S erving the R egion S ince 1907
www.bowmanextra.com TRIBUTE, 3
You might not know them, but they’re there when you need them
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016
◊
$1.00
SPORTS, 14
An unsung ‘hero’ runs for Bowman County
BOWMAN
Parent alleges golf coach took bus, left team at meet School board reacts with surprise By BRYCE MARTIN Pioneer Editor
A surprise admission from a parent during Tuesday’s Bowman County School Board meeting caused one board member to nearly move for a motion to vote on a Bowman coach’s future in school sports. Dan Peterson angrily flailed his hands while communicating to the board that he would gladly make a motion to unseat Cody Jamtgaard’s as head golf coach after a concerned parent had detailed an unsettling event during the public input portion of the meeting. The parent alleged that Jamtgaard left a boy’s golf meet during play, driving the school bus — and it wasn’t the first time it happened. It was said Jamtgaard left the team behind, forsaking the safety of the players. “Something’s not right there,” said the parent. The parent said he did not personally witness the incident, but was reporting what the student athletes explained they observed. He indicated that there were no other Bowman coaches at the meet. The concerned parent alleged that the same incident had occurred last year, at a girl’s team’s meet. “It’s unacceptable,” said board member Stacy McGee. Tyler Senn, activities director and high school principal, told the board that he had spoken with the parent, then Jamtgaard, and that the issue had been “addressed.” Peterson asked what Jamtgaard’s response was to the allegations, to which Senn replied, “Can’t we leave it as it was addressed?” He told Peterson that Jamtgaard hadn’t admitted to his role in the event and Senn didn’t indicate any subsequent consequences. The golf teams’ assistant coach, Wade Blankenbaker, reportedly wasn’t at the meet when the most recent incident was said to occur. Jamtgaard’s actions could
COACH Page 2 Weather, 5
High: 50 Low: 33 Rather cloudy and cooler
A Southwest Healthcare Services supporter signs the ceremonial final beam of the new hospital on Tuesday during a “topping off” celebration in Bowman. The white beam, signed by all kinds of supporters, contributors and staff members, will be one of the highest beams installed and complete the exterior structure of the construction. (Photo Courtesy SWHS)
THE
Beginning OF THE End I SWHS hosts ‘Topping Off’ celebration as construction moves closer to completion By BRYCE MARTIN Pioneer Editor
t is a custom that the last beam of a large construction project be painted white and signed by all those involved with the project. That’s why people filled the hallways on Tuesday at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Care in Bowman. Staff, sponsors, donors and contributors gathered for what the hospital called a “Topping Off ” ceremony, celebrating the symbolic accomplishment.
SWHS Page 16
Pioneer brings home 20 NDNA awards n Overall design excellence, reporting mark paper’s top honors
The Bowman County Pioneer graciously took home 20 awards last week after the winners for the 2016 North Dakota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest were announced during the annual NDNA Convention held this year in Crosby. This marked the third year that The Pioneer entered the statewide competition, which focuses on the state’s top newspapers. The annual NDNA awards honored excellence in news and edito-
Index Classifieds ..............8 Comics ...................9 Obituaries ..............7 Opinion ..................6
rial, advertising, photography and design for work completed in 2015 by daily and weekly North Dakota newspapers. This year’s 1,001 to 1,999 circulation division saw dramatic competition. With a circulation of roughly 1,600, The Pioneer sat near the middle. For the first year ever, The Pioneer won first place for overall design excellence, one of the evening’s biggest honors.
Three 2015 editions of The Pioneer —dates of which were predetermined by the NDNA—were submitted for judging in that category. Pioneer Editor Bryce Martin received a total of 15 awards, including six first place prizes. Martin’s story about a Southwest Healthcare physician using stem cell treatments took first place in the reporting category and his three-story series about Bowman’s industrial park scored third place in the reporting series category.
OPINION, 6 Puzzles ...................9 Briefs .......................2 Sports .....................14 Community ..........4
LETTER: A vote for Burgum is a vote for North Dakota
He won first place for his breaking spot news story about former resident Kara Longland’s home catching fire, along with first place in spot news photography for a shot of the home in flames. His story about The Crystal Bar closing in Bowman won first place in business news reporting and his feature story, “Fierce, not fragile,” about local resident Ann Hanson, captured second place in feature re-
AWARDS Page 7 For up-to-the-minute news: www.bowmanextra.com We want to hear from you: See how to contact us on Page 6 Vol. 111, No. 19 ©2016, Country Media Inc.