Year End #3

We continune our look at the biggest local news stories of 2008 tonight - and we reach the halfway point andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t jim-olsonandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Jim Olsonandamp lt aandamp gt has a look at the top stories of May and June of the year now ending After nearly a year in the desert of andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t iraqandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Iraqandamp lt aandamp gt members of the Minot-based andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t 164th-engineer-battalionandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt 164th Engineerandamp lt aandamp gt Battalion of the andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t north-dakota-national-guardandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt North Dakota National Guardandamp lt aandamp gt came home as May began The soldiers provided security to convoys in Bagdhad - an especially dangerous mission - and came home to congratulations and hugs from dozens of local families A unit of North Dakota s Air National Guard began its mission of helping with security at andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t minot-air-force-baseandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Minot Air Force Baseandamp lt aandamp gt The 119th from andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t fargo-ndandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Fargoandamp lt aandamp gt established a unit at the base and began training members to aid in securing base facilities Eventually about 100 people are expected to be part of what s known as the 219th at the base The new andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t farm-billandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Farm Billandamp lt aandamp gt finally took shape in Congress - with North Dakota Senator andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t kent-conradandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Kent Conradandamp lt aandamp gt playing a key role in negotiations over its final form andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t george-bushandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt President Bushandamp lt aandamp gt vetoed the bill but the House and Senate overrode the veto making the new Farm Bill law A very dry spring finally started to break in May as rains began across the region Farmers had renewed optimism because the dry weather had allowed them to get their planting done earlier than normal in most areas and prices were well over the average Voters in andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t williston-ndandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Willistonandamp lt aandamp gt said yes to a new fee to help fund mosquito control efforts The Vector Control Board was reorganized and a new effort began to combat the bugs that thrive in the stagnant waters near the city In Minot voters said no to a multimillion dollar community bowl multi sport facility The andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t oilandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt oilandamp lt aandamp gt industry continued to expand in western North Dakota in May and June - with prices for North Dakota Sweet Crude peaking over 135 per barrel and new rigs going in almost daily Meanwhile the state and tribal leaders agreed to a new taxation plan that would allow oil exploration on tribal land And Williston State College began a new series of programs aimed at providing trained workers for the oil industry A landmark came down in Minot in late May as the wrecking ball hit andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t washingtonandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Washingtonandamp lt aandamp gt Elementary School The building had been rendered useless when a new Washington opened as 2008 began Meanwhile efforts were underway to save another vintage building from demolition A group called Preservation ND began an effort to keep the Flat Iron building in Minot standing and tried to find a buyer who could spend the money needed to refurbish the building Two Minot swimmers tried to make their lifelong dreams come true as summer began 16-year-old Dagny Knutson finished up her training and headed to the Olympic Trials And it was the same story for Matt Lowe - a 22-year-old Minot native now training at the University of andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t texasandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Texasandamp lt aandamp gt Neither swimmer was able to qualify for the Olympics With the year in review Jim Olson KX News