Around the State: June 3, 2024

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.

Fort Stevenson breaks world record

They did it!

Fort Stevenson State Park officially set the new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the "Most People Making S'mores Simultaneously."

The previous record was set in Texas with a mere 891 people.

On Saturday afternoon 1,150 people ascended to Fort Stevenson. They entered the event site in a single file line to all be officially accounted for as part of the park's 50th Anniversary year.

"We are ecstatic to have achieved this record, knowing it couldn't have happened without the amazing people of North Dakota," Fort Stevenson State Park Manager Chad Trautman said. "Our 50th anniversary is a significant milestone, and this record attempt was the perfect way to celebrate. All the volunteers and visitors that came together to make history today helped us create an unforgettable event."

There were people from the Garrison community and as far away as Florida.

Even Miss Continental World-wide, Dana Henry from Bismarck came out for the event.

"We are all here volunteering our time to put North Dakota on the map, along with Garrison and Fort Stevenson State Park 50th Anniversary," Henry said about the event.

(Story by Tyson Matthews, the McLean County Independent)

Longstanding business devastated by fire

On Saturday, May 18, a fire started in the kitchen area of the Coachman Inn restaurant in Cooperstown that appears to have caused a complete loss of the building. The motel behind the restaurant was mostly spared because of the actions taken by the Cooperstown Fire Department.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, the interim appointed sheriff, Rick Cushman, received a call that the burglar alarm at the Coachman Inn kitchen door was going off. Cushman reported that the kitchen door was locked when he got there, but he could hear the fire inside. When he stepped back, he saw smoke coming out of the vent. He said he called 911 and reported the fire.

Cushman is also a member of the Cooperstown Fire Department, where he has served as chief in the past, and has recently been appointed to media relations. He estimates that 18-20 firemen arrived on the scene, with two hydrants and five lines (hoses) fighting the fire.

The motel guests were notified and evacuated immediately, and no one was injured at the scene as a result of the fire.

(Story by Jill Larson, the Griggs County Courier)

No injuries when plane went down

Shortly after 10 a.m. on May 13, a 1951 Piper Cub piloted by Jessica Herman, 33, of Kulm, N.D., went down in a field 3/4 mile southwest of Enderlin. There were two juvenile passengers on board and no one was seriously hurt.

According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the plane had taken off from the Enderlin Airport for an exhibition flight when it experienced an engine malfunction.

An emergency landing was attempted in a field approximately 3/4 mile southwest of the airport. The plane came to rest on its roof facing north in the field.

Ms. Herman sustained minor injuries and the juvenile passengers were uninjured. The juvenile names will not be released and the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

(Story taken from the Ransom County Gazette)

Bighorn sheep found wandering in city limits

Residents of Watford City were surprised to see a bighorn sheep wandering the neighborhood around Jacobsen Park the evening of May 14.

According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, "Bighorn sheep are the rarest big game species in North Dakota, with a population of around 330 animals.

The 2023 survey by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department found 364 bighorn sheep in the grasslands of western North Dakota, which is 5 percent more than 2022 and 16 percent more than the five-year average. The agency's goal is for the population to reach 500 bighorn sheep.

He continued, "It is common practice to dispatch injured wild animals within city limits. N.D. Game and Fish requested local law enforcement officers to dispatch this animal. Postmortem testing of this animal was required by N.D. Game and Fish in addition to the concern of an injured wild animal roaming within city limits. Tranquilization and relocation of the animal were considered, but not feasible at this time."

Once the decision was made to dispatch, WCPD made a plan to shoot the animal.

Multiple shots were fired at the animal and there are reports of bullets, or fragments of bullets hitting at least two residences. One citizen stated that she heard a noise and opened her door to see what was happening, and was shocked when her home was hit by a bullet.

(Story by Kristen Jones, the McKenzie County Farmer)

Lisbon grad featured in international magazine

Lisbon High School graduate and former Ransom County Gazette graphic designer, McCall (Manske) Huus, recently learned that her work has been published in Origin Magazine's spring edition, on sale May 18.

Huus is the owner of MM Photography, a business she started in 2013.

While on a four-day adventure with a hired driver/guide in Morocco, Huus described one of the most breathtaking shots she has ever taken. She photographed a nomadic herdsman with his camels, just off the side of the road, with a desert storm approaching in the background.

"We had been driving for a few hours when we saw him and his herd," said Huus. "We asked our driver to pull over for this amazing photographic opportunity. That was when I stood two feet before this beautiful, unique, exotic, kind, Nomad of a man and his herd, with a wicked sandstorm approaching FAST in the distance."

Huus sent the photo she described to the Gazette.

"This shot of him and his camels perfectly captured the majesty and serenity of the moment," said Huus.

Origin Magazine will feature Huus' work in their summer edition in July.

(Story by Jeanne Sexton-Brown, the Ransom County Gazette)