701 Rundown: June 17, 2024

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

Committee discuss gopher problem

Grafton’s Public Utilities Committee, prompted by Street Superintendent Rock Desautel, discussed the growing infestation of gophers on Fifth Street across the street from Leistikow Park.

Desautel suggested leveling the dike and destroying their homes as the best option.

“Poisoning them this time of year won’t work as there is plenty of vegetation available for them to eat and they won’t go for the poison,” he explained.

Desautel said their colony is growing and getting into the Lutheran Cemetery to the south and Hancock Place to the west.

City Administrator Nick Ziegelmann pointed out that in 2026 the city will have crews in that area for the Fifth Street widening project.

“That might be a good time to have a crew level out those dikes,” he suggested.

Mayor Chris West said he is working on some ideas also. All parties realize there is a problem, but the challenge arises that they are in a residential setting, which provides problems as to poisoning, gassing and shooting them.

West said the city will continue to discuss a solution and work with the other entities that are also concerned to see what can be worked out.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

Driving range now open in Bottineau

Eric Herbel has started a new venture in Bottineau with a driving range that will grant individuals the opportunity to practice their golf swings in a community that is in need of more space for the sport and what it has to offer.

“Golf has become so popular,” Herbel said. “Here in Bottineau, we have only a nine hole course which is so overwhelmed with people that it takes up to three hours to golf up there on the weekends.

“That’s a long time and some people don’t have three hours,” Herbel added. “So, I thought rather than wait so long it would be nice to have a driving range where people could come and hit golf balls.

“And it is a better place to come and learn how to golf.”

Herbel’s driving range is 100 yards wide and 290 yards long with distance markers set up. The driving range is fully automated where you pay for a bucket of 40 golf balls to hit into the driving range.

Currently, it will just be a driving range during daylight hours, but Herbel stated that if the driving range goes well he hopes to place lights up for people to enjoy golfing the nighttime hours as well.

Herbel’s new venture will bring a new business to the city, allowing area golfers the chance to improve their game, while at the same time giving others from the area who want to learn how to golf a spot to do that.

A win-win for all involved.

“I’m excited to get going,” said Herbel. “I think it will be a fun experience for golfers.”

(Story by Scott Wagar, The Bottineau Courant)

Wells County State’s Attorney Murray submits resignation

After 20 years in the elected role, Kathleen Murray’s last day as Wells County State’s Attorney was June 9.

At the June 4 meeting, she informed the county commission about her new job with the North Dakota Attorney General’s office as an assistant attorney general in the criminal division.

Since then, the new job has become official.

Murray told commissioners her resignation stems from frustrations.

“I was frustrated at the last meeting when I talked to you about what you wanted from my office and what you wanted from me and my assistant. Instead of finding an assistant, I decided to find another job,” she stated.

In addition, Murray submitted letters from Kara Brinster, Foster County State’s Attorney, and Ashley Lies, Eddy County State’s Attorney.

Both lawyers are resigning from their roles as assistants to the Wells County State’s Attorney. Murray said she has been unsuccessful in finding a State’s Attorney in a neighboring county who would consider accepting a long-term appointment to serve in Wells County.

Murray has consulted with Benson County State’s Attorney James Wang, who agreed to assist Wells County with the June 12 District Court date.

In a separate interview, Murray stressed that she is grateful to the citizens of Wells County for allowing her to serve for so many years.

“It was my pleasure, and an honor and a privilege to serve,” she said.

(Story by Anne Ehni, The Herald-Press)

Carrington baseball field gets makeover

In a world where first impressions matter, everybody wants to look their best when the party gets started.

For Carrington Youth Baseball and Softball, that means making needed facility upgrades to the American Legion/Babe Ruth baseball diamond for what promises to be a fun summer.

Ahead of the main event in the Central City in late July-early August, the 2024 State "B" Babe Ruth Tournament, City Park's field is busy getting spruced up.

Brand-new, bigger dugouts are under construction, and freshly-poured concrete around the backstop, seating and concession stand areas are going a long way toward, to put it colloquially, "classing up the joint."

In order to get elevation constant throughout the complex, mudjacking, or pumping mud under the concrete to raise it to proper levels, was done under both the grandstand and concession stand.

The new dugouts will be several feet deeper than the previous ones, as well as taller. Another new wrinkle will be that the structures do not have chain link fence covering them as in the past, but now have an unobstructed view of the field of play.

The concessions area will receive a coat of interior paint in the expansion which was added a few years back and was not painted previously, as well as the original portion of the structure. Also, the floor of the building is getting a fresh coat of red paint.

The backstop will receive new protective netting as part of the renovation, and the previous wooden supports holding up the grandstand have been removed in favor of steel beams.

All of this is being done under a time crunch, as the first home game for the new-look City Park is scheduled for this Thursday, June 13, when New Rockford Post 30 comes to Carrington to face Post 25 for a District 4 Legion contest.

(Story by Erik Gjovik, The Foster County Independent)