Anamoose, ND

A couple weeks ago 8 of us met to began organizing a Home Rule Charter for Anamoose.  The members of the committee(Double click on picture) are Angie Kesler, Lois Rott, Dennis Zimmerman,Steve Heim, Jeff Lemer, Brent Weniger, Duaine Dockter,  and I(talking picture).  They looked relaxed, but we had just finished a couple of hours reviewing a Sample Home Rule Charter and comparing it to Drake and Velva’s Charters.

I took the following quote from the ND League of Cities Handbook on Home Rule, August, 2007.  “Home Rule is a granting of certain powers to cities by the state legislature to allow cities more opportunity to make decisions about those issues that affect them.”

 A Home Rule Charter would allow the city board to budget more effectively and also allow for a city sales tax should this be approved by the voters. 

Friday I was told by Bill Goodwin, McHenry County Commissioner, that Anamoose has not renewed the sherriff contract with the county.  I contacted Joe Weninger (picture), Anamoose City Council member, about this.  He replied,”The funding isn’t available to be able to support the deputy contract.  The tax dollars we take in basically support ouor street lighting-and that’s about it.”

The next Home Rule committee meeting will be Thursday, January 10 with Jerry Hjelmstad, lawyer for the League of Cities.

There is a steady stream of cars past the Canadian Pacific railroad on the north end of Anamoose. During the night over 30 coal cars were pushed off or smashed together. The three engines are sitting undamaged to the east of the railroad crossing and a long line of undamaged coal cars sit to the west.
While I watched at 2pm four excavators were pulling coal cars and moving coal from the tracks, working to get the tracks open. (Double click on pictures to enlarge)
According to Bill Goodwin, Civic Club President, the Anamoose Civic Club is allowing the railroad to put some of the coal and damaged cars on Civic Club property on the north side of the track. The Anamoose Cafe which is closed on Sundays, opened up for the earthmovers and railroad workers, so they could be fed.

Last week I remembered to take my camera along when I went to the open houses at the Post Office and First State Bank.  It took me till a few days ago to figure out how to get the pictures on this blogging site, but wanted to show the togetherness and community spirit in Anamoose.  People were standing around, or sitting, and visiting with whoever came in the door.  The goodies, hot apple cider and coffee were great, but the friendliness left you with a great feeling of belonging to our Anamoose community.  (Double click on pictures to enlarge)

Anamoose has an active Fire Department that meets every lastTuesday of  the month.  At the meetings they check over the trucks and make sure they are current in their skills. (Double click on pictures to enlarge)  Every year they send some members to Fireschool in Bismarck.  In February, 2008 they will be sending 7 firemen.  They have a roster of 30 members and 3 honorary members.  When I asked Fire Chief, Jeff Lemer, why there were no women firemen, he said they had a full roster.  Maybe the next opening can be a woman?  Would she be called a Firewoman?

Our day at the Horizons community get together in Bismarck was a great experience for the five os us from Anamoose.  We squeezed 6 (had to round up a driver) of us into a pickup meant for maybe 4 (2 with short legs) after we heard the forecast for bad weather and icy roads, neither of these transpired.  It was well worth it though as we came home with so much information and ideas from the group get-together and the speakers. 

Thanks to Laura Every, Champion Reap Alliance Director, the Anamoose Senior Center now has a computer-used, but in good condition.  Laura heard of a Bismarck company tht were updating their computers, so was able to get some of their old computers and distribute them to different communities that had a need.

Now the Center needs to get hooked up to DSL, get a computer stand (hopefully used or cheap), and show the seniors how to receive and send emails, and go on the internet. 

The soup and sandwiches served by the VFW Auxillary last month may not fight cancer, but the money raised from the benefit will be sent to the National office to help in the fight against cancer. 

The Auxillary also put together packages to send to the troops in Iraq.  They have adopted Scott Gray, who lost his leg in battle in Iraq, and is recovering at home in Minot. 

I’ve been dreading this moment when I started blogging, but today I decided that I really am excited.  Just think–a new adventure for me-and for you!  I hope Mardell Helm and I will be able to keep this blogging site interesting, so you will return again–and again. 

You can see by the picture that we at least can smile after spending an afternoon at Harvey trying to learn the basics of blogging.