701 Rundown: Dec. 4, 2023

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

Watford City man charged with murder

Scott Beane, 35, of Watford City, has been charged with Class AA felony murder.

According to documents filed with the Northwest Judicial District, the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a fire at a residence on Sept. 12, 2023.

The individual who reported the crime indicated to law enforcement that he could see his wife deceased in the entryway of their residence, appearing to have been burned to death.

He stated that he was unable to gain access to the house, and that he believed Beane was still inside the home.

Upon arriving at the scene, deputies forced entry through a door into the mudroom that leads to the main living area and observed a dining-style chair that had been barricading the door.

They located Beane locked inside a room in the house, and he was eventually taken into custody.

The female who was found deceased with major burns to her entire body, was found to have previously been dealing with paralysis to the right side of her body, leaving her with limited mobility and in an electric handicap assistance chair.

While processing the scene, it was apparent the majority of the fire damage occurred to her body as well as the electric handicap assistance chair.

A Certified Fire Inspector confirmed the electrical components of the handicap chair were intact and not the cause of the fire. The agent also indicated that the scene itself suggested there was a set fire (intentionally set).

Beane’s bond was set at $5 million and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2024.

Beane has denied any wrongdoing and he is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, McKenzie County Farmer)

USDA-RD State Director Oban visits Central City

There are programs available through USDA-Rural Development (USDA-RD) to help keep rural communities in North Dakota thriving.

That's the message from USDA-RD State Director Erin Oban, who made three stops during a visit to the Central City on Monday, Nov. 20.

The day began with a gathering of community leaders at the Garden Gate, and continued with visits to Arrowwood Prairie Cooperative and Cows & Co Creamery, two local businesses who have recently received funds from the agency.

"We'll be a partner in the work that you're doing," Oban told a group of approximately 20 at the Garden Gate.

Arrowwood Prairie Cooperative received an $85,325 grant from USDA-RD last year to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels.

They replaced two E15 dispensers, four E85 dispensers, and five ethanol storage tanks at the Carrington convenience store along Hwy. 281. The upgrade is estimated to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 149,648 gallons per year.

(Story by Amy Wobbema, The Foster County Independent)

Narcotics stolen from drug store

An undisclosed amount of narcotics and money has been stolen from Crosby Drug after a weekend break-in, according to Divide County Sheriff Caxh Schroeder.

“It’s an open investigation,” Schroeder said. “There's a lot more that we have to do. We have to process a lot of evidence.”

The sheriff’s office was alerted to the break-in Monday morning, Nov. 20, after Crosby Drug employees arrived and noticed the missing narcotics and money.

The break-in is under investigation by the sheriff’s department, as well as N.D. Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Schroeder said the break-in occurred sometime between 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Monday; the store is closed on Sundays.

Evidence shows the suspect or suspects entered through the roof of the store.

“Whoever did this, they need to understand what they did affected the community,” said Schroeder, “because this is the only drug store in the town.”

(Story by Jordan Rusche, The Journal)

Bar-restaurant opening in Harvey

Harvey resident Melissa Faul has purchased the building at the corner of 8th St. and Lincoln Avenue, hoping to open a new bar and restaurant before the end of the year.

The half-block long building has long been a bar-restaurant business, most recently the LaFragua Mexican Restaurant and before that Spectator’s Bar and Steakhouse.

Faul is waiting for the sale to be finalized before she can project an opening date.

But for all intents and purposes, the building is hers.

“I bought the building and when the paperwork is completed, I’ll move ahead with opening the business.”

She’s “toying with ideas” on what to do with the front of the building. Years ago, it was the Medicine Shoppe; Harvey wrestling parents held practices there for grade school wrestlers earlier this year.

It’s been standing empty since the Mexican restaurant shuttered, and the wrestlers moved out of the building and into their new location on East Brewster Street.

Faul said she is looking for investors interested in making full use of the building.

The bar and restaurant, she said, will be open seven days a week, 4p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with Sunday’s schedule yet to be determined.

The closing of Hornbacher’s restaurant earlier this year left a void in Harvey’s food service industry, a situation compounded when fire destroyed the B-52 Roadhouse and Lanes.

Melissa Faul trusts her new business will fill that vacancy.

“It will be good for Harvey, for sure.”

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