701 Rundown: July 17, 2023

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

City of Rolla hires first ever female Chief of Police

Last month, Sarah Fenner was hired as the city of Rolla’s new chief of police, becoming the first female to hold the position in the city’s 135-year history.

Fenner is a mother to two children and is originally from Bemidji, Minn. She moved to Rolla at the age of 16 on a whim with one of her best friends, and soon fell in love with the area.

“This has become my home since I moved out here,” she said. “I like the small town community and getting to know everyone.”

Fenner got into law enforcement when the pandemic hit, first as a corrections officer at the Rolette County Sheriff’s Department before eventually becoming a deputy when the position was offered.

“It all sort of happened really fast but I liked the profession and really enjoy it,” said Fenner. “It helped to work all those years at North 40 because I worked with the public and got to know so many people.”

Fenner is replacing William Poitra and is the latest in a string of police chiefs in recent years.

Meanwhile, the city of Rolla is looking to hire two new police officers as well, and Fenner said a few applications have already been submitted.

“We want to try and find someone who will stick around for a while if we can, which can be challenging,” said Fenner. “In the meantime the county has been incredibly helpful and wonderful to work with. We’re fortunate to have as many connections with them as we do.”

(Story by John Rosinski, Turtle Mountain Star)

Patzer Truck taking new route

Butch Keller, owner of Patzer Truck Repair, and his 14 employees are only months away from moving into a new 80-by-240 foot building.

An early morning fire on Feb. 28, 2023, destroyed their old repair shop in Harvey’s northwest quadrant, leaving behind little more than charred and smoldering rubble.

Keller said the fire’s origin still hasn’t been determined.

Since the fire, Patzer Truck Repair has been operating out of Harvey Sand and Gravel’s building, down by the coulee along Elm Avenue South, and the company’s office has been working from Susan Shearer’s office.

Construction on the new building is scheduled to begin in mid-July.

The structure will have truck repair on one end and the ag shop at the opposite end, with offices in the middle. Completion of the project is expected sometime in October.

Keller is looking forward to the new home for his business, and he didn’t have to lay off a single worker after the fire, so all his employees will be able to experience the closure of seeing and working in the new building.

“We have an excellent workforce and an outstanding client base,” said Keller. “Otherwise we wouldn’t be going ahead with a new building.”

(Story by Neil O. Nelson, The Herald-Press)

Madsen playing his cards right

Steve Madsen, a 1992 graduate of Hillsboro High School, will be one of many to flood the Las Vegas strip this week.

Madsen was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the 54th annual World Series of Poker Main Event, a tournament with roughly 10,000 participants gambling for over $12 million in prize money.

Madsen, 49, began his tournament run on July 4 – it costs each competitor $10,000 just to enter the tournament.

“This is a big deal to me,” he said. “I have a few other people coming down to watch me play.

“My hope is that if I don’t make the money, I just go down there and have a story – have a memory.”

Madsen is the tour director for the 701 Poker Tour, which travels throughout eastern North Dakota holding tournaments to raise money for local charities.

Over the past 3.5 years, they’ve raised a total of $160,000.

Madsen’s boss, tour sponsors and friends surprised him with the $10,000 necessary to enter him into the tournament.

“I tried very hard not to cry,” said Madsen. “For them to give back to me, personally, and not just the charities – to let me live my dream means a lot.”

(Story by Cory Erickson, Hillsboro Banner)

Central City Wellness Center open to public

Three friends, fitness enthusiasts and aspiring business partners decided to do something about one vacant storefront on Carrington’s Main Street.

Central City Wellness Center (CCWC) is now in operation at the former Rusty’s Hardware Hank location on the 9th-10th Avenue block, as the business opened on Wednesday, June 14.

The center is the brainchild of Josh Sherman, Mason Wede and Ryan Zink, who shared the intent of creating something positive in the Carrington business district.

“All three of us kind of had the same vision for this,” said Zink. “Hopefully, we can help revive Main Street a bit, bring more foot traffic back to downtown, and make good use of an empty space.”

CCWC represents a return to the health realm for Zink, who previously worked at the old Carrington Fitness Center when it was located on west Main Street.

“It feels good to be back into it again,” he said.

The CCWC is open 24 hours a day for members with an electronic key, and staffed hours for nonmembers are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment.

To contact CCWC for more information or membership rates, email [email protected], or visit their website at ccwcfit.com.

(Story by Erik Gjovik, Foster County Independent)