Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN/Bismarck Tribune

Garrison newspaper columnist Don Gackle's "Here and There" column reflected on recent news that a longtime Garrison attorney admitted to stealing $340,000 from two clients.

Doug Sletten, the attorney, was temporarily suspended from practicing law last month by the North Dakota Supreme Court while a state disciplinary board contemplates further action.

Besides being acquaintences, Sletten also was a humorous columnist for Gackle's newspaper, the McLean County Independent, and generally the two men's musings appeared on the same page.

Gackle noted that there will be plenty of suffering to go around, following Sletten's disclosure.

"Among the many (who will suffer) are those who are expected to incur monetary losses, good people who it appears had placed trust in a respected member of our community," he wrote, noting that he was among those who had.

Other innocents also will be hurt, including Sletten's family members, close friends, law associates and the newspaper's readers, Gackle said.

"'He had a corps of readers … and is a talented person who shined as a writer and an actor," Gackle said. "We regret the apparent end of (Sletten's column), an exclusive and award-winning column of this newspaper for many years."

- McLean County Independent

Engineering change

The Washburn City Commission decided to replace Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson as the city's engineering company for all work other than water and sewer.

The commission agreed with a review committee's recommendation to pick Toman Engineering Co., of Mandan, after the committee vetted four different engineering firms.

Toman will be the city's civil engineer for all work that Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson had been doing, while Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services will stay on board to provide engineering services for the city's water and sewer work.

Toman also is the city engineer for Underwood, Selfridge, Solen and Tappen.

"We really look forward to working for you," said Harvey Schneider, president of Toman Engineering.

- Leader-News

Election shift

The McLean County Commission may have some precincts cast their election ballots by mail.

State law allows new options where counties have cost or election worker problems.

County auditor Les Korgel said costs are going up, and it's getting more difficult to find and train poll workers, partly because of changes in technology.

Korgel said his office has looked at potential savings in seven of the county's 11 precincts. All have less than 650 potential voters.

Korgel said with that number, it's cheaper by up to $3,000 per precinct to have mail-in ballots.

The possible mail-in precincts are Wilton, Riverdale, Mercer, Butte, Max, White Shield and Roseglen. Wilton is iffy.

Commissioner Steve Lee wondered if the county could set up three regional voting centers - say, at Garrison, Washburn and Turtle Lake - in addition to the mail-in ballots.

Commissioner Julie Hudson-Schenfisch wanted to know if the county could try mail-in balloting, and look at options if it doesn't work.

Korgel said the county could switch back. He said the county has trouble getting poll workers at White Shield and Roseglen, though school kids do help out in Roseglen if they're not in school.

"White Shield is having some problems opening their precinct," he said.

The commission agreed to think things over until its July 23 meeting.

- Leader-News