It was a good thing the Watford City Council was already sitting down.

Council members might otherwise have staggered to their chairs when handed a $7.5 million price tag to install a reverse osmosis on the city's water treatment plant.

Built into the number was about $900,000 to expand the lagoon in order to handle the wastewater required for the RO treatment.

Kent Pelton, Watford City mayor, said the town's water suddenly seemed like it wasn't all that bad.

Pelton said the council had hoped the reverse osmosis treatment would cost around $1.2 million.

"Where are we going to get that kind of money?" he wondered.

Cory Chorne, with Advanced Engineering, said the high cost was attributable to the volume of water the town has to treat, more than 600,000 gallons a day at times.

"This is a sophisticated system because we still need to take the iron and manganese out of the city's water before it goes to the RO plant," Chorne said.

He said the city is in a good position to get as much as up to a 50 percent grant for the upgrade because the city serves rural water users and will possibly serve a large industrial account.

Chorne told the city he'll bring an operation and maintenance budget for the RO system to the next meeting.

- McKenzie County Farmer

Super cool mom

Daniel Eslinger, of Coleharbor, could be embarrassed by his mom, Diane.

But he's gotten over it.

Diane Eslinger made a decision to treat every one of her kids' athletic events like it could be the last.

Her son plays football for the Cougars and at every game she wears a newly decorated sweatshirt, accompanied by earrings, rings, bags, necklaces and anything she can find to supplement the ensemble.

She likes to dress up for her younger daughter's volleyball and basketball games, but football is the only sport that brings out a new creation for each game.

It all started when her daughter's athletic career ended with an injury in high school.

"I was kind of yapping one night that you have to treat every game like it is the last," Diane Eslinger said. "And since Daniel was in junior high (he's a senior now), I have dressed like every game is a tournament."

It's not hard to pick her out of the football crowd, with her motherly pride so prominently displayed.

She said her son doesn't say much and when other moms say her attire is a little geeky, she doesn't take offense.

"… I tell them you never know when your kid's sports career may be over, especially with football. You have to treat every game like it is the state finals."

Daniel Eslinger said he's gone from embarrassment to pride. "It's cool," he said. "She puts a lot into it."

Diane Eslinger's opportunities are waning. She wore one of her latest designs recently when parents of senior athletes were recognized at the last Turtle Lake home game.

- The Underwood News

Wishek still hoping

Wishek voters may have overwhelmingly said "no" to the idea of spending city tax dollars to develop more lots in town, but the city council is still concerned about how to grow the town.

A Sept. 10 special election didn't get the council the authority it needed to develop lots and spend tax money to do it, but council members are talking about adding a sewage lift station in the same area.

Councilman Mitch Bosch said the sewage lift station is already going to cost $90,000 more than if it had been 10 years ago.

"The longer we wait, the more expensive it will get," Bosch said. He said the city should definitely proceed if it can get access to a low-interest, revolving loan fund.

Bosch, who's also president of Wishek Manufacturing, said his company plans to expand in Wishek.

Besides that, he said a wind energy project is being planned for development south of Wishek next year.

"The need for residential lots where people can build large, modern homes is there and the demand is going to continue," Bosch said. "Wishek can grow, but only if we're ready to support that growth."

- The Wishek Star

Case closed

Despite arguments from two attorneys - including McIntosh County's own attorney - the county commission went ahead and closed a quarter-mile of section line 23 miles southeast of Ashley.

The request to close the section line came from Larry and Lester Heinrich, who own pasture here.

The section line has been the source of a long dispute between the Heinrichs and adjacent landowner Brian Schlabsz.

Schlabsz' attorney, Sid Gross, said he didn't think it's ever in the public's best interest to close a section line.

Lester Heinrich said he and other family members have had many disagreements and run-ins with Schlabsz in the past.

"How are we supposed to work with a guy like that?" Heinrich asked. "We can't and we won't."

McIntosh County State's Attorney Terry Elhard said Schlabsz has a personality conflict with several residents.

"A lot of people don't like the guy," Elhard said. "But is dislike a good, legitimate reason for closing a section line?"

Commissioner Ron Meidinger moved to close the road and said he hoped it would end an argument that's been going on for years.

The motion passed.

- The Wishek Star