Archive - Mar 2012

VC second N.D. location for computer GEDs

March 8, 2012

Esther Keeling was one of the first people in Valley City to be tested by computer for her General Educational Development certification Wednesday when the new program was unveiled at Valley City’s Sheyenne Valley Career and Technical Center.

Keeling “told me it was simple, fast and easy,” after taking the computerized test, said Allison Jennings, program manager for GED Testing Service based in Washington, D.C.

“You should have seen the look in Esther’s face when she saw she passed,” said center director Jeff Bopp.

Impressions of the NDWS

March 8, 2012

Pictures can be found in your Thursday, March 8, 2012 printed edition of the Valley City Times-Record.

The Times-Record got out and talked to a wide variety of Winter Show attendees on Wednesday, asking them where they’re from and why they came out to the show.

Cleone Genre and Larry Junker of Valley City danced their socks off at Senior Dance Day Wednesday. “Having fun? You bet,” said Junker of the polka-themed music of Marv and the Moonlighters. “We like ‘em all, but we do prefer a good two-step.”

Tons turn out for Tasting Bee

March 8, 2012

Lunch was served at the annual North Dakota Winter Show Tasting Bee on Wednesday at the National Guard Armory on Winter Show Road.

With everything costing only a quarter, the line for change stretched out the door shortly after the two-hour event opened at 11 a.m.

“We had 50 rolls of quarters; we have one roll left but a lot of people bring their own,” said Marge Bessette of the NDWS Women’s Division, which puts the Tasting Bee together.

While hundreds turned out for the popular event, Bessette said it is still not the largest affair the division handles.

Local musician DeMasi launches web TV show

March 7, 2012

Joe DeMasi has shared his love of music with listeners all over the United States, and now he is setting out to reach an even wider internet audience with a new children’s musical show produced for web TV.

“The Forever Friends Show” stars DeMasi, his twin brother John, and Chris Burke, an actor with Down syndrome best known for his role as “Corky’ in the hit ABC-TV show “Life Goes On”.

“There are many children’s shows out there,” said DeMasi, “but there’s never been a children’s show with a main character with a disability.

Rural mail carrier recognized for training

March 7, 2012

Duane Burchill, Rural Route 2 mail carrier for the Valley City Post Office, was recently recognized by the Dakota’s District of the United States Postal Service for his role as a Road Test Examiner/Trainer and Facilitator.

He received a letter of appreciation from the District commending him on his role in training new hires to our organization, said Valley City Postmaster Sherry Johnson.

Burchill said he has been working as a Road Test Examiner/Trainer and Facilitator “for four or five years, and with the post office about 25 years.”

New BCN campus on horizon

March 7, 2012

A new, centralized, $14.5 million facility for the Barnes County North School District is one step closer to becoming a reality, as the Barnes County Commission approved the use of a County Auditor’s Lot in Uxbridge Township for the construction of the new building, pending the approval of the County Planning and Zoning Board, which will review the issue on Thursday.

County Road 22 closed to bus, truck traffic

March 7, 2012

Due to deteriorating conditions, County Road 22 from State Highway 1 (at the blinking light) west to the city of Sanborn is closed to all truck and bus traffic.

Area school board seats up for grabs

March 6, 2012

“Since education was not one of the functions delegated to the national government by the United States Constitution, it has remained the basic responsibility of individual states. Washington policy makers could be described as interested and sometimes interfering spectators in the operations of the country’s school systems.”

Winter Show memories

March 6, 2012

Over the past weeks, several area residents have contacted the Times-Record to share their recollections of early Winter Shows. We thought we would share their stories with our readers, and maybe jog some memories of your own.

Calvin Lettenmaier of Sanborn has fond memories of the North Dakota Winter Show, and with good reason. He has attended every Winter Show since its inaugural season in 1938, only missing one year during his military service in 1946.

The Winter Show came about at a time when the country was slowly recovering from the Great Depression, Lettenmaier said.