701 Rundown: July 29, 2024

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

Fresh out of the dryer

Main Street Laundry, a coin-operated laundromat on west Main Street in Carrington, opens July 22.

The laundromat is located in the former JOB Welding building on the 1300 block of Main.

Tyler and Preston Carr purchased the property in 2022, which they use as a shop for their construction business, Carr Construction. In March, they started remodeling the building into a salon and laundromat, and as of Tuesday, gas line connections to the dryers and finishing touches were all that remained before they could officially open their doors.

Although it looked rough on the outside when they purchased it, "The building is still in really good shape," Tyler said. The steel beam construction is sound, and with new spray foam insulation, exterior siding and trim, and interior finish work, the building is set for decades of future use.

All new plumbing was installed, with room for future expansion of the laundromat if demand warrants it.

For now, there are five washers and five dryers, all front-loading machines. Four of the washers hold twice the capacity of a standard household machine.

There is also one jumbo washer, capable of holding the equivalent of four standard loads. A king size comforter should fit comfortably, the Carrs said. On the dry side, there are three standard and two jumbo dryers.

Customers will also find a utility sink, folding table, chairs and laundry carts.

Coin operated soap, softener and bleach dispensers, as well as a change machine and ATM, are onsite for convenience. The change machine accepts $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20 bills.

Main Street Laundry will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with camera surveillance for safety and security.

(Story by Amy Wobbema, The Foster County Independent)

County leaders give highway superintendent less than 30 days to move to Emmons

There was only standing room left in the hallway at the courthouse of the Emmons County Commission meeting in July, as residents came expecting answers about the highway department.

The meeting last a whopping seven hours at the Emmons County Courthouse in Linton, N.D.

Commissioners listened to concerns expressed by local citizens and their frustrations with the highway department.

Residents attended the meeting, speaking, asking questions and demanding answers. Then, after hearing from residents, commissioners themselves grilled Highway Superintendent Skyler Prellwitz’s process of management.

Some of the topics included the quality of blading and how often roads are being bladed, as well as the order of routes, Prellwitz’s residency outside of Emmons County and roles of the commissioners.

One motion was even made to terminate Prellwitz unless he moved to Emmons County, and in the end they decided to give the superintendent less than 30 days to do exactly that.

(Story by Kelli Ameling, Emmons County Record)

Local injured in house fire

On July 7, 2024, a residential fire occurred at a home north of Arnegard, which is estimated to have begun at around 7:30 p.m.

According to a press release from the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) “The reporting parties indicated the residence was fully engulfed and two individuals had sustained significant burns to their bodies, while three other family members were able to exit the residence without injuries.

“Upon arrival of the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, two males were located and identified as Dustin Ceynar (48) and Clay Ceynar (19).

“Both males were transported by ambulance to the McKenzie County Hospital and were later flown to an outside medical facility for continued life-saving medical care.”

According to Sara Ceynar, a family member of the victims, both Dustin and Clay are at the Regions Hospital Burn Center in St. Paul, Minn.

The two men, according to Sara, have burns to over 86 percent of their bodies, and have had to undergo many surgeries to address their wounds.

The family also lost everything in the fire and many local businesses and organizations are already getting fundraising efforts underway.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the local sheriff’s office, as well as the North Dakota Fire Marshal's Office, the N.D. Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives.

(Story by Kristen Jones, McKenzie County Farmer)

Project is almost complete

Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) is nearing the second and final phase of the Old Main renovation project that will turn the building into the Center for Rural Health Education.

Completion of the project would grant their allied health students a state-of-the-art facility to be educated in and grant them the opportunity to receive gainful employment.

“We are down to mostly finish work,” said Chris Nero, associate dean for administrative services at DCB. “We are still pushing hard to get moved in by the first day of school on Aug. 26.

“It will be close, but worst case scenario would be Sept. 9, but we have a plan in place for our nursing students if the move is delayed a week or two.”

Phase One of the project focused on the building’s basement, whereas Phase Two focuses on the building itself, which is 117 years old.

Phase Two, which got underway in February of this year, has included installing an elevator, a new heating and cooling system, new interior walls, and bringing staircases up to code, just to name a few.

“I cannot wait for the grand opening of Old Main this fall,” said Carmen Simone, Ph.D., CEO and dean of DCB. “It will be so much fun to see students learning in there once again.

“Our old building is coming full-circle, and it is so gratifying.”

(Story by Scott Wagar, Bottineau Courant)