The Official Newspaper for Foster County

Articles written by Leasa A. Lura


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  • Business owner requests answers on CCEDC policies

    Leasa A. Lura|Mar 18, 2024

    The Carrington City Council heard from business owner Hope Carr at their meeting last week. Carr had questions about CCEDC (Carrington Chamber and Economic Development Corporation) policies and Mayor Tom Erdmann provided responses on behalf of the city. During the meeting held on Monday, March 11, Carr said she had three questions for the council. The first question she asked was, "Why does a business need to be a Chamber member to use public-funded programs that are available?" Her second...

  • Around the State: March 18, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Mar 18, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Johnson pleads guilty to child neglect After spending five months in jail, Ashley Marie Johnson, 37, of Grand Forks, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors on Feb. 28, pleading guilty to child neglect and reckless endangerment. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the charge of child abandonment was...

  • Details of joint powers agreement in negotiations

    Leasa A. Lura|Mar 11, 2024

    Foster County is proposing to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Stutsman County for their emergency management services, but the 911 coordinator position may not end up in the deal. During the Foster County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, March 5, Foster County Auditor/Treasurer Ellen Roundy told the board that the agreement would be on an annual basis starting April 1 and ending at the end of the year, to renew January 1 of every year thereafter. She said it will cost the count...

  • Around the State: March 11, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Mar 11, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Live hand grenade found in scrap pile There is an old saying, another man's trash is another man's treasure. Recently, over at Russ's Auto and Scrap while going through a pile of scrap, the people at Russ's came across what appeared to be a live grenade. According to Grafton Police Chief Tony Dumas, the...

  • Primary Election Tuesday, June 11

    Leasa A. Lura|Mar 4, 2024

    Four years ago, there were no polling places for the 2020 primary election in Foster County due to COVID-19. This year voters in Foster County will once again go to the polls. The primary election is set for Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to select federal, state, county, city and park board representatives. On the county side of the ballot, seats at the commissioners' table that are up for grabs are Pat Copenhaver of District #1, David Utke of District #3 and Becky Hagel of District #5. There are no...

  • Around the State: March 4, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Mar 4, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Splash Pad coming to life The Garrison Park Board held its monthly meeting on February 7 and a lot is going on. A photo was shared from Ackerman Estvold of a mockup of what the new splash pad will look like, which had been eagerly anticipated for quite a while. There has been talk around town for at least...

  • Ballot question on hold... for now

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 26, 2024

    A question for the 2024 election ballot was discussed at the Foster County Commission meeting last week, but tabled for more information. During the meeting held on Tuesday, February 20 commissioner Becky Hagel told the board she thinks they should have a very clear picture of township reimbursements for road maintenance as well as state funding, the cost of the blade, blade operator wages, gas, etc. so they know exactly how many mills to ask for on the ballot. Currently, 10 mills for farm to...

  • Around the State: February 26, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 26, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. City loses two more police officers Two Harvey police officers, Gabriel Johnson and Tyler Denning, have resigned, citing the strain of the understaffed department. This news was delivered at the February 14 Harvey City Council meeting by part-time police officer Travis Carlson. In the past 16 months, three...

  • Ordinances to eliminate municipal judge position approved on first reading

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 19, 2024

    Carrington may no longer have a municipal judge if the City Council passes two new ordinances that were introduced at their meeting last week. During the meeting held on Monday, Feb. 12, the board held a first reading of Ordinances 281 and 282. Ordinance 281 will transfer municipal judge cases to district court and Ordinance 282 holds the details and agreement of Ordinance 281. A motion was passed to approve the first reading of the two ordinances. Mayor Tom Erdmann told the board that he will...

  • Around the State: February 19, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 19, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Paleo Art-Iculations Most people grow out of dinosaurs and fossils by the time they hit puberty. This is not the case for Jeanette Reim. From a young age she was introduced to fossils and was taken on digs to ignite her passion. Often, she could be found wandering the rock-strewn creeks of her childhood...

  • Basement inspection reveals unexpected floor surfacing

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 12, 2024

    Interesting and peculiar things are often found in old buildings when repair work is being done. The Foster County Commission learned at their meeting last week that contractors found something unexpected on top of the concrete in the basement of the courthouse. During the meeting, held on Tuesday, February 6, Chris Thomas of EAPC Architects and Engineers attended via telephone and Joe Olson, foreman of General Roofing and Construction, was at the meeting. Olson explained to the board that origi...

  • Around the State: February 12, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 12, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Williston may allow chickens The Williston City Commission on Jan. 23 approved the first reading of an ordinance to allow chickens within city limits. The matter was taken into consideration after the city received a request to consider allowing chickens within city limits, which sparked meetings...

  • Carrington building permits increase nearly twofold from 2022 to 2023, city reports

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 5, 2024

    The Central City is growing. Especially if you factor in the nearly doubled amount of building permits issued by the City of Carrington between 2022 and 2023, from 46 to 82. From fences to roofs, houses to shingles and everything in-between, these building permits show what is being improved and what is being built in Carrington. Shingles and tin roofs topped the list again this year for repair on homes and businesses during the year, with 36 permits. The top project in 2023, was a home being...

  • Around the State: February 5, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Feb 5, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Garrison Schools shelter-in-place Thursday afternoon a text came through, "Mom, do you know why we are in a shelter-in-place?" No parent wants to get that text from their child. No more than 10 minutes later, at 2:36 p.m., a call and text message came through from the school to all guardians linked to the...

  • 2023: The year in review - part 2

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 29, 2024

    The pages of the Independent from July to December, 2023, were much less dramatic than the first half of the year. Trailblazing CHS female wrestlers, a $35,000 library grant and the courthouse basement project were certainly positive things to happen in the community. There were a few mishaps in the latter part of the year that created some stir among residents, but all in all, the second half of 2023 produced some good news stories that make us thankful to live here. Here is what was in the...

  • Around the State: January 29, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 29, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Bakker School District to dissolve The North Dakota Board of Public School Education recently announced it is holding a public hearing on January 22, concerning the dissolution plan for the Bakker Public School District and its transfer to the Strasburg Public School District. Previously, the Emmons...

  • County passes deputy pay hike

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 22, 2024

    The Foster County Commission agreed to increase wages for sheriff's deputies at their last meeting in order to attract and retain officers. During the meeting held on Tuesday, January 16, the board heard from Sheriff Justin Johnson, who attended the meeting to ask for an increase in wages for sergeant Nathan Kruse. Johnson said Kruse has accepted a position with the NDDOT, but he is hoping to convince him to stay in his position with the sheriff's department with an incentive like a pay...

  • 2023: The year in review - Part 1 of 2

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 22, 2024

    The pages of the Independent from January to June, 2023, held some unsettling news in the first quarter, between three being charged with murder, and workforce shortages, but the second quarter was a saving grace in the area as residents had a lot to smile about, especially on the court and on the field. Here are a few of the stories that donned the pages of the Independent last year: January • Carrington day care provider Patricia Wick was ordered to cease operations after a 5-month-old in...

  • Around the State: January 22, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 22, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. McLean County farmer convicted of fraud Kent Pfaff, 59, from Washburn pled guilty to crop insurance fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2024. Pfaff must repay $379,317 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management agency after he pleaded guilty to a felony count in a crop insurance...

  • Balancing the books

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 15, 2024

    Year-end housekeeping kept the Carrington City Council busy at their meeting last week. During the meeting held on Monday, January 8, the board approved year-end transfers of funds to balance out accounts. Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann reported that the general fund reserve will now hold $870,000; the capital fund $917,000 and the year end balance for the general fund is $408,330. • The council also approved moving $1,000,000.00 from their Bremer Bank checking account to the Bank Forward ICS...

  • Basement project procedures explained at special meeting

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 15, 2024

    In a special meeting, the Foster County Commission met with an EAPC Architect, as well as Ted Keller and Leo Straley via Zoom meeting, to discuss the courthouse basement project. During the meeting held on Friday, January 5, the board had questions about how the basement remodel will proceed. EAPC said the project will proceed in three phases with the first phase being the demolition and construction of the social services offices. Next, the board discussed where to house the social services...

  • Around the State: January 15, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 15, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Bottineau County artist who gave to the world In September of this year, an art piece was sold at an auction house which consisted of a self-portrait of an artist that was drawn on paper with a pencil. The title of the piece was, "Ella Moen." If the name sounds familiar it is because she was born and...

  • County considers JPA with Stutsman for EM/911 services

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 8, 2024

    The Foster County Commission held a special meeting to tie up year-end bills with a couple more items on the agenda. During the meeting held on Friday, December 29, 2023, year-end bills were approved for payment. In other business: • The board passed a motion for the commission chairman to sign an agreement to send to Youthworks in Fargo, N.D., provided by the Foster County Sheriff, Justin Johnson. The Youthworks programs are for runaway, homeless and street youth; juvenile offenders; youth...

  • Basement price tag draws citizen criticism

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 8, 2024

    Not everybody in the county is happy about the courthouse basement renovation. At the Foster County Commission meeting last week, commissioner Pat Copenhaver told the board that some residents are questioning the cost of the project. During the meeting held on Tuesday, January 2, Copenhaver said people are calling him, saying that there are more important things in the county that need repair, such as roads and some of the county shops. He also said he is concerned about the county running out...

  • Around the State: January 8, 2024

    Leasa A. Lura|Jan 8, 2024

    The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories. Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state. Ukranian family comes to Bottineau As Christmas was coming upon us this past week, the Bottineau Area Christian Ministerial Association and a new family from Ukraine truly felt the blessings of the holiday season. For almost a year, Rev. Beth Kelsey, pastor of United Parish, and the director of the...

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