701 Rundown: March 6, 2023

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

Suspects in Valentine’s Day shooting apprehended by law enforcement

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at approximately 5 p.m., Watford City police responded to shots fired on 2nd Street NE within Watford City limits.

No one was injured and only property damage was reported.

With the assistance of the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect was located when two occupants of a vehicle were later stopped and detained as part of the incident.

Further investigation revealed that a previous and related shooting had taken place earlier, along the Fox Hills Parkway.

The Watford City Police Department has identified all suspects along with victims and is still working on completing a thorough investigation.

(Story by Farmer Staff, McKenzie County Farmer)

Hillsboro city leaders renew debate over air-quality issues

During their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, Hillsboro city leaders discussed dust control and air quality.

Hillsboro City Commissioners, Dave Sather and Paul Geray, told their fellow commissioners that the city needs to address air quality concerns along Highway 81 in Hillsboro, where Anchor Ingredients’ plant stands at 313 1st St. SE.

Sather and Geray said they’d received multiple complaints about dust being kicked up at the plant’s location.

“The business people along Highway 81 have had it. They’re tired of it,” Sather said. “I know we’re an agricultural city and it’s a tough place to be. But my god, I wouldn’t want (dust) blowing all over my stuff.”

Levi Reese, the Hillsboro city commission president, told commissioners that he’s had behind-the-scenes talks with the company, as well as with officials from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality to address the air-quality issues.

Reese reported that the company is open to making changes.

“They actually stopped doing some business because they realized it was creating issues,” he said. “But their people in charge can’t be there 24/7 to see what’s going on.”

Reese wrapped up the air quality discussion by asking City Auditor Ashley Fredrick and her staff to ask residents complaining about dust control issues to submit their concerns in writing or through a recording.

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Crime stats released by Walsh County Sheriff’s Department

The Walsh County Sheriff’s Department has reported its statistics for the year 2022.

The department traveled 246,487 miles and responded to a myriad of situations and emergencies.

The Walsh County Sheriff’s Department responded to 18 incidents of abuse (sexual or neglect), 10 assaults, wrote 103 vehicle accident reports, and responded to three fatalities as a result of a vehicle accident.

They also dealt with four burglaries, two bar violations, 30 incidents of criminal mischief, 31 domestic disturbances, 41 cases theft/forgery/fraud and four suicide attempts/threats.

As many as 1,361 traffic warnings were issued and 95 welfare checks conducted.

302 citations were issued for speeding, 26 for running a stop sign, 31 for DUI/APC, 87 for not wearing a seatbelt and 54 for driving under suspension.

Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens also discussed the relatively high crime rate and the potential of a new jail.

“Crime is on the increase and criminals are increasingly more violent,” he said. “All you have to do is turn on the television. I think there were two murders in the state last weekend and one was in a rural area.

“People are going to hear a lot of talk about the need for a new jail this year,” Jurgens added. “It is only a matter of time before the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation closes the one here in Walsh County. We need to have a plan in place as to where we are going to house them, and if we can’t find a place for them, we will have to release them and hope they show up for court.

“All I ask is for the public to have an open mind during these discussions,” he concluded. “Housing inmates has become a critical issue in the state.”

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

City gives green light to street repair plan

The Rolla City Council has approved a plan to bring a long sought-after resolution to the city’s crumbling streets.

However, despite the council voting to approve the plan, the electorate will have to give their approval at the ballot box before any project moves forward. An election is needed because the project’s cost would be $24 million.

The plan is in three phases and targets 67 blocks spread out across the areas of town.

The first phase includes the northeast section of Rolla and consists of 19 blocks, and has an estimated cost of $7,941,038.

Phase two would cover 22.5 blocks, from parts of town between First Street Northeast over to 13th Avenue. The second phase would cost $7,906,107.

The third phase would include areas on Front Street Northeast to 8th Avenue, near the Dairy Queen. It would total 26.5 blocks and have a price tag of $7,913,943.

(Story by John Rosinski, Turtle Mountain Star)

North Dakota’s oil production drops

Lynn Helms, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources director, reported December was an extremely difficult month for the oil and gas industry.

Oil production in December dropped by 13 percent, as production numbers came in below the 1 million barrels per day mark for the second time.

In total, 956,288 barrels of crude oil were produced per day for a total of 29,644,931 from December.

McKenzie County continued to lead the state with 5,222 active wells that produced 10,145,147 barrels of oil (30.31 percent of the state’s total) and 39,630,863 mcf of natural gas (48.37 percent of the state’s total).

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, McKenzie County Farmer)