McVille North Dakota

Under a clear blue sky with bright sun shining down and a soft breeze blowing on Friday afternoon, July 16, 2010, the ceremonial breaking of ground took place on the front lawn and courtyard of AL Committee

Nelson County Health Systems Care Center as a prelude to construction of the long-awaited and much anticipated McVille Assisted Living Center.

Folks who gathered to witness and participate in this exciting event were greeted by the friendly staff of the Care Center, who served refreshing Root Beer floats compliments of Nelson County Health Systems. During the Root Beer social, entertainment was provided by the Care Center residents’ rhythm band under the direction and piano accompaniment of Mrs. Margaret Johnson, Care Center volunteer.

Mayor Robert Stanley extended a warm welcome on behalf of the City Council to all who were in attendance. He expressed gratitude to the residents of McVille and Nelson County for their wonderful support during the planning and development phases of the Assisted Living Center project, and encouraged continued area-wide support as construction of the facility begins and on through completion which is anticipated in March 2011.

Mayor Stanley introduced the dignitaries participating in the day’s festivities:

Senator Joan Heckaman, New Rockford, ND; Representative Benjamin Vig, Sharon, ND; Bill Devlin of Finley, ND on behalf of Representative Don Vigesaa, Cooperstown, ND (all from Legislative District 23);
Paul Aaser, Council member, City of McVille;
Renae Arneson, City Auditor, City of McVille;
Cathy Swenson, Chief Executive Officer, Nelson County Health Systems;
Steve Forde, Chief Financial Officer, Nelson County Health Systems;
Tam Czarnik, MD and his wife Pat, Medical Director, Nelson County Health Systems;
Dr. Robin Cox, Medical Director, NCHS Care Center;
Robyn Maresh, Executive Director, NCHS Foundation;
Members of NCHS Board of Directors, Judy Twete, President; Renae Oxton, Secretary Treasurer; Victoria Haabak, Betty Ann Bina, and Glen Sherwood;
Members of NCHS Foundation Board of Directors Sharon Stanley, Vice President; JoAnn Sherwood, Secretary Treasurer; Gayle Anderson, Oneal Johnson and Victoria Haabak.
DeAnn Ament, Executive Director, North Dakota Public Finance Authority
Julie Rokke, YHR Partners Architectural Planning, and
Ryan Gran, YHR Partners Architectural Planning.

Letters of congratulation and best wishes were received from Governor John Hoeven (read by Judy Twete), U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy (read by Sharon Stanley), U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (read by Steve Forde), and U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (read by Renae Arneson).

Congratulatory remarks were delivered by Senator Heckaman, Representative Vig, and Bill Devlin on behalf of Representative Don Vigesaa; Julie Rokke, Cathy Swenson, DeAnn Ament, and Gayle Anderson.

To a round of applause from the crowd, ground for the McVille Assisted Living Center was officially broken at 3:45 PM on Friday July 16, 2010. Using “golden shovels” provided by YHR Partners Architectural Planning, the first shovels of ground were turned by Cathy Swenson, Robert Stanley, Renae Arneson, DeAnn Ament, Ryan Gran, Julie Rokke and Steve Forde,

This exciting event concluded with a hearty “thank you” expressed by Mayor Stanley, and Cathy Swenson ordered up “another round of Root Beer floats for everyone”! This was truly a wonderful and history-making day in McVille, North Dakota.