701 Rundown: November 25, 2024

Rolette County commissioner arrested, charged with felony

Rolette County Commissioner Craig Poitra has been arrested and charged with corruption of a minor, a Class C felony punishable by at least one year in prison. Poitra, accused of engaging in or soliciting sexual acts with a minor aged 15 to 17, was detained in Bottineau County. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Following his arrest, Poitra's case was classified as "restricted," limiting access to court records to involved parties and their attorneys. Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Murray is handling the case due to potential conflicts of interest with the Rolette County State’s Attorney. Murray declined to comment, citing the court order restricting the case. Legal experts note such measures often aim to protect a minor’s identity.

Poitra, a former director of social services in Rolette and Benson counties, has not publicly addressed the charges. He recently ran unsuccessfully for Turtle Mountain Tribal Associate Judge and works as a support specialist for the Turtle Mountain Tribe.

The arrest led Poitra to resign from the Turtle Mountain Housing Board, though he did not attend a subsequent county commission meeting. North Dakota law prohibits convicted felons from holding public office during incarceration or for a period afterward.

Details about Poitra’s next court appearance remain undisclosed due to the case's restricted status. The charge, if proven, carries severe penalties, but the sentence could be reduced if no substantial steps were taken to meet with the minor.

(Jason Nordmark, Turtle Mountain Star)

Ukrainian family happy to be in Bottineau

Volodymyr (Vova) and Lilia Bystrov, along with their four children, have found safety and hope in Bottineau after fleeing the war in Ukraine. The family left Cherkasy, a central Ukrainian city of over 269,000 residents, where drone and missile strikes had made life perilous.

The Bystrovs' journey to the U.S. was facilitated by the Bottineau Area Christian Ministerial Association (BACMA), led by Pastor Beth Kelsey of United Parish, as part of the Ukraine Project. After more than a year of navigating paperwork, the family arrived to find a welcoming community, a furnished house, and gifts including toys for their children.

“We are happy to be here,” said Vova. “The people are very kind, and it is peaceful.” Lilia echoed the sentiment, praising the town’s hospitality: “Everyone greets you with a smile. We feel safe here, no worries of war.”

Vova has begun working in construction and is determined to learn English and provide for his family. His son Oleh, 14, who studied English in Ukraine, has been a great help. Vova shared his surprise at the differences in driver’s license renewals between Ukraine and the U.S.

The Bystrovs are the third Ukrainian family BACMA has helped resettle in Bottineau. Their story highlights the community’s generosity and efforts to support those displaced by conflict. “We would like to stay,” said Vova. “It’s a brighter future for our children.”

(Scott Wagar, Bottineau Courant)

Hendrickson-Holmes contractor demands $2.5M

A difference of opinion regarding cancellation of a proposed water and sewer infrastructure project in Crosby could end up in court and potentially cost the city more than $2.5 million in damages.

City council members and city attorney Seymour Jordan spent a good portion of the Nov. 4 council meeting talking about what’s next in response to a letter from Joshua Welle.

Welle, a Minneapolis-based attorney, represents BEK Consulting, Dickinson, the low bidder on the now-cancelled Hendrickson-Holmes sewer and water project slated for the north side of Crosby.

In a nutshell, Welle’s letter dated Oct. 3 states that the city breached a proper contract when the council moved to cancel the project and rescind the award of BEK’s base bid of nearly $10.5 million.

While acknowledging the city has a right to withdraw from a contract, Welle’s letter states BEK should not be held liable for out-of-pocket costs associated with bid preparations, nor should they be expected to lose out on overhead and anticipated profits the company would have gained had they performed the work as bid.

In conclusion, Welle, on behalf of BEK, asked for more than $2.5 million.

City auditor Alexa Kruger said BEK’s demand compared to documented costs associated with bid preparations is “astronomical.”

(Story by Brad Nygaard, the Journal, Crosby)