2022: The year in review - part 2 of 2

The pages of the Independent from July to December, 2022, had its positives with a new football/track stadium, a planned Rainbow Gardens tourist attraction and community garden, but there were some tragedies as well, including a murder investigation, quadruple murder/suicide with ties to Carrington, and a blizzard that shut down the entire state.

Here is what was in the news from July through December:

JULY

• The community learned that Carrington Police Chief Brandon Sola was killed while riding his motorcycle.

• After 23 years in business, Southwood Veterinary Clinic closed its office in Carrington,

• The Foster County Public Health office began offering COVID shots for kids under the age of five.

• Carrington son Billy Holtan and graduate of Carrington High School in 2016, was part of the Grande Rondel rappel crew fighting fires in the Alaskan wilderness.

• The Carrington Post 25 American Legion Redbirds baseball team advanced to championship series with three straight wins in district play.

AUGUST

• The new Cal Ripken field was almost completed and are preparing for next spring and summer's baseball and softball seasons.

• Just east of Bethel Chapel Assembly of God in Carrington, an experiment in city-wide cooperation, self-sufficiency and natural beautification took root.

The Community Garden Project drew interest from several green thumbs including 12 participants, and their plants flourished despite the early spring's extremely wet weather.

• Carrington Chamber of Commerce Director Laurie Dietz was hired as the Carrington Chamber Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) director.

• Sapphire Gallery opened their doors after relocating to Carrington.

They offer original work along with picture framing services.

• Carrington resident Rusty Kollman won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified Feature at the Jamestown Speedway.

• With the clock ticking down to the start of the football season in Carrington, construction crews were hard at work over a week's period to ensure that the successful opening of the "Stadium '22" would happen by the time of the first varsity game of the season.

SEPTEMBER

• The community learned about a murder suicide in Towner County that had local ties to the area.

Four people were found murdered with the murderer committing suicide in a wheat field southwest of Cando, N.D.

• Resident Brittany Fiebiger left her Happy Camper to open up the Happy Shack in Leever's parking lot.

• Carrington resident Marlene Boyer was named the American Legion Auxiliary Northwest Division National Vice President.

• Christopher Bittmann was hired as Carrington's new Police Chief.

He was hired after former Chief Brandon Sola was killed in a motorcycle accident.

• Cayler Ellingson of Grace City was struck and killed in a vehicular incident in McHenry by Shannon Brandt of McHenry.

• Jodi Hovdenes was named the new CHI St. Alexius Carrington Medical Center President.

OCTOBER

• Carrington infant, Reed Nelson succumbed to a brain injury.

He was found unresponsive at his child care provider's home.

• Shannon Brandt was arrested and charged with Murder, a Class AA Felony, after an alleged hit-and-run in which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson.

• After 40 years on the job, Linda Lemer retired from the Chieftain Conference Center.

• Mark Pazdernik, longtime Carrington High School wrestling coach, was inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame at a luncheon at North Dakota State University.

• The Foster County junior team won the state 4-H range judging contest near Medina.

The team was led by Cyrena Kuss, who finished first out of 32 contestants.

• Carrington native Savanna Buskness strapped on the weight belt for her first-ever powerlifting competition.

She established a new statewide standard of 881.2 pounds for the 90-kilogram weight class in the U.S. Powerlifting Association's North Dakota Open in Fargo.

NOVEMBER

• Varsity girls' wrestling began at Carrington High School.

Eighteen interested participants later, the Cardinal mat girls were ready to step under the center light and into the circle for their inaugural season.

• Brady Smith joined his dad Kyle Smith at Summit Physical Therapy and Sports Performance as a full-time physical therapist.

• Mrs. Brooke Page's sixth grade WIN class at Carrington Elementary School added publishing to their list of accomplishments.

This group of students published a newspaper called "The Cardinal Times."

DECEMBER

• The Dakota Central Board of Directors announced that Holly Utke has been named General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the company.

• The vision for Carrington Rainbow Gardens began taking shape as an architectural drawing was created showing what it would look like.

It is planned to be located across the street from the Carrington Police Department to the north.

• During a heated courtroom hearing, the prosecution and defense argued for nearly four hours over whether the death of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson was an accident, or intentional murder.

In the end, however, District Court Judge Bradley Cruff sided with the prosecution, clearing the way for a jury to determine guilt or innocence at a later date.

• A five-day blizzard paralyzed the state from December 12 - 16.

Foster County and much of the Great Plains endured one of the most severe and long-lasting blizzards in recent memory.

• The Carrington Cardinaires dance team started the 2022-23 season by winning three Class B first place trophies at their opening competition.