Compiled by LAURENDONOVAN

Bismarck Tribune

He was a big guy who loved to goof around, perfecting his own Pee Wee Herman-style dance to fire up the kids.

When coach Marshall Wisdahl, 46, died without warning a few weeks ago, his Powers Lake boys' basketball team was stunned.

The team bounced back because it knew Wisdahl wouldn't want to see them down and losing.

Now it's going as third seed into district play after some nice wins.

"Nobody expected us to be this good," said senior Marcus Christenson.

No one, perhaps, but the coach. He bought them personalized towels for the bench. He hosted pizza and pop parties at his home during tournament breaks. He had a special signal when it was time for the press.

Wisdahl, a farmer and rancher when he wasn't coaching, put a lot of stock in humor.

"He always, in the locker room, gave us the weirdest pep talks just to keep us laughing," Christenson said.

He had one firm rule. Kids could call him "coach," or they could call him "Wisdahl." But Mr. wasn't part of the deal.

The kids agreed to put their team picture in his obituary because they knew, even in death, he wouldn't want to be by himself without them.

- The Journal

More the merrier

Some leaders in Bowman County may get to spread out the workload.

The county was presented with 411 signatures for a ballot petition to expand the county commission from three members to five.

If the petitions are found to be in order, the issue will come to a vote in the June primary.

The three commissioners are all voted at-large rather than by district, and that would be the same if the commission consisted of five members.

Commissioner Bill Bowman said more commissioners will allow for a broader range of ideas.

"The negative is, do you want people that are forward thinkers who have a vision or someone who just wants a job?" he asks.

The commissioners get paid about $20,000 a year.

Commissioner Pine Abrahamson sees the good that would come from it. Each of the current commissioners serves on at least six other boards in addition to the commission.

Abrahamson said he attended 24 various board meetings in one month and spreading the workload around will ensure commissioners can do a better job of serving those other panels.

Nici Meyer Clarkson, Bowman County's state's attorney, said if the change goes through in June, the commissioners, along with the city auditor and a Bowman district court judge, would appoint two new commissioners.

The appointees would have to run for election in November.

- Bowman County Pioneer

Strike two

It was another strike out for high school baseball in Watford City.

For the second time in two years, the school board voted against adding the sport to the spring lineup.

The school's athletic director Tom Suelzle said 20 boys grades nine through 12 have said they would play baseball if it were offered. He said it would cost about $6,200.

Suelzle said money is not the issue, but the coaching staff thinks students should be limited to one sport.

Chuck Simpson, high school drama coach, asked what the addition of another sport would do to the fine arts programs.

Simpson said it's hard enough to find a window in the spring calendar for a play.

Superintendent Steve Holen said he wondered about the impact on other programs.

"By adding more programs, you could eventually lose enough students where the programs are no longer competitive," Holen said.

Board member Gary Bruins said, much as he loves baseball, he thinks last year's decision should stand.

"I don't believe that we're going to add anything for our students," he said. "They still have the opportunity to play summer American Legion baseball."

- McKenzie County Farmer