By SFC Ken Kachena

with Mike Alan Steinfeldt

BAGRAM AFB, AFGHANISTAN –  “Dad, Mom, Barbie, Roxanne, Maynard and JoG,

I am writing a mass email to all of you because I have a big story to tell. I know it is long, but it is good, so make sure you read the whole thing!!”



That’s how an e-mail received from Sergeant First Class Ken Kachena, a native of Pisek began to his parents, Eugene and Barbara Kachena of Pisek, brother Maynard and sisters, Barbie, Roxanne and JoEllen.

Kachena is a member of the 188th Air Defense unit of the North Dakota Army National Guard which is currently stationed in Afghanistan. The letter describes a special visit paid to US troops recently at Bagram Air Force Base located north of Kabul, Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan. The 188th has been at Bagram since early January, 2010.

The letter continues:



“Two days ago we got an email from our battalion(BN) stating that a United Nations (UN) representative for Afghanistan was going to be visiting and that each company needed to provide at least six Soldiers who would attend. No one really wanted to go since we were told that we would not be able to bring in our weapons, we would have to go through a security screening, and that the speech would not begin until around 2200 (10:00 pm).

I, being the SFC I am, graciously volunteered to be one of the six to “bite the bullet” and go, and with a little convincing, we managed to wrangle five other soldiers into going.

Well, we all walked up to the meeting point where our Battalion was forming up and we let the Command Sergeant Major know that six Soldiers were there from E company and were ready to attend. He basically waved us on and said, “OK, you guys can get out of here if you want.” So we of course figured “Hey, we don’t really have to go!! Lets head back to the huts and get some rack time!!” It was me, another SFC, a 2LT (second Lieutenant) and three specialists and they were all for not going and heading back. After talking it over a 

bit, the 2LT and myself said we would still go, since we were already there and who knows maybe it would be a good speech? The other four Soldiers were more than happy to bow out and headed back since they were “voluntold” to go anyway.”



Kachena goes on to describe the extreme security and the fact that soldiers were not allowed to bring weapons into the clam shell, a huge tent that can hold up to approximately 700 soldiers. There, the soldiers continue to wait for their mystery guest.



 

COUNTY—The Walsh County Commission on Tuesday discussed the 6.6 percent rate increase imposed by Blue Cross Blue Shield beginning May 1.

Currently the county has 37 employees on its single rate plan, 11 on its family plan and two on its single with dependent plan.

The county maintained to contribute 75 percent of the cost of the health insurance plan.

The single plan went from $357.60 to $381.30, which the county will cover in its entirety. Single with dependent plan increased from $629.50 up to $671 of which the county will cover $525, leaving $146.20 to be covered by the employee. The family plan increased from $929.80 to $991.20, the county will cover $750 of this plan, leaving $241 to be covered by the employee.

The motion was made by Ernie Barta to accept the new county cost share contribution. The motion was seconded by Luther Meberg and passed unanimously.

 

COUNTY—The Walsh County Commission plans to move forward with the Nash Road from Highway 81 west to State Highway 18 this summer. The total length of the project is nine miles.

According to Walsh County Highway Superintendent Sharon Lipsh, she expects funding to be tight, but is hopeful the necessary money will be available.

She informed the commission Tuesday that all the land acquisition for the project has been completed and that she is expecting only one hold out, where the land will have to be taken by the condemnation process. The cost of the land acquisition, according to Lipsh was approximately half of the estimated cost. Land acquisition totaled $60,063.

Lipsh estimated the cost of the project will be between $2.2-$2.3 million. Funding options discussed with the commission included $595,000 federal aid allotment, $219,000 of bond money that has been set aside in an account and a total of $330,000 raised by the voter approved 10-mill increase for road and bridge maintenance. During the last legislative session the state provided the county a one-time allotment of $630,000 that was set aside for the Nash project. She also budgeted $10,000 from the Highway Department Budget. She is due a $30,000 reimbursement from the North Dakota Department of Transportation for flood damages to federal aid roads from the 2009 flood.

Milera flees authorities after being sentenced to prison



GRAFTON—Law enforcement authorities are looking for Serafin M. Milera, who eluded authorities after he was sentenced to prison Monday when his probation for a terrorizing charge was revoked.

According to Walsh County Deputy Sheriff Ron Jurgens, Milera was being escorted across the parking lot from the Walsh County Courthouse to the Walsh County Law Enforcement Center in Grafton by his probation officer when he bolted.

Milera, was in court Monday in Grafton for a revocation of probation hearing. He was on supervised probation on a terrorizing charge stemming from an incident that occurred in October of 2007.  In February this year Milera was arrested on DUI charges, after his car was found on the side of the road. He was belligerent and refused DUI tests.

While out on bond, Milera failed to report to aftercare classes for chemical dependancy.  On Monday Northeast District Judge M. Richard Geiger revoked his probation and sentenced him to five years in person to serve 30 months with credit for 12 months previously served on the terrorizing charge, which is a Class C felony, punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison and or $5,000 fine. Upon his release from prison Milera was to serve two years of supervised probation.

 

GRAFTON – At today’s (Wednesday) regular monthly meeting of the Grafton School Board the board is expected to accept the resignation of Grafton High School Activities Director and Assistant High School Principal Matthew Fetsch.

Fetsch has held the position of Activities Director (AD) for the Grafton School District since the fall of 2006.

Last Wednesday, Fetsch gave a verbal commitment to the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) to accept the position of  Assistant to Executive Secretary Sherm Sylling. The hiring will become official later this month when it is approved by the NDHSAA board Friday, March 12.

There are four such positions. Fetsch will replace Dave Carlsrud who recently announced his retirement after more than 20 years.

According to Grafton Superintendent of Schools Jack Maus, Fetsch was one of three final candidates for the position. Fetsch will fulfill his contract as AD at Grafton. That contract runs through June 30, 2010.

“We’re going to miss him and he’s very good at his job,” Maus said. “Professionally I understand his decision and I’m never going to stand in anyone’s way when they try to improve themselves.”

Maus said Fetsch’s organizational skills and work ethic will be missed.

“He’s the most organized person you’re ever going to work with,” Maus said. “He’s always prepared for meetings and has suggestions on improvements that can be made.”