September
The Williston City Commission approved a $25.1 million budget for 2008 which included $100,000 to create a master plan for growing the city.
Vector Control Director Dave Benth tendered a resignation letter, stating his duties would officially conclude Dec. 31. Vector Control Board Member Jolene Tinker said Benth and his family were continually receiving harassing phone calls over management of the Williston area's mosquito numbers.
In a related manner, five cases of West Nile Virus had been confirmed in Williams County by early September. Fire consumed 150 acres of valuable durum crop Sept. 12, seven miles southwest of Epping. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D, N.D. met in Williston to discuss healthcare issues.
Javayne Oyloe of the Upper Missouri District Health Unit reported the Erase Your E-waste program in Williston was a success, as it collected 11,522 pounds of electronic waste at the Wal-Mart parking lot, and 10,000 more pounds from other entities. The program's aim was to prevent toxic waste from seeping into our water systems.
Williston Public School District 1 negotiators declared impasse Sept. 13 during a final stab at reaching a teacher contract agreement with a panel of the Williston Education Association. Meanwhile, teachers continued to show unity by only limiting their hours to a normal school day.
The Eight Mile School District in Trenton also declared an impasse. In both cases, a state-appointed fact finding commission would hear arguments from the teachers, school officials and the public.
Multiple fires plagued northwest North Dakota in Wildrose, Crosby, Tioga and Williston after a series of combines ignited dry crops and pasture land.
William Sea Walker was sentenced to serve 30 years for the 1982 murder of convenience store clerk/college student Gary Gerth.
A $123,000 settlement was reached between Zenergy Inc. of Tulsa, Okla. over a 1-million gallon spill of saltwater into the Charboneau Creek near Alexander in January of 2006. The oil byproduct caused massive die-off of fish, turtles and plants along the creek.
Grenora reported alarming rates of Dutch Elm disease infecting its trees.
Mitzi Moe was named the new publisher of the Williston Herald, replacing Don Mrachek.
Energy businesses gathered in Williston as the North Dakota Association of Gas Producing Counties met Sept. 27.
City leaders continued to map out solutions for the city's housing and worker shortage.
October
James Seibel, 51, of Ross was released on a $10,000 bond on charges of lewd conduct involving pornographic pictures he had taken of two teenage girls and for exposing himself in Ross.
Trenton Teachers consented to a $27,700 base pay, following a Fact Finding Commission hearing in September.
Williston Parks and Recreation Director Darin Krueger announced two new additions were added at Spring Lake Park - an interchangeable maze and dug-out canoe.
Kim Lester, 42, was arrested Oct. 15 for violating her probation on a sentence for neglecting multiple animals on her Grenora farmstead in June of 2006. Lester had violated her probation after she was found to have owned a number of dogs. She had received two one-year suspended sentences after Williams County Sheriff officials reported to courts they found animals living in small quarters and abysmal conditions without proper food or water. The animals included 84 horses, 50 dogs and 30 birds.
The Committee on the Employment and the Advancement of People with Disabilities held its first Disabilities Awareness Fair at Williston State College.
The new Williams County Correctional Center's structure, estimated to cost over $15 million, began to take shape, although it was lagging behind schedule.
A full settlement, reverting the former Fortuna Air Base back to Divide County, appeared to be in the works in mid October. If the county regains full ownership, Rural Superfunds could be used in its environmental cleanup. Arvid Barstad, owner of Thiem Construction, had purchased the property from Divide County in January of 1996 for salvaging purposes. The county and Barstad had a long-standing dispute over property taxes and potential hazardous materials on the site.
Williston State College's Petroleum Safety and Technology Center launched its hands-on work over rig safety program in late October.
Northwest District Judge David W. Nelson denied Bill Jorgensen's request to add more polling sites for the Nov. 6 special election. Jorgensen had filed civil action requesting more voting sites than the Williston Community Library. His petitioned initiative asked voters to require all patrons entering a liquor establishment produce an ID or pay a $10 fine and face criminal charges.
Bruce Stockman, owners of Stockman Motors, sold the family business of 97 years to Ed Steckler of Minot and Jerry Schmidt of Valley City. After a contest, it was later renamed Select Ford.
Groundbreaking was held for an eight-plex apartment building for individuals with chronic mental illness in east Williston.
The Williston City Commission agreed to seek grant funds to renovate Williston's train depot area.
Former Williston Honda employee Brenda Wold was sentenced to serve one year in prison for bilking the car dealership out of $201,211. She was ordered to pay restitution.
It was not a typical Saturday afternoon, as teachers, school officials and the public crowded the Williston High School gymnasium Oct. 27 to testify before a state-appointed Fact Finding Commission over teacher salaries for Williston Public School District 1. An impasse had been declared over the salary dispute by District 1 on Sept. 13. Commission members said they would likely return with a recommendation for a two-year salary plan.
A hearing to revoke the probation sentence of Lester, convicted of neglecting multiple animals in rural Grenora, was continued to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 4.
Williston Police Chief Don Wentz and Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching were among area authorities protesting the State Supreme Court Administrative Office decision to discontinue the District Court Juvenile Supervisor position that is based in Williston and covers multiple counties in the region. Earlier in the month, long-time juvenile supervisor Jack Colby retired. The state said the caseload numbers did not merit having that position in Williston. Those duties will be handled out of Minot.
November
McKenzie County State's Attorney Dennis Johnson was the third public official to dispute dissolving the regional juvenile supervisor position in Williston.
A $5,000 bond was set for Tony Iverson, 39, of New Town for possession of explosives, which he reportedly detonated behind his place of employment. New Town schools underwent lockdown, according Mountrail County Sheriff Ken Halvorson.
City voters nixed an initiated measure at the Nov. 6 special, requiring all patrons to produce valid identification or pay $10. It fell with 626 no votes to 99 yes votes.
The Williston Public School District and members of the Williston Education Association both agreed to a Fact-Finding Commission's recommendation to increase base pay for teachers from $22,950 to $25,600 for the 2007-2008 school year. For the second year, they both agreed to raising it another $1,400 the second year of the agreement.
Six-time Super Bowl player Don Beebe was the keynote speaker at Trinity Christian School Fall Fundraising Banquet at the Airport International Inn.
Groundbreaking was held for two 36-unit apartments, to be built by the Marcil Group and Valley Group near Hagan Elementary.
Grading work was completed for the final 30-mile stretch of the U.S.2 four-lane project between Berthold and Minot. The paving of the last patch will be bid March 28. With its completion, motorists will be able to travel from Williston to Grand Forks on four-lane highway, meeting the North Dakota Transportation Department's motto "Across the State in 2008."
Trinity Christian School officials announced it was continuing a campaign to lower tuition costs for students through an endowment fund.
Gov. John Hoeven made Williston one of his stops when announcing his plans to run for a third term.
The North Dakota Attorney General's Office reported the number of meth labs uncovered had dropped dramatically in the state -- from just under 300 2 1/2 years ago to 10 this year. The Williston Office of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation said eight more were found in this region.
A power outage left nearly 4,000 resident and business customers without power or heat for 10 hours Nov. 15 and 16 in northwest North Dakota.
Williston native Darcy Aberle was promoted to sergeant for the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Mystery surrounded an incident where three men fell from a balcony at Century Apartments Nov. 24. Conflicting reports made finishing the investigation difficult.
Williston Park Board President Larry Grondahl was released on a personal recognizance bond on charges he allegedly disclosed confidential medical information about a former employee. Charges were filed after the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation completed a probe. A court date is still pending for Grondahl. After a closed-door session later that month, the Williston Park Board announced it supported Grondahl, and that he would continue to act as board president.
Mountrail County Authorities continued to search for Russel Alan Kilan, 89, who went missing Nov. 25 after he was last seen leaving a convenience store in Stanley.
A Faculty Rights Committee recommended that Williston State College Professor Jason Gee be fully reinstated and be encouraged to apply for tenure.
Watford City officials expressed concerns on how to pay for two road renovations after bids exceeded $1 million over projections.
Williston's Recycling Center was dedicated Nov. 29.
December
The Williston City Commission approved three subdivisions in late December, including the final plat for the Sundown Subdivision, the final plat for the Halliburton Subdivision and a right-of-way for Coyote Crossing. Coyote Crossing is part of a new housing development of the Marcil Group and the Valley Group.
Thomas Firemoon was named new business manager of New Public School District 8, replacing Art Gutschmidt who has served the post for 20 1/2 years.
Stony Creek third graders raised over $1,300 to purchase children's gifts for the Family Recovery Home and Family Crisis Shelter.
Williston Public School District 1 began mapping out plans to renovate two science labs at Williston High School and windows for the facility.
A joint committee of city and county officials discussed how to solve this area's mosquito problem after all Vector Control Board members and the director of the program resigned.
A number of retirements were announced, including Jan Thue, manager of the New Armory/Convention and Visitors Bureau employee; Jeff Altizer, director of the CVB; and Michon Sax as Williams/McKenzie counties Social Services Director.
School District 1 approved ESG to complete an energy audit of the school system's buildings to determine where money can be saved.
School officials announced the second city sales tax to pay for $13.8 million in school improvements, including the new middle school, could end much sooner thanks to high taxable sales revenue in the city.
Contributions were lagging well behind for the Salvation Army's goal of reaching $71,000 from its Red Kettle campaign.
Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching reported the work on the $15 million Law Enforcement Center is two months behind schedule. Weather was cited as part of the problem.
More than 300 people attended the Building the Williston Basin Summit event on Dec. 12 at the Airport International Inn to address energy issues, employment needs, community development and housing in the region.
The hearing for former New Public School District 8 bus driver Everett Gilbert, 68, was rescheduled to 1 p.m. Dec. 31. Gilbert was charged with multiple counts of allegedly sexually abusing two children. His bond had been increased to $150,000.
The Hess Corporation announced expansion plans, including intentions to move headquarters to Minot in 2009 and build an office complex in Tioga.
The Tioga School Board discussed how to find a replacement for its long-time superintendent David Rust.
Brochures, explaining tax breaks, were scheduled to accompany property tax statements sent out by the Williams County Treasurer's Office.
Voting sites for Williston were combined to the Raymond Family Community Center, after County Auditor Beth Innis cited safety concerns for children at the former school poll sites.
Mercy Medical Center CEO Dennis Goebel announced that an annual $3 million deficit for the medical facility will mean major changes at the medical facility including consolidation/layoff of management, possible closure of the Mercy Wellness Center and restructuring of services at the hospital itself.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission approved a $40,000 grant toward an $80,000 study of possibly building an oil refinery in Williston.
The North Dakota Attorney General's Office sided with Williston Public School District 1 over the school board discontinuing a recreation mill levy for the Williston Park District. It determined the school district had the right to discontinue the 60-year-old levy without going to the voters, as the park district had claimed. Both school and park officials agreed to go with the AG's conclusion after an Aug. 20 joint executive session. Meanwhile, the school district has agreed to pay on the recreation mill levy through February of 2009. The park district announced in December it will set up a committee to determine how to levy the funds to compensate for the loss of the mills the school district had once levied.
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