NDDOT denies bridge problem exists in ND at convention




COUNTY -Walsh County Commissioners (WCC) met Monday at the courthouse in Grafton for their regular bimonthly meeting. Jack Karas, Lawrence Burianek, Ernie Barta, Luther Meberg, Karen Anderson and auditor Kris Molde were present. After approval of the Oct. 20 meeting minutes commissioners acted on a request from Twila Novak, Walsh County Social Services director, to install security enhancements at the […]

Burke resigns SRO position

Eliminating dog breed ban ordinance discussed

GRAFTON – The Grafton Ways and Means Committee ( WMC) gathered at city hall Monday for their regularly scheduled meeting. In attendance were Chris West, Greg Young, Connie Johnson, Nick Ziegelmann, Mary Stark, Dave Fellman, and Don Hutson. In regard to labor relation matters it was announced that officer Katie Fruetel (Burke) submitted her resignation from the Grafton Police Department. […]

Patients are satisfied at First Care Health Center

Park River hospital is a national top 20 facility

PARK RIVER – First Care Health Center (FCHC) in Park River was awarded the honor of being a Top 20 Best Practice in Patient Satisfaction facility. Louise Dryburgh, CEO of FCHC, accepted the award held during the National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Critical Access Hospital Conference that was held in Kansas City, Missouri, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. “This award […]

Chilling Halloween fun



Isla Kaste, left, and brothers Nolan, middle, and Gracin get ready for a night of trick-or-treating in Grafton. The wet cool weather created shivers throughout the area Saturday night. Kastes were visiting the area from Fargo.

Minto City Council updates policy regarding overtime

Employee callback on holiday precipitates change

MINTO-Pay policies at the city of Minto are being updated. The Employee Relations Committee recommended the Minto City Council (MCC) update their policy regarding overtime, weekend and holiday pay after their public works director was called back from a holiday vacation to spray for mosquitoes. Mayor Lane Kelley told the council a meeting of the committee was held in September, […]

Walsh County Job Development Authority receives Project of the Year Award



Walsh County Job Development Authority (WCJDA)-Kringstad Ironworks received the Economi c Development Association of North Dakota (EDND) Impact Award for Project of the Year – Small Community Division during the EDND Fall Conference Oct. 27 in Watford City. The Project of the Year recognizes a project that has made a significant contribution to the economic health of the community or […]

Stolen credit cards from Grafton turn up in forgery case

Grand Forks woman arrested

Betty Jo Enno, 50, of Grand Forks was arrested on Sept. 28 in Devils Lake when she tried to pass a check on an account that had been reported stolen from Grafton. According to reports police found 25 stolen credit cards from two individuals from Grafton in Enno’s possession, and discovered she had passed $350 in three checks from the […]

Semi driver charged in death of Hoople man

Chicago trucker held in Walsh County accident

A Chicago, Illinois semi-truck driver was charged for negligent homicide, a Class C felony in the accidental vehicle death of Hoople resident Russell Crowder. Hassan K. Stephens, age 29, also faces a charge of aggravated reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor and possession of a controlled substance, marijuana within 1000 feet of a school, a Class B misdemeanor. Russell Crowder […]

Drayton man pleads guilty to sex with a minor

Fredrickson to serve four years

Howard Daniel Fredrickson, 35, a Drayton native pled guilty last week to two counts of gross sexualimposition,aClassAfelony. Fredrickson entered a guilty plea agreement, which states he will serve 20 years concurrently for his two counts with the North Dakota Department of Corrections with 16 years suspended. He will receive credit for 40 days he served from Nov. 6 to Dec. […]

Open house for school additions, auditorium



An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held for Grafton Public Schools Middle School, Pre-School and Performing Arts Center additions Thursday, Nov. 12, beginning at 7 p.m. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, there will be a short program with special guests Senator Tom Campbell and North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction Kristen Baesler. Members of the Grafton School […]