Around the State: August 26, 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.

Minot 'quiet zone' is costly

Costs that have tripled are threatening to run Minot's proposed "quiet zone" off the rails.

The $1 million budgeted by the Minot City Council for 2024 falls about $1.95 million short of what is needed to eliminate the almost continuous sounding of train horns as CPKC Rail trains traverse downtown Minot.

City engineering staff recommend another $300,000 for contingency costs, bringing the total project cost to more than $3.25 million.

"That's too heavy of a lift, and we don't have any other money to do that," council member Rob Fuller said at a meeting August 5.

According to the city engineering department, costs have risen because of additional necessary street and sidewalk work at the crossings and a doubling in the cost of railroad signals.

(Story taken from the Mountrail County Promoter)

The show goes on at Medora

It's been said that nothing really changes at Medora, it just gets a little better every year. But that part about change can no longer be said in this historic corner of North Dakota.

Change is in the air with some massive additions coming to the landscape. During a recent visit, the team at The Farmer found that the time-honored attractions and accommodations are still as polished as always - as much as you can polish the historic badlands of North Dakota.

This is a time of anticipation in Medora, as construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is underway. The infrastructure footprint and skeletal frames is nearly complete, with an estimated opening date of July 4, 2026.

A significant expansion of the town's facilities and infrastructure is already taking place. In 2022 pickleball courts were added along with a splash pool and lazy river. And with the Library construction underway, a new hotel, rodeo arena, event barn, and cabin resort are planned.

The Library has drawn criticism from some who believe that the state of North Dakota's contribution of $50 million was an unnecessary commitment of public funds.

The Library Foundation announced, in 2020, that it had secured $100 million in private contributions, which unlocked the legislature's commitment of $50 million in state money. Billionaire oil tycoon Harold Hamm, in January of 2023, donated $50 million as well. Recent estimates of total cost have indicated a final price tag around $300 million.

City officials say the park draws approximately 800,000 visitors per year.

(Story by Steve Hallstrom, the McKenzie County Farmer)

Paulhus headstone's new home

After 121 years, Ella Paulhus has caught up to her family in Fortuna at last.

The original headstone of the almost-2-year-old girl who passed away in 1903 was recently moved from Walcott Cemetery in southeastern North Dakota to the resting place of her parents and four of her siblings at Oslo Cemetery northwest of Fortuna – a nearly 450-mile trip.

Several of her extended family members gathered there to honor Ella, sharing some history of her life and burying a box symbolizing her containing toys and a Norwegian flag.

The Paulhuses immigrated to the U.S. from Norway in 1900. Ella was the first American-born child in that family.

Ella's death occurred a little less than four months before her second birthday. While attending a picnic at a neighbor's farm, she was playing with other children and fell down a well, where she drowned.

In 1906, the Paulhuses moved further west to a homestead near Fortuna, where they stayed for the next six years. By 1912, the Paulhuses crossed the border into Saskatchewan where they could farm more land, but were buried in Divide County along with some of Ella's siblings.

While the plan was to exhume Ella's body and bury her with her family in Divide County, experts said that wouldn't be possible because there probably wasn't anything left of Ella's remains. Instead it was suggested Ella's original headstone be brought to Fortuna.

The original headstone was commissioned by Ella's parents and is inscribed in Norwegian.

Even though Ella passed away decades before any of her living relatives were born, her memory has still been preserved within the family.

(Story by Jordan Rusche, the Journal, Crosby)

Prellwitz gives resignation prior to county deadline

The Emmons County Highway Superintendent gave his resignation last month after elected officials gave him 30 days to move to the county.

In a letter addressed to the commissioners of Emmons County dated July 22, Skyler Prellwitz submitted his letter of resignation.

This resignation letter came after Emmons County commissioners gave Prellwitz less than 30 days to move into the county during their July 2 monthly meeting.

(Story taken from the Emmons County Record)

One farm, six specialty trees: farmer plants a legacy

The Sampels have been on the land north of Forest River since 1875.

"Seven generations of Sampels have lived on this land and six of them have either lived or spent a night in this house," said Gene Sampel, who lives on the family farm with his wife, Kim.

Besides the standard apple and plum trees many area residents have in their yard, Sampel's specialty is fruit trees not common to this area, like peaches, cherries, mulberry, apricot and hazelnuts also known as filberts.

"I wanted to leave something behind for future generations," said Sampel.

In deciding what type of trees and varieties to grow, Sampel said he takes some advice from his dad Gilbert Sampel, who said, "Look at what the Canadians are doing and what varieties work well for them as their climate is very similar to ours."

The peach varieties that Sampel grows are Reliance, Contender, Veteran and Siberian-C.

The mulberries are originally from the Valley City and Oriska area and were developed by Jim Walla.

Sampel also enjoys grafting and working with new varieties.

"Hopefully I can find enough neighbors to give all this fruit away to," said Sampel.

(Story by Todd Morgan, the Walsh County Record)