Carrington, North Dakota

North Dakota Is Changing

2012-02-07T07:50:00.001-06:00

Hello from the far north! Not as far north as Alaska, but just as cold, with wide open spaces and few people. One of my favorite billboards along one of the main highways in North Dakota shows a freeway at heavy traffic time. There’s absolutely no one on the highway! Being an immigrant from California eight years ago, that image has always been good for a chuckle… then recently the truth has started to hit home. North Dakota is quickly and drastically changing. That billboard was created years ago – before the Bakken oil boom in the western part of the state and before people started migrating here in droves. Nowadays it’s hard to be on any main road in North Dakota without seeing lines of semis hauling all kinds of humongous equipment to the oil fields.

Carrington, our small town of less than 3000 people, has begun to see the effects of this new influx of people and boost to our economy. Being at the crossroads of two major thoroughfares (HWY 200 and HWY 94), Carrington has become a resting spot for many of the new travelers who are passing through. Our two motels, The Chieftain and Carrington Inn Suites, have parking lots that are always full at night, and the Stop N Go Gas Station which is located at the crossroads, is literally surrounded at night with huge trucks that are taking a break from the road.

People who have been traveling through Carrington on business have begun to take notice of our small town as a prospective place to settle down. More and more new faces are beginning to be recognizable as established in our area. And, not surprisingly, new businesses that cater to population growth are starting to appear on the scene. A new motel, a new apartment building, a new construction business are a few examples that immediately come to mind.

It will be interesting to see how Carrington handles this new growth spurt, to see how the old mixes with the new. As for me, I simply want to record all the interesting facets that I personally find interesting about our community. I’m curious to see if people will start locking their houses at night, if children will start putting chains on their bikes, if people will no longer leave their cars running while they shop at the local supermarket on a cold wintry night…. Those are some of the fascinating factors that helped me decide on settling in Carrington, myself. And, many of those admirable small-town values are what has kept me here.

I Like Ron Paul

2012-01-05T00:43:00.004-06:00

I like the following summary of Ron Paul's agenda that I found online:

Ron Paul is the ONLY conservative candidate in this race!

All the others are crony insiders who supported the bailouts to their friends and foreign governments!

Some important facts about Ron Paul's record:

* He has never voted to raise taxes.
* He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
* He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
* He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
* He has never taken a government-paid junket.
* He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
* He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
* He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
* He voted against the Patriot Act.
* He voted against the Iraq war.

As Commander-in-Chief, Dr. Paul will lead the fight to:

* Make securing our borders the top national security priority.

* Avoid long and expensive land wars that bankrupt our country by using constitutional means to capture or kill terrorist leaders who helped attack the
U.S. and continue to plot further attacks.

* Guarantee our intelligence community’s efforts are directed toward legitimate threats and not spying on innocent Americans through unconstitutional power grabs like the Patriot Act.

* End the nation-building that is draining troop morale, increasing our debt, and sacrificing lives with no end in sight.

* Follow the Constitution by asking Congress to declare war before one is waged.

* Only send our military into conflict with a clear mission and all the tools they need to complete the job – and then bring them home.

* Ensure our veterans receive the care, benefits, and honors they have earned when they return.

* Revitalize the military for the 21st century by eliminating waste in a trillion-dollar military budget.

* Prevent the TSA from forcing Americans to either be groped or ogled just to travel on an airplane and ultimately abolish the unconstitutional agency.

* Stop taking money from the middle class and the poor to give to rich dictators through foreign aid.

As President, Ron Paul’s national defense policy will ensure that the greatest nation in human history is strong, secure, and respected.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ron-paul-finishes-third-in-iowa-caucuses-first-in-ideas-and-influence-2012-1#ixzz1iVvpCSPg

Tree of Lights

2011-12-05T00:05:00.003-06:00

Marie Brennan was honored by the CHC Auxiliary as the originator of the "Tree of Lights" ceremony at its 25th anniversary on Tuesday, November 29th. She is pictured in the above slide show with her granddaughter, Erin Schaffer, who will become the new chairperson in charge of this event in the future.

Each light on the "Tree of Lights" represents the memory of a loved one, placed there to honor them during the Christmas season. As you can see, the tree was absolutely filled with lights of all colors.

People looked up in appreciation as the Tree of Lights was lit, and at the same moment a "falling star" shot across the sky. As several of the onlookers exclaimed, it was "Awesome!"

A quilt hanging was presented to Marie Brennan by the CHC Auxiliary for her long years of service and dedication to this popular community event.

Peggy Smith, President of the Carrington Health Center Auxiliary, and Dorothy Fenske (the CHC Auxiliary Volunteer Coordinator) wish to thank everyone for supporting this worthy community tradition. (All contributions to the Tree of Lights go toward hospital and community serviceprojects.)

Carrington Health Center's Annual Christmas Dinner

2011-12-04T23:55:00.004-06:00

The Carrington Health Center Auxiliary recently honored its volunteers at their annual Christmas dinner on Thursday, December 1st. The Holy Family Villa Activity Room was beautifully decorated, and a delicious dinner was prepared and served by ladies from the CHC Dietary Department.

Laurie Struxness and Joyce Pepple presented special Christmas music along with the historical significance of each song.

Peggy Smith, CHC Auxiliary President, and Dorothy Fenske, Volunteer Coordinator, reported on the many service projects, donations, and additions to the hospital and community that they were responsible for in the year 2011. They also expressed thanks to the community businesses who were outstanding in their support.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with the CHC Auxiliary can contact Dorothy at 652-7194.

Carrington Senior Citizens Center

2011-09-01T08:53:00.004-05:00

Attention, Seniors (That means members of the older generation, like myself!): If you haven't been to the Senior Citizens Center lately, you're missing out on the great activities that take place there. Just this last month I attended two meetings which were tremendously informative and interesting.

The first meeting took place at their monthly potluck where they had two special guest speakers who served in World War II. Sad to say, we don't often get a chance to be around veterans like these nowadays. It was a great honor to listen to these vets talk about the trip that they took to Washington, DC, and to view their perspective of our capitol.

The second meeting that I attended (Monday, August 29th) was a special presentation by one of our local pharmacists, Matt Paulson. He has been going to the Senior Center once a month, talking to seniors about diabetes. You come away from his "Sweet Spot" talks with lots of valuable information about how to prevent or live with diabetes. At this last meeting, I learned how important it is to count and keep track of carbs (carbohydrates), not only for diabetes control but also for weight control.

There is one more meeting in this series on September 26th at 10:30 a.m. The topic will be "Diabetes and Immunizations." Hope to see you there!

Love Those Red Hat Ladies!

2011-08-31T17:35:00.007-05:00

What a delightful group of ladies! I was having lunch at the Prairie Inn today when I noticed all the spunky women with colorful red hats and purple outfits. I thought to myself, "I would love to be a part of that group!" So, I took out my handy camera, went over to introduce myself and was immediately thrilled and impressed with the fact that they didn't run away from my camera, and didn't mind taking a minute to pose for me. They were all very gracious, and I found out lots of fascinating facts about them and the Red Hat Society.

Information That I Found Online...

One of the premier women's social organizations in the world, the Red Hat Society® based in Fullerton, CA, began with the gift of a red hat and has grown into a universal symbol for women around the globe as they victoriously celebrate turning 50 and entering into the next phase of their lives. The social message behind the first red hat has resonated with millions of women around the globe regardless of race, creed, occupation, age or socio-economic status. Today, it is commonplace to see Red Hat Society® members out frolicking and embracing life to the fullest in their now famous symbol, the "red hat."

How It Started

In the fall of 1997, on a trip to Tucson, AZ, Sue Ellen Cooper impulsively paid $7.50 for an old red fedora in a thrift shop. When a good friend was nearing a "fifty-ish" birthday, Sue Ellen cast about for an idea for an original gift. Inspired by a well-known poem, Warning, which begins "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple, with a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me. " She wanted to encourage her friend to grow older in a playful manner. She gave her friend a red hat of her own suggesting that she keep it as a reminder to grow older playfully - on her terms.

The symbolism behind the red hat had a profound impact on women Sue Ellen encountered. Those women responded by donning their own red hats and entering a new women's movement embracing a renewed outlook on life filled with fun and friendship, fulfilling lifelong dreams.

The Red Hat Society® was born. More....

NOTE: The ladies that I met today at the Prairie Inn were from Harvey, Fessenden, Bowdon and New Rockford, but no one from Carrington. Does this mean that there is not a Red Hat Society in our town? I would be interested to know, so if anyone has that information, please comment below.

By the way, if you haven't read Jenny Joseph's poem , which was the catalyst for creating the Red Hat Society, take a look:

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Jenny Joseph

2nd Annual Apple Pie Contest: "My, Oh My! Love That Pie!"

2011-08-28T15:22:00.031-05:00

Sponsored by Dick and Gail Paulsen, their 2nd Annual Apple Pie Contest took place on the evening of August 26, 2011.

Contestants and friends arrived and enjoyed the pleasant summer evening while getting ready for the contest.

Everyone talked excitedly about their recipes, while they visited and enjoyed a barbeque/potluck supper which preceded the event.

The Paulsen's daughter, Leslie, had fun setting the stage for the contest, artistically arranging all the entries on a picnic table with voting materials close at hand.

Next, everyone lined up to get their first glimpse of the apple pie entries, and proceded to vote on the presentation aspect of each entry.

As you can see from the photos, the apple pie for this contest did not consist of your traditional, flaky-crusted pie, but instead consisted of a liquid version that supposedly "tasted" like apple pie.

Naturally, in order to judge the flavor of each entry, everyone proceded to enjoy the next step of the contest which was the tasting of each concoction.

Since everyone at the event became a judge, there was quite a bit of circling the table, tasting-tasting-tasting, chatting and voting.

After this quite-festive part of the evening, everyone went back to settle around the fire, talk about the flavors of the entries, and wonder which apple pie would be the grand winner.

The Paulsen's son, Robert, built and carefully tended a wonderful fire which provided warmth and beauty as night descended around the group.

After a short while, Leslie appeared with award certificates and prizes and proceded to announce the winners.

Everyone was presented with a Certificate of Participation with the two main prizes going to Jody for the "best presentation award" and to Tami for the "best taste award." Tami also received the most points overall, so she received a special "Award of Excellence."

Believe it or not, I won a special award and prize, too - the booby prize! I think they felt sorry for because I didn't know about the presentation aspect of the contest, and it was my first time to make apple pie. Anyway, I won a cute little yellow chicken that goes "clickety-click" as it walks across the floor. (I think I'm supposed to bring it back next year for the next booby prize winner!)

Now, if you haven't had liquid apple pie before, I'm going to give you an average recipe which you can play around with until it satisfies your taste and you make it your own. It goes something like this: 1 gallon of apple cider, 1 gallon of apple juice, 4 cups sugar, 8 cinnamon sticks, 1 (750 milliliter) bottle of 190 proof Everclear alcohol. Mix together all ingredients except the alcohol, bring to a boil and simmer for as long as you like. Then when the mixture cools completely, add the alcohol. If you're interested in making apple pie, you can find all kind of variations of this recipe at AllRecipes.Com http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/apple-pie-2/detail.aspx.

All in all, we had such a great time at the 2nd Annual Apple Pie Smack Down that the Paulsen's are thinking of opening up the contest to the whole community next year! So... if you're interested in coming to the festivities, start working on your own apple pie recipe for the 3rd Annual Apple Pie Contest!

2nd Annual Apple Pie Contest Slideshow - August, 2011

Raptors Growing Up in Carrington, ND

2011-07-27T14:46:00.005-05:00

Our visiting raptor babies went from white fuzzy balls of fluff to streamlined flyers in barely over a month's time. Now they're streaking through our neighborhood, testing out their flying and hunting skills. Mama and Papa are still watching over them.

I wonder if/when they will fly away together.

Falcons/Hawks Are Growing Up

2011-07-19T21:24:00.006-05:00

Since I'm still not sure exactly what these youngsters are, I'm just going to call them raptors - since falcons and hawks are both raptors. Anyway, it is absolutely fascinating watching them get ready to fly. So far, they haven't left their nesting tree; however they are moving all around the top limbs, stretching out their wings and moving fairly rapidly from branch to branch. During the last storm with fierce winds, thunder and lightning, their mama and papa tucked them tightly back into their nest and stood guard on either side. Since the four youngsters are getting to be quite large, I'm amazed at how they all managed to fit into such a small space. Today they spent most of their time fluttering around the tree top branches, as well as eating the fresh meat that their parents brought to them continuously.

Raptor Babies Are Getting Ready To Fly

2011-07-13T15:26:00.007-05:00

Publish Post

Today when the wind came up, I was afraid that the falcon/hawk babies were going to blow out of their nest. They kept raising their wings and flapping them like they wanted to take off. However, their mother was watching them closely, so I don't think she would let them get very far.

The youngsters still look like big fluff-balls, with dark spots and streaks beginning to appear on their front feathers. They are starting to look more like adults, but their tails are little short stubby things.

Sometimes when the youngsters start moving around I can't tell their heads from their tails. Also, it's hard to see exactly how many babies there are. There are at least two, maybe three. Soon, there will not be room for mother and offspring to occupy the nest together.

Bowdon, ND - Farmers' Market: Should It Continue?

2011-03-19T14:57:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone! I received an email from Linda Widicker, one of the organizers and managers of the Bowdon Farmers' Market. It was addressed to the friends, neighbors and supporters of their farmer's market, so I hope you will read the letter and respond to her questions.

Personally, I've tremendously enjoyed their market for the past two years. In fact, I've taken lots of pictures of their activities, featured them on CarringtonNews.Com. and received lots of positive feedback about their organization.

It was always a pleasure to take the scenic drive from Carrington, observing how the landscape changed as the summer progressed. Then at the end of the drive, I always found a variety of fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables which were in season. Also, I can't even begin to describe the pleasure that my family and friends got from the scrumptious pies, pastries and baked goods that I found there! Mmmmm..... the home-made breads! Made from locally grown wheat, flax and other nutritious grains... Hot homemade bread, covered in real butter... How can you beat that?!!!

Also, if you didn't have a chance to visit the Bowdon market in the past, you missed out on many talented musicians who entertained during the event. As well, there were interesting demonstrations, one of my favorites being the process of turning wool into all colors of beautiful yarn. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the Bowdon cafe that is attached to the market where you can get a wonderful homemade meal for a very reasonable price! Can you tell that I'm definitely hoping that the Bowdon Farmers' Market continues to be a part of my life!!

Anyway, back to my first request... Please take a look at the following letter and give the Bowdon community some feedback:

"Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Supporters of the Bowdon Farmers' Market:

Members of the Bowdon Farmers' Market met on Thursday, March 17, to make plans for the upcoming farmer's market season. The Farmers' Market has proved to be a good thing for the Bowdon community and folks have enjoyed the festive atmosphere at the Wednesday night markets in the gym.

The markets provided fresh garden produce, baked goods, hand-crafted items, home-cooked meals, great musical entertainment, fun contests and door prizes, and informative craft demonstrations. They also gave Bowdon residents a chance to visit with each other and meet some new faces as folks from surrounding communities who came to join the fun.

Our questions are:

1. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE FARMER'S MARKET CONTINUE IN BOWDON?

2. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP WITH THE PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION?

MORE WILLING HEARTS and HANDS are needed to make the 2011 season a sucess! Our hard-working vendors have the biggest task - it takes a lot of work to bring their fresh garden produce and hand-crafted items to the customers.

Along with the vendors, we are needing community supporters and planners for the upcoming season.

3. IS THE BOWDON COMMUNITY ABLE/WILLING TO HELP PROVIDE THE VENUE TO KEEP A STRONG FARMERS' MARKET OPERATING IN OUR TOWN?

We are planning a short, informational meeting to discuss the Bowdon Farmers' Market on:
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, at 4:30 p.m. at the Bowdon Community Center

The meeting will immediately follow the Community Food Forum and viewing of the movie, "FRESH."

The Food Forum, which begins at 2 p.m., is open to ALL.

We would like to invite everyone interested in the Food Forum and the Bowdon Farmers' Market to attend either (or both) meetings on Sunday.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THE BOWDON FARMERS' MARKET!"

By the way, you can click here to see some photos of the market in session!

Visiting the Presidents in Rapid City, South Dakota

2011-02-02T20:43:00.002-06:00

If you like statues of the U.S. presidents, Rapid City, South Dakota is an exciting place to visit. There are presidents hanging out on every corner of the downtown streets!! Life-size, life-like figures of the presidents in bronze watch the tourists and citizens of Rapid City as they go about their daily business. If you're not sure about the identity of a particular president, just take a look at the plaque embedded in the sidewalk nearby.

The project of placing presidents on the street corners of Rapid City began in 2000, with four sculptures being placed there each year. Each bronze statue was created by one of the following South Dakota artists: Edward E. Hlavka; Lee Leuning; John Lopez; James Michael Maher; James Van Nuys. For more information about this noteworthy project, and for details about each statue and its sculptor, take a look at VisitRapidCity.Com.

If you would like to see enlarged images of the pictures that I took (in the slideshow above), just click on a picture, and it will take you to my Picasa web album site where you can see larger images and download them if you're interested. I took these pictures on a cold, windy day in November, so they are in no particular order and haven't been enhanced in any way. Somewhere among the photos, you will even see a dinosaur that overlooks Rapid City, seemingly guarding the presidents. I hope you enjoy the pictures and have a chance to see the presidents in person someday.

Neighborhood Snow Walk

2010-12-17T00:29:00.004-06:00

I woke up to see snow-covered trees outside my window this morning. I couldn't resist going outside to take pictures of our house in the new snow. For some reason or other, I just love the way our house looks covered in snow! It reminds me of an old-timey Christmas card... you know, like something from Currier and Ives. All our house needs is a frozen pond in front with people in colorful winter clothes merrily iceskating round and round and back and forth.

Actually, according to A History of Foster County which was published in 1983, there used to be a body of water called Willow Lake right in front of where my house stands on 1st Street today. There is even a picture of the lake on page 213 of this book - a book which was compiled by Lucile Zink and a dedicated committee of local historians.

Once I took way too many pictures of our house, I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to see how our latest snow had treated the neighbors. It took me quite a while to slip and slide around the block, but I managed to get photos of most of the houses in our area. They all look so beautiful in the new snow!

Here are some of my favorite quotes and sayings about snow:

~ Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here. To watch his woods fill up with snow. ... ~ Robert Frost

~ The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? ~ J. B. Priestley

~ Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along. ~ J.W.Watson

~ Announced by all the trumpets of the sky, Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields, Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven, And veils the farmhouse at the garden's end. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

~ A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. ~ Carl Reiner

~ A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.~ Markus Zusak

~ To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or color is like living in Alaska and being against snow. ~ William Faulkner

~ Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, we will stand by each other, however it blow. ~ Simon Dach

~Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~ Phillis Diller

Lights Out in Carrington!

2010-12-15T13:56:00.006-06:00

Thanks to the man at the top of this pole, we finally got our lights back on Monday night! You have to admire someone who has the skill and fortitude to do something like this - especially in sub-zero weather conditions!

Since we moved to Carrington five years ago, I've been bragging to friends around the country about the fact that we've never lost our power for more than a blink or two. Friends and family in California, Missouri and Tennessee have lost power for days at a time. Otter Tail Power Company has done a great job of keeping us warm in winter.

I called Otter Tail to find out the cause of the power outage, but no one was available to give any details. Friends who were watching the Vikings game with us at the time said that it looked like a transformer blew out. Whatever the cause, it made me realize just how important it is to have reliable power in a climate such as ours.

Lucky for us, we just had our gas fireplace overhauled by Rusty Sherman (Sherman Plumbing, Heating and Air), another guy who is great about fixing things in emergency situations like this. So, we still had heat while the power outage was being taken care of.

Thanks again to the hardy souls who took care of us on Monday night!

Christmas Around the Town

2010-12-06T23:37:00.004-06:00

It was fun walking around town today, visiting shops and talking to people. Most of the downtown shops were prepared for this special "Christmas Around the Town" event. There was plenty of hot coffee, cider and treats for shoppers and visitors. Although the weather was rather brisk, lots of hardy North Dakotans were decked out in warm clothes and wandering in and out of the shops that were open. Everyone paused at 6:00 p.m. to watch the Light Parade go down Main Street. Although the parade was short, each float was dazzling! It was well worth the effort to attend this event and support the participants.

As I wandered through the shops, I met lots of people and took lots of pictures. Everyone was exceptionally friendly, and I sincerely want to thank them for letting me take their pictures for CarringtonNews.Com. I especially want to thank the ladies at Lovingly Used who let me borrow a pair of gloves while I filmed the parade. ( I had left my gloves at home and my fingers were too frozen to push the tiny camera buttons!)

I hope you enjoy the following slideshow. As soon as I figure out how to put my film of the parade on this blog, I'll include it, too!

Carrington, North Dakota Blog

2010-12-02T18:52:00.006-06:00

If you haven't done so already, I would like to invite you to take a look throughout my website, CarringtonNews.Com. It's basically a guide to Carrington, North Dakota, and the surrounding areas - obviously not a real newspaper, like the Foster County Independent. It's a site that I do just for fun – not money. People are able to place free ads in the classified and real estate sections, and I don’t charge for links to business websites. Since blogs are so "in" nowadays, I guess you could call CarringtonNews.Com Judy Keller's Carrington, North Dakota Blog.

I love to take pictures of the area, and CarringtonNews.Com gives me a place to display my photos and make them available to the community. Just recently I took lots of pictures of the 100th Anniversary of the Foster County Courthouse, so whoever took part in that will most likely find a picture of him/herself online at my website. (Just click on the photo that you like, and it will take you to a larger image which you can download and save or print.)

There are also 2010 pictures of the 4th of July parade, the Foster County Fair, the Youth Rodeo, the Carrington Library opening, the Cabin Fever Quilt Show, as well as LOADS of community photos from the past three years.

CarringtonNews.Com also gives people from across the United States and the world a chance to see what Carrington looks like and to see some of the fun activities that go on in our community. You might be surprised at how many people drop in to my website every day from all over the world. Although a website tracker doesn't tell me who is visiting my site, it does tell me their location in the world, and it's rather exciting to see visitors from faraway places, such as Switzerland, India, the Russian Federation, New Zealand, Japan, Romania, China, Israel, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Singapore, Morocco, Ukraine, Bahamas, Chile, and a multitude of other countries. In fact, I have frequent visitors from the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Norway, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and the Philippines. I sometimes wonder if someone in our community has relatives/friends from those areas in particular - since many of them come back again and again to check out what's happening here.

Many visitors find CarringtonNews.Com by using a search engine, such as Google. They type in words, such as "carrington, nd" - "carrington news" - "carrington events" - "carrington nd obituaries" - "carrington nd class reunion" – “carrington nd movies” ... or, they specifically type in the names of people and/or businesses that are located in Carrington. Since my website links to other informative sites, such as the Carrington Chamber of Commerce, the City of Carrington, the official site for Foster County, the Carrington Health Center, Carrington High School and Elementary School, and many other sites, visitors have a good chance of finding the information they need.

More and more, I receive messages from people (many of them who used to live in this area) who say they really appreciate CarringtonNews.Com. I would like to thank them for their phonecalls and e-mails because it encourages me to continue with something that I love to do.

Memorial Day - Carrington, ND

2010-05-26T17:13:00.004-05:00

Carrington's Memorial Day Program starts this year at 11:00 a.m. at the cemetery with Todd Ingegretson (VFW Post #3524) presiding. In the event of rain, the program will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Memorial Day address will be given by Chet Pollert, our State representative. KDAK will broadcast the ceremonies live. This is a program well worth attending in honor of our loved ones. After the ceremony, all participants are invited to a noon luncheon at the CrossRoads Golf Course (courtesy of the VFW Auxiliary).

Note: Did you know that the "National Moment of Remembrance" was created in 1997? 'Taps' is at 3 p.m. throughout America to honor the contributions of our dead soldiers. All Americans are encouraged to pay respect to them by keeping silent for one minute in their memory at 3:00 p.m.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me and I'll proudly stand next to him to defend her still today, 'cuz there ain't no doubt I love this land, god bless the USA." -Lee Greenwood

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. -Albert Einstein

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

“Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave” - Muhammad

“That's what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end” - Lise Hand

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today." - The Kohima Epitaph

The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.
- Robert Lynd

Carrington Calendar Contest

2010-05-12T17:40:00.004-05:00

Here's your chance to have one of your Carrington photos in a 2011 Carrington Calendar. Sounds like a great idea from the Chamber of Commerce! Just adhere to the following rules:
1. The photo must be taken in the Carrington (Foster County) area.
2. It must depict something related to Carrington.
3. It must be at least 300 dpi quality and can be submitted electronically.
If you have questions, please contact Laurie Dietz at the Chamber office by phone (652-2524) or e-mail.

Here's an example of a photo that might go on a Carrington calendar: one of my own favorite Carrington pictures. Although, I think a more likely picture to be chosen would be one where you show children with Santa on a hayride at the Putnam House. YOU just might have that perfect December picture in your own collection!

Flooding Nashville (My Hometown)

2010-05-09T10:55:00.004-05:00

Unlike the Fargo, Valley City and Jamestown floods last year, there was no chance for the people around Nashville to prepare for the torrents of rain that came down in just two days. Imagine being caught sitting in heavy work traffic while flood waters are rushing by and covering your car! We in Carrington may have problems with snow and freezing weather at times, but we are lucky not to be living in a flood zone or in the midst of tornado country or on a shaky earthquake fault.

If you have time, take a look at the pictures of my hometown in the video below... It's hard to look at these pictures because I've been to all these places and can't imagine the extent of the damage, even though I'm looking at it with my own eyes! For some reason, the news on TV didn't hit me as hard as this little video did. My brother Bill who still lives in the country outside Nashville said they had over 17 inches of rain in 48 hours. The bank behind his house turned into mud and slid down into his back yard. His wife was afraid that their house was going to slide off the hill where my father built it over 50 years ago. Thank goodness the house itself was built on solid ground! Even so, many of their newly planted flowers and young trees were washed away, and for the last week they have been working to clean up the damage.

While I'm feeling disgruntled with the hills of snow outside my door next winter, I want to pause for a moment, count my blessings, and thank God for allowing me to shovel snow off my sidewalk instead of having to shovel mud out of my house!

Arizona's Saguaro Cacti (Phoenix Trip - March/2010)

2010-04-23T12:00:00.008-05:00

No matter how many times my husband and I drive back from Phoenix, I never tire of the scenic beauty. Nature is ever-changing, and there are always new and beautiful images along the way. During our last trip (March, 2010), I was fascinated with Arizona's cactus plants. So... I took out my handy camera and while Ted was driving 70-80 miles per hour, I snapped shots all along the way until they disappeared.

When I got home, I decided to find out more about the Saguaro cactus, so I went to one of my favorite sites (Wikipedia) where I found lots of informative details - along with great photos. Did you know that the Saguaro cactus blossom is the state flower of Arizona? The title of this article links to their website. Just click on the title to enjoy the photos and information.

Carrington, ND Home For Sale By Owner - Owners.com Real Estate

2010-03-02T20:31:00.002-06:00

Carrington, ND Home For Sale By Owner - Owners.com Real Estate

This house has quite a history. It was built in the early 1900's and was built to last! The foundation, wood and overall structure are amazing. To begin with, it was used as a carriage house and servants' quarters for the mansion that was removed (due to a fire and lack of care). The owner (before us) was Aldo Lee, who completely remodeled the main floor and turned it into two complete, very nice 3bedroom/2bath units with over 1200 square feet each. Yes, the house is BIG!!

Interestingly enough, the second story used to have four fully functioning apartments. Somewhere along the line, perhaps when Aldo Lee remodeled the main floor, the plumbing was dismantled, and they became used as storage. The apartment structure is still totally there with each apartment having a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living room - all ready for some handy person to fix up and rent out!

At the moment my husband and I are in the mood to sell, but that may change, as we may sell our main house and move into one of the units ourselves, so don't be surprised if this house doesn't stay on the market much longer. We are in one of those big decision making periods of life when one makes rather big changes. You know what that's like! We are older and traveling a lot due to my husband's business, so we are consolidating our responsibilites so we don't have as much to worry about when we're away. We want to sell either this duplex or the beautiful Victorian that we now live in. Which one... the duplex... or the Victorian... Mmmm...... Have you ever been in a situation like this when it's hard to make up your mind? I'm sure you have! At the moment, if someone buys the duplex, we will stay in the Victorian. Otherwise, as I said, we will sell the Victorian and move into one of the duplex units. We've decided that we just don't need two big houses to maintain!

If we move into the duplex, that will make one less rental unit for Carrington. As you must know, it's very difficult to get a rental here nowadays. We have been able to rent our units consistently since we bought the house. In fact, we usually have a waiting list, with people calling quite often to ask about their availability. We rent the units out for $450, but we could get $500/550 if we needed to (information for someone who wants to make more money on them!).

This house has actually been a good investment for us... and could be even better if we had the time and energy to fix up the second floor of apartments. We could pull in around $2,000 a month if we wanted to work on it. But, that may be a project for some other person who has more energy/skills and wants to take it off our hands. We are in the mood to wait a little longer and see if that special person shows up.

So far, we haven't advertised our house in the newspaper or given it to a realtor. I thought I would give Foster County locals a chance to think about it first. Then later, if we still really want to sell it, we will seriously advertise it. At that point, I don't think it will last very long on the market, since it is truly a great investment for the right person.

Judge Rules in Favor of Plaintiffs Ted Keller and Leo Straley

2009-02-02T21:58:00.003-06:00

The following article was published in the Foster County Independent on February 2, 2008. Since their newspaper is not online, I've copied it here for the convenience of Internet readers.

Judge Rule Favors Plaintiff--Court Case sought Copies of Letters in Support of Dairy by Leasa A. Lura for the Foster County Independent

In a hearing of Ted Keller and Leo Straley vs. Foster County Commission, Judge Greenwood ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, but the damages they were seeking will not be paid.

During the hearing on Wednesday, January 28, attorney for the commission, Scott Porsberg attended the hearing by phone.

The hearing was for a summary judgment filed by Keller and Straley with a motion for summary judgment also filed by the commission.

Keller began by telling Judge Greenwood that he sent two letters to the county commission on June 9, 2008, requesting copies of the 346 letters that commissioner Jim Carr received from supporters of the Van Bedaf dairy.

After receiving no response, Keller said he sent another request on August 19, 2008, accompanied by an$86 certified check for the copies.

Keller stated that he still hasn't received copies of the letters and quoted the attorney general as saying that every person has the right to access records of government entities.

Porsberg said that he didn't receive copies of the letters because the request wasn't sent to the acting attorney.

He also said that Ellen Sherman sent a request to him for copies of the letters and received those copies.

Porsberg said he assumed that Sherman was acting as an agent for Keller and Straley and assumed that they would receive the letters from Sherman. Keller and Straley both testified that they had not received the letters from Sherman.

After a review of the case and the testimonies, Judge Greenwood said that Porsberg had no reason to believe that Sherman was acting as an agent of Keller and Straley.

Judge Greenwood ultimately denied the commission's motion for summary judgment and granted Keller and Straley's motion for summary judgment.

He said that the commission must provide copies of the letters to Keller and Straley in a reasonable amount of time.

Keller and Straley were also seeking at least $1,000 in damages, but Judge Greenwood denied that request, except for the filing fees to the county amounting to $80.

Judge Greenwood also said that he believes that the violation was not intentional.

Porn Shops Next to Churches and Homes?!

2009-02-02T18:30:00.007-06:00

I just received an e-mail from someone who is very concerned about a bill that is being sponsored by Rep. Wrangham with the backing of Farm Bureau, LAND, and ND Policy Council. This bill would change zoning as we know it.

The goal of the above mentioned groups is to leave it up to the landowner to decide what is the best use for his land with no consideration for neighbors' quality of life or property values. This would potentially do away with any applications and public hearings for land uses such as landfills, concentrated animal feed operations, and other land uses that would bring down property values and harm the environment.

The following is an excerpt from the e-mail which I received:

"Today I talked to some of the lobbyists at the capitol about HB 1522. Most of them do not like the bill, but they seem to think that since there is only one sponsor it will probably not pass. This is dangerous thinking - I have seen this backfire in the past. Because people thought a bill would not pass and did not stand up to oppose the bill, the bill passed with no votes against it.

I am sure that Farm Bureau, LAND and ND Policy Council will have people to testify for the bill. Therefore, it is important that there is major opposition to this bill.
As one lobbyist (for the Catholic church) pointed out to me today - if it is left up to the landowner to decide what will make the most money on his piece of land, what is to keep Adult entertainment stores from popping up next door to schools or churches? How will we keep landfills and CAFOs from being built next to nursing homes, hospitals, churches, or subdivisions?

Remember that the Health Department does the EPA regulation stuff but does not deal with neighbor well-being or property values.

Comprehensive planning and zoning was started because industrial buildings were being built right next to apartments, neighborhoods and schools, causing health problems for children. This unregulated building of industry caused property values to fall, where one landowner could take money out the neighbor's pocket. Lawmakers decided that the health and welfare of the children and citizens was important and needed to be protected.They also decided that all landowners needed to have their property values protected.

Now Farm Bureau and ND Policy Council want to move backwards and make it possible for neighborhood, urban and rural, to become unhealthy again so that greedy landowners do not have to be concerned about their neighbors."

What do you think about this new bill? Would you like your neighbor to have no restrictions whatsoever on the use of his/her land?

Volunteering Is Prevalent in Carrington

2009-02-01T00:46:00.007-06:00

"Down in their hearts, wise men know this truth: the only way to help yourself is to help others." -Elbert Hubbard, American Writer & Publisher

I was just reading a recent article in the Foster County Independent about the Carrington Health Center Auxiliary, the fact that they had honored their volunteers for 2008. I talked to Dorothy Fenske, who coordinates the volunteers at CHC, and discovered that she had a long list of people who help out all around the Carrington community.

Virginia March received Volunteer of the Year Award from CHC Auxiliary's Dorothy Fenske.

The two members who received top honors for 2008 from the CHC Auxiliary were Virginia March and Illa Zink. Not only have these two ladies volunteered countless hours at the Carrington Health Center, but they have also dedicated much time to their churches and other organizations in the community.

Illa Zink also received the Volunteer of the Year award - honoring her exceptional service to the Auxiliary and the Carrington community.

Take a look at the CHC Auxiliary web site, and you will see many other familiar faces, people who constantly spend time nurturing this community and endeavoring to make it a better place.All around our community, you can see people helping others in a true spirit of giving - not expecting anything in return, other than perhaps the pleasant feeling of doing a good deed. If you know someone who you think should be honored for their volunteer work and their helping others, this might be a good place to mention their names and give them a public pat on the back. Just click on the comment section below, and enter your thoughts.

Judgment Goes Against Foster County in Favor of Ted Keller and Leo Straley

2009-01-28T21:48:00.007-06:00

Commissioners Meeting: March 18th, 2008

Justice prevailed today, January 28, 2009, in the Foster County Courtroom for Ted Keller and Leo Straley. Presiding Judge Greenwood granted their summary judgment against Foster County. He ordered that Foster County should provide them with copies of the 346 letters that Commissioner Carr said that he had from the community in support of the Van Bedaf mega-dairy locating near Carrington.

In March, 2008, when the Carrington community was debating the issue of allowing the Van Bedaf mega-dairy to locate so near Carrington, Commissioner Carr stated that he had 346 personal letters from businesses and members of the community in support of the dairy being established here. He used his supposed possession of these letters to sway the other commissioners to vote in favor of accepting the Van Bedaf application for a permit to operate 2 1/2 miles from town. Nearby established families and farms, as well as many Carrington residents, were worried about the smell and health hazards of a 20 million gallon manure lagoon being so close to them.

Interestingly enough, when Ted Keller and Leo Straley asked to see the 346 letters, the County refused access to them... even though they were part of a public record used to influence the other commissioners and the community. Foster County had already been sanctioned by the Attorney General of North Dakota for not providing public information in a timely manner, so as a last resort, Keller and Straley decided to sue the County in order to get access to the letters.

It has taken the plaintiffs eight months to get information that should have been provided to them immediately. Because of the refusal and delay in producing the 346 letters, Keller, Straley and others have begun to question whether or not they truly exist. Or, if the letters do exist, are they well-writtten, well-thought-out letters like the ones which were written in opposition to the location of the mega-dairy. Or, as someone suggested, are they simply a form letter that customers signed when they bought gas/supplies from Commissioner Carr.

When Ted Keller and Leo Straley receive the letters from Foster County, they have agreed to publish them on CarringtonNews.Com so the community can see the number and quality. Judge Greenwood also ordered Foster County to reimburse the plaintiffs for the filing fee which they had to provide in order to sue the County.

Another court date was set for March 17th in order to hear a complaint that the Foster County Commissioners met in an unlawful, unannounced session to decide issues regarding the Van Bedaf mega-dairy.

$1 Billion State Surplus: What To Do with It!

2009-01-27T10:34:00.003-06:00

How many of you (Foster County/Carrington citizens) keep up with our North Dakota State legislature? Take a look at a recent article in the Jamestown Sun, highlighting the debate that is currently going on about our state's $1 billion surplus.

The Jamestown Sun Published Tuesday, January 27, 2009:

BISMARCK —"The surest, fairest way to give the state’s surplus back to the taxpayers is an income tax rebate sent out as soon as possible, a Fargo legislator said. But other legislators said at a hearing Monday that the voters sent a message in November that they don’t want an income tax cut." More...

Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, has introduced House Bill 1324, which would return $100 million of the estimated $1 billion state surplus via tax rebates based on taxpayers’ 2008 state income tax returns (2007 income). However, Rep. Lonnie Winrich, D-Grand Forks, worries that taxpayers will spend the money paying down debt instead of spending it on things that will stimulate the economy.

Seeing as how North Dakota tax payers (you and me) helped create this $1 billion surplus, wouldn't it be nice if the legislature asked us our opinions on the subject? Perhaps some taxpayers have been asked, but have any of you been contacted personally, asking for your input? Have you written, called, e-mailed any state public officials to state your views regarding this surplus? Often we are so busy with our immediate personal lives that we don't involve ourselves with "government."

But, just think about it....

If the state has such a large surplus, doesn't that mean that we were immensely overcharged with our taxes. When we get overcharged in other areas of life, like at any business establishment, isn't it the normal consequence that we get the overcharged amount back? Agreeably, the state should keep some money in reserve, but shouldn't the rest be returned to the taxpayers.

If you want to voice your opinion regarding this issue, contact:

District 29 (Foster County - Carrington Representative) Republican
Representative Chet Pollert - Address: 560 South Sixth Street, Carrington, ND 58421-2317
Telephone: 701-652-2494 - E-mail: cpollert@nd.gov

District 29 Senator (Representing Foster County) Republican
Senator Terry M. Wanzek - Address: 900 Seventh Avenue SW, Jamestown, ND 58401-4542
Telephone: 701-251-6113 - E-mail: tmwanzek@nd.gov

Or, choose from a list of contacts at the North Dakota State Government website .

Book Recommendation: A History of Foster County - North Dakota

2009-01-25T14:06:00.007-06:00

Foster County Courthouse - Carrington, ND

I just want to remind everyone that there is a wonderful book, A History of Foster County - North Dakota, available at the Foster County Courthouse, as well as at the museum in Carrington.

Being a relative newcomer to the area, I only discovered it this last year, after which I had the pleasure of meeting Lucile Zink, one of the major compilers of the extensive research that went into creating this book.

For those of you who are interested in the history of Foster County and Carrington, it is a "must read!" This book is filed with fascinating details, stories, and pictures of Foster County's past. I especially liked the pictures of Carrington in its heyday and was amazed to learn that a huge lake, Lake Willow, existed along 1st Street North, where my house now stands.

All of the people who were involved in creating A History of Foster County for the 1983 Centennial should be commended for the hard work and dedication that went into making it. I'm sure many of you already have copies and have studied the book, but for those of you who missed out, it will take just a short trip to the courthouse or the museum to pick up a copy.

Can you believe you can get a copy for only $5.00?!

It's quite a buy with an attractive green and gold hardback cover and over 600 pages of interesting information and old photos of the area. It would make a great gift for friends and relatives, as well as support our local Historical Society.

Best wishes, and have a great read!

Note: This is a letter which I wrote earlier last year, which was published in the Foster County Independent as well as on CarringtonNews.Com.

How Can We Save Our Downtown Buildings?

2009-01-24T20:02:00.004-06:00

Downtown Carrington, North Dakota - Main Street

In the January 12th Carrington City Council meeting, Lucinda Grandalen (Economic Development Director), informed the council that the JDA wants to purchase and DEMOLISH two downtown buildings - the Mel's Diner building for $6,600 and the Carrington Floral building for $5,000. According to Mayor Frye, the JDA has budgeted $50,000 for this project.

It looks like our historical downtown buildings are going to disappear one by one if Carrington residents don't take an interest and do something about it. Besides the fact that these buildings add character to our downtown, just think about what downtown Carrington will look like with big gaping holes between the buildings that remain!

It's sad to think that two great old buildings are going to be destroyed, simply because of lack of interest and/or ideas of how to make them beneficial to our community. Why can't the JDA use their budgeted $50,000 to support some constructive ideas toward saving these buildings?

Creative thinkers, please help!!! What can be done to save downtown Carrington?

How about an artists' co-op? There are certainly a lot of great artists and craftspeople in this area. The Carrington Armory was absolutely filled with attractive arts and crafts at the local Crafts Fair last November. A building downtown with a storefront like the old Floral building would be a great place to display and sell local artwork. Also, it would draw not only local residents, but tourists to the downtown area, as well as provide income for local artisans.

The Historical Society has done a wonderful job or restoring and keeping up the Putnam House, and our community has been very supportive of their special events and activities. Could the Historical Society turn one of these old buildings into a downtown museum - an extension of the Foster County Museum which is already in existence? The current museum is chock-full of more than enough fascinating artifacts to fill up another building. Also, a downtown museum would be another tourist attraction to the Main Street area.

I'm sure there are lots of great ideas out there! Please use the comment section below to share them.

Foster County Commissioners Vote To Not Allow Carrington Residents on Planning and Zoning Board. Is That Legal?

2009-01-23T20:52:00.004-06:00

Foster County Commissioners: LeRoy Hart - Jim Carr - Dwayne Erickson

The Foster County Independent finally published the official minutes for the November 4th and 18th, 2008, Foster County Commissioners meeting at the end of December.

One wonders why it takes so long for the county commissioners to publish their minutes for public perusal. Could it possibly be that they want to keep Carrington citizens in the dark as long as possible regarding some of their group's decisions?

For instance, how many Carrington citizens know that they will no longer be considered for appointments to the Foster County Planning and Zoning Commission? That's right! To quote from the commissioners' official minutes published in the Independent: "Future appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission were considered. Chairman proposed that the county zoning commission should be made up of rural county residents. Hart moved to adopt the policy that Planning and Zoning Commissioners must be rural residents, and second by Carr. Upon roll call vote: Hart voted "yes," Carr voted "yes," and Erickson voted "yes. Motion carried and policy adopted."

These three men seemingly do not want any input from Carrington residents (the largest population in Foster County) when it comes to making decisions for the county. Doesn't it seem strange that they voted to not have ANY city or town's people on the Planning and Zoning Commission? Why aren't they interested in input from city residents - other than Mayor Fry?

Shouldn't the Foster County Commissioners be looking for a balanced group of members for their Planning and Zoning Commission - both city and rural county residents? Shouldn't they be listening to the county as a whole, not just one aspect of it?

Where is this policy leading? Does this mean that the current city and town residents on the Planning and Zoning Commission will be requested to give up their appointments? Perhaps our three county commissioners weren't happy with some P&Z members' vocal opposition to having the Van Bedaf mega-dairy locate so close to Carrington. Is this their way of getting rid of city members who didn't go along with their ideas?

It will be interesting to see where Mr. Hart, Mr. Carr, and Mr. Erickson lead us next, particularly if they don't want any city or town input from Carrington citizens in their decision making.

Snow Pictures: Carrington, ND

2009-01-07T01:46:00.000-06:00

PUTNAM HOUSE

FOSTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE

CARRINGTON CITY PARK

It's fun to drive around Carrington, taking pictures of the infinitely changing aspects of snow. Take a look at some of my favorite snow photos.

Architecturally speaking, the Foster County Courthouse is the most beautiful building in Carrington. The following description is taken from A History of Foster County, compiled by the Foster County History Book Committee in cooperation with the Foster County Commission and in conjunction wit the Foster County Centennial - 1983:

"The Foster County Courthouse is one of the thirteen Buechner and Orth courthouses in North Dakota named to the National Register of Historic Places by the Secretary of the Interior in 1980. The building, both inside and out, has remained virtually unchanged during its 70 years of service to the citizens of the county. Its stark outlines are now obscured and softened by trees which reach as high as the pediment over the front entrance. It no longer gives the impression of standing isolated on the flat prairies, residences have been built as close as across the street on two sides. The exterior brick and stonework show only a minimum of weathering and wear, and there are no obvious cracks or uneven settling of the structure. The copper sheathing of the dome, now covered with aluminum paint, still shines from the distance on sunny days." More...

Snow / Winter Stories

2009-01-06T01:36:00.000-06:00

Up and down the streets of Carrington, you can see mountains of snow rising as high as some of the buildings. Having only lived in Carrington for four years, I'm not used to such an abundance of the slippery cold white stuff! It has been quite an adjustment, learning to live safely with a minus-fifty-degree chill factor at times. I've taken the advice of a columnist in the Jamestown Sun who suggested that everyone should have a survival kit tucked away in every vehicle. In fact, I quoted his list on CarringtonNews.Com and have tried to gather and store many of his suggested items in all our vehicles.

I thought it would be interesting to share some cold weather stories that have happened to friends and relatives around Carrington. As for me, I'll never forget the first time that I saw sun dogs! No one had ever told me about a natural phenomenon where you could see three suns in the sky at once. I was so astonished that I practically ran off the road, momentarily thinking that the end of the world must be near! No one along the Carrington streets seemed to be reacting to the images of three suns, though, so I decided not to be frightened and took some good pictures of the event instead.

Later I learned from Wikipedia that "a sun dog or sundog (scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, for "beside the sun") is a common bright circular spot on a solar halo. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon primarily associated with the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Often, two sun dogs can be seen (one on each side of the sun) simultaneously." In fact, there are many instances of sun dogs mentioned throughout recorded history, as far back as ancient Egypt and Greece, where they are described with awe.

Note: The sun dog picture was taken at the intersection of Highways 200 and 281.

Please feel free to post comments and/or stories about Carrington winters.