Wahpeton is a special place


Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:46 PM CST

Last week our men’s basketball team was returning to Sioux City, Iowa, after playing two games at Mayville State University. About 30 miles south of Fargo, our 24 passenger bus started losing its power. We exited Interstate 29 to seek assistance in Wahpeton. Our bus "died" right in the middle of an intersection close to Smith Motors. Looking for any help I could find, I ran into Joel Sirek. Joel dropped everything he was doing to help us. (In fact, I think he lost a sale because of us!)

He made several calls to try to get us back on the road that night with no success. He then arranged to have the vehicle worked on first thing in the morning. He contacted a local hotel and then along with his son Parker and an employee, they shuttled the entire team and our equipment. Finally, he had a wrecker service deliver our bus to Vision Ford for repair. When asked what I owed him for all his hassle, he replied,“Nothing.”

Very few members of our team had been to North Dakota and none of us had ever been to Wahpeton. But now because of one man it is very clear to all of us that North Dakota is a special state and Wahpeton is a very special community!

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TODD BARRY is the head of men’s basketball at Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa.

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Comments

    Wop fan wrote on Nov 15, 2009 12:03 AM:

    " Very often it is one person or a very small group that gets the job done. Most of the time we don't even hear about the good things these people do as they never ask for anything in return. Thanks to Joel for being a good neighbor and Todd for taking time to write the letter. "

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    yentyl wrote on Nov 14, 2009 7:58 PM:

    " There are special people all over the world. They are called *angels*. I'm glad to hear they are right in my home town. That story put a huge smile on my face. Way to go Joel! You may have lost a sale, but sounds like you gained a whole bus load of new friends! :) "

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    My two cents wrote on Nov 14, 2009 11:00 AM:

    " Yes, but it this is a prime example where one person got the ball rolling!!! "

    Report Abuse

    More than him wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:13 PM:

    " It takes a whole community not just one person. "

    Report Abuse

    Diana wrote on Nov 12, 2009 1:42 PM:

    " I would not have expected less coming from our Son-In-Law. He is a very caring "Special" guy, and we are glad to have him in our family. "

    Report Abuse


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