Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

Farmers in the McLean County area are getting their rock piles hauled for free.

The rock piles in fields around the area are being hauled over to Fort Stevenson State Park, where they're being stockpiled for use as riprap for the new marina project.

Martin Construction's spokesman Scott Samuelson said the plan is to get the rock hauled now so there's no dodging trucks around spring field traffic.

Samuelson figures the project will require about 50,000 tons of rock to line the marina basin from the bottom of elevation 1,790 to the top elevation of 1,855.

Zach Roberts, a Douglas area farmer, is driving rock haul trucks for Martin Construction this winter.

Roberts said he knows what a blessing the project is for farmers.

"It's great to get rid of them," Roberts said. "It gets expensive to farm around them."

Roberts said he hopes most farmers around the area will benefit because of the sheer quantity that will be needed.

Using local rock rather than hauling from a Minnesota quarry - part of the original marina construction plan - will kill two birds with one stone.

Park superintendent Dick Messerly said being able to get rock locally shaved off from two-thirds to three-fourths of the rip rap cost and rip rap by itself was one of those most expensive parts of the project.

Martin Construction will continue to haul rock throughout the winter, traveling as far away as 30 miles from the park to get it.

Messerly said area farmers and ranchers are to be commended.

"It's a great community effort," he said.

- McLean County Independent

Hazen dojang

Two towns.

Thirty taekwondo students.

And now, one dojang.

Joe Friedlander, of Hazen, has for years been a martial arts instructor, working from facilities at the Beulah Civic Center.

He recently built and opened his own dojang, the word for a formal Korean training facility, in Hazen on Main Street.

Friedlander has a third-degree black belt in taekwondo a first-degree black belt in the sword art kumdo and a second-degree belt in a form of self-defense, hapkido.

He got into it when his son was younger and decided to join in rather than sit and around and watch.

"It keeps me real active and helps build focus," Friedlander said.

He said he enjoyed teaching at Beulah, but having his own building will allow him to leave mats in place and work around his schedule.

He's calling the building "Joe's Gym," and said he plans to expand his traditional classes to include kumdo for adults next year.

He said kumdo is much disciplined and offers a good workout swinging bamboo swords while learning some very traditional forms, patterns and methods of hand and sword.

Friedlander said he's watched martial arts instruction work wonders for people.

"I've seen people who could barely hold their head up when they entered a room - shy and withdrawn," he said. "And when they come out, they're a leader."

- The Hazen Star

Food for thought

Hazelton is wondering what it will do about groceries.

About 75 people turned out for a special meeting headed by Hazelton Community Development to discuss the future of Prairie Mart grocery in the town's recently built mall.

The grocery closed Nov. 30 and just completed an inventory close-out sale.

Tom and Sharon Weiser had taken over the store about a year ago and were commended for giving it a go, even though they didn't have grocery experience.

The meeting focused on how to get a new store going and one possibility is opening it as a community venture, similar to what's been done in New England.

People at the meeting said the lack of a grocery store would be a disservice to people who've moved to town counting on being able to purchase basic necessities at home.

There was some discussion about the possibility of the Hazelton store being operated as a satellite store of another larger grocery.

Development board member Hadley Seeklander said community support will be critical.

"We've worked together for the school. We've worked together for the mall. We've worked together to get new families in. We need to work together to overcome this hurdle," Seeklander said.

Bev Voller, of Hazelton, said it will take an effort by everyone.

"We're trying to grow this community and (the development corporation) can't do it alone," Voller said.

- Emmons County Record

Passports clarified

No need to panic quite yet if you don't have a passport.

The Department of Homeland Security recently clarified rules for passports and dispelled the idea that one is required for travel to Canada starting in 2008.

New rules will go into effect Jan. 31, and they will require that anyone traveling to Canada be prepared to show border agents a driver's license for identification and a birth certificate for proof of citizenship.

Those who have a passport can use it rather than a birth certificate for proof of citizenship.

Children ages 18 and under will need a birth certificate, or proof of citizenship.

The rule requiring a passport is expected to go into effect in the summer, though no date has yet been announced.

- The Journal