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Oldest Weekly Newspaper in North Dakota • Published Continuously with the Same Name in the Same City Since 1880 Children’s Hospital Radiothon - A6 Cass CountyCasselton Reporter • Kindred Tribune • Hunter Times REPORTERMarch 2, 2011 • 131st Year • No. 52 • Casselton, ND 58012 • www.ccreporter.com • $1 Future of the Buffalo grocery store discussed Nitschke’s By Amanda Gades determined, but the long-term goal Jeff Zaun, More than 50 Buffalo area resi- was to be able to return a profit to the co-owner of dents rallied together Monday night investors. “In the short term, I think the Old 10 home a to address an urgent issue: saving the the store would need to at least break Saloon, said he town’s grocery store. even or make a little bit of money,” acknowledges According to residents at the meet- said Tammy Erickson, a supporter the prices are totalThe cause loss ing, Fred Wangler, owner of Wangler and former owner of the store from higher but said of the fire at Foods in Kindred, Casselton and Buf- 1989-1998. there is a le- Sgt. DuWayne falo, notified Buffalo residents about George Richman wondered gitimate reason whether the store would be successful for it. “We are Nitschke’s two weeks ago that the store would be closing on Saturday, Feb. 26. as a standalone store versus a small paying for the home Saturday Wangler said that he wanted to chain. “We wouldn’t be able to get a convenience night was still close the store because it has not been good deal on the quantities like Fred of having a unknown as of profitable for the last two years. can,” Richman said. grocery store Monday. “I have been running the store Marion Kasowski suggested asking in town. If the “They are basically as a service for the com- a larger chain to invest. grocery store leaning to- munity, but it’s too much work and Or, maybe the area businesses closes, what’s wards electrical Sgt. Nitschke not enough return,” Wangler said who sell food could enter into an next? We need but that’s still Tuesday morning. agreement to buy in bulk together. to shop lo- preliminary, To prevent the lights from being Erickson said that Madge Dows, of M cally.” no official cause has been an- turned off completely, supporters of & M Grocery Store in Page, would be Mark Gu- nounced,” Nitschke said Monday. the grocery store said they worked willing to work with Buffalo to split brud, co-owner Nitschke and his wife, Darcy, quickly to connect with Wangler, the bulk orders. of Kasowski saw their worst nightmare come store’s food distributor and call a Discussion also included an option Gubrud Repair, true Saturday afternoon. They public meeting to discuss options for for how to operate the grocery store. also echoed the keeping the doors open. For now, the Buffalo day care board members importance of were coming home from shopping Photo by Amanda Gades/The Reporter in Fargo when they saw smoke store remains open. suggested at the store could have supporting local Jerry Melvin, one of the concerned a governing board, similar to the businesses. “All Supporters of the grocery store in Buffalo tallied the results of the survey that was distrib- coming from their two-story uted during the meeting. Argusville home where they lived citizens, gave the opening remarks at daycare. of the busi- with their three children. the meeting. “The question tonight This would mean that a govern- nesses feed off ing board would oversee the busi- of each other. If promote the project [of keeping the store open, 50 percent said they’d be They immediately called 911 is: can we find enough supporters to profitably run the business? To be ness, there would be members and a you go in to get your car repaired, you store open]? willing to invest and the average fam- but it was too late for their home successful, we need residents spend- membership fees and voting rights for can go to the grocery store, the bank • How much money per week can ily said they will spend $100 per week to be saved. It was engulfed in ing at least 50 percent of their food each member. Board members and and the post office. It’s the patronage we count on you to spend? at the store. flames when firefighters from Ar- budget at the store.” other community members help with to each business that adds up. If there • Would you be willing to donate “These are really good preliminary gusville, Harwood, Gardner and Melvin estimates that the store repairs and donated needed items. was not a grocery store, there would or invest? numbers,” said Melvin. Grandin arrived on scene. would need to gross approximately No avenue for moving forward was be one less reason to come to town.” • What other services and products In the next few days, more surveys By 6:30 p.m., the roof had col- $300,000 per year in order to make determined. More discussion on these Is there enough support? would you like to see at the store? are being handed out and if the posi- lapsed and the walls were caving a profit. To accomplish this, there items will occur in the weeks to come. To determine the level of support A brief meeting recess was taken tive response continues, a business in, according to Sgt. Mitch Burris. would need to be an average of 60 Support your community from those present, a survey was to allow time for the committee of plan will be drawn up. He denies that there is any family groups buying $100 per week. The conversation then turned to passed out. Attendees were asked supporters, including: Lee Fischer, Ideas for the grocery store men- connection between the fire “When you break down the numbers, the prices at the grocery store, which to fill out one per family. Questions Jerry Melvin, Randy Mundt, Mark tioned during the discussion will be and his stolen .38 caliber pistol I don’t think it’s impossible,” Melvin may be the cause for people not included: Gubrud and Tammy Erickson to tally researched and answers discussed that was may have been used in said. shopping there. “Some people say it’s • Do you want the grocery store to the results. at the next public meeting Tuesday, a south Moorhead Stop-N-Go Investors would also be needed. cheaper for Cash Wise to deliver,” said stay open? The responses showed that 100 March 8 at 7 p.m. in the Buffalo Com- percent were in favor of keeping the munity Center. burglary Feb. 10. “There is no The level of investment was not Mandy Stechler. • Would you be willing to work to connection whatsoever,” he said. Nitschke was unable to salvage anything from his home when he Nitschke - Page A2 County awarded $600k grant for courthouse addition By Amanda Gades completed in March 2012. whether the county could hold out A $600,000 grant from the Court Flood preparations update longer before putting in the purchase Facilities Improvement and Mainte- A request by County Engineer order. “If we were to wait and observe nance Fund means that the county Keith Berndt to purchase a mile of how the barriers work in Fargo and Oberlander joins can complete the court facilities in the six-foot flood sentinel barriers decide we wanted to purchase them, the west courthouse addition as they and another two miles of the four- would we be able to get them within Community of were intended. foot barriers was rejected. a week?” This award is approximately three Berndt pointed out several advan- Berndt responded, “It sounded Care staff times more than the largest grant tages and disadvantages to this prod- like that would not be possible.” ever received through this fund, uct versus the clay dikes the county Commissioner Pawluk voiced By Lin Smithwick according to County Administrator has used in the past. opposition to the barriers. “I like clay The new care coordinator for Bonnie Johnson. “If class 5 material is used in the because if you need to make it taller, Community of Care(CoC) is no The county had applied for the bags, we could reuse that product on you can make it taller. We know what stranger to rural Cass County. grant in December and was notified the roads,” said Berndt. “The bags are the performance is and there is no Melissa Oberlander, who grew of their success two weeks ago. a little bit more expensive than clay. guessing whether it’s going to work up near Ayr, started her new po- The grant, along with bid alter- While clay is a sure way to protect the or not. If we deploy the four-foot bags sition with the organization two native number one to complete the Photos by Amanda Gades/The Reporter area, one of the disadvantages is the and the water gets three-feet tall, weeks ago. A graduate of Central court facilities, was approved in a 5-0 mess it makes. They [the barriers] what do we do?” Cass and the University of North roll call vote during the commission would be cleaner and they wouldn’t In that scenario, the county would Dakota, Oberlander, says, “I am County Commissioner Ken Pawluk, left, and Commissioner Scott Wag- meeting Feb. 22. ner shown discussing the courthouse addition and grant award. take up as wide a space on the road. need to come in and put up five feet very excited about Community of The vote, however, came after The biggest disadvantage is that I of clay, answered Berndt.

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