S erving the R egion S ince 1907
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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
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Scranton school sets stage for elegant prom
Hospital sees challenging year
By BRYCE MARTIN Pioneer Editor
“Challenging would be the word of the year for Southwest Healthcare Services,” said Becky Hansen, CEO. “We have an amazing staff that has worked through many challenges this past year including a building project and the resignation of three physicians.”
Those particular challenges were part of the discussion last week during the SWHS annual meeting at Bowman Lutheran Church. Hansen explained during the meeting how it had been a challenging year for Southwest Healthcare Services with the regulations of the ACA, the physician situation, the ongoing building project and the hospital’s overall financial status.
ELECTION 2016
Filing date passes; 10 run for county spots
What appear as continual steep losses on the balance sheets should not be construed as the hospital’s inability to maintain itself, according to Renee Gravalin, partner with Eide Bailly, LLC of Fargo. She said that while the operating losses are concerning, Southwest Healthcare Services continues to have a positive cash flow position. Southwest Healthcare is a rural
critical access hospital, meaning it is funded much differently than other nonprofit businesses; its finances are not as straightforward as other operations. As anticipated, the debt for SWHS had increased in 2015 due to financing of the building project. The hospital’s expenses increased by 3 percent
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Healthcare Services’ financial picture look? We break down the integral figures that indicate the hospital’s overall financial status. Page 3
“Making books available for people is always wonderful.” Today’s youths spend so much time in front of screens, but one Bowman woman is trying to help change that
Pioneer Editor
With the April 11 filing deadline for the primary ballot passed, Bowman County and its cities now have a clearer picture of who's running for office. The most widely contested seats are those of county commissioner, with 10 candidates. The candidates whose names will appear on the June ballot include current Commission President Rick Bratten, Commission Pine Abrahamson, both running to keep their seat, Jerry Jeffers, Dave Anderson, Margie Russ, Brandy Getz, Chris Johnson, John McGee, Bruce McLaughlin and Dale Palczewski. The seats are considered at-large, meaning there are no district affiliation requirements, and the top six candidates will move on to the general election in November. The three candidates with the most votes will be elected onto the board to fill the three available seats. “There are a lot this year, but once in a past election — since I’ve been here — we saw 11 candidates file,” said Bowman County Auditor Sandi Tivis. The three total positions available for the Bowman City Board of Commissioners is similarly contested. Bowman City Auditor Peggy Allen confirmed on Tuesday that the applicants who filed for the two available commissioner seats included Dan Peterson, Sonia Campbell, Ryan Shear and, handing in his petition on the deadline, Myron “Tiger” Vail. Current Commission President Lyn James and Commissioner Chuck Whitney will compete for the presidency of the board, with no other candidates filing. Allen said there were no candidates for the city’s two available park board seats. If no write-ins are received, the board would have to appoint people to fill the empty seats following the election.
By BRYCE MARTIN Pioneer Editor
Down a tree strewn street in Bowman, in front of a well maintained lawn evoking images of Burnett’s “The Secret Garden” — when in bloom — stands a curious little box that when opened unleashes passages to other worlds and points in time. That is, through the power of reading. Introducing Bowman’s first and only free little library, courtesy of Linda Anderson. A testament to the community’s enchantment for trendiness and creativity, Anderson likened her small library to a book exchange. It allows people to find a good, new book or old favorite. It has an impact larger than the small space reserved for its books, by helping local youth uncover an interest in reading, outside of the classroom. “Kids are always doing so much screen time,” she said. So, put down the phone, switch off the computer or television and read a book. Similar bookstands have sprung up around the country in recent years. Anderson, an avid reader, said she discovered the idea when visiting family in St. Paul, Minn., where the little libraries are abundant. Its premise is simple: a person keeps an assortment of books, novels, short stories, or the like inside an often eye-catching mailbox-like stand in front of their home. Visitors to this roadside library can “check out” anything they please and at any time. There’s no library card required and no set hours. The borrower can have the book as long as they’d like, and simply return when they’re ready or keep it. No questions asked. She said she doesn’t want people to feel like they have to bring the books back, but it’s completely their decision. The books, including adult, young adult and children’s books, are
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ELECTION Page 2
High: 58 Low: 37 Cloudy; a little rain, cooler
n How does Southwest
Meet the little library that could
By BRYCE MARTIN
Weather, 4
Inside
Index Classifieds ..............10 Comics ...................11 Obituaries ..............9 Opinion ..................8
OPINION, 8 Puzzles ...................11 Briefs .......................2 Sports .....................12 Community ..........4
LETTER: Yes, UND won. But it’s still ‘Fighting Sioux’
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