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1991: The Minnesota Twins won
game 7 of the World Series, downing
the Atlanta Braves 1-0, behind a lO-
inning shutout by Jack Morris, and a
game-winning hit by Gene Larkin.
Inside
News .................. Page 2
Public notices .... Page 4
Classifieds .......... Page 5
• Southwest Water Authority
board of directors meeting,
Monday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m., at the
Elks Lodge, Dickinson.
Goehring" New
free trade pacts
will benefit ND
producers
BISMARCK Agriculture
Commissioner Doug Goehring pre-
dicts North Dakota will be a big
winner with the passage of the new
trade agreements with South Korea,
Columbia and Panama.
"Most American products
exported to these countries will
become duty-free immediately on
implementation of the agreements,"
Goehring said Tuesday.
"This translates into increased
export opportunities for North
Dakota agricultural products, such
as wheat, soybeans and pulse
crops."
Implementing legislation was
signed Monday by President
Obama.
Goehring said North Dakota
exports to Colombia and South
Korea are estimated to reach $11 '
million and $12 million, respective-
ly. The agreement with Panama lifts
tariffs on 87 percent of U.S. goods
to that country.
"South Korea now has a $250-
per-ton markup on soybean imports
and a 40 percent tariff on beef
imports," Goehring said. "Panama
has an average tariff of 15 percent
on agricultural imports, but that fig-
ure can reach as high as 260 per-
cent."
Goehring said Colombia's com-
plex tariff system can imposes
levies as high as 248 percent on
wheat and barley, 150 percent on
soybeans, 194 percent on some
corn products and 60 percent of dry
peas, beans and lentils.
"Obviously, the removal of these
tariffs and duties will go far in lev-
eling the playing field for our farm
exports to these countries,"
Goehring said. "The benefits to
American agriculture could be
incalculable."
Tariff schedules for the three
countries can be found at
www.fas.usda.gov/scripts.
Goehring said companies inter-
ested in learning more about
exporting to Colombia, Panama
and South Korea or want to know
about upcoming trade activities in
these countries should contact the
Fargo office of the North Dakota
Department of Agriculture at 701-
239-7211.
North Dakota's total agricultural
exports, estimated at $3.3 billion in
2010, support an estimated 27,700
on-farm and off-farm jobs, and are
an important contribution to the
North Dakota farm economy.
Presidential hopeful
Presidential candidate John Davis poses for a photo in front of the Golden Valley County
Courthouse during a recent quick trip he made through the area. Davis is from Grand
Junction, Colo. (News-Pioneer Photo)
Demand for Post Office is on the rise
By Kate Ruggles
Farmer Staff Writer
Long lines, congestion and frus-
tration aren't words that only
describe the traffic situation any-
more. These words can be applied to
situations all around Watford City.
Local businesses have been hit
hard by the increasing demands a
rising population can bring. The
Wafford City Post Office is no dif-
ferent.
A year ago, the Wafford City Post
Office received and processed mail
for around 2.500 people. Now, that
same branch, a year later, is process-
ing mail for, and servicing, over
6,000 people.
That's a big jump. Especially,
when you consider the fact that dur-
ing the past year, the post office ran
out of available post office boxes,
forcing those new to town to have
their mail sent to general delivery.
"We have roughly 250 peo-
ple/families on a waiting list for post
office boxes," states Jason Hirst,
Watford City postmaster.
According to Hirst, a year ago
the post office still had around 300
unoccupied post office boxes. Now,
they are all occupied.
"There is no way to quantify the
number of people that receive mail
through general delivery, because
there is no application process. It's
just their name sent to general deliv-
ery," Hirst says.
"However, we can assume that if
those who are waiting for a box
want to receive mail in town, there
"However, we can assume that if those
who are waiting for a box want to receive
mail in town, there could be 250 people or
more, using the general delivery system to
receive their mail."
Jason Hirst
could be 250 people or more, using
the general delivery system to
receive their mail."
The way general delivery works
is that someone has their mail sent to
the post office, with their name,
General Delivery, Watford City,
N.D. 58854. They then have to col-
lect their mail at the service counter.
The increase in people receiving
their mail via general delivery is one
reason for the long lines at the post
office.
Hirst reports that when the mail
arrives, they have to sort it into car-
rier routes, post office boxes and
general delivery, according to name.
Watford City's increased popula-
tion and shortage of post office
boxes is only part of the problem.
According to Hirst, Watford
City's mail truck comes from
Williston and Minot before that.
Sometime in the past year, the Minot
and Williston post offices also expe-
rienced a growth in their mail vol-
ume and work load.
"The mail truck used to arrive at
8:30 a.m. Now it arrives between
9:00 and 9:30 a.m.," Hirst states.
"This is because we are last in line
to get mail from Minot."
Having to wait until after 9:00
a.m. to sort the mail provides anoth-
er explanation for longer wait times
at the service counter.
This is because the counter also
opens at 9 a.m., forcing Watford
City's postal workers to sort the mail
at the same time they are waiting on
customers.
To alleviate some of the slow-
down caused by general delivery,
the post office plans to place 120
temporary post office boxes, called
spinner boxes, into their lobby. Hirst
states that there may be plans to add
more at a later date.
According to Hirst, adding more
postal boxes in Watford City is
needed for several reasons. The
most obvious is to serve a growing
population. But more boxes would
also allow the post office to better
keep track of its customers, since
getting a box requires a contract and
information about the owner.
In addition, more boxes would
also clear up space in the mail room.
Post Office
(Continued on Page 6)
Commercial carrier
compliance rates show
marked decrease in area
Bismarck, N.D. - The North
Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP)
Motor Carrier Operations recently
completed a four day enforcement
saturation of commercial motor
vehicles. The saturation took place'
in northwestern North Dakota
between the dates of October 11 -
14, 2011. NDHP motor carder
troopers and inspectors from across
the state participated in the event.
Inspections were performed on
81 commercial vehicle drivers and
vehicle combinations during this
saturation effort. At total of 151
vehicle units (power units and
trailers) were inspected. Forty of
the 151 vehicle units were found
to have equipment defects that,
under federal safety regulations,
required that unit to be placed out
of service. This equates to an out
of service ratio of 26%. A total of
231 equipment violations were
discovered, with 51 of them meet-
ing out of service criteria. Serious
driver violations were also above
historical averages, as 12 of the 81
drivers (15%) had driver qualifica-
tion violations that required them
to be placed out of service. Forty
six driver violations were detect-
ed.
The NDHP remains committed
to ensuring that commercial motor
vehicles and their drivers maintain
their historically high safety ratings.
During the past three years alone,
47,807 commercial vehicle inspec-
tions have been conducted by
NDHP personnel. Of those inspec-
tions, 4.97% of the vehicles and
3.23% of the drivers were found to
have violations serious enough to
require them to be placed out of
service. The increase in out of serv-
ice violations in western North
Dakota has generated cause for con-
cern within the NDHP, as operating
under such conditions creates risk
for the commercial drivers as well
as the motoring public. "Strict
adherence to maintenance require-
ments and driver qualifications is in
the best interest of everyone," states
NDHP Superintendent Colonel
James Prochniak.
Weight enforcement activities
also took place as a part of this sat-
uration effort. Eleven vehicles were
weighed, ten of which were found
to be in excess of legal weight stan-
dards. Overload fees totaling
$38,730 were collected from the
violators. Vehicle weights in excess
of allowanCes greatly reduce the
anticipated lifespan of a roadway
surface, causing roadway damage
that at times can create safety risks
to unsuspecting motorists.
Missouri Basin well service
to build headquarters,
,ng City
By Kate Ruggles
Farmer Staff Writer
Started in 1979 by Jim and
Jody Arthaud, Missouri Basin
Well Service (MBI) has branched
out from a single truck water
transportation business in
Belfield, N.D., to a huge oil
industry business in five states,
with offices in Belfield, Ross, and
soon, Watford City.
"Jim Arthaud is a great leader,
and he's done a lot at the state
level," states Brent Sanford,
Watford City mayor. "It is great to
see fiim investing in Watford
City."
Jeff Kummer of Missouri
Basin says that Missouri Basin is
a company with local ties, and the
company cares about the commu-
nity.
"Missouri Basin is doing busi-
ness in Watford City every day,
and it has been for the last 30
years," states Kummer. "Not only
that, but it is a company that was
started by local people, and is
today, still managed by the same
people that started the company."
Therefore, MBI's goal in
building a headquarters in
Watford City is a way to take care
of the community, as well as a
way to better serve its customers.
According to Kummer,
McKenzie County has a number
of productive wells, and a lot of
Missouri Basin's major customers
operate in McKenzie County. So
building a headquarters in
Watford City would put Missouri
Basin Well Service next door to
their customers' operations.
While this will greatly benefit
Missouri Basin, how will it bene-
fit the Watford City community?
According to Kummer,
Missouri Basin Well Service
plans to be in Watford City for a
long time, which is why they are
investing in a headquarters, not a
"We are building
an office and shop
to service our
equipment.
Construction of the
new office is cur-
rently underway
and we are hiring
for all positions."
Jeff Kummer
branch.
"We are building an office and
shop to service our equipment,"
states Kummer. "Construction of
the new office is currently under-
way and we are hiring for all
positions."
And Chuck Steffan, chief oper-
ating officer for MBI, echoes fur-
ther, "We will be doing all our
data processing, processing tick-
ets, and coordinating activities for
our McKenzie County business at
the Watford City headquarters."
Because Missouri Basin Well
Service plans on staying in
Watford City, it will also be
building apartment complexes to
house their employees.
"MBI is investing in perma-
nent housing solutions for the
Watford City community and its
employees," states Kummer.
According to Curt Moen,
Watford City city planner, this is
great.
"They are taking care of one of
the major issues Watford City is
having right now - housing,"
states Moen.
MBI is currently going through
the annexation process for the
apartment complex. They hope
everything will be completed by
the summer of 2012.
We're A Part Of This Community
irst State Bank
Beach 872-4444 • Golva 872-3656
Medora 623-5000
24 hr. ATM in Beach & Medora lobby
Medora Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m
• Member FDIC •
• Our bank is run by people who live
here and know this area.
• We provide a safe place to keep your money.
• We make loans to help our community
grow and prosper.