Anamoose, ND

The Drake/Anamoose boys basketball team outscored Bottineau last night in a District 11 Region play in a game at Bottineau.  They earned themselves the spot of District 11 number 4 seed in the Region 6 Tournament.  The Raiders will take on the District 12 champions Minot Bishop Ryan Lions at 6:15pm Monday, March 3rd in Minot.  The Raiders boys basketball team has not competed in the region tournament since 1996.  Good luck boys!

Picture 1;  Riley Walker, Andrew Rott, Kyle Wangen, Nathan Martin, and Brandon Martwich listen to coach Doug Martin give instructions during time out.

Picture 2:  The score board showing Drake/Anamoose beating Bottineau by a score of 37 to 31

Thanks to Shonella Lemer for the article and pictures. 

Heather Fried, Blue Cross Blue Shield representative, talked at the Senior Center today on a “Walking Works Program”, as well as a few other healthy hints.  We were told to try increase our steps to 10,000 a day or 60 plus minutes a day of walking.  A double cheeseburger, extra large fries and a 24 oz drink take 24,000 steps to work it off.  Even a small chocolate chip cookie is equal to 1200 steps. 

We all received a personal pedometer and were shown how to use them.  In the picture Deloris Gienger is getting instructions from Heather. 

As a result of the Horizon Program a Farmers Market has been set up to begin on Monday, June 2nd.  It will be at the park from 6 to 8 pm every Monday night.  If you are interested in selling homemade crafts, baked goods, or fresh fruit & vegetables contact Bonnie Dockter at 465-3088 or email her at bonniedockter@yahoo.com 

Or you can come to buy a little of everything and visit with friends.  Let the kids play at the playground while you shop.  We hope to make this a fun night out for everyone. 

I wanted to put together another slide-show before I forgot how.  These pictures were taken yesterday.  They start out with the baptism of Sarah and Chris Ammon’s baby Jared.  Then the Anamoose Cafe was open for breakfast buffet.  I had to go home for another camera as my battery died, so many of the crowd had left by time I ate and went home to get another camera.

In the afternoon our committee for planning the Wedding of Joe and Ana-Moose met at the Senior Center, but I forgot the pictures till our meeting was over.  The Wedding will be Saturday, June 28th, so mark that on your calendar.  We are going to get buttons and  shirts with Joe and Ana on.  The program will start at 3pm with speakers, singing, and the wedding.  There will be a free picnic in the park with wedding cake and favors.  Plans are that Ana will join Joe on the Anamoose Welcome sign after the wedding. 

In the evening we got together at Angie and Emanuel Kesler’s house for dominos and food with the same people that we ate breakfast with.  So you can see there are things going on in Anamoose, even on Sunday. 

We are fortunate to have 2 day care facilities caring for our young while Mom and Dad are working.  Pat Jund and Bonnie Kummer operate their businesses from their respective homes.  Pictured is Pat Jund with members of our future leaders.

Wednesday was the first time the Baptists were out for blood—the Anamoose Blood Drive, that is!  The United Community Baptist Church of Anamoose held a blood drive at the Senior Center.  Darlene Frueh said they got 29 units, which Rich Larcombe of United Blood Services said was very good.  The Anamoose Senior Citizens will hold their annual blood drive in June.

Then last night our Anamoose Area Endowment committee met at the Senior Center.  Amy Warnke, ND Community Foundation Development Director, helped us finalize our brochure, guidelines, mission statement, and letters to be sent out to potential donors.  We will be starting visiting in March.

Just wanted to put together a few pictures from the last few months in Anamoose to practice how to make a picture album and to get it on this blog site. 

Its not the residents that are buzzing, but, saws and other equipment being used by Feist Plumbing of Harvey and Ron Bartz Carpentry to replace and repair water lines in most of the apartments.  Funding is provided by grant money from the city of Anamoose through Souris Basin Planning Council and the Housing Corporation. Pictured are Ron Bartz  in a hallway and Tim Feist and Ron Bartz in a vacant apartment.

Every year the men from the community serve a Civic Club Appreciation brunch.  Us women just take it for granted that the men will plan and serve it. 

They served french toast, sausage, juice and coffee to a large crowd on Saturday I was told today.  I was out of town so missed the good food, socializing and picture taking.

The majority of the Seniors at the Friday afternoon Valentine Party at the Senior Center had red on, as you can see from the pictures. Esther Doubek, LaDonna Goodwin, and Kathy Selzler quilted while they listened to the program

The program featured Francis Seefeld on his accordion playing old time songs.  There was lots of food, followed by cards and dominoes, and more food!  Kathy Selzler challenged me if I would put on our blog that her and Esther Doubek beat Vernon and I, so yes–we lost big time!

In our Strategic Plan, one of our  many goals was to target social poverty.  Friday we made one step forward.

Wednesday evening was busy for me when I atteded 3 events.  First Vernon and I had to eat out at the  Valentine candlelight supper at the cafe.  In spite of the storm there was a good crowd for the barbeque ribs, chicken and swiss steak buffet.  The food was great and it was fun to visit with friends. 

At 6pm we had a Business meeting, and at 6:30 we had an Endowment meeting.  That worked great for some of us that are involved in both. 

And they say that nothing goes on in small towns.  They need to come to Anamoose!

Our Anamoose Area Community Foundation met yesterday to plan for our fund raising.  Amy Warnke, ND CommunityFoundation Development Director, gave us more information on how to raise the $25,000 needed for the first year. 

Pictured are: Bill Goodwin, Dennis Zimmerman, Shirley Nitz, Brent Weninger, Dick Hauser, Amy Warnke, Joe Weninger, and Alyce Heer.  (Rose Weninger is taking the picture)

The city and City Board have a big decision to make-whether to fix up our existing water plant or go with the Rural Water Consortium.  At the Informational meeting Tuesday night the engineers reported it would could $312,000 to fix up the water system to new condition and it may last 20 years.  We have trouble with the arsenic level in our water, so chemicals have to be added to keep the arsenic below 10. 

The city has a $246,000 outstanding debt now on the water system. 

If we don’t sign up with rural water now it will cost more to sign up later or we may not even be able to sign up.  The Rural Water representative said the average cost for rural water is $49.50 a month plus approximately $4-$5 per 1000 gallons. 

Butch Ehrman who lives 3 miles south of Anamoose told me that he pays a base of $41 a month and $4.91 per 1000 gallons for rural water that comes from the south.

A USDA representative reported there is a possibility of a grant/loan for either renovation or joining the Rural Water Consortium.    He advised the City Board to raise the water rates no matter what they decide to do. 

We crammed a lot of planning into one and a half hours when our Steering Committee met yesterday at the cafe.  We worked through our Strategic Plan. 

Under the category of  Improve Business Climate in Anamoose we have 7 strategies.  Under the category of Adequate and Affordable Housing we have 4 strategies.  With  our Communications category we are working on 7 strategies.  We just put together a Welcome package (see previous blog by Mardi)  Our goal to Promote Tourism has 7 strategies.  The biggest projects under tourism are putting together a brochure, and planning for the wedding of Joe and Ana-Moose on Saturday, June 28th.   You will hear alot more about the wedding in our future blogs.  Developing Future Leaders has 3 strategies for youth and adults alike.  The goal of a Clean Anamoose Community includes everything from old buildings, signs, cars, our park, to diseased trees.  We couldn’t forget the elderly in our plan where we have 7 strategies.  And on the opposite end of the spectrum we want to keep our young people in Anamoose by including them in our plans. 

Under the category of Home Rule, we have put together a Home Rule Charter that will be distributed to all households, a public meeting will be held, and a vote will be held in June. 

And finally, we are setting up a Community Endowment Foundation that will be started with our $10,000 from the Horizons program. 

We have a lot to do yet!

Pictures left to right are: Mardell Helm, Alyce Heer, Dennis Zimmerman, Bill Goodwin, Joe Weninger, Bonnie Dockter, and Shirley Nitz.

Alyce Heer and I were the lucky ones to Welcome Tony and Barb Martin to Anamoose, today!   They received information regarding the History of our town, the many businesses, information regarding the city goverment with pictures as well as emergency contacts, communications, utilities, Anamoose Public School, Churches, Fire department, Community Clubs, Dining and many more as well as points of interest in the area, gift certificates to use at the businesses and a box Valentine chocolates.    All of the citizens of Anamoose want to say:  WELCOME TO OUR GREAT CITY and Thanks for choosing us to be your neighbors! 

Walter and Esther Doubek have been visiting shut ins with the Senior Companion program since 2002.  Their clients are happy to see them come, and take them to lunch/coffee, play cards and visit.  Here is Esther and Walter with Helen Nolden having coffee at the Anamoose Cafe. 

On January 19th Steve Heim, Anamoose school superintendant, was awarded a 10 year State Hunter’s Safety award at the annual workshop. 

Now if only we could give the deer some instructions on how to stay off the highway. 

Last night we had our first Excel Computer class at the school.  We got stormed out last Monday.  Evoynel Berg, the computer teacher at school, started with the basics of spreadsheets and bookkeeping.  We have 12 registered for the class. 

The cost of the class is covered by a grant from CONAC (Center of North America Coalition for Rural Development), so the older than average students only had to pay $25 for the book and CD. 

Who wants to cook on Sunday?  Not me, and not a lot of other people who turned out yesterday for the Senior Center brunch of french toast and sausage.  Chairman Dennis Zimmerman and Bill Goodwin had lots of help from the women with serving and clean-up. 

This was the third Sunday brunch-the second one at the Senior Center, and one last week at the Anamoose Cafe.  The churches have helped to advertise the brunches in their bulletins and we also have been advertising on our marque on main street. 

Many of the crowd had left before I remembered to take pictures, but some enjoyed sitting around drinking coffee and visiting.