Around the State: July 15, 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.

North Dakota Tourism soars to new heights

The travel and tourism economy in North Dakota surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023, according to a new report released by the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

The number of visitors to North Dakota increased by 1.3 million, reaching a total of 25.6 million visitors in 2023. Those visitors spent more than $3.3 billion in the state in lodging, food and beverage, retail, recreation and transportation.

"When we released our annual report this spring, we knew that 2023 had been a strong year for travel in North Dakota. This study now confirms it was the most visited year to date. The travel and tourism economy in North Dakota is still so young compared to other destinations, and with the development on the horizon and the visitor interest in North Dakota, the growth potential for our economy is huge," said Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman.

(Story taken from The Cavalier Chronicle)

SaskPower narrows search for reactor site

A nuclear reactor is likely coming to Estevan, Saskatchewan, within the next decade, with a possible location as close as 15 miles north of Noonan.

SaskPower, Saskatchewan's leading electric provider, started considering possible sites for a GE-Hatachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor around 2023, focusing on areas around Estevan and Elbow, a town northwest of Regina.

The company has now landed on two possible locations near Estevan to host the reactor, with the possibility of a second reactor later on.

One is near the Rafferty Reservoir west of Estevan and about 23 miles northwest of Noonan. The other is a site near the Boundary Dam Reservoir south of Estevan and about 15 miles north of Noonan.

The site selection won't be finalized until around 2025, and the secondary location of Elbow could still be an option.

If approved to build, construction would begin around 2030, with operation beginning around 2035.

(Story by Jordan Rusche, the Journal, Crosby)

Ray public works director fired by commission

The city of Ray's public works director was fired at a special meeting of the city commission held recently.

The decision to terminate Dave Taylor's employment came after a presentation by City Attorney Erich Grant outlined allegations that Taylor had violated city policies regarding harassment and creating a hostile workplace environment.

A letter dated June 12 that was delivered to Taylor, alleged that he made profane or sexually inappropriate remarks on city property during regular work hours that were designed to induce a hostile work environment or affect the performance of duties by other city employees.

Those remarks, the letter stated, were made by Taylor on or about May 3.

The exact nature of those remarks was not disclosed, nor to whom they were directed.

(Story by Brad Nygaard, the Journal, Crosby)

Undlin honored in Washington, D.C.

Lindsey Undlin of Mohall has recently been granted recognition for her book, "Spiral," that will take the book all the way to the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., which celebrates literature, novelists, historians, poets, children writers and bestselling authors.

"Spiral" was chosen in the youth category by the N.D. Center for the Book at the North Dakota State Library. It was one of North Dakota's 2024 selections for the Great Reads from Great Places program which is hosted at the National Book Festival.

First Lady Laura Bush founded the National Book Festival in 2001. James Billington, the 13th Librarian for the Library of Congress who served from 1985 to 2015, made the National Book Festival an annual literary event to show the Library of Congress' commitment to reading and literacy. It is considered to be one of the most prominent literary events in the nation.

(Story by Scott Wagar, the Bottineau Courant)

State hospital finds Beane incompetent for trial

A fitness hearing was held at the McKenzie County Courthouse Thursday, June 6 to determine if Scott Beane is competent for trial. Beane was charged on November 16, 2023, with a Class AA Felony for the murder of his mother, Lois Beane.

During the hearing, Judge El Dweek asked both State's Attorney Ty Skarda and Beane's attorney, Stormy Vickers, if they had agreed upon suspending court proceedings to allow Beane to be committed to the state hospital to attempt to restore him to competency.

Attorney Skarda stated that based on the physician's report from the North Dakota State Hospital that was filed with the court on May 6, Beane is currently not competent to stand trial. However, with proper inpatient treatment at the state hospital, capacity would likely be gained.

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, the McKenzie County Farmer)

State looks to counties for help with overcrowding

The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) issued a press release on June 18, to announce the plan for DOCR to expand its agreements to house inmates in county correctional facilities.

"In July 2023, the DOCR began housing inmates sentenced to state custody at the McKenzie County Correctional Facility in Watford City as part of a population management plan due to overcrowding; however, capacity was reached in May 2024, and the DOCR male population currently stands at 1,723 residents."

"Through conversations with DOCR partners in North Dakota counties, including Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center in Rugby, the Burleigh/Morton Detention Center and the Williams County Correctional Center in Williston, the state has secured a commitment of beds as well as the ability for the DOCR to provide tele-programming at the county facilities to ensure access to required services. This is a temporary solution as the growth of the prison population continues to exceed projections, nearing 200 more residents than planned during the 2023 legislative session," said DOCR officials.

(Story by Kristen Jones, the McKenzie County Farmer)