Sep 07, 2008 - 10:51:29 CDT
Compiled by LAUREN DONOVANBismarck Tribune
The reconstruction project that literally tore up Watford City’s Main Street from one end to the other has been the talk of the town.
Now, finally, it’s winding to a close.
A portion of the street — closed entirely to through traffic since the start of summer — was to reopen Friday.
“If all things go well and there are no rain delays to sealing, or pavement marking, we would like to have that segment open,” said Northern Improvement’s manager, Chris Roen.
Even though the entire street will not be open, reopening Fourth to Park Avenue will be a relief for store owners and residents to be able to use front doors once again.
Roen said there still will be some construction activity on the street, but it should be usable.
Work on the remaining portion of Main Street is proceeding on schedule. Curb and gutter work is ongoing and storm and waste water sewer and water utilities were to be installed by Friday.
Roen said he’s looking at a mid-October completion date for the remaining portion of Main Street.
— McKenzie County Farmer
Lion surprise
Duane Domek headed out to his shop at his ranch near Wibaux, Mont., two weeks ago, planning to put some air in a tire.
He ended up having himself quite an adventure with a mountain lion instead.
It was early, about 6 a.m., and he walked into the building to see a cougar sitting near the air compressor.
The big cat was only 15 feet away, and when it looked at him, Domek said he knew it was time to get out. He backed out, locked the building and called the Baker, Mont., dispatch to notify the Game and Fish warden.
Domek and his son, Austin, kept watch on the mountain lion and thought, because of its quickness in popping up here and there, there might actually be two of them.
Three game wardens arrived; warden Todd Engers killed the mountain lion.
The first shot clipped the animal’s nose, and Engers mounted a stepladder to get a head shot that went through the lung. A third shot went into the head.
They weighed the animal on Domek’s cattle scale at 90 pounds and determined it was a 1-year-old male that had likely been “kicked off” by its mother.
Domek said the wardens put down animals inside buildings, because it’s likely they’ll return to the buildings.
Domek said he had four weaned calves in the vicinity and that his dogs had been raising a ruckus just a couple hours earlier.
“Shut your doors at night” is his advice.
— Billings County Pioneer
Big buyout
BEK Communications, which serves Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder counties, recently purchased cable systems from Midcontinent Communications.
In the deal, Midco sold systems in Wishek, Lehr, Zeeland, Linton, Napoleon and Wilton, including television, Internet and telephone services.
Midco told its customers about the sale last week. BEK will switch the former Midco customers into its own system sometime between now and mid-December. BEK will hold meetings in the six communities to explain the situation and answer any questions.
Customers will need to transfer to BEK by Dec. 15 to remain in service.
— Wishek Star
Beulah beautifies
Beulah has come up with a way for people to remember their loved ones and beautify the town at the same time.
The City Beautification Committee will begin work on a pocket park across from Beulah City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A groundbreaking will be followed by a work night, and folks can pitch in on the early stages of landscaping, including a split rail fence and some fall plantings.
The park will have the theme “Memory Lane,” and committee member Chere Allard said a book in city hall has a selection of flowers, trees, shrubs, benches, waterfalls, arbors and lights that can be purchased in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one, or simply as a donation.
“It will be a work in progress,” Allard said.
Several picket fences painted and purchased during Beulah’s hosting of the Smithsonian “Between Fences” exhibit have been donated to the park.
Other committee members are Julie Rudolf, Tim Aichele, Craig Askim, Gaylen Sailer, Kim Schock and John Phillips.
— Beulah Beacon
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