Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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That Legacy Fund sure has the legislature in a tizzy. They look at the balance in the fund, and its earnings over the past few years, and their heads spin. They even bring back proposals late in the session that were killed after thoughtful floor debate. Yes, I’m talking about the plan to use the Legacy Fund’s earnings to offset the income tax. The House's proposal would divert half of the Legacy Fund's earnings each two-year budget cycle to an “income tax rate reduction fund,” as long as the...
The flexible modular schedule (“flex mod”) that educators plan to implement at NR-S High School next year is not new. It is actually a novel “retro” concept making a comeback. Flex mod dates back to the late 1960s, a schedule that scraps the standard grid in favor of a custom-built learning plan to meet the needs of the students and staff instructing. With a flex mod schedule, teachers can schedule an hour-long science lab one day, and a 45 minute lecture the next because they aren’t tied to a...
The first loan payment for the school renovation project is due May 1. The debt service fund is short $13,000 because they didn’t have a full year to collect tax revenue. The total annual payment is $198,739.85. Heskin noted that this payment will include more principal and less interest due to the fact that a full year’s interest hasn’t accrued, but the payment is the same. The $13,000 will come from district general fund revenue. Patti Larson updated the board on building committee activ...
The goofy, character comedy that defined the '60s comes to life for new generations to love in DPRCA's "Gilligan's Island: The Musical." Whether they reminisced of sitting on the couch in front of the tube, or they were too young to know anything about the TV show this musical is based, patrons seemed to agree that DPRCA's production was fantastic. "Another great musical. Definitely captured the heart of Gilligan's Island. Very funny and entertaining. Great opening night!" wrote one patron....
More rate increases for city residents are in effect. After the matter was on the agenda for three meetings, the New Rockford City Commission got serious about sewer, sanitation and street light rates at their April 1 meeting. Auditor George Ritzke has said that the sanitation fund is running a deficit, as the city has absorbed 3 percent annual increases from Waste Management for a few years without raising rates. Ritzke recommended a 15 percent increase in the base sanitation rate. Upon...
The New Rockford Sheyenne archery team received a lively send off from their classmates and teachers on Friday, March 22 as they departed for the state archery competition in Minot. This in the third year that NR-S has participated in the National Archery School Program (NASP), and for many students it is their third year attending the state tournament. Since January, the students have been practicing and developing their skills and have competed at school tournaments at Medina,...
The Rosefield Dam case is headed for the N.D. Supreme Court. Monty Schaefer, a Barlow area farmer, filed an appeal on March 8 after Southeast District Judge Cherie Clark affirmed the Eddy County Water Resource District’s (ECWRD) decision to remove the Rosefield Dam and spillway, which is located on Schaefer’s property, on Jan. 3. Schaefer has spent over five years fighting for the right to retain the Rosefield Dam and spillway and to conduct necessary repairs to keep the structure functional. T...
The 2019 North Dakota Academic All-State Teams have been selected, and NR-S Senior Sandra Larson is among the recipients. High School seniors are nominated by their school principal and compete for the honor on a statewide basis in both Class A and Class B divisions. Student selection is based on overall grade-point averages, ACT or SAT test scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement and leadership qualities. WDAY and Forum Communications presented a medallion to each gold,...
The city sales tax in New Rockford will officially increase from 2 percent to 2.5 percent on July 1. The New Rockford City Commission approved the second reading of the required ordinance change at a special meeting on Monday, March 18. The state tax commissioner’s office now needs 90 days to implement the change. The commission also approved the second reading of an ordinance that will require all residents within 200 feet of a water main to connect to the city’s service. The former is par...
Hindsight is 20/20. At least it was for the New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board as they considered the 2019-20 School Calendar. As students were returning from a four-day weekend on March 8-11, the school board was faced with making the decision about whether or not to cancel school on March 14 and 15 so staff and students could attend the state boys basketball tournament. The impending weather also influenced the deciscion to dismiss early on Thursday at 1:20 p.m. and hold no school on Friday....
Second reading of sales tax ordinance change scheduled for March 18 Officially, city water rates will increase by $16.50 per meter each month, effective April 1. The declaration was made at the city commission’s March 4 meeting. Commissioners approved the first reading of the revised sales tax ordinance as well. A special meeting has been set for March 18 at 8 a.m. to conduct the second reading of the ordinance. Provided that the second reading is approved, the extra one-half percent will be e...
There are a number of bills currently before the North Dakota Legislature that could have an impact on the state’s largest industry. Here we give you the rundown on some of the most talked about agriculture-related bills still in consideration. One bill, SB 2345, could have ramifications for local government zoning as it pertains to animal feeding operations. This bill limits the length of time that political subdivisions have to approve or reject an animal feeding operation to 60 days, and g...
New Rockford Community Foundation advisory committee kicks off fundraising campaign to grow permanent endowment fund Charitable giving is an important way small and rural communities like New Rockford thrive, and we all know how it works. Typically, donations make a straight line from the donor to the recipient. When most people make a donation, they find pride in knowing exactly what that money will be going towards, and how it will be used. The donation itself is then spent within a short...
For the first time this season, the Rocket archers had an opportunity to shoot 3D targets in addition to the standard bullseye. On Saturday, Feb. 23, nine locals competed in the Medina 3D Archery Tournament, and five of them had top 10 finishes in their divisions. Leading the Rockets was Keaton Cudworth, whose 267 point shoot earned him second place in the middle school boys division. Kyria Dockter was right behind with 263 points, and she finished third among middle school girls. Macey Wobbema...
Parents of young children choose every day between caring for kids at home and entering the workforce. By opening a child care business, Wendi (Longnecker) Brandner is effectively doing both, providing a service so other parents know their children are in good hands when they go to work. In an ample sized single-family home just two blocks from the school, and within walking distance of the city park and pool, is Wendi's daycare. Interestingly enough, this home-based business that didn't exist...
The New Rockford City Commission approved a repayment plan for the water infrastructure project on Feb. 15 that will both increase the sales tax rate and raise water bills. Under the proposal, the city sales tax will increase by one-half percent to 2.5 percent. Before the change can go into effect, the commission must hold two readings of the ordinance change and allow public comment before voting. Although the two readings are expected to be held in conjunction with the March and April meetings...
On one night, Friday, Feb. 8, a total of 655 churches from across the world came together and hosted prom events for approximately 100,000 guests through the support of 200,000 volunteers. Known as the "Night to Shine," the event celebrated its fifth anniversary this year as a global celebration of people with special needs. Night to Shine is a product of the Tim Tebow Foundation, a nonprofit established by professional athlete Tim Tebow. The foundation chose New Life on Main Church in Harvey...
Thanks to a generous donation from Grand Forks Freezeway, LLC, a Grand Forks Park District partner, the ice rink here in New Rockford will get a nice upgrade. The New Rockford Park District requested a portion of what was available to municipal park systems across the state - approximately 5,000 square feet of boards/barriers, stanchions to hold the boards, and pads - and New Rockford was one of four recipients. The value of the equipment is approximately $6,000, according to Dennis Nybo, New...
At the regular city commission meeting on Monday, Feb. 4, Auditor George Ritzke presented nine possible options for covering the annual loan payments for the water infrastructure project, each which includes sales tax funds, user fees or a combination of the two. Ritzke reported that the city collected $275,221 in sales tax revenue in 2018, which is interestingly enough just $200 less than the projected annual payments due on the water project. On the user fee side, Ritzke said the number of wat...
School kids, local officials take "cold weather day(s)" as temperatures plunge School's out for winter! School's out due to cold air! Students at area schools could be heard singing a version of Alice Cooper's popular last-day-of-school tune as they snuggled up at home this past week. Well, maybe it was their parents who did the humming. With temperatures plunging to nearly 40 degrees below zero with wind chill readings even lower, classes at New Rockford-Sheyenne School were canceled both...
The Rockets archery team was firing on all cylinders this past Saturday, even if the bus wasn't. Parents shuttled archers to Kensal to make their flights after the bus broke down just two miles south of New Rockford on Saturday, Jan. 26. This third tournament of the season for the Rockets brought 223 archers out to Kensal to shoot on both Friday night and Saturday. The Rockets had participants in the final three flights, starting at noon, and the locals did not disappoint. Sophomore Koven...
Attentive, careful and knowledgeable are just three ways New Rockford resident Jean Schuster described the first Employee of the Month honoree for 2019. Mike Brazil, a yardman at Cash and Carry Lumber, was recognized by the New Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce for his commitment to service. Now seven years into his tenure, Brazil knows the yard at Cash and Carry like the back of his hand, which makes finding what customers need for their orders easy. He navigates the various buildings and bins...
On Saturday, Jan. 19, the New Rockford Eagles Club celebrated the 70th anniversary of its inception, and four of the club's original charter members were on hand for the festivities. New Rockford Aerie 2923 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles held its institution on Sunday, Dec. 12, 1948. R.M. Schlosser was the local organizer in charge of circulating the charter, and he reported to the "Transcript" that the quota of 100 members had been exceeded and that managing organizer for the Eagles, M.L....
On Jan. 22, Superintendent Jill Louters received notice that New Rockford-Sheyenne Elementary School was one of three North Dakota schools nominated for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program by State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler. According to Louters, the school was nominated as an exemplary high performing school for its overall academic excellence. Primary eligibility for the award is based on state assessment results, where the school’s scores must be in the top 15 percent of all s...
Now in its third year at New Rockford-Sheyenne, the local National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) has grown and developed, offering a new opportunity for the school. On Saturday, Jan 10, NR-S hosted its first NASP Tournament. Volunteers worked Friday night after the boys basketball game to set up nets, targets, quivers and arrows for 32 archers to shoot simultaneously in the NR-S Gymnasium. Then, as of 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning, the hallways were abuzz with archers, coaches, friends and...
