701 Rundown: July 4, 2022

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

N.D. Highway Patrol and Spirit Lake Tribe sign mutual aid agreement

On Tuesday, June 14, a mutual aid agreement was signed between the Spirit Lake Tribe and the N.D. Highway Patrol.

This agreement will enhance law enforcement in the areas of emergency calls, requests for mutual aid and other law enforcement functions on the Spirit Lake Reservation. The agreement does not expand arrest authority.

It does provide a legal means for officers to intervene during certain situations regardless of tribal status until law enforcement is available.

Prior to signing the agreement, Governor Doug Burgum, Spirit Lake Tribal Chairman Douglas Yankton, and the NDHP Superintendent Colonel Brandon Solberg offered comments and gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the historic agreement to fruition.

“In an emergency, allowing the closest available peace officer to respond to a call for service could mean the difference between life and death,” said Gov. Burgum. “This agreement with Spirit Lake Nation prioritizes the safety of our citizens regardless of where they live or whether they are an enrolled tribal member.”

He went on to say, “We are deeply grateful to Chairman Doug Yankton, the Spirit Lake Tribal Council and the North Dakota Highway Patrol for their collaboration on this agreement, which cuts red tape and continues to strengthen our state-tribal relationships built on understanding and mutual respect.”

(Story from Benson County Farmers Press)

Stolen crude oil

According to paperwork filed with the Northwest Judicial District Court in Watford City, Darrell “Woody” Merrell, Mark McGregor and Joseph Vandewalker are each facing a Class A felony charge for conspiracy to commit theft - take exceeds $50,000 and a Class B felony for dealing in stolen property.

In addition, Michael Garcia has been charged with two Class B felony charges for leading a criminal association - organize and dealing in stolen property - initiatives, organizes, manages or supervised, along with a Class A felony for conspiracy to commit theft - take exceeds $50,000.

In the affidavit, the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office received a report of stolen crude oil on March 14, 2022, by a former employee of Endeavor Crude, LLC. He provided law enforcement with detailed information in regard to concerns and suspicions he had with Merrell and Garcia.

Throughout his interview, the former employee described in detail that Merrell would steal crude oil through a process, picking up a load from the Little Knife Disposal located at 125th Ave. NW in Watford City and haul it to Crestwood Midstream.

While offloading, Merrell would cause a malfunction in the pump forcing the meter to jump 2-16 barrels, then stop the pump manually when the meter showed 240 barrels of oil had been uploaded.

(Story by Farmer Staff, McKenzie County Farmer)

Central Valley cracking down on cell phone usage this fall

Administrators in the Central Valley School District intend to crack down on the availability of cell phones and other electronic devices used by students during the school day starting this fall.

Superintendent Jeremy Brandt told the Central Valley School Board on Monday that administrators had blunt talks with students in May about the distractions their phones were causing in class.

Educators plan to update the district’s student handbook this summer before the start of the 2022-23 school year and lay down new rules for when teens can check their SnapChat and Instagram accounts.

“We need to be more consistent enforcing the rules (for cell phones) we have in place,” Brandt said.

Principal Jennifer Sundby said the use of cell phones and electronic devices has become rampant during the school day, especially at the high school level.

Two options discussed Monday were allowing students to check cell phones only during lunch and asking teens to store their electronic devices in their lockers.

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Harvey Police chief leaving post in two weeks

Harvey Police Chief Tony Webb has resigned and expects to leave his post by July 11, 2022.

Citing personal reasons, Webb, who has been on the job for three years, is returning to Colorado, where his mother is dying from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Leaving the city with limited protection and traveling between Colorado and Harvey wasn’t an acceptable condition to keep working, indicated Webb.

“It was a wonderful experience,” he said. “Harvey is a great community.”

Expecting Webb to leave, the city has hired Stephen Adi, 35, as a police officer.

Adi was most recently working with the Mandan Police Department. He has also worked for the State Penitentiary and the Devils Lake Police Department.

Originally from Ghana; Adi has been in the states for 10 years, and in North Dakota for five.

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

California fugitive arrested in Horace

A California fugitive was arrested on a Felony Murder Warrant Wednesday afternoon in Horace. The Cass County Drug Task Force, The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Metro Area Street Crimes Unit, worked in collaboration to arrest 25-year-old Kira Conerly-Burton II of Barkersfield.

The warrant was issued out of Kern County, California. Burton was transported to the Cass County Jail awaiting an extradition hearing. Burton has no local charges at this time.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Stadium ‘76 goes down

Workers spent time last week dismantling Stadium ‘76 at the CHS track and football field to make room for a new structure.

Built in the summer of 1976 (thus the name), the general contractor then was Jim Bronaugh, assisted by volunteers of the Carrington Quarterback Club.

The original stadium was made possible by a generous donation from Foster County State Bank. The new stadium is expected to be in place by the opening of the fall football season.

Other contractors on the 1976 project were Robertson Lumbar, James River Electric, and Palmer Plumbing and Heating.

(Story from The Foster County Independent)