News

The year in review

By Tyler Ohmann

01/03/2012

Jan. 11, 2011- Bottineau girls basketball coach Mike Forsberg earns his 700th career victory. The 700 wins were accumulated as Forsberg coached Upham, Souris, Newburg and Bottineau. He won seven region titles and four state titles including three consecutive titles with the Stars from 2006-08.

Jan. 25, 2011- The Bottineau Braves upset the fourth-ranked Bishop Ryan Lions in a basketball game in Minot. Mark LaCroix hit the game-winner in the 53-52 victory with 2.8 seconds left.

Feb. 8, 2011- Oil company EOG pulls out of Bottineau County leases as they fear oil is sour. Bottineau, which stands over the Spearfish formation, is a different entity than the Bakken formation, which is producing quite a stir in western North Dakota.

Feb. 15, 2011- Local veterans gain a new home in the old Frykman building on Fifth Street in Bottineau. The news of a brand new facility in the future made an even brighter story for the Bottineau area vets.

Feb. 22, 2011- The Bottineau Braves hockey team was shockingly eliminated from state qualification following a 6-5 upset to Mandan in the first round. The Braves battled back to a qualifier game against Bismarck, but the Demons ended the Braves chances of back-to-back state appearances.

March 1, 2011- Tim Davis, and educator in the Bottineau area for 32 years as well as a big player in the dramatic arts scene in the community received the North Dakota State Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership Award. The honor was bestowed on Davis after he finished directing the production “You Can’t Take It With You.”

March 1, 2011- The DCB Ladyjacks won the Region XIII title, and sophomore Shannon Smith was named Region XIII MVP. Head Coach Wayne Johnson was named Region XIII Coach of the Year.

March 1, 2011- The Bottineau braves basketball team’s state hopes were dashed by the Bishop Ryan Lions who exacted revenge for a 53-52 loss prior in the season. The 56-36 region title loss was the Braves fifth of the season.

March 8, 2011- Former Bottineau resident Tangee Brunsell wins $33,450 as a participant on the popular television game show “Wheel of Fortune.” The 55-year-old now lives in Fargo, N.D.

March 8, 2011- Bottineau’s 19U girl’s hockey team beats Crosby 2-1 to claim a third place finish at the 19U State Hockey Tournament, which was held in Bottineau. It was the first time in program history that Bottineau had beaten Crosby.

April 19, 2011- Flooding ravages farmland and roadways in Bottineau County. For the first time in decades rising Mouse River waters closes Highway 5. Farmers also are having difficult time getting ready for spring planting.

May 31, 2011- Bottineau’s spring sports get a major boost as two sports see recognition. First, freshman pole-vaulter Harrison Aide wins the state title in the vault despite missing most of the year due to injury.
Second, the Bottineau Braves baseball team earns a bid to state with a 2-1 win over Bishop Ryan in the region title game. Senior Taylor Milbrath scored the game-winning run and also pitched 10 innings for the Braves.

June 14, 2011- The Bottineau paving project kicked off as the project, which is set to restore Thompson Street begins near the college with milling of pavement.

July 5, 2011- Following the devastating flooding in Minot the Mouse River’s water trekked north and nearly shutdown every thoroughfare between east of the Mouse and Minot. The final remaining open road, Bottineau County Road 6, was built up to prevent it from closing.

July 26, 2011- Bottineau’s Tommy Turtle Lane is engulfed and lost to flames after a fire of unknown origin sweeps through the entire building. Owner Tom Kessler was planning on selling the business, but in wake of the destruction, that plan will have to wait.

August 2, 2011- Bottineau, who only participated in the state tournament due to being the host team, finishes as a runner-up to Casselton. Bottineau rallied through the loser’s bracket to take on Casselton for the title, but fell short.

Sept. 6, 2011- After month’s of prep work the final stages of the Bottineau street renovation project began as the Mayo Construction Company begins laying asphalt near Dakota College at Bottineau.

Nov. 1, 2011- The Bottineau Braves are shown a quick exit from the Class AA football playoffs after the Wahpeton Huskies beat them 40-20. It was the first time in several years the Braves made the playoffs.

November 8, 2011- As time for the city to renew its contract with the Bottineau Sheriff’s, the city makes a full list of demands before they will agree to renew the contract. Things begin to heat up at November’s city council meeting when negotiations began.
Jerry’s Jack and Jill has now become Bottineau Hometown Market as new owners’ Bernard and Brenda Jassmann purchase store from Jerry and Karen Sollin.

November 15, 2011- The Bottineau Stars fall to Kenmare in the Region 6 title game for the second consecutive year. Despite winning the district tournament and the first game of the title bout against the Honkers, Bottineau failed to make past the Honkers.

Nov. 22, 2011- Two terrible car accidents claim the lives of three Bottineau area residents during the week. In the wake of the accidents Robyn Tolstad spoke to students at the Bottineau High School.

Nov. 29, 2011- County commissioners present their findings on the police budget that was brought forth by the Bottineau city council. Still no deal has been made to renew the city’s contract with the sheriff.

Dec. 13, 2011- City and county finally agree on a contract between the city and the sheriff’s department. However, a ruckus was created by local resident Tim Sanderson who challenged the council on several other issues along with the contract issue.