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Local man, Shannon writes children’s book
Thursday, 28 May 2009 03:57
By Adam Jerome, I-O Reporter
Local man, Shannon writes children’s book   Local author, Patrick Shannon wrote and published a children’s book entitled, “Viva Cisco.”  The book is about the adventures of a parrot named Cisco and is in the tradition of other children’s books such as, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Winnie the Pooh”, and “The Wind in the Willows.”  The books targeted audience is children between the ages of 10-13.
   Shannon wrote the book with the intention of being sophisticated enough for children and adults.
   “Viva Cisco” is a trilogy of funny stories, with humor ‘cool’ enough to appeal, and tales that read as if they were animated films.
   This is not by accident as, Shannon dreamed up the story as an animated feature.  
   Shannon grew up with an uncle who was an animator for Disney, and spent a lot of time meeting the animators and watching the process take place.
   Shannon got the idea for the book while he was living in Albuquerque, N.M.  One day while peering outside his house he read the name of his street, aptly named Parrot Run.  At that time he began thinking of why the street was named Parrot Run.  He came up with a story about how years ago parrots would migrate to this place and have a get together.  
After that, the characters began to write themselves, and before he knew it he had a book.
   Shannon resides at Blue Sky Villa in Conrad and has been interested in writing since his high school years.  Shannon was employed by a major oil company for over 33 years, where he was able to travel the world mostly in Asia and the Middle East.  As Shannon puts it, “I started out on a shovel, before I moved to computer systems analysis and finally to human resources development.”
   During his formative years, Shannon was influenced by author, Richard Halliburton, whose most famous work is, “Road to Romance.”  After reading Halliburton’s works, Shannon dreamed of traveling the world and writing of his adventures.
   He continues, “I had written numerous essays and poems throughout my life, but it wasn’t until I retired that the true writer in me came out.”
   Shannon is a self-proclaimed humorist and says that he is used to writing for adults, and this will probably be his only children’s novel.  He notes how difficult it is to adjust your writing style when you are writing for an audience of children. He had a 13-year-old field test the book and found that he was able to ratchet-up the vocabulary to make a better product.
   “Viva Cisco is available at the Conrad Public Library and the library at UMS.  If you would like to order a copy or read a sampling you can go online at www.outskirtspress.com/vivacisco.
 
Girls tennis dismantles competition
Thursday, 28 May 2009 03:52
Girls tennis dismantles competition
TENNIS CHAMPS — The Cowgirl tennis team came on to capture the Northwest B Division championship in Cut Bank over the weekend. From the left in front is Courtney Anderson and Alyssa Keil. In the back are Rachel Lamb, Jessica Stuart, Kelly Johns, Jamie Ries, Emily Weisgram and Beth Grubb. Photo courtesy of Greg Jensen
   The divisional tennis tournament was held in Cut Bank this past weekend.  The Conrad girl’s team cruised to an easy victory over the competition with a final score of 46.2.  Fairfield was a distant second with 29.3 team points.  Cut Bank and Choteau were third and fourth respectively with 24.4 and 17 points.
   Conrad will send six girls to the State tennis tournament in Missoula, Jamie Ries and Kelly Johns in singles and the teams of Jessica Stuart and Alyssa Keil and Bethany Grubb and Emily Weisgram in doubles.
   Coach Kendall Griggs commented, “Both Coach Jensen and I are proud of our senior girls who have worked so hard for the last four years.  Jaime, Kelly, and Jessica have wanted the divisional title and this weekend their determination paid off and they brought home the hardware as a team.  The girls proved to be solid from top to bottom and every player contributed points to the team title.”
   The state competition will be fierce as usual as Coach Griggs points out, “There is plenty of deep competition at State, but I feel our girls and boys can make a run if they play to their potential all weekend.”
   The boy’s team also competed over the weekend against a tough Cut Bank team in a dual tournament format.  Coach Griggs adds, “The boys dueled Cut Bank and held their own against a State powerhouse at any level.  Calen King showed he knows how to compete in tournaments and placed third.  The boy’s doubles teams played strong and will compete well next week against all six Class B/C teams.”
   Individual results and places are as follows:
Girls Singles
   Ries placed 2nd and defeated Jordan Johnson, Lacey Bouma, and Morgan McDivitt, 6-0, 6-0; 6-0, 6-0; and 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.  Ries lost to Darbi Brady 6-3, 4-6, 1-6.  Johns placed 3rd and defeated Katrina Eller, Kylee Peebles (twice), and Lacey Bouma, 6-4, 6-1; 7-6, 6-4; 7-5, 7-5; 6-0, 6-1.  Johns lost to Brady 1-6, 4-6.  Rachel Lamb defeated Taylor Harvie, and Johnson 6-2, 6-2; 6-3, 6-3.  Lamb lost to Brady and Peebles 2-6, 1-6; 1-6, 0-6.  Courtney Anderson defeated Ashley Ethridge 6-4, 6-2.  Anderson lost to McDivitt and Peebles 0-6, 3-6; 0-6, 0-6.
Girls Doubles
   Stuart and Keil placed 2nd and defeated Bach and Christenson and Bremer and Hoyt, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; 6-4, 6-1.  Stuart and Keil lost to Rice and Brauer, 4-6, 2-6.  Grubb and Weisgram placed 3rd and defeated Melo and Anderson, Bach and Christenson, and Bremer and Hoyt, 6-0, 6-1; 7-6, 6-3; 6-7, 6-2, 7-5.  Grubb and Weisgram lost to Rice and Brauer 0-6, 3-6.  
Boys Dual Singles
   King placed 3rd and defeated Chaz Cooper, Stefan Sommer, and Jaren VanDyke, 6-0, 6-0; 6-1, 6-2; 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.  King lost to Carl Matt 2-6, 2-6.  Van Dyke placed 4th and defeated Cooper and Johnston, 6-1, 6-0, 6-4, 6-4.  VanDyke lost to Matt and King, 1-6, 1-6; 4-6, 6-4, 4-6.  Sommer defeated Johnston 6-2, 6-2.  Sommer lost to Josh Paulson and King, 1-6, 2-6; 1-6, 0-6.  Colter Knox lost to Paulson and Johnston 0-6, 1-6; 1-6, 2-6.
Boys Doubles
   Kurtis Janzen and Johnny Schlosser placed 3rd and defeated Sullivan and Kalbas, 6-3, 6-4.  Janzen and Schlosser lost to Kavanagh and Hoof 3-6, 6-4, 5-6.  Kalbas and Sullivan lost to Kimmet and Lewis and Janzen and Schlosser, 0-6, 0-6; 3-6, 4-6.
 
PMC celebrates National Hospital Week
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 11:06
PMC celebrates National Hospital Week   Area hospitals have their “commitment” on display May 10-16, but officials here say the sense of dedication at the Pondera Medical Center lasts far beyond National Hospital Week.
“The people who meet daily health care needs are a committed, compassionate group of individuals united by their calling to help others,” says Mark Jones, CEO/PMC.
He went on to add, “Health care is changing to meet new challenges, but our commitment is an ending source of pride and confidence.”
This year’s theme is, A Healthy Commitment in Changing Times.
It’s always been about our people. Change is inevitable but our goals and our mission are constant. Our people want the very best for our patients and that’s what they bring to the PMC everyday of the year,” Jones said.
Ted Kronebusch, chairman of the PMC board of trustees commented, The Extended Care Unit recently received a 5-Star award, the best you can get – that was reached with all employees doing a super job.”
He went on to add; “You will find the same service in PMC by all employees whether it be the clinic or acute care.”
The PMC will have a week of in house activities promoting and recognizing staff and employees.
 
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