North Dakota Veterans Home is being recognized for 115 years of excellent service. They have been awarded the 2008 Community Service Award by the North Dakota Long Term Care Association (NDLTCA). North Dakota Veterans Home has provided quality service and enhanced the lives of residents in long term care.

This year, North Dakota Veterans Home of Lisbon is the only facility to receive this honor. The 2008 Community Service Award recipients were honored at the NDLTCA’s award banquet held Wednesday, April 30, in Bismarck.

The North Dakota Long Term Care Association is a professional association of community and long term care providers who enhance the lives of people we serve through collaboration, education and advocacy. NDLTCA represents assisted living, basic care and nursing facilities throughout North Dakota.

The main item on the agenda at the Lisbon Council meeting on Tuesday evening, May 6, was concerns brought by a group of ten business people and other citizens. Debbie Jensen, who owns several businesses in the Lisbon area, opened the group’s presentation by explaining that she had asked to be placed on the agenda because she had major concerns about the future of Lisbon. She read a statement in which she stated she has always been proud of the city of Lisbon, but is now “sad and scared” instead. She went on to state that instead of being a busy business hub, the city has now become a town to be avoided. She pointed out that it has become hard to have a conversation in Lisbon without someone complaining about the police. She explained that every day she hears people voicing their concern that the overzealous police are driving shoppers away from Lisbon. “People need to feel welcome in Lisbon again,” she added. “They don’t feel they need to come here if they are going to be harassed.”

Tim Jensen, Debbie’s husband and a local bar owner, read a statement in which he addressed Mayor Cole’s comment, quoted in the Gazette, about being concerned about a one percent drop in sales tax in Lisbon while other communities in the area were seeing increases in sales. Jensen went on to say that he feels the decrease in sales stems from the fact that people are afraid to come to Lisbon for fear they will get picked up by the police for some petty indiscretion such as not stopping for three seconds at a stop sign. “People are intimidated by our police,” he said. “We need law enforcement, but the officers need to use some common sense. It has gotten to the point where people are more afraid of the police than of the people who the police are hired to protect them from.”

Jensen commented on a county sheriff’s deputy who had been quoted in the newspaper as saying that the expected influx of construction workers this summer would bring with it a bigger need for jail beds. He said instead of being happy that the community would be having more people coming in to bring in more sales revenue, he instead had focused on the negative. “When does it (police work) go from protection to pressure?” asked Jensen. “I am asking you (the council) to stand up for the future of this town. We have some major concerns here!”

Jensen added that business at bars as well as other Lisbon retail establishments has gone down and on weekends, especially, Lisbon streets are bare. Terry Thompson, another area businessman, stated that if the trend continues, more businesses will be forced to close. “We want police protection,” he said. “But do you have to constantly throw the book at people for minor things? Wouldn’t it be better to back off a little?”

Joe Poulin, another local bar owner, stated that he had done a survey in which he had chosen three people, at random, from each of several surrounding communities. He asked the people to comment on how they felt about the city of Lisbon, and, he said, none had any good comments.  “They all said they avoid Lisbon because of our overzealous police force,” he said.

Patty Carlblom, a former Ransom County employee and commissioner and lifetime area resident, stated that people in Milnor have told her they don’t want to come to Lisbon anymore because they are afraid of being picked up by the police for some insignificant traffic violation. She added that she has heard the same type of comments from people in Fort Ransom. “The theme seems to have become ‘pursue and prosecute’ or ‘arrest and intimidate,’” she said. “I have heard many people comment that they do not want their sales tax dollars to come to Lisbon, so they shop elsewhere. The fact is that I used to be a firm supporter of shopping at home, but now I keep a list and get what I need in Fargo when I go to visit my kids. The reason I have to go there to visit them is because they don’t want to come home, because of police harassment. The price of gas should help small towns by keeping people at home, but, for Lisbon, that does not seem to be the case.”

“It’s just the past couple years that the problem has arisen,” stated Carlblom. “It is not just a city issue. It is county-wide.”

Duane Johnson, who manages the Lisbon Eagles Club, told of being followed home several times by a law enforcement vehicle after pausing at the stop light on his way home late at night after closing the clubhouse.

Comments were made about the city and county law enforcement officers needing to work together. However, the group stated that they felt the two departments were now working too closely. They told of city officers following people out of town and reporting people speeding to the sheriff’s department.

In conclusion, Debbie Jensen asked the council, “How can we repair this? Please don’t just sweep this problem under the rug. See what can be done to remedy the situation.”

John Otterson, city council member, stated that he had heard similar comments before. He said he believed the state highway patrol officers might be causing the biggest problem by being what he considered “too tough.”  “This tends to put a black eye on all law enforcement officers,” he said.”

Tim Meyer stated that he had also heard a lot of talk. “There must be a problem that needs to be dealt with,” he commented.

“How do you suggest we fix it?” LyDell Mairs asked the citizen group. “Do you want us, as a city council, to micromanage the police department?”

Mayor Ross Cole asked the group to give Police Chief Jeannette Persons a chance to respond.  “We’ve heard stories on the street, too,” stated Persons. “But they are way off base. A couple of years ago I met with bar owners in an attempt to get on the same page with them. This year we did our first compliance check for businesses which sell alcohol. Two businesses passed - two failed. I just gave those who didn’t pass a warning, but informed them that it would be their last. I then offered server training - another attempt to get on the same page. Two took us up on it - two did not.”

Persons went on to comment that she did not believe the number of citations her department has issued recently is up from years past. She reminded those in attendance that the court report in the paper is county-wide, not just the city of Lisbon. 

“I believe in protecting and serving,” Persons said. “I want people to be able to go home and be safe. I believe education and prevention is a big part of maintaining citizen’s safety. You will have to decide if you want a police department that will protect you or one which will turn its back on crime.”

“I am certainly not out to hurt business in Lisbon,” Persons added. “I want the community’s businesses to thrive.”

In answer to comments about picking people up for “swerving,” she said, “When we see a driver swerving, we stop them, not because we suspect they may have been drinking, but to see if we can help. There may be a medical condition causing them to drive erratically. When you talk about working together with the sheriff’s department and/or highway patrol, there is a reason for that. In this day and age with alcohol and drug problems, etc., we never know what we may have to deal with when we stop someone. When I hear a call of someone being stopped, if I’m in the area, I stop to see if the officer needs help. I don’t do it to intimidate, I do it to help both the officer and the person in the vehicle.”

Persons suggested that she could contact the sheriff’s department and highway patrol and set up a public forum at which people could air their concerns in public instead of feeding the rumor mill. The law officers, she said, would be glad to answer any questions that they have.  

Cole suggested that the group take their concerns to the county and the state highway department as well. He stated that the police committee could discuss their concerns, but that the county board and the sheriff needed to hear the concerns as well.  

Councilman Tom McKinnon suggested that the citizens’ group come back to the council in a couple months to see what had been done regarding the situation.

Later in the meeting, after the group had left the council chambers, McKinnon again asked what the council was going to do about addressing the group’s concerns. Cole stated that the matter should be handled by the council’s police committee, which consists of John Otterson, Tim Meyer, and Tom McKinnon.

The White House told members of Congress on Tuesday that the cost of the five-year farm bill is still too high, saying negotiators are using budget gimmicks to hide the real expense.

The cost of the almost $300 billion bill and the amount of subsidies directed toward wealthy farmers remain the major sticking points between the White House and both Democratic and GOP negotiators.  President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation.

Negotiators are weighing reports from congressional budget experts on what the bill would cost under several scenarios.  They are now considering eliminating some government payments to those who make more than $750,000 in farm income annually, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly.  

That would be closer to the White House’s proposal on limiting the subsidies.  The Bush administration originally proposed a cap for those who make more than $200,000 in average annual farm income, but has signaled that it could accept a limit of  $500,000.

Negotiators last week proposed eliminating some subsidies for those who make more than $950,000 in farm income, a proposal that was swiftly rejected by the White House.

North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad said the White House is making up its own rules, and negotiators will continue to rely on congressional budget scores.  He said a veto override would be “a tough mountain to climb.”

by Janet Hansen

The Lisbon City Council, meeting on Monday evening, May 5, heard the first reading of a proposed ordinance which would add an additional one-half percent to the city’s sales tax. 

The council had earlier discussed adding the extra half-percent sales tax in order to help pay for the water, sewer, and street project which will be starting this month. Various options for funding the large infrastructure improvement project had been discussed. The council decided that by increasing the sales tax by a half percent and changing the distribution of the sales tax funds, they could keep the amount which would have to be either assessed to property owners or passed on as an additional user fee at a more manageable level.

This complimentary news brief is brought to you by the writing staff of your Ransom County Gazette.  To receive the story in its entirety, please be sure to subscribe to the Ransom County Gazette today!

by Janet Hansen

Commissioner Steve Dick commented that he had been hearing from quite a few people who had not received their cards to return for a ballot for the upcoming primary election’s Vote by Mail process. The board discussed the fact that state-wide forms were mailed only to those who voted in the 2004 and/or 2006 general elections. Those who did not receive an application card but who wish to vote by mail, may either contact the Ransom County Auditor’s office or print an application off the Secretary of State’s web site. There is also an application published in this issue of the Gazette which may be mailed in to request a ballot. Also included is information on how to fill out the forms and where to send them. For those who wish to vote in person, a county-wide precinct will be set up for that purpose in the community room at the Ransom County Courthouse on primary election day, June 10.

On another matter, Chris Sandvig, Chief Deputy, Ransom County Sheriff’s Department, explained to the board of commissioners that a group of Lisbon business owners and other citizens had brought complaints to the Lisbon City Council meeting on Monday evening, May 5. He stated that Police Chief Jeannette Persons had called on Tuesday morning to inform the sheriff’s department of the allegations. She reported that some of the complaints were that law enforcement in Lisbon and the Ransom County area as a whole is out of control. The group told the council, according to what Persons had told Sandvig, that people were being arrested for petty indiscretions and that law enforcement personnel were following people around waiting for them to do something wrong so that they could arrest them. 

This complimentary news brief is brought to you by the writing staff of your Ransom County Gazette.  To receive the story in its entirety, please be sure to subscribe to the Ransom County Gazette today!

Bronco girls finish sixth

Sargent County emerged from a four-team scramble to win team honors with their low score of 340 at the Region 1 boys’ qualifier meet held at the Grand Rapids golf course on Monday, May 5.

Any individual that fired a score of 8 over par or less could qualify for the state golf meet to be held later this month.  No individuals scored low enough but individual and team scores dropped drastically with the improved weather conditions.

With temps in the high 60s and a slight breeze, Lisbon’s Dillon Bishop tied for medalist honors with his 18-hole score of 81.  Bishop’s score just missed the cut-line for state qualifying.  Bishop, a junior, has been Lisbon’s low scorer for the last two meets. 

The actual Region 1 tournament will also be held at Grand Rapids on Thursday, May 15.  The top three teams and ten individuals (plus all ties for tenth) will advance to the state meet.  The Maple River Golf Course in Mapleton will host the boys’ state meet.

Nick Cooper was the Bronco’s other golfer to earn top 10 honors with his score of 86.

Coach Marc Strahm commented on his boys’ team’s effort.  “Dillon Bishop had a very good round at the individual qualifier to tie for low score.  Bishop finished second as the medalist was determined by playing back the card on the toughest individual hole.”

“Nick Cooper, Jordan Lee, and Patrick Olson rounded out the team total with their scores of 86, 92, and 93.  Cooper’s score of 86 earned Nick his tenth place finish.”

“We are looking forward to the Region 1 tournament on May 15, and it should be a battle with any of five teams capable of winning the tournament.”

The Bronco girls are steady as she goes.  Coach Sherri Surerus’ squad is slowly but surely lowering their individual scores.  Grace Buchholz and Laura Iszler led LHS with their scores of 113 and 116.  Buchholz and Iszler probably proved to themselves that they can go much lower as each had a round of nine holes with a score of 53.

Jennifer Anderson and Haley Christofferson rounded out the Bronco’s team scores with their efforts of 122 and 126.

Coach Surerus has Lisbon knocking on the state qualifying door with their sixth-place team finish.  The top three teams from each of the state’s six regions will qualify for the state meet to be held at the Oxbow Country Club later in May.

Boy’s team scores – 13 schools competing

Top 6 teams 

1.  Sargent County 343

2.  Edgeley-Kulm 350

3.  South Border 351

4.  Lisbon 352

Milnor-Wyndmere 352

6.  Napoleon 363

7.  LaMoure-L-M 366

8.  Ellendale 372

9.  Linton-HMB 397

10.  Central Prairie 402

11.  Oakes 432

12. Lidgerwood-Hankinson-

Fairmount inc

Top 10 & Bronco scores

1. Tyler Riesenhauer, Ellendale 81

2.  Dillon Bishop, Lisbon 81

3.  Charlie Taylor, Edgeley-Kulm

83

4. Seth Ordahl, Milnor-Wyndmere

83

5. Isaac Lehr, South Border 84

6. Dave Eklund, Sargent County 84

7. Casey Colmer, Sargent County

84

8. Devan Elenberger, MW 85

9. Zach Michel, Sargent County 85

10. Simon Anderson, EK 86

Nick Cooper, Lisbon 86

Bronco scores – top 4 determines team score

Dillon Bishop 81

Nick Cooper 86

Jordan Lee 92

Patrick Olson 93

Ryan Hock 95

Cam Thompson 97

Girls’ Team Scores

1.  LaMoure LM 424

2.  Linton HMB 441

3.  Ellendale 446

4.  Sargent County 448

5.  LHF 473

6.  Lisbon 477

7.  South Border 482

8.  Napoleon 486

9.  Edgeley-Kulm 500 10.  Central Prairie inc

11.  Oakes inc

12.  Milnor-Wyndmere inc

Top Ten

1. Amber Piatz, Napoleon 95

2. Halie Gentzkow, LLM 99

3. Chelsie Aker, LHF 102

4. Shannon Brauer, Ellendale 102

5. Maria Breker, Sargent County

104

6. Paige Tompkins, Milnor–W 106

7. Kayla Rodin, LLM 106

8. Haley Dockter, Linton HMB

106

9.  Alicia Weisser, South Border

107

10. Megan Carr, Linton HMB 107

      Kailey Faller, Ellendale 107

      Samantha Peterson, LLM 107

Bronco golfers

Grace Buchholz 113

Laura Iszler 116

Jennifer Anderson 122

Haley Christofferson 126

Cassidy Gregor 135

Anna Well 151

The Lisbon girl’s 400 relay team of Karlene Lorenz, Kali Olson, Ashley Berg, and Karli Freeberg joined Erik Heitkamp in the triple jump as the Broncos newest state qualifiers.

Heitkamp continues to improve dramatically under the coaching of Bronco jump coach, Brad Bittner.  Heitkamp stretched the measuring tape to 41’9” in the triple jump to qualify for the state meet by three inches.  Heitkamp, a junior, also leapt a personal best of 19’10½” in the long jump to score 11 of the Broncos’ 80 points.

The Bronco boy’s finished in fifth place and the girl’s in 8th.

The Broncos’ speedy short relay looked sharp as they qualified for the state meet.

In looking at the history of the Rotary, Lisbon athletes have earned four Most Valuable Athlete awards for their performances at this prestigious meet.  Todd Urbach in 1999 and Jon Evenson in 2007 are the Bronco boys’ reps, and Kara Herbst Carter in 1983 and Patti Bock in 1981 are Lisbon’s girls to have claimed this award.

Senior Derek Hiam continues to heal and put up impressive numbers this spring.  Hiam was slowed by a hip injury early but just missed qualifying in the javelin with his throw of 159’7” and in the triple jump 41’3½”.  Derek missed by just five inches in the javelin and 2½” in the triple.

Times are dropping and heights and distances are increasing as the weather has turned warm.  Look for many more Bronco athletes to qualify for state during the next three meets.  

Lisbon competed at the Jamestown Al Cassell Meet on May 10, are at Concordia today, and will compete in the Region 1 meet at Concordia on May 17.

Freshman Blake Mallett ran a personal best of 52.8 in the 400 and leads LHS in the 200, 400, 300 hurdles, and the 400, 800, and 1600 relays.

Team scores – 11 schools competing – top 5

Boys 1.  Fargo South 202.5 2.  West Fargo 142

3.  Grand Forks Red River 117.5 4.  Fargo North 86.5

5.  Lisbon 80

10 teams competing

Girls

1.  Bismarck 155

2.  Bismarck Century 119

3.  Minot 105

4.  Fargo South 93

9.  Lisbon 25

14 teams competing

New Rotary Records

Laura Roesler, Fargo South - 200

  24.81

Bismarck girls - 400 relay 49.63

April Anderson, Bismarck 10’10”

Ellie Grooters, West Fargo -  

300 hurdles 44.19

Bronco placewinners @ Rotary Meet

400 3.  Blake Mallett 52.83

1600 2.  Jayce Seelig 4:44.56 

5.Anthony Finstad 4:58.61

3200 8.  Brandon Qual 12:27.3

110 H 4.  Nathan Dykema 16.11

7. Adam Coykendall 16.74

300 H 3.  Ashley Berg 47.6

High jump 3. Logan Carlblom 

5’ 8”

3.  Veronica Munkeby 

5’ 1”

6.  Kali Olson 4’ 11”

Long jump 5.  Erik Heitkamp

19’10 ½”

7.  Derek Hiam 19’

Triple jump 3. Erik Heitkamp

41’9”

4.  Derek Hiam 41’3 ½”

Pole vault  tie 5.  Tyler Wolf 10’

tie 6. Kammy Larson 8’

Shot put 8. Brendon Smith 

40’10 ½”

Discus 4. Logan Carlblom 134’

Javelin 2.  Derek Hiam 159’ 7”

400 relay 6.  50.6  Adam

Coykendall, Elliott Olerud,

Brandon Schell, Logan

Carlblom

52.46  Kali Olson, Ashley Berg,

Karli Freeberg, Karlene Lorenz

800 relay 5. 1:35.5 Ricky Roman,

Elliott Olerud, Blake Mallett,

Derek Hiam

1600 relay 6. 3:43.08 Blake

Mallett, Anthony Finstad, Elliott

Olerud, Jayce Seelig

3200 relay 5.  9:14.37 Keanan

Kopp, Anthony Finstad,

Brandon Qual, Derek Jones

Bronco Track Season Leaders

100 Karlene Lorenz 13.07

Ricky Roman 11.27

200 Ashley Berg 27.14

Blake Mallett 23.39

400 Jess Rotenberger 1:15

Blake Mallett 52.83

800 Jenna Waliser 2:40.77

Jayce Seelig 2:09.1

1600 Jayce Seelig 4:43.17

3200 Kayla Lemieux 13:40.83

Anthony Finstad 10:18.38

100 H Ashley Berg 16.18

110 H Nathan Dykema 15.48

300 H Ashley Berg 46.96

Blake Mallett 42.41

High Jump Veronica Munkeby

5’ 5”

Logan Carlblom 6’ 2”

Long Jump  Ashley Berg 17’ ½”

Erik Heitkamp 19’ 10 ½”

Triple Jump Taylor Wagner 30’ 9”

Erik Heitkamp 41’ 9”

Pole Vault Kammy Larson 8’

Ricky Roman 11’

Shot put Logan Carlblom 44’ 4”

Erin Gabel 29’ 10 ½”

Discus Hillary Birchem 117’ 6”

Logan Carlblom 137’ 1”

Javelin BreAnn Thorfinnson

106’ 2”

Derek Hiam 159’ 7”

400 relay 44.91 Ricky Roman,

Elliott Olerud, Blake Mallett,

Logan Carlblom

52.45 Kali Olson, Karlene

Lorenz, Karli Freeberg, Ashley

Berg

800 relay 1:35.5  Ricky Roman,

Elliott Olerud, Blake Mallett,

Derek Hiam

1:57.87 Kali Olson, Karli 

Freeberg, Taryn Wagner, 

Ashley Berg 

1600 relay 3:40.16 Jayce Seelig,

Blake Mallett, Anthony Finstad,

Elliott Olerud

4:53.19 Paige Elijah, Jess

Rotenberger, Kammy Larson,

Jenna Waliser

3200 relay 11:11.16 Shelby

Waliser, Paige Elijah, Taryn

Wagner, Kammy Larson

8:59.85 Jayce Seelig, Anthony

Finstad, Derek Jones, Keanan

Kopp 

Funeral services for Bert T. Enervold, 89, Lisbon, N.D., were held on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church, Gwinner. Rev. David H. Carlson officiated. Mr. Enervold passed away on Wednesday, May 7, at Parkside Lutheran Home, Lisbon.

Bert Telmer Enervold, son of Bernie B. and Mary (Olson) Enervold, was born June 17, 1917, in Gwinner.  He was baptized in the Gustaf Adolf Lutheran Church in Gwinner on July 13, 1917.  He attended school in the Gwinner and Stirum areas.  His family moved out to the Stirum rural farm area when he was seven years old, and he grew up on the family farm with his five sisters and one brother.  

He married Enne Adrianna Granlund on October 17, 1943, in Fort Ransom. He farmed in the Stirum area and was also a machinist at Melroe Manufacturing Company in Gwinner for many years. After retiring in 1980 they spent 25 winters in the Venice and Sarasota, Fla., areas, and spent their summers on their family farm near Stirum.  In later years they spent summers living in Fort Ransom, with their daughter, Yvonne and her husband, Blair, in their North Dakota home.  Bert moved to Parkside Lutheran Home in 2005 where he lived until his death.  Enne died on April 6, 2008. 

Bert is survived by his children, Elroy (Gloria) Enervold, Grand Forks, Yvonne (Blair) Emery, Soldotna, Alaska, Neil (Kathy) Enervold, Beulah, Bonnie (George) Smith, Sarasota, Fla., and Terry (Cheryl) Enervold, Bismarck; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Mary Burnside, Moorhead, Minn., Inez Kronbeck, Hawley, Minn., Eunice Williams Peterson, Dilworth,  Minn., Joyce Russell, Moorhead,  Minn., and Duane (Jan) Enervold, Moorhead, Minn., along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Enne, on April 6, 2008; his parents; sister, Berneth Orn, and two infant sisters.

Pallbearers for the funeral were grandchildren, Lisa Gunnell, Neil Emery, Camille Altringer, Rachelle Sian, Amanda Enervold, Megan Enervold, Loran Smith, Michael Enervold, Brandon Enervold, Aaron Enervold, and Tara Enervold.

Music was provided by organist Naomi Vincent and soloist Jack Armstrong.

Interment at Standing Rock Cemetery, Fort Ransom.

Armstrong Funeral Home, Lisbon, was in charge of arrangements.

This obituary is printed in full because it is a paid obituary.

Ron S. Beem, 86, Tucson, Ariz., formerly rural Lisbon, N.D., died on Monday, April 28, 2008, at the Tucson VA Hospital, of complications due to congestive heart failure.

He was born January 18, 1922, near Elliott, N.D., to Glen and Marie (Stroh) Beem.  On June 22, 1947, Ron married Armenouhie Stanley, DeLamere.   They farmed and raised their family in the Elliott area until moving to Scoville Township east of Lisbon in 1967.  Ron continued his farming endeavors there until into the later 1990s.

Ron loved working the land, milking cows, hunting, fishing, trapping, and playing horseshoe.  During the 1970s Ron and Armene began spending their winters in Tucson and eventually lived there permanently, although Ron always called North Dakota “home.”

He will be greatly missed by his sons, Glenn (Helen), Tucson, Ariz., and Grant (LaVonne), Milnor, N.D.; three daughters, Tania (Darrel) Kirschenman, Montpelier, N.D., Valerie, Tucson, Ariz., and Juliann (Michael) Miller, Tucson, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Willard (Geneva) Tucson, Ariz., Herbert (Bonnie), Gwinner, N.D., and Harvey (Laura) Escanaba, Mich.; and two sisters, Gwendolyn Koepke, Austin, Texas, and Germaine (Orville) Rydquist, Wahpeton, along with many nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, one brother, Virgil, and one sister, Geraldine McDaniel.

A private burial is scheduled.

Arrangements by Desert Rose Burial, Tucson, Ariz.

This obituary is printed in its entirety because it is a paid obituary.

Name:  Larry Stillwell

Age:  81

Residence:  Moorhead, Minn.

Funeral -

Date:  May 7, 2008

Location:  Grace Lutheran Church, Fargo, N.D.

Date of Death:  May 5, 2008

Birthplace:  Watford City, N.D.