Hazen Star News
Flamingos fighting MS in Hazen
It wasn't his birthday - at least that he knew of, anyway, joked Reuben Gutsche, Hazen. But he knew there had to be some special explanation for why he counted 15 pink flamingos milling about his front-yard snow banks Thursday morning. There was a special explanation, indeed. The pink, plastic lawn ornaments are part of a local fundraising effort to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. The notoriously noble effort is the doing of Lorisa Newman, Ha
FEMA likely to 'Bypass' Hazen flood protection
Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives and contracted engineers visited Hazen city officials last Wednesday to report that the State Highway 200 Bypass running through Hazen would most likely no longer classify as a levee. For the citizens of Hazen, the news could be a kick to the wallet.
City asks for federal funds
The full extent of joys and letdowns has yet to be seen, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been passed by Congress - and the Hazen City Commission is hopeful it will help them purchase and install new water meters. In a meeting of the commission Monday evening, the commission approved a letter requesting placement on the Drinking Water Project Priority List and $215,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for installation of new water meters that will replace outdated meters throughout Hazen.
County hopes state takes 21
About five years ago, it cost Mercer County $100,000-125,000 per mile to completely overlay a highway such as County Highway 21, which runs north of Beulah for about 10 miles from its intersection with State Highway 200 to State Highway 1806. That's chump change. Now, that estimate is at $250,000 per mile, according to Steve Mamer of Interstate Engineering. That leaves a 10-mile overlay project estimated to cost a cool $2.5 million.
City prepares for spring thaw
Recent warm temperatures may have cleared the frost from the Hazen City Commission's crystal ball. In reaction to recent warm temperatures and rain that have already caused water to leak into a few garages and basements, the commission approved the purchase of 10,000 sandbags and reviewed the city's flood insurance policy at their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.
Mercer, Dunn sheriffs seize Voss cattle
Armed with a court order from the Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Court, Dunn County Sheriff Larry Boepple rounded up 58 neglected cows belonging to John Voss on Thursday, Feb. 12. He left 14 cows behind that had no brands or could not be identified as Voss cows. Voss is last known to have lived at a South Dakota address, but is believed to be in the Halliday area part time. Voss is believed to have leases allowing him to pasture cattle on land controlled by TAT within the Fort Berthold Reservation. With assistance from the Mercer County Sheriff's office, Boepple rounded up cattle off of the rugged Porcupine area, within the Hans Creek watershed, west of Twin Buttes. The sheriff seized the cattle due to reports that they didn't have access to food and water. Local ranchers have been reporting dead and dying cattle in the area for several weeks.
Telephone money scam hits home
Young men generally sound the same to Patty Morgenstern. So when a young man claiming to be her grandson called at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3 and said he was in need of money, she had little reason to doubt him. But then the voice said he needed money wired to Canada - and something clicked for Patty. She knew she was being scammed.
Hazen, Beulah not yet ready for digital television transition
Feb. 17: The long-touted date of the rabbit-ears apocalypse. It was the date all full-power television stations nationwide must be converted from analog to digital broadcasting, as required by the Federal Communications Commission - until a recent federal bill provided stations a voluntary June 12 extension. Reports read a $1.3 billion fund for coupons for consumers to buy converter boxes had run dry, leaving some 3.7 million consumers nationwide without.
Board moves forward with vocational education
Almost one year ago, it was announced that the Missouri River Education Cooperative, which consists of 32 public schools and four cooperating parties - including Hazen, Beulah and Center-Stanton schools, would receive a grant of almost $600,000. The grant aimed to provide an incentive for school districts to increase Career and Technical Education opportunities.
Help salute Hazen's volunteer spirit
There are superheroes among us - and the Hazen Chamber of Commerce wants their identities revealed. The Chamber is seeking nominations for the Community Awards Banquet taking place Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Hazen City Hall.
