YEAR IN REVIEW
TOP 10 STORIES OF 2021 Wednesday • January 5, 2022
Minot Daily News
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ABOVE: Raea Pirrotta, left, is store manager for Weekender, which is owned by her daughter, Madeline Knutson, center, and her mother-inlaw, Shannon Knutson, right. They are shown in this photo by Jillian Batson.
Photo by Jill Schramm/MDN
TOP LEFT: Cole Anderson, owner of Up Your Axe, instructs Bailey Nordgaard on axe throwing at downtown Minot’s fall festival booth Sept. 18. Up Your Axe is one of the newest businesses downtown.
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Minot’s first parklet, located outside Prairie Sky Breads, was a popular place after opening in early September.
Downtown Minot has a good year #1 Year brings new businesses, more investment
By JILL SCHRAMM
ment during 2021. In June, the Minot City Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com Council voted unanimously to designate up to $1.1 million hen Dakota Burger toward economic development sales tax dollars that othowner Jake Lockrem from erwise would go into the MAGdecided to re-brand the IC Fund. business as The Iron Horse Among spending proposals Kitchen + Bar this past were $943,000 for a downtown facade improvement year, he knew he wanted building program; up to $50,000 for conthe location to remain in sultant services for a citywide leakage study and data analyMinot’s downtown. sis; and up to $7,000 for con“It’s growing. It’s a wonder- ference registration and travel. ful place to be. It’s got a great In addition, up to $100,000 in atmosphere. All the changes Economic Development Addowntown have done nothing ministration matching funds could be used for studies on rebut better it,” he said. Downtown Minot has seen use of Trinity properties and a new businesses, building ren- permanent site for food trucks. The initial facade projects ovations and increased invest-
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approved were Auslander LLC for renovation work at 24 1st St. NE, which houses 701 Realty and Auslander Apartments, and S-J One Eleven LLC for renovation work at 111 Central Avenue, housing Tom’s Coin, Thai Hot and Whiskey Nine. The Minot City Council approved a one-year contract with Retail Coach for $47,500 to look at how well Minot’s retail needs are being met, how much retail leakage to other markets is occurring and retail opportunities for existing and new companies. Retail Coach also will be able to examine demographics and study customers based on their opinions, interests and activities. Although Retail Coach will be serving the entire city, it will
look particularly at downtown and the impact of the Air Force base. Big news came in Dec. 6 when EPIC Companies of Minot and West Fargo announced the purchase of the former Midwest Federal building, known as the Big M building, in downtown Minot. The company plans to renovate the building into commercial space and apartments and refurbish the existing “M” on the roof to look more like the original that had been installed in 1971. The renovation of the building at 21 East Central by Creedence Energy Services has provided a new location for the business. It also is providing a downtown location for Companions for Children, a
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RIGHT: Auctioneer Mike Ostrem opens bidding on a cow-calf pair at the Rugby Livestock Auction June 28. The drought had a huge impact on the cattle industry, forcing some livestock producers in the state to sell some or part of their herds.
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hen livestock and crop producers met with Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, and high-ranking agriculture officials in Minot in early July 2021, they told their stories about the crisis due to the devastating drought. “I’m 44 years old and I won’t harvest a wheat crop this year. It’s the first time I recall that happening on my farm,” said Tyler Stafslien, an agriculture producer from Makoti, about 50 miles southwest of Minot. Other crop and livestock producers echoed similar concerns to Sen. John Hoeven,
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See DOWNTOWN — Page 2
Drought major concern for crop, livestock producers in 2021
By ELOISE OGDEN
ABOVE: Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, held a drought meeting at the North Central Research Extension Center, south of Minot, in July to get input from farmers and ranchers about the crisis they are facing. Shown are, from the left, Doug Goehring, North Dakota Department of Agriculture commissioner; Richard Flournoy, acting administrator of Risk Management Agency; Hoeven; and Zach Ducheneaux, Farm Service Agency administrator.
new axe-throwing bar called Up Your Axe that opened in September and The Iron Horse Kitchen + Bar, which opened in early November. Weekender, a women’s and home goods shop, opened in June in on First Street Southeast. Madeline Knutson, whose creative and merchandizing talents are behind the operation, owns the family-run business with her mother-in-law, Shannon Knutson. Her mother, Raea Pirrotta, who has 20 years of retail experience, is store manager. The intent from the beginning was to locate downtown, and the women say they found not only the perfect building in
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, and Risk Management Agency Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy and Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, the latter two both of Washington, D.C. Dry conditions gripping North Dakota for much of the year continue to be a major concern for livestock and crop producers in North Dakota. Some livestock owners found it necessary to sell their cattle because of the drought impact on pasture and water. Some were able to keep their cattle in pastures but had to haul water to them. Some had to get feed for their cattle. At the July meeting in Minot, Kyle Shively, field representative for Rugby Livestock Auction, said the livestock auction sold four times as many cows in June as it normally does. “We’ve been going steady every week, mainly culled cattle and cow-calf pairs. Between May and June we sold 17,500 See DROUGHT — Page 2
MACEDC marks first year
New organization sets up for success By JILL SCHRAMM
Senior Staff Writer jschramm @minotdailynews.com
Drought
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cows and I think we’ve just kind of touched the tip of it at this point,” he told the group meeting with Hoeven and ag officials. Some of the crop producers at the meeting said they would be alright because they have crop insurance but it is a much more difficult situation for those with livestock. Shively also explained some of the concern is the amount of cattle leaving this country that won’t be back for some time and
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Mark Lyman, economic development specialist, left, and John MacMartin, president, shown Dec. 10, oversee the activities of the newly merged Minot Area Chambter EDC.
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al training courses in economic development since joining MACEDC. Lyman said he has made connections with the broader economic development community in North Dakota, which works together as a team to support development anywhere in the state. Lyman attended the 13-state Mid-America Economic Development Council event in Chicago, making connections with others across the Midwest, including representatives of national and international company site selectors. “We feel like there are opportunities to get on the radar, especially with the Logistics Port of North Dakota, to say to people who might not have thought of us before, ‘Hey, we have value-added ag opportunities. We have energy opportunities. We have distribution hub opportunities. We have the port,” Lyman said. “As we focus on those primary sector jobs and those primary sector businesses and bringing them here, we feel we’ll be able to be more successful as a community.” Lyman said the business goals of companies are changing coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is opportunity for Minot with companies looking to bring interna-
tional business back to this country or who want to be closer to their supPROUDLY SERVING THIS ply, such as agricultural products, or their MidCOMMUNITY SINCE 1911. western consumers, he said. Regardless of the type of economic development project, it takes patience, Lyman said. “This is a long haul,” he © 2019 Xcel Energy Inc. said. “It’s not something that just takes a couple weeks or a couple months. It takes time.” 1 12/12/19 4:02 PM Retaining business3.25x2_ND-MinotDailyNews_YinR-2019_P01.indd is another ongoing focus of MACEDC, he said. He plans to interview dozens of companies in the coming year to assess their needs and determine whether there are ways the community can help. Be seen. Be heard. MacMartin said part of MACEDC’s role is simBE YOU. ply to steer companies in the right direction or smoothe the relocation process, which has helped encourage companies to follow through with plans to come to Minot. He also said the number of inquiries from companies that could have a major impact has increased significantly in the past year. 1811 20th Ave. SE. Minot N.D. “We are seeing more Minot, ND • 852-3576 interest,” he said. “We’re www.fargoglass.com putting our best foot forward and, hopefully, one of these days, there are going to be some things that begin to happen. But I think we’re poised for that.”
this is going to hurt rural communities. In September, Hoeven, along with Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, announced following a roundtable in Burlington a new program to provide assistance with feed transportation costs for livestock producers dealing with drought conditions. “We’re combining LFP, the Livestock Forage Program, and ELAP (Emergency Livestock Assistance Program) to help our ranchers cover the cost to get feed to their livestock,” said Hoeven.
“The key is, it is retroactive back to January 1. Up to 60% of that transportation cost is going to be reimbursed.” Drought conditions continued to persist in North Dakota. In the July 20 assessment by the U.S. Drought Monitor, it was reported Ward County was considered roughly two-thirds extreme drought and the rest exceptional drought. The Drought Monitor’s assessment of McHenry County, just east of Ward County, is that area is the epicenter of drought conditions in the
state and the only county considered in the exceptional drought category. McLean, Sheridan and Pierce Counties had substantial areas of exceptional drought. A recent Drought Monitor said an assessment of the past two months’ precipitation led to contraction of moderate drought in northeast North Dakota and severe drought in the central part of the state. The late fall and early rains helped but sloughs and waterholes still were low, expanding severe drought in other parts of central North Dakota.
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plementing a $400,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration for improvements to an industrial park on the city’s east side. MacMartin said the grant also will help market the industrial park and intermodal facility, known as the Logistic Port of North Dakota. One of the first tasks of the new MACEDC board was to fill an economic development specialist position. “We made a calculated decision to hire somebody that was in the community, committed to the community, understood the community and had a varied background,” MacMartin said. Mark Lyman, who joined MACEDC in June, holds a broadcast journalism degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in management from Minot State University. In Minot, he’s worked as a broadcast journalist, in public relations and as business manager for an energy company. “For me it’s been about making a difference in the community,” he said of his past 20 years. Lyman said he sees the economic development position as an avenue to support efforts that make sense for the business community and Minot’s quality of life. He has taken addition-
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With a merger behind it, Minot Area Chamber EDC is in a good position going into 2022, according to its president, John MacMartin. The merger of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce and Minot Area Development Corp. into MACEDC became official Jan. 1, 2021. MacMartin, who had been chamber president since 1990 and interim MADC president since October 2019, said the new organization hit the ground running at the very end of December 2020 with the completion of the final merger paperwork. The first meeting of the new officers last January brought together two different organizational and board cultures to walk a joint path, along with creating a new budget and new economic development contract with the City of Minot. “In this first year, we’ve taken a whole bunch of moving pieces, and we brought those moving pieces together in a manner in which we’ve set the new organization up for success, both from doing the things that this chamber traditionally did, and doing the things that MADC traditionally did, and doing it in a more efficient manner,” MacMartin said. Working with Stevens Welding and Machine on a MAGIC Fund grant that was awarded in November 2021 was one of the economic development activities during the year. The city also now has properties listed through a major information platform used by companies in site selection. MACEDC made progress toward im-
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the Aksal Group’s High Third complex but also great landlords and a strong sense of community. Pirrotta said there’s a noncompetitive atmosphere in which downtown businesses refer customers to each other, knowing that each store’s success supports other shops. Downtown visitors also have made the store feel welcomed. “So many people are trying to shop local, and I so appreciate that,” Shannon Knutson said. In addition to clothing, Weekenders sells high-quality items made by family businesses, including an olive oil from California and Jacobsen’s Salts from Oregon. It sells teas, candles, cards and other gift items Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 pm. Other new businesses during the year included The Olive Branch, located in the Fountain Plaza on Main Street; Sprout Pediatric Therapy on First Street Southeast; Moon Waters Shoppe in the Main Medical Building; Nok Back Tavern, previously the Ice Box, on Third Street; and Guilty Sweets, which opened in late December on Central Avenue. Also, the Drop Zone, a military-themed bar, opened at
ience funds. Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau are in discussions on programming for the center. An additional $5 million in resilience money is helping with a major upgrade to the Milton Young Towers apartment complex downtown. Renovations include updates to mechanical systems, fire safety, power backup systems, waste stack replacement and high-efficiency plumbing and lighting installation. Eighteen additional two-bedroom apartments will be created. In December, the city took bids on rehabilitation of the former Wells Fargo building into a new city hall. The low bid was $9.5 million. The city purchased the building in February for $2.6 million. The city set aside $7.75 million from resilience funds for the project. The rehabilitation project will bring city offices into the heart of downtown and provide more space for administrative offices while giving the police department the ability to expand in the current city hall building. The emergency dispatch center would move to the new city hall. Also at the end of the year, Visit Minot was considering a potential move to downtown. Plans for a new headquarters are contingent upon whether Visit Minot is able to obtain an Economic Development Administration grant.
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the end of December 2020 on Main Street. Under a new city ordinance allowing streeteries and parklets on certain streets, the first parklet opened just after Labor Day in front of Prairie Sky Breads. Streeteries and parklets are platforms with fencing on three sides that extend from a downtown sidewalk’s curb into a parallel parking space in front of the owner’s property. Both allow for outdoor seating, but streeteries are more focused on dining use. The City of Minot allows the platforms to be in place from April 15 to Oct. 15. Additionally, this past fall, the Minot Area Council of the Arts took over the lease on the city-owned Carnegie Center from the local Carnegie Association with plans to increase utilization for the arts. The city council approved Minot’s historic Carnegie Center for $50,800 in upgrades. The arts council will use the funds for an architectural assessment to identify facility issues and the cost of remedies and begin structural upgrades. In October, the sale closed on the downtown Trinity Health property on Burdick Expressway that will become the new Center for Technical Education. Remodeling is the next step for the project, which has been earmarked $3.54 million from the city’s National Disaster Resil-
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Vaccines rolled out, pandemic restrictions eased and COVID-19 cases dropped as 2021 entered with a promise to be a better year than its predecessor. However, by September, local health officials were urging the public to vaccinate and take mitigation measures as COVID-19 numbers began to climb. Although cases, hospitalizations and deaths didn’t reach levels similar to the peak in the fall of 2020, hospital and nursing home visitor restrictions that had loosened over the summer began to tighten again in the fall. By the holidays, though, visitation restrictions in nursing homes and other senior living facilities largely were lifted as long as masking policies were followed. At the national level, vaccine eligibility broadened to include youth and children aged 5 and older, and new boosters were approved for those who completed their first vaccine sets. Mass vaccinations began in the Minot area early 2021 and took off quickly. However, the highest vaccination rate reached in First District Health Unit’s seven-county region was Bottineau County at 58.2%. The lowest was Renville at 51%. Only about 53.5% of Ward County’s eligible population had been vaccinated with at least one dose going by mid-December, and virus mitigation measures were getting pushback. The North Dakota Legislature passed a bill prohibiting statewide elected officials or a state health officer from imposing mask mandates. The bill passed after a similar prohibition affecting schools, employers and local govern-
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A graph showing active COVID-19 cases in First District Health Unit’s seven-county area reflects how the virus’ spread has impacted the region during 2021.
ments was stripped from the bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot. Meanwhile, employee protests over mandatory vaccinations prompted the North Dakota Legislature, meeting in special session in November, to pass a bill banning state and local government vaccine mandates for employees. Companies are allowed to impose vaccine requirements on employees, but workers may seek exemptions, including proof of antibodies, a doctor’s note or if testing weekly. The Ward County Commission was asked to approve a resolution prohibiting mask and vaccine mandates. The commission declined to take action after weeks of holding onto the proposal for consideration. Hoverson had led the effort to get a county resolution in place. Ward County discontinued its mask mandate on county properties in mid-January after the state lifted its requirement. The commission also ordered rapid COVID-19 test kits for employee use. Commissioners later made antibody testing available as well. Mayor Shaun Sipma lifted a citywide mask mandate in Minot on Jan. 29. A mask mandate within city build-
ings continued until May 15, although it was eased in February to exclude situations where physical barriers existed or social distancing could be used. Masks continued to be required where federal rules apply, such as transit buses and the airport. The Minot City Council had adopted a policy in August 2020 that required city employees to wear masks or face coverings at work and imposed the requirement on visitors in city buildings in October 2020. Both the city and county provided employee COVID-related leave through part of the year. After a school year of mask mandates, the Minot School Board in August approved a policy that makes masks strongly recommended, but not required, in school buildings. Masks remain required at Memorial Middle School and North Plains and Dakota Elementaries at Minot Air Force Base because the U.S. Air Force requires masks indoors per federal guidelines. Businesses generally dropped mask requirements in the first part of the year, although most medical facilities have maintained requirements.
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LEFT: A Sanford nurse prepares to vaccinate a local resident at a drivethrough clinic Oct. 10 at the main station of the Minot Fire Department. BELOW: Local residents protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates in northwest Minot near Burdick Job Corps Center Sept. 4.
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Design schematics depict what a new 9-12 school would look like if built on the grounds of the former Cognizant building. Architects are Ackerman-Estvold and LSE Architects. Also working on the project are CW Structural Engineers, Prairie Engineering, Kraus-Anderson, and Odney Advertising.
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Voters in the Minot Public School District approved a combined $109 million bond issue in December that will address overcrowding at the middle and high school levels. We’re thrilled and very grateful to a community that has always stepped up to support our kids when the need is there,” said Supt. Mark Vollmer after the vote, which passed overwhelmingly. The project, which is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024, will include a new 9-12 high school that will be built at the site of the former Cognizant building on land in northwest Minot that was donated to the school district by Cognizant for the nominal fee of $10. Voters also approved construction of a competition swimming pool, new
turf, and an athletic complex at the new high school. The project will include renovation of the existing building as well as additions. Also funded will be renovation of Magic City Campus, currently an 1112 campus, into a 9-12 high school. Central Campus, which currently is attended by students in grades 9-10, will be converted to a third in-town middle school. Representatives of the district have said that the projects are badly needed. Voters had approved a bond issue in 2014 that funded the construction of the new John Hoeven Elementary and additions at Edison and Perkett Elementaries, but left the problem of overcrowding at the middle schools and high school campuses to a later date. As of this year, Jim Hill Middle School is over capacity and is surrounded by 14 portable classrooms. The new
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Erik Ramstad Middle School, which was built after the previous Ramstad was destroyed by the flood of 2011, is already at capacity even though it was deliberately built larger than the previous school. School representatives have also said Minot is one of a handful of school districts in the country that has one 9-12 high school split between different campuses. They believe two 9-12 high schools would be better for students and will provide more opportunities for classes and extracurricular participation. Elementary school classes are larger than those currently in high school, so educators anticipate a continuing need for more space. The school board canvassed the results of the election on Dec. 20 and the totals became final. The next step will be putting out bids for the project and drawing up plans for the building projects.
Former state legislator Ben Tollefson of Minot died Dec. 16 at age 94. Tollefson served in the North Dakota House from 1985-2000 and in the Senate from 2001-2008, representing Minot’s combined District 38/40 and later District 38. He had served as assistant majority leader in the House. Tollefson participated in a number of local organizations and received numerous awards for his efforts. Tollefson was active Human service leaders retire Ben Tollefson in the Jaycees, serving as Melissa Bliss retired as director of the Ward County president. He was extremely active in Toastmasters, Human Service Zone Nov. 30. She spent her 38-year cawhere he served as president and later lieutenant goverreer in social services with the agency. nor of Toastmasters International. He was involved with As director, Bliss overSt. Mark’s Lutheran Church and was a longtime member saw the relocation of officof Minot Kiwanis Club, serving as president and lieues to the new county adtenant governor of Kiwanis International. He was also ministration building and past president of Minot Association of Home Builders. the transition from a counHe was disaster recovery chairman for the 1969 Minot ty social services agency flood. to a state human service Tollefson worked for Northern States Power Compazone. ny for 32 years. Laurie Gotvaslee, regionMcKenzie County attorney Dennis al director of North Central Human Service Center since Johnson also historian 2012, retired April 30. She Dennis Johnson of Watford City was well known as Bliss, Melissa began her career as a social an attorney and a historian in McKenzie County. He worker at McHenry Coundied on Thanksgiving Day ty Social Services, joining Nov. 25, 2021, at the age of NCHSC in 1999.She served 65. as the assistant director beJohnson founded the fore being named director Johnson Law Office (now and also served as the direcJohnson & Sundeen). tor for Northwest Human Among his many enService Center in Williston, a deavors, Johnson recently position she held until 2018. was helping Dan Bielinski, Gotvaslee and her team founder of Canticle Proworked to support commuductions in Bismarck, with Butgereit, John nity-based behavioral health the film, “End of the Rope.” services and other human services during the oil boom The movie is based on a when unprecedented population growth stressed all forms book that Johnson wrote Dennis Johnson of community infrastructure. about the Charles Bannon Minot native John Butgereit replaced Gotvaslee. He hanging. Johnson spent 40-some years learning about brought experience from the private and public sector in and researching the story of the last lynching in North behavioral health. He joined North Central Human SerDakota. Bielinski said the film is being dedicated to the vice Center in 2014 as a licensed clinician providing indimemory of Johnson. vidual, family and group therapy to individuals with mental health needs. Later, he was named the center’s clinical Minot businessman, conservative unit supervisor and was responsible for conducting asvoice Robert ‘Bob’ Hale sessments and providing clinical supervision of seven Robert “Bob” Hale was known for his conservative master’s level mental health therapists and graduate stuvoice. dents working towards licensure. He was serving as stateThe Minot businessman, builder wide telehealth coordinator before becoming director. and lawyer built Somerset Court, an assisted living facility in Minot and Minot woman competes for Miss USA Rapid City, South Dakota. He died Caitlyn Vogel, 21, a nursing student at Minot State Nov. 18, 2021. University, finished as first runner-up in the Miss USA Active in North Dakota conserva- 2021 competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nov. 29. tive politics, according to his obituVogel, of Minot, was ary, he “held the title of troublemakselected as Miss North Daer by some and hero by others.” For kota USA 2021 last April, Robert “Bob” many, he was a mentor. promoting a platform of Hale inclusion of people of all Lowell Latimer devoted abilities. his longtime career to education As a senior at Des Lowell Latimer, Ph.D, a longtime Minot educator, Lacs-Burlington High died Aug. 13, 2021, at the age of 90. School, she had founded He was a longtime Mia nonprofit organization not Public Schools teacher, called Limitless. Through Vogel, Caitlyn administrator and advothe organization, she contincate for education. ues to host an annual fashion show that provides one-onLatimer also was in- one friendships among individuals with disabilities. Vogel, volved in many civic and who also has modeled locally and nationally, created the community organizations. clothing line, Down Right Perfect Collection, which is dedHe was presented with icated to supplying fashionable, functional and affordable many certificates of appre- clothing for girls with disabilities. ciation and awards in edVogel had served as Miss North Dakota Teen USA ucation and other endeav- 2019, finishing first runner-up in the national event. They include being Lowell Latimer, Ph.D ors. honored to have the media SRT sees leadership change center in Hoeven Elementary School in Minot given his Steve Lysne, SRT general manager, retired at the end of December. Cassidy Hjelmstad, who has been transitioning name. into the position since July, is the new general manager. Wilbur Wilkinson tribal chairman Hjelmstad, a Newburg native, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge opened worked for the Timberwolves in Minneapolis and later the PhoeWhen Wilbur Wilkinson Sr. was chairman of the nix Suns after graduating from Three Affiliated Tribes, the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, the University of Minnesota west of New Town, opened. It was the one of the first Twin Cities. She took a position casinos to open on a North Dakota Indian reservation as director of corporate commuand in the state. nications at SRT 11 years ago. Wilkinson, who died Oct. 23,2021, was tribal chairLysne started at SRT 27 years man from 1990-1994. ago as chief financial officer after Also during his term as tribal chairman the Joint working for about 10 years in pubTribal Advisory Committee, better known as JTAC, was lic accounting for a Minot firm. A passed by Congress. JTAC provided economic recovery Leeds-area native, he had been Steve Lysne funds for the Three Affiliated Tribes. SRT’s general manager for 19 years. Visit us online at www.MinotDailyNews.com
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Jennifer Eckman stepped into her new position as director at Minot International Airport on Oct. 4. She previously had served since January 2019 as project manager of the Northern Plains Unmanned Aviation Systems Test Site in Grand Forks. She previously had been airport manager in Jamestown, the deputy airport director for finance and administration Jennifer Eckman in Rapid City, S.D., and the airport administrative assistant and airport real estate specialist at Paine Field/Snohomish County Airport in Everett, Washington. A Bismarck native, Eckman earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in airport management, from UND in May 1999 and a master’s of fine arts from California State University-Long Beach in May 2004. She is working toward a master’s in business administration. She also has completed the Accredited Airport Executive program. She replaces Rick Feltner, who retired June 3. He had been Minot’s airport director since May 2016.
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A Minot legislator who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence was ordered to pay a fine and fees under a stipulation agreement last September. Rep. Scott Louser, R-Minot, had a 10day jail sentence suspended in South Central District Court in Bismarck for 360 days, during which time he remains on unsupervised probation. The suspension was based on payment of a $500 fine and $750 in court fees, proof of submission to a chemical dependency evaluation within 90 days and completion of any recomScott treatment within 180 days. Louser mended Louser, House assistant majority leader, was pulled over after crossing from Mandan into Bismarck shortly before 1 a.m. on April 16 after a North Dakota Highway Patrol officer observed his 2021 Cadillac Escalade weaving partially into neighboring lanes.
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Lynn Aas, a former Minot businessman, former North Dakota legislator and decorated World War II veteran who was well known in Minot and statewide, died Oct. 28, 2021, at the age of 100. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said, “Lynn was a truly remarkable individual, a member of the Greatest Generation who fought Submitted Photo with valor in deSen. John Hoeven, right, fense of our namakes a presentation to World tion in WWII and War II veteran Lynn Aas during went on to shape Aas’ 100th birthday party held the Minot comJune 5, 2021, at The Depot in munity through decades of service Minot. Aas died Oct. 28, 2021. and leadership.” Aas was presented France’s highest honor, the French Legion of Honor Medal, at a ceremony in Minot in October 2017.
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Drought affected river flows and lakes in 2021
By ELOISE OGDEN
Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com In mid-June 2021, Lake Sakakawea was about six feet lower than it was at the same time in 2020. Some people were concerned about access to the water if the drought continues but told the primary boat ramps should remain in service. Since October 2020, North Dakota had been experiencing very dry conditions that continued into 2021. When spring arrived, water levels in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, sloughs and waterholes throughout the area showed the dire need for rain since there had not been a lot of snow during the winter. For example, Lake Metigoshe, north of Bottineau, dropped below its usual level and was expected to decline without needed rainfall. The story was similar for rivers, lakes and other water across the area. By July, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Lake Sakakawea, the state’s largest reservoir, had reached its peak elevation for the year and had begun to decline. The lake reached 1,836.6 feet in late June. On July 6, it was at 1,836.3 feet. The lake was projected to continue to decline until reaching 1,830.5 feet at the end of the year. In November Gov. Doug Burgum asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help maintain access at boat ramps on Lake Sakakawea as the lake’s elevation was predicted to remain lower next
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Water flows over the dam near the Water Treatment Plant in Minot in April 2021. The flows were initiated by a release from the Lake Darling Dam but that concluded so the flows were expected to subside soon. spring due to the 2021 historic drought. Burgum made the request to minimize economic losses from the drought. He told Col. Mark Himes, commander of the Corps of Engineers’ Omaha District, that the North Dakota Depart-
ment of Commerce reports visitors to counties bordering Lake Sakakawea spent more than $290 million in 2020, supporting more than 3,000 jobs. “The long-range forecast for Lake Sakakawea’s elevation next spring is approximately 1,827
Illegal drugs have continued to plague the Minot in 2021 and have been a contributing factor to a number of court cases. Capt. Dale Plessas, investigation commander with the Minot Police Department, said there have been a total of 83 drug overdose cases in the city this year and 16 suspected overdose deaths. That is roughly on a par with the number of overdose cases and overdose deaths last year. Minot police reported more than 90 drug overdoses as of Dec. 17, 2021, and 16 overdose deaths. Drug overdoses had increased by a factor of more than five times between 2019 and 2020. Police reported 31 drug overdoses in 2019 and three overdose deaths that year. “In terms of specific drugs responsible for overdose deaths, fentanyl is sus-
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constrained.” The U.S. Drought Monitor recently reported the “lack of precipitation, excessive evapotranspiration, and windy conditions further dried soils” especially in western plains of the Great Plains.
16 suspected overdose deaths in Minot in 2021
By ANDREA JOHNSON pected in 12 of the 16 deaths to be similar to last year. Staff Writer ajohnson @minotdailynews.com
feet. At that level, the main boat ramps at 20 of North Dakota’s 36 recreation sites on the lake would be unusable,” Burgum said in the letter. “Combined with known siltation issues at seven main ramp locations, access to the lake is expected to be significantly
(in 2021),” said Plessas. “We continue to see fentanyl taking a strong hold in our community as well as in the rest of the country. Commonly, we see fentanyl being pressed into counterfeit prescription pills such as oxycontin. “In active overdose cases, Narcan continues to be our best life saving measure. Our officers maintain Narcan to administer in emergencies. This year our officers have administered Narcan at least 39 times. We have also seen an increase in privately administered Narcan saving lives. We recognize that most lasting protection against overdose is breaking the chain of addiction. Our officers work with Northcentral Human Services to provide addictions resources to every victim of overdose that we encounter. “ Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson said drug charges in the North Central District Court seem
Some people charged with drug offenses might be eligible for Adult Drug Court, a treatment oriented, court-supervised program for people whose problems are mainly caused by substance use disorders. Larson said defense attorneys initiate applications for Adult Drug Court. “An application is filled out and sent to our office,” said Larson in an email to the Minot Daily News. “I vet them to be sure they meet the pre-qualifiers (history of drug charges, no prior violent offense convictions etc.) Once they have met the qualifications, I send the application on to our team. They obtain a (chemical dependency) evaluation and meet with probation for assessment. The team then meets and discusses whether or not the person is appropriate for drug court. In recent time at least the only time somebody has been denied is due to prior violent convictions.
There have been some applications that have been forwarded, but for whatever reason the applicant doesn’t follow through with getting the evaluation or complete the assessment. Over all our numbers for drug court have not been that bad. We can have 25 in drug court. We are usually right around 20.” Larson said prosecutors can bring more severe charges in cases where a drug overdose death results in a death that is directly a result of the defendant’s conduct. “That raises the level of the offense from a Class B felony to a Class A felony,” said Larson. “The key to this type of enhancement is being able to link the drugs the person overdosed on to an identified person that delivered the drugs to the deceased. Law enforcement does their best to try to identify the source. I do know there are some that are under investigation at this time, but I do not know
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Pictured are drugs seized by the Berthold Police Department when they arrested Dwight Allen Canady Jr., of Williston, who has been charged with possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and methamphetamine in district court in Minot. if there will be sufficient evidence to charge the enhancement.” Larson said this is not a charge under the state’s Homicide statutes, but is
an aggravating factor under a different statute. There is no minimum mandatory sentence that applies to delivery of drugs or to the enhanced sentence.
Murder, attempted murder trials will begin the new year
By ANDREA JOHNSON the new year. Staff Writer ajohnson @minotdailynews.com
The end of 2021 was marked with the conclusion of a murder case that had taken 2 ½ years to bring to trial. Christopher Alan Vickerman, 31, was found guilty by a jury on Dec. 6 of the May 10, 2019 Class AA felony murder of his father, Mark Vickerman, 55. There had been a strained relationship between father and son and there were reports that Christopher Vickerman had exhibited signs of mental illness in the period leading up to the murder. No sentencing date has yet been scheduled for Christopher Vickerman. Other drawn-out cases are scheduled to be tried in
Bradley Joe Morales, 31, is currently scheduled to be re-tried on Feb. 1, 2022 in district court in Minot for the August 2017 slaying of his ex-girlfriend. Morales had previously been tried and convicted of the murder but appealed to the state supreme court and won the right to a new trial. Morales will be representing himself at the trial after disagreeing with several of his public defenders over what direction the defense should take. Travis Eugene Yoney, 48, appealed his attempted murder conviction to the state supreme court and won the right to a re-trial, which is scheduled to take place on Jan. 11, 2022 before Judge Gary Lee. He is accused of trying to kill a confidential informant who had informed on him
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to the Ward County Narcotics Task Force. The incident happened on Aug. 23, 2018. Yoney blamed the other man for his conviction in 2017 of Class B felony delivery of marijuana and allegedly went to the other man’s residence, shot into the wall next to the door, kicked in the door and pointed a gun at the confidential informant. The confidential informant tackled Yoney and subdued him and a second shot went off during the struggle and lodged in the ceiling of the residence,
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according to court documents. Yoney was convicted at trial in 2019 of “knowing attempted murder,” which the supreme court has decided is not allowed under state law because an attempted murder conviction requires proof that a defendant actually intended to cause the death of another person. Yoney argues that he did not have intent to kill the alleged victim in the case. Next on Judge Lee’s trial calendar is the murder trial of Erik Steven Rod, 43, who is scheduled to go to
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Rodgers
trial on Jan. 18, 2022 in district court for the May 21, 2020 shooting death of his wife, Connie Rod, 37. Erik Rod has claimed it was an accidental shooting. Other cases are still pending, including that of Shawnee Lynn Krall, 29, who is accused of raping and killing his roommate on Dec. 20, 2020 in Minot. No trial date has been scheduled for Krall. There is also no jury trial set yet for Mark Anthony Rodgers Jr., 33, who is charged with murder in the overdose death of a 16-year-old
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girl in a Minot hotel room on Dec. 14, 2020. Rodgers has been accused of having sex with the girl before her death and of injecting her with a “hot shot” mixture of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The prosecution has argued that the girl’s overdose was not accidental. Eric Clayton Venn, 41, was charged with the July murder in Minot of his 29-year-old girlfriend, Arnalyn Repalam. That charge is also still pending and no trial date has been scheduled.
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Minot (N.D.) Daily News, YEAR IN REVIEW, January 2022
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Observing 100 years
Many celebrate centennials in 2021 By ELOISE OGDEN
Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com Roosevelt Park Zoo, Minot City Band, Minot Kiwanis and Minot’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 753 all held celebrations to observe their centennials in 2021. Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot celebrated 100 years when the Community Centennial Celebration was held on Saturday, Aug. 7. Many activities were held that day. The zoo’s centennial celebration was based on the zoo’s first building – the Aviary, formerly the Zoological Building. In collaboration with the zoo, The Minot Daily News published a 128-page book, “Roosevelt Park Zoo Centennial Commemorative 1921-2021.” The book includes many stories and photos about North Dakota’s oldest zoo. Kiwanis Club of Minot celebrated its 100th birthday on May 27. The group started on May 27, 1921. Kiwanis members Lynn Aas and John Sinn also observed their 100th birthdays this year. Aas died Oct. 28. Pancake Day has always been a major fundraiser for the Kiwanians. The organization works on many service projects to help kids, runs the After Prom Party each spring at the Minot Moose Lodge and ring bells for the Salvation Army during the
holidays. They also make regular donations to a number of organizations serving kids. Minot’s Veterans of Wars Post 753 celebrated 100 years on May 22, 1921. An open house and program featured VFW National Councilman Bill Tuff. The North Dakota National Guard’s 219th Security Forces Squadron at Minot Air Force Base displayed vehicles and weapons outside the VFW Club The post organized with 43 charter members on May 22, 1921, and is the oldest post in North Dakota. Minot City Band and Minot Kiwanis celebrated their centennials along with the zoo’s Community Centennial Celebration on Aug. 7. Although 100 years was celebrated this year, technically the band started 117 years ago in 1904 but got together only now and then. Later the group began meeting and performing on a regular basis. Currently, the band, directed by Joe Alme, has around 50 members and performs mainly at Oak Park in Minot during the summer months. The band also takes part in the North Dakota State Fair Parade. Westlie Motor Co. also was 100 years old in 2021. In 2022 Trinity Hospital will be celebrating its centennial.
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TOP: From the left, Gary Kramlich, Art Ekblad, Ben Tollefson and Judge Doug Mattson are shown at the Kiwanis Club of Minot’s 100th anniversary celebration held at the Grand Hotel in May 2021. Tollefson died Dec. 16. MIDDLE: Joe Alme, front left, director, and members of Minot City Band pose for this photo in 2019. The bandwagon was made especially for the band to use in North Dakota State Fair Parades. The band celebrated its centennial in 2021.
Jill Schramm/MDN
BOTTOM: John Pietsch, left, visits with Brandan Ressler and Cody Chick of the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 219th Security Forces from Minot Air Force Base, which had vehicles and weapons on display at the 100th anniversary celebration of Minot’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 753 on May 22, 2021.
Region marks flood’s 10-year anniversary #10
Resilient Together observance commemorates recovery
By JILL SCHRAMM
TOP: Residents look through photo puzzle pieces to add to a mural on display during Minot’s 10-year anniversary observance of the 2011 Souris River flood on June 26.
Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com The Minot region paused to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the 2011 Souris River flood last June, but work on an enhanced flood protection project has not paused. The Souris River Joint Board and City of Minot anticipate the first construction work on MI-5 will go to bid in February 2022. A public hearing had been held in November. Construction on MI-5 will continue east from the east end of the Phase MI-1 Fourth Avenue project by Third Street Northeast, where floodwalls are in place. The construction will tie back to high ground east of 13th Street Northeast. The project includes earthen levees, relocating Railway Avenue to the north, a dry stormwater pond, floodwalls, a greenway feature and a storm water pump station. “We are also working on phase MI-6 and MI-7 design in Minot,” said Dan Jonasson, Minot Public Works director. “This is from Broadway east through Roosevelt Park and Roosevelt Zoo to Burdick Expressway on the south side of the river. We are hoping to have this design done by 2023.” Design on MI-4, the Maple Diversion, also is nearly 70% complete. The entire project through Minot consists of eight phases. The year 2022 will bring the final phase of work in Burlington and the expected completion of the enhanced levee system to protect that community. Tierrecita Vallejo also will begin its second and final phase in the spring, bringing protection to that subdivision once the levee work is completed. Jonasson said the city has taken over operation of the large pump station at Broadway and Fourth Avenue Northwest, along with other flood protection features that are part of MI-1. He said the contractor has some small items to complete but Phase MI-1 is nearly 100% com-
BOTTOM: Dignitaries cut the ribbon on the completion of the MI-2 and MI-3 portions of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project June 26 in Minot. Joining Red Coat Ambassadors from the Minot Area Chamber/EDC are, from left, Col. Karl Jansen of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sen. John Hoeven, David Ashley of the Souris River Joint Board and Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma. Photos by Jill Schramm/MDN
plete. City, state and national leaders gathered near the Minot Water Treatment Plant during a flood anniversary observance on June 26 to cut the ribbon on the completed phases of MI-2 and MI-3 in west Minot. Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, highlighted the approximate $80 million spent on these phases,
known as Napa Valley and Forest Road. They include nearly 9,000 feet of earthen levees, 1,600 feet of stream bank stabilization and two pumping stations. Minot marked 10 years since the 2011 Souris River flood with a Resilient Together commemoration June 26 in Oak Park. The event included a video presentation and panel of sever-
al key officials who reminisced about the flood. About 3,000 pictures had been submitted for a mural board. A bike run between Burlington and Minot and a foot run along the flood protection project to Oak Park took place, and Resilient Together T-shirts were given away, courtesy of Hess. Atypical Brewery & Barrelworks in Minot created a rye
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beer called Ryes Above for the event. Mayor Shaun Sipma announced a committee will be looking to raise $150,000 for a flood memorial monument at Broadway and Fourth Avenue. Meanwhile, the federal government’s decision to consider Minot’s appeal of proposed changes to flood plain maps should give local residents another three years before significantly higher flood insurance rates kick in. “Effectively, what that means is FEMA is starting this process over, revising these maps -- the hydraulics and hydrology that goes into them -- and will submit draft maps back to us, probably sometime in the summer of 2023,” City Engineer Lance Meyer told the Minot City Council in November. Assuming no appeal of the new draft maps by the city, the earliest the maps would become effective would be the fall of 2024, Meyer said. “That’s good news for us,” he said. “It buys us some time to work on our flood control project.