North Dakota
Attorney recommends providing provisional dock permits for 2024 in Stutsman County
JAMESTOWN — The Stutsman County state’s attorney recommended providing provisional dock permits for 2024 if he is not able to get a definitive answer if the county is allowed to or not.
Fritz Fremgen told the Stutsman County Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 2, that he read the legal opinion from another attorney for reservoir dock permits and land use.
“I’ve only read it once. It’s about 10 pages,” he said. ” … You’re stuck and possibly you got a way out.”
The Stutsman County Park Board has been waiting for an opinion from the state’s attorney on whether or not the board is allowed to issue dock permits for residences east of Jamestown Reservoir. Another attorney researched language in the agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to help the commission on making a decision on dock permits. Now, Fremgen must review the research and issue an opinion on the matter.
Fremgen said he also read the letter from Joseph Hall, area manager for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Dakotas Area Office, that was signed in March and sent to Stutsman County. The county had sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation seeking a written agreement that issuing seasonal private dock permits to adjacent landowners by the park board would not compromise any of the agreements or laws regarding the land transfer with the Reclamation.
“From their point of view you are stuck,” he said.
Hall’s letter said allowing seasonal private dock permits to adjacent landowners is not consistent with managing for public purposes as stated in a 111-page agreement between the Reclamation and the Stutsman County Park Board.
Fremgen said he wants to research what other jurisdictions are doing.
“I just looked at Walla Walla, Washington, and they mentioned dock permits, but … we’ve got some as well that are grandfathered in so it’s very complicated,” he said. “So it’s just something that’s gonna take some time. I’ve got some of the reading started and there’s plenty of reading to do.”
He said he asked the Bureau of Reclamation for any case law regarding the use of land that was transferred to Stutsman County.
Stutsman County is the owner and manager of the land between the shoreline and the homeowners’ property along the east side of Jamestown Reservoir. The Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for the operation of Jamestown Dam and Jamestown Reservoir and holds primary jurisdiction over the lands and water of the reservoir, according to Stutsman County’s 2023 seasonal boat dock permit.
In 2023, the park board agreed to issue dock permits that included stipulations that the docks may need to be removed if there is a negative comment from the attorney about the issue or has an opinion that the county is in violation of the deed restriction.
The current dock permits do not include a clause for the right of renewal.
Commission declares emergency
The Stutsman County Commission unanimously approved declaring an emergency for the county for impacts of the recent ice storm in December.
Andrew Kirking, Stutsman County emergency manager and 911 coordinator, said the county needs to make sure it is open to as much aid as it can get by being covered by an emergency declaration.
The Jamestown City Council also unanimously approved on Tuesday, Jan. 2, an emergency declaration for the city.
On Friday, Dec. 29, Gov. Doug Burgum declared a statewide emergency for widespread utility infrastructure damage caused by a winter ice storm that left 20,000 North Dakotans without electricity.
Commission approves request to fill NDSU Extension position
The county commission unanimously approved a request to allow the North Dakota State University Extension Service to fill the family and community wellness position in Stutsman County.
Christina Masich, the current family and community wellness extension agent in Stutsman County, recently submitted her resignation. Her last day with the Stutsman County Extension is Jan. 19.
Masich said she accepted the position of coordinator of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education and Family Nutrition programs with the NDSU Extension Service in Bismarck.
Dena Kemmet, Central District director for the NDSU Extension Service, said she needed formal action from the county commission to fill Masich’s position in Stutsman County. She said the base policy is that NDSU Extension Service has an agreement with the North Dakota Association of Counties to fund extension agent positions on a 50-50 extension-county split.
“Their fringe benefits are paid by NDSU,” she said. “That makes NDSU their employer of record.”
Masaki Ova joined The Jamestown Sun in August 2021 as a reporter. He grew up on a farm near Pingree, N.D. He majored in communications at the University of Jamestown, N.D.
North Dakota
ND State Fair completes 2026 grandstand lineup with EDM artist Zedd, ‘Turn Up ND!’
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – We now know the entertainers who will round out this year’s North Dakota State Fair grandstand lineup.
In what is a first for the state fair, Zedd will put on an EDM show at the grandstand on Friday, July 24. He’s an award-winning artist and DJ, known for hits like ‘Clarity’ and ‘The Middle.’
The show will feature immersive production, sound and visuals. Tickets will be just over $58, including fees.
The fair wraps up on Saturday, July 25, with this year’s ‘Turn Up ND’ show. It features TI, Da-Baby and Waka Flocka Flame.
All three have made a name for themselves in the trap and hip-hop music genres.
Tickets for this show are just over $78, including fees.
So here’s a look at the full lineup, which is packed with some major stars, featuring Alex Warren, Jon Pardi, Jessie Murph, Niko Moon and Zach Top.
The fair will hold two days of the popular MHA Indian Horse Relays on July 20 and 21.
For information on tickets, dates and more, go to ndstatefair.com.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
Darlene Struble
Darlene Kay Struble was born April 11, 1946 in Valley City, ND to Frank and Ruby (Satreaas) Klima. She grew up in LaMoure, ND and graduated from LaMoure High School 1964. After graduation, Darlene continued her education at North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton before completing her LPN training in Grand Forks.
Darlene married the love of her life, Charles Struble, on October 25, 1969 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Together, they made their home in Jamestown where she began her career in the OB department at Jamestown Hospital. Her dedication to caring for others continued throughout her professional life, later leading her to Dakota Clinic in Jamestown. Her work was an extension of her compassionate spirit, and she touched many lives until her retirement in 2009.
She filled her days with many loves; her family above all, but also the quiet joys of gardening, flowers, sewing, crafts, and scrap booking. She had a special gift of preserving memories, and spent countless hours gathering family history. Darlene started her day at the Depot Cafe nearly every morning. It was a simple tradition, but one she shared with her children, friends, and eventually grandchildren. Not only were Depot mornings filled with love and laughter, but an abundance of Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes.
Darlene passed away peacefully on March 23rd 2026 at Eventide in Jamestown, surrounded by the love of her family. She leaves behind her husband Chuck, her sons; Cory (Deb) Struble and Dave (Leslie) Struble, two sisters; Linda (Gary) Kraft and Roberta (Karl) Wilhelm, six grandchildren; Jayden (Darsh), Allie, Jonah, Grace, Evyn, and Owen, and seven nieces and nephews. She has been reunited with her parents, her daughter, Tiffiney Dick, and her sister, Mary Lee Guffy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundations, specifically to the OB ward.
Memorial Service- 3:30 PM Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Haut Funeral Home in Jamestown, ND, with Pastor Kristi Weber, officiating.
Interment- Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, ND (at a later date).
North Dakota
Hope’s Corner: Hope Springs Eternal
I spent the first day of spring, last Friday, weeding my back yard flower beds. Let that sink in, because this is North Dakota. We have April showers in May, and May flowers in June. We sometimes have snow in June, too. Weeding my tulips in March is a first.
The tulips have been up for a couple of weeks in my south-facing gardens. The six inches of snow last weekend did not deter their enthusiasm. According to the South Dakota State University Extension Service, tulips close to our shared border usually begin to appear in late March and early April. Mine are early risers this year. I blame the switch to Daylight Saving Time.
My yarrow and hollyhocks have been green and growing for four weeks. The yarrow was a little miffed at the one subzero night a week or so ago, but the hollyhocks merely flattened out and took it in stride. Our friends at the South Dakota Extension Service assure me both of those plant varieties normally sprout in mid-May. Maybe the frequent solar storms and northern lights displays have affected them.
Shortly after that subzero stretch in February, which Katie the Wonder Puppy and I called The Degrees of Despair, the pussywillow began to bud. I cut my first bouquet this past Friday the 13th. And did you know the blossoms are called catkins?
That shrub is only a couple weeks early in blooming. Obviously, like all cats, my pussywillow is indifferent to solar storms, the northern lights, and Daylight Saving Time. When its feet get warm enough, it stretches out and basks in the sun. Wild catnip has, however, sprouted near the pussywillow’s trunk. I suspect some deep-rooted drug dependency at work there.
But, weeds? There is wild horseradish marching across my tastefully scattered scoria chips. There is quackgrass strangling daylilies and yarrow. There are weeds of unknown name towering over my tulips. Actually, I have a name for those weeds, but that name is best kept to myself.
I pulled out one quackgrass clump, and I am pretty sure its far end stretched all the way to Gladstone. It was like pulling one of those string strips from the top of a fifty-pound sack of sunflower seeds. Not that I regularly buy fifty-pound bags of sunflower seeds for the neighborhood birds, or anything.
I was feeling pretty smug last Saturday after I finished all my weeding. I figured I would need to start mowing in a few more days. I began looking at seed catalogs and dreaming of Big Boy tomato plants.
Late Saturday evening Katie and I went outside to take in the fresh air. It was snowing. Gotta love North Dakota.
Jackie Hope is the longest running Dickinson Press contributor and columnist. Hope’s Corner is a weekly humorous column with a message of hope.
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India
-
Sports6 days agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
New Mexico5 days agoClovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured
-
Business1 week agoDisney’s new CEO says his focus is on storytelling and creativity
-
Technology5 days agoYouTube job scam text: How to spot it fast
-
Tennessee4 days agoTennessee Police Investigating Alleged Assault Involving ‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson
-
Texas1 week agoHow to buy Houston vs. Texas A&M 2026 March Madness tickets