Around the State: February 7, 2022

The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories.

Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state.

Family beef over stolen cattle

A Ruso resident’s unauthorized attempt to peddle his mother’s 23 head of cattle to generate enough funds for the purchase of a pickup truck went up in smoke when an investigating McLean County officer arrested the suspect for theft of property on January 11.

Sergeant Curtis Olson responded to a dispatch call during the afternoon of January 10 about a Ruso rancher and his wife reporting that a mix of cows and calves had been missing from their property, as detailed in a corresponding police affidavit.

After gathering information from the couple, the patrol supervisor received a call from an interested buyer who recounted making arrangements with an associate to pick up the bovines and transport them to Kist Livestock Auction in Mandan.

After confirming the location and satisfactory health status of the domestic animals, Olson questioned Joshua Benjamin, 29.

The alleged thief claimed ownership of 15 percent of the cattle and maintained that the proceeds from the sale would be redirected to his mother in their entirety.

Despite interference from the young man’s father — who was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct — the mother and rightful owner of the cattle lot communicated that Benjamin “had no invitation to touch her cows,” and that she would press charges if he did.

Olson was brought into custody for theft of cattle.

(Story by Ralph Mancini, bhgnews.com)

Kenmare coin stash revealed

Just as the plans were getting started for Kenmare’s 125th Anniversary, the Association of Commerce came across a long forgotten stash of Kenmare Diamond Jubilee coins.

At first glance, the shiny collection of gold and silver color coins would appear to be quite a little treasure. The souvenir coins were commissioned for Kenmare’s 75th Anniversary celebration, the Diamond Jubilee, held in July of 1972.

Rather than a precious metal coin, such as real gold or silver, the coins are very likely made of a mixture of iron, brass, copper, and zinc alloy. Although all the coins maintain a gleam, many also show a bit of green tarnish, revealing evidence of their brass and copper content. Actual value of each coin is perhaps, not much.

The silver color coins were circulated as regular currency in Kenmare for a few weeks prior to the Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1972. Back then, you might receive one of these coins for change for your purchase at a Kenmare store. You could cash it in at the bank for one real dollar, or you could keep it as a souvenir.

The gold colored coins were never circulated, and sets of a gold and a silver color Jubilee coin were offered for sale in June and July of 1972 for $5 per set.

Heather Thompson, current secretary/treasurer of the Kenmare Association of Commerce, discovered the organization had a safe deposit box and that’s where she found the stash of coins.

Rather than hide them away for another 50 years, the Association of Commerce board of directors decided to donate the coins to the Pioneer Village Museum to display them, or possibly sell some of them during the upcoming 125th Anniversary celebration in July.

The list of coins shows 203 silver color coins, and 199 gold color coins.

(Story by Terry Froseth, the Kenmare News)

The Great Resignation

The phenomenon known as the “Great Resignation” seems to be far from over.

The COVID pandemic has caused workers in nearly every industry to reassess their priorities and look for jobs that offer more flexibility as well as better pay and benefits.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Dakota’s overall quit rate, defined as the number of quits as a percentage of total employment, reached 3.0 percent in 2021. Overall, North Dakota saw 123,000 quits in 2021.

Quits totaled 4.5 million nationwide in November 2021, as record high, and have been trending upward since April 2020.

(Story taken from the Traill County Tribune)

Ray prom dress exchange draws big crowd

The halls of Ray’s Lutheran Church were crowded and full of glee recently for the latest and possibly most successful ever edition of the Ray Prom Dress Exchange.

Dozens of girls visited the small church from as far away as Minot, Williston, Westby, Montana and everywhere in between.

“Great turnout. We’ve had probably the most people in the six years we’ve done it, trying on. It seems like people are buying,” said Sarah Knox, one of the organizers from the Ray After Prom Committee. “I think everybody is really happy with the quality of the dresses they’re finding.”

Some of the girls in attendance knew what to expect, having visited the dress exchange in past years. Others, looking forward to their first prom this spring, were pleasantly surprised how much fun the entire event was.

(Story by Jacob Orledge, the Tioga Tribune)

Unprofessional comments by EDC, airport official

Tioga city commissioners on the advice of their attorney, will monitor the airport board’s investigation into allegedly unprofessional public comments by the airport board president.

Social media comments made by Chris Nogaard, president of the airport board and president of the Tioga Economic Development Corporation, led several community members to label them “inappropriate,” “bullying,” “rude,” and “unacceptable.”

On January 1, Norgaard responded to several of the comments.

“There were 5 armchair quarterbacks, that all got 2 minutes to grieve,” commented Norgaard.

Norgaard called “retarded” the idea cities can’t hire consultants who live outside of Tioga and disparaged Vickie Augustus’ showing as a candidate in November’s special city commission election.

In a recent interview Norgaard said he has no plans to delete the comments. He addressed his comments in detail.

(Story by Jacob Orledge, the Tioga Tribune)