North Dakota

North Dakota’s snowmobile season kicks off officially on Dec. 1

Published

1 year ago

November 28, 2024

North Dakota’s snowmobile season kicks off officially on Dec. 1

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s snowmobile official season will open Dec. 1, but several conditions must be met before the state’s 2,800 miles of snowmobile trails are open, groomed and ready for travel, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department said in a news release.

Adequate snow cover of 4 packed inches must be on the ground to allow for trail grooming. Signs must be put in place, and to travel across wetland areas, the ice must be thick enough to support the weight of trail groomers.

The public is encouraged to prepare now in order to be ready to ride when the trails have sufficient snowpack by completing this checklist:

Obtain proper snowmobile registration from the North Dakota Department of Transportation and carry proof of registration while riding.
Ensure snowmobiles are in good operating condition.
Out-of-state riders can purchase a trail access pass from North Dakota Parks and Recreation’s reservation system at reserveNDparks.com.
Obtain helmets and appropriate winter gear.
Familiarize themselves with trail maps and signage, respecting private property.
Check ice conditions before riding over frozen bodies of water.

“Snowmobiling is a great way to connect to the outdoors during our winter season,” said Tony Hillig, recreation chief for North Dakota Parks and Recreation. “People can support local communities, enjoy time with family, and explore many areas of our state they may not have visited before.”

The public can view updates and trail conditions through the free Snowmobile North Dakota mobile app. The app also tracks trips, current location on a trail using GPS, and offers locations of nearby amenities while allowing users to save and load itineraries. More features are available by upgrading to the pro version.

In addition to the app, online trail maps and current trail conditions can be found online at snowmobileND.org.

“North Dakota’s snowmobile trails offer something for everyone, from thrilling rides through open fields to scenic routes through forested areas,” said Todd Thronson, SnowmobileND

executive director. “Riders are encouraged to ride responsibly, stay on designated trails, and most importantly, have fun.”

North Dakota law requires youth ages 10 and older who do not have a valid driver’s license or permit to take a safety certification class. The safety certification class can be taken online at any time. More information can be found on the

Parks and Recreation Department website

at parkrec.nd.gov.

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North Dakota

North Dakota Capitol Christmas Display Turns 90 This Year

Published

9 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

North Dakota Capitol Christmas Display Turns 90 This Year

(Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – For 90 years, the North Dakota Capitol’s window lit Christmas tree has been an annual holiday staple.

The Christmas tree design in the Capitol windows first appeared in 1935, said Sarah Walker, head of reference services for the State Historical Society of North Dakota, who has researched the display.

Construction on North Dakota’s Capitol was completed in 1934, replacing the Capitol building that was destroyed by fire in 1930. Walker’s research from newspaper stories showed that architects and the superintendent of the Capitol Commission discussed using the tower to display designs.

The first Capitol lighting display was in 1934 as construction on the building was wrapping up, Walker said. It depicted a cross in the windows to commemorate Easter.

Later that year, the star of Bethlehem, containing 120 lights and measuring about 16 feet in diameter, was the first Christmas decoration for the building, although it was affixed to the top of the building and not displayed in the windows, she said.

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North Dakota

2 killed, 1 injured in semitrailer collision in North Dakota

Published

21 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

2 killed, 1 injured in semitrailer collision in North Dakota

STREETER, N.D. — Two people were killed and a third was injured Wednesday, Dec. 24, in a head-on collision between two semitrailers in North Dakota.

The crash occurred at about 8:34 a.m. on state Highway 30 about 3 miles south of Streeter, which is about 47 miles southwest of Jamestown.

A 2026 International truck pulling a semitrailer was traveling northbound when it collided head-on with a southbound 2025 Kenworth truck pulling double semitrailers, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

The driver of the International, a 39-year-old man from Moorhead, and the driver of the Kenworth, a 54-year-old man from Wishek, North Dakota, were pronounced dead at the scene, the patrol said. A 41-year-old male passenger from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, who was riding in the International, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Bismarck.

The highway was closed with a detour in place for approximately six hours, the patrol said.

In addition to the patrol, the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Department of Transportation, and several local fire, rescue and ambulance units responded.

Names have not yet been released and the crash remains under investigation.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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North Dakota

North Dakota Seeks to Recover $778K Surety Bond for Grain Sellers in Hansen-Mueller Case

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

North Dakota Seeks to Recover 8K Surety Bond for Grain Sellers in Hansen-Mueller Case

The surety bond amount would be used to pay farmers and grain sellers who were not paid for grain sold to the company under standard contracts.

The state’s indemnity fund that is owned and operated by the North Dakota State Treasury, is available to reimburse someone who sold grain to a licensee under a credit-sale contract who was not fully compensated under such a contract.

Assessments to the state’s indemnity fund stop when the fund hits $6 million and restart if it drops below $3 million. According to the state, indemnity fund coverage is limited to 80% of a farmer’s unpaid credit-sale contract, up to a maximum payout of $280,000 per insolvency.

North Dakota is the second state to file such a motion, following the Nebraska Public Service Commission.

Also, this week, the Nebraska PSC asked the bankruptcy court for an extension of the Dec. 29, 2025, deadline to notify creditors of its plan to pay farmers in the state using funds from a $1 million surety bond.

Because of the Christmas holiday, the Nebraska PSC said it will be unable to meet the deadline and asked for an extension to Jan. 5, 2026.

Under the Nebraska Grain Dealer Act, dealers are required to post surety bonds to obtain licenses. If payment terms are violated by the company, the Nebraska Public Service Commission can forfeit the bond and distribute it to valid claimants.