Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

About 50 people attended a public meeting in Napoleon, and the consensus was "Save our beds."

The meeting was held by the Napoleon Care Center. Administrator Lisa Beine said the care center has been having financial problems because of low occupancy.

Beine said a temporary situation of seven open beds was expected to end soon with new residents arriving. If they did, then 90 percent of the care center's beds would be occupied and current levels of state and federal funding would be maintained.

One way to resolve the issue was to "sell" some beds - actually their occupancy - to another facility in order to get around a statewide moratorium on new nursing home beds.

Beine said the care center board would prefer not to sell any of its beds, but that it has to explore all options to remain financially sound.

Small-town facilities face competition from other nursing homes in surrounding communities and cities like Bismarck-Mandan because everyone is looking to keep their facilities full.

The meeting involved personal testimonials of the quality of care at Napoleon, and most who attended the meeting said they believed that the care center should not sell any beds now and that everyone should be part of the effort to keep the care center at least 90 percent occupied.

- Napoleon Homestead

No probe needed

The Crosby fire chief said the fire at the former Anderson Lumber started in or around the oil furnace.

However, several residents who were storing property in the burned-out structure are upset that no official investigation was conducted.

The fire in February totaled more than $350,000 in destroyed property that included late-model and antique tractors, vehicles, tools and some things "money can't replace."

In all, 17 people lost property in the fire.

State Fire Marshal Ray Lambert said he was satisfied with the local decision not to proceed with an investigation, based on on-scene information from those who fought the blaze.

Chris Romness, who owns the building, and two others said they wanted arson ruled out, as well as the possibility of mechanical malfunction, like an exploding battery.

Lambert said his office is bound by law to only respond to requests by law or fire enforcement officials.

He said his staff investigates about 10 percent of the 1,400 fires in North Dakota each year.

"We are not civil investigators," Lambert said. "I cannot respond to an insurance company's call."

Romness said he takes issue with Lambert's statement that the lack of insurance on the building and any injuries were also reasons for not doing an investigation.

The burned structure and the twisted, charred remains of its contents are being torn down and removed.

A benefit has been held to financially help Romness.

- The Journal

Oil attack

Ready or not, Mercer County may be drilled for oil in the next decade.

There's some speculation that the area between Killdeer and Beulah - about 50 miles east to west - could see between 500 and 700 wells going down.

Those wells will be drilled in some cases whether the landowner wants them there are not.

The minerals are the primary estate, meaning their owner has the right to have them developed.

Daryl Dukart, secretary of the Dunn County Energy Development of Land and Mineral Owners, said surface owners do have rights.

Dukart is in negotiations with Marathon Oil, which wants to use six to seven of Dukart's acres to drill for oil. Dukart doesn't have the mineral rights.

He said he's worried about dust pollution and about the effect of oil drilling on his water well.

He recommends everyone who's facing a mineral lease or a land owner agreement for a road easement, or something else, should see an attorney.

"… Don't be too anxious to sign it, because once you sign, there's more things that come with it," he said.

Dukart said he thinks drilling could move into Mercer County from Dunn County within one to two years because of intense interest in the oil-rich Bakken formation.

- Beulah Beacon