Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

"No," "yes" and finally "no" seems to be the decision down in McIntosh County.

The McIntosh County Commission went around and came full circle on its initial decision that it wouldn't get involved in a street sealing project in Ashley, even though it's the county seat and plenty of county business goes on in town.

The city had proposed to pay all material and labor costs, as well as for use of the county spreader, packer, oil distributor, trucks and so forth if the county would allow its road crew to do the work.

At first blush, the commission said the county crew should stick to getting county work done.

The commission also didn't want to take work from private contractors, or set a precedent in McIntosh County.

After an open letter on the topic was published and after a visit from city representatives, the county appeared willing to do the work, with the idea that it would have to wait until next year.

However, at its recent meeting, the commission reverted to its original stance.

"I think there are enough reasons for the county not to get involved with something like this, said chairman Ron J. Meidinger. "We still have many farmers with roads under water. Do we really want to take on more work in town at this time"

He said a lot of county residents continue to be opposed to the idea.

"I haven't heard much from people who are in favor of us doing this, but I've heard from an awful lot of folks who think we should make fixing our rural roads the top priority," Meidinger said.

After a unanimous vote against the Ashley project, it appears the commission's made up its mind - at least for now.

- Ashley Tribune

Chicken dinner canceled

A 60-year tradition will take at least this year off.

The women and men of Bethlehem Lutheran Church have been serving their annual fall chicken dinner for longer than a lot of people can remember.

It's canceled this year.

The reason is that harvest is running late and a lot of people are too busy with fieldwork and feeding workers to help like they usually do.

The chicken dinner is traditionally held the first weekend in October to coincide with the Makoti Threshing Show, which is hugely popular in the region.

Most years, the church folks fed about 400 people.

Because of facilities at the church and its remote rural location, the cooks and servers have faced a lot of challenges.

They prepare food in their own homes and haul it to the church, along with water, which the church doesn't have.

They've made it simpler on themselves.

"We have switched to paper plates and don't make all of the pies, lefse and pickles ourselves, but it's still a lot of work," said the church's women's group president, Kari Warberg.

The chicken dinner may return next year.

- New Town News

Chucked out

It's been popular in Hazen these past several years for people to raise brood hatches of chukars and let them loose in town.

The gray partridges run around in clutches, making their low "chuck, chuck" sounds and hanging out on residential lawns, and rooftops.

It's the chukar droppings that are starting to get to people.

Some neighborhood residents attended a recent Hazen City Commission meeting to report they'd taken matters into their own hands by netting some of the chukars and giving them a free ride out of town.

"They started out two or three in a bunch and it was cute. Now we've counted 21 in a bunch and it's getting way out of control," said resident Char Ost.

Ost and a few neighbors asked the commission to come up with an ordinance to prevent people from raising and feeding the partridges if they're not contained.

Commissioner David Grant, who holds the police portfolio, said there is an ordinance that prevents cows, pigs and chickens from being raised in town.

He reminded the residents that they have to lawfully capture wild birds and suggested they solicit help from police.

"Don't go shooting these things; it's against the law," Grant said.

He said he'd give the matter his personal attention.

City Commission President Lonny Adler said this is the second time the chukars have presented problems and the time has come to solve the problem with an ordinance.

- The Hazen Star