Forecast for Sakakawea Raised

Gov. John Hoeven has requested federal disaster aid for 11 counties to help repair flooding damage to public works, caused by last month’s heavy rains.

Repair estimates exceed $1.6 million, with most of the money needed to repair roads, the governor said. On Tuesday, he asked President Bush for a disaster declaration, which if granted would obligate the federal government to pay 75 percent of the public works repair bill.

Hoeven is seeking aid for Barnes, Bowman, Dickey, Grant, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Stutsman counties.

If the declaration is granted, affected farmers and businesses in the 11 counties, plus any adjoining counties, may be eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Agriculture Department and the federal Small Business Administration.

– Associated Press

FARGO (AP) – A man has pleaded guilty to charges in a three- state shoplifting ring that prosecutors say led to Internet sales of more than $400,000 in stolen merchandise.

David Soldier, 36, of rural Moorhead, Minn., pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges of conspiracy and possession of stolen goods. Three money-laundering counts are to be dismissed under a plea agreement.

Judge Ralph Erickson scheduled a sentencing hearing for Sept. 25. Soldier’s attorney said he will argue that Soldier’s role was less than what prosecutors contend.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota official said higher water levels on Lake Oahe are providing boaters with the best access in four years.

“We’re really back to an access point that’s in decent shape,” said Doug Hofer, director of Parks and Recreation for the state Game, Fish and Parks Department.

The huge reservoir is about seven feet higher than a year ago – at 1,583 feet above sea level – but it’s still well below normal for this time of year.

Hofer said 20 boat ramps are open from the Oahe Dam just north of Pierre to the North Dakota border on the Missouri River.

New projections from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say Lake Sakakawea should be at 1,817 feet above sea level at the end of July, more than 31/2 feet higher than earlier projections.

May runoff in the Missouri River basin was 135 percent of normal, the corps said, and record amounts of rain in Kansas and Missouri meant less water had to be released from upstream for downstream uses.

The lake elevation at midnight Tuesday of 1,818.1 feet could be the peak for the year, unless the region gets more heavy rain, officials said.

– Associated Press

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