From the Past: 'Nightline' makes a stop in Carrington

75 Years Ago

May 6, 1948

Fred A. Sommars, Northern Pacific agent in Carrington since 1929, is now agent in the N.P. Depot at Jamestown, having assumed duties there on May 1. He filed his resignation here as of that date.

Under auspices of the Junior Chamber of Commerce a safety program with special emphasis on bicycles, is being carried on in Carrington by a JC committee of which John Lofland is chairman.

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Clark arrived Sunday evening from Missoula, and plan to make their home here. Gordon will be associated with his father, Pat Clark, in the Olaf and Pat Clothing Co. Store. Gordon, a veteran of World War II, has been in the merchandising business in Missoula.

Coming back for a full length run at the Grand Theatre is “Gone With the Wind,” one of the most famous movies of all time.

Showing the last time tonight is, “Without Reservation,” with Claudette Colbert and John Wayne.

Company F, 164th Infantry National Guard, will be host to the public at open house at the armory next Monday evening, May 10, when the various properties of the company will be shown, and demonstrations of activities will take place. Arrangements for the event are being made by a committee of which Alvin Shenkel is chairman. Serving with him are Capt. Alvin Paulson and Jimmy O’Neil.

The pheasant propagation program sponsored by the Foster County Wildlife Chapter was making progress this week, it was announced by C.W. Yoder, chapter president. Yoder announced that 45 adult pheasants were released in two areas in this county on Saturday, some of them let out at Miller’s spur and some at the Albert Elg farm near Bordulac.

50 Years Ago

May 9, 1973

John Speidel will be 56 next month and he’s finally gotten around to owning his first bicycle. As it happened, his registration number turned out to be 1,000. Local police began issuing license plates for bikes in the summer of 1969, which means that there are a lot of bikes in Carrington.

Carrington High School music students rated well in the state music contest for solo and ensemble music. Carrington sent 18 entries; 12 won no.1 ratings and six no. 2 ratings. This is the best record CHS musicians have had in state competition.

With a little help from a lot of friends, Evan Brown got his crop in the ground in a hurry Saturday. Neighbor Harold Schroeder, with some help from Albert Fandrich, organized a seedling bee for Brown, who had broken his hand in a fall from a ladder. Brown has but one hand, having lost the other in an accident years before.

Howard Olson has issued written notice to his fellow members of the Carrington school board that he will not seek re-election in June. Olson’s decision to leave the school board comes as he completes the third year of his third term on the board.

Steve Held’s string of record-producing performances with the javelin was extended one more notch Saturday at Devils Lake. At the rotary meet, he outdid himself, putting the javelin out 216’ 2” and he did it on a sprained ankle.

The honor students of the graduating class of Kensal High School have been announced by Roger A. Unruh, principal. They are Janet Bata, valedictorian, and Gregory DeVillers, salutatorian.

Ron Humphrey’s track team were both hosts and victors at the Carrington Boys Invitational meet Thursday. The Cards entertained eight smaller schools in the area.

25 Years Ago

May 11, 1998

ABC’s “Nightline” makes a film stop here in the Carrington area. The big-city news crew wanted to see the evolution of the Buffalo Commons concept coming true. The Buffalo Commons concept is a theory which predicts the emptying of the Midwest’s population. Foster County Commissioner John Murphy showed the crew that Carrington is a progressive thinking and industrial town that was built here instead.

Two trees were planted on the south side of Carrington’s City Hall building in honor of Arbor Day, and in conjunction with Foster Natural Resources Day on May 7.

Mrs. M. Esther Wenstrom and the American State Bank & Trust announced the creation of the Frank A. Wenstrom and M. Esther Wenstrom Foundation for the benefit of students and charitable organizations. The Foundation, has been granted tax-exempt status, has been funded with an undisclosed amount of property, the income from which will be distributed to graduates from high schools in Williams County and Carrington High School who are attending the University of North Dakota at Williston or the main campus of UND in Grand Forks. The Wenstroms were married in Carrington in 1938 and moved to Williston shortly thereafter. They had no children. The Wenstroms have always been interested in education and youth.

Five are attending Girls state June 1-7. They are Jamie Monson, Alissa Friezen, Lynette Swanson, Jenny Sherman, Melissa Munkeby and Virginia Biel, they are representing Carrington and the American Legion Auxiliary.

New Arrivals - Keaton John Erickson, born May 3, parents are Shannon and John Erickson. John Ray, born May 1 to Tina and Richard Wagner of Sykeston. Brianna Kay, daughter of Curt and Barb Eli, Carrington born April 21.

Area Deaths - Alfa Craven, 86, Carrington, died April 29; Arthur Nisstad, 73, Glenfield, died April 29.