HANKINSON, N.D. — Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Hankinson, which broke out late Wednesday afternoon, Dec .16.

Fire crews from multiple agencies responded to the 114-year-old church at about 4:30 p.m. Smoke could be seen billowing from the bell tower as firefighters worked for over two and a half hours to contain the fire.

Hankinson Fire Chief Josh Lenzen said the call came in after someone noticed smoke coming from the building.

“I believe it was reported as someone driving by, seeing smoke coming from the vents in the attic area,” Lenzen said.

The church, which is undergoing a $2 million renovation, suffered smoke and structural damage. The fire appeared to originate in the attic near a stained-glass window, according to Lenzen. Crews used a ladder truck from the Wahpeton Fire Department to access the church’s roof.

“The attic area had vents that were not close-able, and some of the access areas to the top of the attic area, it’s a very steep roof, high roof, and only one access point to get into it,” Lenzen said.

Firefighters faced windy conditions, but Lenzen said wind did not play a significant role in battling the blaze.

The fire comes as the church community prepares for Christmas services. Lenzen noted that while plans are still uncertain, the congregation will have options for worship.

Crews from Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Fairmount, and Wahpeton assisted in extinguishing the fire. The North Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation. More details are expected to be released Thursday, Dec. 17.

No injuries were reported.

The church was originally built in 1908, with construction finished in 1910.

Hankinson is about 64 miles south of Fargo.

Isak Dinesen joined WDAY-TV as a reporter in September 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin for three years. He graduated from NDSU in 2020, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sports Communication at MSUM.

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong signaled a possible shakeup at the Department of Health and Human Services after his first Cabinet meeting Monday.

Armstrong appointed Dirk Wilke as interim director of the department last Wednesday and has yet to name a new state health officer. In November, Health and Human Services Commissioner Wayne Salter and State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi indicated they would not be continuing in their roles after Gov. Doug Burgum left office. 

Armstrong appoints interim Health and Human Services director

Armstrong said the state health officer role could change.

“I have some ideas on restructuring that,” said Armstrong, who took office Sunday. “When we combined Health and Human Services, we really kind of created a position that, I think, we have an opportunity to do some unique things with that.”

He said he wants to work with the Legislature to look at Health and Human Services in a post-pandemic world.

“I think there’s some opportunities that may need some legislative fixes, so I need to build some consensus on what we have for ideas for that first,” he said.

Armstrong said he plans to name a permanent director after a robust recruitment and selection process.

He also said he plans to meet with legislators in coming weeks to discuss the more than 50 property tax measures that are expected to be introduced during the legislative session. He said he wants to make sure they can get as many lawmakers as they can on the “same page” during the early weeks of the session.

“It’s a priority for the citizens of North Dakota,” Armstrong said. “It’s a priority for the administration and it will probably be the biggest change from Gov. Burgum’s budget.”

Armstrong said he wasn’t opposed to the Legislature consolidating dozens of bills surrounding property tax reform into one or two larger bills aimed at tackling the issue.

“What we can’t have is paralysis by analysis,” he said. “Eventually we’ll have to get on the same page … it needs to be the most significant relief and reform we can deliver that’s durable.”

His definition of durable, Armstrong said, means the reforms must still work even if the prices of oil and agricultural commodities drop.

He said his budget will be available on Jan. 13 and submitted to the legislative appropriations committees two days later. Armstrong will address a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 7.

He said Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden will be a main point of contact on K-12 education and school choice. He added he plans to sit down with Strinden to go over possible additional responsibilities in coming weeks, which could include chairing the State Investment Board.

“Michelle is going to be a huge part of this entire administration, but a lot of it is going to depend on where she feels her time is best spent,” he said.

When asked if free school lunches could become a reality for North Dakota students this year, Armstrong said he wants to tackle the property tax reforms first so he knows what that overall cost is before addressing anything else.

Members of Armstrong’s Cabinet are:

• Joe Morrissette, director of the Office of Management and Budget
• Chris Schilken, commissioner of the Department of Commerce
• Corey Mock, chief information officer of North Dakota Information Technology
• Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard
• Col. Daniel Haugen, superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol
• Ron Henke, director of the Department of Transportation
• Pat Bertagnolli, executive director at Job Service North Dakota
• Dave Glatt, director of the Department of Environmental Quality
• Art Thompson, director of Workforce Safety & Insurance
• Colby Braun, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
• Jeb Williams, director of the Game and Fish Department
• Cody Schulz, director of the Parks and Recreation Department
• Lise Kruse, commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions
• Brad Hawk, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission
• Andrea Travnicek, director of the Department of Water Resources
• Tim Karsky, commissioner of the Securities Department
• Dirk Wilke, interim commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services
• Reice Haase, interim commissioner of the Department of Labor and Human Rights

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — Multiple commercial solar projects in North Dakota and Minnesota that were previously stalled have found new life.

Otter Tail Power of Fergus Falls plans to build two new solar facilities for its energy generation fleet, the company announced on Dec. 9.

The move would add 345 megawatts of solar power to meet future energy needs of customers.

The company asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to determine that costs associated with Abercrombie Solar and Solway Solar are eligible for cost recovery.

Otter Tail Power President Tim Rogelstad said the facilities fit the requirements of the company’s recently approved Minnesota Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines the combination of resources needed to meet energy needs for its customers for the next 15 years.

“We expect that 57% of our energy generation will come from renewable resources by 2030, while ensuring electric service continues to be safe, reliable and economical,” Rogelstad said.

The larger of the two Otter Tail projects is planned to be built in Richland County, North Dakota, northwest of Wahpeton.

Abercrombie Solar, currently known as the Flickertail Solar Project, is a 295-megawatt solar generation facility under development in Abercrombie Township.

Otter Tail Power has signed an agreement with Flickertail to buy the development assets, once permits and regulatory approvals are received and other contractual requirements are met, with the intention of building the facility, a company news release said.

“We’re looking forward to engaging with landowners and the township once we close on the development assets,” Otter Tail Power spokesperson Rebecca Michael told The Forum.

The Flickertail project, previously planned for

Colfax Township in Richland County, stalled in 2022 under guidance of a different energy company.

Savion, based in Kansas City, Missouri, proposed a 350-megawatt solar project, which was clouded by a lack of an ordinance to allow such projects and by the possibility of $17.5 million in application fees.

Expected to be completed in 2028, Otter Tail Power estimates its project will create approximately 300 construction jobs at peak construction and provide $23.8 million in local and state tax benefits over the 35-year life of the facility.

Otter Tail also plans a 50-megawatt solar generation facility in Beltrami County, Minnesota, near Bemidji.

Solway Solar would be built in Lammers Township near Solway and could be fully operational in 2026, depending on the timing of project approvals, the company said.

“This location offers an opportunity to add solar generation where transmission interconnection facilities already exist, which helps keep costs low for our customers,” Rogelstad said in the release.

Otter Tail Power estimates the creation of 70 construction jobs during the peak of the nine-month construction period, and $4.2 million in local and state tax benefits over the 35-year life of the facility.

Meanwhile, another solar power project has been revived in Cass County, North Dakota.

Harmony Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid Renewables Development, is planned for a site northwest of Mapleton.

The company is seeking a new, “refreshed” letter of support from Cass County,

which reviewed the plan and gave its approval in 2017.

Harmony Solar would build a 200-megawatt solar energy conversion facility in Harmony Township, with construction beginning as early as mid-2025, company documents stated.

The company estimates the project to generate tax revenue of around $500,000 annually to the Central Cass and Mapleton school districts, Cass County, Harmony Township and the state of North Dakota.