701 Rundown: May 6, 2024

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

Sheriff’s sergeant: Stray dogs a growing concern across Traill County

City leaders in Hillsboro may be on the lookout for residents offering doggy day care.

Hillsboro City Commissioner Jason Pohlkamp told fellow city officials Monday that local authorities have seen an increase in the number of dogs running loose in Hillsboro and the surrounding area.

The Traill County Sheriff's sergeant said free-roaming dogs previously picked up by Traill County deputies were transported to the Circle of Friends animal shelter in Grand Forks.

However, the nonprofit closed its adoption center and laid off staff amid budget cuts in early January.

The Grand Forks City Council approved a contract that allowed the animal shelter to continue operating as the city pound in Grand Forks, although neighboring cities no longer have the option of taking stray animals to the shelter, Pohlkamp said.

“Right now, we have nowhere to take dogs,” he said. “So we need to decide, as a city, how much we are willing to pay to house dogs … or whether we can find a kennel to take them.”

Hillsboro City Commission President Levi Reese told city commissioners that he planned to investigate the issue further while Pohlkamp said he intended to visit more with sheriff’s officials about potential kenneling options for stray dogs.

“I will run (the ideas) by Steve (Hunt) and look into things, even if it is just for our community,” Pohlkamp said.

“But it’s a countywide (problem), not just Hillsboro.”

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Carrington unites for Ukraine

From the center of war to the Central City, Carrington officials have approved a grant program that provides support for residents who want to sponsor Ukrainian citizens fleeing Russia’s invasion of the country.

The Carrington City Council approved the financial incentive program at their April 8 meeting.

Carrington’s efforts are part of a deferral program called Uniting for Ukraine, administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukraine citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the country and stay temporarily for a two-year period.

Ukrainians participating in United for Ukraine must have a sponsor/supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States.

Grant funds from the city’s economic development fund will provide reimbursement to the sponsor(s) for each individual, up to $2,500 for the first adult, $2,000 for a second adult/spouse and $1,000 for each child under 18.

The program also provides a stipend for travel expenses in the event the Ukrainian participants are not able to cover their own, at 50 percent of the cost not to exceed $600 per individual.

The maximum grant award is $7,500 per application.

This is one way the city has sought to ease the workforce shortages that have persisted for more than a decade, while also extending a helping hand to Ukrainians seeking to escape the wartime conditions in the country.

“With all the job openings we have, particularly in the construction and service industries, we want to be able to fill some of them,” said Laurie Dietz, director of the Carrington Chamber of Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC).

(Story by Amy Wobbema, The Foster County Independent)

Field of dreams

After years of fundraising, Central Cass will begin construction on its new turf baseball field this spring.

Construction of the estimated $1.62 million project was approved during the April Board of Education meeting.

Representatives from Kraus Anderson Construction Company presented the executive cost summary for the project, which will not be paid for with taxpayer dollars.

A baseball fundraising group has collected almost $2 million in the form of pledged private donations, in-kind donations and corporate sponsorships.

​​The project will include earthwork and a drainage system, a turf system, fencing, concrete curb, batting cages and a pitching bullpen.

The investment into the program will increase the amount of time players are able to play on their home field and allow more practices. Additionally, it will eliminate the time spent working on the field to get it ready for practices.

(Story by Angela Kolden, Cass County Reporter)

Referendum fails

The controversial bond referendum for an addition to the Harvey School was soundly defeated on Thursday, April 18.

The defeat ended a nine-month campaign by supporters for a new school, who were met by an equally steadfast crowd not wanting to spend $23.5 million on classrooms for the school’s elementary students.

The Harvey School Board and a steering committee appointed to research and survey school district patrons waged an aggressive campaign for the new addition to the high school.

However, needing 60 percent for the referendum vote to pass, the plan for a new school addition that would put all K-12 students under the same roof was soundly defeated.

Of 1,176 total ballots cast, 703 were “no” votes, while 473 voted in favor, which comes out to just 40 percent voting to support the project.

In three different public forums, those who questioned the project asked why it was necessary to abandon the existing elementary school – ultimately it was their voices that won out.

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