701 Rundown: Sept. 4, 2023

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

Watford man charged with assault of elderly man

A 33-year-old Watford City man has been charged with aggravated assault and two Class A misdemeanor charges for violation of a disorderly conduct restraining order after allegedly assaulting an elderly individual.

An affidavit filed with the court states that on June 13, 2023, Watford City Police were dispatched at approximately 4:10 p.m. for an assault on an elderly male, and upon arrival officers saw the elderly male sitting on the curb with blood on his shirt.

Witnesses informed officers the suspect was Cody Lemieux, and that the assault occurred at the elderly male’s residence. Lemieux and the elderly male reportedly have a long and turbulent history.

One witness shouted at Lemieux to stop the assault, which is when he ran away while gesturing to the witness with his middle finger.

The elderly male was transported to the hospital, and it’s been reported that he suffered a broken nose, a small laceration to his right hand and lost a piece of his right molar.

After originally managing to evade law enforcement for over a month, Lemieux was finally apprehended on July 17 and later given a bond of $10,000.

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, McKenzie County Farmer)

Local youth faces cancer battle

He stands 6’4”, a solidly-built young adult of 19 years old, who has, so far, held his own against all that life has had to throw at him.

Whether it be football, wrestling or the rodeo arena, Kaulder Kvamme, son of Jeff and Jona Kvamme of Carrington, has projected the image of quiet confidence, with a touch of cockiness and hint of a sassy attitude that his mom would argue he inherited from his dad.

In the course of the last few months, however, that sense of youthful invulnerability has been shattered for the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) student, with just one word. Cancer.

Kvamme was diagnosed with testicular cancer in March, and decided that the battle was his and his alone to fight, with his family by his side and without attention drawn to his situation.

“It’s still something that’s difficult for him to talk about,” said Jona.

After a few months, it was thought that he had largely beaten it, but as his mom termed the fight, “[cancer] has a way of regrouping and sneaking up on you like it’s guerilla warfare,” according to a July 19 Facebook post.

In June, the cancer returned, spreading to the lymph nodes in his stomach, and Jona said Kaulder’s fight has become, in her words, more lengthy and complicated.

“The power of prayer and the strength of a caring community are what we are seeking now, and I have convinced Kaulder it’s time to share his story,” Jona wrote.

She admits that while her son’s trials and tribulations with the disease have not gone as long as many others have endured it, it’s still been a tough road.

“Sometimes I’ve doubted my own strength, but Kaulder has been fearless and positive,” said Jona. “So, even though my mother’s heart hurts to see him go through this, I could not be more proud of his courage.”

Family friends Robin Anderson and Nikki Boote are putting on a “Friends of Kaulder Kvamme” gun raffle to help defray medical costs and travel expenses for Kaulder’s treatments, with the drawing scheduled for September 28 at 5 p.m. at the Carrington Wrestling Center, 69 9th Ave. S.

(Story by Erik Gjovik, The Foster County Independent)

Teacher shortage not solved with emergency response

The teacher shortage is a nationwide issue, but in North Dakota, Governor Doug Burgum declared it an emergency, taking unprecedented action.

The emergency declaration will allow student teachers, without a degree, to lead classrooms.

Data from the Education Standards and Practices Board shows that 92 out of 167 school districts are not fully staffed for the upcoming school year.

The data caused the board to petition the governor’s office to amend the rules and allow student teachers to be the teacher of record. The move means student teachers will be leading their own classrooms.

While Governor Burgum acknowledged this policy is not a long-term solution, he approved the request in order to avoid potentially overcrowded classrooms or worse, classes being canceled.

At Central Cass, Superintendent Morgan Forness said that, although the move is probably a necessary strategy at this time, “In a way it feels devaluing to the education profession.”

He added that there needs to be further options explored moving forward as there are many factors contributing to the teacher shortage that will require the implementation of multiple strategies.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Water rescue training exercise in Esmond

On Sunday, Aug. 20, the Esmond Community Quick Response Unit hosted a “Water Rescue Training.”

The two-hour-long training was instructed by Angel Hoffert at Buffalo Lake near Esmond, and focused on particular scenario:

A boat, with two occupants, was going 40 miles an hour across Buffalo Lake, and the driver of the boat didn’t see two kayaks until it was too late.

The passenger of the boat was ejected and hit the boat’s propeller on their way into the water, sustaining a broken clavicle and a deep shoulder laceration. The driver, meanwhile, was going into shock but remained in the boat.

As for the kayakers, one of them had a pulse but was unresponsive, while the other was totally unresponsive and had no pulse nor respiration.

After hearing the scenario, the local responders were put into action.

Participating were 19 area responders from the Maddock Fire Department, Maddock Ambulance, Esmond Fire Department and Esmond Community Ambulance.

As a safety precaution, all responders and “patients” in the water were equipped with life jackets. The training was beneficial to all area responders in case of an actual emergency located at Buffalo Lake or nearby bodies of water.

(Story from the Benson County Farmers Press)