LAURENDONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

Local fishermen are learning how small a big river can feel.

Washburn anglers are finding it more and more difficult to find a secluded fishing spot on the Missouri River flowing by because of an unusual influx of boaters out there.

Talk of big fish and plentiful walleye has enticed many to launch from the Washburn boat landing and the locals, used to being one of only a couple of boaters out there, report seeing as many as 30 boats in the general vicinity.

Dan Foster of Washburn is one who's been a regular all these years and really notices the fishing boom caused in part by itinerant construction workers looking for something to do in their time off.

"There are the people here working (10-hour) shifts and the river is one bright spot in their hard-working stint with us," Foster said. "But it hasn't been just plant workers, because there are a lot of people seeing Washburn as an attractive spot."

In answer to the situation, the city posted signs prohibiting fishing from the boat dock off Highway 200 because of all the boat traffic launching there.

"Since fishing has been so good, there've been a lot of people down at the dock and it's gotten to be an issue," city commissioner Kim Klaudt said.

The city hopes to turn a negative into a positive by installing fishing piers out on the river.

Klaudt said State Game and Fish Department funds are depleted this year, but new projects will be reviewed for funding in February.

Foster said despite all the activity, the river remains a beautiful place.

"With all these new people on the river, you'd think there's going to be more litter," Foster said. "I haven't seen a lot of that. Even though our guests won't be here for long, they've been respectful and friendly. The river remains a great place to be, which is typical of North Dakota."

- Leader-News

Chokecherry

challenge

Conditions this year appear to be just right to produce a bumper crop of chokecherries.

That would make it the perfect time to rise to a chokecherry-picking challenge and raise money at the same time.

Hazen Chamber of Commerce director Myra Axtman is looking for someone willing to organize a berry-picking activity that could earn $2,250.

Maple River Winery of Casselton, which makes chokecherry wine, is inviting six North Dakota locations to compete to see who has the best chokecherry crop in the sate.

Each entry must provide 1,500 pounds of chokecherries, or about 30 five-gallon pails, for which the winery will pay out $1.50 per pound.

The best of the crops, as judged by a panel of regional judges Dec. 6 in Bismarck, will receive an additional $1,000 bonus.

Axtman said the contest could be fun for the community, besides a good money-maker.

"Our chokecherry trees are loaded," Axtman said. "I'm sure I could contribute the first two to three pails."

The chokecherries should be frozen in local plastic grocery bags, and picked clean without leaves or long stems.

The winery will set a date for delivery and write the check then.

Anyone interested can contact Axtman at 748-6848.

- Hazen Star

Cleaning up

The Center City Council is getting after its abandoned and vacant houses in town.

The city sent out Mel Zent, a housing inspector working with the Center Housing Authority, and based on Zent's findings, contacted property owners about what plans they have for meeting a housing code.

Some aspects considered during the inspection were whether the property has been abandoned for a lengthy period of time, has holes in the roof, is occupied by rodents or is generally unsafe.

In one case, Carla Anderson asked the city for time to contact other owners of a structure on the corner of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Anderson said the structure has five owners who are "scattered across the country," and she needed time to communicate with them and come up with a course of action.

Sandy Olin, who's on the city council and the housing authority, said the city will be lenient but wants to see action on the properties "by the time the snow flies."

The council agreed to give Anderson a month to come up with a plan.

Lee Benjamin represented two structures owned by his mother that are not in compliance with the code, both behind his mother's residence.

He said he plans to tear one down within 90 days, but said the other was not properly inspected.

He said it's been used to care for stray animals and he plans to convert it into a storage building.

"That house is not abandoned. We plan to scrape and paint that thing, replace boards and windows," Benjamin said.

He'll get 30 days, too, to come up with a plan.

Benjamin said he read the code and wondered whether it accurately fits a small community.

"You might want to look at it again," he suggested.

Myron Brown also received a 30-day extension for his property on Market Street.

- Center Republican