PAGE 4 PRESS PERSPECTIVES OCTOBER 1 2, 2011
FROM TH E
EDITOR'S DESK...
BY ALLISON OLIMB
EDITOR, WALSH €OUNTY PRESS
When I came to my office on
Oct. 6 and saw the Herald at my
door, the front-page headline
stopped me in my tracks.
"Steve Jobs dies at 56"
That name is synonymous with
technological advancements com-
parable to Thomas Edison. When
I was a child we had two types of
computers, the giant gray box
with a black screen and orange
text or the giant gray box with a
black screen and green text. Now,
you can access the information
superhighway with handheld
computers that can make phone
calls, take pictures and video, and
entertain with hours and hours of
Angry Birds.
Every advancement Jobs name
was attached to left us all on edge.
What could be next? Computers
became faster, thinner, more effi-
cient. The competition among
other markets sparked the inven-
tion of new products at a range of
prices.
Jobs expressed an interest in
electronics at a young age, which
was encouraged by his adoptive
parents. He found what he wanted
to do and worked towards it.
He landed a job at Hewlett-
Packard before he was out of high
school. When he went to college,
he dropped out after six months
because, he once told Stanford
graduates, he couldn't see the value
in it and did not know how college
was supposed to help him figure
out what to do with his life.
He took his electronic hobby
and focused on development. The
Apple II was released in 1977. Kids
today would be bar hopping at that
age. Jobs was creating an empire.
Mac encouraged everyone to
"Think Different". For a while the
company had its share of rough
times and Jobs was pushed out of
the every day, but thanks to that, he
was able to help develop a com-
pany known as Pixar.
Soon he was back on the Apple
scene first with their colorful plas-
tic computers and then the iPod,
which would revolutionize the mu-
sic industry.
The world may never know
what he would have contributed,
but with a spark of imagination and
ingenuity I can thank him for the
technology I use every day.
This paper is put together on a
Mac all-in-one while I listen to mu-
sic on my iPod purchased on
iTunes. It wasn't that many years
ago that all o:this was done by
movable type and printing presses
and hand cropping. I can guarantee
there would be some staffing
changes if it were that way still.
In 2005, following the bout with
cancer, Jobs delivered Stanford
University's commencement
speech.
"'Remembering that I'll be dead
soon is the most important tool I've
ever encountered to help me make
the big choices in life," he said.
"Because almost everything -- all
external expectations, all pride, all
fear of embarrassment or failure
-- these things just fall away in the
face of death, leaving only what is
truly important."
Innovation and forward thinking
make the world go 'round. We
should strive to make our mark
while we can.
Like '" the Hblsh County PJvss on Facebook
and cheek out our blog at http:,'Twalsh
countypress, wordpress.com
Hello,
The Interact is a wonderful
tool. You can check the markets,
message friends, shop for parts,
buy fertilizer, and, from what I
understand, it has replaced Na-
tional Geographic as a young
boys first sex education maga-
zine.
You can buy or sell a horse,
buy or sell cattle, and find a truck
to use in the hay field. I have
recipes marked for making din-
ner, and won an argument on what
cut of meat "filet mignon" comes
from.
I have a souped up financial
statement for my banker and
scores of other fictional tales. You
can book a motel room, buy
drugs, and find out how to treat
your puppy for worms.
But last week, a guy discov-
ered a new use of this medium.
He advertised his wife for sale.
Really. I saw it. In fact I placed a
bid or two. Because of this simple
ad, I may have to use the recipe
site a little more often. I am cook-
Hat
ing for myself.
Here is how it happened.
I was checking this ebay deal
out for a used semi-tractor to haul
hay. And somehow or other, I
found this advertisement this guy
had posted to trade his wife off.
Well, being the curious sort, I in-
quired about some kind of trade.
I was thinking, what with Shirley
having to work so hard, maybe
we could get a little help here.
I was thinking I could trade the
old mower-conditioner off. Or
perhaps the classic Cadillac that
sits in the shop. But, alas, Shirley
was watching over my shoulder
as I inquired about a trade. And
she wrongfully assumed I was
discussing trading her.
I was messaging back and
forth with this guy when Shirley
Tips
started watching. Shirley missed
the part about the car being my
trading stock. She started rubber-
ing as I was discussing the Cadil-
lac. The guy had asked what kind
of shape the car was in. I replied
"her body is in tough shape, but
she runs pretty good if you warm
her up." I felt a cold chill enter the
room.
The guy asked if I ever took
her to a car show. I replied "that
I had, but she was too big to haul
around much, and she didn't like
gravel roads, so I usually just left
her home". The chill seemed to
get worse.
He asked how long I'd had her.
I replied that "I'd gotten her in the
early seventies, but I was thinking
of getting rid of her and getting a
newer model with fewer miles".
By now, it was damn cold in the
office.
He asked if I thought she
would last a couple more years. I
said "if you gave her a wax job,
and kept her inside, she might".
Icicles were forming on my cof-
fee Cup.
The final blow came, when the
guy said he guessed he wasn't in-
terested. Said it sounded like
mine was pretty well wore out
and he didn't want to trade his
wife for some wore out old piece
of junk. I, thinking of that old
Caddy, just agreed and said "if I
couldn't get anything for mine,
I'd just push her in a washout, or
trade her to some drunk in a bar".
I kind of saw the fist coming
out of the comer of my eye. That
eye is starting to open a little to-
day. And I am posting a bit of ad-
vice. Kind of like Wild Bill Hick-
ock should have used. Always sit
with your back to the wall. And
never, never, criticize your Cadil-
lac.
Later, Dean
G(xnl -
£samariran
Cf.Q s
Happenings at Our
Good Samaritan
Monica Simon ADC
This past week has been a very fun and exciting week. Friday we
enjoyed the Country Music provided by Joe Schmidt and Thursday
afternoon Larry Charon was here. We enjoyed the music and all the
visitors we had for these events.
Thursday afternoon October 13 our Monthly Birthday Party
Program and Lunch will be hosted by Hoff Lutheran Church and the
Mennonite singers will be here Oct. 14 at 7:30.
October 20 we will be having a Pretty in Pink Lunch and Style
Show to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. It will be at 3:00 and
everyone is welcome.
I would like to thank our volunteers for the week: Devotional
leaders were Sue Faggerholt, Rev. Jeff Johnson, Corrine Ramsey,
Monica Simon and Dorothy Novak. Accompanists were Monica
Simon and Jan Novak. Terry Hagen assisted with nail's time.
We would like to thank everyone who gave of their time and talents
this week it is greatly appreciated.
Prevent. Promote. Prote©t.
HD
2009-2011
Walsh County Health District
Short Shots
The following information is from a report of substance abuse in
North Dakota from 2009-2011.
Middle School Students in North Dakota
• 44% have had at least one drink of alcohol in their life.
• Of those students, 6.1% drank 100 or more days.
• Nearly 6% of middle school students had their first drink of
alcohol at 8 years of age or younger.
• 9% have used marijuana.
• 6% have used a prescription drug that was not theirs.
• 11% have tired inhalants to get high (ssaiffed glue, spray cans,
paints, etc)
High School Students in North Dakota
• 73% of high school students had at least one drink of alcohol
in their life.
• Of those students 13.6% have had at least one drink on 100
or more days.
• On 10 or more days out of the month, 1 out of 7 high school
students are drinking alcohol.
• On 6 or more days out of the month, 1 out of 5 high school
students have participated in binge drinking. (Binge drinking is 5
drinks of alcohol in a row within a couple of hours).
• 31% of high school students have use marijuana in their life.
• Of those, 20.3% have used marijuana 100 plus times.
• 15% of high school students have used a prescription drug
that was not theirs.
• I 1% have sniffed inhalants to get high.
Talk with your children. The sooner the better. Many children
steal alcohol and prescription pills from their parents/grandparents--
especially when they are younger. It is not uncommon for children to
have substance exposure in middle school or younger.
Concerned parents can make a difference.
We just about held a statewide
"Populationfest" when the U. S.
Census Bureau reported that the
state had an increase of 31,000
residents - a 4.7 percent- in
2010 over the 2000 count.
While everyone was happy
about the increase in the
statewide total, the rural areas
were chagrined to see the contin-
ued decline in small towns. Most
of the cities under 5,000 lost pop-
ulation in the last decade.
In the 2000 census, North
Dakota had 135 cities with 99 or
fewer residents. In the 2010 cen-
sus, 32 of them gained popula-
tion, four tied 2000, but 99 lost.
The 135 cities went from a total
population of 6,720 down to
5,959- a loss of 761, or 11.3 per-
cent.
In the 100-199 population cat-
egory, 10 cities gained but 53
lost. In total, they dropped from
9,203 to 8,150, or 1,053, repre-
senting an 11.4 percent loss.
In the 200-299 group, eight
cities gained and 34 lost. They
had 10,251 in 2000 and 9,377 in
2010 - a drop of 8.5 percent.
In the 300-399 group, 16 lost
population and three gained, for
a decline of 8.7 percent in the
group.
In the 400-499, all 11 cities
lost population - dropping from
4,833 to 4,088 for a loss of 15.4
percent.
In the 500-999 group, 32 de-
clined in population and 15
gained, for a loss of 4.8 percent
in the category.
For all 317 cities in the 0 to
999 categories, 68 cities gained,
four tied and 245 declined for an
eight percent loss in total popula-
tion.
The categories of 1,000-1,499,
1,500-2,499 and 2,500-5,000 also
showed losses but in all three
groupings the losses were under
three percent. It isn't until we get
to the 12 cities over 5,000 that we
see gains. Even here, minor pop-
ulation losses were recorded for
Devils Lake, Jamestown and Val-
ley City.
In 2000, these 12 cities had a
population of 330,360 and by
2010 they had grown to 374,130
- an addition of 43,770, or 13.2
percent. (It is apparent that this is
where many of those small town
folks went.)
Unfortunately, the census was
taken just as the population in the
western oil patch started boom-
ing. Looking at the populations
reported for western communi-
ties, it is obvious that the 2010
count did not capture the dra-
matic increases.
Many of the western cities
(and counties) that lost popula-
tion in the 2000-2010 decade will
be showing significant gains dur-
ing the 2010-2020 decade but
these increases will not be meas-
ured for another 10 years, mean-
ing that booming western
communities will be short-
changed for the whole decade.
State government shares its
revenue with cities through three
grant programs - highway distri-
bution, cigarette tax and general
state aid. Allocation of the rev-
enue is based on the head count
reported in the decennial census.
This means that all of those
cities that were losing population
through the 2000-2010 continued
to receive allocations based on
the 2000 census. At the same
time, cities that were gaining all
through the decade were not re-
ceiving their fair share. These
trends have always been happen-
ing but at a more tolerable rate.
Ordinarily, conducting a new
census would be more expensive
than the benefits received. How-
ever, with the massive under-
count in western cities (and
counties), it seems appropriate to
cost out the idea. The inequities
involved may now be sufficiently
significant to justify a state-spon-
sored mid-decade census, at least
in western North Dakota.
Extension Exchange
Walsh County Nutrition, Food Safety
and Health Agent
Julie Zikmund, MPH, RD, LRD
What can I pack my
kids for lunch?
Every fall, with school start-
lng, many parents face the
dilemma of what to pack for
lunch. What can I pack that
won't spoil by lunchtime and
contains a well-balanced selec-
tion of healthy foods that my
child will eat?
Here are some tips to help you
and your child select and pack a
healthy, safe and tasty lunch:
• Make a list of all the
food options your child will eat
by food group: grains, fruits,
vegetables, meat/protein, dairy,
and other foods such as dips,
sauces, snacks and desserts. Get
kids involved in making the list.
• Indicate which food
items will need refrigeration or
an insulated lunch box and a
frozen gel pack. A frozen juice
box or frozen water bottle can be
used in place of a gel pack for
keeping/hod cool and safe until
lunchtime.
• Take kids shopping, or
let them choose from the items
you bring home to build their
lunches. Provide a variety of
whole grains and foods naturally
low in fat and added sugar. Limit
the number of salty, high fat and
high sugar treats they pack to one
a day. Children often eat these
tasty foods first, instead of the
other healthy foods in their
lunch, making it hard for them to
get all the nutrients they need
each day.
• Have plenty of snack
and sandwich size plastic zip
bags or reusable containers on
hand.
• Ask kids to pick and
pack at least one serving from
each of the five food groups.
• Have a few gel packs,
100% juice boxes or water bot-
tles frozen and ready to use.
Letting kids help choose what
goes into their lunch is a great
way to start a conversation about
nutrition and health. Encourag-
ing them to choose at least one
item from each of the major food
groups helps them understand
the concept of eating a variety of
food everyday.
Don't worry if kids come
home with food that was not
eaten. Some days children will
be hungry and focused on eating.
Other days they might not be as
hungry, perhaps they were dis-
tracted or had a food treat in the
classroom before lunch, etc. Oc-
casionally ask children if they
think they're packing enough,
too much, or want some different
food choices. Assure children
that these questions are not
meant to make them feel bad that
they didn't clean their
plate/lunch box. But it helps
them make adjustments to. how
much and what they pack the
next time.
All my best to you and your
family,
Julie
Source: w ,'¢ eVtension org
What can I pack that won't spoil by
lunchtlme and contains a well-bal ....
anted selection of healthy foods
that my child will eat?"
Around the County
Walsh County Extension Office Park River - 284-6624
Walsh County Fair to
be held Oct. 20 and 21
The Walsh County Fair is just around the comer and many 4-H
youth around the county are finishing up there static exhibits and
readying their animals for the events to be held October 20 and 21. The
fair offers something for everyone. The static area featuring all the
projects made by 4-Hers throughout the year opens at 7:30am each
day; there will be over 800 exhibits to view along with the Open Show
exhibits. There will also be a petting zoo available both days from
12:00pm to 6:00pm which is located on the North side of the Sheep
and Hog barn.
On Thursday, the main events for the day include the livestock
shows, Mutton Busting, and the Bull-A-Rama. The barns are going to
be bursting at the seams with animals as we have again set a record
number of enrolled animal projects; these shows begin at 8:30 am with
the horse events. Beginning at 10:30a.m., kids will find a strolling
clown show along with the Kids Pedal Tractor pull beginning at
12:45. Later in the day at 3:30 there will be a clown comedy and magic
show in the Chris Midgarden Arena followed by the Rabbit and Poul-
try show at 4:30. Mutton Busting is set to begin at 6:00 pm in the Main
Arena with the Bull-A-Rama to start at approximately 7:00 as soon as
the kids are finished riding their sheep! Registration tbr the Mutton
Busting begins at 5:30 and is limited to the first 25 kids. There is a 70
pound weight limit for this youth wishing to ride.
On Friday, plan to attend the fair to participate in the potato pick-
mg contests and tricycle races, listen to entertainer Ryan Taylor, and
watch the rabbit races and Little International Showmanship compe-
titions. Youth day activities begin at 10:00 am with the inflatable
jumpers opening at 11:00 in the Main Arena. Throughout the day in
the Main Arena kids can sign up to win a free bike provided by
Kosobud Lodge. The potato picking matches are scheduled to begin
at 3:00 pmin the Chris Midgarden Arena. Come and watch the county's
4-H youth exhibit there showmanship skills at the Little International
beginning at 6:30 pm. Entertainer Ryan Taylor will provide some
'cowboy logic' comedy starting at 7:30 pm in the Chris Midgarden
Arena. Following the Little International we open up the Main Arena
for a Teen Dance in the Dirt with a DJ from 10:00 to 1:00 am.
Come and join us at the Walsh County Fair held October 20th and
21 st and the Walsh County Fair Building in Park River, YD. The Fair
building is located directly south of Park River Schools.
Dates to Remember:
Oct 20-21, Walsh County Fair; Park River Fair
Building
