701 Rundown: October 30, 2023

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

Sugar beet crop is setting records

This year’s sugar beet harvest has been a grind, it’s been about a 14-day run with no breaks. It’s been efficient but taxing on the people, machines and factories that are tasked with harvesting the crop.

“That kind of run is hard on the growers, it’s hard on our employees and it’s hard on our ag staff,” said Justin Krieg, agronomist for American Crystal Sugar, Drayton District. “Normally there is a little chance for a little extra sleep due to a shutdown but not this time.”

Krieg said he expects some of the people that came to the factories and pilers to help probably won’t be returning next year because it was just too much for them.

“We had a fantastic run last week with five one million ton-plus days valley wide. Last week the weather was just about ideal for us,” he said.

According to Krieg, it is rare that the sugar beet campaign can go a straight 10 days without a shutdown of some sort, whether it’s for heat, cold or rain, let alone 12 or 14 days.

“We started stockpiling beets on Oct. 4 and it’s the 17th today, so that’s 14 days without a shutdown,” he said.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

40 years of service

Their motto is "We Serve," and it's as simple as that.

The Carrington Lions Club has been an integral part of the community, doing important work for 40 years. Members celebrated the milestone at a special ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Chartered in 1983 with 28 members, the Carrington Lions Club currently has 46 active members. Within the past year alone, they've welcomed 14 new members.

At the Oct. 7 ceremony, charter member Gerald Paulson was recognized for 40 years of service to the local Lions Club. Charter member Robert Erickson is also an active member, although he was not present to be recognized.

District Governor Rick Stark presented Lions Jennifer Wede and Karla Michaelson with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. This is the highest honor a Lion can receive.

For four decades now, Carrington has been enriched by the many projects and programs undertaken by the Carrington Lions Club. Straight from the pages of the Foster County Independent, here are just some of the ways the Lions have served their community in just the past year.

● Sponsored a Tailgate Party at Cardinal Stadium the night of its dedication.

● Helped the Garden Club with the watering of the large flower pots lining Main Street for the months of June through August.

● Assisted with mobile food banks by Great Plains Food Truck in June and August.

● In August, they helped deliver Meals on Wheels for the Senior Center. They also worked at and co-sponsored the Community Picnic.

Current officers of the Carrington Lions Club are Jennifer Wede, president; Heather Carr, 1st vice president; Danielle McClean, 2nd vice president; Karla Michaelson, membership chair; Tom Paintner, treasurer, Sharon Paintner, secretary; Illa Zink, Gerald Paulson and Mary Topp, directors; Jane Fredrickson, tail twister; and Charlotte Nelson, lion tamer.

The Carrington Lions Club holds monthly meetings the first Wednesday of every month at the Chieftain beginning at 5:30 p.m., and community members are welcome to attend to learn more about serving their community as Lions.

(Story by Amy Wobbema, The Foster County Independent)

More charges in child abuse case

Two people are facing new charges in a Divide County case accusing them of abuse and neglect of a 2-year-old child.

The new court filings last week include seven extra child abuse charges each against Victor Monterroso and Roxana Peres, adding to their criminal charges that were first issued in April.

Monterroso and Perez had each already been charged with three felonies: two for child abuse and one for child neglect. They remain in custody in the Williams County Correctional Center.

An updated deposition from a state criminal investigator describes a review of the child’s medical records following her stay at a Fargo hospital that lasted “a number of months.”

Monterroso is now alleged to have caused injuries to the child that include permanent spinal disfigurement as well as facial swelling and bruising, two fractured wrists, fractured jaw and forearm, ulceration to the mouth and tongue, a lacerated liver and injuries to the inner throat, neck and upper chest area.

Perez is alleged to have been aware of the abuse, allowed it to happen and “willfully failed to provide proper parental care and control,” citing a search of the couple’s text messages.

All 10 charges against each of them are felonies. One is a Class A felony for causing “permanent loss or impairment” to a child, relating to the spinal cord injury. The rest are Class B and Class C felonies.

The Class A felony is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

(Story by Jody Michael, The Journal)

Game and Fish allowing bow hunting for deer within Portland’s city limits

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has added Portland to its growing list of cities where bowhunters can legally harvest deer within city limits in the state.

The game and fish department extended a special bow hunting season within Portland’s city limits until Jan. 31, 2024.

Portland joins Bismarck, Mandan, Fargo, Minot and Watford City on the state’s short list of municipalities where hunters can apply for bow hunting permits within city limits.

In Portland, the change was made in an attempt to reduce the size of the deer herd congregating along the Goose River.

“Tags are separate from state tags. The season will be capped at 20 applicants,” said Drew Johnson, district game warden for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

All 20 applications are spoken for already. The city of Portland is running the program.

With corn harvest moving from field to bin to elevator, deer traffic within city limits is bound to increase.

“We started getting calls for applications in July and August,” said Nadine Rygg, Portland city auditor.

“It’s hard to say how large the herd is because the breeding season was so late and responsible hunters don’t want to kill the mothers,” she said.

(Story by James R. Johnson, Hillsboro Banner)