701 Rundown: Feb. 3, 2025

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

Flu and COVID-19 are coming on strong

Rolette County’s Public Health agency is well into the 2024-25 vaccination season.

Rolette County Public Health nurse Renae Henderson said flu cases are on a rapid rise throughout the state, an issue that became obvious during the last week of 2024.

“Flu cases doubled in one week from 303 to 607,” said Henderson. “Total cases are just about 2,000 now and hospitalizations have also increased.”

Henderson said the hospitals and nursing homes are especially susceptible to this kind of strain, adding the RCPH is ready to help.

Meanwhile, just like the surge in flu cases, Henderson said COVID-19 cases are also coming on strong.

“There were 500 (cases) in the first week of 2025, and 25 new hospitalizations last week due to COVID,” she said.

(Story by Jason Nordmark, Turtle Mountain Star)

CHS grad selected to NCAA Football Hall of Fame

Carrington's own Jim Kleinsasser has spent his athletic life showing skeptics that sometimes the diamonds in the rough can be found in their own backyard.

The 1995 CHS graduate was selected as one of 22 new members to the 2025 class of the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Induction ceremonies will be held in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 9, 2025, as part of the 67th Annual NFF Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.

Jim, the son of Carter and Kathe Kleinsasser of rural Carrington, made his mark as a scholastic athlete playing tight end for the Cardinal football team under Head Coach Marty Hochhalter.

He also was a valuable contributor to the 1995 Class B state champion basketball team and remains the state record holder in the shot put (62'2"). His past record of 183'11" in discus has since been broken.

He was recruited to the University of North Dakota to play football for Head Coach Roger Thomas, and it was there that the 6-foot-3, 272-pound Kleinsasser began to deliver notice of his potential greatness.

He would earn NCAA Division II All-American honors in both 1997 and 1998, and gained viral fame for a catch and run against the NDSU Bison in his senior season that displayed his uncommon combination of speed and size for a big man.

He was also a three-time All-North Central Conference (NCC) selection for the Fighting Sioux, and played in the 1999 Senior Bowl.

For his UND career, Kleinsasser had 88 catches for 1,309 yards and 10 total touchdowns, an average of 14.8 yards per reception. He also had eight rushes for 91 yards and a touchdown. The Sioux had a record of 32-10 during his four years.

He would be drafted in the second round of the 1999 draft, 44th overall, by the Minnesota Vikings. Kleinsasser would become one of the franchise's longest-tenured players, lasting 13 seasons until his retirement in 2011.

(Story by Erik Gjovik, The Foster County Independent)

Cost of new jail unveiled

Sid Samuels of The Samuels Group presented two years of work to the Walsh County Commission recently regarding a proposed new county jail to replace the antiquated structure currently in use.

The detailed presentation unveiled to the commission was over an hour long, during which time Samuels and the jail committee looked at five different site options.

They also worked closely with jail consultant Tom Weber who conducted a staff study and bed-count study.

An architectural program determined that 37,685 sq. ft. would be needed, with the best option being to construct the new building as an addition to the courthouse.

It was further determined the facility would have 48 beds, and if built in a timely manner it would cost approximately $42 million.

To help pay for the expense, the county would contribute $5 million for the new HVAC system.

The project’s remaining costs would be financed by a pair of bonds, one of which would be based on property. Further financing would also be acquired via a 0.75 cent increase to the county’s sales tax.

The commission did not make a final decision on the proposal.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

School expansion project proposed in Ellendale

The Ellendale Public School Board held their first public meeting on Monday, Jan. 13 to present and discuss a proposed $4.4 million expansion project.

The board is proposing an addition that will contain an ADA-compliant fitness classroom and center, athletic and public locker rooms, along with a wrestling room that had been originally planned in the 2010 north athletic facility addition, before its removal.

The proposed fitness center will be utilized for K-12 education and athletics, as well as a serve as a community center for all members of the public.

Approximately 50 constituents welcomed the conversation and provided positive feedback for the project.

The project’s priorities include not only improving the safety and security of students and faculty, but also preservation of the existing school, enhanced student learning, improving the physical and mental well-being of all and promoting generational relationships.

(Story by Michael Thorpe, Dickey County Leader)