701 Rundown: October 16, 2023

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

Murder suspect arrested on I-94 near Mapleton

An out-of-state murder suspect was arrested on I-94 near Mapleton.

At approximately 1:24 p.m. September 26, North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) made a routine traffic stop for an equipment violation.

The car was occupied by a male driver and a female passenger. The trooper observed them switching seats before the car stopped. The male was identified as 20-year-old, Joseph Morrison of Auburn, Wash.

The passenger was 20-year-old Ajannae Sancartier of Kent, Wash.

Morrison had an active warrant of 1st degree murder out of Des Moines, Wash. During a search of the vehicle, a 9mm Glock handgun was discovered, disassembled and hidden in the car.

The slide of the gun was modified in a manner that could turn it into a fully automatic weapon, according to NDHP.

The female passenger was arrested and charged with possession of a machine gun and providing false information to law enforcement. Morrison was arrested on his warrant and was also charged with possession of a machine gun.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Chilean native Leiva joins NDSU CREC

as new soil scientist

Growing up in the foothills of the Andes Mountains of South America, Sergio Cabello Leiva spent a happy childhood in Chile learning all he could about the land and its bountiful promise.

Leiva was hired as the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center’s new Soil Scientist beginning on September 1. He replaced Jasper Teboh in the position.

He hails from his hometown of Nancagua, a city of around 15,000 people which is roughly located in the middle of the shoestring-shaped country in the province of Colchagua, just over 100 miles south of the capital, Santiago. It is nearly equidistant between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean.

“My family taught me to appreciate the beauty of nature, crops, and agriculture,” said Leiva in an introductory press release posted to the NDSU Extension Service’s weekly newsletter, Center Points, on September 22.

Leiva attended the Universidad de Talca (University of Talca), majoring in agronomy, eventually becoming a field agronomist in winter crop seed production.

He continued his education at the Universidad de Concepción, where he earned his master’s degree in soil sciences and precision agriculture.

From there, he made the decision to leave the only country and continent he had ever known to come to the United States, to the northern climates of North Dakota to study in Fargo at NDSU. There, he received his Ph.D.

Leiva believes that producers can “achieve better yields and higher quality while respecting the environment through innovation, applied sciences, and sustainable agricultural practices.”

(Story from The Foster County Independent)

Security cameras come into focus for law enforcement

A long sought-after attempt to beef up security is nearing completion in Rolla.

For years council members and the police department have discussed possibly installing security cameras around the community.

The new surveillance is close to becoming a reality this fall following a pair of recent meetings.

Last month the Rolla City Sales Tax Committee met and approved distributing $16,000 worth of funds to the police department. The money will be used to purchase cameras around the city.

Rolla police officer Wesley Kom recently traveled around the city with Russ Lund of Turtle Mountain Communications to determine the best location for the cameras.

The first three units are expected to cost $5,284 and will be installed before the end of this year.

(Story by John Rosinski, Turtle Mountain Star)

Potato harvest in the bag

With about 75 percent of the potato crop in the bin, area growers are breathing a sigh of relief as this year’s crop was stressed by dry temperatures, not to mention a 9-inch June rain that hampered growth on the Walsh/Pembina line.

“I don’t know where the crop found the necessary moisture, but it got it from somewhere,” said Barry Kingsbury, who grows potatoes for the chip market.

The national agriculture service rated the 2023 potato crop as 46 percent good, 30 percent fair and 6 percent excellent.

Most area producers have finished up harvesting this year’s potato crop and those that haven’t are nearly completed.

Kingsbury said, “There was a lot of concern over the summer due to a lack of rain and the amount of heat we had. I don’t think many people had a hope of having the potato crop they wanted or even needed.”

(Story by Todd Morgan, The Walsh County Record)

Adaptive programs at Winter Park sets new record

Annie’s House at the Bottineau Winter Park saw a good number of adaptive individuals and veterans take in a variety of events this past winter.

This became a record high season for the adaptive programs that the Winter Park has provided through the Anne Carlsen Center over the past 10 years.

“We served 218 individuals with disabilities last winter,” said Rachael Buss, Anne Carlsen Center’s program coordinator for Annie’s House. “Our members come due to the volunteers that help with our downhill skiing, snow-boarding, tubing and trackchair programs.

“We also couldn’t do the programs without the Bottineau Winter Park staff who make sure the overall experience for our guest was a positive one.”

According to the Anne Carlsen Center, the Annie’s House programs started in 2012 and have served around 3,000 guests.

In the wintertime, individuals and veterans with adaptive needs have the opportunity to participate in skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing and ice fishing, along with indoor games.

(Story by Scott Wagar, the Bottineau Courant)