Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

A Steele pastor thinks it's time the town had a Frisbee golf course, and he's put a lot of effort into making one happen for the community's young people, especially.

The Rev. Paul Tjostem has been working with the Steele park board and school to design a course in the Four Seasons Park around the school baseball field.

Frisbee golf, also called disc golf, is a little like golf, only instead of tiny white ball, players toss a Frisbee disc into target baskets.

The game has evolved and there are special discs for driving, midrange and putting, but most people start out with a relatively inexpensive disc.

Tjostem says a 12-hole course will cost about $6,000 and the Steele Sandhill Crane Foundation has already contributed $2,000. He's asking for "hole sponsorships," asking groups, businesses or individuals for $250 and a hole in their name.

He plans to make the course educational, by including information about one of the many species of native birds in the area at each hole.

For help in designing the course, he's turned to the Professional Disc Golf Association and Darrell Nodland, a professional disc golfer and course designer from Dickinson.

He hopes to have the course in place by the time school starts, and then start youth and adult leagues.

Among good reasons to start a course are the lifetime benefits, the volunteer spirit of the golfers, the low cost and the potential for sponsoring tournaments, he said.

"I have no doubt this course will bring added use to our park and, hopefully, patrons from all over, to play," he said.

- Steele Ozone and Kidder County Press

All wet in bar

Belfield Police Chief Larry Johnson made a bar check at Mike's Bar in Belfield and found an unusual contest under way.

He said about 150 people were in the bar - a few of them local - all watching a wet T-shirt contest with three or four contestants.

"They got on this little sheer piece of cotton between them and the outside - you could see everything," Johnson told the Belfield City Council earlier this month.

He told the council he'd like to see a ban on such contests.

At one point while he was in the bar, one of the contestants was encouraged to pull down her shirt and she did so. Johnson cited her for disorderly conduct and she later paid a $50 fine.

The bar owners also were cited and have since pleaded not guilty, a matter the town's municipal judge will have to decide.

Council members said little about the contest, but told Johnson to get information about an ordinance.

Nudity is already prohibited, but nothing that deals with performing or wearing wet clothing.

Wet T-shirt contests aren't unique to Belfield. One was held at a Beach bar two weeks ago.

- Billings County Pioneer

Bell to ring

Silent for almost 43 years, the bell of St. Michael's will ring again.

About 50 people gathered June 23 at the St. Michael's Cemetery in rural Hettinger County, near Regent, to rededicate the bell that was taken down from the church when it closed in 1964.

Since then, the bell has been stored in a barn at Louis Gion's place.

However, it has been rung at burials of LaVerne Gion Coggins, Eva Jahner and Louis Jahner.

Locals started talking about making the bell a permanent fixture at the church cemetery because of its history and association with the rural Catholic neighborhood.

Jeremy Jahner, who is employed at Steffes Manufacturing in Dickinson, came up with a tower design, along with fellow employees Todd Mayer and Scott Nasset, both of whom also have ties to St. Michael's.

They designed an arched dark metal tower, with the bell installed on the top and rung by a rope that hangs inside the open arches.

Steffes Manufacturing donated the labor. The materials were purchased by St. Henry's of Regent and relatives of those buried at St. Michael's.

- The Herald

Law firm marshal

A court-appointed attorney from Bismarck is closing down the practice of Garrison attorney Doug Sletten.

Sletten was suspended from practicing law June 27 after admittedly stealing $340,000 from two clients. A state disciplinary board plans a final action later.

In the meantime, LaRoy Baird III is working as a professional trustee to marshal the law firm assets and help Sletten's clients.

The McLean County Sheriff's Department also is looking into possible embezzlement charges with help from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Baird said he has been impressed by the Garrison hometown attitude of "not forgiveness, but sympathy to all for the situation," he said.

Baird will look through information in the office and pass along a report to the North Dakota Supreme Court within three months. The court suspended Sletten's license.

Baird said former and current clients of the firm should contact the Garrison office as soon as possible if they have questions that need answering.

Also, Washburn attorney David Lindell has original wills from the Sletten Law Office safety deposit box and will hold them for the next two weeks.

Baird said he plans to formally close Sletten's office by Friday, but if anyone has questions after that, or needs assistance, he will be available at 223-6400.

- McLean County Independent