Around the State: May 30, 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.

Beulah mourns Schaeffer

After 11 days missing, Tyler Schaeffer came home.

The Beulah teen, who was reported missing on May 1, was recovered May 11 from the Knife River in Beulah. The river had been the focus of authorities’ searching for a week leading up to the discovery of Schaeffer’s body late in the day on Wednesday, May 11.

The Beulah Police Department is still investigating the incident and reported that an autopsy is being conducted to determine Schaeffer’s cause of death.

(Story by Alyssa Meier, the Hazen Star)

City sees impact of having no police on duty

The City of Kenmare has been without local law enforcement on duty since former police chief Allisha Britton’s last day on the job, May 3.

According to discussion at the city council meeting May 11, the absence of police coverage was quickly noticed.

City auditor Kinzie Jensen said she was called many times over the weekend regarding police matters. In addition, there were many calls to former chief Britton’s police phone, as well as Britton’s personal phone.

Saturday was apparently the height of the unpoliced havoc in town, as the old Irvin Hotel was being vandalized, according to a Facebook post. The sound of squealing tires and burnouts around town was also reported to Jensen.

At its recent meeting, the Kenmare City Council gave authority to the Personnel Committee to immediately search for, and to hire any applicant they determined to be qualified for the job of Chief of Police.

It was mentioned that a search for a second officer has been ongoing since November.

(Story by Terry Froseth, the Kenmare News)

Williston drone park planned

Williston is flying into the future in the field of unmanned aviation, thanks to a partnership with TrainND and a grant from the Star Fund.

The Willistion City Commission on May 10 approved a combined $450,000 in Star Fund grants for two applicants, both seeking to expand local use of unmanned aerial systems.

The grants are for a planned drone park next to Williston State College and a study to identify additional viable local UAS opportunities.

“We’re seeing a lot of interest in the UAS sector coming to this area, and we’re ripe for development opportunities, said Shawn Wenko, Williston’s economic development director.

The drone park would provide flying space for the public and for students of a UAS academy at TrainND Northwest in Williston. Wenko said the park could be completed this summer.

(Story taken from the Tioga Tribune)

‘My Hometown’ shines spotlight on Rugby

The host and crew of BEK Network’s “Ladies of Another View” visited Rugby on May 11 to film a segment of “My Hometown,” a series featuring the people who make North Dakota communities special.

Patti Armstrong, host of the show, spoke to locals representing Rugby’s city government, area businesses, and Prairie Village Museum.

Laurie Odden, executive director of the Rugby Chamber of Commerce, talked to Armstrong about Rugby’s claim to fame as the Geographical Center of North America. Odden summarized Rugby’s many options for shopping and places to eat, something she said she would “try to fit in” her short chat with Armstrong.

(Story by Sue Sitter, the Pierce County Tribune)

Crosby restaurant gets help from friends

The Bypass Restaurant & Lounge couldn’t have pulled off food service for dozens of linemen over the past two weeks, if not for the help of the community. That’s the word from Manager Lynn Jacobson, when placing an ad acknowledging help that went “above and beyond.”

Following an icy blizzard April 23, the Bypass had power restored earlier than most of Crosby, but when the Bypass and Guardian Inn motel learned in the days following they would be hosting several dozen linemen helping to repair damage, Jacobson was in a panic.

“We didn’t have enough help,” he said, so he called on various people and organizations in the community to ask if they would help out.

Volunteers from across the community helped prepare and serve meals, delivered bars and other treats, as well as paid for many of the meals served.

One of the first days, someone contacted Jacobson saying he wanted to buy the dinners for all of the crews.

“He didn’t ask what it would cost, he just said “I’ll pay you tomorrow.”

After acknowledging that gift on social media, the next day someone else stepped up.

A handful of others offered sums to help out allowing the Bypass to knock $2 off per plate on their prime rib night for instance.

“Another person wanted to buy them drinks,” said Jacobson.

And so it went for nearly two weeks at a time when the restaurant has otherwise struggled to hire regular help. They’re having to discontinue lunch service until further notice because they can’t find enough people to work on a regular shift.

(Story by Cecile Wehrman, the Journal, Crosby)

Area churches help pack 280,000 meals

Churches in northeastern North Dakota, including Walsh County, helped pack 28,000 meals for hungry children in Haiti and Honduras March 25-26 in the Minnkota Building in Grand Forks.

Meals were sent to locations of greatest need and distributed by Christian organizations already organized for food distribution.

The meals were packed by 1,200 volunteers divided into six teams of 200, most of who were below the age of 18, in six shifts.

The cost for ingredients was $67,000. The 280,000 meals will feed 768 kids for a year.

Area churches, assisted by business organizations and schools, raised $935,000 over the past 11 years to pack 4,160,000 meals for hungry children in Third World countries.

At 24 cents per meal, Feed My Starving Children is one of the most effective organizations for feeding children. Costs are minimized by using all-volunteer workers and raising local funds.

(Story taken from the Walsh County Press)