Barnes County: A Moment in Time
1922 100 Years Ago... Mudgett graduates from West Point
Col. and Mrs. C.F. Mudgett retuned last night from West Point where they had been attending the graduation of their son, Gilman. They had a delightful trip. Lieut. Gilman Mudgett is one of the many young men from this city who have made good and we are indeed pleased to know that he has graduated from that splendid organization with honor to himself and to his parents and now has his commission. He has applied himself diligently to his work; proven himself to be a young man of ability and sterling worth and is in every way a fine young gentlemen. It must be a source of much pride to his parents and friends and the editor of the Times-Record numbered among his many friends, congratulates him most heartily upon his success. Lieut. Mudgett, with two or three of his personal friends, has gone for a tour of Europe on a a six week trip. They will visit the battle fields and other historic sights over there and we are sure will have a delightful as well as profitable trip. On his return home he will be assigned to duty in the regular army.
Opening day of Chautauqua
Sunday was the opening day for the Valley City 1922 Chautauqua and the opening session was a good one. A big crowd attended the afternoon program. The Municipal Band gave a one hour concert which was pleasing to all. This was followed by a splendid lecture by Dr. George A. Briggs, on the subject of “C.O.D.’s” Dr. Briggs is a good thinker and gave his lecture clearly and interestingly, and we feel sure those who heard him were well repaid for so doing. The Warwick Male Quartet then gave a most enjoyable concert of solo and quartet work making the entire afternoon’s program a good one. Rain fell and put a damper on the evening attendance but at that there was a good crowd over there and the same entertainment. Secretary I.J. Moe’s opening day was a good one from every standpoint and there can be no complaint at the entertainment afforded. If the balance of the programs are as good the people will get their money’s worth.
1947 75 Years Ago...
56 students on rail gang
Fifty-six Valley City high school boys started work on the Northern Pacific Railroad this week on projects which will keep them busy until around September 1.
At present they are raising tracks a short distance west of Valley City, though 32 were called to the site of the recent train wreck near Oriska this morning. Their timekeeper is also their athletic coach, Al Bartz. They are being paid 78-1/2 cents per hour.
High school lad prints own paper
Publishing, writing and printing a newspaper is just a pastime for James Huge, 14, son of Mr. snd Mrs. R.M. Huge of 927 Chautauqua Blvd. in Valley City. Together with his co-editor, humorist and cartoonist, Grace Layton, he prints a one-page edition of the Boulevard news every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
James, who will be a freshman at St. Catherine’s next fall, works at the City Drug Store from 4 to 6 everyday and from 2 to 6 on Saturday.
Grace, who is the daughter of Mr. snd Mrs. Richard J. Layton, also of Chautauqua Blvd, will attend City High School again in the fall.
Included in the paper are late news, editorials and weather forecasts. Subscription rates are 5 cents a week of 2 cents a paper. Big news on Monday was: “It rained last night.”
1972 50 Years Ago... Thilmony farm given award
Judge’s choice for the title of outstanding conservation farmer for 1972 was Lloyd Thilmony, Rte. 2, who farms in Cuba Township. Judges for the conservation contest, conducted annually, made the county inspection tour on Tuesday.
Thilmony is the winner of a colored aerial view of his farm to be awarded in the fall. Thilmony will also receive a trip to the state convention.
Three other selections were made by the judges, a four man team from Valley City who chose the Mel Skogen farm, in Hobart Township. For the best installation of one row field shelter belts and the Ray Bauer farm in Baldwin Township for the best farmstead planting. A fourth award, for best wildlife planting, went to John Froelich in Getchell Township for an installation of that type.
Mel Skogen will receive the award of the Barnes County Creamery, Froelich the award of the Barnes County Wildlife Association, the Bauer family an award presented by Enterprise Sales Company.
All the winners are members of the Barnes County Conservation District who conducts the contest.
Two new judges were on the panel which made the circuit of the county, surveying over thirty Barnes County farms listed for their work in conservation projects. They are Robert Burchill of Enterprise Sales Co. and Dave Severs, agricultural representative of the First National Bank of Valley City.
They replaced Curt Nelson who has left the city and Ralph Pomeroy, deceased, former members of the judging team.
Two remaining members are Les Breitbach, American National Bank and C. Vandestreek, Valley City Times-Record. The judges were conducted on the county survey of farms by Eugene Klein, director of the Barnes County Soil Conservation District.
This is the 70th year of judging and awards.
With Our Servicemen
2nd Lt. Daryl Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Barton Thompson, 4704th Ave NW, Valley City enjoyed a short military leave with his parents in Valley City and departed for his future assignment overseas on Monday, June 19th. While on military leave, he participated in Explo ’72 in Dallas Texas where he served on staff working with high school students.
Lt. Thompson graduated from the University of North Dakota as a “Distinguished Military Student” in June, 1971. He entered Army Intelligence training with an ROTC Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in October of 1971 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of Basic Intelligence training in Georgia, he was transferred to Fort Huachuca, Ariz. where he completed the Advanced Army Intelligence Course in the top ten percent of his class. His overseas assignment will take him to Munich, Germany, where he will serve in the field of Counter Intelligence.
1997 25 Years Ago...
Creswell will enter Air Force on July 9 Sara A. Creswell, daughter of Ken Creswell of Valley City, entered the Air Force’s delayed enlistment program and is scheduled to enter active duty on July 9.
A 1995 graduate of Valley City High School, Airman Creswell is scheduled to attend basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
According to Master Sargeant Jeff Cariveau, the local Air Force recruiter, Airman Creswell will earn credits toward an associate degree in applied sciences through the community college of the Air Force upon completion of basic training and technical training schools.
Authorities find no lions living in area By Robin Wark TR Staff Writer
There is little chance of a mountain lion living in this area, according to the North Dakota Damage Control and North Dakota Game and Fish.
The Valley City Police Department has received three reports of the sighting of a mountain lion in the last month. On May 20, there was a reported sighting on the south side of Secarse Drive. There was another sighing on May 30 at Ninth Street and Fifth Ave NW. On June
9, a mountain lion was reported to be near the trails behind Valley City State University. Officers was investigated the sighting found nothing. Attempts by the Times-Record to contact those who reported the sightings were unsuccessful.
The sightings were never reported to the North Dakota Damage Control director Larry Hoffman said. The agency manages wildlife damage which conflicts with agriculture and human conditions.
“It is common to get some report of this animal this time of year,” Hoffman said. “For some strange reason, we seem to get two or three reports of a mountain lion each year about this time or a little earlier. They have been reported in various locations, including Hope about two years ago. None (of the reported animals that the agency has investigated) have materialized.”
Hoffman said this area does not have the habitat for support a mountain lion. No mountain lions have permanent residency in the state.
“They need a large range which is not restricted by humans,” he said. “It is a thing which we don’t have much of in North Dakota. We are a smaller population state, but you don’t have the large tracts of land these animals need.”
Hoffman said if the sightings are actually a mountain lion that it could be a tame on which escaped from its owner.
North Dakota Game and Fish SE Supervisor Dick Knapp said any domesticated wildlife has to be licensed with the Department of Ag of Board of Animal Health. He said his agency investigated such license applications for the Department of Ag and found no such applications in the area. The Valley City Veterinary Hospital said they have treated no such animal in this area.
Hoffman also said there is a possibility that a mountain lion could migrate from Canada or Montana, but said it highly unlikely.
Knapp said within the last five years there have been confirmed sightings of a mountain lion in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills and Badlands. However, in his 23 years of being stationed in Jamestown, there have been no confirmed sightings within 100 miles of Jamestown.
“People like to see mountain lions,” he said. “We aren’t saying that we are 100 percent sure that there is not a mountain lion in the area, but is highly unlikely.”
He said the report of mountain lion in the Mayville-Portland area was investigated by Game and Fish employees within the last two months and nothing was found.
Hoffman said if people do see a mountain lion they should observe it they would a deer or a bird. The animal should not be approached. Hoffman said the animal can be reported but North Dakota Damage Control will take no action if the animal is not causing a problem.