Businesses gain publicity at Dakota Garden Expo

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Businesses gain publicity at Dakota Garden Expo.

For over 15 years North Dakota has been home to the Dakota Garden Expo. This event attracts gardeners from all over the state in an effort to learn more about gardens and outdoor maintenance.

The gathering also serves as a place for businesses to promote their products and gain publicity.

One of these businesses is Mercy Milling owned by Kurtis and Kristen Countess.

The business came about from advice from Kristen’s father after a hard year for wheat marketing.

“He said, ‘Well, maybe you should try doing it yourself,’ and we thought, ‘Well, that’s actually not a half bad idea,’” said Kristen.

Dakota Garden Expo has drawn attention to Kurtis’ and Kristen’s work.

“This is gonna be one of our biggest outings and people are passing through like crazy,” said Kurtis.

The sudden change in weather brought some challenges for Runnings, one of the businesses being featured at the Dakota Garden Expo.

“We had to work with our buyers to bring more patio decor, furniture and we had to kinda change it up a bit and run some different show specials,” said Runnings employee, Bradley Auch.

The drop in temperatures was not an obstacle for attendees to show up at the event.

“Things kicked off at 3 and my goodness people came in,” said Auch.

Over 80 businesses are attending the Dakota Garden Expo this year.

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A North Dakota man is sentenced to 15 years in connection with shooting at officers

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

BISMARCK, N.D. — A Williston, North Dakota, man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with credit for time served in connection with a December 2022 encounter with police in which prosecutors say he shot at the officers.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor sentenced Eric Obregon Jr., 32, on Thursday to the federal prison term and three years of supervised release, according to prosecutors. He pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

Obregon was indicted in early 2023. A complaint’s affidavit says Williston Police Officers Tyler Iwen and Jordan Patton approached him about his parked vehicle partially blocking an intersection. It continues that Patton recognized Obregon as having several warrants for arrest and asked him to exit the vehicle. The affidavit alleges Obregon got out, pushed Patton, ran and fired at Patton several times as the officers pursued him on foot. The officers also fired at Obregon, and Patton shot and wounded Obregon in his leg, according to the court documents.

“This is a just sentence for someone who violently put law enforcement lives at risk,” North Dakota U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider said in a statement. “Thanks to the courage and skill of the Williston Police Department, this individual was neutralized and brought to federal court to face justice.”

Obregon’s public defender did not immediately return a phone message for comment.

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North Dakota

North Dakota cropland values up more than 10% for third straight year

Published

12 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

North Dakota cropland values up more than 10% for third straight year

North Dakota’s cropland values have increased more than 10% for the third consecutive year, according to an annual survey.

North Dakota cropland values increased 11.59% heading into the spring of 2024, from 2,863 per acre to 3,174 per acre, said Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural finance specialist.

The increase follows cropland values appreciating 10.92% and 13.46% in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Cash rental rates for cropland saw increases between 3.12% and 6.82% during those years.

The statewide average cash rental rate moved upward from $75.90 per acre to $78.70 per acre.

“A jump in land values across North Dakota that large is a bit surprising given the decline in net farm incomes from 2022 to 2023, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s projected decline from 2023 to 2024,” Parman said in a news release. “It is also a bit surprising that such a large increase in land prices have not pulled cash rental rates higher, especially given that interest rates have been significantly higher over the last few years.”

The data is based on the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands Annual Land Survey. The original survey data can be found at:

https://www.land.nd.gov/resources/north-dakota-county-rents-prices-annual-survey

The largest increases in land prices occurred in the north-central and south-central regions with both increasing more than 20%. The largest increases in rental rates for cropland values occurred in the southwest and south-central regions where both region’s rental rates increased more than 8%.

Cropland values in the north Red River Valley and northwestern regions were also both up more than 10% in 2024, with the remainder of the state’s regions increasing in the mid-to-high single digits.

The last time cropland in North Dakota saw a rapid rise in land values from 2008 to 2013, there was about a seven-year period to follow where land prices and rental rates completely flattened from 2014 to 2020.

This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com

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North Dakota

North Fargo garage fire under investigation

Published

20 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

North Fargo garage fire under investigation

FARGO — An investigation is underway after a garage fire occurred Wednesday night, May 1, near the North Dakota State University campus.

The call came in just before 7 p.m. Someone reported smoke coming from a garage located in an alley in the 1000 block of 17th Street North.

Firefighters put the fire out quickly. Investigators say damage is minimal, just some normal “garage stuff” on the floor burned.

The cause of the fire is not being released.

Officers were seen canvassing the area, including looking under cars in a nearby parking lot.

Investigators were on scene for nearly two hours.

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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