to business places updating what we have been doing & requesting donations.  A letter will be sent to alumni along with the letter that announces the 2011 reunion.