Around the State: June 5, 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.

Well, that escalated quickly!

Someone seems to want that old pickup offered for sale by the Crosby Rural Fire Protection District awfully bad.

As of Monday morning, the high bid sat at $15,250.

The online auction of the 1974 Chevrolet pickup opened Friday, May 19, with an opening offer of $1,000. Since then things have escalated quickly, with the current high bidder making nearly a dozen bids since the price went to $9,800 on Friday evening.

Online bidders are identified only by numbers obtained when they registered with Steffes Auction Company. Bidding closes at 11:02 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24.

Considered something of a classic mid-1970s “square body” Chevrolet pickups are very popular with auto restoration enthusiasts and custom car builders. This particular truck shows fewer than 10,000 miles on the odometer.

(Story taken from the Journal, Crosby)

Burgum announces development of state park

The Pembina Gorge State Recreatin Area (PGSRA) will be developed into North Dakota’s 14th State Park with funding secured by the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department (NDPRD) during the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Doug Burgum announced recently.

Development of the park will include underground utilities, roads, an approximately 35-site campground, six all-season, full-service cabins, a comfort station, shop and seasonal staff accommodations at a cost of approximately $8 million. Future development of the park may include a visitor center with indoor and outdoor learning areas and retail and office space.

The 2023 Legislature approved $6 million dollars for the new park facilities. The additional $2 million for the initial development will come from a matching federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Burgum recommended funding for the Pembina Gorge campground project in his executive budget proposal in December.

“The Pembina Gorge is one of North Dakota’s most beautiful areas, offering an incredible array of recreational activities including canoeing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing, snowmobiling, hunting and birdwatching.

“Establishing our 14th state park in the Pembina Gorge will elevate its status as a must-see destination and provide additional opportunities for visitors from North Dakota and beyond to experience all that this special area has to offer,” Burgum said.

The development of the Pembina Gorge into a state park has been a more than 10 year effort that continues to be supported by public and private partners. The project was started through a master planning effort that was completed in 2014. This plan was created to establish and guide a long-term vision for visitor experience, facility development, resource conservation and management of this property.

(Story taken from the Cavalier Chronicle)

Judge dismisses kidnapping case

The North Dakota State Hospital advised Traill County District Court that 63-year-old Mark Weibye is not mentally competent to aid in his own defense and will not regain that ability.

With that, by statute, Judge Reid Brady dismissed the kidnapping charges against Weibye, who is bedridden at Sanford Hospital. Weibye was accused in July 2022 of attempting to force the owner of the Hillsboro Subway into his pick up at gunpoint. The charge carried up to 20 years on prison if convicted.

(Story taken from the Traill County Tribune)

A juvenile prank

A TikTok post which described how an active shooting incident may occur at a McLean County school has been identified as coming from Canada.

According to a press release from the McLean County Sheriff’s office, a post on the social media platform TikTok stated that a shooting may occur at the Wilton Public School on May 22.

Andrew Jordan, superintendent of schools for Wilton Public School, said he was contacted recently by the Sheriff’s office regarding the TikTok post which “spelled out a shooting threat to Wilton High School.”

Through an active investigation, a juvenile suspect living in a suburb of Toronto, Ontario, was identified. The suspect later confesses to the post and is being formally charged for their involvement with the incident, the press release stated.

Canadian officials were notified and will continue the investigation in their jurisdiction.

“Through our investigation, it was concluded that the Wilton Public School was not in danger, and we have deemed this to be a prank,” said Lt. Justin Krohmer with the McLean County Sheriff’’s office.

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

Changing the face of downtown

After 20 years of gracing Caledonia Avenue, a downtown public art exhibit is coming down in Hillsboro.

A collage of sports paintings above the former Reno’s Sport Bar will be taken down as part of renovations to the structure, which will be the new location for Walden Veterianary Service.

Scott Walden, owner of the veterinary clinic, said he hopes the remodel will make the exterior look more appropriate for his business.

“It would be a shame to see (the paintings) get thrown away,” Walden said.

Walden said the building is being renovated for new offices and clinic space for his business.

However, as part of those plans, the paintings will be coming down.

The artwork is near and dear to several current residents of Traill County.

(Story by Cory Erickson, the Hillsboro Banner)

Chippewa Downs racing kick-off

The races will be on this coming weekend and throughout the month of June at Chippewa Downs northeast of Belcourt.

It will also mark the first time in a quarter century the event will go off with a new chairman of the Turtle Mountain Tribe’s Outdoor Recreation Development Association, Robert Wilson.

Wilson said his goal is to build up the numbers in all aspects of the sport.

(Story by Jason Nordmark, the Turtle Mountain Star)