The Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge held their 41st annual District Elks Hoop Shoot free throw contest on December 3, 2011 at the Wachter Middle School gymnasium. The winners of the contest are as follows:

The first place winners are:
Girls 8-9 year old division: Kelby Rinas
Boys 8-9 year old division: Sean Seefled
Girls 10-11 year old division: Emma Marion
Boys 10-11 year old division: Cole Baumiller
Girls 12-13 year old division: Michaela Casey
Boys 12-13 year old division: Connor Marion

The second place winners are:
Girls 8-9 year old division: Katheryn Kraft
Boys 8-9 year old division: Carson Rohrich
Girls 10-11 year old division: Laura Wolf
Boys 10-11 year old division: Austin Schmidt
Girls 12-13 year old division: Alexis Bentz
Boys 12-13 year old division: Jared Baumiller

The third place winners are:
Girls 8-9 year old division: Erin Snider
Boys 8-9 year old division: Nathan Al-Khafaji
Girls 10-11 year old division: Madysen Mosolf
Boys 10-11 year old division: Shane Siverson
Girls 12-13 year old division: Allison Abel
Boys 12-13 year old division: Kolby Yantzer

Congratulations to all the winners!

A big thank you to each captain and their volunteers: Captain Jim Lindseth and Dean Learn, Doug Peterson, Jerome Learn and Ethan Peterson; Captain Mike Abel and Joel Springan, Lauren Bucholtz, Mack Bucholtz, Marina Brackel, Rachelle Bakken and Rod Bakken; Captain Dennis Hensel and Lee Fischer, Jeff Small, Jeff Evink and Bill Pfau; Captain Margaret Kiefer and Dean Terry, Craig Malm, Cindy Weekes and Amanda Kiefer; Captain Mike Lindblom and Dan Clausnitzer, Sharon Clausnitzer, Mandi Clausnitzer, Ryan Talbacka, Evie Roberson and Justin Roberson; Captain Paula Amelsberg and Gene Gorseth, Gary Austad, Al Mastel, and Ed Knudson.

Also thank you to the people that helped with the lunch setup and the awards ceremony held at the Elks Lodge after the shoot: Arlan Scholl, Jani Seifert, Eldie Ulmer, Sarah Scholl, Annette Scholl, Jonathan Plante, Hannah K., Rod Bakken and Rick DeBolt.

And a special thanks to Darrell Klipfel, Cary Backstrand and Nicole Jochim for all your help.

Thanks to the following businesses for donating their products and services: Gate City Bank, American Bank Center, National Sunflower Association, Image Printing, Dakota Awards, Wachter Middle School, The Finder & Mandan News, Bismarck/Mandan Elks Lodge.

If I have missed anybody, please except my apology and thank you for helping with this worthy project.

Over 3,000,000 boys and girls ages 8-13 participated nationally this year in the “Hoop Shoot” free throw contest. Locally 21 out of 68 schools participated and a total of 1,239 (594 girls and 645 boys) participated at the school level and 81 (38 girls and 43 boys) participated at the district contest held at Wachter Middle School. The first place winners will now advance to the state Hoop Shoot, which will be held Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Jamestown High School in Jamestown ND. The regional contest will be held in Rapid City, SD on March 3, 2012 and the national finals will be held on April 26-29, 2012 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

If you would like to participate in the Elks Hoop Shoot free throw contest, contact your school principal.

Happy New Year! By the time you read this the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Chorus will have wrapped up another busy, successful year. Most of our recent activities have been centered around Christmas, as we entertained at several Christmas parties, as well as half a dozen nursing and retirement homes.

We’ll kick off 2012 with a concert at Faith Lutheran, 1402 E Ave C, on January 15th at 2:00 pm. Expect to be entertained by a variety of secular, patriotic, sacred and contemporary music. Our program will be enhanced by the beautiful voice of Colleen Reinhart, music director at Faith.

Although the Grand Lodge has “uninvited” us to the national convention in Austin next July, we will still offer our mouth-watering pancakes and sausage on January 29th from 9:00-1:00. The Chorus spouses will, as always, have a plethora of delectable homemade baked goods for sale.

The annual Lincoln Day observance is scheduled for February 11th. Check the February Newsletter for the time.

There are always openings for new members. All that is required is a love of singing and the desire to be a part of a long time Bismarck institution. (We’ve been around since 1956.) No auditions required; just show up any Tuesday at 6:30 to check us out.

We hope you had a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. We extend our best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous New Year.

Howard Loftesnes