Around the State: October 24, 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.

Greenley ranked 4th in the nation

Watching some kids wrestle, is like watching an artist at work. The way they flow from move to move sets them apart. Boeden Greenley is one of those kids. When he steps on the mat, the gym takes notice, and you want to have a good seat to watch him work.

After an amazing summer of off season wrestling, great individual victories, and an All-American status, the rest of the nation has taken note of him, as well. This week, Flowrestling, one of the leading voices in wrestling, released their 2022-23 national high school rankings. Greenley was the only North Dakota wrestler to earn his way into the rankings this year, placing fourth on the list.

(Story by Richard Lacina, the Ransom County Gazette)

Stensland setting records at age 80

On October 2, Paul Stensland of Oberon competed in the United States Powerlifting Association’s event, The North Dakota Open in Fargo. Paul, 80, was able to set a national record in the Masters Division for 80-84 year-olds. Paul hit a national record for squat of 115.7 lbs, a 132.2 lbs. bench press and a deadlift of 176.3 lbs.

(Story taken from the Benson County Farmers Press)

Artist Les Sholes selling works at Golden Lake

On Sunday, October 23, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sholes Art Gallery will present an art show/sale at the Golden Acres Resort located on Golden Lake, 12 miles southwest of Hatton.

Over 100 pieces will be offered consisting of mixed media, canvas paintings, digital art photography, sculptures, drawings and more.

Les Sholes is a filmmaker by trade and achieved several Upper Midwest Emmy nominations.

He has now turned his creative ideas into fun and unique artwork employing various media and presenting them on Facebook.

Due to persistent requests to purchase his work, he has decided to make them available locally, holding his show on Golden Lake where he makes his residence.

At the present time an entity in Norway is considering his work to include in their inventory.

(Story taken from the Hillsboro Banner)

Several schools receive hoax calls

Multiple reports of active shooters at schools in North and South Dakota Thursday, October 13, turned out to be false alarms, though each evoked a quick and strong response from law enforcement.

During the first half of the school day, at least seven school districts across the two states were sent into lock down after authorities received word there may be an active shooter in the building. All reports turned out to be a hoax.

There were no weapons, no injuries and “everyone is safe” at Grand Forks Red River High School after the school was targeted with a hoax threat recently that appears to be part of a concerted effort in the region and, possibly across the nation.

“Officers received a call through dispatch of an active shooter at RRHS. Officers immediately responded and began checking the school,” Lt. Andrew Stein wrote in an initial statement to the Herald, while acknowledging the possibility that the call was a hoax.

At 11:23 a.m., CDT, police declared there was no threat.

Roughly an hour after multiple active shooter reports were fielded in South Dakota, a similar report came into the Stutsman County Communications Center in Jamestown.

The report came in at approximately 10:37 a.m., claiming there was a shooter at Jamestown High School. After a sweep of the school, it was found there was no threat.

Police in Bismarck checked on multiple high schools in the area to determine the location of a hoax call.

The call gave a specific room number and seemed very real. Despite an on-site school resource officer reported no active shooter at their location.

(Story taken from the Turtle Mountain Star)

State income rising, but housing costs abound

A new housing report says North Dakota’s focus needs to shift from building homes as fast as possible to paying attention to limited housing options and affordability of homes.

“While the state’s robust and diverse economies have lowered the average age of residents and increased per-household wealth, we cannot ignore the challenges that some North Dakotans are experiencing in relation to increased housing costs,” said Dave Flohr, executive director of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency.

Flohr’s agency partnered with North Dakota State University’s Center for Social Research in creating a new housing needs assessment for the state.

Flohr described the assessment as a tool for helping state and local leaders better understand the magnitude of the barriers residents face when accessing housing.

According to the new report, higher wages and salaries have resulted in higher household and family incomes across North Dakota.

Despite the rise in income, there has been little overall change in the number of moderate-income households, according to the report. Although there has been a rise in the number of households earning more than $125,000 annually, the report said, the majority of North Dakota households - about 57 percent - earn less than $75,000, and 38 percent earn less than $50,000.

(Story taken from the Towner County Record Herald)

North Dakota Western headed to the silver screen

A new North Dakota film is coming to theaters this October. “Sanctified” is headed to the Lyric Theatre in Park River this October 21-23.

“Sanctified” is a Western set in the late 1800s. It tells the story of an outlaw who is rescued from death by a nun traveling through the North Dakota Badlands. She nurses him back to health in exchange for him guiding her to a church in Williston. A deep friendship develops between these two unlikely people as they learn to work together to survive their dangerous journey.

“Sanctified” was shot in the Badlands of North Dakota in May of 2021 and was produced by local production companies Canticle Productions and DN Cinematics. It will premier in theaters throughout the state.

(Story taken from the Walsh County Press)