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Ground breaking ceremony held for addition

The ground breaking ceremony for the Griggs County Central School District $2.8 million addition to the high school 
building was held Wednesday, April 16, at 2:30 p.m. The public was invited to join in the occasion. All students from 
the three facilities were present. All those attending received commemorative yellow hard hats. The high school band 
provided musical numbers, including the school song, under the direction of Nicky Wathne. The Girls Trio sang the 
National Anthem. The Mixed Ensemble sang a number. Superintendent Wade Faul expressed his gratitude to all those 
who came to share in the ceremony. He said it was a ³celebration, a new era, a chance to move forward². He thanked 
the volunteers who stepped forward to form the Kids Under One Roof committee that raised funds to get the information 
concerning the need for the addition out through mailings, advertising, and yard signs. Dr. Wayne Sanstead, State 
Superintendent of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, said, ³We¹re proud of you for the effort you have 
made to ensure the best educational opportunities for your district¹s children for many years to come.² He noted that 
across the state, there were not many school districts that were in a position to be able to enhance the educational facilities 
for its students. He expressed his extreme happiness in being able to attend an event that symbolized such a positive outlook 
for today¹s students. He presented Superintendent Faul with an official state document commemorating the ground breaking 
ceremony. The document read, ³Congratulations to you, the members of the Griggs County School Board, your school 
patrons, staff, faculty, and students on the special Ground Breaking Ceremony being held today. ³I am especially pleased 
that I can be present to participate in the community celebration aptly entitled ³Kids Under One Roof.² ³We who are 
privileged to serve education at the state leadership level salute you for your success in securing voter approval of a $2.8 
million dollar school building addition. We know that your project will result in a new modern facility that will be a source 
of pride for Griggs County Schools for years to come.² Cas Aarestad, School Board Director, commended the 
administration and staff for all their efforts in making plans for the addition and having the foresight to plan ahead for the 
future educational needs of the district¹s youth. He commended the Kids Under One Roof Committee for explaining the 
need for the addition and the patrons for supporting the addition through their vote in the election. He said the patrons 
had cast a vote of confidence for the project, proving that this area is a good place to live and raise a family. Superintendent 
Faul read a greeting from Governor John Hoeven, who had a prior commitment and was not able to attend. The message 
read, ³On behalf of the great State of North Dakota, it is my pleasure to extend congratulations on  your groundbreaking 
ceremony. ³Education is the framework on which we are building our future in North Dakota. Excellence in education 
enables us to achieve our greatest potential, as individuals and as a state. Griggs County Central School District has much 
to be proud of as you break ground for your new addition. The commitment you have shown to creating a better 
environment for your students and teachers is evidence of your dedication and hard work in striving for excellence in 
education. I commend your celebration of ³Kids Under One Roof!² Representative Dale Severson delivered a message 
on behalf of himself and Representative Bill Devlin, who was in Bismarck and could not attend. They commended the 
district for stepping forward to face the future and taking the steps necessary to provide an educational facility all could 
be proud of. Severson related some of the feelings of his own children who had attended school in the district. They felt 
very fortunate they were able to participate in all the activities the school had to offer and that participation did much to 
prepare them for their futures. Cooperstown Mayor Rick Karboviak said, ³Today is a new beginning for many of us, 
as our future is going to take shape in the coming months, as we start the process of constructing the new addition to
this school. It is a proud day for the citizens of Cooperstown, for the patrons of the Griggs County Central School 
District, and for the students as well. ³Today embarks a new edge for this school, for improving the already high-quality 
of education available here. Students will obtain greater knowledge and experiences, as we prepare for what lies ahead: 
in technology, education, and recreation. ³Let us all move forward from today with our great visions in mind for our
children, our community, and our region. Together, we will all contribute to the success that will come in the future.²
Amber Wogsland, Empowerment Zone Marketing Director, said, ³Every project starts out as a visions the 
Empowerment Zone began as a vision for the future where our friends and children no longer have to leave in order to
make a satisfying life for themselves. ³Like the Empowerment Zone project, the Griggs County Central School
District project began as a vision. Their vision was to get kids under one roof. And today, that vision is closer to 
becoming a reality. ³As an Economic Developer it is great to see a vision turn into a project and move forward in our 
communities.² Dianne Hetland and Becky Ellefson are Co-Presidents of the  Griggs County Central Education 
Association. Hetland spoke on behalf of the group, saying, ³We are looking forward to being a united faculty under 
one roof. ³The efficiency of uniting three campuses into one facility will enhance the quality and effectiveness of our 
teaching staff by providing new opportunities to work together to carry out the vision of our school. ³All children can 
learn; and with support and encouragement; we teachers will provide all we can in preparing the youth of the Griggs 
County Central community. They will be given the opportunity to develop concepts, knowledge, attitudes, and skills 
necessary to become productive citizens. ³I am sure many of you have heard me say over and over that OWe are a 
team in the education of your child¹. Your child, you, and the teacher are the principle players in this team. Under 
one roof means the team is in one place with the one objective being the best education for every child.² In an essay 
contest held to mark the new addition onto their school, some Illinois students wrote on ³Why good schools are 
important to our nation and community.² Rusty Bender, a GCC state qualifier in speech, based his speech on some 
of their thoughts, along with a few of his own. He said, ³I have gone to school for the last 13 years of my life not because
I had to but because I wanted to learn, I wanted to learn something new every day. Good schools with good teachers 
are just what students need. I have been lucky to have teachers who not only think and teach in a positive way, but 
they drive me to do the same. ³Everyone wants to be good at something and everyone has a talent for something. A 
good school has something for everyone. Beyond schoolwork, it lets children find out what they are good at, such 
as playing a sport, singing in a choir, playing an instrument in a band, acting in a play, or helping the community by 
being involved in a service organization. Overall, it lets everyone have a fun time doing something they enjoy. It lets 
us see what our friends are good at, also. ³The importance of a good school to our community is to prepare children 
for college, attract people to our community, and educate children to be good citizens. ³School can be large or small, 
simple or grand, but whether they are on a South Pacific island, or in New York City, the school¹s goals are basically
the same: they all aim for good education. Teachers work together to instruct the children and help them become the
best students they can be. ³It is essential for our schools to be of good quality so that our future doctors, teachers, 
policemen, and other professionals are well educated and fulfill the needs of our community. Many careers require 
degrees, but even those who choose not to attend college will need the skills that are learned in school. In the future, 
as we grow up and move away from home, we will still need these skills. ³A good school would attract more people 
to our community by showing we have the interest to educate our children. It will also help us become better citizens. 
By teaching students how to serve the community, and how to help one another, we can learn to be good citizens. 
Good citizenship is taking care of the environment, obeying laws, understanding how the government works, and 
voting. Being a good citizen is very important to building a strong community. ³In conclusion, even if our school is 
meeting those goals today, we will need to be aware of the newest concepts in education and technology. Even as
technology changes so must the institutions in which we learn. ³The importance of a good school to our community 
is to prepare children for college, attract people to our community, and educate children to be good citizens. So 
as our community makes this change I challenge each of you to tackle it with a positive attitude and help your 
children aspire to be the best they can.²



Taking part in the turning of the earth at the Griggs County Central Ground Breaking Ceremony were, 
front, Dianne Hetland, Co-President GCEA; Nancy Lunde, Director; Terry Kenninger, Director; 
Amber Wogsland, Empowerment Zone; Keith Monson, Cooperstown EDC; Becky Ellefson, 
Co-President GCEA; Tamara Cushman, Business Manager; Brandi Stockeland, Student Council
President; Kirk Ham, High School Principal.     Back, Wade Faul, GCC Superintendent; Dr. Wayne 
Sanstead, Department of Public Instruction; Cas Aarestad, Director; Representative Dale Severson;
Lynn Johnson, Director; Richard Wahl, President of GCC School Board; Rick Karboviak, Cooperstown 
Mayor; Vern Hunter, Hunter-Grobe Architect; Greg Mueller, J. F. Powers Construction; Rick Bohm, 
Custom Aire, Inc.; Mark Lloyd, Grotberg Electric; John Leininger, 21st Century Community Learning
Center Director; Bruce Sedler, Elementary Principal.      Other invited guests who were not present
included Governor John Hoeven; Representative Bill Devlin; Senator Mike Every; Les Winning, GCC
School Board Vice President; Lu Andrea Haugen, Director; Cal Vincent, Hannaford Mayor; 
Donna Hankins, Hannaford EDC.

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2

Grand opening planned at HHC Plaza
   
Members of HHC Properties, LLC, purchased the main building of the former Farmers Oil Company in 
Cooperstown November 13th, 2001. Company members include Eldo Haugen, president; Kelly Coles, 
vice president; and Jerry Hook, secretary-treasurer. Their purpose in the venture was to add businesses, 
create jobs, and help stem out-migration. The purchase was made possible, in part, through a loan from the 
Empowerment Zone revolving loan fund. Since the purchase date, much remodeling has been done inside 
the building to accommodate the business ventures within. Businesses located in HHC Plaza include Jerry¹s  
Inc., Kelly¹s Hardware and Farm Supply, AGSCO, Haugen Farms, Farm Credit Services, Bloom Oil, and 
the Plaza Coffee Shoppe. A grand opening is being held June 6-8. See the banner ad below for all the details.

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Jerry¹s Inc. relocates to HHC Plaza
   
Jerry Hook has 36 years of residential and commercial experience in heating and cooling. He is self-educated. 
Over the years of his career; he has attended furnace manufacturers¹ schools and seminars across the United
States, such as Lennox, York, Comfort Maker, Rheem, and Ruud. He is an Apprenticeship Training graduate 
of the Sheet Metal Workers, where he learned designing, manufacture and installation of sheet metal duct work.
He is a native of Hannaford and a graduate of Hannaford High School. In 1969, he took over the Standard Oil 
bulk agency in Hannaford. He sold it in 1971 and moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area, where he worked for 
several plumbing, heating and cooling companies. In 1994, he began working part time in Fargo and part time 
in Hannaford. In August, 1997, he made the move to Hannaford and started developing Jerry¹s Heating & Cooling.
His desire was to ³come home² and develop a service needed in the area. He has expanded to offer more services 
and to fill the void after the closing of Farmers Oil. His thoughts are in keeping with those of the Empowerment 
Zone. He has made it possible for several people to return to their hometowns and find jobs. He also is providing 
a variety of services so people can get their needs filled by a local company. In January of this year, Hook moved 
his company to HHC Plaza in Cooperstown. It is now named Jerry¹s, Inc. The service area of the company covers 
37 towns. Jerry¹s Inc. carries Gibson, GE, Tappen, Frigidaire, and White Westinghouse appliances. They are on 
display in the hallway and in the showroom. The showroom features a waterfall, ponds, fountains, and a mural, 
painted by Robin Becherl. There are fireplaces, bathroom display, a patio working campfire, working appliances, 
and full kitchen display. Duane Dramstad has donated a wooden mantel that is placed over a fireplace. Jodi 
(the boss) Stockeland is office manager and works with appliance sales at Jerry¹s Inc. She has been employed by 
Jerry¹s for two years. She is also bookkeeper for HHC Properties,  LLC. She participated in an on-the-job
training program through Job Service. Jodi is a native of Cooperstown. She now lives in Hannaford with her
husband, Jim, and three children, Brandi, 17, who works at the vet clinic; Chelsey, 14, who helps at the Plaza 
Coffee Shoppe; and Tyler, II, who helps Jerry Hook around the shop. She enjoys playing softball, bowling, fishing,
and reading. Jim works for Bloom Oil Company and raises cattle. Jay Breckheimer has been a master plumber 
since 1993 and received schooling at Wahpeton. He does industrial, commercial and residential plumbing. He 
and his wife, Jodi, live in Cooperstown and he enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, and canoeing. Brian Becherl has 
worked for Jerry¹s for two years. He attended school 1990-92 at Wahpeton and Moorhead Vo Tech, and has 
10 years of service experience. He started at Jerry¹s October I, 2001, and works with heating, cooling, 
refrigeration, and services appliances. He lives on a farm near McHenry and enjoys hunting and fishing.Bryan 
Hanson went to school in Wahpeton has worked for Jerry¹s for two and a half years, doing heating and cooling 
work. He lives near Dazey with his wife, Brandi, and two children, Zachary and Brayden. He raises cattle and 
enjoys hunting and fishing. Ranae Larson started working at Jerry¹s in January of this year. She does parts 
inventory, general office work, and helps with appliance sales. She has been working under an. on-the-job
training program through Job Service. Ranae lives in Cooperstown with her husband, Roger, and sons, Aaron 
and Adam. She enjoys gardening, crafts, and camping. Jeff Fliflet is the newest employee to join Jerry¹s Inc., 
starting full time May 13th. He is a 1998 graduate of Griggs County Central High School. He recently completed
three years of schooling at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. He spent one year studying 
heating and cooling and two years studying refrigeration/air conditioning. He has spent the last two summers and 
weekends working with Jerry Hook. He has also participated in an on-the-job training program through Job 
Service. He works with home heating and air conditioning and helps with plumbing if needed. He has knowledge 
of freezers and walk-in coolers. He enjoys hunting, swimming, playing drums, and hanging out with friends. He
presently lives in Hannaford. To meet your plumbing, heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, or appliance needs, 
the phone number at Jerry¹s Inc. is 797-2500 or 1-866-653-7797. Hours at the store are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.

Jerry Hook, owner; Jodi Stockeland, Brian Bercherl, Renae Larson, Jay Breckheimer, Brian Hanson

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Kelly¹s Hardware and Farm Supply expands inventory
   
Kelly¹s Hardware and Farm Supply offers a wide variety of items ranging from nuts and bolts to fabric. The 
inventory is increasing week by week. Kelly Coles formerly managed the hardware department at Farmers 
Oil. He purchased the business in 2001 and has been making improvements and adding to the inventory.
Coles has extensive experience in the hardware business. His grandmother owned a hardware and his dad 
was in the hardware business over 30 years. Kelly owned a hardware store in Osnabrock before moving to 
Cooperstown. The store is a family affair. Working in the store are Kelly and Ginny Coles and three of their 
children, Nick 17, Zack 15, and Jordan 11. Their daughter, Courtney, works at Gate City Bank in Moorhead 
and will be attending NDSU next fall. She helps out when she can. The boys stock shelves, wait on customers, 
and do janitorial chores. Others working in the store include Gina Miller, Lucas Ott, and Norma Ashland.
Kim Haaland has helped out extensively, especially helping Ginny plan the craft area of the store. She helped 
Ginny marbleize the counter in the Plaza Coffee Shoppe. Jerry Samson and Ranae Larson also help out on an 
as-needed basis. Many areas in the store have been expanded, including plumbing, electrical and builders 
supplies, chain and cable, pet supplies such as food, toys, collars, and leashes, and mower parts. Most of the 
parts are MTD, but others are on hand, or can be ordered. Paint can be computer matched. If someone wants 
a special color of paint, they can bring in a sample of what they want, and the computer will make up the 
formula for the paint. The housewares department is growing. Soon, engaged couples will be able to utilize 
the bridal registry. There is an expanding toy department in the store. The water toys, such as water guns and 
balls, are in stock now. Ginny Coles is adding a craft and sewing department in the store. Presently in stock 
are craft paints, baby items such as blankets, t-shirts, and gifts; fabric, buttons, yarn, crochet and knitting 
needles, quilting supplies such as polyfill and batting, and scrapbook and photo supplies. The ³Anywhere 
Shoes² are also in stock and the sandal line is expected soon. The lawn and garden department has also grown. 
Now in stock are gazing balls, fancy rotating waterers, retaining wall blocks, payers, trellises, shepherd hooks, 
planters, and everything needed for planting, such as potting soil, mulch, and lava rocks. If an item someone 
wants is not in stock, it can be ordered. Pond accessories can be ordered also, and next year the Coles plan 
to stock items necessary for ponds. Kelly Coles said they were very happy with how well they have been received
in the community. People are noticing the change in his store and the entire plaza. He said that after the long, 
hard hours of work his family in business in the plaza, it is rewarding to hear how people like the changes.
Coles said that everyone has a good working relationship in HHC Plaza and that is what is making everything 
work. People help each other out and everyone gets along. He also noted that his store, as well as the 
development of the entire plaza, was made possible through the Empowerment Zone revolving loan fund.
Hours at the store are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The phone number is 797-2424. has  
put in, as well as the others.

Photo: Ready to serve you at Kelly¹s Hardware and Farm Supply are Zack Coles, Jerry Samson, Jordan Coles, 
Gina Miller, Ginny and Kelly Coles, Nick Coles, and Lucas Ott (back).

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Bloom Oil serves area customers

Bloom Oil rents office space from HHC Properties, LLC. The branch in Cooperstown has been in operation since 
September 1, 2001. It is a farmer-owned cooperative that has been in existence since 1929, based in
Jamestown. Jerry Fuchs is the manager. The cooperative¹s services include on-site diesel, gasoline, and home
heating fuel deliveries, pet food, lubricants, and bulk oil delivery. It is also a wholesale host terminal which supplies 
lubricants to over 50 co-ops throughout the state. The annual meeting of Bloom Oil Company was held March 20th 
at the Jamestown Eagles Club. Manager Jerry Fuchs spoke on the role of Bloom Oil as ³host terminal² and
distribution point of Cenex lubricant products for cooperatives, and the acquisition of the petroleum division of Farmers 
Oil Company of Cooperstown. Auditor Daryl Geeslin presented the annual audit report. The company showed
a net income for the year ending October 31, 2001, of $115,497. Local income was $98,615 and regional earnings 
were $16,882. Revolving funds were retired for patrons reaching the age of 65 by October 31, 2001. James Madsen 
and Don Lawrence were re-elected to the Board of Directors. There are 10 full time employees at Bloom Oil, three 
of those work in Cooperstown. Jim Stockeland and Manley Miller are drivers and salesmen, Kathy Soma is branch 
manager. Manley Miller started driving for Farmers Oil in 1997 and began working for Bloom Oil when the cooperative
bought the business. Miller is married to Carol, lives in Cooperstown, has two grown children and four grandchildren. 
He enjoys flying. Stockeland also previously worked for Farmers Oil. He has four years of experience in the 
delivery/sales area. He is married to Jodi, they live in Hannaford, and have three children, Brandi, Chelsey, and Tyler.
Stockeland raises cattle and horses on his parents farm, Oscar and Inez Stockeland. He puts up hay and enjoys 
hunting, fishing, woodworking, and gardening. Kathy Soma has worked in the cooperative system for 22 years, 16 
of those in the fuels business. She is a Trustee at Trinity Lutheran Church and a member of the Painted Ladies vocal trio. 
She enjoys reading, horses, dogs, and spending time with her niece and nephew. Jerry Fuchs lives in Jamestown with
his wife. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. He enjoys hunting and fishing. He is past president 
of the Jamestown Eagles, past state president of the Dakota State Eagles, which includes North and South Dakota, 
past president of the Shriners Mystics group, and a member of the Elks. He is vice-president of the Board-of Dakota
Petro Serv, LLC and a member of the board of Dakota Energy Retail Ventures, LLC. He was on the Great Plains 
Assistance Dogs Foundation board, serving as vice president, located in Jud. He enjoys training hunting dogs.
Office hours at Bloom Oil are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The phone 
number is 7972040 and the toll-free number is 1-888-521-5147.

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AGSCO business is located in HHC Properties building

AGSCO is located in the back part of the HHC Properties building, with access through the east door, Josh Kritzberger 
has been working at AGSCO in Cooperstown since April, 2001. In January of this year, the business relocated to its 
present location. Kritzberger is the accounts manager and certified crop adviser for AGSCO. Stacey Aarestad handles 
some of the deliveries and invoicing for the company. Kritzberger is available to producers to access their needs and 
advise them on chemical applications. He helps them work out financing for AGSCO products. He is also able to instruct 
producers on how to use the Internet service by looking up www.agsupplier.com. The office phone number is 797-3040 
and Kritzberger¹s cell phone number is 650-1999. Kritzberger lives in Cooperstown with his wife, Erica, and young 
daughter, Kora. He enjoys hunting, fishing, traveling, and spending time with his family. Aarestad lives in Cooperstown 
with her husband, Endre, who farms; and their two children, Carter, 6, and Emma, 3. She enjoys music and spending time
with the children.

Photo: Josh Kritzberger and Stacey Aarestad are employees with the AGSCO
company, which Is located at HHC Plaza. The three-inch water line is located
on the east side of the building and is available for farmers to fill their tanks.

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Easy Risers, Inc. relocates to Cooperstown

Easy Risers, Inc. got its start two years ago. The product idea actually began eight years previous to that when 
Ray Martin, a displaced farmer from the Hunter area sought out a way to help his elderly and arthritic father.
His father was a proud retired farmer who had trouble getting out of his chair and hated asking for help. His 
solution was to attach an eyebolt to the wall and string a rope from it in order to pull himself out of his chair.
It was while Ray watched him struggle that he became determined to find a better way to assist him. While 
experimenting with various ways to raise the chair with wooden blocks, he discovered that if he raised the back 
of the chair higher than the front, his dad could rise by himself. Ray arranged for the first prototype of the hardened 
plastic version of Easy Risers to be made in Puerto Rico while he was visiting there. On his return flight, he 
discovered an ad for a company in Mauston, Wisconsin, where they could be manufactured and Easy Risers, Inc.
was born. Rick Dickson, National Sales Manager, sought out investors for start up funding for the com-pany. 
Rick was also from the Hunter area and was a long-time acquaintance of the Martin family so when it was 
determined they wanted to bring Easy Risers to the marketplace, it was natural to approach Rick for his assistance. 
It was under his direction that Easy Risers were spearheaded to not only a national but also international level of
acceptance. Angie Cameron, President of the company, joined the corporation shortly after it began. According to 
Angie, the priority of the company was to focus on research and development and to determine where the product 
would fit best. During the first year and a half, ADA product approval was gained, patents for both the product 
and the concept were completed, the trademark was registered and the focus turned to the national tradeshows.
Through trial and error, it became clear Easy Risers best fit was within the medical assistive care arena with the 
strongest response coming from caregivers in Home Health Care, Independent Living Centers and Assisted
Living Centers. Because of their strength and stability, Easy Risers have become the preferred furniture elevator of 
Occupational Therapists. The Corporation has been built on vision, optimism, enthusiasm and high expectations. 
These characteristics were present when after just three months in business, four of the key players took their four 
plastic cones to the nations largest medical tradeshow in Las Vegas and not only set up a booth but displayed their 
product in the New Product Pavilion which featured only new products in the medical field. The response was 
greater than even they expected. The product was awarded second runner up from among all the new entries and 
many new dealers were established. There are other cones on the market to place under legs to raise a desk,
table, or chair, but Easy Risers is the only product with the concept for chairs that elevates the back legs two inches 
higher than the front legs. This positioning shifts the user¹s weight over their feet and makes rising easier. The 
product comes with adapters that allow them to be used on any type of furniture leg or base. They can be used in 
a variety of ways, freestanding, semi-mounted or permanently affixed. The product is now included in the product 
lines of many of the most prestigious medical catalogs. It is included in Parsons, a Canadian catalog, which launched 
the company into the international market. Easy Risers are now available in not only the United States, but also 
Canada, England, Germany, and Australia. Cameron noted that orders for the product have escalated in the last 
six months. The company outgrew its facility in Fargo and needed larger facilities. The Griggs County Empowerment 
Zone was helpful in referring the company to Cooperstown. The former Coastto-Coast store in the downtown business
district met Easy Riser¹s needs so they decided to relocate. In addition to financial benefits through the Empowerment
Zone, another consideration for the company was shipping services. Since Cooperstown has other small manufacturing
businesses, that shipping network was already in place. Another plus for the new rural North Dakota setting is the 
strong work ethic of the general population. Cameron, who has traveled extensively, said that the northern work ethic
cannot be matched anywhere. Cameron estimates that in about six months, there should be at least six to eight people 
working at the Cooperstown location. Employees will be hired as needed to fill sales, customer service, and 
warehousing positions. The company is on many web sites and most of the orders come through phone and web 
contacts. The company is well known nationally and is becoming accepted locally. Val Schock, who is CEO of the 
company and an Occupational Therapist, will be bringing in a full line of new and used medical equipment. He plans to 
be in Cooperstown two to three days per week. The medical equipment will be on display at the front of the store and 
will include such items as wheelchairs, beds, and bathtub and towel bars. Simple access to special products not 
displayed will also be available. Since Cooperstown is centrally located in a large rural area with several nursing homes 
and small hospitals nearby, it should be a convenience for personnel from those facilities to make a short trip to 
Cooperstown rather than traveling a long distance to a larger city. If equipment needs to be fitted to an individual, there 
will be a professional on staff to perform the service. The company is working on getting supplemental types of 
insurance coverage for elderly care. Cameron noted that the company is getting launched and moving forward very
quickly. She and the other business partners are very impressed with the Cooperstown community. They have found 
the telephone service excellent and when computer help was needed, Rod Wiseman came right over to help solve the
problems. In addition to the support from the EZ and locally, the company is also thankful for the strong support of its 
investors. Cameron said many people have stopped by to offer assistance in the move or welcome them to town.
She said her main focus now is helping the company get settled in its new location and grow. Cameron¹s other interests 
include working on the Internet, sailing and pontooning on the water, cross-country skiing and being outdoors. Most of
all, she enjoys spending her spare time with her grandchildren in Rochester, MN, and Texas. Cameron plans to live in 
Cooperstown during the week and return to her Detroit Lakes, MN, home on the weekends. Dickson¹s interests 
include staying in touch with the farming community, fishing, family and the lakes, and enjoying good friends. Dickson 
plans to make Cooperstown his home. Schock enjoys family and good friends. He also plans to work at Easy Risers
two to three days a week, providing professional guidance and then returning to his home in Fargo.

Angie Cameron and Val Schock move merchandise into the former Coast to Coast store.

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8

Farm Credit Services meets needs of area farmers
   
Farm Credit Services rents office space from HHC Properties, LLC. Kent Anderson is the Financial Services 
Officer. He is in the office everyWednesday and one other day each week. He divides his time between the
office in Cooperstown and the one in Grand Forks. He serves eight counties surrounding Griggs and Grand Forks.
He assists farmers and landlords with operating, machinery, and cattle loans; real estate loans; and a wide variety 
of leases. He meets with clients in the office or on-the-farm, whichever is most convenient for the customer.
He says that agriculture is the company¹s business and they are in the community to serve agriculture. He feels the 
business is going well, and he likes the location. He has been in the lending business for six years, four of those 
with Farm Credit Services. He has been in the Cooperstown office since June 1, 2001. Chris Feller is the 
Tax/Records Specialist. He can be seen on an appointment basis. He has been with Farm Credit Services for 
four years. Lori Liljenquist is the Customer Service Representative. She assists the financial services officer and 
helps producers with crop insurance, hail insurance and life insurance. She has worked in the Cooperstown office 
for 13 years. Beverly Ellefson is a parttime Customer Service Representative, who has worked in the Cooperstown 
office six years. Anderson grew up on a farm east of Mayville. He has a wife, Audra, and two children, Isaac, 
3 1/2, and Kate, 1. He enjoys golfing, spending time with his kids, and being outdoors. Liljenquist enjoys gardening 
and cooking. Her husband is Scott Liljenquist and they are engaged in a farming operation. They have two children,
Brittany, 7, and Jeremy 2. Beverly is married to Terry Ellefson. They have two adult children, Brent and Brenda; 
and five grandchildren. She enjoys gardening. Farm Credit Services also offers agribusiness loans, real estate appraisals,
record keeping software, and producer education programs. The phone number at the Farm Credit Services office 
is 797-2332. Farm Credit Services has a new website, which is www. fcsdirect.com.

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9

Plaza Coffee Shoppe offers homemade baking in a cozy oasis setting
   
Jo Conant is doing the baking for the Plaza Coffee Shoppe, which is owned by HHC Properties, LLC. Jodi Stockeland
is secretary for the bake shop. Chelsey Stockeland is helping out at the shop. Conant bakes cookies and homemade 
whole wheat or white bread for making toast. There will be specials of the day, such as homemade coffee cake,
caramel rolls and cinnamon rolls. There is also a pie day. Beverages include juice, pop, coffee, and there are plans for 
adding cappuccino in the future. Conant will also bake for take out if orders are called in and time allows. She will 
bake for such events as receptions and meetings. The setting of the Plaza Coffee Shoppe is a full kitchen with a cozy 
area for patrons to eat their lunch. It is a no smoking area. There are a waterfall and fountain to provide the soothing 
sound of water. The pond has live fish and is decorated with plants. Robin Becherl painted a mural of a forest setting.
Conant enjoys baking and finds it more fun to bake for a crowd rather than just she and her husband, Cokey, at home.
Duane Dramstad donated the cupboards in the Plaza Coffee Shoppe. He also built the mantle above the fireplace, so 
visitors to the plaza can see samples of his work. The counter top was donated by Finley Lumber. Cokey Conant 
helped with the waterfall and other construction. Ginny Coles did the marbleizing on the counter top. Coles and Ranae
Larson did the marbleizing on the floor. The elk mount is on loan from Gina Miller. There is a working washer and dryer 
for people to try out. Other appliances are on display in the central area. Hours at the Plaza Coffee Shoppe are 7:30 a.m
4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 797-2501.

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10

Commercial repair part of Haugen¹s plan for shop area
   
Eldo Haugen is president of HHC Properties, LLC. He utilizes the back part of the building, including the tractor 
repair shop. Part of the shop space is rented to Agsco. Haugen Farms do custom crop spraying and fertilizer application. 
Part of the shop area is used for their own general repair. In the future, Haugen hopes to hire a mechanic to do commercial 
work.

11

Photos and Flowers by Lisa expands in Cooperstown

Photos and Flowers by Lisa expanded business in Cooperstown earlier this year. In late March the floral division 
of the business moved to the new building at the intersection of Highway 45 and Lenham Avenue. That building
also houses Sheyenne Financial and the Cooperstown Funeral Chapel. The location on Burrel Avenue downtown 
became the photography site. The photography location allows Puhr to display many more of her backdrops
and props than was previously possible. The rear of the building is used for prop storage. The center is used for 
photo shoots, and the front is the display and customer service area. This year, Photos and Flowers has done 123 
senior portrait sittings so far, with more appointments on the books. By the end of the year, 30 weddings will have 
been photographed. The business has become a favorite for area seniors because Puhr offers the ³no package² plan. 
Students come in for their photography session, then are able to order any combination of prints, to fit their personal 
needs. In addition to area students, she has had a student from Texas, one from Wyoming, and students from such 
towns as Bowman, Bowdon, Fessenden, Fargo, and Grand Forks. The expanded space in the photography studio 
allows for more framing and matting choices. There is also space for a small selection of gift items. As the holidays 
near, the studio is gearing up for its Christmas photo specials. Employees at the studio include Pat Oien, Deb Berge, 
Angel Zimprich and Teri LaPlant. In the spring, Puhr will expand again with a digital retouching department. This 
will allow photographs to be scanned and enhanced. It will also allow for the creation of Photos and Flowers¹ own 
designs for Christmas cards and senior announcements using graphics. It will allow for creating photographs that 
are partially black and white, and partially color. Crystal Storch will join the staff when this department opens.
At the flower shop, employees are Linda Kloster, Jo Conant, Melody Ronningen, Brenda Harvey, Kim Dick, and 
Lois Johnson. The shop offers fresh, silk, and dried arrangements, balloons, greeting cards, plants, a gift line such 
as candles, picture frames, Ty beanie babies, and Black Hills Gold jewelry. Arrangements are available for 
weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays or any other occasion. Hours at both locations are 9 a.m.-5:30 Monday 
through Friday, and 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday. The phone number at the photography studio is 797-2339 and the 
number at the flower shop is 797-2340. In McVille, store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9
a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Kay Trostad and Melanie Olson are employees. Puhr says her faithful employees have made 
the expansions in her business possible. What she likes most about her business is meeting new people. She began 
her business out of her home in 1984. Her hobbies of flower arranging and photography became her work. In 
1995, she opened Portraits by Lisa in Binford, which she has now closed. In 2000, she opened the McVille
shop. In April of 2002, Puhr opened Photos and Flowers in downtown Cooperstown.

Employees at Photos and Flowers by Lisa include, front, Angel Zimprich, Lisa
Puhr; middle, Pat Oien, Kay Trostad, Deb Berge, Linda Kloster; back, Kim
Dick, Jo Conant, Teri LaPlant, Melody Ronningen, Lois Johnson. Not pictured:
Brenda Harding and Melanie Olson.

12

Sheyenne Financial Opens Bank in New Facility in Cooperstown

Sheyenne Financial in Cooperstown opened for business March 3, 2003. The building occupies the area 
of the former Dakota House and BackWaters Gift & Greenhouse. Three businesses are under one roof, 
Sheyenne Financial, to the southeast, Photos & Flowers by Lisa to the northeast and Cooperstown Funeral 
Chapel to the northwest. The 1750 square feet of ground level banking area includes three private offices, one 
walk-up teller and two sit-down teller desks, lobby, supply room, safety deposit box vault, night deposit and 
drive up-window on the south side of the building. The business sign that includes the time and temperature on 
the east is viewable as you pass through the city. Chuck Youells, heads the 16 member staff as president of 
Sheyenne Financial (the charter name remains as First State Bank of Sharon). In addition to Cooperstown, 
Sheyenne Financial has banking locations in Aneta, Sharon, and Binford. Youells came to Aneta to manage 
the Aneta Branch November 1, 1969, from Aberdeen, SD. The present ownership of the bank purchased the 
assets of the First State Bank of Sharon in January, 1980, from Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Smith. Sandra Ueland, VP, 
is the office manager at the Cooperstown Branch. This year marks her 30th anniversary in banking. She began 
her career with Security State Bank in Hannaford, ND, in 1973, joining the First State Bank of Sharon in 1993. 
She has traveled among all of their offices, in Sharon, Aneta, and Binford, and will now be full-time in 
Cooperstown. She has worked in all areas of banking and is currently a loan officer, partner and licensed 
insurance agent of Aneta Insurance Agency. She is acting President of the ND Precision Users Group.
Shawnee Evanson, Northwood, ND, and Betty Jackson, Cooperstown, head up the personal sales and service 
area. One other loan officer travels from the Aneta or Sharon office on a daily basis. Don Hager, attorney at law, 
Larimore, ND, is in the Cooperstown office on Fridays. He is available for appointments by either contacting his 
office in Larimore at 701343-6487 or calling the bank. Don is also on the bank board of directors.
Others on staff at Aneta include Dee Youells, VP, Terry Kinneberg, VP, Levon Nelson, Senior Loan Officer, 
Wayne Trottier, Rodney Brudvig, and Mark Hanson, loan officers, Pam Montag, Deb Karas, and Julie Smith 
personal sales and service representatives, and Peggy Sundquist, file clerk. Thomas J. Strand, VP, and Karen 
Strand, Cashier, head up the Sharon office, and at the Binford office, it¹s Lori Messner, with rotating loan officers 
on a daily basis from the Aneta office. Bank personnel felt there was a need for a facility to service a number of
growing business, agriculture and personal accounts in the Cooperstown area. They feel the reception has been 
great and the business hopes to continue to earn the confidence of new customers and provide a high level of 
personal service to all of their customers. Service Free Checking accounts help keep customer costs down and 
customers appreciate receiving their original checks back in their statements. Passbook, Money market, 
Certificates of Deposit and retirement accounts are available in the investment department. The bank has 
recently introduced a debit card for qualifying account holders. Identity and confidentiality is the bank¹s pledge 
to its customers. Personal service is high priority, as Youells has not become involved in telephone and internet 
banking. The bank proudly supports all efforts to protect and maintain the security of their customers and the 
country. The insurance agency provides a full line of insurance services. Several years of combined service allows 
their staff to evaluate your debts and assets to help you make sound financial decisions. They feel that building 
personal relationships in finance goes a long ways. Sheyenne Financial is a member of FDIC, North Dakota 
Bankers Association, Independent Community Banks, Independent Insurance Agent of America, & Equal
Housing Opportunity Leader. They are pleased to meet the financial needs of the community and look forward 
to meeting new neighbors. The business is a Community Club member and has been supportive of many
organizations since their opening in Cooperstown. Their most recent event in conjunction with Caring for Roses 
week provided 86 cans of vegetables for the food pantry. Deliveries were made by bank employees and it was a
rewarding experience to watch all the expressions; smiles, and tears of 46 dozen rose recipients. Bank personnel 
invite you to stop and get acquainted. Office hours at all locations are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The phone 
number at Cooperstown is 797-3050.

                                            Photo: Personnel at Sheyenne Financial in Cooperstown include Chuck Youells,
                                                                                  Betty Jackson, Shawnee Evanson, and Sandra Ueland.

13

Dr. Nicolai opens chiropractic office

Dr. Thomas Nicolai has opened up Outlook Chiropractic, Inc., in what is known in Cooperstown as the old clinic 
building on 8th Street NW. It is next door to the north of D & H Realty. Dr. Nicolai grew up around Ellendale, then 
moved to New Rockford)rd where his folks still live. He did his undergraduate work at North Dakota State
University. He said the deciding factor to his going into chiropractic work was the treatment he received from his 
brother, who is a chiropractor. One February, he was walking to the grocery store into a cold wind. The next
day, his face ³wasn¹t working². He went to his brother for treatment, and also went to a medical doctor. He was told 
he was suffering from Bell¹s Palsy, a paralysis of nerves going to the face, and there was nothing he could do, and 
the symptoms might not go away. He continued treatment with his brother for four weeks and the symptoms were
gone. He said, ³That was enough to convince me to go into chiropractic study so that I might become of similar benefit 
for people.² He attended the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Daven-port, Iowa, and graduated in October of 1998. 
He and his family moved to Rapid City, SD, where he worked for six months, but he wanted to move closer to home.
November 1st, the family moved to Cooperstown. Nicolai and his wife, Nyrie, have three children. Their daughter, 
Kori, is four; their son, Joshua, will be two in May; and their youngest daughter, Kyrie Danielle, was born last week, 
on April 13. Dr. Nicolai said, ³The kids keep us on our toes. They are outgoing, fun children. Joshua calls everyone 
who looks like they could be grandparents either grandma or grandpa. As a family, the Nicolais enjoy camping, getting 
out by the lakes, walking and biking. He enjoys reading and this year will try his hand at bow hunting for the first time. 
He has been practicing at the local archery range. He also runs and he and one other man from town are gearing up for 
a marathon this summer. Dr. Nicolai had planned on opening his practice sooner, but renovation of the building has taken 
longer than expected. He and Nyrie have done the painting and wallpaper bordering on the interior, which is decorated 
with a southwestern theme. He said, ³It¹s been a long road, but we¹re happy with the way the office is turning out and we
expect to be very happy here. It took longer than we expected, but it¹s going to be worth it.² He added that he thinks 
people will feel that nice improvements have been made to the building and they will-enjoy the change. He noted that the 
people in Cooperstown have been very receptive to having a chiropractic practice in town and he and his family have 
been made to feel welcome He said that John Nelson, Ron Dahl, and Mike Hanson have worked hard to renovate the 
building. He is renting space in the building from the Griggs/Cooperstown Economic Development Corporation, of which 
Keith Monson is president. He praised the EDC for their efforts in bringing a new family and business to town. In Dr. 
Nicolai's part of the building, there is an office, waiting room, x-ray room, two treatment rooms and a consultation room.
A first visit to Dr. Nicolai¹s practice will include taking a history and doing an exam. X-rays will be taken, if necessary, 
and will be processed in about five minutes. He generally adjusts the same day, unless the problem is complex and he 
wants to take more time to look the case over. He enjoys working with all ages of patients, his oldest was about 95. His
daughter got an adjustment when she was 12 hours old. He wanted to make sure her spine was correctly in line after 
coming through the birth canal. He uses basic chiropractic methods, usually the Thompson method. He does most of his 
adjusting on tables that are adjustable, using the force of gravity to help him make the adjustments on his patients.
He also uses an activator, which is like a small jackhammer, which uses speed and force to adjust the bone back into place. 
He said it is especially beneficial to use on patients who suffer from osteoporosis or arthritis. In the future, he plans to get 
into nutritional supplements and to provide cervical pillows with a ridge for better sleeping positions for patients. Dr. Nicolai 
said, ³Cooperstown has a licensed massage therapist and reflexologist. There will be lots of opportunity to work with them, 
we will be able to give referrals if we think the other services will benefit the patient. It¹s nice to have them right across the 
street.² At the present time, the Nicolai family is living in town, but they would like to find a place in the country and perhaps 
keep some horses. Dr. Nicolai has joined the Cooperstown Community Club and is their representative on the Griggs 
County Arts Council. Dr. Nicolai¹s hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, 
8 a.m. to noon. The phone number is 797-2941, or toll free 877-797-2941. His email address is drnicolai @ mlgc.com.
Other businesses that will be located in the building are Renaissance Engineering and Testing, Inc. and GK Art Gallery. 
They are planning a joint open house in mid-May.

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14

Engineering company moves to new location

Renaissance Engineering and Testing, Inc. was incorporated November 3, 1998, as a minority business enterprise. 
Its corporate office has been located in the Professional Building in Cooperstown, bit now is moving to the back of
the former clinic building on 8th Street NW, just north of D & H Realty. Because of a large business expansion this 
year, the company needed more office space and felt that it needed to move to a new location to allow for its future growth.
Renaissance is now renting its office space from the Cooperstown/Griggs Economic Development Corporation. They will 
share the building with Outlook chiropractic and the GK Gallery. The company officers are: Gretchen Kottke as president 
and accountant, Loren Alfson as vice president in charge of engineering, Jan Lee as vice president in charge of materials 
and testing, and Lori Alfson as a director. Loren Alfson spent 15 years as an engineer with the North Dakota Department
of Transportation (NDDOT), is a registered professional civil engineer, NAZIS certified bridge inspector, and a NDDOT 
certified mix controller for asphalt paving. On his off days Loren enjoys working with the horses for Krista Briss and Lori Alfson.
Jan Lee spent 13 years as a highway technician with the NDDOT, is a NBIS certified bridge inspector, a NDDOT certified 
mix controller for asphalt paving, and a NDDOT certified aggregate and asphalt mix tester. Jan moved to Cooperstown from 
Valley City in January. For recreation, she enjoys hunting, camping, shooting pool and other outdoor sports. Lori Alfson 
received her industrial engineering degree from North Dakota State University in December of 1999 and is employed by  
TRW Aeronautical Systems, Jamestown. Gretchen Kottke keeps busy with the gallery when she is not working for
Renaissance. Renaissance Engineering and Testing is a full-service engineering company, which has the capability of designing 
and administering road construction projects, water resource projects, livestock waste control struc-tures, do bridge inspections, 
materials testing and construc- tion surveying . It is also a member of the North Dakota Association of General Contractors (AGC).
The company, headquartered in Cooperstown, presently has a total of eight employees working on various projects. Most of its 
work is located in the eastern half of the state. The company does business with a variety of other entities. They provide
construction engineering services for NDDOT projects, work with county water resource districts, and do materials testing and 
construction surveying for larger private construction contractors. Renaissance provides the quality control testing for private 
contractors to ensure that their road construction projects will meet the contract specifications. This service allows the contractor 
to do what they do best, concentrate on its equipment and men to provide a consistent and quality product for road construction. 
This union between the contractor and a testing company benefits both the NDDOT and the general public by building a
better product with a longer expected life span. Ultimately it provides a cost effective alternative for highway construction by 
increasing the life expectancy and durability of a project for a nominal fee. Loren¹s engineering division provides the design and 
construction engineering for the projects contract by the company. Jan¹s materials testing division does the aggregate and asphalt 
mix testing for the private contractors. This testing is done constantly on all larger paving projects to ensure that the quality control 
specifications are met. When the contractor is working, the typical work day runs from about 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 or 9:00 p.m.
Last year Renaissance work on projects on Highway 2 at Devils Lake, emergency grade raises on Highway 20 and 194, on 
county paving projects at Crary, Tolna and St. Thomas, and seal projects at Dazey and Ashley. This year they will be working 
on paving projects on Highways 32 near Fingal, 9 near Wimbledon, I near Dazey, 53 near Harvey, and county roads near 
Langdon and Enderlin Renaissance and GK Gallery are tied together through a gentleman¹s agreement < where one goes, the 
other goes. They are economically separate, but tied by a mutual bond. Renaissance Engineering and Testing, the GK Gallery, 
and Outlook Chiropractic are planning an open house for mid-May.

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15

Marson Manufacturing Co. locates in Cooperstown

Florence and George Marson will be locating their business, MarsonManufacturing Co., in Cooperstown at 602 Rollin Ave.
SW (the former Glassworx building). They will be producing and marketing the Dual Saddle Cart, a device that allows
people to easily transport saddles from their tack rooms to their horses. The cart allows one person to pull the patent pending
well-designed cart over loose gravel, grass hummocks, rocks, small branches, and most rough terrain. The cart will fit through 
a 30² door. A handle flips up for use, then flips back down for easy storage. The cart will transport one or two saddles and
will be available in the standard colors of red, blue, or black. More custom colors may be added in the future. The Marsons
have been living at Mt. Hope, Kansas. They have two horses, which are kept about 200 yards from their tack. Out of necessity,
they designed the cart to transport their saddles to their own horses. Flo is the daughter of Caroline Eli of Carrington and the late
William Eli. She is presently living on her parents¹ farm and looking for a house in Cooperstown. George is the son of the late
Archie and Agnes Marson. He is a special ed teacher in Wichita, Kansas, and is finishing up his Masters Degree in special
education. The Marsons have two daughters, Rachel, a junior in high school, and Jennifer, a sixth grader. The family plans to
move to Cooperstown after school is out. The Marsons looked for a location for their new business, and decided on
Cooperstown because it is where George grew up. The business prospect came to the Cooperstown Community Development
Authority through the Empowerment Zone. Jerry Sandstrom, marketing director, followed up on the lead and provided the
Marsons with information about Cooperstown and the buildings available. A suitable building was found and the financial
package was arranged through the Empowerment Zone. A plant manager has been hired and the Marsons will be looking to
hire two more employees in the near future. Skills needed will be the ability to read blue prints and use power tools. An open
house is planned for the fourth week of March. The Marsons hope to work with local industries in Cooperstown as much as
possible. They have made arrangements with Sheyenne Tooling to do their powder coating. The carts will be marketed through 
trade shows, magazines, and on the website. Flo can be reached at 797-3060 or by e-mail at www.mmanuf.com. George will
be doing most of the traveling and marketing, while Flo will be doing much of the office work. They will be taking the saddle
cart to the Equine Affaire January 29-February 1 at the Fairplex, located at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona,
California. The show is advertised as the nation¹s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering. The show will feature
clinics, seminars, demonstrations, a breed pavilion, and commercial exhibits. The Marsons have plans to expand their business
with other products they intend to develop, manufacture, and market. Sandstrom hopes that by the time Marson Manufacturing
outgrows its present building, a spec building will have been built in Cooperstown¹s industrial park and be ready for the
Marsons. Within five years, they hope to increase their workforce to 20 employees.

                 Florence Marson
 

16

PL MFG expands into new building in Cooperstown

PL MFG is a division of Dynamics 360 in Cooperstown that recently expanded its capabilities to serve its customers 
by moving into a large, new state-of-the-art building. PL MFG is a precision machine shop that specializes in CNC 
(Computer Numerical Control) machining. The company produces precision metal and plastic components for a variety 
of businesses including industrial, agricultural and automotive. The company also produces most of the components for 
Posi Lock Puller, Inc.¹s product. PL MFG produces components for a major US motorcycle manufacturer, a local
automotive company, and produces precision components for a local material handling equipment manufacturer. The 
company also does subcontracting work for other machine shops. Cris Somerville is Division Manager of the operation 
that had its start in 1998 in part of the warehouse area of Posi Lock Puller. As business grew, the company had more 
orders than it could fill in its limited space. In the fall of 2001, PL MFG moved into its new spacious quarters, the 
southern-most building at 805 Sunflower Avenue in Cooperstown¹s Industrial Park. The company designed the building 
to make the most efficient use of machines and employees in a safe, comfortable, climate-controlled setting. Today¹s
newest technology is put to use to manufacture the components through sophisticated advanced robotics. The company 
offers an apprenticeship training program for employees. It is the only company in the state that has an active formal 
apprenticeship program for machinists. The program includes 8000 hours of on-the-job training, as well as 500plus 
hours of related study of college level courses through the State College of Science in Wahpeton. The apprentices do 
course work through correspondence. The mathematical intense program includes seven courses related to CNC 
machining. After completing the four-year program, the apprentices receive a journeyman certificate that is good 
anywhere. The certificates are issued through the North Dakota Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship Training.
Somerville feels that the certificate is more valuable than a college degree because those who complete the course have 
not only the knowledge, but four years of experience. Most of the machinists at PL MFG are enrolled in the 
apprenticeship program. The company pays for course fees and text books. The only thing the employees have to 
put in is their time for study. Since the company is located in a rural area, experienced machinists are hard to find. The 
two main reasons the company implemented the apprenticeship program was to attract employees and give them the
opportunity not only to collect a paycheck, but receive nationally accredited training. Somerville has found that people 
from this area are the hardest working people in the nation. He praises the work ethic and dedication.to the job of
he employees at PL MFG. He noted that the employees are concerned about how they perform and how they affect 
the company. The company has 12 people working two shifts. The weekday shift runs Monday through Thursday. 
The weekend shift runs Friday through Sunday. Somerville said the people working in the facility are not considered 
employees, but team members. The company has recently had some new hires and more expansion is possible.
Somerville says that PL MFG¹s philosophy is all about customer satisfaction. The apprenticeship program gives 
customers reassurance that PL MFG has high quality professionals making their components. PL MFG serves 
customers from as far away as Arkansas. Another effort to guarantee customer satisfaction is PL MFG¹s participation
in the quality management system ISO 9000 program. It is a formal internationally recognized quality system that 
governs how a company performs services. It makes possible 100% compliance of parts quality and on-time delivery 
dates. PL MFG constantly tests components to ensure they meet the specifications of the order. A separate testing 
room in the building contains many pieces of sophisticated testing equipment. Orders are shipped in a timely manner
by UPS or freight carriers. Some of the deliveries to some of the closer customers are made directly by PL MFG.
Some customers pick up orders at the facility to save on freight costs. The Mission Statement of the company is ³
Our goal is to become your favorite vendor by providing superior products, on-time deliveries and reduced costs.²
Somerville explains that PL MFG endeavors to portray an image of manufacturing as a clean, laboratory environment, 
rather than the stereotyped dirty, hazardous setting of yesterday. That old manufacturing image is one that PL MFG 
is working hard to help its industry overcome. PL MFG also has a safety program in place to ensure that employees 
are made aware of any dangers that may be present in the workplace. The new, super-insulated structure never 
required heat all year long. The heat coming off the machines was enough to heat the building, plus extra heat was 
pumped through ductwork to the Posi Lock Puller warehouse next door. Precision machining is a very competitive   
industry and PL MFG is constantly striving to come up with creative ways to make superior products and
maintain competitive prices. From the moment raw material enters the building, it is handled as few times as possible
before the final components leave the loading docks. An overhead crane was designed into the structure of the 
building. The delivery truck backs into the building, the raw material is lifted off by the crane and put into inside storage 
From there, the material is moved one time to where it is needed for machining. Some of the machines are automatically 
fed, some are hand fed. A central cooling system was installed for the machines. Clean coolant is piped from above to 
each machine. The dirty coolant is drained under the floor to a cleaning unit which extracts any oil and filings so the coolant
can be reused. All electrical needs were designed into three rows on the ceiling the length of the building, so wherever 
machines are moved or added, an electrical supply is available. All scraps and waste are recycled. A recent addition in the 
building was a machine that dries and shreds the metal scraps so they take less space. The shredded scraps are piped 
outside into a bin where the recycler picks them up. To further ensure efficiency. PL MFG strives to make a finished product in
the least steps possible. The machines that have been installed in the building are the ones that best fit the job of 
manufacturing components faster than older-type machines. Some parts that used to require three steps in three different 
machines, can now be produced by one machine. The efficiency of the entire design of the building is so great, that one
employee is able to man two or three CNC machines. The clean, well-lit, safe environment is the image PL MFG wants 
to portray to its potential customers or employees. The company is targeting the aerospace industry and sees a potential 
for growth into that area. Somerville said it is an exciting idea for the company. It is the top of the ladder in manufacturing 
and the most visible mark of quality. It gives a company the most recognition as a superior machine shop.

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17

Posi Lock receives Export Achievement award

Posi Lock Puller, Inc. of Cooperstown has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce for its successful 
export activity. Dr. Ronald E. Kramer, Acting Director of the Commercial Service¹s Chicago Hub Network, presented 
the Export Achievement Certificate o Tamara Tibor, Marketing Manager, Posi Lock Puller, Inc. ³Our company 
consists of dedicated, knowledgeable individuals who work together to achieve the team¹s goals,² said Tibor. ³It starts 
with Wendy and Naomi, our clerical assistants. They are so full of energy that it is contagious. Everyone who calls Posi 
Lock Puller, Inc. seems to agree  with that. Our engineers, shipping and plant personnel all work together to get the job 
done not only efficiently but also at the highest quality possible. ³As for our sales department, they don¹t just sell our 
product because it is their job. They sell it because they believe in our puller,² said Tibor. ³It is that type of dedication, 
hard work and determination to Owin¹ that makes our company successful.² Posi Lock Puller, Inc. is the first North 
Dakota Company to receive the Export Achievement Certificate. Only 13 companies in a five-state area have received 
this award. The Export Achievement Certificate recognizes companies that are business clients of the Commerce 
Department¹s U.S. Commercial Service, and that have used Commerce¹s services to make their first export sale or 
open new foreign markets. ³Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our Nation¹s export activity 
accounting for 96.5 percent of all U.S. exporters in 1998,² said Kramer. ³Posi Lock Puller, Inc. is an outstanding 
example of how a small business can export successfully. A company does not have to be Obig¹ and does not have to 
be located in a metropolitan area to export - it simply takes the determination to do it - something Posi Lock Puller 
has in abundance.² Tibor expressed gratitude to Ryan Kanne, a Trade Specialist at the Minneapolis U.S. Export 
Assistance Center for providing information and assistance when they needed it. ³You cannot put a value on Ryan¹s 
patience, knowledge, and contacts throughout the world,² said Tibor. ³He is always there and ready to assist us 
whenever we call him. We look forward to entering new foreign markets and expanding our sales where we now sell.²
The pullers are sold throughout Europe and parts of Asia. They are sent to distribution centers in Singapore and 
Holland as well as to many countries including Canada, Mexico, South Africa and Australia. The company is
currently working with a number of companies in Russia and the U.K. Posi Lock Puller, Inc. was founded in 1978.
Over the past 25 years, the puller line has expanded to include a variety of pullers ranging from 1 to 100 ton capacity. 
These pullers are used with the industrial, agricultural and automotive markets. The patented steel safety cage is the key 
to the puller. It prevents the jaws of the puller from slipping off the work surface. This makes it safer for the technician 
and easier to use. Most of the puller parts are manufactured in Cooperstown at PL Mfg. So, not only are the pullers 
made in the USA, but most of them are made in North Dakota. The U.S. Export Assistance Center provides 
guidelines and requirements for international marketing. When requested, the center informs the manufacturers what type 
of paperwork needs to be completed, what the palettes need to be made of, and what countries they can do business 
with. The U.S. Commercial Service is a Commerce Department agency that helps small and midsize U.S. businesses 
sell their products and services globally. The Minneapolis U.S. Export Assistance Center is part of the agency¹s 
worldwide network, which includes 108 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 
150 international offices. For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit www.buyusa.com 

Front, Dr. Ronald E. Kramer presented Tamara Tibor with the Export Achievement Certificate November 
13, 2002. Also attending in addition to the employees of Posi Lock were Mayor Rick Karboviak (front left) 
and Jerry Sandstrom (front right) Cooperstown Marketing Specialist.

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18

Additional space is acquired by Cooperstown Funeral Chapel

The Cooperstown Funeral Chapel is expanding both services and space.  The Chapel will soon move into the
space previously occupied by the Photos and Flowers by Lisa flower shop, which also shared the building with
Sheyenne Financial. Some of the new space will be  converted into a children's play room and will be available
for use by families during visitation and funerals held at the Chapel.  The playroom will be equipped with a
television, VCR, books, toys and tables.  Other space will be turned into a sunroom where families will be able
to sit and visit in a quiet setting while maintaining contact with the outside world.  The sunroom will be located in
the front of the former flower shop which has large windows facing the street.     These additional services and
spaces follow a trend in funeral homes that has been developing in the larger cities and Funeral Director, Ryan
Iverson, saw a need to offer these spaces to the families the Chapel serves.  A website will be completed in
the near future.  The website will post obituaries and other pertinent information in an effort to give family and
friends in other parts of the country a connection.  The Chapel will also be adding more memory tables to display
items brought in by families to commemorate their loved one¹s  life.     Also this year, there will be a few changes
outside the Chapel.  The parking lot will be completed and an outside grassy sitting area is planned.

        Ryan Iverson

19

Sandstrom is Cooperstown marketing specialist

Jerry Sandstrom has been hired as the Community Marketing Specialist in Cooperstown, in a joint effort by 
the City of Cooperstown, Cooperstown/Griggs Economic Development Corporation, Empowerment Zone, 
and community donations. Two members of the City Council, Connie Swenson and Mayor Rick Karboviak;
two members of the EDC, Keith Monson and Orv Tranby; and one member at-large, Don Loder; make up 
the Cooperstown Community Development Authority, which will oversee the position. Sandstrom has two 
priorities which share the number one goal of his job. He will work to attract new industry to create jobs and 
broaden the tax base, and work with local industry in retention and expansion. Sandstrom said he will do 
background work on companies because he wants good, solid, reliable companies coming to town. He will be 
doing homework on companies and noted that incentive financing is risky business. Sandstrom will be developing 
an inventory of available property in town. He will also be putting together prospects with a cover letter and pertinent
information, including a finance package, which is tailor made for each business lead. Opportunities of Empowerment
Zone programs will be utilized. Sandstrom will be networking with other economic development people in the
state. He will also be traveling to meet with prospective companies that may wish to locate in Cooperstown.
Sandstrom feels that industry will create employment with wages that will attract people back to town. There is available 
housing in town for those wishing to relocate. He will be working closely with existing industry to assist in expansion.
Sandstrom has 16 years of work experience with AAA. He also has 26 years of experience in Chamber of Commerce 
type industrial and community development. A part-time office person will be hired as soon as possible. When Sandstrom
is not in the office, his calls will be forwarded to his cell phone, so he is always reachable. Sandstrom¹s office is located 
in the former ASCS/GTII building west of HHC Plaza in Cooperstown. In addition to an office for Sandstrom and the office
person, there is a large board room available for conferences and meeting with clients. The phone number is 797-3712, 
the Fax number is 797-3713, and the email address is ed@coopercda. com. Sandstrom is a North Dakota native who 
grew up in Lisbon. His wife, Mavis, is a native of Leeds. He accepted the position in Cooperstown because of a desire 
to ³come back home to North Dakota². His wife is a career banker in southern Minnesota and is looking forward to 
retirement and joining Sandstrom in Cooperstown where they will be closer to family members. Sandstrom enjoys 
boating, fishing, woodworking, and spending time with family and relatives.

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20

Sheyenne Tool Expands Product Lines

Sheyenne Tooling expands business with manufacture of Eagle Ditcher June 23, 2003, marked a milestone for  
Erickson Manufacturing of Milnor and Sheyenne Tooling and Manufacturing of Cooperstown. The day was a 
result of a five-year dream of Edwin and Marlys Erickson, owners of Erickson Manufacturing  in Milnor. The 
dream began in 1999 when an Eagle Ditcher was built and taken to Big Iron in West Fargo and was well
received. Erickson Manufacturing didn¹t have space to produce the implement. Five years of research and 
development led to the first Eagle Ditcher coming off the production line Monday at Sheyenne Tooling. Even though 
Monday marked the first machine coming off the line in Cooperstown, 121 of the machines had been built elsewhere 
and are in operation. Machines have been shipped to Alberta, Canada,  New York, South Carolina, Kansas, and 
Oklahoma,  to name a few locations. In southern states, such as Kansas or Oklahoma, they are often used for terracing.
The Eagle Ditcher is designed to clean out existing ditches or waterways, or dig new ditches. The ditcher improves 
drainage on wet fields. Erickson explained that the ditcher is able to throw dirt left and/or right. The dirt can be deflected 
from 0¹ to 120¹. The ditcher will dig one to nine inches deep, preferably four to five inches at a time at speeds of one to
four miles per hour. The Eagle Ditcher requires a 150-175 horsepower tractor. The ditcher cuts a four foot swath, or 
wings can be added to make a five foot wide swath. Jerry Sandstrom,  Cooperstown Community Development 
Authority Marketing Specialist, explained that pairing Erickson Manufacturing with Sheyenne Tooling met the goals and 
objectives of the CCDA. He said, ³To foster business and growth of existing businesses is of equal importance to
bringing in new businesses.² Tim James, the Eagle Ditcher Operation Manager, said the addition of the Eagle Ditcher 
line at Sheyenne Tooling will aid the company with job retention, keeping on existing personnel  during the slow times 
to build the ditchers, and result in the hiring of the equivalent of two additional people. Erickson Manufacturing will retain 
control of the sales and marketing of the Eagle Ditcher. Now that the ditchers are able to be built in a timely manner, 
markets can be expanded. The company hopes to sell 100  of the machines this year. There are eight regions set up in 
the United States, and so far, only one,  including North Dakota and northern Minnesota, has been developed, with 16 
dealers. Phil Sandford of Lakota had the honor of pulling the first Eagle Ditcher away from Sheyenne Tooling. He 
believes the ditcher will be put to use in Minnesota. He can be reached at 701-259-2340. Lyle and Grace Burchill of 
Hope are the factory representatives for North Dakota and northern Minnesota, they can be reached at 945-2527.
A sales and marketing office will be set up in the former Crane Johnson Lumber building in Cooperstown. The office 
will be staffed by Lyle and Grace Burchill, Theresa Erickson, office manager; and Edwin and Marlys Erickson.
With the five years of research that went into the production of the Eagle Ditcher, Erickson Manufacturing believes 
their product is second to none. You may call Erickson Manufacturing at 888-427-5944  to find the dealer nearest 
you. All machines are warrantied. Erickson Manufacturing expects to have more products coming on the market in
the future. The company has two patents on the Eagle Ditcher. It also has three patents on a twin spinner and is working 
on other inventions they are not yet ready to disclose.

 Jerry Sandstrom, left, was on hand June 23 afternoon to extend well wishes to those involved with the 
Eagle Ditcher, which will be manufactured at Sheyenne Tooling in Cooperstown. Those present included 
Tim James, Eagle Ditcher operation manager; Edwin and Marlys Erickson, Erickson Implement,
Milnor; Theresa Erickson and her son, Bryar; and  Phil Sandford, Lakota.

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21

The Post Office Restaurant Opens

The Post Office opened this week in Cooperstown. The Somerville family researched the building,  
which used to be Cooperstown¹s post office, and has used as much of the beauty of the original 
structure as they could to preserve history and create a comfortable, attractive dining establishment
with a historic atmosphere. Not much information on the former post office was found, but a guardians
deed dated 1914 was found with an agreement of Theodore G. and Helga M. Thompson with the 
United States of America for an annual rental of $800 for the building. The Somervilles have not been 
able to find a photo of the building, except the one that is in the ³blue² Cooperstown History Book. 
They have no photos of the interior of the building when it was the post office. If anyone has a
photo, they would very much like to see it. Post offices were located in several locations in the city. 
The post office existed at The Post Office location until moving into new quarters at its present location 
in 1970. When fire destroyed Andy and JoAnn Hagle¹s creamery September 21, 1970, they moved
into the former post office and opened a pizza shop along with the dairy business. In later years, 
Andy¹s Cafe was sold to Mindy Whitaker who operated Mindy¹s Cafe. Holly Vigesaa operated 
Coffee Coffee in the building for a year. It sat empty for a short time, then the Somerville family
purchased the building. Renovation began in June of this year. In the course of the deconstruction,
the original bricks were uncovered, as were the original windows on the west side of the building. 
As much of the original brick as possible was left exposed. It has been sandblasted and coated. The 
windows are also exposed, but the panes have been covered with a film to make them appear as if they
were stained glass. It is not known what the original ceiling material was, but a replica tin ceiling has 
been installed. It has been painted with automotive paint mixed by H. E. Everson¹s to give it its look 
of depth. Jerry Hohertz did the spray painting. He painted the outside awning as well. Through all of 
the reconstruction, the flavor of a warehouse-type building was carried through. The two storage sheds 
were torn down and the size of the kitchen was doubled. The building has been modernized and 
renovated. There is new insulation, a new furnace and air conditioning unit. All kitchen equipment 
was replaced The Somervilles wanted to offer the community something different for their dining 
experiences. The Post Office offers different choices on the  menu than are presently available in the 
area, made from the highest quality ingredients they can locate. They noted that support from the 
community has been overwhelming. The staff has been trained by a chef. All of the sauces and 
dressings are homemade. Every evening the breadbaskets contain homemade popovers, made
with Peggy Somerville¹s recipe. The beef and seafood offered on the  menu are of the best quality 
available. The salmon comes from the Norwegian seas and will be served with a dill sauce. Crab 
cakes are another specialty on the menu. The crab legs are extraordinarily large. There is a kids menu. 
The luncheon menu has a deli-type flair with thick sliced breads and meats. The hamburgers are 
one-half pound and hand patted. There are two homemade soups daily. The sides include a variety 
of dishes including baked sweet potato and homemade crab salad. Many of the recipes used are 
family favorites. The Post Office has an on-site liquor license and offers specialty drinks such as 
martinis and The Postman¹s Special. Three flavors of Chai tea are offered and four flavors of iced 
coffee. The dessert offerings will be ever-changing. The Somervilles and employees have done lots 
of sampling of all the foods offered at the restaurant to make sure the flavors are  just as they want
them. The Somervilles have strived to make the atmosphere friendly in The Post Office so patrons 
feel like it is their ³everyday getaway². Customer service is their priority. They want people to have 
the chance to enjoy their heritage, feel comfortable, and have fun. It is a non-smoking environment.
In the spring, there will be outdoor seating under the awning. In addition to the dining experience, 
The Post Office will feature a rotating art display, arranged by Gretchen Kottke. At present and 
through mid-December, a display of primitive folk paintings by Emily Lunde are on display. They 
are on loan from the North Dakota Museum of Art. In the future, the black and white photographs 
of Leo Kim will be displayed and he will make an appearance at the restaurant. Hours at The Post 
Office are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 
and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Reservations will be taken for dining and sections of the restaurant 
can be reserved for special occasions. The phone number is 797-3545.

Tamara Tibor, Chris Sommerville, and Stacey Briss

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22

Super Value Changes Hands -

Jeff Miller and Torry Reuter purchased Severson¹s Super Valu in Cooperstown January 1 and
have renamed the store Super Valu Foods. Miller is a third generation grocer. His grandparents,
parents, and  uncles have been grocers. His dad had Millers Fairway Store in Grand Forks, then
branched out to Jamestown in 1968. Jeff grew up in Jamestown and is a graduate of Jamestown
High School. After high school, he worked for Holiday Foods, Minneapolis, and was in management
in several different cities. In 1985, he bought the Jack and Jill grocery store in New Rockford and it
became a Super Valu store. He then relocated to Mayville and eventually bought out that store.
Miller has lived at Golden Lake in Steele County year round for five years. He enjoys boating, lake
activities, yard work, and is a Fighting Sioux hockey fan.
Torry Reutter became manager of the store in Cooperstown, effective January 1. He had been a
funeral director in Mayville, but wanted to make a career change. By becoming a store manager,
he still is able to do what he likes most and that is working with the public and serving the community.
Reutter grew up in Carrington and has family in Glenfield. He plans to move to Cooperstown, which
will locate him closer to home. He has two daughters, ages nine and seven, Makenzie and Makayla.
He enjoys hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. Miller and Reutter have made some changes in the
Cooperstown store, but are continuing the fine tradition of service of the late Dale Severson and his
staff to which the public had become accustomed for the last 33 years. Severson got his start in the
grocery business with Miller¹s dad, who was the one who taught Dale how to cut meat. Miller said
that the Severson family were wonderful to work with during the transition of the business. He also
noted that the community had been very supportive during the transition. There are some aspects of
new decor and signage. The carts have been relocated to the entrance of the store, and the front
end of the store has been opened up to allow more display area of the produce department.
Displays have been moved out of the aisle area to facilitate customer traffic. Miller and Reutter say
that the day-to-day operations of the store have not changed. The merchandise may have been
moved around, but the store still carries the same inventory as before. No employee changes have
been made in the store that employs about 30 full and part-time employees. Store hours have been
expanded to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Miller said
that almost everyone is working these days and store hours must accommodate today¹s life style.
They are seeing increased night traffic. They want customers to have a pleasurable experience in
the store and be able to get in, get what they want, and get out in as little time as possible, since
everyone is in such a hurry these days. Now that Miller owns two stores, he will be able to buy
palettes and truckloads together. The goods will be shipped to Mayville, sorted and Cooperstown¹s
goods will be shipped from there. The end result of the quantity buying will be savings for the
customer. The two stores also now share in an advertising flyer that is distributed through the Mayville
Courier that now arrives in area mailboxes on Mondays. They add that the grocery business is a
service business and they are doing their best to serve the public in every way they can. Miller says
that Super Valu is adding new items on a weekly basis and people want variety and they are going
to get that variety at his stores. Miller and Reutter said they will continue to promote the outdoor
sales and cookouts that have been held in Cooperstown in the past. They plan to sponsor a golf
tournament which will be called the Dale Severson Memorial Golf Tournament, with the proceeds
designated to a local entity. Miller and Reutter stress that they are committed to the community
and look forward to working with local organizations to help plan events. They note that
Cooperstown has a very loyal customer base and that means a lot to them, it¹s what keeps towns
alive.

Jeff Miller (left) and Torry Reuter, new owners of Super Valu Foods in
Cooperstown - Torry Reutter is the manager.

23

Metro-Trak locates in Cooperstown

Metro-Trak, LLC plans to open for business in Cooperstown October 1 in theformer GTI building
 west of HHC Plaza. The employees will be monitoring thewhereabouts of individuals under
 community supervision in eight states.Dennis Doffing of Metro-Trak,  LLC, worked with probation
and parole before Metro-Trak was founded. He has been involved with the opening of monitoring
centers all over the United States and in two countries overseas.Metro-Trak, LLC was looking for
a place to expand in North Dakota, Minnesota, or Iowa. Working through the Community Venture
Network, Cooperstown¹s Marketing Director, Jerry Sandstrom, learned about the company¹s plans
for expansion. Doffing said Sandstrom drove down to Minneapolis the next day to give a presentation
on what Cooperstown had to offer. Doffing said that Sandstrom¹s immediate interest in the company,
the interest and support of those present when he came to look at the location, and a suitable building
in Cooperstown were the deciding factors in choosing Cooperstown for the next monitoring center.
Metro-Trak, LLC manufactures and rents or sells electronic monitoring devices which track the
movements of offenders under house arrest. The HomeLink® system from Metro Trak involves a
small transmitter for the offender, worn on the ankle, which is tamper-proof. Upon leaving or entering
the home, the receiver in the home sends a signal by phone to the monitor center. The person taking
the call determines if the movement of the offender is acceptable or unacceptable. If unacceptable,
the proper authorities are notified, such as parole officer, probation officer, or law enforcement.
Metro-Trak will be monitoring its existing and new customer base from the facility in Cooperstown.
The facility will operate 24 hours a day, seven days, never shutting down. The business will start out
with 10 employees. Backup systems for such necessities as heat, lights, and phone service will
be installed in case of power failures to ensure the center is on power at all times. Phone and fax lines
will be secure, a security alarm system and fire detection system will be in place. Doffing said he grew
up in a small town and knows the advantages of locating centers in rural areas. He admires the work
ethic of people in rural areas. In addition to the interest shown by the Cooperstown community, the
Empowerment Zone and several financing agencies have made the business expansion possible.

 

24

Robert Lende opens Collision Center

Robert Lende has relocated Binford Collision Center to the former vo-tech building in Cooperstown.
A lack of space at his Binford location prompted the move. Lende is a Cooperstown native and is
the third generation of an auto body family. He previously operated auto body shops in Erie and
Casselton. Lende offers a bull line of auto body repair and glass replacement. He uses a digital uplink,
allowing him to take photos and send an insurance company a computerized estimate.
He does all types of conversions, including Waldoch conversions flames and sparkles. He also does
ground up restorations of classic cars. In the past year, Lende has added a paint mixer system that
guarantees paint color. He has also added a unibody frame straightener. He has added an employee,
Rob Bjornson of Grace City. Lende is presently in the process of remodeling the building so better suit
his needs. The added space allows him to work on more projects at one time and have a separate
room for painting. Lende takes pride in his work and refuses to use low-grade paint. He notes that a
vehicle is most often the second most valuable possession a person has, after their home. Lende offers
free pickup and delivery in the area. The shop is open regular business hours Monday through Friday.
The phone number is Lende is planning to rename his business after the move to Cooperstown and
he will be working on a sign for the building in the future.


 

25

Scrap 'N' Stay opens in Cooperstown

Ann Dietchman will be opening Scrap ON¹ Stay in her family home at 310 8th St. SW in
Cooperstown July 1st. After the death of her mother, Willis Brekke, Ann could not bear to see
the home sold. It had been in her family 44 years and had been lived in by only three other families.
The home will be 100 years old in 2007. Her mother had worked in the house as a house cleaner
while she was in high school. The home¹s charming decor made a perfect place to display her
collections of dolls, stamps, antiques, and Christmas seals. The beautiful original woodwork and
hardwood floors remain in the home. As one enters the front door, there are large rooms where
Dietchman has her scrapbooking work areas. Large tables, which will seat 12, are set up in the
rooms which have many  windows for natural light. There are several other tables set up for work
places. Dietchman will provide basic scrapbooking supplies so those attending the retreats don¹t
have to pack up and bring all the tools that go with the craft. She has scissors, rubber stamps,
adhesives, rulers, and a die cut machine to cut letters and shapes. Attendees need only bring their
photos, papers and stickers. She also has a xyron machine which makes stickers and laminates.
There are eyelets and brads and tools, paper cutters, and many shapes of templates and stencil.
She believes she has every idea book ever made. In addition to the supplies she will provide for
her patrons, she also has a selection of scrapbooking supplies for sale. To make the home ready
for guests, Ann and her husband, Bob, who is a teacher at the may-Port C-G School, have updated
the electrical and heating systems in the home. There is a cozy fireplace in the living room. The
basement has been completely remodeled, with room to sleep five. They also added a bathroom.
Bob is the  maintenance man for the lodging. Upstairs, each bedroom has been equipped for guests.
There are twin size beds throughout the upstairs and basement. The rooms are decorated in a
fashion that suits the charm of the older home. The home is classified as a lodging. Dietchman will
arrange for food to be brought in for her guests. Several scrapbooking packages are available at
Scrap ON¹ Stay. The ultimate weekend retreat offers 48 hours of uninterrupted scrapbooking with five
meals provided. The ultimate day retreat offers 12 hours of scrapbooking from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
with two meals provided. People are free to scrap as much or as little as they wish during these
retreats. Day or evening crops are also available, with no meals, but people may bring their own
snacks. The lodging is available for families or individuals needing a place to stay for any reason,
such as family reunions or vacations. Other groups, such as Dietchman has been scrapbooking
since 1997, when she took a class. She has been a Family and Consumer Science teacher  at
Finley-Sharon School since 1988. She has utilized scrapbooking in some of her classes.
Scrapbooking has become a multi-billion dollar industry. New technology has created many
opportunities for scrapbookers to create unique theme scrapbooks of their own. Dietchman likens
the scrapbooking camps and retreats to the quilting bees of yesteryear. The Dietchmans have a
17-year-old son, Jeremy, who will be a senior at Finley-Sharon next year. Ann is recording
memories for him through her scrapbooking. Dietchman promoted her new business at the Fargo
fair this past week. She may also advertise in some of the many scrapbooking magazines. The
web site is www.scrapnstay.com. The Dietchmans are planning an open house Wednesday,
June 30. The business phone is 797-3136, cell phone 361-3722, and their home phone is 524-1603.

26 Metro-Trak opens Monitoring Center in Cooperstown Metro-Trak, LLC, a company that builds and utilizes innovative electronic offender monitoring equipment, recently held an event to acquaint the public with their  new national monitoring center in Cooperstown. The Cooperstown monitoring center serves as a key facility for offender monitoring contracts nationwide.  Metro-Trak, LLC currently monitors clients in eight states. The company will utilize several types of monitoring devices or ankle bracelets, all of which have tamper systems that notify the center if an offender attempts to remove the bracelet.  In addition to the monitors that track an offender¹s movements, the company also has an alcohol breathalizer monitor built into the phone system to monitor an offender¹s alcohol level when that person calls in or is called. The monitoring is done through telephone and computer systems.  The system provides immediate information to probation and parole officers and other law enforcement officials and also sends daily reports of an offenders activities. The center currently has nine employees and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week year round.  The growth potential is strong and the company could employ up to 30 people in three years.  Three of the employees are former residents of the area who have been able to move back home through the job opportunities offered by Metro-Trak, LLC. During the event, Dennis Doffing the CEO of Metro-Trak, LLC, addressed the group. He said that many factors and organizations were responsible for bringing the company to Cooperstown.  Some of which were the Community Venture Network, Cooperstown Commu-nity Development Association (CCDA), the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone (GSEZ), Cooperstown Economic Devel-opment Corporation (EDC), Job Service of North Dakota and especially the commitment demonstrated by the community itself.  He also said there were eight funding agencies involved. A representative from most of  the organizations that helped bring this venture to fruition was present at the event.  Mayor Bakken, Keith Monson and Orville Tranby both of the EDC, Jerry Sandstrom, CCDA,  Kathy Hoverson, Cooperstown Community Club, Jon Goplen, (GSEZ), Donald Frye, OtterTail Power Company, and Tony Kobbervig, (Job Service) all spoke and welcomed the company to the community.  Some also stressed that Metro-Trak, LLC is the size and type of business that is a good fit for the area. All the contractors who worked to ready the building for the company¹s occupation were thanked for their efforts.  Alot of the work was done under difficult circumstances and short timeframes.

27 HP Motorsports offers expanded services Greg Dahl and E. C. Turner have become partners and have changed the name of their business from Cooper Motors to HP Motorsports. Dahl worked for Larry Grandalen at Cooper Motors for over 20 years. When Grandalen pursued other interests two and a half years ago, Dahl rented the north part of the building and continued to do repair work on various types of recreational vehicles, sell parts, and some accessories. Because of the work load, Dahl worked many nights and found it was hard to have any time for other interests and family life. Turner visited often, rode snowmobile, and helped out in the shop when possible. They discussed working together and Turner decided to move back to his home town of Cooperstown from Toledo, Ohio, where he had been selling real estate. Turner is a ³toy enthusiast². He enjoys riding snowmobiles and dirt bikes. It seemed a natural fit that he would concentrate in the day-to-day office management and sales at HP Motorsports. With the addition of Turner, HP Motorsports is expanding and will utilize the entire former Cooper Motors building. The partners are redeveloping the sales end of their business. They will be selling used recreational vehicles and also will take sales on a consignment basis. They plan to re-establish sales of Lund boats, docks, and lifts, and expand their lines of clothing and accessories for all recreational items. Dahl, with his years of repair work, concentrates on repair of snowmobiles, golf carts, boats and motors, ATVs, personal water craft, and motorcycles. Brandon Palm is employed full time at HP Motorsports. He graduated at the top of his class from Wahpeton School of Science this spring in the recreational engine repair program. While in school, he received several awards, including a second place finish in the national power equipment competition. From nationals, he advanced to an extreme competition that was held in Nashville, and finished in first place. Travis Palm studied electrical engineering and business management at UND. He will have office space at HP Motorsports and will be repairing computers, selling and installing remote car starters, selling XM radios and other audio equipment. He will also make service calls. HP Motorsports is also becoming an agent for Verizon Wireless and will be selling phones and service contracts. Travis Palm will have accessory items for the phones. Hours at HP Motorsports are 8:30 to 5:30 Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.  The phone number is 797-2344. A grand opening is being planned for Friday, December 10. See ad elsewhere in this issue for more details. Greg Dahl and E. C. Turner (left) have formed a partnership and are expanding their lines of ser-vice at HP Motorsports. Brandon Palm does repair work on all types of recreational vehicles.

28 QUILT, Ink expands, services, hosts truck show QUILT, Ink has been in operation since April, 2002. The business is owned by Kathy Hoverson and Terry Dramstad. They started quilting and embroidering in 2000, while owning Floral Expressions. They purchased an APQS long arm quilting machine and three home sewing machines for embroidery. They enjoyed the new challenge and decided to sell the floral portion of the business and move across the street for a ³simpler life². Since that first move they have deleted the home machines and purchased an SWF, 15 needle, commercial embroidery machine and a 2 station, 4 color screen press. When they found more options they wanted to offer, the duo moved once again to the newly vacant building next door where there was room for expansion. They have since added a vinyl cutter and two specialty Epson printers. The newest option is SewBatik fabrics. Soon after the addition of embroidery back in 2000, a division of labor evolved because embroidery requires a computer; Kathy enjoys the computer... and Terry doesn¹t! Kathy rarely quilts now as the machines and the computer take her time, and she has become adept at handling the embroidery machine and software, a variety of printing challenges, the heat and mug presses and computer aided design programs. Terry has become an expert custom quilter, with customers from the area, surrounding region, and several other states. They are a one-stop-shop for any personalization needs. They have over 400 colors of embroidery thread, a full line of apparel vinyl and high quality Gildan brand, white and ash grey t-shirts are in stock from sizes youth XS to adult XXXL. Many other colors and items are in-stock in a smaller size range. Everything else is available in a matter of days from a large number of wholesalers. Turnaround time is kept to a minimum and in an ³emergency² items are sometimes available the same day. Window signs and other vinyl graphics are made in-house and QUILT, Ink stocks a wide color variety of vinyl to eliminate the wait of ordering special colors. Magnetic signs can be made, as well as car graphics. Also available are names and numbers for uniforms and names and logos for jackets and shirts. They have over 20,000 in-stock embroidery designs. Designs can be customized and personalized on-site. Custom digitized logos and graphics from your artwork can be incorporated into embroidery designs. Beautiful color representations on a variety of surfaces are made possible with the Epson printer with dye sublimation inks. Photos or text can be applied to light colored polyester, including the new comfortable-wearing, wicking fabrics. Items that can be personalized include mugs, ceramic or glass tiles, glass cutting boards, plastic for door signs, luggage tags, and metal dog tags. memory quilt blocks can also be created. Through QUILT, Ink¹s heat transfer system, any photo or graphic can be applied to light colored cotton or cotton blend garments. Screen printing is a cost effective method of garment decoration for larger quantities of light or dark colored garments. The quilting that Terry does on the long arm machine is all hand guided patterns, there are no computer aided designs. She has quilted SewBatik¹s sample quilts. Quilt, Ink hosted a trunk show last Friday featuring the batik fabrics marketed through the  Internet business of Bruce and Diane Magidson at www.sewbatik. com. On display for the trunk show were fat quarters of many different fabrics, kits, 108 inch backing fabrics, silk, cotton, and flannel fabrics, and batik bundles. Bruce explained the history of batik fabric making, which has been done in many countries for hundreds of years, but the majority of fabrics are made in Indonesia. Workers apply wax to white cotton fabric using a press or by chanting, applying wax dots with a pipe with a long copper snout. A wajan is a stove used to melt the wax.  The word batik comes from the word ³tik², to dot. After the wax has been applied, the fabric goes through repeated dippings in different dyes, drying in the sun after the applications to set the colors. It is the sun that brings out the bright colors in the fabric. The designs are handed down from generation to generation and are done by memory. Bruce showed a silk batik shirt that is similar to what Indonesian businessmen wear, with black pants and shoes. The fabric is purchased by the meter and made at home. He showed black and white designs he and Diane create in Portland where they are located in the historic depot building, and e-mail to Indonesia. They designate color placement using the universal Pantone color system. A sample yard of fabric is produced by hand and sent to Portland. They critique the fabric and if it is satisfactory, they place their orders. If they are not totally pleased with the result, they send back suggestions on how to make the fabric appear just as they designed it. The bolts of fabric travel from Singapore to Los Angeles by boat. They are then trucked to Portland. The entire process of e-mailing the design, giving approval of the sample, ordering the bolts, to arrival in Portland usually takes five to six months. There are sample panels of the on-line store¹s batiks on display at Quilt, Ink all the time. A shopper can look at the samples and place an order through Quilt, Ink or order from their own personal computer.  Bruce and Diane Magidson, who own www.Sew.Batik.com in Portland, were featured at a trunk show at QUILT, Ink in Cooperstown. Terry Dramstad demonstrates her freehand quilting skills. Kathy Hoverson enjoys the computer, embroidery, vinyl and dye sublimation work at QUILT, Ink.

29 Pit Stop comes under new ownership      The Pit Stop Bar in Coopers-town is under new ownership.  The business was purchased from Neil and Carolyn Fisher on January 1, 2005.  The new owners are Darrel and Kathy Gunderson.   Kathy is living in town and for the time being Darrel is commuting from their home in Orange County, California. Darrel grew up in Coopers-town and graduated from Cooperstown High School. After graduation he joined the Marine Corps and was eventually stationed at Camp Pendelton in California near San Diego where they met.  Kathy is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. Darrel had been wanting to return home for some time and after they attended a  North Dakota state-sponsored Governor¹s Reception in California and met Jerry Sandstrom of the Cooperstown Community Development Authority, that