Linton, ND

The University of North Dakota Clinical Education program held two human rights workshops in Linton on Wednesday, April 2. The first workshop was presented at Linton High School to the Senior Class. Thirty-five students and faculty attended. The second workshop was open to the public and was held at the KEM Building. Twenty-two community members attended. Both audiences were highly involved in the workshop discussions, which focused on the importance of international and local human rights issues.

Both workshops explained what Human Rights mean internationally, across the United States and here, in North Dakota. First, Human Rights are universal rights. This means that time, place and circumstances do not matter; the rights belong to every human as an individual. Some of these rights are benefits that the government has a duty to provide, such as the right to education. Other rights relate to circumstances that the government has a duty to prevent, such as freedom from discrimination. According to the United Nations, “human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.”

During the workshop, it was explained that the United Nations is the main international body associated with Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons in all countries of the world. This Declaration expresses 30 distinctive Human Rights, including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and right to life, liberty and security of person.

While there are many Human Rights violations occurring throughout the world, many violations are happening around the United States, and even in North Dakota. If you believe you have faced discrimination or civil rights violations, you can contact the North Dakota Department of Labor Human Rights Division at 1-800-582-8032. The best way to protect the Human Rights of all is to understand what your rights are, stand up for yourself or others when those rights have been violated, and educate community members about Human Rights. For more information, you can contact the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition at (701)239-9323 or http://www.ndhrc.org/ (click on link). The NDHRC works to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights.

Presenting the information to us was Justin Keppinger, Sarah Schaar (formerly of Linton), Johnny Palsgraaf and Tali Best.

Linton, ND is a small town but not all kids have a parent at home after school. Although afterschool program are still a farily new idea in the Linton area, The Methodist church has been providing this service for a couple of years. Grades k-6 use this opportunity to make crafts, have a snack and perhaps finish homework on a busy homework day. Extension Agent Kristen Vetter occasionally provides educational opportunities for this service. This is an excellent opportunity that is safe for children to go to while parents finish their late afternoon hours at work.

Also, down the street is St. Anthony’s Catholic church that provides an afterschool opportunity for grades 7-12 that is also supervised. This environment provides a unique environment with security cameras and an adult volunteer that supervises them for the hours of afterschool until they go home. The recreation room has a kitchen table and chairs, a small refrigerator, a large sectional, 10 bean bags, a big screen tv with DVD and VCR players and vast array of DVDs. The area is carpeted with subdued colors for relaxing enjoyment. The room also dorns a foosball table, a pool table, a basketball hoop game with two hoops, and a ping pong table. The church is always looking for adult volunteers to supervise the students via security cameras while the JH/HS kids use the facility.

The Linton Senior Center Members have been on the move raising funds for their new building project.  In the short time they have been fund raising, they have managed to secure over $25,000.00 to put towards the project.  This does not take into consideration the time, effort, and supplies that have been donated to the project.  A meeting has been planned to include the youth of the community in the decision making to come up with new and innovative ideas for the center.  A tour has also been planned to a neighboring community for ideas and advice on how to run the center.  Other developments on the project are in the works, so stay posted for future updates!  If you would like to help out with this project, feel free to contact the Emmons County Extension Service for more information.

Linton Lion President Virgil Hulm presents Linton Park-board member Ken Schneider with a $2,000 check as part of the club’s pledge toward the swimming pool improvement fund. The Lions run a variety of projects raising money for many causes in the community. Last year the pool was redone, and the new water slide will be open this spring.

It’s Easter Time will be held at the Linton Community Center on Saturday, March 22 for ages 10 and under. Register for a chance to win an Easter Basket from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Have fun Face Painting and Body Stamping. Sponsored by Linton Chamber of Commerce and Linton Lions Club.

Grandma’s Kuchen of Westfield, ND was featured on the 12/12/2007 airing of New Morning with Kimberly Whitfield (Hallmark Channel). This video is the segment of the show about Grandma’s Kuchen and Westfield.

Update on 03/08/2008: One of the men in the video, Jerry Van Beek, passed away just recently. His wife, Marilyn, has now moved away. With that, Westfield lost a big chunk of its population and has only two or three permanent residents left. I was going to describe Jerry as the one with the cowboy hat, dark glasses, and deep voice - but it’s easier to say he is the only man speaking throughout the video segment.

Meidinger was nominated for the award by students, colleagues and administrators at LHS and Great Western ITV. She has built a wonderful Spanish program for the Linton School. She initiated and continues to handle a foreign language essay program. She’s taken Linton students and several from other schools on trips to Mexico and Spain.

The ECI has set aside $1000 to help provide funds for groups working toward promoting healthy lifestyle choices for any age group. Programming is meant for targeting areas of prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug usage, health and safety, parenting, and economic development. Applications can be picked up at the Emmons County Social Service Office or the NDSU Extension office of Emmons County. Applications must be made by March 20.

Nodak Homes provides low-income and elderly housing in 4 units in Linton. The grant will be used to update the shingles, siding and windows on the three 4-unit buildings.

Fischer purchased a shop east of Linton across from Northern Veterinary Service. He can work on any small engine brand. Engines on snow blowers, lawn mowers (push and riding), trimmers, ice augers, tillers and chain saws are his most common repair projects, but he is willing to tackle ATV and snow mobile engines, too. He will pick up and deliver lawn mowers, snow blowers and other machines with small engines in Linton that will fit in his pickup. He does overhauls as well as tune ups and oil changes, and he sharpens saws and blades. Fischer can be reached at 254-4372.