Famed KBMW news director Gary Rogers was fired Jan. 27, 2008, after an anonymous person reported he was sexually harassing a co-worker to the station's parent company, Triad Broadcasting. Fargo-based radio station Go Radio was responsible for laying off Rogers, who was surprised by the move despite years of bickering with the supervising station. Local blogs filled with supportive remarks for the radio personality, some saying today they refuse to listen to KBMW without Rogers' diction.
No. 2: Homecoming queen story heard across the U.S.
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No. 3. Imation to close at end of year
When Imation Corporation made its announcement in May 2007 they would be closing their Wahpeton operation, officials said the closing date would be around mid-2009. When the Daily News reported on the closure exactly a year later in May 2008, city officials announced the company would be exiting sooner than expected — the fourth quarter of 2008. Although the announcement was shocking for city leaders, state officials, residents of the region and those who would lose their job, business executives at all levels made it a No. 1 priority to market the location to companies locally, around the United States and overseas. At least 25 companies have visited the site according to North Dakota Department of Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle. Efforts will continue until the vacant buildings are filled.
No. 4. Council to decide punishment for Spare Time Bar after two charged with fornicating in public
At a Nov. 3, 2008, Hankinson City Council meeting, city council members discussed a fornication incident that occurred at Spare Time Bar, owned by Roger Boutain. Hankinson Mayor Joe O'Meara informed the council and others present the details of the incident in which a young woman and a young man preceded to have sex in Spare Time Bar for a long period of time. Although the council took no action at the November meeting, they passed a motion to hold a hearing at their December meeting. Evidence was presented by law enforcement and Boutain had the opportunity to plead his case. The council's final ruling was to suspend Boutain's liquor license for 30 days, with 23 days stayed. Boutain also had to pay attorney fees and assorted costs. He also is now under a two-year probation with the city of Hankinson.
The two charged with fornication, Joshua Fenske, 23, and Adriane Diede, 21, plead guilty and signed plea agreements signed outside of court. Both have fines of $850, must perform 32 hours of community service, undergo an alcohol dependency evaluation and are not allowed to enter Spare Time Bar during their one-year probationary period.
No. 5: East's contract denied
Tumultuous relations between former Breckenridge Superintendent Greg East and the school board fueled many tense meetings last year, often drawing crowds of more than 100 to the high school auditorium. The conflict reached its boiling point when the board voted 4-3 in February to deny East a full time contract and member Deb Hoff resigned the following morning. Emotions remained high one week later, when the public stayed beyond the duration of a special meeting to chide board members for losing sight of student concerns and getting caught up in their own.
No. 6: Pamida shuts down after 35 years
After big box retailer Wal-Mart opened its doors in Wahpeton in August 2007, Pamida Discount Center slowly lost its customer base and decided to pack up September 2008. Twenty staff and management members were affected by the change, all of which were given the choice of relocating to a different store or accepting a severance package. Public comment over the issue was mixed, as some were sad to see yet another hometown store close while others embraced Wal-Mart as a bigger employer.
No. 7. Beet truck, semi collide on N.D. Highway 13
In the Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, edition of the Daily News pictures of a beet truck and semi collision, that occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. that morning, donned the front and inside pages.
The collision killed 56-year-old Daniel Shelstad, Fargo, who was driving the beet truck and traveling east on Highway 13 en route to the piling station near Wahpeton. Law enforcement officials determined that the driver of the semi, traveling west to Gwinner traveled left of the center line and was struck in the center of his tanker trailer by Shelstad.
No. 8. Industrial Plating burns
At approximately 2:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, Wahpeton, Breckenridge and Dwight fire departments responded to a large fire at Industrial Plating Corporation, located on the south side of Wahpeton. Crews worked around the clock to put out the chemical based fire using Class A foam. After extinguishing several more spot fires, firefighters were able to leave the scene around 9 p.m. At the beginning of April, North Dakota state fire marshal Ray Lambert announced the cause of the fire will be classified as undetermined.
No. 9: Wahpeton's Opera House gains new ownership
Greg and Darcy Meide purchased the Opera House from Jerry Meide after the Wahpeton City Council approved their renaissance zone authority application. Health center Snap Fitness now sits on the first floor, and the second will soon be completed for the arrival of Performance Centers, Inc. Equipment for the telemarketing company is ready for use and Greg Meide is currently working to complete the stairwell. Fifteen people have already been hired and training will begin next week.
No. 10. Kabella arrested for attempted murder
Approximately 24 hours after a standoff began near Mantador, Jeffrey Kabella, 42, on May 22, 2008, after allegedly firing a rifle at a neighbor who drove onto his property. Kabella still remains in the Richland County correctional facility on $100,000 cash bond pending his trial to begin Feb. 29, 2009.
Wmrjjvtd wrote on Jun 23, 2009 1:17 PM: