Around the State: October 31, 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.

Man charged with terrorizing children

Robert John Guderjahn, 51, of Hoople has been charged with a Class C felony for allegedly terrorizing children.

It is alleged that on October 12 in Hoople, a juvenile observed Guderjahn standing in his garage with the overhead door open. He had a shotgun pointed at him and other juveniles.

It is further alleged that Guderjahn pumped the shotgun numerous times and while pointing it at them, they heard a click, the juvenile said.

According to the criminal complaint the juveniles ran from the scene and told an adult. They also reported hearing a loud noise resembling a gunshot.

Walsh County Deputy Richie Sherlock and other Hoople residents observed a video of that day allegedly showing Guderjahn outside his house with a shotgun.

Guderjahn had a bond hearing Tuesday in Northeast District Court with Judge Barbara Whelan presiding. Bond was set at $125,000 cash or surety.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

USDA approves financing for Rugby health center

The USDA has formally approved financing for construction of a new Heart of America Medical Center (HAMC) to be located in Rugby, N.D. The approval is the center piece of financing for a new $62 million facility to be built on Highway 2.

The direct loan will cover 80 percent of construction costs. In addition , the USDA is guaranteeing 10 percent of loans coming from commercial lenders. The remaining 10 percent is from owner’s equity.

To approve the loan, the USDA required HAMC to show they were capable of meeting an owner’s equity investment of 10 percent, or $6.2 million. The Build 2024 Capital Campaign, with a goal of $4.5 million, provided critical cash flow to meet that requirement.

Erik Christenson, CEO, said he was pleased to learn that along with approval of financing, the USDA approved a grant request for $1,000,000 for equipment for the new facility.

(Story taken from the Bottineau Courant)

National Guard aids Williston police

The North Dakota National Guard’s (NDNG) 81st Civil Support Team (CST) responded recently to a request for assistance from the Williston Police Department. The request came through the Williams County emergency manager to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services on October 12.

On October 10, the Williston Police Department discovered explosive materials and other unknown substances in an occupied apartment. The 81st CST was requested to assist in the identification of these unknown substances.

Ten members of the 81st CST traveled from their home base in Bismarck to Williston to render assistance to the incident commander.

(Story taken from the New Town News)

“Man Trackers” certified on Fort Berthold

The MHA Emergency Operations Center announced that as of Sunday, October 16, the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation now has 19 individuals who certified as Human Index Trackers aka “Man Trackers.”

These individuals that have taken this inaugural tracking course have acknowledged that they will be called upon in the future to provide tracking assistance for ground teams in the event of a missing person emergency.

(Story taken from the New Town News)

Semi truck/train accident near Harvey

A crash between a Canadian Pacific train and a Volvo tractor pulling a trailer caused serious but nonlife-threatening injuries to an Anamoose man on the morning of October 12.

According to a report by the ND Highway Patrol, the tractor driven by 65-year-old Rodney Lund of Anamoose, was westbound on 23rd St. N (five miles southeast of Harvey), approaching a railroad intersection marked with stop signs.

The tractor failed to come to a complete stop at the intersection. The tractor proceeded across the railroad tracks when a Canadian Pacific train was westbound and struck the semi-trailer on its driver’s side, causing the truck tractor to rotate counterclockwise. The truck tractor then struck the left side of the train with its driver’s side. The truck tractor came to rest on the west side of the tracks facing east. The driver of the semi truck was life-flighted by Sanford Air to Sanford in Bismarck.

(Story taken from the Benson County Farmers Press)

Opera house museum on unsteady ground

A 118-year-old landmark is teetering on what could be a serious problem.

The Ray Opera House Museum, located next to City Hall, has developed a sink hole at the rear of the building and the wall is collapsing.

“The west end of the building is starting to collapse,” said Public Works Director David Taylor.

City workers were doing weed control by the opera house when the sink hole was discovered, Ray City Commissioners were told at a recent meeting.

According to Ronda Rustad, city auditor, the building has seen various uses over the past century, including a grocery store, senior citizen’s center and meeting place for young people.

The commission agreed to have engineers look at the structure.

(Story by Eric Standing, the Tioga Tribune)

Garrison described as cozy in recent survey

Lovebirds, take note and prepare for next year’s Valentine’s Day: Garrison has been ranked as being among the 170 coziest small towns in America.

A recent list “Best 170 Coziest Small Towns in America” on the dating advice website MyDatingAdviser.com ranked Garrison 69th place - in between Chester, Vermont and New Harmony, Indiana.

Using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, TripAdvisor and the United States Department of Agriculture, towns were ranked on their coziness using metrics such as weather, food and activities.

On a scale of 100 points, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for coziness, Garrison’s score of 56 reflects a score of 41 points for weather, eight points for activities and seven points for food.

Also making the list from North Dakota was Medora which ranked sixth.

(Story by James C. Falcon, the McLean County Independent)