Around the State: September 30, 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.

Commissioners address report of hemlock

The Emmons County Commission, at its regular meeting held September 3 at the Emmons County Courthouse, Linton, heard a report from county week board control officer C.J. Pearce about the possible sighting of water hemlock in the county.

Water hemlock is a highly poisonous flowering plant that, if ingested, could kill cattle.

"The farther down the plant base you go is where the poison is," Pearce told the commission. "Flowers turn into seeds that are very lethal."

If ingested by animals, "your cattle basically die from seizing," Pearce said, adding, "their respiratory system collapses. There's no treatment for it."

Pearce said, after investigating the report from a local landowner, he contacted weed specialists with North Dakota State University to determine if the plant is, indeed, the poisonous hemlock.

"It often gets mistaken for a variety of other weeds," he said.

If it is legitimate hemlock, the county weed board can go in and try to eradicate it or enforce the landowner to keep it under control.

(Story by LeAnda Staebner, the Emmons County Record)

Remains of Hurdsfield sailor identified by U.S. Navy

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced September 16 that Navy Fireman 1st Class Edward D. Johnson, 24, of Hurdsfield, N.D., killed during World War II, has been accounted for.

On December 7, 1941, Johnson was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Johnson.

From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nu'uanu Cemeteries.

In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The laboratory staff was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma at that time.

The AGRS subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific known as the Punchbowl in Honolulu.

Between June and November 2015, DPAA personnel exhumed the USS Oklahoma Unknowns from the Punchbowl for analysis.

To identify Johnson's remains, scientists from DPAA along with scientists from the Armed Forces Medical examiner System used mitochrondrial DNA analysis.

Johnson's name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with others who are missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Johnson will be buried on October 25, 2024, in the Punchbowl.

(Story taken from the Herald-Press, Harvey)

City council doesn't like the smell of sewer

The Rolla City Council opted not to help cover costs incurred by a pair of homeowners following a random string of occurrences earlier this year.

The council recently discussed an issue at length, which included sewer backing up into some homes located north of the Rolla School.

According to Rolla public works director Cliff Rush, lightening knocked out a transformer located near the school, which knocked out a lift station, along with a back-up alert system. The end result was sewage backing up into some basements.

At a recent council meeting, councilman Clarence Booth said he visited with one of the impacted residents about the incident. Booth indicated he wanted the city to help the homeowners pay for costs associated with cleanup.

"I want to do the right thing by the community and this body that has to look out for itself," Booth said. "We have to work together to figure out what is right the best we can. This problem wasn't from their house and there was no fault."

Booth continued by proposing the city contribute up to $5,000 to the loss. He described it as a one-time payment and future issues would be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

The proposal was met with some objection from other members. Councilman Paul Frydenlund said because the city was deemed not negligent by it's insurance agency, it was not responsible for the mishap.

"I'm sorry this happened and it's a terrible thing," Frydenlund said. "I think we would be opening up a can of worms. I have sewer insurance and I've made that decision to pay extra money because I know the risk where I live. Where do you draw the line?"

The board voted with the motion failing 4-2.

(Story by John Rosinski, the Turtle Mountain Star)

Rugby readies for the spotlight

After months of anticipation, the Rugby community will at long last get to roll out the red carpet to take in its city's appearance in the "My Town" documentary.

Filmed in May, the episode featuring Rugby will focus on unique stories of entrepreneurism and community involvement as a testament to the quality of life for local residents through career and job opportunities, as well as the available education, healthcare, business and recreational options.

A feature length version of the series is set to be showcased at the 15th Annual Twin Cities Film Fest on October 17-26 i St. Louis Park, Minnesota, which will be the first opportunitty the public will have to view the long gestating project.

(Story by Charles Crane, The Pierce County Tribune)

County keeps tax hike at a minimum

The Rolette County Commissioners approved a budget with tax hikes in line with previous years.

Following weeks of meetings and crunching numbers the board approved the budget 5-0 at last week's regular meeting. Under the approved plan, county employees will be receiving a five percent raise while the commissioners opted not to give themselves an increase for the second consecutive year.

Taxes are expected to increase roughly three percent, which commissioner Cam Mickelson described as "typical." However, weighing on the commissioners' minds is an upcoming vote this November that could eliminate property taxes based on assessed value. If passed, Measure 4 could dramatically alter how local government is funded. To that end, the commission increased the mill levy on a few line items..

(Story by John Rosinski, the Turtle Mountain Star)