Walt Welton, of Washburn, isn't as excited about the ethanol plant being built in the county as he'd like to be.

Welton, a union pipefitter and certified welder, belongs to Local 300 Plumbers and Pipefitters. He has 24 years of experience on coal burners, ethanol plants, refineries and ammonia units, and "just about anything that's got pipe to it," he said.

But it looks like he won't be working at Blue Flint Ethanol, which is under construction near Underwood at Great River Energy's Coal Creek Station.

The $85 million project is a partnership of Great River and Headwaters Inc., of Utah. It'll go on line in 2007 with 65 million gallons of ethanol output annually,

Fagen Inc., of Granite Falls, Minn., is the general contractor and will bring on 350 to 400 workers when construction starts rolling this spring.

Diane Fagen, a company officer and director of human relations, said typically the company transfers employees from one ethanol project to another.

It has two in construction in North Dakota; the other at Richardton.

She didn't have anything to say when asked if the company will hire union help, but she did say they make attempts to employ qualified local labor when possible.

Welton said the project got a five-year tax break from the county, and he wonders why that doesn't translate into a requirement to hire locals.

He'll ask that question at 9 a.m. Feb. 21 at the McLean County Commission meeting in Washburn.

Welton said building trades workers from McLean County have built every power plant in North Dakota.

He said they repaired the Coal Creek Station after an explosion several years ago, knowing it was dangerous.

"It was a dangerous job, but it was completed without anyone getting killed," he said.

The Underwood News

Wedding whoa!

Laci Bishop and Brad Kosidowski were just hanging loose, not making any special plans beyond "maybe Mexico" as a wedding location next year. They were thinking something simple and relaxed on the beach somewhere.

The couple lives in Fargo, but Bishop's mom and grandparents live in Killdeer.

They hadn't even picked a date, but one got picked for them, in a way.

Bishop reluctantly tagged along with a friend to a big bridal show in Fargo. All the trimmings of a big church wedding just weren't her style.

At the show, she threw her name in a drawing open to all the engaged women who attended.

She wasn't paying a whole lot of attention when the drawing was held and her name was called out, not once, but twice. "Go up there!" her girlfriend said.

She'd just won a $15,000 wedding package.

Suddenly, she found herself planning a wedding she didn't think she wanted, including a dreamy, pearl-encrusted white dress and avocado and ivory-colored bridesmaid dresses.

The package also includes flowers, photography, videography, tuxedo rentals, alterations, furniture, programs and invitations, rehearsal dinner and cake.

"We are very excited, but it is very stressful to plan a wedding in nine months," Bishop said.

They're getting married Oct. 20.

The prize includes some money toward a honeymoon, and the couple has only one preference.

"Somewhere warm," Bishop said. They might get to Mexico after all.

Dunn County Herald

Serious suitors

When Garrison talked about putting its water treatment plant up for sale, it seemed unlikely that another party would step forward to buy.

After all, the plant's operation has plagued the city for nearly two years now, with everything from complete failure to deliver water for a short period, to mounting repair costs, problems with turbidity and new water quality standards cropping up.

Now, not only one, but two entities have expressed interest.

The North Central Water Consortium, which serves rural users and communities in McLean and Mercer counties, has indicated it will take a look at buying the plant.

So has the Garrison Rural Water Association. Its president, Glenn Seidler, said the association's goal is to protect the water supply for the water users outside Garrison city limits that purchase water from the plant, as well as the town's residents.

The association has 431 users, and the city has 560, but the association only uses 20 percent of the plant's 70 million gallon output.

It's not a decision the city council can make on its own.

North Dakota Century Code requires a vote before a city-owned water plant can undergo a change in township.

The city would have to evaluate any proposals and determine which is in Garrison's best long-term interest, said alderman Shannon Jeffers.

It would take quick work to put the issue on the June city ballot.

"We will push for something nevertheless," Jeffers said.

McLean County Independent

Tribal license

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation may require anyone doing business on the reservation to buy a license.

The tribes' tax department held a public meeting on the topic and will hold a formal hearing early in March, and then it's on to the tribal council for adoption.

The licenses would protect the tribe and members from business that engage in unfair or unscrupulous business practices.

The proposed annual fee is $50 for businesses owned by enrolled members and $200 for businesses owned by non-tribal members. The license would apply to business that are not located on the reservation, but still do business there.

The tribe would only do business with licensed operators. The license would also give the tribal court exclusive jurisdiction over all matters related to the license.

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