Compiled byLAUREN DONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

Move on over, North Dakota cowboys.

A Firefighters Hall of Fame is being constructed in Garrison, and the first six inductees were named Saturday.

The Hall of Fame, like the one in Medora for cowboys and ranchers, will honor the tradition of service, which in the case of firefighters is sometimes life-threatening.

The inaugural inductees were from all over North Dakota.

They are Joe Boespflug, from Dickinson; Pete Gartner, from Mandan; Donald Gilman, from Beach; L.W. Logan, from Minot; George Schlittenhardt, from Valley City; and the late Donald Huettl, from Garrison.

Firefighters named to the Hall of Fame are people whose contributions have been milestones in firefighting service, and who have contributed beyond their home communities.

The museum at Garrison will be a place for all communities to showcase their fire service history and to design special kiosks and displays.

Eventually, the museum will have interactive programs and displays.

John Huettl, of Minot, secretary-treasurer of the firefighters' museum committee, said the museum and Hall of Fame are long overdue.

"It's good for the recognition of those who have dedicated their lives to fire fighting, fire prevention and safety," Huettl said. "This is a rich history in fire fighting that should be showcased and shared with the public."

McLean County Independent

Then there were three

A pair of Max city leaders resigned, leaving just three and a quorum to run city business for the duration.

Susan Moreno and Brett Guenthner both presented letters of resignation to Max Mayor Jodi Gullickson.

Both quit in the wake of a resignation of auditor Dena Gullickson, the wife of alderman Brett Guenthner.

Moreno said she quit because she couldn't trust the mayor's decisions.

Brett Guenthner said he's quitting because the mayor is conducting city business in an unprofessional manner.

Mayor Gullickson said she asked the auditor to step down because of the auditor's disapproving manner toward her and out of belief that it would be better for the city.

Now, Gullickson said the budget is in disarray and the city has to start from scratch getting its numbers together.

"There's a lot of information that is missing, that is wrong," Gullickson said.

She said she asked for a week's extension to file the budget with the county in order to get the budget organized.

The remaining council also met in executive session with city attorney Dave Lindell.

The council will try to fill the vacancies both in the auditor's position and council by advertising and word of mouth around town.

The auditor's position is for 20 to 25 hours a week at the rate of $7 to $9 an hour. The deadline to apply is Nov. 3.

McLean County Independent

Help on its way

What a relief it will be for some in Coleharbor.

A committee that's overseeing donations made to ease the financial pain of many Coleharbor residents has collected $53,000 in local funds so far.

The money was donated to help the community of about 80 residents, who sustained damage ranging from moderate to a total loss of their property from a July 12 windstorm.

The money includes about $15,000 that was raised during an all-day "Coleharbor Blowout" music and party event.

An "Unmet Needs Committee" of local residents was to meet Oct. 12 to address how to distribute the donations. The meeting had to be delayed because a caseworker from Lutheran Disaster Services has to complete her surveys of the community.

The local funds of $53,000 will be distributed after a pool of money collected through a disaster response team has been allocated throughout the community.

That Disaster Reponses fund the amount not identified comes from the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and a number of church affiliate groups.

Bonnie Turner, a member of the disaster response team, said the Coleharbor case worker will make sure that residents have access to all other avenues of assistance and the money available through the local Unmet Needs Committee will be distributed to fill the gaps.

State officials estimated damage to the community at up to $3 million. The wind was estimated at 100 mph and took off roofs, shattered glass, uprooted trees and, in some cases, totally leveled buildings.

Several people in motor homes were injured.

Underwood News

No go for bar

Bars will close in Watford City at 1 a.m. like they always have.

That was the unanimous decision of the Watford City Council after a public hearing on the matter.

The council was responding to a request from the City Bar to remain open until 2 a.m., a relatively new opportunity under state law.

The law was intended to help Red River Valley bar owners compete with Minnesota establishments, where a 2 a.m. closing is allowed.

However, there were a lot of impassioned pleas from community members not to provide the extra hour of bar time.

Sherry Lervick, Watford City elementary school principal, was among those who spoke against it.

"Many of the problems that we are seeing in our schools relate to parents who are not home with their children, but are in the bars," she said. "People don't need to be out drinking to 2 a.m. to have fun."

Teacher Marilyn Simpson said students frequently tell her they wait up late for their parents to come home from the bar.

City Bar owner Mitch Melby said the bar wasn't asking for much time and not every night, either.

"We just want to have the option," he said.

Another augment presented by Sandi Sanford is that 75 percent of fatalities in McKenzie County are alcohol-related and the county was in the top 10 counties for alcohol-related deaths in 2005.

"We've got to quit putting our head in the sand," Sanford said.

McKenzie County Farmer