April 19, 2012
Page 3
Not just a side job
From left, Tory Wilson, Ryan Aakre, Josh Shaw and Greg
Davidson of Aakre Construction work on residing one of the
buildings of Prairie Lumber in Beach recently. (Photo by
Richard Volesky)
li
in
BISMARCK - The United States
Census Bureau has released the
agency's first metro/micro area and
county population estimates since
the 2010 census.
The estimates show several
North Dakota counties and
metro/micro areas having some of
the fastest percentage growth in the
nation. North Dakota s total popula-
tion grew an estimated 1.7 percdnt
to a total of 683.932. The new esti-
mates are as of July t, 2011.
In the 50 fastest growing counties,
Williams County was third national-
ly, up 8.8 percent: Stark County was
20th, up 4 percent; and Ward County
was 25th, up 3.9 percent.
Williston was the fastest grow-
ing micro area in the nation up 8.8
percent, Dickinson was fourth, up 4
percent; and Minot was eighth, up
3.6 percent. Micro areas are defined
as an area containing at least one
urban cluster of 10,000 but less than
50,000..
In the 50 fastest growing metro
areas, Bismarck was 41st, up 2,100
people, or 1.9 percent. Fargo grew
2,763 or 1.3 percent. Metro areas
are defined as an area containing
one re'ban cluster of 50,000 or
more.
"The increase in our population
isn't a surprise considering how our
state's economy and workforce has
grown," said Rod Backman, chair-
man of the North Dakota Census
Committee. "There is a difference
however between resident popula-
tion and those who ale here only
temporarily and view their home
residence in another state. This is
especially important in western
North Dakota where town sizes are
rapidly increasing and ttiat growth
does not seem to be captured in the
Census figures."
"The positive population trends
exhibited by the state carried-over
into workforce statistics, as the
annual average labor force
increased 7.216 between 2010 and
2011 ," said Michael Ziesch, Census
Committee member and co-manag-
er of the Labor Market Information
Center of Job Service North
Dakota.
The North Dakota Census
Committee. which is made up of
representatives from the North
Dakota Department of Commerce -
Census Office, the North Dakota
Office of Management and Budget,
Job Service North Dakota, and the
Office of the Tax Commissioner.
analyzed the population estimate
for the state.
BLM announces 'landscape
approach' for management
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) hasreleased
an update on a bureau-wide initia-
tive that is helping the agency
evaluate and respond to public
land issues such as wildfire, ener-
gy development, and climate
change while continuing to pro-
mote the smart use of the public
lands.
The initiative, called the
Landscape Approach for
Managing the Public Lands, looks
for ecological conditions, pat-
terns, and management opportu-
nities that may not be evident
when managing smaller land
areas.
"The stewardship of public
lands has never been more chal-
lenging," said BLM Director Bob
Abbey. "To meet these chal-
lenges, we need an approach that
crosses traditional' management
boundaries while managing wild-
fire, controlling weeds and insect
outbreaks, providing for energy
development, and addressing
impacts from climate change."
The approach will help the
BLM respond to an increasing
demand for the use of the public
lands for recreation and energy
development, the agency sass.
Recreation and energy develop-
ment often support local
economies in the West. In fiscal
year 2011, activities on BLM-
managed lands boosted the
national economy by more than
$130 billion and supported more
than a half-million jobs, the BLM
says.
Put y0ur M0.O,
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April 20-21-22
To the editor:
The Disabled American Veterans
Transportation Network drives vet-
erans to and from Veterans Affairs
hospitals.
Golden Valley County currently
has the opportunity to bring this
service to our veterans. There is a
van available for pick up in Fargo
soon as a pool of volunteers are
located, trained and scheduled.
Mary Rickart. a volunteer who
drives from Casper to Sheridan on
Wednesdays, said, "But I really
wanted to do this, so I made it a pri-
ority." Her husband was a World
War II veteran and, after he died.
she was looking for ways to give
back. "The Bible says to whom
much has been given, much will be
required. While we sit home here.
being comfortable and going on
about our business, (veterans) are
over there doing the hard work."
The service is free for veterans,
and they do not need to be disabled
to take advantage. All they need is
an appointment at the hospital. But
it takes a large pool of drivers to
make the network possible, and
they face several obstacles in build-
ing that pool, organizers say.
For one, the great distances
between North Dakota towns means
most drivers will be spending eight
hours in a day - driving to the
appointment (Fargo, Bismarck and
Dickinson), waiting for the veterans
to finish seeing their doctors.
All you need to be a volunteer
driver is a valid driver's license,
background check, finger printing,
3b the editor:
"Getting the facts on Measure 2,'"
an article by Anne Denholm in the
Union Farmer publication. April
issue, was a bit one sided: however.
since the Union Fainter does not
print letters to the editor, I would likc
to get some basic facts of general
interest out to area farmers that are
counter to Ms. Denholm's so-called
"facts."
FACT: Since starting in 2009, the
state funds 70 percent of K- 12 school
budgets. A few years prior to 2009
this percentage was doubled to 70
percent t?om around 35 to 40 percent.
There were no complaints at the time
about increased government control.
FACT: S200 million of taxpayer
money was spent on out of state col-
lege students,
FACT: State spending has
increased over 135 percent in 10
years, compared to 44 percent the
prior 10 years - a rate in excess of that
of the federal government!
FACT: Measure 2 is a constitu-
tional proposal that the state has to
replace all of the money that now
comes from property tax.
FACT: Former Governor and
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed
Schafer said, "We don't have to
raise taxes to do it." (Cover the lost
revenue resulting from abolishing
the property tax.)
in
To the editor:
Measure 2 isn't about mone3.
it's about our right to own proper-
ty. Lefts review some facts.
Property taxes are based on the
.......... of your home, not your
income. If your income decreases
in a bad economy, your family suf-
fers a hardship or if you retire your
property taxes remain the same. If
you cannot pay, the government
can take your-home and kick you
and your family to the curb.
We keep hearing nonsense
about local control. Now really,
how much say do you have in what
goes on in your child's classroom?
How about when the city wants to
expand a football field or a civic
center? If you want to keep your
"~inoney local, it doesn't get ,any
more locaL, than in your wallet.
We hear horror stories about the
services we may lose. Opponents
conveniently mention only the
services that we actually want.
They will not mention city transit
basses that drive around town
Construction
started
on Interstate 94
DICKINSON Construction
began on Monday, April 16, on the
westbound lane of Interstate 94
between Dickinson and Taylor.
Work consists of pavement
reconstruction and regrading.
During constrtiction taffic will
be rerouted onto the eastbound
roadway, speeds will be reduced to
65 mph, a 16 feet width restriction
will be in place, flaggers may be
present, and motorists should watch
for trucks exiting and entering-the
highway
The project is expected to be
complete this fall.
The traveling public should use
caution when driving through the
construction zone. Motorists should
allow extra distance between their
vehicles and the vehicles in front of
them, use extra caution and obey
tlaggers and posted signs, the
NDDOT says.
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complete a VA physical, which
includes an eye and hearing tests
and an EKG. Then you fill out some
paperwork and complete an orienta-
tion.
Disabled American Veterans
(DAV) started the transportation
network in 1987 after budget cuts
forced the VA to stop reimbursing
travel costs for appointments at VA
medical centers. It created a hard-
ship for war veterans on fixed
incomes and some veterans simply
can't drive themselves to the hospi-
tals, particularly in North Dakota
when the closest might be two,
three or more hours away.
Nationwide, the network trans-
ported 727.708 veterans in 2009,
driving more than 27 million miles.
The DAV buys the vans either
through donations or grants and
donates them to a VA hospital. The
hospital, in turn, coordinates the
network to get a veteran from his or
her hometown to his appointment.
What it needs are volunteer driv-
ers.
Volunteer drivers can drive once
a week, Once a month or once a
year. They can choose to be backup
drivers who fill in when other driv-
ers are unable to make a trip. Some
volunteers are snowbirds, meaning
they leave North Dakota in the win-
ters, but come back in nicer weath-
er and drive when they are needed.
This is one of the most flexible,
enjoyable things you can do.
Henry Gerving
Veterans Service Officer
Golden Valley County
iF
FACT: Currently $4.8 million
goes into the Legacy Fund each day.
That is in addition to another $16
million going into the State General
Fund daily ($480 million per month).
FACT: The North Dakota treasury
has over $3 billion with all bills paid
and is growing every month.
FACT: Local government will
have more local control, not less!
Point to ponder: Why is it that the
government and those who benefit
from government subsidies and
exemptions all of a sudden
became so concerned with the
issue of "local control?" Answer:
Because they know that Measure
2 will give people more local con-
trol.
FACT: Abolishing property taxes
will result in economic development
and attract new businesses.
FACT: The Legislature is working
on a law for farmers to pay taxes on
their homes and homesteads.
FACT: Property taxes will contin-
ue to rise in the future.
FACT: 1 will be voting "yes" on
June 12, 2012.
FACT: Abolishing the property
tax is not about reducing taxes, it's
about fair taxation and property
rights.
Keith Colville
A Farmers Union member
Valley City
empty or parks that go unused.
There is plenty of pork.
This is not a tax cut, the gov-
ernment will get it's money. With a
sales tax for example, everyone
pays whether it be with their pay
check or their welfare check.
When more people pay, everyone
pays less. With other taxes your
home is not held as collateral. The
government cannot take your
home.
We know how government
works. If you remove one revenue
privi
source, they will find another. This
is what governments do best.
There are better ways to do it and
this forces politicians to find a bet-
ter way.
A right cannot be taken !!way, a
privilege can. We should support
Measure 2 because owning a home
should be a right, not a privilege.
With our national economy on the
brink, it's the safe choice to make
for our fmnilies.
Lorie McCarthy
Bismarck
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It's easy. Just give us a call, e-mail your item
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