The Official Newspaper for Foster County

Around the State: March 6, 2023

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.

N.D. workers underpaid $285 million in overtime

The reason you may feel like you’re earning less for longer hours compared to your parents is because it’s likely the case. Average hourly wages, adjusted for inflation, have declined since the 1970s, while the average number of hours worked has increased. As a result, American workers are facing underpayment, overwork and stress.

One of the reasons for this is the decrease in overtime pay.

A study by Bisnar Chase reveals that the average North Dakota employee in the private sector worked about 1.8 hours of unpaid overtime per week during 2022. The national average was 2.1 hours. When this figure is applied to the number of exempt workers in The Peace Garden State, based on the median wage and then annualized, North Dakota workers are collectively owed $285,828,729 in back-pay.

Nowadays, a significant portion of employees work over 40 hours a week without receiving any overtime compensation. Despite laws that protect the right to overtime pay, those earning above $35,000 per year are often misclassified into exempt positions that don’t qualify for overtime. This creates a large pool of free labor for employers to exploit, leading to increased profits, declining wages, and a widening income gap.

(Story taken from the Traill County Tribune)

Man arrested after minor was picked up

An Australian man is sitting in the Burleigh Morton Detention Center and facing three felony charges after he flew to North Dakota and picked up an underaged child in Linton before intending to head to Bismarck.

According to Emmons County Sheriff Gary Sanders, his office was originally contacted February 16 on a report of a suspicious male walking around a federal building, the USDA office, in Linton. While deputies were taking the report, a second call came in from a mother who indicated her minor child was possibly abducted or had run away.

Sanders said deputies received a description of a vehicle traveling north of U.S. Highway 83 possibly carrying the minor.

“The driver had about a 10 minute jump start,” Sanders said.

Deputies did locate the vehicle about four miles north of Linton, which was driven by Joel Galbraith, 38, of Australia. The vehicle also had the minor inside.

“(Through investigation), it was determined the minor was not abducted, but willingly had gone with the adult to Bismarck for the long weekend,” Sanders said.

According to court documents, Galbraith had allegedly began communicating with the minor in September of 2021, and had used an electronic recording device to request and receive nude photos and other sexual videos of the minor. Galbraith allegedly also sent photos of himself to the minor.

Communication between Galbraith and the minor had allegedly continued through Feb. 16 when Galbraith flew from Australia to North Dakota the night before to pick up the minor in Linton, Sanders said.

Galbraith is being charged with promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor.

(Story by Kelli Ameling, the Emmons County Record)

Garin Opdahl breaks BSC record - twice

In the back of his mind, Garin Opdahl noted the school’s indoor track triple jump record. Set in 1972, Bismarck State College’s Bob Hendrickson jumped 12.59 meters (41 ft., 3.75 inches).

“I’ve jumped the distance before,” Opdahl told himself. He was determined to prove that he would do it again, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at the Marauder Tune-Up Indoor Track Meet at St. Mary’s University in Bismarck.

His first jump reached 12.71 meters (41 ft. 8.5 inches). He did it. He broke the long-standing school record. But the feat didn’t last long. Soon after, his roommate, Cole Rohrbach, jumped 13.09 meters (42 feet, 11.5 inches).

Opdahl conceded and congratulated his teammate and roommate with a fist-bump and a celebratory cheer.

On Opdahl’s sixth and last jump of the event, he knew he had to give it his all to regain the lead, and the honor of holding the school record.

And, indeed, Opdahl took the record back. His triple jump measured 13.15 meters (43 feet, 1.75 inches) reaching 2.25 inches further than Rohrvach. He broke the record that broke his own record that broke the 51-year standing Bismarck State College (BSC) track and field record for triple jump.

(Story by Anne Ehni, the Herald-Press, Harvey)

Axe-throwing bar opening in Mayville

A central theme surrounding Rich and Amber Hart’s new business venture in Mayville will revolve around giving back to their community.

The Harts, who are volunteer firefighters, certainly don’t sound like an entrepreneurial couple with an axe to grind - although they should have plenty of them to throw when they open for business.

Smoke Eaters will claim the distinction as Traill County’s only bar offering axe throwing when the Main Street watering hole tosses open its doors to the public on Thursday, March 2.

There are four axe-throwing lanes and an assortment of 14 to 17-inch axes.

Customers planning to try their hands at axe throwing will be able to sign-up online to reserve a lane.

Smoke Eaters will charge $20 an hour per person to throw axes and participants must be 10 years of age or older, sign a liability waiver in advance and wear closed-toe shoes.

(Story by Cole Short, the Hillsboro Banner)

No I.D. on October fire victim

The fate of a 45-year-old woman who is presumed to have perished in an October 2022 house fire southeast of Noonan is undefinitive.

Following discovery of the fire, investigators spent the better part of two days combing through the debris, trying to locate Connie Allen’s body, or definitive evidence of her presence when the house burned.

At that time investigators removed what were then classified as “suspected remains.”

Chad Allen, 38, Connie’s husband, was discovered deceased at a vacant farmstead northwest of the fire scene.

It is widely believed he had tried to seek help for Connie, who was reportedly recovering from knee surgery at the time the fire broke out.

(Story by Brad Nygaard, The Journal, Crosby)