God Bless America

First I would like to take the time to thank all the fire fighters, first responders, members of the military and veterans for all their wonderful service today on this 11th anniversary of the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks.

However, this past weekend was really about folks getting together and doing good for the sake of doing good, rising up from the ashes of tragedy and building something that will stand for years to come.

I am talking of the Annie's House project run by the New York Says Thank You Foundation. I had a wonderful time covering it this past weekend. I have a few pictures that I didn't use in the paper left over, and I'll share them on here.

I also have a few pictures from the homecoming football game and the DCB volleyball game last Wednesday.

Ian Snodgrass comes around the edge on the pass rush in last Friday's homecoming loss to Bismarck-St. Mary's.

Snodgrass puts a lick on saints quarterback Trent Bohan.

Braves junior Harrison Aide returns a punt last Friday.

Bottineau's Chief Sideline Attendant Tyler Rispa tries to pump up the crowd in the second half.

Ladyjacks sophomore Jordyn Sondrol smacks a kill last Wednesday in a win over LRSC.

Freshman Amber Gable passes the ball.

Bottineau native Ashleigh Aufforth celebrates after an ace serve.

Sondrol again goes for a big swing.

Aufforth (left) and Leah Parizek (right) try and block a Lady Royals shot.

Larry Koch, receives a tool belt at the Annie's House weekend festivities, and gets emotional. Koch skipped a chemotherapy treatment to attend the build at the Bottineau Winter Park.

The Guss family (from left: Jason, Conner, Lindsey and Dawson) paint 'Stars of Hope' last Saturday afternoon at the BWP.

Members of the Bottineau fire department and sheriff's department as well as other firefighters from across the nation pose behind the National 9/11 flag last Saturday in the Bottineau Armory.

Two volunteers pound in some nails last Friday at the Annie's House build.

Craig Carter of Staten Island, N.Y. secures a beam to a wall last Friday.

How many fire fighters does it take to sledgehammer a wall into place? Apparently eight.

Christian Jones (center) awaits a rafter on a lift last Friday morning. Later that day he officially became an Eagle Scout.

Workers make benches and other crafts last Friday morning down by the pond at the BWP.

Wind it up

This week I chose the Gwen Stafani song "Wind it up" because it is about time for the fall sports season to officially get into the groove. The NFL season starts tomorrow, and other fall sports are already in gear, so let's wind it up.

Last week I had to cover a Lumberjacks football game in Bottineau. I then took the Labor Day weekend off and went back to Minnesota for the weekend.

This week will be hectic, crazy and insanely busy. I have a interviews to set up, a volleyball game a, football game and the whole crazy, chaoticness of the Annie's House project. Soon hundreds of volunteers from across the country will be in the Bottineau area, and it will be perhaps my busiest week as a reporter, hopefully I can survive it.

I am in an NFL pick 'em league this year, so I won't be posting my picks as I used to do. I will however continue sharing photos. I have a few from last week's football game.

Jacks starting quarterback Jonathan Parks calls out a motion during last Thursday's game against Mayville State.

Parks delivers a pass while breaking away from a defender in the 42-6 loss to the Comets.

Mayville's Josh Jeffries breaks up a pass intended for DCB's Lance Jackson.

Jacks Linebacker Marquis Brantley wraps up Dominique Bradley during last Thursday's second quarter.

Parks looks ahead as he decides to run.

Comets quarterback Tanner Carpenter goes down after a Damon Bateman sack late in the first half.

Under the Gun

This week I chose the Killers B-side Under the Gun because that's just what it is like out on the field now that fall sports are underway. Also I'll be under the gun tonight as I have my fantasy football draft tonight.

As defending champion of my league, I'll have a lot of pressure (and wisecracks) slung on my back.

Last week I had the pleasure of covering a Bottineau/Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn football game. I also spent most of my Saturday at the BHS gym covering the earlybird volleyball tournament. I had only a slight break when I traveled to Westhope to cover the Sioux's game against Stanley-Powers Lake.

This week I have only one game, and that is the Dakota College at Bottineau Jacks opening football game against Mayville State.

Anywho, plenty of pictures from this past week's events:

Bottineau junior Harrison Aide lines up on offense last Tuesday against the Sioux.

Braves quarterback Tanner Bickford delivers a pass last Tuesday.

Trevor Wettlaufer scampers for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Sioux junior Hunter Braaten hurls a pass.

Braaten tries to escape the clutches of Braves lineman Dalton Sivertson.

Aide gets forced out of bounds by Chase Conway of the Sioux.

Lane Berentson await Aide's move off the line last Tuesday.

Kodie Hancock gets wrapped up by Wettlaufer.

Braaten barks out the signal.

Karlie Hancock punts the football.

Aide attempts to juke Kodie Hancock.

Devin Korynta and Braaten try and drag down Wettlaufer on a run play.

Wettlaufer lays a big hit on Kodie Hancock.

Bickford prepares to throw.

The Eagles Lauren Mach blocks a Katryna Hahn hit.

Eagles senior Hadlee Schell smacks a shot over the net last Saturday in Bottineau.

Eagles setter Molly Lodoen passes a ball toward the net.

Logan Hermes goes low on a Blue Jays rusher, while Korynta looks to put on a big hit.

Braaten eludes a defender.

Braaten cuts toward the sideline.

Kodie Hancock hits the hole.

Kodie runs the ball.

Braaten and Karlie Hancock chase Blue Jays quarterback Sam Footh.

Hahn hammers home a point.

Junior Courtney Gallagher serves during a match last Saturday.

Hahn again goes for a kill.

Karlee McCloud (left) and Hahn (right) attempt to block.

Gallagher tips one over the net.