Burke County Tribune

Burke County
graduating 19 seniors

The three county schools in Burke County will graduate a total of 19 seniors, two more than last year.

Burke Central School kicks off the county commencements with graduating four seniors at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 25. Honor student is Brandon Bryant. Also receiving diplomas are Ayla Martin, Nicholas Merchant and Hunter Rogers.
The Burke Central seniors chose lime green, light blue and black as their class colors and a light blue rose tipped in lime green as their flower. Their motto reads, “If we cannot find the road to success, we will make one.”

Bowbells’ graduation is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 with four seniors. Graduates include Casey Beeter, Michaela Bjergaard, Casey Lucy and Scott Tetrault.
The Bowbells Class of 2013 chose a white rose with green tips and black and green as their class flower and colors. Their motto is, “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

Powers Lake’s graduation is set with baccalaureate starting at 3 p.m., and the commencement at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. Powers Lake graduates 11 seniors.
Honor students are Keegan Maruskie, Jesse Lawrence, Karla Haugenoe, Dylan Eckert, Taylor Folmer, Kendra Fredrickson and Caitlin Gunderson.
Other class members include Colleen Jorgenson, Levi Klitzke, Christian Marden and Collin Marden.
The Powers Lake senior class chose black, silver and blue as their class colors and bachelor’s button as their flower. “With memories of the past, we look to the future,” is the class motto.

Graduation trends over the past few years show in 2005, Burke County tallied 18 graduating seniors; in 2006, 21; 2007, 23; 2008, 18; 2009, 32; 2010, 17; 2011, 30 and 2012, 17.

IT HAPPENED TO...

Medical students of the M.D. Class of 2013 and faculty of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences were recognized by the school at the Commencement Awards Presentation on Sunday, May 12.

The North Dakota Medical Association Awards was presented to three outstanding students in the class including Caitlin L. Pandolfo, Bowbells.

The University of North Dakota held its annual spring commencement at Saturday, May 11, at the Alerus Center, Grand Forks. More than 6,000 friends and family of graduates were in attendance, as President Robert O. Kelley presided over his fifth spring commencement. UND, each year, graduates about 2,700 students in ceremonies in May, August, and December.

For general commencement, there were 1,122 eligible undergraduate degree candidates and 417 graduate-degree candidates, including 47 Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees. In addition, 96 received certificates, attained through several colleges.

Graduating from this area were Jacob Johnson (BS, Magna Cum Laude), Caitlin Pandolfo (MD), and Santana Royer (BSCJS, Summa Cum Laude), all of Bowbells; Nathan Sem (BS) of Powers Lake.

Portal Masons award
local scholarships

Portal Masonic Lodge #84 is happy to announce the winners of their annual college assistance grants. Each winner will receive between $1000-1250.
The winners are Karla Haugenoe and Dylan Eckert of Powers Lake High School.
Karla is the daughter of Gayleen Grote and Randy Haugenoe of McGregor. She attends Powers Lake High School. Her honors and activities include honor roll-4 years, volleyball-4 years, ABY-1 year, choir-4 years, salutatorian, 1st at Tech Day, John Eberle Scholarship.
Karla plans to attend Williston State College.

Dylan Eckert is the son of Stephanie and Douglas Eckert of Powers Lake. He attends Powers Lake High School. His honors and activities include band, choir, FFA, FBLA, Luther League, SADD, football-State Champs in 2011, basketball and track.
Dylan will attend NDSCS at Wahpeton and work towards becoming a specialized farm mechanic.

Each $1000-1250 grant will be sent to the college of choice to be used for books or tuition. Monies were raised by Portal Masons, two pancake breakfasts and donations from Masons and supporters, as well as matching dollars from the North Dakota Masonic Foundation.

Portal Lodge #84 is an International Lodge composed of members from North Portal, SK; Portal, Lignite, Flaxton, Columbus, Bowbells, Powers Lake and Divide County.

Outdoor Tales

HELLO SUN

It is just shocking what a little sunshine can do for the attitude of the world. After this long winter that would not end, a beautiful sunny day just gets everything and everyone in a good mood.

Over the past couple weeks in my travels most conversations started the same, weather. Would this winter ever end? When would spring start?
Last week people I talked to were in a downright bad mood and grumpy. It seemed the lack of sun and the snow showers every week had pushed most to the edge.

Then Friday arrived, a sunny day with little wind that actually felt like spring day should. From the time I walked into my office I could tell everyone was in a better mood. When I went home that night I noticed the neighbors out and about visiting. Even the neighborhood dogs seemed to be happier on Friday.
It was so relaxing to sit in the driveway and watch the comings and goings of people as they walked for the first time this spring.

It was great to watch the ducks flying into the coulee behind the house, and even hear the motorcycles out for the first cruise of the season.(I’m sure I will get over that one in about a week.)

Saturday morning Braden and I headed to the lake. When we arrived at the cabin the sun was beating down on what was left of the snowbanks in the backyard and the woods behind. We went for a walk through the woods to see if we could find any deer sheds.

We walked around checking out what the woods had to offer. We saw deer sunning themselves, robins, blue jays, and a couple big squirrels. All the animals seemed to be enjoying the warm sun as much as we were.
After our nature walk, we played on the swings, then moved to the front of the house where Braden played in the snow and I started cleaning out the garage. Not much work was done as it was just so nice to watch the animals and the neighbors taking it all in.

Sunday morning we were greeted with almost no snow in the woods, so of course we had to go for another stroll through the woods and check for sheds one more time. This time it was a nice walk and not though the snow. No sheds were found again but it was still a nice walk.

I have always been one who loves spring. I know it is the appreciation of surviving a tough winter and knowing summer is right around the corner. I can’t remember a spring I appreciate arriving more than this one. It is just that we had to wait so long for it to arrive. Even the sight of grass is a treat. Wait until some of that grass turns green, I’m not sure what will happen then.

Until next time get outside and make some memories.