North Dakota

3 months later, family of Spirit Lake hit-and-run victim still searching for answers

Published

2 years ago

September 7, 2024

3 months later, family of Spirit Lake hit-and-run victim still searching for answers

ST. MICHAEL, N.D. — A family searching for answers offered an emotional plea for justice in the death of 46-year-old William “Billy” Foote.

His body was found in some brush May 29, the apparent victim of a hit-and-run crash. The last place he was seen alive was at St. Michael Catholic Church on the Spirit Lake Reservation when he walked away after a prayer service.

“A lot of hurt, anger, questions,” said his sister, Colleen Anderson.

Those are the emotions she deals with every day. She described her brother as a loving and genuine person who was all about family. He was a father to three teenage boys and an uncle to many.

“Always there for you if you needed him, no question, he gave anything if he had to help,” Anderson said.

On May 27, Foote attended a prayer service at the church for his aunt and cousin who had died. After the service, he wanted some alone time and went for a walk. The next day, he never showed up for the funeral.

“We all looked at each other and asked our family. … We just started questioning things,” Anderson said.

Someone on a walk found Foote’s body two days later, about a mile from the church. It was covered in brush.

The family said police told them it appeared he had been hit by a car.

The FBI, which has jurisdiction over crimes committed on reservations, declined to comment for this story.

The family shared pictures of a car being impounded. Its windshield was smashed. The family said they were told it was seized as part of the investigation.

“I hope they see him every day, I hope they feel the pain,” Anderson said.

Foote’s family said people know what happened. By sharing their grief, they hope police will get the big break they need so the healing process can begin.

“It’s our everyday lives that we have to wonder who and why. Those questions being answered could put our family at a little bit of ease,” Anderson said.

Anyone with information about the deadly hit-and-run accident is asked to call police.

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.

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North Dakota

North Dakota voters to decide single-subject requirement for future constitutional amendments on June 9

Published

4 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota voters to decide single-subject requirement for future constitutional amendments on June 9

On June 9, North Dakota voters will decide Constitutional Amendment 1, which would, if approved, create a single-subject rule for future constitutional amendments. A single-subject rule is a requirement for ballot measures to address a single subject, topic, or issue. Constitutional Amendment 1 would also establish a separate-vote requirement for legislatively referred constitutional amendments. This […]

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North Dakota

And he’s off

Published

14 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

BRECKENRIDGE — Coaches, teammates, friends and family gathered in the south parking lot of Breckenridge High School for another state tournament sendoff.

Friends, family, teammates and coaches joined Berndt for a photo before cheering him on as he rode off in the ceremonial convertible.

Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News

This year, it was Troy Berndt taking the ceremonial convertible ride. He is headed to St. Michael-Albertville High School for the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet on June 4-6.

Breckenridge track - Berndt, Erlandson and the Haires — Troy Berndt, left, give his supporters one last smile before embarking on his state journey. David Erlandson, next to Berndt, accompanied him in the convertible, and will be with him at the meet on June 4. Tom Haire, driving, and Christy Haire are in the front seats.

He will be running in the third heat of the 400-meter prelims, scheduled for 4:52 p.m. June 4. There are seven athletes in each heat, 21 total, and nine will advance to the finals at 6:20 p.m. June 5.

The top two finishers in each heat advance, along with the next three best times. Berndt’s personal best time of 50.67 has him seeded 13th, but the 10th-, 11th- and 12th-seeded runners are less than five hundredths of a second ahead of him. The eighth- and ninth-seeded runners are also close, at 50.33 and 50.39, respectively.

Berndt dropped nearly seven-tenths of a second from his previous personal best at the Section 6A West Subsection Meet on May 21, running 51.35, and shaved another 0.68 seconds off at the Section 6A Championships on May 28 with a time of 50.67. If he keeps lowering his time, he will have a shot at reaching the podium against the best runners in Class A.

Breckenridge track - convoy — Berndt and company taking their spot in the convoy behind Breckenridge Fire Department and Police Department vehicles.

Results and photos will be available online immediately following the race June 4 and in the June 10 print edition of the Wahpeton Daily News.

Corbin Lee is a sports reporter for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News-Monitor. Corbin can be reached by calling (701) 291-3551 or emailing corbin.lee@wahpetondailynews.com.

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North Dakota

Today in History, 1971: Rugby repeats as North Dakota sand greens golf champion

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Today in History, 1971: Rugby repeats as North Dakota sand greens golf champion

On this day in 1971, Rugby repeated as North Dakota’s high school sand greens golf champion behind medalist Dwight Stempson’s winning performance.

Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:

Rugby Repeats As Sand Greens Golf Champion

RUGBY, N. D. — Rugby repeated as North Dakota high school sand greens golf champion here Wednesday, posting a four-man total of 293 strokes for 18 holes.

Led by medalist Dwight Stempson’s medalist 36-35 — 71, the Panthers were eight strokes ahead of runnerup Stanley, which had a 301. Following were Garrison 311, Beulah 315, Leeds 322, Ashley 323, Bottineau 328, Pembina 329, Tioga 332, Parshall 341 and Hettinger 342.

See more history at Newspapers.com

Stempson and teammate Bruce Carlson each had one-under par 71s, but Carlson was unable to be at the regional and wasn’t qualified for individual honors.

Rounding out the Rugby totals were Delwin Wilson 40-37 — 77 and Dennett Hutchinson 35-39 — 74. Gary Kirchoffner, 41-39 — 80, was Rugby’s fifth entrant with the best four-of-five scores counted.

Runnerup Stanley was led by Steve Springan’s 34-38 — 72 and Joe Springan’s 36-38 — 74. Their two-man total of 146 strokes was good enough for the doubles title. Two strokes back with a 148 was the duo of Stempson and Wilson. Stan Saathoff and Mike Stepina of Garrison each had 76s for a 152 total and the Ashley combo of Steve Maier (76) and Dave Kretschmar (78) was fourth with a 154.

Stempson was the driving contest winner with a distance of 280 yards. Chris Knutson of Garrison headed the pitch and putt competition.

Ads featured in The Forum on June 3, 1971. Newspapers.com

Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.

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