Around the State: April 24, 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.

Buxton school library gets blast from the past

A former Central Valley School student has returned an overdue library book more than a half-century after checking it out from the rural Buxton school.

Superintendent Jeremy Brandt told the Central Valley School Board recently that Larry Schmaltz of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a 1971 graduate, mailed the book to the school in March.

In a letter to school officials, Schmaltz indicated he discovered the hardcover book, “Modern Farm Power,” while sifting through a collection of old boxes.

The Cedar Rapids man apologized for the 52-year delay in sending back the library book and enclosed a $500 check to cover any late fees associated with its return.

“That was a first. We were shocked and kind of amused,” Brandt said. “Returning the book and (making a donation) was certainly a nice gesture by one of our alumni.”

School administrators don’t have plans to reintroduce the book back into the library’s book collection.

Brant said the information contained in the 280-page book may have become outdated with the advances in farm machinery and ag education the past half century.

(Story by Cole Short, the Hillsboro Banner)

Turtle Mountain poet makes history

Turtle Mountain based author Denise Lajimodiere was thousands of miles away from her cozy lakeside cottage when the big news came in.

“I woke up one morning here in Homer (Alaska) to all kinds of texts and messages of congratulations,” Lajimodiere said.

Overlooking snow capped mountains while on a writing retreat for women, in Alaska, she responded to the announcement that made headlines.

Lajimodiere was named the state Poet Laureate of North Dakota.

“I’m so happy and honored to represent my tribe and my beloved North Dakota as the state’s first Native American Poet Laureate,” Lajimodiere said.

Lawmakers appointed the Chippewa woman as the first Native American to hold the position, tasked with representing the state in inaugural speeches, commencements, poetry readings and educational events.

Lajimodiere has been a lifelong teacher, involved in education for 44 years as an elementary teacher, principal, and recently retired professor at North Dakota State.

(Story by Ethan Mickelson, the Turtle Mountain Star)

Video prompts investigation at Ray school

A Ray High School teacher’s actions are under investigation by administrators following parents’ complaints regarding a video allegedly recently shown in an eighth-grade U.S. History class.

The video allegedly shown to students, a link to which was posted by a concerned parent on Facebook, is a two-minute depiction of a second trimester abortion of a fetus. The video includes a graphic animation of the procedure and a narration by a doctor claiming to have performed the procedure.

Multiple parents who said they have students in the class at the time commented on the Facebook post to express their displeasure with the video being shown without any warning or parental consent.

School administrators declined to comment on the situation when given the opportunity.

The Ray school board was scheduled to meet Tuesday night.

An item listed on the agenda seeks a motion to accept teacher Kathryn Leal’s resignation at the end of this school year.

(Story by Jacob Orledge, the Tioga Tribune)

Burgum has chops and smarts for ambition

Could Gov. Doug Burgum become the first North Dakotan to run for president?

Political pundits and observers are speculating that Burgum is testing the waters for a run at the Republican nomination for president in 2024. This because the governor spent a weekend in Iowa in late March, including a meet and greet promoted by the Story County Republican Party.

Iowa, of course, as an early presidential primary state, has long been the place where potential candidates first dip their toes into presidential waters.

During a recent press conference Burgum declined to say whether the Iowa visit was the first step in a run for president. But he confirmed to Forum Communications that he and First Lady Kathryn Burgum “had a great weekend” and met with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and “local people across ag and education,” including tours of several value-added animal agriculture.

(Story by Steve Andrist, the Tioga Tribune)

Eddy pleads guilty, taken into custody

Former teacher Joshua Eddy has been brought into custody after changing his plea to guilty during a recent hearing.

Eddy, who was a high school English teacher at Washburn High School until his arrest on December 7, amended his January 18 not guilty plea on March 21, pleading guilty on his four charges.

Eddy was arrested in December on two Class C felony charges of corruption or solicitation of a minor, a Class B charge of corruption or solicitation of a minor and a Class C felony for luring a minor between the age of 15 and 17.

Eddy’s teaching license has been revoked by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices board and he has resigned his position at Washburn Public School.

(Story taken from the Mclean County Independent)

Six-year-old struck by vehicle dies

On Saturday, April 8, at approximately 6:50 p.m. a six-year-old male was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Watford City.

According to a news release provided by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, 19-year-old Julian Montoya was driving a Toyota Tundra in a parking lot of an apartment complex Saturday evening, as the vehicle traveled around a section of garages it struck the juvenile male who was riding his bicycle in the area. The juvenile was pronounced deceased on scene.

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, the McKenzie County Farmer)

Fatal crash between truck and train

On April 3, around 8:17 p.m. a Dodge Ram 1500 carrying three teen boys approached a railroad crossing; the driver was a 17-year-old male and the passengers were 17 and 15. The truck was then struck by an Amtrak train near Springbrook, N.D.

The driver was in critical condition and sent to Minot Trinity Hospital. The 15-year-old passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and the 17-year-old passenger was transferred to Williston CHI St. Alexius Health where he was pronounced dead.

(Story by Kristen Jones, the McKenzie County Farmer)