DECEMBER 28, 2011 THE PRESS PAGE 5
A 'EA /ozcE
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
-- --7'11 Ill[Ill I --- ---
Demanding equality
for veterans in need
By Katrina Hodny
Many Americans believe all Vietnam veterans injured in that war re-
ceive health care from VA hospitals. They would be surprised to learn
that the VA denies health care and lost wage compensation to all those
whose feet did not touch the ground; and that includes all Navy, Coast
Guard and Fleet Marines who served in the offshore waters providing
naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and carrier air strikes.
Even when these men have the same diseases and disabilities from
Agent Orange-dioxin as the troops on land, they are not eligible for the
same benefits, regardless that the rains washed much of the Agent Or-
ange sprayed on the land out through the bays and into the sea.
These offshore veterans are currently dying in poverty because of
medical bills that should have been covered by their VA benefits. They
are dying without the dignity and respect they deserve as disabled vet-
erans and casualties of war.
This is an issue the American public needs to know about so they
can demand their Congressional representatives to support legislation
currently before the House and Senate that would resolve this travesty.
Only the American public can bring about the needed changes by
contacting their Senators and Representatives and demanding they im-
plement the change. Tell them to vote for S-1629 and HR-3612, The
Agent Orange EquityAct of2011, which will help solve the problems
of the offshore Vietnam veterans while they arc still alive.
Editor'~ Note: Hodny is the Walsh CounG Veterans Set~'ice Officer.
Her office is in Grqfion.
Questioning appropriateness
in school choices
By Terry Hagen
Are the parents of the 7th grade students at Park River High aware
of what their children are being shown?
On December 21st my granddaughter, of whom I have custody, was
exposed to the filthy movie "Dodgeball", rated PG-13, without parental
permission. If you want to see a review of this movie Google
pluggedin.com a movie review site from Focus on the Family. I was
shocked and saddened that my granddaughter was exposed to this!
I have e-mailed my views to the superintendant Mr. Ham and will
be in touch with Mr. Lehman when he returns from vacation.
Editor's Note: Hagen is j?om Park River.
r
Santa got your letter...
Above: Ike Meberg suprised his wife, Pat with a Mini Cooper convertible for Christmas. He parked the car in front of John Blair's
house. Christmas night he and Pat decided to go for a drive. When they came across the car she got excited and wanted to take
a look at it, saying that one day she wanted to have a Mini Cooper adding that hers probably wouldn't be that nice, but she was
going to get one. When they stopped to look at it there was a note in the passenger seat that said it was all hers.
J
YEAR IN REVIEW FROM PAGE 1
Dakota at the height of the storm. More
than 800 motorists had to be rescued in the
western part of the state.
Park River Red Machine squirt hockey
impresses at international tournament earn-
ing first place in the second tier of the B di-
vision.
Pisek church prepares for its 125th cel-
ebration.
The new elevator in Crystal opened its
doors.
Wellness projects found their way
throughout Walsh County thanks to First
Care Health Center's wellness grant pro-
gram.
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Park
River sent 187 knitted caps to the Save
the Children organization.
Park River/Pisek legion bowling team
places second at the State American Legion
Bowling Tournament.
Philip Schanilec of Midway-Minto bas-
ketball was named North Dakota Class B
Mr. Basketball.
A 40-foot-bus holding a historic Pris-
oner of War display makes a stop in
Grafton.
April
Park River Parks District worked to im-
prove summer programming with a Base-
ball Boosters organization.
Gerald D. Larson of Park River Dental
Office received the 2011 Outstanding Ru- site wellness, tion at Turtle River State Park.
ral Health Provider award at the Dakota Cenex Harvest States Milton Group Limelites bring new activity to town.
Conference. ~ ~helpdd :to' raise mbke than two million ~/Park River will soon have an acrobatic
Park River Elementary celebrates Read- meals for hun~ ~-nilie~: ~,ith ~e= fir~gymna~ti~,pr°gram.
ing in the Heartland with 'a E!g~'~air b~(~'fIS H~~H~dt~ig ~ Adam~man, Roii Hagen, ghai'ed liis
held in the elementary gym. cally, they raised o~/er $23,000. brother's diary from his days as a prisoner
Tom Larson, administrator for the City
of Park River, received the Leader Award
and deputy auditor, Ann Berg, received
the lrmovator Award at the Municipal Gov-
ernment Academy awards ceremony dur:
ing the North Dakota League of Cities'
eighth annual workshop held in Bismarck.
Park River formally requested a change
in the co-op with Fordville-Lankin and
Park River. Beginning with the 2012-13
school year the Aggies name and colors
would be reinstated for baseball and girls'
basketball and Park River would become
the host school for the team.
First Care Health Center, Good Samar-
itan Society of Park River and Osnabrock
take a technological leap with the use of
telemedicine.
Late April snow put a pause on spring.
Walsh County found out who will be
their sheriff for the next te~xn after a 5-
month hold, due to a recall election. Lau-
ren Wild was once again named sheriff af-
ter receiving 50.2 percent of the vote.
Northern Plains Rail Services was
awarded an $8,900 grant to promote work-
May
Late spring slowed farmers.
Altru Home Services honored Park
River hospice volunteers, Corrine Berg,
Ines Aaland, and Shirley Peterka, for their
years of service.
The Walsh County Press was awarded
honors at the State Newspaper conven-
tion.
Britt Jacobson, Ruth Jelinek, and Brad
Brummond set the groundwork for a com-
munity tanners' market in Park River.
Deb Anderson of Walsh County Public
health along with the help of State Trooper
Matt Peschong staged a drank driving res-
cue scenario in the Park River School s
parking lot to show the students of Park
River and Fordville-Lankin what one bad
decision can lead to in a matter of minutes.
Several students, law enforcement, emer-
gency medical services. Park River Fire
Department and ambulance crews partici-
pated.
Camp Good Mourning, a grief camp
for ages 6 to 18. relocates to Park River
Bible Camp after outgrowing its old loca-
in Germany during World War II as a part
of a Memorial Day service.
June
Several local runners participate in the
Fargo marathon. They began training
months earlier with the help of fitness in-
structor Peppi RoNdeaux.
The Walsh County press announced that
a new face would be seen around the of-
rice. Caylee Hunter of Park River, who is
studying communications at UND interned
for the summer.
Park River's Alkofer family hosted Ger-
man relation Hans Peter Alkofer.
Park River set plans in motion to form
Renaissance Zone to encourage reinvest-
ment and renovation in Park River's busi-
ness district.
First Care Health Center is awarded the
Seal of Distinction.
Linda Seim of Park River was awarded
the Nano Naglc Award for her exemplary
service as a nurse.
Jill Bjerke of Park River. an advocate
against Bullying receives the 'Advocate
of the Year' award from the Options Inter-
state Resource Center for Independent Liv-
ing for her endless hours working to end
bullying.
Jim's Super Valu owners Randy and
Diana Hahn raised money to repl~e Amer-
ican Legion Emblems with flat, perma-
nent lnarkers in Park River's cemeteries.
The Alexander House in Park River gets
new owners.
The Make a Wish-Foundation made
dreams come true of Braelyn Myrvik of
Park River. Her and her family traveled to
Minneapolis for a four-day vacation where
she met Nickelodeon character Sponge-
Bob SquarePants and was able to enjoy
several other fun activities.
Cold weather delayed summer, but the
Park River pool was able to open for the
year on June 13.
The oldest building in Park River will
soon be recycled imo a new business. The
Recycle Shoppe opened on July 4th and
features previously.owned items.
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of
Bechyne in Rural Lankin celebrated 125
years.
Park River Implement earned awards
for sales excellence.
Mail carriers Dmxyl Hell and Monty
Novak were awarded safe driving awards.
Look to the first issue of the year for the
final word on 2011.
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