DEVILS LAKE ND

Devils Lake Guardsman, a Forest River native, receives belated Purple Heart

It took a while, but Staff Sgt. Heith Dokken finally was awarded the Purple Heart he earned nearly nine years ago. On Saturday at Camp Grafton just south of Devils Lake, the 21-year military veteran who grew up in Forest River, N.D., was presented the nation’s oldest military medal for wounds he suffered July 1, 2003, near Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

By Stephen J. Lee , March 18, 2012

Tackling teenage troubles as a career

Red River High School counselor given state honor
Marilyn Ripplinger, a counselor at Grand Forks’ Red River High School, still remembers how difficult her teenage years in Devils Lake were, and how she never asked for help. “I didn’t know anyone who went to a counselor for struggles like I had,” she said. At UND, those troubling years became a career inspiration, she said. “I wanted to be in a position, myself, to reach out and help kids with the challenges they face.”

By Pamela Knudson , March 03, 2012

Small changes for Devils Lake postal service

U.S. Postal Service proposing transfer of mail processing to Grand Forks
People living in the Devils Lake region should see little change in operation if the U.S. Postal Service proceeds with its proposal to transfer the city’s Customer Service Mail Processing Center to Grand Forks.

By Kevin Bonham , December 29, 2011

Area fishing and hunting report

At Lake of the Woods, the cold weather has moved in with temperatures in the 20- and 30-degree range most nights — ice is forming on the ponds and creeks overnight. The best walleye fishing is at the Lighthouse Gap in 21 to 25 feet of water. Reports from the Rainy River remain inconsistent with flurries of activity early and late in the day. Hunters seem to be getting their deer, but it’s taking them longer to do so this season.

By Outdoor News and Herald staff reports , November 17, 2011

$6 million to Devils Lake Basin for road repairs

The Devils Lake Basin will receive about $6 million to help counties repair flood-damaged roads, as part of disaster-relief legislation approved last week during the North Dakota legislature’s special session.

By Kevin Bonham , November 14, 2011

AREA HUNTING AND FISHING REPORT: With a sparse season opener area-wide, bigger bucks should be on the move this weekend

LAKE OF THE WOODS: The fishing still has been good. The nights are getting cold with lows in the 20s, but during the days the temperature has been getting up to the 40s and 50s. There is no ice yet. Best fishing spots this week include Lighthouse Gap and Zippel Bay on the lake, and the Rainy River near the Baudette Airport, Clementson Rapids and farther upstream near the Little Fork River and the Little Fork itself. Pink, orange and gold jigs tipped with a shiner have produced the best results. Duck and grouse hunting has taken a backseat to the deer season. Most hunters said the opener could have been better, but the deer weren’t moving much because of the wind.

By Outdoor News and Herald staff reports , November 10, 2011

Devils Lake man accused of stabbing appears in court

A Devils Lake man accused of stabbing a man in the neck and abdomen made his first appearance in Ramsey County Court on Wednesday. Bruce Donald Johnson, 35, faced one charge of aggravated assault and had his bail set at $10,000.

By Herald Staff Report , November 09, 2011

AREA HUNTING AND FISHING REPORT: Mixed waterfowl results in Devils Lake

The week was a mixed bag of results for waterfowl hunters in the Lake Region, reports Mark Fisher, biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Devils Lake. Some hunters did very well with limits; others had very poor luck.

By Outdoor News and Herald staff reports , October 27, 2011

IJC: Devils Lake water transfer poses little risk

International body studied impact of parasites, diseases to Red River fish
Results of a three-year study, Devils Lake-Red River Basin Fish Parasite and Pathogen Project, Qualitative Risk Assessment, indicate that three bacteria, one parasite, and several lesions identified in fish from Devils Lake are not found elsewhere in the basin.

By Kevin Bonham , October 27, 2011

New FEMA official tours Devils Lake

‘Reading about it, seeing it on videotape doesn’t do it justice’
The flood-plagued community of Minnewaukan, N.D., likely will have to wait until spring to start building the infrastructure — streets, water and sewer lines — in West Minnewaukan, where a portion of the town will be relocated to escape the rising Devils Lake.

By Kevin Bonham , October 20, 2011

Construction continues in effort to fight Devils Lake

Heavy trucks filled with clay and heavy rocks rumble down U.S. Highway 2 and other roads all day and night, crews racing to keep ahead of Devils Lake, even as the lake slowly recedes this fall from its summer peak. Hills are being leveled to obtain the nearly 14 million cubic yards of clay needed to raise roads and dikes.

By Kevin Bonham , October 11, 2011

$2 million grant to fix flood-damaged roads on Spirit Lake Reservation

North Dakota’s congressional delegation announced Friday a grant will help the Spirit Lake Nation repair flood-damages roads.

By Herald Staff Report , October 07, 2011

AREA HUNTING AND FISHING REPORT: Waterfowl scouting critical with summer-like temps

Lake of the Woods: A few shiner minnows have started showing up in the Rainy River, which means the best walleye fishing of the fall could be just around the corner.

By Outdoor News and Herald staff reports , October 06, 2011

Churchs Ferry residents divided over whether to disband city

The future remains murky for flood-plagued Churchs Ferry, N.D., after the Ramsey County Commission received a petition to begin the process of disbanding the city.

By Kevin Bonham , October 04, 2011

Devils Lake suicide prevention walk draws 2,000

An event aimed at suicide prevention drew more than 2,000 participants Thursday.

By Herald staff reports , September 23, 2011