701 Rundown: May 2, 2022

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

Linton school to split top position

Linton Public School District 26 and Kidder County School District 1 have agreed to share a superintendent on a one-year trial basis.

Currently, Kidder County Superintendent Diegel will split his time 50/50 during the 2022-2023 school year between the districts in the new role.

“I am willing to put in the work,” Diegel said.

During a March 25 special meeting, the Linton school board made a motion to move forward in search of an interim superintendent for the 2022-2023 school year.

At that time, the board had interviewed two separate candidates for the full-time position, but decided neither had enough experience for the position.

(Story by Kelli Ameling, Emmons County Record)

Staffing crisis hits county jail

Tuesday’s Walsh County Commission meeting was dominated by a crisis at the jail as they remain critically short of help.

Head of corrections at Walsh County Law Enforcement Center, Adam Trahan, said another employee didn’t show up for their shift over the weekend, forcing him to work Easter Sunday unexpectedly.

Human Resource Manager, Tanya Weiler, said the current pay scale for jailers (correctional officers) in Walsh County is $18.24 starting, which is just under $38,000 annually.

“So when you compare salaries I am not surprised that we are struggling to fill these jobs, considering the type of work we expect our jailers to do, which includes rotating shift work,” Weiler said.

Weiler also noted that other jails nearby are offering more than Walsh County.

“We’re not necessarily pulling people from outside our region to work at the jail - we are looking at our local job pool,” she said.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

Groundbreaking on new Dunseith School planned this summer

Groundbreaking for a new school in Dunseith is expected to take place early this summer.

School district officials from Dunseith began undertaking this new endeavor in earnest last year and have been making steady progress. According to Dunseith Superintendent David Sjol, a groundbreaking ceremony will take place in either late May or June for a new 32,000 square foot building.

An architectural rendering is also expected to be revealed early this summer.

The primary purpose of the new facility will be to expand the school’s career and technical education offerings. Sjol indicated the building will have many uses, including housing rooms focusing on auto body, welding, various careers in healthcare and Family and Consumer Science (FACS).

In addition, the building will have a cafeteria, school store and other training facilities.

“It’s going to provide a great opportunity for our students,” Sjol said. “By the time they are finished here they will have industry recognized certification with more hands-on learning.”

(Story by Jason Nordmark, Turtle Mountain Star)

Ski lift is planned

The Bottineau Winter Park has started a capital campaign to place a new T-Bar in the park with the goal of having it operational for the 2022-23 season.

“Bottineau Winter Park is pursuing to replace the 1961 T-Bar life that is no longer functional,” wrote Dan Fett, president of the Bottineau Winter Park, and Ryan Henry, Vice President of the Bottineau Winter Park, in a letter mailed out to the general public. “This new lift is the most economical feasible replacement, will enhance the guests' experience and improve the overall safety for our customers at the Bottineau Winter Park.”

Fett added that the T-Bar was once the primary lift for the park before the chairlift, but it hasn’t been utilized for the past three years due to mechanical issues.

Henry stated that the new T-Bar will grant another lift to the park that will assist in getting people up to the slopes.

The T-Bar project will cost $600,000 and nearly $400,000 has been given and pledged to date.

(Story by Scott Wagar, Bottineau Courant)

Soybean plant developers host four town hall meetings

Developers of a proposed soybean processing plant nearer Casselton recently held several local town hall meetings.

Representatives from Minnesota Soybean Processors and Consolidated Grain and Barge, who together own ND Soybean Processors, gathered at Casselton’s City Hall Tuesday and Wednesday to present information on the proposed crushing facility and to answer questions from residents.

“Why can’t it be further out of town?” someone asked. Developer Scott White replied that the nationwide search came down to location, location, location.

“No, it can’t be moved,” he said, explaining the site was selected because it had all of the following: access to both BNSF and RRVW railroads, interstates, utility pieces (such as water and waste water from West Fargo) and electricity.

Odor, light and sound pollution:

White said because there is no fermentation or roasting taking place at the soybean crushing plant, there will be no odor. They are constructing the facility with downward directional lighting that aims at the work spaces, not out or up. As to the sound concerns, the facility is being constructed using double walled insulation.

Developers are planning a 2022 groundbreaking with construction to follow. The plant is expected to be fully operational in 2024.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Nine-year-old shows Watford City City Council how it’s done

Brocktyn Devlin was one of many of the Watford City third grade students to turn in his submission for what he would like to accomplish if he could be Watford City’s Mayor For a Day.

“We were out of town and I had him read the email and his jaw dropped,” exclaims his mother, Bethany, of his notification that he was selected. “He had a smile on his face pretty much the whole day.”

In his submission, Devlin wrote, “I would start my day by thanking all of the city employees for all their hard work and what they have done.

“The daycare is in need of more spots to help parents that need to work,” he added.

Of the whole day, Brocktyn says his favorite part was sitting in on the Watford City City Council Meeting.

“Keep up your good work, Watford City,” concluded Brocktyn in his essay.

(Story by Ashleigh Plemper, McKenzie County Farmer)