Around the State: February 20, 2023

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.

The Montana Stranglers in Dakota Territory

If the rolling hills and Missouri River cliffs of central North Dakota could talk, they would tell the tales that Ron Berget writes of in The Montana Stranglers in Dakota Territory.

And there are so many stories.

Berget’s methodical and robust research about life in Dakota Territory in the 1880’s is obvious in the Montana Stranglers. The author does a masterful job of leading readers through the mountain of anecdotes, articles and evidence included in the book. Often broken into short blurbs to add context to larger themes and motifs, the content is digestible.

Berget, who is from Crooked Lake, near Turtle Lake, begins the book by outlining three main characters. Each represent a different aspect of life in Dakota Territory: the outlaws, the vigilantes, and the corruption that comes along with a burgeoning boom area.

Berget said, “I do try to draw out some lessons, like the rule of law.”

“Why we are not vigilantes. It is current because people are taking on vigilante roles and it causes a mess when they do.”

“Humans are capable of great evil. I think human beings have demonstrated that over and over again given the right circumstances. That’s not the way to put a society together and we should learn lessons from the past.”

(Story by Cammie Wright, taken from the McLean County Independent)

Returning to the fictional town of Kirby

“Mash up.”

That’s the word that probably best describes the relationship between the real town of Crosby and its people to the second book in the “Kirby, North Dakota Mystery” series, by John Bayer.

“Lead a Norse to Water,” tells how a spate of graffiti tags is linked to a death. Could it be murder of a local public servant?

While the hunt for local surnames may keep some readers turning pages, others will enjoy a story set in a place that seems a lot like Crosby.

It’s a mixture of inspiration and invention, allowing Bayer to mix real places and surnames with fictional characters and situations.

What you won’t find, Bayer prays, is any real person’s actual name, and very few if any characters with more than a passing resemblance to any actual Crosby resident.

“I wanted to use names true to this region,” said Bayer, now a resident of Texas, “but hopefully not pair those surnames to a first name that actually exists.”

His insurance? Longtime friend Holly Anderson, Crosby, who was enlisted to look over a list of character names being used in the story.

One thing that hasn’t changed since Bayer’s 2017 release of the first book in the series, “The Way the Rhubarb Crumbles,” is his affection for the town he has called home on and off over the past 11 years.

“Crosby is my muse. It inspires me to write,” he said.

(Story by Cecile Wehrman, the Journal, Crosby)

Short trial ends with acquittal

The case of a Crosby man charged with two felony counts relating to alleged possession of child pornography ended recently after nearly 14 months.

Hunter Jacobs, 20, was found not guilty on a Class C felony charge of possession of certain materials prohibited.

The verdict, according to defense attorney Elizabeth Pendlay, was returned Wednesday, February 1, after roughly an hour-and-a-half of jury deliberations.

(Story by Brad Nygaard, the Journal, Crosby)

Recipient surprised by gift of car

“I totally wasn’t expecting this,” Ashley Woods said, reacting to the gift that showed up outside her Crosby home recently.

Thanks to a fundraising effort organized by Woods neighbor; Jessalyn Thomas, Woods was gifted a car.

The single mom had never before owned a car, let along driven one.

A CNA at St. Luke’s Medical Center; Woods has walked to work, or occasionally ridden with coworkers for years, as reported in the December 29 issue of The Journal.

She and her son Leland were frequently sited walking through town, virtually every day, in all kinds of weather.

Earlier posts about the plight of mother and son brought scores of reactions on social media posts, along with thousands of dollars in donations.

The effort raised enough money for the purchase of a 2015 Ford Edge previously owned by Mariah Loper.

The actual delivery of the vehicle was a complete surprise to Woods who shed tears of joy when she was presented with her new wheels.

(Story by Brad Nygaard, the Journal, Crosby)

Man charged with attempted murder

A Minnesota man, charged with attempted murder and burglary in Wells County, appeared Feb. 8 in Wells County District Court.

Jordon Jeffrey Juneau is accused of leaving 71-year-old Vicki Durick, of Fessenden, trapped in her car overnight, cutting off her vehicle’s catalytic converter, breaking into her home and stealing her credit cards, jewelry, cash and other items. The crimes were committed Nov. 27, 2021.

At the hearing, Juneau’s court-appointed attorney, Samuel Gereszek, requested he be discharged from the case due to a breakdown in the client-attorney relationship with Juneau. Gereszek, who was appointed to represent Juneau on Dec. 16, 2021, said the relationship was irreparable.

Juneau told Judge James D. Hovey that he would represent himself in the charges against him. Hovey denied the request to remove Gereszek from the case, but instead asked him to stay on as stand-by council.

“I think it’s a very bad decision on your part to represent yourself,” Hovey told Juneau.

Juneau said he had not seen the discovery, including information and documents relevant to the state’s claims against him. Hovey replied, “Your attorney, who you’ve just fired, has the discovery.”

Gereszek said he would provide the discovery to Juneau, who is currently in jail at the Heart of America Correctional Center in Rugby. Juneau waived his right to a speedy trial. The preliminary hearing was rescheduled to March 8.

(Story by Anne Ehni, the Herald-Press, Harvey)