Students, parents and community members are all invited to be a part of the 5k event. The cost is $5 to participate and all money raised will go to the Children’s Miracle Network.

All who are interested do not need to pregister, as all registration will take place the day of the race. Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 19. The event is being organized by MHS FCCLA members Hailee Hopfauf and Courtney Pittman.

All funds raised from the 5k run will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

For more information contact FCCAL advisor Kayla Kakela at 663-9532 or Kayla.Kakela@msd1.org.

Son to Kiara and John Nagel, Mandan, at 12:23 p.m. Dec. 26.

Son to Carina and Jamie Friesz, Mandan, at 2:07 a.m. Jan. 21.

Son to Jennifer and Parrish Lusby, Mandan, at 1:31 p.m. Jan. 23.

Daughter to Tara Tekippe and Jordan Erickson, Mandan, at 8:13 p.m. Jan. 26.

St. Alexius births

Son to Eric and Amanda Jensen, Mandan, at 9:40 a.m. Jan. 27.

Son to Ann and Don Haag, Mandan, at 11:26 p.m. Jan. 27.

Three, just three is the increase in student enrollment in 10 years, the Mandan School Board is asking their residents to assume more debt and raise their property taxes. Student enrollment was taken directly from the school board’s retreat agenda packet held this past Thursday night Jan. 12.

K-5 enrollment in 2001-02 was 1,448, this fall 2011-12 it was 1,451. An increase of three. Not three classrooms, but three students.

This school board has been talking about building a new school since locking the doors of the retreat they had on April 18, 2009. Yet in February 2008 Strategic Recommendation No. 16 7.3, “Within one year the district should develop a plan to address the decrease in revenue resulting from possible declining enrollment.”

Remember a pizza a month; it was more like a pizza a week; for the infrastructure around the school; the land around the school taken back by the county-city because the landowner cannot pay the hundreds of thousands in specials in three years; specials they say can be paid back in 15 years. Wrong. Thank goodness the Walmart proposed is near this land recently taken so someone may be able to profit from it. Like Walmart? I guess the city and school board is determined to turn over or restock the population in Mandan; take the land and sell it for a dollar or maybe for the taxes the other guy couldn’t pay.

They will then have a landowner to “do anything the government entity asks.” Because they got such a good deal and the new owner is indebted to them. Anyone for the game of Monopoly? Mandan is looking for bankers and players.

-Susan Beehler, Mandan

Elected President is James Vukelic, Vice President is Joyce McDowall, and Secretary is Patricia Klein.

AID, Inc. / Brighten’s Thrift Shop helps families and individuals with rental and utility assistance, food, clothing and household items. Its help center, in 2010, helped 1,076 households, serving 2,654 people.

Donated merchandise is sold through Brighten’s Thrift Shop to generate income for the help center and food pantry through the sale of clothing, household items and furniture.

To donate merchandise, volunteer your services, or make a donation, call 663-2122.

Son to Natasha Stevens and Chas Merren, Mandan, at 3:53 p.m. Jan. 4.

Daughter to Lillian Jelimo, Mandan, at 6:39 a.m. Jan. 10.

Daughter to Janice and Dustin Rebenitsch, Mandan, at 8:02 p.m. Jan. 13.

Daughter to Alicia Barnhardt and Austin Jahner, Mandan, at 10:10 a.m. Jan. 14.

Son to Melanie and Geralyn Moen, Mandan, at 3:16 p.m. Jan. 16.

Daughter to Christine St. John and David Steele Jr., Mandan, at 6:16 p.m. Jan. 16.

Daughter to Shari Wiseley and Toby Kitzman, Mandan, at 8:11 p.m. Jan. 19.

Son to Carina and Jamie Friesz, Mandan, at 2:07 a.m. Jan. 21.

St. Alexius births

Daughter to Nathan and Jessica Toman, Mandan, at 2:05 p.m. Jan. 17.

Son to Ian Greybull and Lisa Wald, Mandan, at 9:21 p.m. Jan. 21.

Out of town births

Son, Jordan Thomas, to parents Greg and Becky Haider, of Peoria, Ill., at 4:05 a.m. Dec. 29. Grandparents are Kellie Haider and Al and Grace Lobeck.

Funds were donated from the charity fun day bowling tournament involving (l-r) Terry Barnes, Bob Hillard of the Jesse Hillard Scholarship Fund, Diane Zainhofsky of AARC, Stacy Sturm of URL Radio, and Sheila Tveito and Jim Mellon of Midway Lanes. Submitted photo

The 16th annual charity fun day bowling tournament at Midway Lanes in Mandan again resulted in great donations on Thursday, Jan. 12, for two local charities.

The charity event produced $4,870 for Pam’s House, the shelter operated by the Abused Adult Resource Center, and the Jesse Hillard Scholarship Fund. The charity tournament was held Nov. 26.

Receiving the checks were Bob Hillard, representing the Jesse Hillard Scholarship Fund; and Diane Zainhofsky, AARC executive director. Presenting the checks were Terry Barnes of Terry Barnes Auto Glass and Stacy Sturm of URL Radio, who helped sponsor the event.

The fun-day bowling tournament has provided $67,440 for local charities since its inception in 1995.

The scholarship is named for Jesse Hillard, a Mandan youth who died in a tragic accident in 1995. Hillard had been a longtime member of youth bowling in the community.

Pam’s House, an emergency shelter that provides a safe, temporary home for women and children made homeless as a result of domestic violence, is named for Pamela Senger Norman, who lost her life due to domestic violence in 1992.

These increases alone will probably make Mandan the third highest property tax city in North Dakota, instead of the fourth highest.

Now, some want to build an $11 million dollar new school. In 2008-09, preschool and special needs classes moved into existing schools, and the net loss was five classrooms. One more than what we are short now.

Maybe we could remodel the Central Administration Building or the GPA and restructure classes. Preschool could easily be combined and moved into one place. Currently, the board is trying to sell the GPA for $1 to a company seeking non-profit status, which means they are property tax exempt. Current statistics are 3,300 students, 277 teachers, 292 support staff and 15 administrators. That is 12 students per teacher, six students per staff member.

Voters, you will decide, be there April 24 to vote. Call someone now if you think the school board should not sell the Great Plains Academy and the Central Administration building, so we can use these for expansion purposes, when it is actually needed.

Carla Barrrios, Mandan

Twin sons to Rebecca Joshua and Eric Johnson, Almont, at 9:26 a.m. and 9:38 a.m. Jan. 1.

Daughter to Gabriel and Crystal Hoggarth, Mandan, at 12:39 a.m. Jan. 2.

Son to Chad and Lori Goetzfridt, New Salem, at 12:59 a.m. Jan. 2.

Son to Jessi Unterseher and Thomas Schweigert, Mandan, at 1:39 a.m. Jan. 8.

Based on the same brochure, from 2008-09 to 2010-11, Fort Lincoln enrollment declined by 29 students, north side Lewis and Clark grew by 25 and the total enrollment has increased by 71, so on April 24 the Mandan School Board is going to ask the taxpayer to support this increase with a $8 million dollar tax burden for about three classrooms.

The real fact taken from an agenda packet from the school district everyone should know is enrollment in 2001 was 3,517. This year it is 3,263 a decrease in enrollment in 10 years of 254. Mandan, who cares?

-Susan Beehler, Mandan

January brings a new year and with that comes a new board of directors for the Chamber. We are excited to welcome Rick Matteson from MDU Resources, Dan Pearson from Northwest Tire and Wayne Munson from Indigo Signs. These three men join a board comprised of 27 other community and business leaders.

The newly elected executive team of the board includes: Shannon Gangl, owner of Gangl Hospitality/Development, as the 2012 chairman; Leslie Bakken-Oliver from Vogel Law Office as chair-elect; Barb Aasen from Eide Bailly LLP as past chair, Tom Todd of Northwest Contracting serving as secretary and Dr. Craig Lambrecht from Medcenter One as the treasurer.

In 2012 the board of directors will guide the Chamber to continue a key goal from 2011, which is to be the “thought leader” of the community. An example of this is the Chamber’s championing of the Community Bowl renovation. In 2012, it is the Chamber’s intent to expand on this initiative and bring forward more thought-provoking issues and concepts.

Community growth is one top-of-mind issue the Chamber is tackling in 2012. Evidenced by the out-of-state license plates, increased school enrollment and traffic, our community is becoming a magnet for newcomers. While growth impacts many areas, it really boils down to one issue: How do we maintain the integrity of our community and the things we appreciate while accommodating growth? We all know growth presents challenges and the Chamber will be asking, “What are those challenges and how do we assist the cities in addressing them?”

The Chamber anticipates that change will drive conversations in 2012. One change that we have a close eye on is Measure 2. This constitutional amendment is of great concern to the business community. While the idea sounds enticing, it creates a situation with great consequences. The leading issue is the loss of local control.

Follow our work on the aforementioned topics each month in the Mandan News, in our monthly newsletter The Chamber Connection, or follow us online at www.bismarckmandan.com. We also encourage you to help us usher in the New Year and hear more about the change that the Chamber is charging forward with by attending the Chamber’s annual dinner on Jan. 12. Tickets are available online at www.bismarckmandan.com/events.