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Newspaper Archive of
Golden Valley News
Beach, North Dakota
April 5, 2018     Golden Valley News
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April 5, 2018
 
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/ M~XED ADO 553 77900-00-00 31P 7T. SMALL T.O-WN pAPERS 217 W COTA ST SHELTON, WA 98584-2263 Above: Standing, at left, Rep. Denton Zubke, R-Watford City; and Sen. Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, visit during a break in a meeting of the Southwest Association of Counties on March 27 in Medora. Seated is McKenzie County Commissioner Tom Mc- Cabe. Right: A narcotics agent shows a bag of methampheta- mine valued at about $100,000. (Photos by Richard VoleSky) II | By Richard Volesky are low population, the idea is to im- oil-activity grants, but no w that major concern to them because they Editor/Reporter prove the counties' vDices through funding is gone. can make more. The impact is with MEDORA- Drug trafficking was strength in numbers. Scott Steele, a member of the taking away their assets instead, he one of the topics that generated a Representatives of the Southwest task force, said previously the group said. significant amount of interest during Narcotics Task Force attended the received $347,000 in grants, but this Offshoots of the drug trade are a March 27 meeting of the South- meeting to update county officials year they expect to receive $68,000. thefts, particularly the theft of tools west Association of Counties. of the region. Steele is working on a proposal to and equipment, which are sold for The association includes the Agent Rob Fontenot said the task make up the shortfall from the re- drugs. Drug money that's forfeited eight counties of the region. Each force targets drug trafficking organ- gion's counties and cities that will and that can go to the task isn't con- county takes turns hosting meetings izations, not individuals who may include a formula that considers the sidered to be a reliable source of and setting up agendas, and this year be using drugs in their homes,populations of each. task force funding because it's spo- it's Billings County'sturn,explained Fontenot said drug traffickersBowman County Sheriff Dick radic saidOestreich. Marcia Lamb, who is the associa- have been targeting smaller com- Fredericks said the task force is es- Slope County Commissioner tion's secretary/treasurer for the munities, where they hope not to be senti~il to the region because each "~Scott Ouradnik said his focus tradi- year. A message goes out to thenoticed by law enforcement, county individually doesn't have the tionally has been county roads and counties for agenda topics, and if Sources of drugs have included an resources. Bowman deputies can't the level of property taxes. The drug there are no suggestions, a meeting out-of-state prison gang, two street cross state lines for drug cases, he task force needs to explain more and isn't held. This time, there were gangs, and a Mexican drug cartel, said. show more so that taxpayers know many topics, and another meeting he said. Stark County Sheriff Terry about its role in the area. may be held in July, said Lamb. In recent months, Dickinson has Oestreich said the key is to make "Nobody likes to see a drug bust The mission of the association is had four opioid deaths and dozens drugs less profitable by taking away in their county, but you'd like to see to discuss how state legislation can of overdoses, Fontenot said. the traffickers' money. Fontenot ex- a drug bust in your county because affect the southwestern corner of the He said much of the positions in plained that cartels expect to lose you know something is happening," state, said Lamb. Since the counties the task force were funded through some of the drugs and that's not a said Ouradnik. Report indi BISMARCK - Tax Com- missioner Ryan Rauschen- berger on March 28 released the 2017 fourth quarter and the 2017 an- nual taxable sales and pur- chases reports. Calendar year 2017 tax- able sales and purchases to- taled $17.9 billion, a 3 percent increase from the $17.3 billion total in 2016. "The modest 3 percent taxable sales and purchases growth in 2017 is a good indicator that our economy is doing well and continu- ing to improve after the nu- merous decreases we've seen reflected in past re- ports," Rauschenberger said. "These types of in- creases are more in line with the growth trajectory we traditionally see in North Dakota?' Rauschenberger added that these reports provide a good indication of resur- gence in the oil producing areas of the state. Five of the 15 major sectors reported taxable sales and purchases gains when compared to the 2016 report. Most notably, the mining and oil extraction sector increased by $663.6 million (a 52.25 percent in- crease), the wholesale trade sector increased by $409.6 million (an 11.5 percent in- crease), and the other serv- re ices sector increased by $35.4 million (an 8.92 per- cent increase). "Even with a slight de- crease from 2016 to 2017, retail trade continues to dominate this report with over $6 billion taxable sales and purchases in 2017," Rauschenberger said. "However, both the mining and oil extractor sector and the wholesale trade sector saw major in- creases from 2016 to 2017. This is a result of the in- creased activity in the oil region." The annual report in- cludes data for the largest 200 cities in North Dakota, and all 53 counties. North Dakota's largest cities saw the following changes, when compared with the 2016 annual report: Bismarck - 3.9 percent decrease Dickinson - 14.67 per- cent increase Fargo - 5.45 percent decrease Grand Forks - 1.76 percent decrease Minot - 3.74 percent decrease Williston - 24.45 per- cent increase Taxable sales and pur- chases for October, No- vember and December 2017 totaled $4.77 billion, an increase of 7.19 percent surgence in il areas ND Taxable Sales & Purchases ~A Percent Change from 2016 to 2017 over those months in 2016. The fourth quarter re- port includes data for the largest 50 cities in North Dakota, and all 53 coun- ties. Of the 50 largest cities in North Dakota, the high- est percent increases (com- pared to the fourth quarter of 2016) were Ellendale, New Town, Williston, Cas- selton and Watford City. Counties with the highest percent increases (com- pared with the fourth quar- ter of 2016) were "These types of increases are more in line with the growth tra- jectory we traditionally see in North Dakota," Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger McKenzie, Williams, sale trade and other serv- Dunn, Logan and Cavalierices sectors showed the Counties. highest percent increases Consistent with the 2017 for the fourth quarter when annual report, the mining compared with those sec- and oil extraction, whole- tors for 2016. ion drive list of growing dangers Distracted driving sitsatop the work offers insight on drivers' atti- list of growing dangers on the road, tudes toward traffic safety and their according to drivers in a new survey behaviors, so we can better under- from the AAA Foundation for Traffic stand the issue and identify potential Safety. countermeasures to reduce crashes." The annual Traffic Safety Culture Drivers in the AAA survey be- Index shows 88 percent of drivers lieve the problem of distracted driv- believe distracted driving is on the ing has increased over the past three rise, topping other risky behaviors years, with nearly 50 percent report- like: ing that they regularly see drivers Aggressive driving: 68 percent emailing or te~[ting while driving. Drivers using drugs: 55 percent Counterintuitively, federal estimates Drunk driving: 43 percent show the number of distracted driv- To stay safe on the road during ing crashes has actually dropped two National Distracted Driving Aware- percent. This may be due to the fact ness month in April and all year that it is difficult to detect distraction long, AAA is calling for drivers to following a crash which makes dis- keep their eyes and attention on the tracted driving one of the most un- read and hands on the wheel, derreported traffic safety issues. The proportion of drivers who re- According to government esti- port talking on a cell phone regularly mates, distraction plays a factor in or fairly often when behind the just 14 percent of all crashes. How- wheel jumped 46 percent since 2013. ever, past AAA Foundation research Nearly half (49 percent) of drivers looking into teen drivers (one of the report recently talking on a hand- most vulnerable driving* popula- held phone while driving and nearly tions), used in-vehicle dash-cam 35 percent have sent a text or email, videos to determine that distraction Despite their behavior, nearly 58 was a factor in 58 percent of crashes, percent of drivers say talking on a 44 percent more than federal esti- cellphone behind the wheel is a very mates. serious threat to their personal safety, "As driver distractions increase - while 78 percent believe that texting - from the latest phone apps to in-ve- is a significant danger. A recent hicle technology- it's important we study from the AAA Foundation better educate drivers on the dan- shows drivers talking on a cellphone gers," said Gene LaDoucer, North are up to four times as ltkety to crash Dakota spokesman for AAA-The while those who text are up to eight Auto Club Group. "What drivers be- times as likely to be involved.in a lieve differs from what they do. Only crash, by changing the 'do as I say, not as I "With more than 37,000 deaths do' culture can we,reduce the unac- on U.S. roads in 2016, we need to ceptable loss of life on our road- continue finding ways to limit driv- ways." According to AAA survey ing distractions and improve traffic data, 98 percent of North Dakota safety," said Dr. David Yang, exectl- tive director of the AAA Foundation D ist raete d for Traffic Safety. "The Foundation's (Continued on Page 6) Commissioner Dietz submits resignation By Jane Cook agenda of board's April 3 meeting, Reporter which was after the Golden Valley Golden Valley County Commis- News deadline for the week. Com- sioner Dennis Dietz has giyen notice missioners on April 3 were to dis- that he will be resigning due to cuss when the position would be health reasons, open and who may be able to replace The resignation was on theDietz. nder Is h d to four day By Betsy Ryan every single teacher in support really Farmer Staff Writer made me stop and listen." ALEXANDER - After a lengthy In February, the board made its process, the Alexander School final vote on the matter and the me- Board voted to approve a four day tion to move to a four day school school week for both Alexander El- week passed unanimously. ementary School and Alexander Karen Shade, Alexander Elemen- High School. tary School principal, said she spoke Superintendent Leslie Bieber said to parents about the idea and that that the idea started in a high school their opinions were.mixed. innovation class in the spring of "The opinions really depended on 2017. whether the parent worked or stayed Dylan Schooley, Hunter Penland, home," said Shade. "Those that al- Brieanna Yancy, Tianna Dwyer and ready had daycare seemed to love Isaac Sitzman decided to take on the the idea. But those that don't were four day school week as their topic concerned about what their children and presented it to the class and would do on Fridays." Bieber on their findings. The concern about care for stu: After hearing the presentation, dents on Friday is being resolved by Bieber asked the students for some the creation of two Friday programs more research, and in the fall of - the High Five League and the FIT 2017, they presented again. (Friday Intervention Time.) The principals of the elementary Every Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 and high school along with the stu- p.m Alexander kids can join the dents visited East Fairview where High Five League at the school. they also have a four day school Similar to an after school program, week. They asked questions and in- students can finish homework and terviewed teachers, will be supervised in productive ac- The School Board sent out a pub- tivities all day. The school's bus sys- lic survey asking the community tem will run on shortened routes and what their opinion was. Bieberbreakfast and lunch will still be spoke with her teachers as well. served. "I had 100 percent buy-in from"One of the concerns that the stu- the teachers," said Bieber. "We dents in the original presentation might be one building but the ele- mentary and the high school are two Schools very different beasts. So, to have(Continued on Page 6) Invest In Your IRA Open An Individual Retirement Account is a safe, easy way to save for retirement. We offer both Tradtional and Roth IRAs and our IRAs are separately insured by the FDIC to $250,000. Stop in and we'll explain the benefits of our Individual Retirement Accounts. The earlier you start saving, the more money you'll have at retirement. O, First State Bank Golva Medora Beach 872-3656 " 623-5000 872-4444 Member FDIC www.fsbofgolva.com .~ ATM in Beach & Medora lobby