701 Rundown: Dec. 18, 2023

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

Carrington man sentenced for fentanyl possession, intent to deliver

A Carrington man is behind bars for possessing fentanyl and fleeing a police officer in Foster County this summer.

On August 13, Joshua Voigt of Carrington was arrested after reportedly leading law enforcement on a brief police chase through northeast Carrington.

The chase occurred when Carrington Police Officer Christopher Ormiston attempted to initiate a traffic stop after observing Voigt make aggressive turns without using his blinker, and going 53 mph in a 25 mph zone.

Court documents say the short chase began near the intersection of 2nd Ave North and Highway 200, proceeded west through the roundabout, and ended when Voigt's vehicle came to a stop near the unleaded gas pumps of Casey's General Store.

Upon a subsequent search, Officer Ormiston discovered narcotics on Voigt's person, including 28 blue fentanyl pills labeled "M 30."

When asked where he got the pills, Voigt named Lawrence Sansone, whose residence Officer Osterman reportedly saw Voigt leaving shortly before clocking him at 53 mph.

As of press time, Sansone still had a warrant out for his arrest after not appearing for court in September to address several felony drug charges, including possession with intent to deliver/manufacture fentanyl.

Voigt was charged with fleeing a peace officer, a Class C felony, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, a Class B felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor.

Voigt was sentenced to two years behind bars in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with 360 days suspended and credit for 59 days served.

He'll also be under supervised probation for a year after his release, and must pay $810 in various fees and fines. As of press time, Voigt was serving his sentence at the North Dakota State Penitentiary in Bismarck, N.D.

(Story by Nathan Price, The Foster County Independent)

Sheep, goats, chickens, oh my

Do you live within city limits of Park River near one of the coulees?

Tired of spraying all those noxious weeds with chemicals only for them to pop right back up again?

If so, Mayor Dan Stenvold is hoping the new city ordinance passed a few weeks ago will be something you appreciate.

Citizens of Park River are now in luck, because not only are chickens allowed within city limits, but to go for a more natural approach to weed management, sheep and goats are now allowed also ... but only for a purpose.

The vote to pass the ordinance was split, meaning Park River’s mayor was the deciding vote.

“I think this is my fourth four-year term (as mayor) with four years left ... It has been a long time. It has been fun; we have done a lot of improvements,” said Stenvold.

“When I ran for mayor the first time, nothing had been done for 40 years and once we started fixing, we ended up with new housing and new businesses. It is always a work in progress.”

Stenvold said he truly feels like this new city ordinance will be the best for not only the City of Park River but surrounding areas as well.

(Story by Steph Cronje, The Walsh County Record)

Hoping for a homerun

Central Cass only has a few weeks remaining in order to meet its year-end fundraising goal of $500,000 necessary to begin a new turf baseball field in the summer of 2024.

The district received a donation in the amount of $500,000 from Gary Theraldson of Tharaldson Enterprises, in the form of a Matching Challenge earlier this year.

Central Cass Superintendent Morgan Forness said the Diamond Club Fundraising effort has until December 31 to match the donation and allow construction of the new turf field to begin in the summer of 2024.

The turf baseball field was part of the district’s original "master planning" six years ago, but was put on the back burner so that attention could be given in other areas with high needs.

The funding project aimed to turf the baseball field will:

• extend the playing season regardless of snow or rain,

• eliminate field prep time for a coaches and athletes and increase play and practice time,

• allow the baseball teams not to have to use the football and softball fields for practicing.

The turf field could also open up the opportunity to rent out the field to area high schools and collegiate teams when it is not in use by Central Cass athletes.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Benson County approves revisions of county voting precincts

At the Benson County commissioners’ regular meeting December 5, the board reviewed a change in the county’s voting precincts as a result of moving from voting for commissioner at-large to voting for them by commissioner district.

The change had been made because of a lawsuit filed against the county charging that at-large commissioner voting diluted the ability of Native American voters to vote for a commissioner of their choice.

Rather than fight the lawsuit, the commissioners adopted a consent decree that implemented a new election plan.

The county will now have seven voting precincts rather than four. The precincts follow commissioner districts as well as North Dakota legislative districts.

Discussion was held on where each precinct will host in-person voting. All of Benson County falling within District 14 will continue to vote in Minnewaukan.

The District 15 portion of Benson County will vote in either Minnewaukan, Fort Totten or Warwick, depending on which commissioner district a resident lives in.

County Auditor Bonnie Erickson indicated that she planned to send a mailing to county residents to clarify where their in-person voting location is, as this adjustment may cause some confusion.

Regarding specific voting locations, the commissioner approved a motion to have in-person voting at the Benson County Courthouse in Minnewaukan, the Blue Building in Fort Totten and the school in Warwick.

(Story by K.L. Glover, Benson County Farmers Press)