Bismarck Tribune

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LAUREN DONOVAN

An anonymous tip has caused the State Tax Department to get involved in a cabin site area that is not on the Mercer County tax rolls.

Marcy Dickerson, of the tax department, told the Mercer County Commission that an apparent property assessor called to ask why cabins near Red Butte Bay are not on the county's tax rolls.

The cabins are located in northwestern Mercer County on land inside the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

She said after researching the matter, it looks like the commission gave the development an abatement dating back to the mid-'70s.

The site has about 20 cabins and a board member of the cabin association, Mike Seifert, said when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sold the land in the '60s, it was with the understanding that there would be a maintained and dedicated road.

Seifert said the road never happened.

A six-mile road into the site belongs to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and at one time was maintained by Mercer County.

Road superintendent Ken Nelson said the BIA, years ago, "invited us to take down our signs and leave, so we did."

Seifert said without assurance of permanent access, the cabin owners feel they shouldn't have to pay taxes on the full value of the land.

He said cabin owners pay taxes on the lots, but not the cabins.

Dickerson said from the tax department's perspective the issue is crystal clear.

She said there is no exemption in law that takes into account the value of property without a road.

She said Mercer County could be required to levy taxes on the assess value of the lots and cabins.

- Hazen Star

Welcoming water

It's been a long wait, but worth it.

Water treated at Riverdale and transported by 14 miles of pipeline to Underwood finally arrived Tuesday.

The project has been a long time in the making and was made necessary by the fact that Falkirk Mining Co. is mining in an area where the city's underground water wells are located.

The company contributed toward the pipeline cost and Underwood leaders spent months working through a water-cost agreement with Riverdale.

For now, the water comes from Riverdale's old treatment plant, which is in the process of being totally updated with a new treatment technology.

The new plant should be on line later this fall.

Until then, residents are asked to be careful how much water they use because it was only a reduction of water that normally goes to the federal campgrounds that freed up enough water to serve Underwood.

The pipeline water from Riverdale passed tests for bacteria. The pipeline was given a second flush to remove rust buildup in the old lines and improve the water's taste.

- The Underwood News

Law not camouflaged

McLean County State's Attorney Ladd Erickson plans to be aggressive this fall.

Erickson said he'll take that position in regard to hunting conflicts, which seem to be growing more hostile over the years.

Erickson said there are several likely reasons, including more hunting fervor in regard to high numbers of deer and pheasants, while at the same time more land is posted. On the landowner side, there's frustration over abuse of land and trespass in the face of "No hunting" signs.

Tim Larson, Game and Fish Department district warden, said hunters who encounter landowners out in the field should never get angry or confrontational. He says hunters should always begin by asking permission to hunt, then be cooperative, even if asked to leave.

"The field is not the place to argue the case," Larson said.

Erickson said he'll be aggressive with trespass cases and in cases where hunters deface or destroy "No hunting" signs. He said illegal posting of land will get the same treatment.

Larson said landowners can help the situation by posting clearly on gates and every 880 yards, with signs that have the landowner or tenant's name clearly written.

Erickson said landowners also should be willing to sign a complaint because the abuse will stop once word gets around that prosecution will be a consequence.

- Center Republican

From crutches to king

Zach Gjovig received accolades he neither sought nor desired for achieving the goal of playing football again.

The Divide County High School senior was crowned Homecoming king last week after a 37-6 blowout against Mohall.

An odds maker would have bet heavily against that three years ago.

Gjovig shattered his leg in a boating accident that summer before his freshman year. Restoration required eight screws, an external brace, a wheelchair, rehabilitation and ultimately 10 surgeries.

Through it all, he wanted to get back on the football field one day.

His buddies, Ian Placek and Nathan Wolter, were by his side during his recovery and literally moved into his house to entertain him the first month and wheeled him around for nearly an entire school year.

Gjovig made it back on the field as a junior and in that time, the competition had ratcheted up some, from the junior high play he'd left off at, to the real deal with big boys.

Gjovig said it took a lot of work to play football again, weeks, months and years of rehabilitation.

He enjoyed Crosby's trip to the state football finals last year and he'd like to go one more time and come home with the championship.

He can - to his doctor's amazement and lack of explanation - do the splits like a chorus line girl.

And in addition, he plans to meet or break the school weightlifting squat record of 460 pounds.

- Journal