S erving the R egion S ince 1907
VOL. 104 NO. 34
www.dunncountyextra.com
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
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Back to School
New Ag teacher eager to help his students
Students approach year with some apprehension and excitement
By Bryan Gallegos DC Herald Publisher
By Bryan Gallegos DC Herald Publisher
Jackson Miller scurried around his home Wednesday morning, his little face filled with excitement. This was a big day for the 5-year-old. He was going to school. “He was real antsy, that’s for sure,” said Jackson’s mother, Heather, as she walked him into the school for the first time. Miller reported to kindergarten, a smile stretching across his face. He was one of 459 students registered for the first day of classes at Killdeer Public School. He woke up at 6 a.m. by himself. He jumped the in the shower and got dressed, an eagerness in his step and a sparkle in his eye. His wore his new clothes with pride. He carried has backpack with confidence. His hair was Please see School
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Lakota Geiger, a 5-year-old kindergarten student, left, shows his brother, Landyn, his locker during the school’s Open House on Tuesday night. (Photo by Bryan Gallegos)
The Killdeer Public was buzzing with activity Wednesday morning because of the first day of classes. At top, Cheyenne Harper, left, and Sky Harper, take pictures of their sons, Noah Breshears, 5, left, and Tyler Thompson as they prepare for kindergarten. Sky, whose son is Tyler, said it’s a little emotional during the first day. Above, Jackson Miller, right, holds the hand of his mother, Heather, as he takes his first steps into the school. Sister, Abigail, is wishing she could go to school with her older brother. (Photo by Bryan Gallegos)
David Leier stretched back in his office chair at Killdeer High School and pondered what he will offer to his students. He rubbed his chin and smiled and said his goal was simple – “give them the skills necessary to be successful in real life.” That’s what one of his high school teachers did for him a few years ago in Napoleon, N.D. The youthful 22-yearold Leier will is getting that chance after taking the job as Agriculture instructor at the school. He replaced longtime Ag teacher Larry Lundberg, who retired last year. Teaching at Killdeer will be his first job. He will also serve as the adviser for the Killdeer Future Farmers of America chapter. Although he’s the only new teacher on staff this year, Leier said he feels comfortable in his role with the team. The staff, he said, has made him feel welcome and shown him respect. He added that the staff is a “nice community” that had “more of a family setting than a normal school setting.” “I’m excited. I want to have an impact on the Please see Ag
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DC Herald under new leadership Longtime journalist Bryan Gallegos has been hired as the new publisher of the Dunn County Herald, it was announced Tuesday. Gallegos replaces Stacy Swenson, who stepped down after three years at the Herald to take a position with the Southern Hills Publishing in Custer, S.D. Her last day will be Tuesday. “I’m really excited to be a part of the Dunn County Herald team,” Gallegos said. “I will be stepping into some big shoes to
Longtime publisher moving to South Dakota fill, but I’m eager for the challenge.” Gallegos, 52, has served as a freelance writer and photographer for the Herald since April. He lives in Dickinson with his wife of 31 years, Paula. He moved to Dickinson from Colorado in 2015 when he took a job with Marathon Oil Company. Gallegos has 30 years of experience in community journalism
in Colorado and Nebraska. He has won several writing awards from the Colorado Press Association, the Colorado Associated Press and Cox Newspapers for sports, feature and hard-news writing. In 2006, he was honored in the Best Series category for stories he wrote on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, Miss. He accompanied a group of
Regis University employees who volunteered to help the recovery and rebuilding effort in Gulfport. He held management positions for several newspapers, including general manager/editor for the Citizen Telegram in Rifle, Colo., as well as sports editor for the Conejos County Citizen in La Jara, Colo., and The Star-Herald in Scottsbluff, Neb. “This is going to be fun,” Gal-
legos said. “I see some good things continuing.” Swenson, who will have to give up her position on the North Dakota Press Association’s Board of Directors, said it was a difficult decision to step down as publisher. However, the opportunity in South Dakota was simply too good to pass up. “I will fondly remember my time living in Killdeer. I made good friends and enjoyed meeting new people in this town, Swenson said.
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