S erving the R egion S ince 1907
NOVEMBER 25, 2016 $1.00
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WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR? Local students share their thanks
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Bowman County returns to the wrestling mat
Community helping to bring holiday joy to others
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING S
outhwest Healthcare Residents were happy to share tidbits about the shoebox packing experience: - “It’s wonderful!” Agnes Peterson, a first-year participant, said. “It’s just sad that we can’t reach all the kids.” She mentioned filling boxes with coloring books, race cars, and dinosaurs and is already planning to help out again next year. - Donna Henderson has been involved in this project for several years and not only “thinks of the children” as she packs the boxes but imagines their eyes lighting up when they receive it. - Another first-time participant Marge Tivis said, “It made me feel happy to be able to do something for children. It made me feel good, too.” - Alda Berg recalled her own Christmases as a young child when she received little things (mostly clothes) of her very own. “We didn’t have much money,” Berg said. “Anything new was really special.” So when thinking of the children who would receive these boxes packed in Bowman she said, “I’m thinking how lucky they are, but I know there a lot of kids that still go without.” - When Ada Heinrich packs the boxes, she always thinks of Dar’ya (an activity aide at SWHS a few years ago) who received a Christmas box as a child in Russia. “I like everything about the project,” Heinrich said. “It always brightens my holidays.” - Since the first year, Eunice Ruggles has been writing a special prayer that is packed in each box the residents send. She said, “It is always exciting to work on the boxes.”
GRANDMA ‘TUDE — In a cute moment, Sharon Maychrzak, left, gives an ‘interesting’ look to Esther Fish, right, as the two prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child at Southwest Healthcare Services Long-Term Care in Bowman.
Bowman packs 109 special care boxes to spread love, cheer for the holidays
By LORI SOLA
Bowman County Pioneer
Residents of Bowman have been busy turning 109 simple shoeboxes into treasure troves for children they’ve never met. Several years ago, Debbie Patterson, an activity aide at Southwest Healthcare Services, was in search for something the residents might enjoy doing around the holidays. She ultimately heard about a program called Operation Christmas Children, where community members pack care packages for underprivileged children around the globe. The idea was approved by the SWHS Resident’s Council and has since been active for nine years, starting in 2008 with just 31 boxes. This year, they nearly doubled that amount. “I was surprised by how many boxes were filled and was impressed with the amount of merchandise received for the boxes,” said Kenny Rajewsky, president of the residence
Debbie Patterson, left, helps Donna Henderson, right, a resident at Southwest Healthcare Long-Term Care, with packing gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a program four Bowman organizations helped with this year.
council. “It was impressive.” Operation Christmas Child’s mission is simple: “Demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.” There’s no doubt about it, love is certainly a main ingredient when people are putting their thoughts, care and prayers into each box they pack. Ron Olson, pastor of the Bowman United Methodist Church, has witnessed the excitement that a Christmas box can create for a village of children. While working several years ago as a missionary with his family in Papua, New Guinea, Olson happened to be in a nearby village when it was delivery day for Christmas boxes. Seeing the children line up then jumping in excitement as a truck carrying a load of boxes arrived was an unexpected delight, he said. “It gave me a new appreciation for what we do have,” he added.
Amidon gets first mail delivery By COLE BENZ For The Pioneer
The mail has finally arrived. Amidon’s Neighborhood Distribution Collection Box Unit (NDCBU) was installed Nov. 17, with mail first delivered on Nov. 19. This comes after a somewhat lengthy process by the United State Postal Service after it was discovered the current building housing the post office in Amidon would not be available at the end of the year.
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A public meeting was held in August, and the general consensus was that these post office box-like units was the best course of action. The real estate and land is scarce in Amidon, and finding someone to work behind the desk of a postal building is hard to come by. Which were the two main reasons the community decided that the NDCBUs would be best. Now the community residents can have access to their mail 24 hours per day. The boxes are located on the right side of the building when you’re facing
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the facade of the courthouse. Anyone who had a post office box in the old building, will now use their physical address for successful mail delivery. If you order something, or need to update your address for your electric bill or cellular phone bill etc..change it to your physical address, and according to a spokesperson out of the Bowman office, the mail will arrive in your designated box. There are larger spaces included in
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The boxes passed on more than just things, he noted, it brought love, concern and care because someone had held them in their thoughts. Olson had watched as the impoverished children opened their boxes filled with simple little trinkets. “It probably brightened their whole year,” he said. In addition to Southwest Healthcare’s 55 total boxes this year, three other organizations around Bowman hoped to pass on that same joy with Bowman United Methodist Church having packed 24 boxes, Bowman Assembly of God packed 22 boxes, and Melissa Mutschelknaus’ Grammas Lil Blessings Daycare packed eight. Boxes may be filled, following strict postal regulations and guidelines set up by the program, with various kid-friendly items such as toys, school supplies, non-liquid hygienic items, accessories, crafts and a personal note
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Yesterday’s Farmers awards annual tractor Yesterday’s Farmers held its 15th annual raffle ticket drawing for a tractor or cash prize Nov. 12 at the organization’s grounds on the west edge of Bowman. The winner this year had their choice of a 1940 Farmall H, a 1941 Styled John Deere Model A trac-
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Community Cupboard gives helpful hints for donating
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