Around the State: December 25, 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.

Police arrest man wanted for murder

Grafton police working with a joint operations team recently arrested a Texas man wanted on charges of murder.

On December 12, a joint operation commenced to locate Joshua C. Davis, 26, in the city of Grafton. He was wanted on indictments for capital murder and engaging in organized criminal activity in El Paso. Texas. Intelligence was obtained that indicated Davis was working in the Grafton community.

At approximately 10:00 a.m. Davis was taken into custody without incident at a residence in Grafton.

"We got help from the family. We had the house under surveillance, the family called him and asked him to come outside and he was arrested," said Grafton Police Chief Tony Dumas.

"Arresting a man wanted for murder in a residential neighborhood a couple of blocks from the school could have turned out a lot different but we took advantage of a lot of resources that were available to us and he was arrested without incident," he said.

(Story by Todd Morgan, the Walsh County Record)

Williams data center sued

Residents in a neighborhood west of Williston have filed a lawsuit against the owner of a data center, as well as Williams County.

Twenty-two plaintiffs who live in or near the Painted Woods Subdivision allege that noise from a data center owned by Atlas Power Holdings ND has made a significant and unreasonable amount of noise which "has been detrimental to Plaintiffs' health and quality of life," a formal complaint filed by the plaintiffs stated.

Additionally, Williams County was named in the suit as it has "not taken sufficient action to require (Atlas) to reduce the noise from the facility, despite the repeated notice by Plaintiffs and other nearby residents."

Atlas Power said the plaintiffs' reports of excessive noise are "grossly inflated."

(Story taken from the Journal, Crosby)

Resistance to roundabout

A proposal to construct a $15.8 million roundabout at a dangerous intersection south of Minot generated almost no support among area residents who filled the Max community hall to air their objections December 5.

Attendees of the public input meeting on improvements to the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and state Highway 23 indicated a strong preference for an interchange, and some suggested other less extensive and more inexpensive changes that could make the intersection safer.

The intersection of Highways 83 and 23 handles about 2,800 vehicles a day and is No. 1 for serious crashes in the state. There have been 10 minor crashes and seven severe crashes involving death or incapacitating injuries in the past five years, including three fatalities in 2023.

(Story taken from the Journal, Crosby)

Tragic loss strikes Mercer County

Two weeks ago, a deputy with the Mercer County Sheriff's office lost his life while responding to a vehicle pursuit incident west of Hazen.

Deputy Paul Martin died after his patrol vehicle was struck by a fleeing car on the evening of Wednesday, December 6. Martin was standing behind his vehicle when it was struck, and the impact pushed the patrol vehicle into Martin, killing him.

Martin, 53 years old, lived in Beulah. He is survived by his wife and three children.

According to a press release received on December 7 from North Dakota Highway Patrol, Mercer County Deputies located a 2017 Black Chevy Tahoe in Hazen that was reported missing on December 6 by the Bismarck Police Department. The Mercer County Sheriff's office confirmed that the vehicle was discovered shortly after 5 p.m. on the evening of the 6th.

The driver of the stolen vehicle was reported as Ian Cramer, age 42, of Bismarck. Ian Cramer is the son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer and his wife Kris.

"When law enforcement approached Cramer, he fled in the vehicle and a pursuit ensued," said N.D. Highway Patrol Lt. Dan Haugen.

In an affidavit of Probable cause, it was stated that "Cramer fled law enforcement on a short, lower speed pursuit through Hazen. Cramer then fled west bound on ND Highway 200 out of Hazen at speeds of over 100 mph."

The affidavit said a Beulah police officer deployed a tire deflation device about three miles west of Hazen, which flattened both of the tires on the driver's side of Cramer's vehicle. According to the affidavit, "Cramer continued west at speeds still over 100 mph...With only two (passenger side) inflated tires, he was operating his vehicle in an unsafe manner and without due caution."

About three and a half miles west of Hazen, Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Martin and Beulah Police Chief Frank Senn were positioned with more tire deflation devices. The affidavit said, "Both parked their patrol vehicles facing east. Senn was on the south side of the roadway and Martin was on the north. Both deployed their tire deflation devices and took cover behind their patrol vehicles. Both officers were placed in substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death."

The affidavit said Cramer swerved to the right and collided head on with Martin's patrol vehicle, which sent the patrol vehicle directly into Martin's person.

The affidavit said Cramer tried to flee the scene on foot, but Senn brought him tot he ground and tried to subdue him.

As of Tuesday, December 12, Cramer faces the following charges; Manslaughter-Adult Victim (Felony) B; Fleeing a Peace Officer-Vehicle-Fleeing from Felony (Felony) C; Reckless endangerment-Extreme Indifference-Dangerous weapon (Felony C): Driving under suspension (Misdemeanor B). Cramer also faces an additional charge in Bismarck municipal court of driving on a suspended license.

(Story by Daniel Arens, the Hazen Star)

Rugby to be featured in "My Town" docuseries

Rugby has been selected to be featured in a 2024 "My Town" docuseries with six other rural communities in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Kevin Leier, vice president of the Rugby Economic Development Corporation (EDC) received the invitation.

Producer Cory Hepola says, "This is such an important story to tell. Right now, there's an accepted narrative that rural America is dying and that's simply not true. With 'My Town' we'll show the world the opportunity, innovation, and talented people who make our thriving rural communities beautiful."

"Rural by Choice" garnered more than half million views on Facebook and 200,000 and counting on YouTube.

(Story taken from the Benson County Farmers Press)