701 Rundown: September 5, 2022

Here’s your weekly rundown of some of the most interesting headlines from newspapers across North Dakota.

Expansion at Dakota Growers near completion

A parcel of 6 1/2 acres of land, just to the southeast of Dakota Growers in Carrington, is the site for a brand new expansion to the complex which promises to make shipment times much shorter at the facility.

Under construction at the site is a new 950 sq. ft. grain grading lab, and a 2,300 sq. ft. steel building which will house a 110 ft. commercial scale for weighing grain deliveries from farmers.

Jason Jarrett, Plant Manager of 8th Avenue Food and Provisions, the parent company of Dakota Growers, says that the project is currently in the final phases of completion.

“Validation and testing is scheduled to be complete in early September,” said Jarrett. “The target date is September 26 for the system to be fully operational.”

Jarrett said the expansion, located just to the southeast of the main Dakota Growers terminal, will allow expanded area for trucks to stage while awaiting the grading, weighing and dumping process.

(Story by Erik Gjovik, The Foster County Independent)

Emergency responders participate in bus crash simulation

On Tuesday, July 26, first responders and county officials in Steele County participated in a simulated training exercise of a school bus crash scene.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, has provided the opportunity for these training experiences. A company out of Bismarck, Heartland Consulting Group, coordinated and instructed the exercise.

“Trainings like this are important because they help us to prepare for any and all emergencies,” explained Ben Gates, Steele County Emergency Manager. “Unfortunately, the emergencies that our ambulances and fire departments are called to aren’t considered ‘simple’ anymore.

“With the advent of technology, even the ‘simplest’ responses can turn complicated in a hurry. Trainings like these help to show the things we do well, and the things we need to work on a little more.

“Our volunteers are amazing and want to continue to learn! As long as they are willing, we are going to continue trainings like these.”

Steele County Sheriff Wayne Beckman helped with the planning of the event and shares the same thought as Gates.

“You can write all the plans you want but if you never test and exercise the plan it does you no good,” said Beckman.

(Story by Jill Larson, Steele County Press)

Leeds bus drivers take trophy at county bus rodeo

Five Benson County schools participated in this year’s bus rodeo, which was held August 15 at the Maddock school parking lot. School bus drivers from each school competed for a chance to win the 2022 bus rodeo trophy.

Divers had to parallel park, back up without hitting any barrels, simulate picking up and dropping off students, complete a forward and backward serpentine without hitting any cones, and maneuver a railroad crossing correctly.

This year’s competition was close, with the schools only one point apart. The winner for the second year in a row was the Leeds bus drivers.

In addition to hosting the event, the Maddock school provided supper. Helping to judge were Paul Backstrom, Benson County Sheriff Ethan Rode, and deputies Travis Carlson and Josh Gartner.

(Story from the Benson County Farmers Press)

Restoration of Antler Pioneer Cemetery is complete

In July, Mark Jorgensen of the Antler Cemetery Association saw the final pieces come together in restoring the Antler Pioneer Cemetery when Matt Wagner completed welding pieces of the gate and fence around the cemetery.

“We took over the Antler Cemetery and the Antler Pioneer Cemetery in 2017 from the city because they didn’t have the funds or the manpower any more to take care of it,” Jorgensen said. “So, we formed the Antler Cemetery Association to care for the two cemeteries.

“I kind of took the Antler Pioneer Cemetery on as a pet project, and if you look at our website you will see some before and after pictures of what it looked like when we started. It was overgrown, trees had fallen down, one or two of the headstones were tipped over.

“The fence was down, and cattle had been in the cemetery area. So, I just try to keep it a lot cleaner and nicer and now with the permanent fence around there that should prevent any future issues.”

(Story by Scott Wagar, Bottineau Courant)

Poisonous plant prevalent in Cass County

Land owners, beware. Spotted Hemlock, a highly toxic weed that can kill livestock and cause illness in humans, is prevalent throughout Cass County.

According to Cass County Weed Control Director Stan Wolf, the poisonous plant seems to be thriving in ditches and waste areas with soils that tend to be wet.

Wolf said Spotted Hemlock has been identified in the southern tier townships of Watson, Leonard, Davenport and the Maple River watershed, including on the west and east side of Highway 18, north of Highway 46.

It has also been identified in all townships along the western border of the county from north to south.

The poisonous weed emits a strong, pungent odor (likened to mouse urine) in its live state which typically prevents livestock from eating it, but Wolf warns, if the weed ends up in hay, livestock can ingest it and its effects are equally harmful.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

State to see slow, steady growth in oil and gas

North Dakota’s oil production grew by 3.5 percent in the month of June, while natural gas production increased by 9.7 percent. And according to Lynn Helms, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources director, that upward trend should continue into the future.

“We fell slightly short of that 1.1 million per day that I thought we would achieve in June,” stated Helms, during his monthly Director’s Cut on Tuesday, Aug. 16. “In a little bit of a surprise, Dunn County’s production dropped about 12,000 barrels a day and Mountrail County’s production was flat.”

During July, the state produced 32,884,526 barrels of oil and 91,832,447 mcf of natural gas from its record 17,284 actively producing wells.

During the month of June, McKenzie County’s 5,234 active wells produced 11,929,754 barrels of oil (36 percent of the state’s total) and 46,956,516 mcf of natural gas (51 percent of the state’s total).

Helms believes that the state can achieve production of 1.2 million barrels per day by the end of this year or within the first quarter of 2023.

(Story by Neal A. Shipman, McKenzie County Farmer)