Dakota Beacon

The state of ND provided hundreds of millions in property tax relief in the past three years, but property owners are not feeling the love.  Confusion reigns.  A big part of the reason is that the reduction in property tax rates has been substantially offset by an increase in property values, leaving property tax bills much the same.  The value of residential property in ND increased 37 percent in the last five years.  Also, local government and agencies snuck under the radar and raised their share of property taxes.

"The president lost North Dakota by almost 22 percentage points and I was still elected the United States senator and I was elected because I promised people I was going to be . . .  the voice for the people of North Dakota" -- U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp responding to an interview on Yahoo News about her divergent opinions on issues central to the president’s agenda.  Gun control, climate change and the Keystone pipeline are on the list.  The president’s 2012 campaign manager has formed a group to pressure those, including Democrats, who don’t go along with the president’s agenda.

“He loved UND athletics, too, including the Sioux nickname and logo” -- GF Herald Publisher Mike Jacobs in a testimonial to the late Dr. Ben Clayburgh.

“Some fans booed at the end of the second period” -- GF Herald.  “We got our tails kicked in our own building” -- UND hockey coach Dave Hakstol.  “Starting with myself, no one was inspired to play the game. That can’t happen” -- UND hockey player Rocco Grimaldi.  The preceding comments relate to a recent UND home hockey game -- perhaps the team is missing a dash of “Fighting Sioux.”

The ND legislative session usually starts with a swarm of flaky bills -- it may be worse now that the state is flush with cash.  A state representative from Fargo, a bar owner, has proposed a law to compensate business owners for costs related to recent smoking bans.  A representative of the ND Hospitality Association completely warmed to the task by suggesting the reimbursement extend to earlier regulations.  The director of a state agency which administers tobacco settlement funds suggested that under the proposed law there would be almost no limit to the types of claims which could be made.

Dakota Oil Processing is attempting to develop an oil refinery near Williston, but wants state guarantees, tax breaks, and use of state bonding authority.  A Bismarck Tribune editorial urges caution before the state shares the risk of refineries and suggests that is a better role for private capital.  The Tribune’s caution is appropriate -- market disciplines can fly out the window when government guarantees are present.

“We think we’re a world leader in this area” -- Lynn Helms, director of ND’s Dept. of Mineral Resources, describing the status of oil well inspection in the state.  However, Helms indicated it’s hard for his department to keep up with the increasing number of wells and he has requested a 30 percent increase in his staff.

“Do not conduct any independent research about this case or any of the individuals involved in this case." -- Judge Douglas Mattson presiding in the Minot murder trial of Omar Kalmio.  The judge gave the jury a lengthy warning about reading or sharing information about the trial on social media.

The prosecution began its Kalmio case by saying, "This is not TV. This is real life, real victims, real murders. They happened right here, in this county, in this city of Minot, North Dakota. Two years ago, to the day, January 28, 2011, four bodies were discovered, dead.”  The defense countered that the prosecution was all “shock and awe” and lacked evidence.

You are innocent until proven guilty: a theory of our law.  Omar Kalmio looks terribly guilty -- he is charged with the quadruple murder of four American Indians, including the mother of his child, all shot with the same gun.  There is substantial evidence, but it is circumstantial, and the prosecution has a heavy burden -- no gun has been found and there is an absence of direct evidence.  The case is further blurred by victims and witnesses with criminal records, some of whom are involved in illegal drugs.

What do oil workers do on their days off?  They go to Minot and Bismarck and commit crimes.  At least that's the way the Burleigh County Sheriff sees it.  Minot claims its jail is full and Bismarck says it has the same problem.  Minot wants a state grant to build a new jail.

A 65-year-old retired mechanic with an oxygen bottle strapped on his back spends hours on his John Deere riding snow-blower as he clears neighbors' driveways.  The Fargo man says, “I like to blow snow.  I always liked to blow snow.”  His story was part of a Forum article about “snow angels,” men who live to blow snow and earn the gratitude of their neighbors. 

Many in the crowd wore business suits, but there were also plenty of Norwegian sweaters.  Gov. Dalrymple and Sen. Hoeven were among people from around the world who gathered in Minot to pay their final respects to Chester Reiten, a longtime Minot mayor and founder of the Minot Hstfest -- the largest Scandinavian-American festival in the world.

A Sykeston man stole Minnesota’s motto by naming his kennel L’ Etoile du Nord (Star of the North).  The brazen theft was accomplished by Mark Dinsmore who raises French Brittany spaniels near Sykeston, ND.  Dinsmore says, “They are a quick, nimble dog and very personable.”  The Jamestown Sun noted that “French Brittanys are a high-energy dog that need something to do” and are best suited for families that like to hunt.

You will be glad to know Minot has a pulse.  Dried peas, edible beans, lentils and chickpeas are the most common varieties of pulses and are high in protein and fiber, and low in fat.  ND is the national leader in these crops.  United Pulse Trading is completing a facility in Minot which will be one of its first plants to produce pea protein, starch and fiber.  The plant will have annual production capacity of 100,000 metric tons.