Around the State: April 29, 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.

Break-ins reported in Minnewaukan

Multiple break-ins were reported to have occurred in Benson County during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 14, including Dakota Spirits in Minnewaukan.

A red vehicle was sighted around the community and believed to have been associated with the break-ins.

(Story taken from the Benson County Farmers Press)

Building Community

What started out as a campground and moved into a baseball complex is hopefully going to develop into a 64,000 square foot Park River Community Center.

Misty Praska who is the director of Park River Parks and Recreation said that whole development south of Highway 17 on the east end of Park River was always a three-phase plan.

"There were three phases. The campground, baseball complex and the third phase which is the community center," she said.

"The first two phases have come to fruition and here we are at the third phase."

It has been 10 years since the second stage of the development was completed and now a committee of seven is ready to embark on a $22 million community center that has something for everyone.

The designs include an ice rink, a basketball court, wellness center, a group flex room which is for workout classes, a walking track, five offices, a conference room, locker rooms, bathrooms and a lobby with a kitchen and concession area.

"The plan has been in the making a long time and now is the time to get it accomplished," said Praska.

(Story by Todd Morgan, the Walsh County Record)

Quick fish picture nets first prize

A quick photo of the first catch of the day landed a Rolla family a nice prize and a spot on stage with the governor.

Brock Mitchell of Rolla took the top prize in the Winter Activities category of the 2024 North Dakota Governor's Photo Contest with "Tip Ups at Sun Up." The announcement was made during the state's travel and tourism convention in Fargo.

The picture features Brock's son, Cruz, and brother-in-law Cody Jeannotte at sunrise. The trio were fishing on Lake Sakakawea in January.

The "tip ups" is in reference to an ice fishing tool in which a flag pops up when a fish is on the line.

"We saw the flag and it was our first fish of the day," Brock said.

(Story by Jason Nordmark, the Turtle Mountain Star)

Stray dogs a growing concern across Traill County

City leaders in Hillsboro may be on the lookout for residents offering doggy day care.

Hillsboro City Commissioner Jason Pohlkamp told fellow city officials that local authorities have seen an increase in the number of dogs running loose in Hillsboro and the surrounding area.

The Traill County Sheriff's sergeant said free-roaming dogs previously picked up by Traill County deputies were transported to the Circle of Friends animal shelter in Grand Forks.

However, the nonprofit closed its adoption center and laid off staff amid budget cuts in early January.

The Grand Forks City Council approved a contract that allowed the animal shelter to continue operating as the city pound in Grand Forks, although neighboring cities no longer have the option of taking animals to the shelter, Pohlkamp said.

"Right now we have nowhere to take dogs," he said.

"So we need to decide, as a city, how much we are willing to pay to house dogs...or whether we can find a kennel to take them."

(Story by Cole Short, the Hillsboro Banner)

Collection of lamps donated to Pioneer Village

Two hours northeast of Calgary, Alberta, the tiny hamlet of Donalda holds claim to the world's largest collection of oil lamps numbering 1,100, some dating back to the 1600s.

The Lake County Historical Museum in Kenmare is more than half way to that volume of lamps thanks to a generous donation of more than six hundred kerosene lamps from the enormous collection of Lois Burau from Columbus.

According to Burau, her varied and colorful collection began on her daughter's twelfth birthday when a relative gifted the daughter with bath lotions in a container resembling a kerosene lamp. From that single lamp, the collection grew exponentially over a span of more than fifty years.

Burau stated, "People would come over and see all the lamps and say, 'Oh! You collect lamps!' They would gift me with more. The collection just grew. I got some from different people who had various lamps in their family."

The kerosene lamps with clear glass chimneys range in dimension from some standing nearly two feet tall all the way down to the smallest that sit just four and five inches above the table top.

The colors are as varied as the styles and shapes including red, blue, green, and golden hues. Lois added lamps to her burgeoning collection from various places including Arkansas, Montana, and Washington state.

"They got too hard to take care of," commented Lois. "I had to crawl up on a ladder to clean and dust them.

I was visiting with someone over in Flaxton or Lignite who said I should contact the museum in Kenmare. They were never to be sold so I donated them.

Her daughters, sons and grandchildren were given some of Lois' lamp collection as a keepsake, but the large majority totaling between six and seven hundred were donated to the museum.

(Story by Jim Langager, the Kenmare News)

Minot depot turns into eatery

Aaron Faken and his wife, Sonya, have fitted the historic downtown Soo Line Passenger Depot to be Minot's newest downtown restaurant.

The Depot and Baggage Claim opened its doors on March 11.

"The community response has been crazy," Faken said, who added that the newly renovated location is perfect for foot traffic.

The former train depot is a downtown jewel. It was originally built in 1912 and recently restored with help from the city's Magic Fund. Faken said the adjacent Railroad Museum of Minot will loan historic signs and tools for display inside.

Faken said the dining room has a capacity between 100 and 140 and he believes the private event room upstairs will hold 45 to 50. An outdoor patio is planned for additional seating.

(Story taken from the Journal, Crosby)