"Change is hard" is a phrase used time and again, but today, it was not changing that proved difficult for some.

A directive from the U.S. Department of Transportation relocated North Dakota's Standard time zone boundary, putting all of Morton County, and the portion of Sioux County east of Highway 31, on Central time, effective today. So while most of the state turned their clocks to "fall back" to Standard time, residents there did nothing.

However, the change wasn't actually a change for some people. Because many people in the surrounding communities commute to Bismarck-Mandan, some have been observing Central time for years, making personal and professional schedules coincide.

Joe Huus, manager of Bismarck's Servicemaster, makes the 45-minute trip to work five days a week. His clock has been set to Central time since he moved west of New Salem five years ago. He liked leaving work at 5 and arriving home around 4:30, leaving more time to do shopping in New Salem and ensuring his three children weren't home alone too long before mom or dad showed up.

Leon Samuel, tax director for Morton County, estimates that about 80 percent of New Salem went by Central time for years, a number that fluctuates depending on who does the guessing. The school made the switch when classes started this fall. Even though some juggling had to be done to revamp the schedules and special considerations made for Interactive Television classes, New Salem Superintendent Gordon Davis said the change wasn't overly difficult and was worth it to avoid confusion at the end of the quarter.

"It was easier to (redo schedules) seven days before school than later. We were afraid kids would have to shift class and not be available later," he said.

Glen Ullin students will observe the time change starting with the ringing of school bells Monday. Superintendent Pat Feist said that although he first thought the change would be a disaster - "it would have been nice to plan before" - the effect of the time change isn't as bad as he thought.

The downsides to being on Central time mostly come from after-school activities. Because Glen Ullin plays most sports with schools to the west, teams will start and get home from activities later because most of their opponents are still on Mountain time. Academically, ITV classes were kept on track but a seventh-period art class was sacrificed to the time change.

Glen Ullin will be near the border of the time zone, actually located on the western county line, so students from the north, west and south will still observe Mountain time. Feist expects those students will change clocks at home to reflect the school's change.

"The community is mixed on (the time change)," Feist observed. "Some are very happy and others don't like it. People commute to Beulah, Bismarck and Dickinson so it depends on who you are."

That's the case back in New Salem as well. Although Rex Waddingham, music director at the school, liked getting home 30 minutes before he left Bismarck, he's compensated in a fairly simple way - he goes to bed earlier.

"The first couple weeks, everyone was complaining because they had to get up so early," he said.

Doing business is easier for Ralph Erhardt, manager at Farmers Union in New Salem. On Mountain time, businesses in Bismarck were open an hour before New Salem but closed an hour earlier, causing Erhardt to lose two full hours to the time difference. He said doing business will be easier now and is glad that things are going to be simpler.

The city of New Salem is one of the few entities still observing Mountain time - the noon and 6 sirens are going off at 1 and 7, according to citizens' watches. Dane Fuchs, maintenance supervisor for the city, was on the city council a few years ago. The board found an ordinance drafted by council members half a century earlier setting the official time of New Salem as Central. A survey was run in the newspaper asking what citizens thought about switching to Central time then, and plenty of people let the council know they weren't in favor of the change.

"It brings out the worst in some people," Fuchs said.

In Glen Ullin, though, the city's part-time auditor, who happens to be a full-time farmer, is confident citizens will adjust.

"It doesn't matter what's on the clock if you're combining. When it's dry, it's dry, no matter if it's 11 Pacific time or 1 in Saudi Arabia," said Duwayne Kinnischtzke.

Jamie Krenz is football coach for the Flasher-Carson team. Carson remains on Mountain time, requiring some creative use of time for Flasher students. While they wait for the Carson kids to get done with school, and some days, arrive in Flasher, the 13 Flasher boys work out in the weight room and work on homework.

Steve Craine's sons Kyle, Jason and Eric play football in Flasher. He says until Grant County makes the switch to Central too, "it's going to be screwed up." Even though the boys got used to the situation, Craine said the switch was a pain this season because times were already set.

His wife, Deb, works in Bismarck and where she used to leave at 5 and still arrive in time for Eric's junior high game, she now has to rearrange her schedule as well. Still, it's nothing that the Craines can't overcome.

"I think everyone will get used to it in the future," he said.

The time change will affect the night life as well. Bars in Huff and St. Anthony used to receive business from Bismarck-Mandan when the Central clocks struck midnight. However, since the cities will all turn into pumpkins at once now, that business will be eliminated.

Dave Castillo, manager of Huff Bar, said his clientele grows on Prairie Knights Casino's concert nights. Rather than beating the clock back to Bismarck or Mandan, gamblers and concert-goers stop off at Huff. Going to Central time has an upside too, though.

"It hurts on concert nights, but on the other hand, I get to go home earlier. I'm here only 17 hours rather than 18."

It'll be nice for him to have some time on his hands.

(Reach reporter Angie Buckley at 250-8255 or angiebuckley@ndonline.com.)