Burke County Tribune

Gunderson selected for
Outstanding Performer
Award at State Music

The 2013 NDHSAA State Class B Music Festival was held Saturday, May 4 at Minot State University. The NDHSAA State Class B Festival includes vocal and instrumental solos and ensembles including up to 12 participants per entry.

Judges heard 805 entries involving approximately 1500 participants. Each judge had the opportunity to grant one Outstanding Performer award from the entries adjudicated during the day.

Earning an Outstanding Performer award was Caitlin Gunderson, senior at Powers Lake High School. She played a tuba solo, “Carnival of Venice Fantasia.”

One race in county
school elections

With county school elections being held in a month, (Tuesday, June 11) candidates have filed the proper paperwork for school board positions. Also on the ballot will be publication of school board proceedings.

In Bowbells, JR Aufforth has decided to run again. He was appointed last summer, filling the unexpired at-large term of Joe Kremer. Also running unopposed will be Lanette Nelson, filing for her second (rural) term.

Burke Central School patrons will see a race for the one open board position. Traci Bakken and Justin Blom have both filed for the vacant position.

In Powers Lake, the two incumbents, Brian Rosencrans and Jody Schroeder have chosen to run again for the two terms up for election.

IT HAPPENED TO...

More than 760 undergraduate and graduate students were eligible to walk through Minot State University’s commencement exercises May 10. Students graduating with honors from Minot State University earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.9 for summa cum laude, 3.75 for magna cum laude and 3.5 for cum laude.

Graduating from this area were Jessica Swenson of Bowbells, Bachelor of Social Work, magna cum laude; Emily Bloom of Lignite, BSE, elementary education, cum laude; Kara Breitling, BS, management, marketing and Laura Dosch, BSE, elementary education, both of Powers Lake.

For the second consecutive year, Montana State University Billings graduated another large class May 4. MSU Billings conferred degrees on 958 candidates for associate’s degrees, bachelor degrees and master degrees at graduation for the 2012-13 academic year.

Graduating was Teresa Roering of Bowbells, General Business, BS.

Tony Watterud has joined the Dacotah Bank trust department as a trust banker in Minot. G.W. Melgaard, Dacotah Bank’s market president says Tony will specialize in the development of new trust business, the oversight of farm management business, and the administration of account relationships.

Tony is a graduate of Minnesota State Community and Technical College, a graduate of North Dakota State College of Science, and select course study at North Dakota University. Tony has several years of business-to-business sales. Watterud has served seven years in management and 11 years as vice president with Crane Johnson Company of Fargo.
Tony and his spouse, Tanya make their home in Minot. They have three children, two adult children and one at home. His office is located at 1121 South Broadway in Minot. He can be reached at (701) 852-1200 or by email at tony.waterud@dacotahbank.com.

If you want to be the type of Eagle Scout who can soar with Travis Bruse, strap on a jet pack. The 17-year-old has gathered 105 Boy Scout merit badges and is gunning for five more before he turns 18 in June. That’s five times more than you need to become an Eagle Scout and one of the biggest hauls ever seen in the Northern Lights Council that includes all of North Dakota and parts of Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana.

His chock-full sash, which includes four badges that are no longer available, is missing only 30 of the 131 current merit badges a Boy Scout can earn. It’s a rare accomplishment that calls for a major commitment.
Warren Wenner, assistant director of field services for the Northern Lights Council, said Bruse leads in badges among the council’s current flock of Eagles. “I wouldn’t know if it was the highest in history, but it certainly is one of the highest” totals for the Northern Lights Council, Wenner said.

“I had 38 (badges) as an Eagle Scout, and I thought that was a lot; 110 is huge,” Wenner said.
MeritBadgeKnot.com lists 191 Scouts who have gathered all the badges.

Bruse, a tall, slender, soft-spoken youth, was drawn to Cub Scouts in fifth grade, then jumped to Boy Scouts a year later. He likes scouting for the leadership experience and community service.
“Whatever you’re going into, it (leadership) is an important thing,” Bruse said. Since becoming an Eagle Scout, Bruse has collected 11 Eagle Palms.
“He has been such a good role model,” accumulating more than 200 hours of community service, said his mother, Connie (Berg). “He’s just a really nice kid who likes to help a lot.”

Travis has been accepted to North Dakota State University and plans to major in architecture.
Bruse is seeking badges in law, journalism, metalwork, composite materials and space exploration.
Last week, the ND American Legion named Travis its Eagle Scout of the year for 2013. He’s now in the running for that group’s national award.

Travis is the grandchild of Larry and Patsy Berg of Bismarck, and Vi Fremstad of Fargo; all formerly of Bowbells.

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.