701 Rundown: May 13, 2024

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

Airsoft gun fired during class at Alexander school

During a sixth grade music class at Alexander Public School on April 15, a student produced an airsoft gun and fired it at another student.

The incident is still under investigation and many parents have reached out to their local newspaper, "McKenzie County Farmer," to express frustration with how the incident has been, and is continuing to be handled.

According to Lieutenant Edward Martinez II of the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Division, “A student did bring an airsoft pistol to the school and that pistol was utilized inside of a classroom setting.

“It wasn’t known until after the class period ended that the pistol was even in the school. Later on, the administration found out, ended up finding out who the student was, and later had that student come down to the office. They later found the pistol hidden within the school.”

It was also stated that there was no teacher present in the class when the incident occurred, though it was not made clear why there was no supervision at the time.

Parents with kids at the school have since voiced concerns about the incident and the school’s response, going so far as to hold a public meeting of their own on April 23.

“The adults at the school did not provide a safe environment for our kids,” one parent said.

School officials notified the parents by text, email and a social media post at 6:35 p.m. the night of the incident, and many parents expressed frustration about how long it took for parents to be notified.

Concerned parents were invited to attend the school board’s regular meeting in May to address their concerns with board members.

(Story by Kristen Jones, McKenzie County Farmer)

Taylor Sabinash steps into new role at CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington

Her short time in the workforce has managed to give Taylor Sabinash a wealth of experience dealing with the compassionate and comforting aspects of human experience.

As a licensed funeral director, Sabinash saw that up close while dealing with bereaved families on a daily basis in her time with Evans Funeral Home in Carrington and New Rockford.

Now, she will bring her talents to CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center as the hospital's new Foundation Director.

Sabinash fills a role that has been vacant since Kelsey Carr last held the post several years back before her resignation for family reasons. Prior to that, Nicole Threadgold served as director for a prolonged period.

"I am so fortunate for the opportunity to serve our community through our hospital," Sabinash said. "I believe that seeing firsthand how instrumental our critical access hospital is to our community gives me valuable insight to build donor relationships and advocate for funding that will continue to help assist our care to patients."

She grew up on a farm near Kensal, and says she loved any chance she had to be outside with her animals when she "wasn't in a gym playing sports."

From her new position in the directorship, she is very excited for the hospital's future.

"Rural healthcare comes with its own unique challenges, but with the dedication of our team, I have no doubt we will conquer any challenge that comes our way," she says.

Sabinash welcomes the opportunity to meet with anyone interested in learning more about how the foundation supports the hospital, and opportunities to contribute to that effort.

An upcoming Gala is being planned for September 28 at the Foster County Fairgrounds, under the theme "Harvest Fest."

(Story by Erik Gjovik, The Foster County Independent)

Former Hunter School may be deemed dangerous

The pending sale of the former Hunter School may be complicated by the fact that the city council has begun the process of deeming it a dangerous building.

Concern exists over the structural integrity of one of the exterior gym walls, which appears precarious and has caused safety concerns within the community.

The school was built in 1903 and later vacated after the school consolidated into the Northern Cass School District in 1999.

The school recently went up for sale in 2023, and there is currently a pending sale on the property which was listed for $150,000 cash only.

The potential buyer named himself in a TikTok video as Evan Marnell of Omaha, Neb.

According to his social media posts, his plan is to open a queer nonprofit and art engagement center in the former school building.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Harvey school administrator addresses failure of bond referendum

Superintendent Robert Lukens, Harvey Public School administrator, said in a release this week that “voters have spoken. As a community and school district, we now have a direction to work from.”

The data provided in the survey sent across the school district prior to the vote indicated the bond referendum would pass, Luken pointed out Wednesday.

The data was obviously wrong, the first-year superintendent added.

The vote tally given to The Herald-Press after the April 18 bond referendum said 773 voted no, while 503 voted yes, for a total of 1,173 votes.

The referendum required 60 percent of voters to vote “yes” in order to succeed.

Lukens acknowledged the vote wasn’t “even close.” Absentee ballots that still need to be verified and counted will not change the outcome, the superintendent knows.

Lukens is aware of the division in the Harvey community that the school board-supported bond referendum was apparently responsible for.

“I don’t know why people need to get so angry about a democratic process. Having a vote is not an assault on a person’s character or their personal liberties,” said Lukens.

But it is what it is, he added.

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