Around the State: July 8, 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.

Deng selected as Boys Athlete of the Year

Add another honor to the long list of awards for Four Winds' Deng Deng as he was chosen as the N.D. Associated Press Sportswriters Boys High School Athlete of the Year.

Deng excelled in multiple sports this past school year for Four Winds. He had an excellent football season in which he earned first team all-state honors.

Deng followed that up with an even more impressive basketball season, averaging 27 points per game for the Indians and was selected first team all-state for the second straight year.

He then capped his year off with an amazing track season for a first-year participant, capturing titles in the high jump and 4x100 m relay events and placing second in the long jump at the state meet. Deng Deng will continue his athletic career playing football for UND in the fall.

(Story by Jeff Jacobson, the Benson County Farmers Press)

Judy Garland's home town raising funds for slippers

The Minnesota hometown of Judy Garland, the actress who wore a pair of ruby slippers in "The Wizard of Oz," is raising money to purchase the prized footwear after it was stolen from a local museum and then later turned over to an auction company.

Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where the late actress was born in 1922, fundraised at its annual Judy Garland festival. The north Minnesota town is soliciting donations to being the slippers back after an auction company takes them on an international tour before offering them up to prospective buyers in December.

"They could sell for $1 million, they could sell for $10 million. They're priceless," Joe Maddalena, Heritage Auctions executive vice president, told Minnesota Public Radio. "Once they're gone, all the money in the world can't buy them back."

•The funds will supplement the $100,000 set aside this year by the Minnesota lawmakers to purchase the slippers.

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions received the slippers from Michael Shaw, the memorabilia collector who originally owned the iconic shoes. Shaw had loaned them in 2005 to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

That summer, someone smashed through a display case and stole the sequins-and-beads-bedazzled slippers. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018.

The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty in October to theft of a major artwork, admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum's door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off "one last score" after turning away from a life of crime. He was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.

Maddalena, with Heritage Auctions, says he sold two other pairs of ruby slippers. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and a group of the actor's friends purchased one set for the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.

(Story taken from the Pierce County Tribune)

Camels make appearances through out the state

Interestingly enough, there are camels to be found in North Dakota.

Owned by Anita and Will Chamley of Chamleys Pipe & Salvage in Williston, camels can be seen attending church and school events, along with the Band Day parade in Williston.

Anita Chamley said they acquired their camels in South Dakota and Oklahoma "because my husband always wanted a camel."

According to Chamley, the camels have an interesting dog-like temperament. They get jealous for attention and like getting petted by their caretakers. She also said they are easier to train than horses because "they're very smart."

Camels do quite well in North Dakota winters, she said.

"Snow doesn't bother them at all. They get a good thick coat in the winter," Chamley said, explaining that while most people think of camels as desert animals, they live and do well in a variety of climates.

(Story by Ben Pifher, the Pierce County Tribune)

Journey of a lifetime

A 44-day journey covering over 800 miles by horse and wagon recently came to a successful conclusion in St. John.

Scott Bryant and Matt Post rode into St. John in their wagon, which was dutifully being pulled by Rip and Haze. The pair of 4-year-olds brought Bryant and Post to northern Rolette County slowly, steadily and safely.

The ride started in Walker, Iowa, on May 7. Over the next six weeks the duo rode 25 miles a day, six days a week, before finally rolling home. Bryant said the idea was hatched a few years ago.

The idea slowly turned into a reality and the duo began their trek. It was originally intended to be an opportunity to see the countryside while also meeting new people along the way.

The journey, however, became a more serious endeavor after two of Bryant's relatives were recently diagnosed with cancer. The journey ended up raising $7,500 plus for both Katie LaRocque and Romana Langan.

"It turned into a benefit to try and help them and the response was very positive," Bryant said.

Bryant said they traveled six days a week and then gave the horses the seventh day to rest. Despite pulling 6,000 pounds nearly every day, Bryant said the horses were in good condition when they arrived home.

Over the course of the endeavor, Bryant said they ran into several days of rain, but the weather was never too poor to keep pushing forward.

"They're an awesome pair and I'm proud of them," Bryant said.

(Story by John Rosinski, the Turtle Mountain Star)

Burke-Divide criticizes new EPA rules

Burke-Divide Electric Co-op's president and general manager issued a call to action against new emission standards during the co-op's annual meeting on June 12.

President David Sigloh and General Manager Jerry King explained how new rules from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency could negatively impact electric co-ops like Burke-Divide by limiting their sources of power.

The new rules, announced in April, include mandates to reduce carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants by 90 percent by 2032.

Burke-Divide receives 35 percent of its power from coal and 16 percent from natural gas.

North Dakota is one of 27 states issuing lawsuits against the EPA over the proposed standards.

(Story by Jordan Rusche, the Journal, Crosby)