701 Rundown: November 21, 2022

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

Garzas accept plea agreement

 On Wednesday, Nov. 2, the Garza Brothers - Christobal, 27, Jacob, 26 and Jason, 23 - rejected a plea offer from Walsh County State’s Attorney Kelley Cole.

 A jury trial was subsequently scheduled for Nov. 15-18, but on Nov. 8, Judge Barbara Whelan received a call asking if she would still accept a plea agreement.

 The next day, a change of plea hearing was held at 10 a.m., where Whelan reviewed the agreement and found it acceptable.

 The agreement calls for all three defendants to plead guilty to C felony charges as a consequence for the beating of Kurtis Graver near Last Chance Bar and Grill in Grafton during the early morning hours of April 3.

 Christobal Garza was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) to serve 18 months, with three years supervised probation upon release. The original plea agreement was rejected because it could have doubled his prison time from 18 to 36 months.

 Jacob Garza, was sentenced to two years in the DOCR with all but 90 days suspended and two years supervised probation. Jason Garza was also sentenced to two years in the DOCR, but because he was a first time offender, all time was suspended. He was also given two years supervised probation.

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

Chad and Connie Allen update; Kudos to Noonan community

 As a small-town sheriff you never know what you might be called to help with. That’s according to Divide County Sheriff, Zach Schroeder, after he finished out one day last week chasing and wrangling chickens on the Chad and Connie Allen farm.

 In late October, the Allen's place burned to the ground. Chad, 38, was found in his pickup roughly half a mile away from his home, and Connie, 45, is presumed to have perished in the blaze.

 “My son died a hero trying to save the woman he loved,” said Jim Allen, Chad’s father, based on the injuries Chad sustained.

 At the time of the blaze, Connie was still recovering from a knee surgery, and the Allen’s surmised Chad left the burning home in search of help to get her out.

 Chad’s family described how thankful they were to learn the animals Chad and Connie loved so much would be taken care of.

 “They’ve really just gone above and beyond,” said Chad’s father, Jim, who wanted to give a “shout out” to the entire town.

 “The outpouring has just been amazing,” said Raelene Malson, Chad’s sister.

(Story by Cecile Wehrman, The Journal)

City leaders, mobile home park owner at odds over utility bills

 Hillsboro City Commissioners and Bill Block, the out-of-state owner of Hillsboro’s mobile home park, appear headed for yet another confrontation regarding unpaid utility bills.

 On Oct. 10, Block sent a two-page letter to the city arguing that he’s not been treated fairly by them ever since he first purchased the mobile home park in 2001.

 Specifically, he alleges that he’s been overcharged by more than $173,000 since 2001 for water and electricity used by his renters, and that that’s why he hasn’t paid his last three utility bills.

 He also plans to deduct $800 per month from the bills the city sends him going forward.

 In his letter, Block said he’d be willing to withdraw his billing complaints if commissioners pay him $57,600, around ⅓ of the amount he alleges he was overbilled.

 City commissioners reviewed the letter on Monday, Nov. 7, but did not take action. They did, however, discuss ways to avoid shutting off water to innocent trailer park residents.

 “We cannot hold the residents of the trailer park hostage by shutting off water to them because of a failure by their landlord” to pay his utility bills, said Levi Reese, City Commission president. “We can put it on the tax rolls.”

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Letter to commission clarifies residents’ stance on 66th Avenue dust issue

 Residents living along a three-quarter mile stretch of 66th Avenue N.E. in Foster County have told the Foster County Commission that an extreme amount of dust is encroaching on their property and disrupting their daily routines.

 Several more signed a letter asking commissioners to lower the speed limit on that stretch of road from 55 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour - a step they argue would help to control the dust.

 One resident, Shaunette Koenig, said, “As one of the several concerned residents that live on 66th Avenue, I have a safety concern with the speed of travel on the county road.

 Dry conditions intensify the amount of dust and this creates ‘white out’ conditions with zero visibility. This makes for a huge safety issue for ANYONE traveling this road and also for those with young children in the area.”

 At their November commission meeting, a motion to reduce the speed limit failed and the board tabled any further discussion until they’ve consulted State’s Attorney Kara Brinster.

(Story by Leasa A. Lura, The Foster County Independent)

3 Bowdon ambulance members recognized for decades of service

 Bowdon EMTs Cheryl Flick, Mary Hoff and Londa Neumiller were recently recognized for their 30 years of commitment to the Emergency Medical Services Program by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

 “Being in EMS has been one of the most rewarding things I have done,” said Hoff, who started her ambulance career in 1990 having already been a registered nurse.

 “I knew life-saving skills from a hospital setting, not from an ambulance,” added Hoff. “I wanted to know how to provide basic life support services in that capacity.”

 Neumiller joined the ambulance service the same year and attended an EMT class with Hoff.

 “We had 15 in our class,” recalled Neumiller. “I’m pretty sure we are the only ones still serving from our class.”

 Flick began her ambulance career just a year earlier, in 1989, but first took an EMT course in 1991 from Jeff Pfau and Marlo Byberg in New Rockford.

 The three women reminisced about their three decades on the squad, and recalled how only two EMTs - Vauna Schaubert and Jeanne Unterseher - were on the roster when they first became certified.

(Story by Carrie Opdahl, The Herald-Press)