Ryder News Nov. 3, 2011
Bruce Peterson, Kenny Fjeldahl, Corwin Jones, David Olson, Donna Wheeling, Sheryl Tolson, Sharleen Larson, Lorraine Nelson, Shirley Bezanson, Annette Rockeman, and Keith Kronbach, identified the mystery photo from last week as that of Doug Wurtz.
The following is an e mail that I also received identifying the mystery photo.
"I do believe your mystery photo is non other than my brother- in- law Douglas Earl Wurtz, AKA Salamander Dougie, the Wurtz Family historian. Signed Mary Wurtz, wife of Gordy Wurtz."
Now on to the mystery photo for this week…This young fellow graduated from Ryder High, married, had a family, and is still living in ND somewhere. Good luck and let's see how many can come up with this fellow's name.
Now the mystery photo of Oct. 20th of the three young men is still generating a lot of interest about the fellow in the center and e mails have been flying back and forth…we are still trying to come up with his identity. Lorraine Nelson and I have been corresponding with Jan Garcia, Gordon Arvidson's niece and she has been e mailing the rest of her family. Some of her family think it is Gordon Arvidson as the "mystery" boy in the center of the picture while others in her family see a resemblance but don't think it is him!
Jan Arvidson Garcia says, "I am really interested in this picture. My sister thought it looked more like our Dad – Howard. One of Gordon's daughters thinks it is not Gordon, and another one thinks it is him. His hair and eyes seem identical to Gordon's in another picture. I am still waiting for the opinions of his wife Helen, and his daughter Maryanne. In the end - all three of the Arvidson boys ended up looking exactly like their father - so I think the family resemblance is amazing, and it seems impossible that picture is someone from another family. Thanks for including us in this mystery. I love looking at old pictures. Regards, Jan."
Beth Arvidson says, in an e mail to Jan Garcia, "Thanks for sending these pics - very interesting! I sort of see the resemblance, but I'm leaning toward that it's not Dad."
She goes on to say, "I was in North Dakota earlier this month, and I scattered some of Dad's ashes in Ryder. I did so in the front yard of the house they lived in - the 2-story turquoise and white house on the corner as you enter Ryder. It was really cool."
As you can see, it is still up in the air as to who this fellow is. Oh well, that is what makes the mystery photo segment so interesting and so much fun!
It was great to see some of our community's children in the Garrison paper last week. It was nice to see that Braden Janz, Karley Hansen, Andrea Skarphol, Shelby Bigelow and Remington Bigelow are still involved with the band of their school. And, we saw where Juria Bigalow was selected to participate in the Northwest Music Festival at Minot State through audition. Keep up the good work, kids!
Faye Karna received an e mail from Janice Eick which she then sent on to me regarding Tillie Stueflat.
"Hi, my mother Tillie Stueflat has moved into an assistant home. She has only been there for 2 days. She does like it, and is very nice and comfortable. She was able to take her own chairs, bed, TV etc. with her.
They have many activities going on all the time, so it will keep her company. It is better than sitting in her chair all day and no one to talk to. Her address is: 621 West Factory St., Apt 2, Seymour, Wisconsin, 54165. Her phone number will stay the same, as soon as it can be connected. Janice Eick."
Thanks Janice for that update on Tillie. I am sure friends will be getting in touch with her.
Another mystery is solved…about the hot air balloon picture in my Oct. 20th column. I received a lot of information about it from Claryce Johnson of Garrison.
Claryce said that her son who lives in Albuquerque NM called her in the early evening of Oct. 4 and asked her if we had any balloons here. He told her about the balloon festival in his part of the country.
It seems that there was a scheduled Saturday launch (Oct. 1) for the 16th America's Challenge distance race for gas balloons. This Challenge Gas Balloon Race was founded by the Balloon Fiesta in 1995 due to the vision and efforts of Mark Sullivan who saw the need for America to be identified with the world's most prestigious ballooning sport. This particular event allows balloons from all countries without limits on the number of entries from each. The team that travels the longest distance wins.
There were 8 teams in this race and it managed to get underway at 8:35 PM taking about 35 minutes to get all 8 balloons launched.
Before the race they all had to check their lists to be sure they didn't forget to bring along any "must haves" for their journey. You see, when you are planning to spend nearly 3 days aloft in a balloon you'd better have everything you need packed on board. They need sandbags, trail ropes, instruments, handling lines, tools, radios, cell phone, night position lights, flashlights, aeronautical charts, road maps and more. They also need items to survive comfortably during a cross country trek that may exceed 2,000 miles such as: food, water, portable stove, clothing, sleeping bags, porta-potty, lanterns, glow sticks, paper towels, waterproof matches, sunscreen, and toilet paper. They also carry survival gear in case the balloon lands in a remote area and their warm clothing, space blankets, flares, first aid kit, and emergency locator beacon might make a big difference in the backcountry.
One final challenge: the basket; home to two people for more than two days, is about 6' x 4' or even smaller. So everything has to be compact, lightweight, and carefully stowed. Pilots weigh their equipment and themselves and some even go on a "gas balloon diet" beforehand because weight is such an important factor on a gas balloon flight.
The balloon that I managed to get a picture of was the winner of the race. The team of David Hempleman-Adams of the UK and Jonathan Mason of Australia made a safe but fast (35 knots) landing at about 8:30 PM MDT near the Canadian border, about 64 miles northwest of Minot, ND. They flew 974 miles and were in the air for 71 hours and 32 minutes which set a new record for longest time aloft!
The 2nd place team of Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke of Albuquerque landed safely 22 miles south east of Minot, ND near Velva, ND.
Now wasn't that interesting…and if a person cared to, you can follow it on the computer which I think I will do next year if Claryce will contact her son and give me a heads up as to when it is going to be. I need a reminder as I get too busy and forget lots of stuff!
My brother told me that he sure appreciates Ron Hauf stopping by his place the other day to give him some moose meat for allowing him to hunt on his property. Dick said that Ron had shot the big bull moose that had been hanging around.
John and Staci and the little guy came out on Sunday to help clean out the garage and get equipment put away in the quonset. Jim and Doris Zieman also stopped by. She brought some pies over and Jim helped John put stuff away. Johnny had his Halloween outfit along and he had to try it on so grandma could see it. He is going to be Elmo as that is his all time favorite person.
I see that they are working on the road into Max and Shirley Bezanson's and also on the road going east of Ryder. That east road had to be re-done as the wrong material was used. Hopefully they will get both roads fixed up before winter sets in.
Rural water is getting closer becoming a fact in the town of Ryder as Rod Officer is going around putting the last of the water meters in and the new pipes are being flushed out by the water tower. They still have to get it ready to go into our place but I am sure that will only be a short matter of time as we got our water meter on Saturday.
There is coffee every morning from 8-10 AM Mon. thru Sat. at the Senior Center in Ryder.
Remember Bingo every Friday night starting at 8 PM at the Senior Citizens Center in Ryder.
Ryder will be having their annual Craft Bazaar on Nov. 19th from 10 -4 at the Senior Citizens building in conjunction with the turkey drawing that day.
Birthday wishes go out to the following: John Ouradnik, David Kraft, Jamie Haaland, Wayne Giesen, Derris Stafslien, Jim Zieman, Sandy Enockson, Tillie Dobrinski, Matthew Galloway, Richard Bergan, Monty Schenfisch, Staci McGrath, Craig Johansen, Mike Larson, Heather Schoenborn, Laurie Stewart, and Wes Sherven.
Anniversary wishes go out to Dean and Sheri Weigel.
St. John's Lutheran church service is at 10:00 AM this month and the Presbyterian church service is at 10:30 with Sunday School at 9:30.
Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 6 so be sure and set your clocks back 1 hour. Remember it is Spring forward, Fall back!
That's it again for this week. I sure hope I didn't forget anything or anyone. Remember to send me your news and stay safe and warm this coming week. Deer hunting starts on Nov. 4, so watch for those deer on the move and the hunters too.
Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love. ~Author Unknown.
