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

‘Swole with pride’; School wins $100,000 fitness center

For not quitting and at the same time excelling at telling a story, elementary and junior high students in Rolla will receive $100,000 to put toward a new fitness center for the school.

Last week, the multimillion-dollar DON’T QUIT! Campaign named Rolla School one of the state’s most outstanding schools for demonstrating leadership in getting and keeping their students fit.

With that honor comes the cash prize to fund equipment specifically geared at kids ages eight to 14.

The drive to earn the big prize began in February with an email from the governor’s office. Elementary Principal Kristin Mitchell and Physical Education instructor Jodi Hudson saw an opportunity to fill a need.

“I’m thinking about what it can do for our students’ self-confidence, not to mention their physical fitness,” said Hudson.

(Story by Jason Nordmark, Turtle Mountain Star)

Goose River Golf Course opens after flood cleanup

Ryan Opdahl couldn’t have asked for a better first round of golf this spring, although he would have preferred a longer one.

The president of the Goose Hill Golf Course in Hillsboro celebrated the opening of the nine-hole course on Monday with an abbreviated round of four holes.

He birdied his first hole right out of the gate.

“It’s all downhill from here,” Opdahl said with a laugh late Monday afternoon.

This year’s opening of the Goose River Golf Course arrived more than six weeks later than last year’s due to extensive flooding from the nearby Goose River.

It’s a near certainty that portions of the golf course will be underwater once the Goose River hits minor flood stage at 10 feet in Hillsboro, Opdahl said.

Earlier this spring, the Goose reached its third-highest recorded crest April 25 when the river peaked at 15.95 feet.

Hillsboro and eastern Traill County received another two inches of rain four days later and the river saw a second crest of 12.45 feet on May 4.

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Administrator resigns abruptly at Harvey School

Harvey School Superintendent Mitch Strand has resigned his position at the school after one year on the job.

Strand, 36, said it was for personal reasons he’s resigning, effective July 1, 2022. He tendered his resignation last Friday, May 13.

The Harvey School Board “regretfully” accepted the resignation at a school board meeting Monday morning, according to board president, Ken Schild.

The abrupt resignation puts the school board in a difficult position, admitted the board president. It’s late in the game to be searching for a tenured or quality school administrator.

“Our options are pretty tight. We’ll just have to advertise and see what we can find, it’s all we can do.”

Strand was under contract for the 2022-23 school year when he admittedly came to the realization that he didn’t believe he could continue the position and be fair to his health and his family.

“I am proud of the work that our administrative team has accomplished the last 11 months,” said Strand.

But the position of superintendent, he said, has taken a mental, emotional and physical toll. The release from his contract is what is best for the school district and himself, Strand said.

(Story by Neil O. Nelson, The Herald-Press)

Guthmiller looking forward to bringing Finley Bar “back to life”

Troy Guthmiller is a man with a plan and a vision.

After seeing an online advertisement about an old bar for sale, Guthmiller decided to take a chance, and now Smokey's Lounge is open for business.

“I saw the listing for this building and thought it would be a great opportunity to revive it and bring it back to life since I had owned a bar previously,” said Guthmiller. “I’m always up for a challenge, so I thought, what the heck, I’m gonna do it.”

Guthmiller grew up in the small town of Pettibone, N.D. As one of six kids, he spent a lot of time at the local grain elevator owned by his dad, both working and hanging out. After high school, he went on to attend Moorhead State and majored in mass communications. He then started a cigar lounge with a buddy from college called JT Cigarro.

(Story by Lisa Saxberg, Steele County Press)

Road repair work moves along in Walsh County

Walsh County commissioners are still dealing with the deluge of rain and flooding that has hammered Walsh County throughout the month of May.

Walsh County Highway Superintendent Jason Johnston informed commissioners at their May 17 monthly meeting that there are 26 sites to repair and with eastern Walsh County underwater, those damage sites are only going to increase.

Johnston also informed the commission that he reduced load limits on 21 bridges.

“We are down to 206 state inspected bridges in Walsh County, down from 209,” he said. “That will save us a little money in inspection fees.”

Johnston said the latest $22,744 bill from North Dakota Department of Transportation for bridge inspection brings the total the county has paid in the current round of inspections to $168,875.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

Vandalism at park frustrates board

Public parks are meant for everyone to be enjoyed, and the importance of respecting the space that is provided should be observed without question.

Over the past few years, however, a growing problem has reared its ugly head, and has caused no end of frustration and unnecessary heartache for the Carrington Park Board.

A recent spate of vandalism in the park’s bathroom facilities near the picnic area and adjacent to the pool spurred the need for the Board to speak out.

An individual or individuals poured around three gallons of sand in the sink and toilets, rendering them inoperable for a period of several days in mid-May. Bathrooms by the softball diamonds remained open.

“It started this year a few weeks ago, and at first we didn’t really address it as we hoped it was an isolated event,” said Tonia Erickson of the park Board. “But then it kept coming, and it was getting worse.”

(Story by Erik Gjovik, The Foster County Independent)