Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Here’s your weekly rundown of some of the most interesting headlines from newspapers across North Dakota.
Garcia pleads guilty to $2.4 million crude oil theft
On Thursday, Dec. 1, Michael Jason Garcia appeared for a change of plea and sentencing hearing having made a plea agreement.
Garcia had been charged with three felony charges stemming from a $2.4 million crude oil theft case.
In the plea deal, Garcia pled guilty to two of the three counts against him, with the third count being dismissed. The agreement also dictates that Elizabeth Garcia (Garcia’s wife) could not be charged with any crimes relating to the case.
The sentencing hearing immediately followed, and after thorough arguments from both sides of the courtroom, Judge Robin Schmidt announced her sentencing decision.
State’s Attorney, Ty Skarda, began by reminding the court of Garcia’s conviction in 2015, when he was convicted for a theft against Foley Towing, for which he was ordered to pay $78,000 in restitution and only three days in jail.
That previous conviction had a significant impact on Judge Schmidt’s sentencing of Garcia.
“After having pled guilty to an A felony theft in the past, here we are again,” said Schmidt. “Actions have consequences. Today they have consequences. You received a slap on the wrist in 2015. That clearly did not work, or you would not be here today.”
Schmidt added, “I don’t have any faith in your ability or willingness to pay restitution if you are out. I don’t see any remorse. All I see are actions. Your time to speak, Mr. Garcia, is over.”
Garcia was sentenced to 20 years for the Class A felony with 13 years suspended, and 10 years for the Class B felony with three years suspended, for a total of 14 years behind bars. Garcia will also be under five years supervised probation when he gets out.
Garcia was arrested and taken into custody immediately, at which time he hurled taunts and profanity at law enforcement in the room.
(Story by Kristen Jones, McKenzie County Farmer)
$100,000 for Kid Scoop News
Kid Scoop News ND, a monthly section for K-6 grade students, was recently awarded $100,000 to expand its distribution to students across western North Dakota.
The new funding comes from Strengthen ND and its creative community solutions grant program, which is funded by a Bush Foundation initiative to increase the accessibility and flexibility of charitable dollars.
“I am so thankful the grantmakers saw the value in this program,” said Cecile Wehrman, publisher of The Journal.
Kid Scoop News ND is free to both schools and students, thanks to funding from the John & Elaine Andrist Charitable Trust, the North Dakota Newspapers Association Education Foundation, and more.
Each issue of Kid Scoop News is filled with educational reading and activities designed to make reading fun and promote a more literate society and engaged citizens.
Eventually, Wehrman says she hopes to grow Kid Scoop News ND to become available statewide.
(Story from The Journal)
A flying squirrel
Virgil Schultz, a resident of the Turtle Mountains, recently began trapping squirrels around his house to keep them from damaging his home.
One day, while going through his traps and seeing how many squirrels were unlucky enough to have been caught, Schultz came across an interesting species he’s never seen before in his 85 years in the Bottineau area: a flying squirrel.
Most in the area will say they’ve never seen a flying squirrel in the Turtle Mountains, but now, they appear to have found a new home in the area.
Schultz has now caught around four of the unique species, and others say they’ve caught others on their trail cameras.
According to Patrick Isakson, a conservation biologist with North Dakota Game and Fish, there have been no research studies of the flying squirrel in the Turtle Mountains.
The flying squirrel in the Turtle Mountains is a Northern Flying Squirrel species, which is 10 to 12 inches long. The mammal can live up to 10 years in captivity or about half that when living in the wild.
Schultz has donated one of the flying squirrels he caught to Dakota College at Bottineau, where it will be displayed at the Nelson Science Center once it is taxidermied.
(Story by Scott Wagar, Bottineau Courant)
Capital campaign for $3M Maple Valley building project underway
Rural Cass County schools are continuing to experience increased enrollment, and Maple Valley is no different despite being one of the most outlying districts.
In 2018, the district expanded its high school after closing its two elementary schools and moved them all to the main campus in Tower City.
The project was phase I of a five year Master Plan involving two phases. Now, the district is currently in the planning and development stage of its estimated $3 million phase II project.
The project will be funded without any increase in taxes, and according to interim superintendent Dr. Michael Nygaard, approximately two thirds of the estimated cost will come from funds in the district’s building authority.
In addition, there is a private capital campaign actively underway, which is aimed at raising another $1 million for the construction of a proposed 16,300 sq. foot addition.
The addition is planned to be built off the east side of the school, and will include a larger classroom for the Pre-K program, a regulation sized gymnasium, locker rooms, storage and a community accessible fitness center.
(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)
