Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

Watford City's time to grin and bear it has arrived.

Starting Monday, its Main Street will be closed off to through traffic while the street is completely reconstructed.

If all goes well, main will reopen Aug. 19.

Major street work on another main artery has already been delayed, not due to one particular problem, but because the project is simply going slower than expected.

Businesses along Main Street are getting ready to lose their front door access for the next two months.

They're making their rear entrances a little more user-friendly and rearranging parking out back and in the alleys so there's room for customer parking.

Lowell Cutshaw, city engineer, said the city leased an empty lot for the duration and the removal of some vacant buildings on the Park Avenue end of Main will open up a little more parking there.

Traffic will be redirected with detour signs.

The city will hold meetings at 10:30 am. Tuesdays in the Heritage Room at city hall to provide updated construction information. Anyone with questions can attend and munch a doughnut to sweeten the news.

Cutshaw said the general contractor, Northern Improvement, and everyone involved in the project is aware of the inconvenience to businesses and customers and everything possible is being done to keep the project on track.

"… The longer it takes, the harder it will be," he said.

The original plans called for removing 17 flowering crab trees that line the main street because the sidewalk cutouts where they're planted are being torn out.

Local business owners have been caring for the trees and finally enjoying their mature beauty.

Rather than dispatch them to the firewood pile, bankers Steve and Gretchen Stenehjem decided they'd move the tree in front of the bank to their yard.

Word spread and soon all 17 trees were spoken for and a Bismarck company, Trees On the Move, will bring in the right equipment, promising a 99 percent survival rate.

The tree spade work will cost $300 for each tree.

- McKenzie County Farmer

True Value blue

Ardell and Charlene Horob of New Town have been as true blue as it's possible to be.

For 43 years, the couple has opened the doors their hardware store at 7:30 a.m., providing service beyond the call of duty.

Ardell Horob installed heaters, erected television antennas, and repaired and replaced whatever needed doing.

He believed service was his first commitment to his customers.

The family started with Coast-to-Coast back in 1945 in Ryder, moved to New Town and merged into True Value in 1998. Ardell and Charlene Horob have been owners since 1965.

The couple put the business up for sale April 1, but so far hasn't found a viable buyer.

Ardell Horob said he decided to hold liquidation, starting at 15 percent off and eventually going to 40 percent to clear out the inventory.

"I hate to see it close, but it's time for me to retire," Ardell Horob said.

The couple plans to remain in town and isn't sure what will be done with the business building once it's no longer True Value.

Charlene Horob said they've been fortunate to have good employees and loyal customers over the years.

- New Town News

Gas attack

With gas prices at record highs, the idea of stealing it might be an unfortunate outcome.

An alert Hebron resident thwarted an attempt to steal gas from a 60-gallon tank on a Hebron school bus.

The end result could have caused a disaster for the area of Hebron's Main Street where the bus was parked.

The individual, on his way to work at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, told officials that two individuals were near a school bus at Rebel's Repair.

The two men were apparently interrupted and left, leaving behind a garden hose spilling gas from the bus into the street and gutter.

The Hebron Fire Department and emergency manager Myron Lapp were called to the scene and foam was used to suppress the gasoline. The city removed the contaminated soil and replaced it with sand.

Lapp said gas siphoning could be a continuing problem with the price of gasoline.

"I'm concerned for the safety of those stealing the gas and for the residents of Hebron," he said. "One spark would have ignited the gasoline on Hebron's Main Street and our community could have had a very serious problem."

Lapp is urging people to lock their tanks or parked vehicles so that siphoning would be difficult to maneuver.

- Hebron Herald