Tower Tundra Day gathers area residents

By Amanda Gades
On a cold winter day, Tower City area residents still gather together for special events.
Tower Tundra Day, the first event sponsored by the newly established Tower City Park Board, was kicked off on Feb. 28 with a chili cook-off and feed.

DMF Lend A Hand provides matching funds for Paityn Elston benefit

Jeana Peinovich/DMF Lend A Hand Director (left ro right) and Pat Traynor/Dakota Medical Foundation President presented Angie Elston and Jason Elston (holding Paityn) with a check for $5,000.

Paityn was born on July 20th 2008, the daughter of Angie (Prosby) and Jason Elston and is just now 7 months.  The Elston’s live in Casselton and have strong family roots in Valley City.  Days before Paityn was to start daycare and Angie was to return to work after maternity leave, they took Paityn in for testing because she was still very jaundiced.
Following test results indicating that her liver wasn’t working properly,  Paityn’s Doctors sent her to the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis where they diagnosed her with Biliary Atresia.  This disease doesn’t allow her liver to excrete bile as it should, causing it to remain in her blood stream.  Paityn then had a surgery to try to correct the problem by connecting her small intestine directly to her liver to force the bile through.
Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful, and they are at their last resort. Paityn’s liver is failing and she needs a liver transplant.  Due to Paityn’s illness she is on the national donor list for a liver transplant.

First reading of a new daycare ordinance in Casselton approved

By Amanda Gades
Daycare numbers may see an increase as a result of the decision made by the Casselton City Council on March 2.
Council members approved the first reading of amending the building code and the first reading of the daycare ordinance to increase the number of children allowed to 18, with a conditional use permit. Both were passed 5-0.

Billie Moug

Billie Merle Moug, 79, Tower City, N.D., formally of Buffalo, N.D., passed away peacefully Thursday, February 26, 2009 in MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, N.D.
Bill was born on January 23, 1930 to James Moug and Frances (Anderson) Russell in Page, N.D.  He grew up in the Ayr, N.D. area in his younger years and during WWII moved to Port Orchard, Wash..  He returned to Buffalo in 1946. Bill served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean War.  He married Ellen Kay Buhr on December 22, 1956 in Buffalo.  He lived in Buffalo until October 2008 and then moved to Tower City.
Bill was an avid sports fan.  He loved to attend and watch all sports.  Bill especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren and attending their sporting events.
He is survived by his son, Rock (Teresa) Auburn, Wash.; daughter, Adele (Dennis) Smith, Tower City, N.D.; three grandchildren, Mariah, Ty and Hunter Smith, all of Tower City, N.D.; sister, Fran Carriveau, Renton, Wash., brother-in-law, Royce (Deanna) Buhr, Frazee, Minn., sister-in-laws, Colleen Buhr, Buffalo, N.D. and Mary Lou Buhr, Frazee, Minn.

Don Mattson

Don Mattson, age 69 of Bloomington, Minn., died February 25, 2009 at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn. after a year and a half battle with cancer.
Don was born December 24, 1939 to Alfred and Clara (Nygard) Mattson.  He attended Leonard School and graduated from high school in 1958.  Don attended North Dakota State School of Science and graduated in 1960 as a Civil Engineering Technician.  The City of Bloomington Engineering Department hired him and he worked there for 40 plus years, retiring in 2000, but stayed and worked part time until January 2009.
Don also was a volunteer firefighter for the Bloomington Fire Department for 20  years and was  active in the Bloomington Association of Retired Firefighters.
He was on the board of directors for the Ida Lake Association at Alexandria, Minn. for 10 years.

James Holtse

James P. Holtse, 82, Hunter, N.D., died in his home on Monday, February 23, 2009.
James Peter Holtse was born August 29, 1926 in Hunter, N.D. to Hans Peter and Martha (Madsen) Holtse. He was raised and attended school in Hunter. He married Shirley Sandbeck August 29, 1955 near Davenport, N.D. They made their home in Hunter, where Jim farmed for many years and later worked at the West Fargo (N.D.) Truck Stop for several years. Prior to his retirement, he worked for area farmers, including 15 years for Don Lockhart.
Jim enjoyed card games, restoring old tractors and cars, fishing, the time he spent with family and especially his time with granddaughters Ashley and Lauren.

Effie Grieve

Effie Grieve, 97, Buffalo, N.D., died Monday, February 23, 2009, at the Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, Minn.
Effie Evenson was born April 25, 1911, in Kathryn, N.D., to Even and Nettie Evenson. She attended school in Kathryn and graduated from Kathryn High School in 1929. She was the oldest living graduate of Kathryn High School. After graduating, Effie worked as a telephone operator in Buffalo, N.D. On March 13, 1934, she married Dewey Grieve in Moorhead, Minn. They had four children.
Effie was a member of United Presbyterian Women, Buffalo Senior Citizens and American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her family, loved children, playing cards and shopping.