Cass County Reporter Section A

Cass County Reporter Section B

Click on the link above to automatically open the PDF Reporter files. Once open, right click to download and save (or save target as) to your computer.

Cass County Reporter

November 11, 2009

Click on the link above to automatically open the PDF Courier file. Once open, right click to download and save (or save target as) to your computer.

Alphons “Alfie” M. Offermann, 79, Kindred, died on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Villa Maria, Fargo.  The funeral was Tuesday, May 26 in Fredrikson Funeral Chapel, Kindred.  

Nancy Jo (Miller) Ganjo, 52, Kingman, Ariz., formerly Page, died May 22, 2009.

Dr. Brian Sauter, medical director for the Rural Cass County Ambulance and Rescue Association (RCCARA), was named Medical Director of the Year at the North Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association (NDEMSA) awards ceremony in Bismarck on April 4. Sauter was nominated by the RCCARA. 

“We were very pleased that Dr. Sauter got this award,” said Ken Habiger, Casselton EMS volunteer. “Everyone in the county really appreciates all that he does.”

Sauter, an emergency medicine physician at Innovis Health in Fargo, has been the medical director for the RCCARA since 2003. He serves as the medical director to the Casselton, Kindred, Hunter and Page ambulance services and the Buffalo and Leonard Quick Response Units (QRU). 

To operate an ambulance service or QRU in North Dakota, there must be a medical director who operates under the protocols established by the state health department. As a medical director, Dr. Sauter works with the services on training programs and reviews runs and serves as advisor in major disasters such as the recent flooding and storms. He meets with QRUs as their scheduling permits. 

“He gives valuable insight and input to squad members and has been supportive of each sqaud’s activities and skills,” explained Nancy Satrom, president of the Page ambulance service. “The county responders have appreciated Dr. Sauter’s interest and participation in their continuing education.”

Sauter’s experience in emergency services also includes his time with the U.S. Army in Heidelburg, Germany; Fort Gordon, Ga. and Kosovo. He joined the Emergency Medicine Department of Innovis as a staff physician in 2002. He has also served as a consultant to the F-M Ambulance on protocols and trauma plans. 

In addition to receiving the Medical Director of the Year award, Dr. Sauter was named a fellow by the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2002. 

(To become a Fellow, a physician must be an active, life, honorary, or international member of ACEP for three consecutive years and primarily practice as an emergency physician, exclusive of training. The physician must also be board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine, or the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatric emergency medicine. Each of these professional boards are member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.)

Mapleton Mayor Mark Anderson (left) posed with Gerald Volk, who had a Redmond Linden planted in honor of him, his wife DeLilah and their family. The Volk’s tree was planted in Christensen Park.

By Amanda Gades 

On Monday, May 18, Mapleton held a special event in honor of Arbor Day. 

The annual event took place at the Mapleton Arboretum and was organized by Park Board Chair Rita Schmit. Also involved with the day was Mayor Mark Anderson, Mapleton Elementary fourth graders and Mapleton residents. 

“It’s a great way to get the kids more involved with the trees,” said Schmit. 

The celebration included planting various trees such as Sweet Cherry, Robinson Crab Apple, Sculptured Scotch Pine, Tree Hydrangea, and other bushes and plants including Lilies, Peonies and Spirea.

A tree is also planted each year in honor of a resident. This year that the group planted a Redmond Linden and dedicated it to the Gerald and DeLilah Volk family. 

“Gerry has done volunteer work for the city for over 40 years,” said Mapleton Mayor Mark Anderson. “He has performed countless hours of service and provided equipment. The time is always free. He is a great community citizen that we needed to recognize.” 

Anderson added that he thoroughly enjoyed participated in the event. 

“It’s always a great time,” Anderson explained. “Anything to make the town look a little better.” 

More trees will be planted in Mapleton in June and July, thanks to a beautification grant that the city was awarded, explained Schmit.

By Sarah Sorvaag

Arthur Mercantile Co. has been a prominent business on Main Street in Arthur for many decades. This locally owned business is the oldest farm equipment dealership in North Dakota, at 119 years old, and continues to thrive in popularity.

Although Arthur Mercantile could continue to independently offer quality equipment at reasonable prices, the decision was recently made to have the small town business merge into a Titan Machinery Inc. multi-store complex. 

Arthur Mercantile representatives and Titan Machinery representatives have been discussing the merge since early this year. An agreement was reached in March and the acquisition is expected to close on May 28.

James L. Williams, Arthur Mercantile’s President and Treasurer, has been on Titan Machinery’s board of directors since 2003. He is a strong supporter of Titan Machinery’s long-term growth initiatives and the impressive organization of their local facilities. He stated that the small town business is simply changing management and its appearance, but will continue to provide personal service to area farmers.

“The Arthur Mercantile Company will still own the property. We intend to do major remodeling and possibly an addition and upgrading,” he said.

“I think it’s really the trend in the industry to consolidate large multi-store complexes. It’s what the manufacturers want, though we were not forced to do so,” Williams stated.

Williams expects that the transition from being a privately owned business to a multi-store complex will take some time for customers and employees to adapt.

“I suspect that all the people who work here will be doing things a little bit differently. There will be some new procedures and some changes in personnel roles in the future. For now, everyone who is here will continue to do what they’ve been doing,” he explained.

One of the new personnel features to be added in Arthur is the position of complex manager, which will be filled by Kevin Boeder. He will manage both Casselton and Arthur’s Titan Machinery businesses. Byron Nelson will be Arthur’s site manager.

“We’re very excited. They bring a lot of product support to the customers. It’s common for there to be a complex manager overseeing two stores. Casselton and Arthur have a long-standing relationship and they compliment each other well,” Boeder said.

Williams stated that Titan Machinery’s success will likely be a great asset in the continuation of Arthur’s ability to offer quality farming equipment.

“They have been very successful. With their size, they can take advantage of buying in volume. I like the way they run their stores. They’re managed locally as opposed to being run out of some central location. The local managers have a lot of authority and responsibility. Decisions can be made here as opposed to calling someone at some other location,” Williams stated.

“We will continue to have a dealership here, which is important to our family. It’s important to Titan that our local customers are taken care of,” he added.

  Titan Machinery owns and operates one of the largest networks of full service agricultural and construction equipment stores in North America. Including Arthur Merc., the network consists of 66 dealerships throughout the upper Midwest.

Herbert Luther, 85, Alice, N.D., died Sunday, April 26, 2009 in Bethany Homes, Fargo, N.D., under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Herbert Ferdinand Luther was born September 2, 1923 on the family farm near Alice, to Fred and Rose (Buschold) Luther. He was raised at Alice and attended rural school. He farmed at Alice until 1980 and from 1980 to 2006 he worked for Camas Sand and Grave of Embden, N.D. On December 25, 1946, he married Glee Lettenmaier in Valley City, N.D. She died in January 2007. Herb entered Bethany Homes in January of this year.

He was a lifetime member of the Alice Volunteer Fire Department and Alice Wildlife Club. He also was a member of the Fargo Eagles Club for many years.

He is survived by two sons, Gary (Denise), Casselton, N.D., Danny (Vicki), Wheatland, N.D.; three daughters, Karen (Keith) Pribbenow, Holly (Rodney) Gapp, both Fargo, N.D., Tracy (Kent) Peterson, of Bismarck, N.D.; sister, Lorraine Hahn, Fargo; fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Glee, son, Rodney, one brother and five sisters.

Visitation is (today) Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in West Funeral Home, Casselton, N.D., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Service is Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Mavis Whitting Chapel, Bethany Homes, Fargo.

Burial is in St. John Cemetery, Embden, N.D.

Condolences can be sent online westfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements entrusted to West Funeral Homes, West Fargo and Casselton.

Joy Thompson, 58, Argusville, died on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 in MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. The funeral was held Saturday, April 25 in the Northern Cass High School near Hunter.

Ervin Barfuss, 80, Lisbon, formerly Leonard, died Saturday, April 25, 2009 in St. Catherine’s Living Center, Wahpeton. The funeral is Friday, May 1, at 2:00 p.m. in St. Peter Lutheran Church, Leonard.

Burial is in Watson Cemetery, rural Leonard.