COOPERSTOWN, N.D. — The Griggs County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident in which someone aimed a laser pointer at an airplane as it was flying over a field northwest of Binford on Friday evening, Jan. 30.

Department officials posted an advisory on its Facebook page, reminding residents that doing so is a federal crime and can potentially blind the pilot. The offense is punishable by FAA fines of up to $32,000, up to five years in federal prison or both.

“Thankfully, no harm came to those operating the plane or the plane itself,” the post read. “The culprit was not found, but if anyone has info regarding this matter please notify us.”

Authorities posted a photo of what a laser pointer looks like from the pilot’s vantage point, accompanied by an explanation of why lasers are so dangerous to aircraft: “Lasers expand at distance and can engulf the cockpit in a ’flashbulb effect’ similar to a camera flash. This can temporarily blind pilots, if not permanently damage their eyes.”

Anyone with information on the incident can contact the Griggs County sheriff at

sheriff@griggscountynd.gov

or 701-797-2202.

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.

GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks man will serve no additional time for a federal methamphetamine charge.

Jeremie Richard Castoreno, 43, was sentenced Thursday, Jan. 29, to 12 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance.

He was involved in a drug conspiracy where he possessed more than 1,000 grams of a mixture that contained methamphetamine, according to the information filed in the case.

Castoreno’s sentence will run concurrently with the

12 years he is already serving

for a Grand Forks County case in which he pleaded guilty to Class A felony delivery of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility.

The federal sentence then adds no additional time to his prison term.

Conditions of his federal sentence include that Castoreno be placed at the lowest-level security facility as close to Grand Forks as possible, so he can be near family, and that he serve his time at a facility that allows participation in substance abuse treatment, including the 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program.

He should also be allowed to participate in educational and vocational opportunities, as well as any mental health treatment that’s deemed appropriate by the Bureau of Prisons.

After serving his time, Castoreno will be on supervised release for five years. Special conditions of his release include abstaining from the use of alcohol or illegal drugs, submitting to drug/alcohol screening and searches and participating in any relevant treatment.

North Dakota

AnnMarie Klorgba Blamoh, also known as Annmarie Blamoh Bereuter, Fargo, Chapter 7

Justin Bradley Olivieri and Amy Lynn Olivieri, formerly known as Amy Lynn Holmberg, West Fargo, Chapter 13

Jamie L. Taylor, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

Jennifer Ernst, Horace, Chapter 13

Joseph Edwin Earl Denault and Kjersten Autumn Timm, Fargo,, Chapter 7

Shawn R. Parsley, Fargo, Chapter 13

Stephen Curtis Kelly, Fargo, Chapter 7

Kevin Jon Noyes and Nicole Ann Noyes, formerly known as Nicole Lawson, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

Lacey Jae Christianson, Cavalier, Chapter 7

Arlene Carrie Arrayan, Minot, Chapter 7

Arlene Carrie Arrayan, Minot, Chapter 7

Troy Aaron Gerlach, Jamestown, Chaper 7

Vincent Michael Castleman, Horace, Chapter 7

William Benjamin Moon, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

James Robert Wilson and Sara Jean Wilson, formerly known as Sara Blaufuss, Wahpeton, Chapter 7

Michael Samuelson, Fargo, Chapter 7

Benjamin J. and Samantha W. Buck, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

Minnesota

Bankruptcy filings from the following counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse, Wadena and Wilkin.

Katelyn Patricia Kohls, Osakis, Chapter 7

Luke Daniel Walvatne, Fergus Falls, Chapter 7

Tyler David Benjamin, East Grand Forks, Minn., Chapter 7

Brittni Nicole Hatlestad, Sabin, Chapter 7

Krista Agnes Ross, Henning, Chapter 7

Damien Saul Abdo, Waubun, Chapter 7

Stormi Le’ Amber LaCombe, Park Rapids, Chapter 7

Chapter 7 is a petition to liquidate assets and discharge debts.

Chapter 11 is a petition for protection from creditors and to reorganize.

Chapter 12 is a petition for family farmers to reorganize.

Chapter 13 is a petition for wage earners to readjust debts.

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.