701 Rundown: Nov. 27, 2023

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

BNSF trains still blocking both railroad crossings in city of Buxton

Buxton city leaders renewed their frustrations with BNSF Railway at a meeting on Nov. 8 following more reports that BNSF trains had blocked both railroad crossings in the city.

Mayor Travis Soderberg said he received angry calls and texts from the residents on Oct. 27, complaining that BNSF trains sat idle on the tracks in Buxton for nearly 90 minutes.

Motorists reported that a BNSF train blocked the city’s north and south railroad crossings from 7:42 to 9:09 a.m. Oct, 27, and more blockages occurred later in the day.

“We had a lot of students, teachers and parents heading to Central Valley School that morning who weren’t able to cross the railroad tracks,” Soderberg said.

“The buses were deeply affected and I talked to a few bus drivers who said they weren’t very happy about it all.”

Soderberg said he reached out to a BNSF representative who indicated that the blocked crossings in late October were weather-related and beyond the company’s control.

Despite the explanation, Soderberg said he remained convinced “that the train was just too long” and ended up blocking both railroad crossings while the train sat idle.

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Arthur’s only bar closed Nov. 18

A long-time Arthur business closed its doors this week.

Coaches Corner, one of the businesses located within the Arthur Mall, closed its doors on Nov. 18.

Owner Curt Holmstrom first announced his plans to retire November 13 on social media, and he later confirmed when speaking to the Cass County Reporter.

“It’s just time,” he said. “The business has been for sale for the last two years and its just time for me to retire and do what I want.

“Like I said on Facebook, I appreciate everyone’s patronage over the last 22 years.”

Coaches Corner first opened on November 21, 2001.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Taking the lead in the tech realm

Plans to establish a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center in Carrington are progressing.

Carrington Public School superintendent Janelle Helm and board president Joel Lemer gave a detailed update at the CPS board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, which included a list and map of all the active CTE centers in the state and an outline of the process for establishing one.

The central third of the state is lacking a physical CTE center, Lemer said. While both Jamestown and Devils Lake have centers, there is still a large swatch of area school districts that are not participating in either.

The primary challenge is transportation, Lemer noted. Geographically, students must be within 25 miles of a CTE center in order to benefit from on-site programming, due to the time required to transport them.

Therefore, the school districts that could benefit the most from a Carrington center include New Rockford, Midkota and Pingree-Buchanan.

However, other area districts such as Harvey, Fessenden, Cooperstown and Medina could participate in virtual classes or benefit from mobile labs and trailers brought to their town.

With a glut of federal and state funds available, Lemer and Helm see opportunity for Carrington to take the lead. As reported before, 40 percent of the expenses (including staff salaries, benefits and supplies) for classes offered in a certified CTE Center are reimbursed by the state.

In addition, the state is currently offering a 75 percent cost share on all approved costs for a new center's first year of implementation. That makes simulators, equipment and other technology needed to expand CTE programming more affordable.

(Story by Amy Wobbema, The Foster County Independent)

Motter brings home a world champion

After not participating at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show in Oklahoma City since 2005, Cooperstown resident Susan Motter went this year with her horse, and left with the title of 2023 World Champion.

Motter’s young horse, named Ollie, performed very well.

Megan Kramer, Motter’s daughter, said there are classes for his age and a little younger for “halter” classes where you can lead them in, and there are a few different styles of those classes.

“The one he was entered in I would say doesn’t usually have one his age win, but last year a foal we raised won it before he was 1 year old with the gal that brought him,” she said.

“... So it is possible, but when we saw how many were entered we honestly just had placing in the top 10 as a goal.”

Ollie went on to not only place in the top 10, but also top an 18-horse class of beautiful Morgans in the Grand National Sport Horse in Hand – Stallions & Geldings.

“He went on to have the high score of all 25 entries in the Sport Horse in Hand Division, thus winning the title of ‘23 World Champion,” she said.

(Story by Lisa Saxberg, Griggs County Courier)

MPCG staff writes letter criticizing school board president

Forty-five teachers and staff members in the MayPort-CG School District signed a letter Nov. 7 questioning the professionalism and integrity of MPCG School Board President Marlana Knudson.

The letter was read aloud at a MayPort-CG School Board meeting attended by more than 20 teachers, who remained silent throughout the proceedings.

In their letter, employees raised concerns about remarks Knudson made at a special meeting Nov. 6 when the board approved the resignation of former High School Principal La Lynda Blotsky.

In the letter, staff members claimed Knudson opened the special meeting with a “completely biased and unprofessional statement” that was harmful to Blotsky and may have violated guidelines set down by the North Dakota School Board Association.

“Is this who we want to represent our school district as a leader? Are we to respect and trust that our board president will do what is in the best interest of the (MayPort-CG) School District?” signers asked in their letter.

In response, Knudson defended her statements at the school board’s recent special meeting, which was convened to approve Blotsky’s resignation.

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)