Around the State: October 10, 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.

Woman faces raccoon-related charges

A Maddock woman who brought a raccoon into the Maddock Bar last month is facing three charges relating to possession of the animal.

Earin Christensen, 38, is charged with false information to law enforcement, tampering with physical evidence and unlawful possession of fur-bearers. An arraignment is scheduled for October 10.

The N.D. Department of Health determined that the raccoon was negative for rabies.

(Story taken from the Benson County Farmers Press)

Tioga school board concerned with bullying policy

A pair of Tioga school board members have concerns about one of the proposed changes in the district’s updated bullying policy.

The updated policy was written by the North Dakota School Boards Association for its members to reflect new laws and make minor corrections. It contains seven changes from the document currently in effect.

One of those changes updated the classes protected from discrimination under federal law to include “sexual orientation, gender identification and gender expression.”

“That bothers me,” said Jim McGinnity, vice president of the school board. “I don’t like it. Just my view on that.”

The change won’t have a material impact on students. Those statuses are already protected from discrimination under federal law alongside race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, married status and public assistance.

The new inclusions to the list also raised concerns for board member Pete Peterson.

“Gender expression. Okay if there’s people running around saying there’s how many different genders doesn’t this open us up to if there’s a kid that claims they’re a furry and all of a sudden they’re protected,” said Peterson. “Then they want a litter box.”

The allegation furries - people interested in fictional animal characters and who sometimes wear costumes to that effect - are being provided litter boxes in schools has been propagated and debunked in several school districts across the country in the last 12 months.

(Story by Jacob Orledge, the Tioga Tribune)

Maddock man charged with felonies

A Maddock man is accused of three felonies and two misdemeanors in Benson County and a misdemeanor in Eddy County after a high-speed chase that took place in Eddy and Wells counties the evening of September 16.

Logan Dean Gigstad is accused in Benson County of criminal mischief. He also faces a Class A misdemeanor charge in Eddy County: fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

Several traffic offenses were also listed for Gigstad on the ND Courts website.

Gigstad’s initial appearance in Eddy County is scheduled for October 13. His preliminary hearing and/or arraignment is scheduled for November 21 in Benson County.

(Story taken from the Benson County Farmers Press)

Council looks for sidewalk compromise

Ryan Wilson, owner of the Great Plains Indian Trading Post on Main Street in New Town, said he was trying to make his corner more attractive to entice more tourists to stop and spend money in local businesses.

New Town City Council members said they had started getting complaints from the public that the planters and decorations Wilson placed outside his business were blocking the sidewalk and interfering with handicapped access.

Wilson appeared at the most recent New Town City Council meeting to discuss the situation with city leaders. While he sounded frustrated at times, Wilson and the city council members were able to work out a compromise.

“Oil and gas are big right now, but New Town is still a tourism community,” Wilson said.

The complaints started when Wilson set out a half dozen large planters that he is going to fill with soil and create attractive plants. He noted that at least one other Main Street business put inventory out on the sidewalk.

New Town Mayor Jan Standish suggested that most of the complaints would be taken care of if the planters were up against the building and not next to the curb.

(Story by Jerry W. Kram, the New Town News)

Homeowner found dead at house fire

On September 27, emergency response teams were called to a house fire north of Fessenden, on County Road 1. The homeowner, Raymond Grauman, was found deceased inside the house.

Wells County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the cause of the fire, along with the North Dakota Fire Marshal and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

(Story taken from the Herald-Press, Harvey)

GOP lawmakers tout property tax bill

A group of Republican lawmakers pitched a proposal to provide property tax relief to North Dakotans by tapping into the state’s Legacy Fund, although the plan raised concerns locally.

Surrounded by a handful of fellow Republican legislators, Don Schaible, R-Mott, outlined a property tax relief bill in Bismarck, N.D., that would cut taxes by roughly 25 percent statewide.

The GOP plan would pull $340 million from the Legacy Fund, which is funded by the state’s oil tax revenues, and use that money to offset K-12 education funding covered by school property taxes.

In addition, the proposal would freeze property valuations for two years to slow future increases in property taxes according to a release sent out by Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner.

Schaible estimated the proposal would have the state pick up 85 percent of education costs, up from 72 percent, by having the state buy down mills from 60 mills to 30 mills.

The school funding plan would start in summer 2023 and be funded through investment earning from the burgeoning Legacy Fund, which has ballooned to $7.9 billion.

The proposed legislation would not impact property taxes collected by local governments other than school districts, such as cities and counties.

(Story by Cole Short, the Hillsboro Banner)