701 Rundown: Oct. 10, 2022

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

Late Harvest

A late planting season and subsequent late harvest is giving Divide County farmers a few unwelcome challenges.

Farmers harvesting near Crosby, Ambrose and Noonan are reporting only being half finished, when harvesting has typically been completed by this time of year.

Bruce Fagerbakke is cutting durum south of Noonan.

“We’re battling moisture since it hasn’t cured out all the way. Other than that, running good for as late as it was seeded,” said Faggerbakke.

This year’s late agricultural season is due to excessive moisture on the ground.

Places in Divide County received nearly 12 inches of snow and rain between April and June, which made it impossible to begin planting on time.

Farmers whose land has varying topography were at least able to benefit from having higher land, which is more arable.

The late harvest means many area farmers are playing catch-up.

Ryan Nordstog is harvesting canola south of Crosby.

“We’re behind. Normally we’d be about done, but we are only half finished. The quality of our canola is pretty good this year though,” said Nordstog.

This sentiment was shared by Jon Myers who was combining south of Ambrose.

“It’s pretty late in the year compared to other years. We’re at about half. Everything is still a little green but we aren’t too concerned with frost,” said Myers.

(Story by Eric Standing, The Journal)

Grievance committee hears from auditor

On Friday, September 16 at city hall, a meeting was held by the temporary grievance committee for the City of Carrington, where council members heard grievances filed by City Auditor Jennifer Gast relating to city policy 3.11 Grievance Procedure.

The following grievances related to time sheets were heard:

• Whether a water plant employee marked on his time sheet the appropriate time. The video at the gate of the water plant shows that the said employee was 56 minutes late on one of the days in question.

• Whether there exists inaccurate timesheet submissions for the said employee for eight days with a deficit to the city.

• Whether the public works director, public works committee, the mayor or the finance and legal committee addressed the timesheet discrepancies.

Councilman Trader said they have been addressed.

• Whether or not there are gender discriminations in the timesheet discrepancies.

• Whether two water plant employees are being treated differently than females employed by the city.

Regarding gender discrimination, Councilman Pederson said there is not enough evidence to of gender discrimination based on the information they currently have.

Regarding timesheet discrepancies, Gast said that, on multiple occasions, a water plant employee was seen walking his dog when he was supposedly at the water plant.

Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann said the video camera at the gate of the water plant is not sufficient record of the comings and goings of employees at the water plant, and that it’s normal for plant employees to begin work at home before they get to the plant.

The grievances were turned over to City Attorney Leo Ryan for review and findings.

(Story by Leasa Lura, The Foster County Independent

McKenzie County continues to benefit from oil and gas industry

At the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s (NDPC) annual meeting, which was held at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City, leaders in the oil and gas industry and council members discussed the past year’s challenges.

At the meeting, McKenzie County Commission Chairman Howdy Lawlar describes ways the oil and gas industry has helped their local economy.

“Seven million dollars plus sweat equity has been invested into two housing programs since 2019,” said Lawlar. “Once completed, there will be 179 new homes throughout McKenzie County by 2026. That will be the bottleneck to keeping good quality workers right here.”

Other ways the oil and gas industry has benefited McKenzie County include:

• $4 million allocated for the Bakken Area Skills center, which broke ground earlier this year and once finished will help train skilled workers.

• Over $310 million invested towards improving infrastructure.

• $4.5 million put towards the expansion of the McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, Inc.

• $18 million committed to building a second day-care facility in Watford City, along with $3.4 million provided to make daycare more affordable.

“McKenzie County is committed to continuing quality of life projects, designed to make McKEnzie County the most desirable oil community to live in today,” concluded Lawlar.

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, McKenzie County Farmer)

Hylden receives deferred sentence

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, Mark Hylden, 68, of rural Park River received a deferred imposition sentence after pleading guilty to three misdemeanor charges.

In exchange for pleading guilty to those charges, the state dismissed the Class C felony charge of terrorizing.

Hylden has no prior criminal record, and was placed on two years supervised probation. His charges will be stricken from the record if he remains lawful for those two years.

Hylden was charged after he admittedly violated disorderly conduct restraining orders that extended family members had placed on him.

Hylden had told a family member that he was prepared to defend his property to the death and shoot family members in the residence, as well as any law enforcement that try to remove him from the property, which he believes is his.

Hylden violated the protection orders when he drove a tractor onto the property and through the lawn, while dragging a tree behind and tearing up the yard. He also ran over a mailbox and a rifle was spotted inside the tractor.

Hylden pleaded guilty to two counts of violation of a disorderly conduct restraining order and criminal mischief, all Class A misdemeanors.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)