701 Rundown: June 19, 2023

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

Judge denies motion in Thompson case

Northeast District Judge Kari Agotness did not accept a plea agreement reached between Christopher R. Thompson and the prosecuting attorney.

On May 5, Thompson and his attorney Mark Friese appeared in Northeast District Court along with approximately 60 supporters, when the defense attempted to present a plea agreement.

The agreement would have amended the criminal vehicular homicide charge – a Class A felony – to reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor.

In an order filed Monday, June 5 in Northeast District Court, Agotness detailed her decision, stating, “An amendment of an information to charge a different offense is contrary to North Dakota Rules of Criminal Prosecution and a misapplication of law.

“As the state’s motion to amend information seeks to add an additional or different offense, the court has no choice but to deny the state's motion as it does not comply with North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure.”

Thompson was charged with vehicular manslaughter as a result of a traffic accident that occurred on Walsh County Road No. 9 east of Edinburg at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2022.

As a result of the accident, one man, Jason Schatzke, was pronounced dead at the scene. Schatzke was riding with Thompson and was ejected from his seat in the crash. Thompson had been drinking and his blood alcohol level was .134 percent.

At the time, Thompson was a duly-elected Walsh County Commissioner, but resigned before taking his oath of office.

An autopsy determined Jason Schatzke’s cause of death to be Cardiac Dysrhythmia in the context of Hypertensive Cardiomegaly and Acute Ethanol Intoxication, and that the crash did not cause his death.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

Train Derailment

On May 30, several Canadian Pacific freight cars and a locomotive derailed near Balfour, just north of Highway 52.

According to reports, there was a small fire after the derailment, but it was quickly brought under control.

Three of the cars were carrying hazardous material, including lithium batteries. Thankfully though, everything remained contained.

Emergency teams responded immediately and began clean up, and after being repaired and inspected for safety, the section of line was reopened the next day.

(Story from the Mouse River Journal)

Concerned citizens take up petition to get city’s financial records audited

The North Dakota State Auditor’s Office has received a request for a petition audit, the latest saga involving the city of Rolla’s financial records.

According to Emily Dalzell, communications director at the state auditor’s office, a request was received near the end of last month.

Dalzell said the lead petitioner of the audit has six months to collect 35 percent of qualified elector signatures.

If enough signatures are requested, the auditor’s office will verify the names and then conduct an audit.

“The state auditor’s office would conduct the audit and meet with the chief petitioner to find out what their concerns are and once those are identified we are able to develop the scope of the audit,” explained Dalzell.

Dalzell said the last audit completed and submitted by the city was in 2016.

City officials have spent years trying to secure audits since 2016 but have run into one roadblock after another.

Meanwhile, the City of Rolla once again has six members, after the appointment of Deanna Counts to replace Tyler Bergsrud.

(Story by John Rosinski, Turtle Mountain Star)

Departments finding it hard to fill clerical position

At the Benson County commissioners’ regular meeting on June 6, the board learned that the county sheriff’s office and public health department were finding it hard to fill an open position.

As advertised, the position was intended to be four days per week with duties shared between the two departments.

Benson County Sheriff Ethan Rode said some of the people who have applied were interested in only working two days per week.

Benson County Commissioner Ron Stadum suggested that instead of advertising the position as part-time, they might have more success if they make it full-time.

Sheriff Rode said he especially needed an office administrator as his department was currently down to just one deputy.

The commission approved a motion to allow Rode and Shelley Abrekke to each hire a temporary worker for six months or until a full-time employee is found.

(Story by K.L. Glover, Benson County Farmers Press)

Garr earns board spot via write-ins

Carrington School District voters had their say Tuesday about who would represent them for the next three years, and they appeared to be sending a message.

Fifty voters took the opportunity to write in and unofficially elect local dentist and business owner, Dr. Ben Garr, to the at-large member position.

Garr’s 50 votes represented 78 percent of the total vote, as a mere 65 people cast ballots in the annual election.

The incumbent for the three-year at-large position, Randy Hooey, received 11 votes. Three others received one write-in vote each: Paul Straley, Rick Geier and Tom Painter.

Incumbent Angela Kutz ran unopposed and skated to re-election with 61 of the 65 votes cast for the three-year rural membership position.

Brandon Gussiaas received three write-in votes and Holly Inglish received one vote for the open rural member position, according to early results.

On the question of publishing the minutes of school board meetings in the local newspaper for the next two years, it was a unanimous “yes” from voters.

The Carrington school board will canvass and certify the election results at their next meeting, set for Monday, June 19 at 8 p.m.

(Story by Amy Wobbema, Foster County Independent)