Compiled by LAUREN DONOVAN

The old interpretive center at the Chateau De Mores was in worse shape than originally thought.

When workers dug into it, in preparation for remodeling as part of an expanded interpretive project, they found problems so severe, the structure was torn down instead.

Diane Rogness, who directs the State Historical Site, said the upshot is that the facility won't be quite ready for the summer season to Medora as originally hoped.

The historic site will be open and parts of the new interpretive center might be usable.

The need to build new, instead of remodel the old building, will add an additional $250,000 to the project's $1.7 million price tag, Rogness said.

"Once everything got torn out (of the old building), it was very apparent the thing was unstable," she said.

Old blocks on the north side of the old structure were exposing daylight.

"We couldn't reuse it," she said.

A new foundation will be poured this spring so work can start on the replacement structure.

The State Historical Society lists the chateau, which overlooks Medora and the Little Missouri River, as its most-visited site. The chateau was built by the Marquis de Mores for his wife, Medora, when he came west to build a cattle and meatpacking empire that eventually failed.

- Billings County Pioneer

Dryer on fire

McKenzie County emergency and Red Cross workers found themselves with 22 evacuees a few weeks ago.

The people had to leave an apartment building in northwest Watford City, when a fire started in the building's laundry room.

The fire call came in at 10:30 p.m. Feb. 26 after a resident called 911 to report that a clothes dryer was on fire.

Smoke filled the hallways and laundry area. The building's smoke detectors did not activate, which raised concerns among the residents, who needed somewhere to go for the night.

County emergency manager Jerry Samuelson called Karen Holte, a county Social Service eligibility worker and a volunteer with the local Red Cross chapter.

Holte said she grabbed her Red Cross box and headed over. She found rooms for the evacuees in the Roosevelt Inn and Suites and set up a Red Cross registration table in the hotel lobby.

Holte said Samuelson had all the necessary information

The 11 families involved were able to return to their apartments the following morning.

Other than the damaged dryer, nothing else was affected and no one was injured.

The apartment building is owned by Mike Schmitz.

- McKenzie County Farmer

Wooing water

The Hazen City Commission finds itself a little at odds over how to decide whether to bring in the Southwest Water Authority Pipeline.

The pipeline project has authority to bring treated Lake Sakakawea water to southwest North Dakota counties, and Mercer and Oliver counties are the only two of 16 counties left for construction.

The pipeline authority said it could get to the county to serve cities and rural residents somewhere between 2011 and 2013, a few years away.

In the meantime, Hazen has to decide if it wants to replace its well water and treatment plant with pipeline provided water.

The commission had a lengthy debate Monday and finally decided 3-2 to write an ordinance that would let the city contract with an outside water provider.

The city's attorney said there are three options: a public vote on getting pipeline water, using its home rule authority to contract on its own, or use a public vote as an advisory tool.

The discussion involved whether the commission or the people should decide.

Commissioner David Grant said the commission should make the decision and consider the effect on rural Hazen residents, because adding the city's population to the users would help with cost.

"I'd like to see the cost go down for everyone," Grant said. "The rural people spend money here, too."

Commissioner Mike Peterson said he thinks people should be in on the decision, by way of a vote.

"I think we'd be foolhardy to make that decision on our own. We work for the people, and we should do what they want us to do," Peterson said.

Residents will have a chance to learn about the pipeline project at public meetings at 4 and 7 p.m. March 27 at the city hall. A follow-up meeting will be held April 24 to give people a chance to ask questions when they've had a chance to digest the information.

- Hazen Star