Darold and Della Benz of Beulah have lived and gardened across from the BNSF Railway for 36 years.

Until now, the couple has been prosaic about the delays for the train to clear the crossing so they could get back and forth and the loud train whistle as it moved through their neighborhood.

They aren't so prosaic any more.

All their years of work tending to and maintaining a showplace lawn and flower plantings have been reduced to black dirt and ashes that they say are caused by the railway's actions.

The downturn started in 2007 and Della Benz decided the lackluster and dying flowers were the result of undernourished soil. But soil tests found that wasn't the problem.

This year was worse. Even quack grass wouldn't take hold in their barren yard and people started joking that Darold Benz had gotten carried away with the Round Up.

One day, a light bulb went on in Della's head and she recalled the railway spraying for weeds across from their home the year before.

After calling the railway office, she eventually turned to a state soil scientist and had soil samples tested at a lab in Minnesota.

Turned out, their yard was being infiltrated by an herbicide used over on railway property that needs water to work.

"The wind blows the soil with the chemical over to our yards, and then here I am, watering like crazy because we had no rain," Della Benz said. "We got the benefits, not of the water, but of the chemical."

A railway official has promised to cover the railway's property with gravel so the wind doesn't continue to spread the chemical-laden soil to the Benzes and other yards nearby.

So far, nothing's been done.

It won't be cheap to remove the chemical-laced soil from their yard, but Della Benz said it would take a total replacement to restore their yard and flower beds.

"And no, I'm not going to pay the bill," she said.

- Beulah Beacon

No cheap fix

The Wishek School Board may spend in excess of $600,000 to get away from the cost of heating oil.

The school is working with Energy Services Group of Fargo to convert from fuel boilers to electric boilers because of the rising cost associated with heating oil. In some places, it's expected to be near $5 a gallon this winter.

Mark Bucholz, with ESG, said he thinks the switchover can be done before the start of this year's heating season.

He said two boilers should serve the block-long elementary, junior and high school complex, and a single one will heat the armory.

The firm would arrange financing for the electric boiler conversion and recommends keeping the fuel oil boilers in place for back up.

School board member Reggie Bettenhausen said the company agreed to proceed with ordering the equipment and would give the school a two-week period to back out of the deal if some unforeseen concern were to arise.

Bettenhausen said that way the board can continue to get more information and answers, without delaying the process.

Bucholz said the system will include "data loggers" that will give the school a bigger look at its entire energy picture, and once the heating season is in full swing, the company can make more refined energy savings recommendations.

Superintendent Terry Erholz said, "The boilers will save money, no question. But what else will we need to do in the future and what will it cost? It would be nice to see the whole picture."

- Wishek Star

Two seasons, for sure

Watford City knows well the two-season dilemma in North Dakota: There's winter and there's road construction.

The town's been in the throes of the "second"" season with a far-away ending in sight.

Two main thoroughfares in town are under construction, Fourth Avenue and Main Street.

Both are closed now and have been for months, and it looks like it'll have to get a little bit worse before it gets better.

Chris Roen, the construction project manager, said he expects Fourth Avenue should possibly open within the week. Even though it looks like the construction crew is gone from that location, work such as striping, signing, manhole adjustments, landscaping and light pole installation still needs doing, he said.

In addition, the town's entire Main Street remains closed off, and talk that it would reopen block by block as work winds up is not accurate.

"That wasn't our plan and we just don't see how we could make that work," Roen said.

Unless there are any delays still in the making, Roen said Main Street could reopen in the middle of September.

"Your patience and understanding are appreciated throughout the reconstruction process," he said.

- McKenzie County Farmer