Around the State: April 18, 2022

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.

Local author releases book, talks TV show

After reminiscing about many of his family’s real-life stories of fleeing Russia and coming to the United States, a local resident’s imagination took those tales to the next level landing him a book deal and possible TV series.

Glen Vetter starting writing “14 Hands to Freedom” in 2019 after a health diagnosis took him from an active outdoor life to hospital visits and a wheelchair.

“I went from being very active to someone who was in a wheelchair and needing help to get dressed,” Vetter said, adding during that time, he just started writing.

The Napoleon native started putting pen to paper to get the stories out of his head, developing in-depth characters with plots and twists in hopes of holding any reader’s interest.

Each character is based on a real-life person from his family’s stories of his great-grandfather fleeing then Russia (now Ukraine).

In early March, Vetter said he had began communications with a production company in hopes of having his book turned into a series. Although Vetter has not moved forward with a TV deal just yet, he is hopeful one will be established in the near future.

(Story by Kelli Ameling, the Emmons County Record)

Case leads to seven assault charges

For the first time in his 25 year career, Grant County Sheriff John Foss was injured during an attack while answering a call, and his department is now overseeing a case with the most assault charges ever filed at one time during his career.

Ranae Halvorson, is being held at the Burleigh County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond on eight counts, including seven counts of assault, stemming from an incident in Grant County.

Foss and Grant County Deputy Garrett Harding were called to the Prairie Recovery Center near St. Gertrude regarding a woman assaulting staff at about 8:00 a.m., March 29.

The law enforcement officers approached Halvorson in a field, where Foss attempted to talk to her. She punched him in the face, and was taken to the ground, according to court documents.

“She then proceeded to dig into Sheriff Foss in the eye with her fingers, leaving blood from the gash, then bit him multiple times below his elbow through his two-layer jacket, leaving severe bruising and teeth marks, according to an affidavit filed in South Central Judicial District Court.

During the sheriff’s investigation, seven staff members at the Prairie Recovery Center were identified as being assaulted by Halvorson, four of whom were transported to Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center for treatment.

(Story taken from the Grant County News)

High school students provide technology help

On Friday, March 11, Lisbon Area Aging in Community (AIC) hosted a Technology Help Event. Students from Lisbon High School assisted older adults with questions they had about their cell phones and tablets.

There were a wide range of issues addressed like helping download phone apps, sending messages and emails, taking pictures, posting things on Facebook, and many more.

It was an enjoyable event for all!

(Story taken from the Ransom County Gazette)

Graf has a gift in the game of chess

When it comes to chess players in the Westhope School District the name Braxton Graf is known throughout the school, especially after he won the State Scholastic chess Tournament for his age group in Bismarck two weeks ago.

Graf, who is 11-years-old, who started playing chess at the age of three, has a gift that has placed him as one of the top players in his entire school district.

“Braxton has the ability to read a board and read it quickly,” said Casey Mills, Graf’s home room teacher at the Westhope school, and an avid chess player himself. “He can walk up and see others playing and see the moves it would take to win.”

“He can see things that most people can’t and is several moves ahead of his opponents and is good at setting things up,” Mills said. “I don’t know anybody who can stop him, including older students, teachers and adults.”

“I can beat him at times, but it is more luck than skills. If I win, it is because he made an error, but that doesn’t happen often with Braxton.”

(Story by Scott Wagar, the Bottineau Courant)

Park board approves new pool

Kenmare is getting a new swimming pool.

A conceptual rendering has been approved and released for public review, with a price tag of $2.89 million.

If all goes well, the new pool could be fully constructed by next summer.

For five months, the Kenmare Park Board has been meeting weekly to make plans, and to study and tweak the evolving pool and bathhouse concepts created by Ackerman-Estvold.

They have made countless decision on what features are needed and what features are costly frills. The park board has also agreed upon how the pool and bathhouse should be laid out, as well as brainstormed ideas on how to pay for it all.

And what will the citizens of Kenmare get for nearly $3 million. Essentially, it will be a modestly sized main pool, a small wading/splash pool, and a functional bathhouse.

Construction estimates include $935,000 for the main swimming pool, $910,000 for the bathhouse, $200,000 for site development including pool decks and retaining walls, $193,600 for the wading/splash pool with additional expenses bringing the total to $2,890,000.

(Story by Terry Froseth, the Kenmare News)

Bakken/Three Forks could produce for many years

The Bakken/Three Forks oil play in western North Dakota could last for another 40 years with upward of 50,000 more wells being drilled according to Justin Kringstad, North Dakota Pipeline Authority (NDPA) director. Kringstad’s upbeat announcement was presented to the North Dakota Industrial Commission on Thursday, March 24.

The NDPA inventory work, according to Kringstad, clearly points to the successful expansion of premium drilling locations throughout western North Dakota.

“The unfounded belief that North Dakota is running out of premium drilling locations isn’t consistent with the data and well performance results we are seeing across western North Dakota,” stated Kringstad.

According to Kringstad, oil prices will drive the potential number of wells that could be drilled.

(Story by Neal A. Shipman, the McKenzie County Farmer)