Around the State: July 3, 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.

Sheriff’s office completes investigation

A local teacher is considering a plea offer from the state’s attorney after the Emmons County Sheriff’s office completed its investigation when more than $2,000 was allegedly taken from a school fund-raiser.

According to an affidavit from the Emmons County District Court, Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Vargas and Sheriff Gary Sanders met with Linton Public School Superintendent Rick Diegel and high school principal Michael Schirado in early June after LPS Broadcast Instructor Jay Schmaltz had not turned in cash collected from a school pizza fund-raiser that ran from January to May.

At the conclusion of the fund-raiser, the affidavit stated Schmaltz turned in $6,414 in personal checks collected, however no cash was submitted.

“According to school officials is very odd for a fundraiser, “ Vargas wrote in the affidavit. “...The school manager had asked Mr. Schmaltz for any cash that was paid for pizzas in the fund-raiser, and Mr. Schmaltz provided her with various excuses why he wasn’t able to provide the cash.”

On May 30, Diegel met with Schmaltz asking for the mission cash and documentation detailing the revenue and expenditures from the fund-raiser.

“Schmaltz indicated he had $719 in cash, but that he had lost it,” the affidavit read. “He also stated that he didn’t have any documentation because he had already disposed of all the documentation.”

After reaching out to the owners of the pizza fund-raiser, Diegel and Schirado were given information that the amount collected should have been $8,749, but Schmaltz had allegedly only turned in $6,414 resulting in $2,335 worth of unaccounted funds.

On June 1, the LPS leadership met with Schmaltz who stated he “deposited it into his personal account and spent it on personal expenditures.”

As of the affidavit dated June 15, money had not been paid back to the school district.

(Story by Kelli Ameling, the Emmons County Record)

A Rensch, in the works

Most teenagers raise money in the summer by taking on jobs. Babysitting, mowing lawns or the proverbial rite of passage job working at a restaurant or gas station. But not Teagan Rensch. For her, this summer has gone to the dogs.

The 14-year-old entrepreneur operates Dee-Oh-Gee Delights, a business which sells a variety of delectable doggie treats - all punnily named, of course: Pupcakes, Waggen Wheels, Pupkin Donuts, Barked Potato bones, Peanut Butter Beggers and Slobber Sauce, to be more specific.

“We sold a lot of the Barked Potato and Peanut Butter Beggers,” Rensch said, referencing her first vendor stand at the Get Hooked on Garrison Showcase on June 6.

Rensch got the idea earlier this year after her grandmother suggested it, inspired by seeing a business called “Teagan’s Treats” while on a trip out of town.

Other than her online presence on Facebook, Rensch’s next event will be setting up during Harvest Market on Main later this summer.

(Story by James C. Falcon, the McLean County Independent)

Jury reaches verdict in attempted murder case

After two hours of deliberation, jurors in the Jordan Juneau trial returned to the courtroom Friday, June 16, with a guilty verdict on robbery and burglary charges, but not attempted murder.

For four days at the Wells County Courthouse, the prosecution in the trial described a crime that started at 8:20 p.m., November 27, 2021, when Juneau allegedly forced Vicki Durick’s vehicle off the road causing it to overturn on a steep ditch near railroad tracks at Highway 52 near Hillside Cemetery, northwest of Fessenden.

Durick was trapped in her vehicle for nearly 12 hours when a passerby called 9-1-1. At that time she was extricated and taken to the hospital.

The jury determined that Juneau committed the crime of robbery by taking Durick’s purse from her vehicle and removed its catalytic converter. All while rendering no aide to Durick.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

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

City settles lawsuit with former employee

The City of Rolla settled a civil lawsuit with a former employee who, since last November, has also been sitting on the town’s governing body.

Rebecca Hodgers worked for the city from April 2021 to March 2022. Last May, she filed a complaint in district court alleging a “hostile work environment” perpetrated by former City Auditor Erica McDougall, who resigned from that position last month.

A few months after leaving the city as an employee, Hodgers returned as a council member. She was one of two candidates running for two open spots on the city’s governing body.

At a recent meeting, the city council voted 3 to 1 to settle the lawsuit brought by Hodgers. Dennis Berg was the lone dissenter and Hodgers recused herself from voting as well as the executive session which determined the council’s ultimate decision.

According to court documents, Hodgers allegations included “verbal reprimands, gossiping and removal of benefits” and led to a grievance procedure.

Court documents state that McDougall moved to terminate Hodgers’ position as a part-time assistant based on workload and budgetary reasons. In February, the position was terminated based on those and other reasons.

(Story by John Rosinski, the Turtle Mountain Star)

History of Anamoose interesting, colorful

Anamoose turns 125 years old this year and the town contains some interesting history.

Around 12,000 years ago, glaciers extracted large chunks of rock and sediment, moving the displaced rock formations, generally a short distance away.

The resulting hole, along with the formation created nearby, though rare, has been labeled an “ice-thrust feature”.

The east side of Stelow or Steele Lake on the south edge of Anamoose is such a formation.

Many stories are told as to how Anamoose got its name. About 20 Chippewa Indians were hired by the Soo Line Railroad to lay steel and ties. They were seen feeding a stray dog and heard the word an-i-mosh, thinking it meant hungry dog.

The Turtle Mountain Indian Historical Society at Belcourt explains that an-i-mosh means simply, dog.

More information can be found in the Anamoose History and Souvenir book.

(Story by Cheryl Hager, the Herald-Press, Harvey)