PAGE 4 PRESS PERSPECTIVES JANUARY 19, 2011
F RO. 4 THE
EDITOR'S DESK
BY ALLISON OLIMB
EDITOR, WALSH COUNTY PRESS
To the trained eye of a there are plenty of good-looking,
bartender -- or the untrained eye single, hard working gentlemen in
of anyone really- it is easy to the area
notice that the number of eligible Is there a solution?
bachelors in the area outnumber It all goes back to the numbers,
that of single ladies, what goals does the community
A number of men in the Red need to reach to be able to sustain?
River Valley are encouraged to The discussions aren't happening
stay home and take on the time- at meetings, they are happening at
honored tradition of taking over the local bar or restaurant, which
the family farm while the ladies around here often is both, and it is
leave to take on the world. Not a concern that has broached the
,that there is anything wrong with watering hole more than once.
either, it just leads to a statistic of It is a chicken and the egg type
lopsidedness. This isn't like "Sex question of what do we need and
and the City" where Carrie how do we get it --jobs, people,
Bradshaw describes a world with housing, transportation,
a different date every other night, entertainment -- where do we
This is a place to settle down, start?
not branch out. So, do people drive the job
Back to that bar scene on amarket or does the job market
quiet Wednesday night where the drive the people?
discussion continues about how It's not like we are trying to
Hello,
Writing this on Monday
morning as I prepare to leave for
Houston, Texas on a hotshot nan.
So I will have plenty of
opportunity to think about next
week's column.
But I did do a little driving this
week. And I took'one of the nicest
drives I have in a long time.
On Thursday I went down to
Camp Crook and visited Carm
and the kids for a few minutes. I
guess I had forgotten how
pleasant it was to drive down a
highway and meet so few
vehicles. And, how nice Harding
County could look in the fall. The
grass still had a tint of green, hay
was being hauled, and calves are
half as big as the cows.
It was great to stop and visit the
school at Crook. Two caring
teachers. About a dozen kids in
seven grades. I watched two little
girls run from the school to take
the flag down before school
dismissed for the day. I smiled to
myself as I recalled the picture
invent the wheel here, we just life. But there are people out there.
need someone to invent a few At one of the LENS meetings,
jobs. The Kringstad boys the worrmn sitting right next to me
discovered they had a knack for made a statement that was pretty
making signs and people in the profound. She said that we need to
area discovered that they had a stop being individual towns with
need for signs, our own vendettas and work
Take a need and develop, it of together. This is not an issue of
just create a need. Grafton vs. Park River vs.
Kringstad Graphics started as a
Cavalier for who is the best town
hobby and now they are
responsible for updating the look and this is not everyone for
of several area businesses themselves, if we build up the
including the fleet of Polar entire region pushing the positives
vehicles seen driving around, and not bickering because of who
Their business is making other won the big game of whatever
businesses look good. year, every town including
What we need is innovation. Bathgate and Hamilton to
The region needs to advertise to Conway and Ardoch will benefit.
the up and comers out there that Then again, ask at the bar and
this is prime developing area. their business is just as good as
Why go to Grand Forks and Fargo ever because those single fellas
where you can get lost in the are keeping the rounds coming
shuffle when the answer is fight because they have nowhere to be
here. Create a new Fargo. Create -- but that only benefits one part
a hub of the northeast with. of the community while the rest
connections up and down the Red. hold out hope that there will be
In the words of "Field of another generation of farmers
Dreams," "If you build it, they coming round soon.
will come." 'Zike" the Walsh County Press on
The population is aging. There Facebook and check out our new blog at
is no way around it, it is a fact of http://walshcountypress.wordpress.com
that Carm had e'd me on the first
day of school, as the students
stood reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance as the flag was raised
that morning. Beautiful!
When school dismissed, Gage
and a couple friends took off
down Main Street on two bikes
and a scooter, headed for a
friend's house. Three kids jumped
in with Carm for the drive to
Buffalo for basketball practice.
No dust cloud from traffic. No
trucks rumbling through town.
Oh, you still look both ways as
you pull away from school. But
all I saw was a dozen turkeys
heading from the schoolyard to
the cottonwoods along the river.
I left Crook headed west and
went around the south end of the
Long Pines headed for Ekalaka.
a six-man conference. And had
nine boys out for football! Trust
me, they will get their minutes in.
The Stockgrowers meeting had
around forty people. Forty
ranchers who fight rain and snow
and drought and dust. Often *oo
I've heard of Ekalaka my entire little rain. Often too much snow.
adult life. Which is getting to be a But they had smiles on their faces
long tittle. The home of the and families in tow. I imagine the
greatest bucking horses in the youngest was eight weeks. The
world. But I had never been there, oldest eighty.
I was speaking that evening at a The roast beef they served
stockgrowers meeting, wasn't "sliced thin and stacked
It was a grand drive! I think in high". It was sliced thick and
the forty odd miles from Crook to simmering in a wonderful juice.
Ekalaka I met two vehicles. And I The way roast beef is supposed to
suppose that was a busy day. I be served. The boiled potatoes
saw grass and grain. Hay and' were soft. I'm getting the recipe
cows. Pine trees and sagebrush. I for soft potatoes for Shirley!
probably don't need to worry i I tell you what. You get tired of
about it, but I'm kind of hoping the traffic. And want a little piece
heaven looks like that for the rest and quite. Take that drive. Go to
of you cowboys. Buffalo and Camp Crook and
At Ekalaka I watched football, Ekalaka. Stop and visit the
practice for a bit. And I smiled to : museum. Stop and have a beer.
myself as I thought of parents And tell them I sent you!
worrying that their son won't get Thanks for riding along.
enough playing time. They play in Later, Dean
Sa.maritan
Happenings at Our
Good Samaritan
Monica Simon ADC
January has been an exciting month here, Tuesday we had a
program on Scotland and enjoyed fresh shortbread. Thursday was
our monthly Birthday Party hosted by St. Peter & Paul Bechyne
which included a delicious lunch and a wonderful musical program.
Matt Hodek entertained on Friday afternoon and the Mennonite
Singers were here Friday evening.
Our Auxiliary Lunch and Program will be held on Feb 27 at 3:00
with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church hosting.
Devotional leaders for the week were David Hinrichs, Rev. Jeff
Johnson, Sue Faggerholt, Lorene Larson, Monica Simon and
Marlys Bauer. Accompanists were Monica Simon and Jan Novak.
Father Luitin led Mass and Rev. Totman led Sunday Worship
services.
Remember our used book sale and lunch will be held on March
17. Books may be dropped off at any time.
I would like to thank everyone who gave of their time and talents
this week.
SEXU Y TRA D SEASE
IN NORTH DAKOTA
Prevent. Promote. Protect.
Walsh County Health
Short Shots
The State Health Department recently released the 2009 Sexually
Transmitted Disease (STD) report for North Dakota. Here are some
of the statistics:
There was a 4.2% increase in Chlamydia cases in 2009 for
a total of 1,879 cases. More cases were reported among white
people, but minority populations continue to be disproportionately
affected by STDs in North Dakota.
46% of the Chlamydia cases were in 20-24 year olds, and
26% were in 15-19 year olds. Since untreated Chlamydia can lead
to infertility this information is significant.
Gonorrhea cases continued to increase from 142 cases in
2008 to 151 cases in 2009. There were cluster cases of gonorrhea
in Burleigh County this year.
There were 4 cases of primary or secondary syphilis
reported in North Dakota in 2009.
There are a total of 221 people living in North Dakota with
a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS.
There were 59 cases of chronic Hepatitis B infection
reported in 2009. (This disease is vaccine preventable)
Between Janl through Sept 30 2010 there were 7 births to
Hepatitis B positive women in North Dakota. Hepatitis B is easily
transmitted to unborn children from the mother unless proper
medication/vaccination occurs within hours of birth.
In 2009 there were 467 reports of people newly identified
as testing positive for hepatitis C infection.
All sexually transmitted diseases, are preventable. Untreated
these diseases contribute to infertility, serious illness and in some
cases death. The cost to society is great; the emotional toll may be
greater.
If you have questions about how to get screened for STDs, and
what to do to prevent yourself from getting a STD contact our
public health office at 352-5139.
: Legislaturegrabbing
for power - again
"The legislative department
is everywhere extending the
sphere of its activity and drawing
all power into its impetuous
vortex."
This often quoted observation
Those proposing to take
charge of the matter allege that
they are doing this in response to
public opinion. Well,
constitutions cannot be altered
from Federalist Paper No. 48 for public opinion. If public
(James Madison) is often quoted opinion could override the
because legislatures are often constitution, the constitution
Extension ,Exchange
Walsh County Nutrition, Food Safety
and Health Agent
Julie Zikmund, MPH, RD, LRD
Better:
,rnln
.tlzens
4-H is the leader in
innovative positive youth
development. The 4-H Youth in
Governance initiative engages
young people in programs,
organizations, and communities
where they share a voice,
influence, and decision-making
authority.
Many .efforts to provide equal
roles for youth--such as youth
in government, youth serving on
boards of directors, youth
leadership training, or youth
service-learning activities--are
what support the broader youth
in governance vision.
The initiative targets both
youth and adults, supporting
each in developing the skills and
knowledge they need to be
effective and confident leaders.
Here are some Citizenship
Programs provided to youth by
-t-II.
Citizenship Washington
Focus: Each summer, National
4-H Council hosts Citizenship
Washington Focus (CWF) a
program for 4-H youth in the
Washington, D.C.-area. Many
Walsh County Youth have
participated in this experience.
CWF progides youth with a
hands-on view of government
through Capitol Hill visits, field
trips, and other leadership
opportunities.
Citizenship in Action: In
addition, North Dakota provides
youth with an opportunity to
experience the ND Legislature.
Citizenship in Action is a 2-day
program where interested
students learn about the
legislative process and how it
work. They are provided a tour
of the state Capitol and interact
with legislators from their
dis ct. In this' meeting they
share ideas about their
community and showcase the 4-
H program at a local level.
The Engaging Youth, Serving
Community program helps
youth in rural areas gain the
skills, experience, and
confidence they need to emerge
as effective leaders and
contributing members of
society. The program focuses on
the priorities that emerged from
the National Conversation on
Youth Development in the 21 st
Century.
Our Walsh County 4-H clubs
engage in many service learning
activities each year. They
volunteer of their time and
talents to help make our county
a better place to live. Youth
have made wheelchair bags for
the nursing home residents.
They delivered Christmas
,oold, o to those who are shut in
or cannot bake for themselves.
They raised funds for the
American Cancer Society and
Relay for Life. They clean up
some of the dam sites in Walsh
County and make them great
places for all of us to recreate.
They are involved and make a
difference.
If you are interested in
making a difference and would
like participate or donate to the
Walsh County 4-H program,
please give me a call at 284-
6624. We would love to have
you involved in any way
4-H changing one child, one
family, one community, our
world a great investment.
More next week
All my best to you and your
family,
: : Julie ~ " ' "
Adapted from information from the
National 4-H Headquarters North Dakota
Center for 4-H and Youth Development
Walsh County Extension Office Park River - 284-6624
Glyphosate resistant weeds
trying to grab powers beyond would cease to be a constitution. Glyphosate, better known aseffectiveness of Roundup,
their constitutional authority. They also concede that the Roundup, has been called the chemical companies have not had
The North Dakota legislature has measures may be miracle herbicide of the last 30 a financial incentive to develop a
been in session for only a couple unconstitutional but they will let years. It exploded in popularity in substitute and many farmers chose
of weeks and it is already trying others prove it. the 1990's after the development to ignore the potential threat with
of genetically engineered the hope that a new herbicide will
toimpetuous draw vortex." power "into its Even if the Legislature passed soybeans, corn and other crops that be available to combat against the
One of the functions of state this legislation, it that would not are immune to the herbicide, weeds.
constitutions is to keep the be the end of the problem The first step to herbicide
resistance management is
Prevention. It is important to rotate
your crops and herbicides to
promote diversity. Diversity
through the use of different crops
and herbicides "confuses" the
iToday 75 percent of all soybeans
]91anted nationwide are "Roundup
Ready". This development
changed the lives of farmers; with
the new technology farmers can
spray their fields with the relatively
cheap weed killer whenever it's
needed with little fear that it will
harm the crops. It also is a valuable
herbicide in no-till cropping
systems which also saves on fuel,
soil and labor.
With the extensive use of the
Roundup herbicide it is losing its
effectiveness against some of the
world's peskiest weeds. If
herbicide tolerant weeds gain hold
on your land it may be detrimental
to the lands productivity for several
years. Herbicide resistance
presents itself with a few weeds
left present following the use of
herbicides these weeds may have a
tolerance against the herbicide or
may have adapted after extended
use of the same herbicide. The
weeds that are resistant or tolerant
are then allowed to go to seed and
reproduce. Before you know it the
entire field becomes overtaken by
weeds and after multiple
treatments of herbicide the farmer
finally believes they may have a
resistance problem. Due to the
weeds and hell s ensure they are
unable to adapt to their
branches of government confined
to their prescribed powers and
duties. The North Dakota
constitution provides for four
branches of government - the
legislative, the executive, the
judiciary and the Board of Higher
Education. A 4-branch
government may sound odd but
that's what we have.
The higher education branch
was created in the 1930s after the
executive branch, primarily
Governor William Langer,
abused its power by meddling in
the staffing of North Dakota State
University. At the time, the
institutions of higher learning
wer under a statutory board over
which the govemor had control.
A constitutional amendment was
adopted to protect high education
from the other branches of
government.
In almost every session, the
state Legislature entertains
proposals that are clear violations
of the constitutional provisions
relating to the Board of Higher
Education. In the last session, it
was carrying guns on campuses
and regulation of athletic
competition between NDSU and
UND.
The present session is only a
couple of weeks old and bills
already have been introduced to
take charge of the University of
North Dakota "Fighting Sioux"
logo controversy. Under the state
constitution, this issue is none of
the Legislature's business.
because there are extemal players
involved. Some of the other
Division I schools have indicated
that sometime down the road they
will refuse to play teams wilh
allegedly defamatory loges. The
National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) will
continue to issue" mandates,
regardless of our state laws.
Because of the unpredictable
responses of the other Division
One teams and the NCAA, North
Dakota needs to retain flexibility
in resolving the issue. The state
could get into some embarrassing
situations if all options are
preempted by state legislation.
At this late date, a favorable
vote by Standing Rock residents
would be of questionable value.
There is no loubt that the
legitimacy of the vote would be
attacked as unrepresentative or
illegal by opponents of the logo.
A favorable vote may no longer
convince other teams or the
NCAA that the logo should
remain in use.
At any rate, this is not a matter
for the Legislature to draw into
its "impetuous vortex". The
cavalier attitude of legislators
toward the importance of the
state constitution suggests that a
course on the constitution ought
to be required preparation for
serving in the Legislature.
environment or herbicides
Rotation of crops from one
Roundup ready crop to another
does not equal diversity such as
Roundup Ready Soybeans
followed by Roundup Ready Com.
Alternating between conventional
and genetically engineered cr@s
will work well as a diverse rotation
with the use of different herbicides.
Use of none herbicidal tools that
make economic sense are crucial
in any cropping plan. Although
more labor may be necessary with
these tools the risk of losing
glyphosate as herbicide niay be
worth it. Rather than considering
the individual years profit consider
a 5 year plan's profit margin in
your cropping system. If you
suspect a resistance problem in
your fields feel free to contact the
Extension Office for more
information.
Until next week Theresa
Dates to Remember:
Livestock
Alexander
January 21 Noon Walsh County
Improvement Association Meeting;
House, Park River
