Delegation to host rally for farmers

North Dakota's congressional delegation will hold a rally for farmers and ranchers from across the state at the Bismarck Civic Center on Wednesday.

The rally will be a call for a federal response to the drought that is impacting producers in North Dakota and much of the nation. It will begin at 10:15 a.m. Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. Byron Dorgan and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, all Democrats, will lead the call. Gov. John Hoeven, a Republican, also will attend, along with several farm organizations.

"This is a catastrophe of stunning proportions that is getting worse each and every day,"Conrad said. "We are at the epicenter of a drought-stricken nation. We need to send a message to the White House and to the Republican leadership in Congress. They must not turn a blind eye toward this extraordinarily serious disaster."

Farmers, ranchers and members of the general public are invited to attend.

Burn bans lifted in Dickinson, Stark County

DICKINSON (AP) - Rain and cooler temperatures have prompted officials here and in Stark County to lift burn bans.

Officials lifted the bans on Friday, following four days of rain that brought about an inch of moisture.

The burn bans started on June 28. Barbecue grills fueled by coal or wood were included in the ban.

"The burn ban was lifted with the hopes everybody would use common sense and not do burning they don't have to," Stark County emergency manager Gary Kostelecky said. "If it gets hot again, we will put it back on. We're just asking people to be careful with what they're doing out there."

Kostelecky said about four fires were started this summer because of cigarettes.

"We are hoping it stays damp and cool in the evenings so we don't have to implement it again," Kostelecky said.