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Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
 DAY TO REMEMBER – Members of the VFW and American Legion put out flags at the veteran grave sites at the cemetery for Memorial Day on Monday. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
The Rev. Kirk Kestler from the Presbyterian Church led a packed VFW Hall with an opening prayer and a closing prayer.
Post Commander William Biggers welcomed those who came out and introduced Lt. Col. Stephen Ziadie, the keynote speaker who is the Director of Staff for the 341st Space Wing and Malmstrom, AFB in Great Falls.
The New Jersey native is an 18-year veteran of the Air Force. He has seen duty with more than one tour in Iraq, served in Kosovo and Afghanistan, his last duty station prior to coming to Malmstrom.
Ziadie has also been stationed in Korea, Iceland, Germany and Italy and Honduras.
Just a few of his major awards include the Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, a Joint Service Commendation Medal and an Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
In a short address, Ziadie said he was humbled to be here and that, “Freedom is so important, sometimes you have to give something up to have it.”
He noted that over 1.2 million service men and women had given their lives for freedom in wars fought.
Touching on the war in Iraq, he asked the question, “Is it worth it?” He said that, “Freedom is worth it.” And he believed America is making a difference there.
He praised Vietnam veterans for not only enduring combat, but for what they endured when they came back from an unpopular war on the home front.
Ziadie felt that many of the actions back then gave America a guilty conscience, which turned to support of the service men and women too.
He said, The “cost of liberty is so great…we need to pass that down from generation to generation.”
The VFW, the Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary placed symbolic wreathes to commemorate all of the fallen heroes. |
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
 THUMBS UP – Conrad High School senior Austin Breding gives the thumbs up sign as he heads to the high school stage for the beginning of the graduation ceremonies of the 98th annual event. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
The Class of 2008 was the 98th graduating class of seniors to receive diplomas.
As in the past, the Conrad High School Band, under the direction of instructor Larry Thorsen, played the traditional processional as the seniors filed into the gym and on to the stage.
McKenna Mielke, Anna Pearson, and Zoë Yeager did a magnificent job of singing the National Anthem. That was followed by educators Erik Gustafson and Phil Springer, class advisors, giving a short welcoming address to a packed gym of parents, grandparents, relatives and friends.
Superintendent of Schools Lynn Utterback introduced seniors Karl Bjelland and McKenna Mielke who gave the graduating address. In part, Bjelland noted, that, “high school is a stepping stone to the future.” Mielke, in her talk noted, “The class of 2008 will be missed.”
For the class musical selection, Anna Pearson and Landon Lee sang One Year, Six Months by Yellowcard-Artist.
A tremendously popular segment of the graduation, “Then and Now” followed the music. The program, set to music, is a slide show of a senior as a baby or young toddler and then their senior picture.
Sinda Gustafson, class president along with Andy Springer, Stephanie Bailly and Anna Pearson, made a special presentation to the class advisors.
All this led up to the moment everyone was really waiting for, the presentation of the Class of 2008 by CHS Principal Ken Larson. |
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
Board chairman of the Pondera Medical Center (PMC), Byron Bokma, announced on Thursday that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is making a run at organizing about 80 nonprofessional employees at the PMC.
A union election is expected sometime within the next four weeks.
“With our recent turnover of the facilities CEO, it’s not unusual for employees to be anxious about the future,” he said. Bokma went on to add, “This is a time that our employees are most vulnerable to outside influences that may come along with promises to fix all that is wrong at the hospital.”
“We are still somewhat surprised at this development and intend to let our quality employees know that we don’t think a union is needed,” he said.
The National Labor Relations Board contacted the hospital last week indicating that the SEIU, Missoula Local 117565 whose main office is in Seattle, filed the petition.
The NLRB rules of a campaign are now in play, which restricts the PMC from making any changes to salaries, benefits and other working conditions. |
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