Around the State: May 29, 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.

Record, News closes doors

The Mountrail County Record and the New Town News have officially ceased publication.

According to North Dakota Newspaper Association (NDNA) bylaws, as well as the North Dakota Century Code, a newspaper can be declassified as such after missing two issues, said NDNA executive director Beth Helfrich. For both papers, their last issue was printed on April 21, 2023.

Helfrich said she became aware of the issues after receiving calls, which had initially stemmed from inquiries made at the New Town City Auditor’s office. When Helfrich reached out to the newspapers on May 4, both the Parshall and New Town numbers were disconnected.

The Record and News, which were previously owned by BHG, Inc., were sold on August 1, 2020, to employees Jerry Kram and Rebecca Strickland, who formed R&J Publishing, LLC, in New Town.

Kram had served as editor of the papers for 10 years previously while Strickland worked as advertising and promotional sales director since January of that year. They continued to operate in that capacity until the closure of the papers.

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

Frost Fire Park summer production cancelled

Frost Fire Summer Theatre is disappointed to announce that they will not be able to hold their 39th annual production due to a natural disaster.

Staff members discovered the roof and sidewalls over the amphitheater collapsed after a late April storm brought heavy snowfall.

“With the integrity of the remaining portion of the roof compromised, and the extensive repairs needed to get the amphitheater back into operation, we regretfully have to suspend the 2023 Frost Fire Summer Theatre Production,” said board member Darrin Longtin.

“We were hoping that maybe we could just delay our starting date to get the repairs done. But after closer inspection by the insurance adjusters and an engineer, they believe it will take most of the summer to repair. It is extremely disappointing. I have been looking forward to producing this show ever since I saw the national premier in 2008 at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis,” said director Amy Jo Paukert.

(Story taken from the Cavalier Chronicle)

Two more resignations in the City of Rolla

The string of resignations involving the City of Rolla continued recently, deepening questions about what is going on within the confines of the local government.

In the span of only two weeks, the six-member council has been cut in half, two department heads have resigned along with a deputy auditor.

Councilman Tyler Bergsrud became the latest member to leave his position, joining former councilwomen Paula Wilkie and Eleanor McCloud. Former auditor Erica McDougall and deputy auditor Shelby Campbell have also resigned.

In his resignation letter, dated May 16, Bergsrud echoed many of the same themes invoked in Wilkie and McCloud’s letters.

“I can no longer serve in the capacity that I was elected to serve in with the current state of the council and employee turnover,” Bergsrud wrote. “Outside entities and personal vendettas have outweighed what is right for the city of Rolla. I cannot in good conscious be part of a board that allows these things to happen.”

Bergsrud continued, “There are rumors and perceived threats that are influencing key decisions that are being made. Growing up here and this being a small community it is against my beliefs and values not to support another, businesses, and listen to citizen concerns to better our community.”

Joining Bergsrud on the resignation line was Police Chief William Poitra.

Rolla resident and former councilman Dennis Berg was on the agenda and addressed the departures. Berg stood in front of the remaining members of the gity government and asked the simple question on everyone’s mind.

“What the hell’s going on here?”

Rolla Mayor Kevin Juntunen, serving the first year of his first term, addressed what he described as adversity at the beginning of the most recent meeting.

“The struggle our city is facing has been building for years and may have inherited these issues,” said Juntunen.

The mayor added a special meeting will likely take place to address the open seats on the board.

(Story by John Rosinski, the Turtle Mountain Star)

Vandewalker pleads guilty in crude oil theft

On May 11, Joseph Vandewalker, one of four men charged in the theft of $2.4 million of crude oil in 2022, pleaded guilty to a Class A Felony of conspiracy to commit theft exceeding $50,000, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $20,000 fine.

According to court records. Vandewalker and three other individuals were charged in connection to the theft, or “skimming,” of crude oil in June 2022. Vandewalker, who was a crude oil truck driver at the time, was found by police to be one of the top two drivers in this illegal operation, with law enforcement citing him as delivering 10 percent of the stolen crude deliveries.

Bank records obtained by law enforcement through the execution of a search warrant showed Vandewalker received “58,325, not including cash payments, from one of the convicted members of the group for his part in the ongoing incident.

At his hearing Vandewalker pleaded guilty to both felonies he was charged with, and proceeded to have his sentencing hearing.

(Story by Kristen Jones, the McKenzie County Farmer)

Linton council denies chicken request

During its regular meeting on May 1, the Linton City Council denied a request for a variance in the City Ordinance to allow chickens to be housed on property within city limits.

Chris and Nicole Vargas, who reside on the north edge of Northwest First Street in Linton, submitted a written request to the City, asking for the variance. In the letter, Vargas stated he would build a coop and would have four to six hens, but no rooster.

In the end, the council voted to deny the request for a variance because even though Vargas lives on the edge of the city, they did not want to set a precedence in allowing this variance.

(Story by Mark Weber, Emmons County Record)