Around the State: January 22, 2024

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.

McLean County farmer convicted of fraud

Kent Pfaff, 59, from Washburn pled guilty to crop insurance fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2024.

Pfaff must repay $379,317 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management agency after he pleaded guilty to a felony count in a crop insurance fraud case on December 20, 2023.

He falsified documents to crop insurance companies and the U.S. Agriculture Department to receive larger payments.

According to the plea agreement, Pfaff has admitted he under-reported yields of soybeans for crop insurance purposes, including reporting that a 138.35 acre soybean field ran 3.82 bushels per acre, while elsewhere reporting a yield of 23.8 bushels per acre for the same field.

The plea agreement explains that Pfaff was paid $223.227 for crop insurance in the 2019 year for the false claims. Pfaff's son, Steven Pfaff was paid $145,035, "and his farmhand Christopher Stork...over whom he had power of attorney" was paid $11,055. The agreement explains that Pfaff, not the other two men, was responsible for falsely certifying the production summary worksheet on which the false claims were made.

The maximum penalty for the charge is 30 years in prison, $1 million in fines, five years probation and a $100 special assessment.

Under the plea agreement, Pfaff will not be eligible for USDA programs for at lease five years.

(Story by Tyson Matthews, the McLean County Independent)

Christmas bird count spots 34 species in area

A group of volunteers and National Wildlife Refuge personnel from the area were able to identify 34 bird species during the annual Christmas Bird Count.

Thirty bird species were observed on December 19, 2023, the day of the count, with four additional species observed during the count week.

Wildlife Biologist Laurie Richardson reported a highlight of the count was the observation of three western meadowlarks.

Other species identified were: 2 bald eagles; 1 red-tailed hawk; 4 great horned owls; 1 downy woodpecker; 3 hairy woodpeckers; 6 blue jays; 134 wild turkeys and 1,017 common redpolls.

(Story taken from the Kenmare News)

Beane has first court appearance for murder

On Thursday, January 4, Scott Richard Beane made his first court appearance for the charge of Class AA Felony, Murder. The maximum sentence for this is life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.

Beane is accused of causing the death of Lois Beane who was found deceased and with extensive burns in the enclosed mudroom of the trailer he shared with both the victim and his father.

At the hearing, Beane appeared without counsel, and as he sat at the table to participate in his hearing, he could be seen swiveling in his chair, without making eye contact with the judge. Beane answered with single syllables through most of the hearing and indicated to Judge Daniel El-Dweek that he planned on representing himself.

He also indicated that he wanted to waive his preliminary hearing.

El-Dweek ordered a Fitness to Proceed Evaluation and a Criminal Responsibility Evaluation to be done for Beane to assess both his competency to stand trial, as well as his ability to adequately represent himself in future proceedings.

(Story by Kristen Jones, the McKenzie County Farmer)

County strategizes on deputy opening

The Divide County Commission and sheriff's office discussed strategies for attracting applicants to the open deputy position during the recent commission meeting.

Sheriff Zach Schroeder said it's unlikely that the county will be able to find a newly graduated officer to fill the position. Police training programs like the one at Lake Region State College are reporting very low attendance numbers.

"I've talked to John Maritato, and he's like, 'I've only got four people scheduled for my class in the spring,' which is unheard of," Schroeder said.

Schroeder said many police departments and sheriff's offices in the region that also have open positions have been including bonuses and allowances in their job listings to attract more applicants.

"We can't do that," he said.

"Kenmare's hiring; they've got a crazy package going on. Powers Lake is hiring; they've got a housing allowance with a bonus."

Commissioners also discussed implementing a step pay grade system for county employees.

The commission will hold a special meeting on January 29 to go over more details of the pay grade system.

(Story by Jordan Rusche, the Journal, Crosby)

Fessenden VP takes over enforcement duties

The Wells County Sheriff Department's contract with the city of Fessenden expired on Dec. 31.

Concerning the council's decision to non-renew the Sheriff's contract, Alderman David Locken reiterated that the county must still respond to 911 emergencies within the city.

"The only thing really changing is our ordinances aren't being enforced by the sheriff anymore," said Locken.

This responsibility would typically fall onto the mayor. However, both the mayor and council president offices were vacated in 2023 and still remain open, so the enforcement of ordinances is the responsibility of the council vice-president, Jeff Johnson.

The city will resume responsibility of licensing dogs and providing a vaccination clinic each year as they had done in previous years.

(Story by Carrie Opdahl, the Herald-Press, Harvey)

Mayville's library shuts its doors to public

The Mayville Public Library will be closed to the public until further notice, city officials in Mayville recently announced.

City Auditor Gail Olstad said library director Margaret Rice requested to take short-term leave requiring the library to temporarily close.

The historic library has no other employees or staff members other than Rice.

(Story by Cole Short, the Hillsboro Banner)