One of the newest exhibits at Kenmare's Pioneer Village might also be one of its most charming.

A two-person horse cutter sleigh donated by Silas Naas Jr. of Alexandria, Minn., and formerly of the Kenmare area, has delighted visitors and volunteers at Pioneer Village who have already seen it.

"It's in spectacular condition," said Shirley Christensen. "I just fell in love with it."

Christensen and her husband Delmer cleaned up the cutter during the Join Hands work day held at Pioneer Village in late May. The couple had planned to help in one of the buildings when Lake County Historical Society president Bryan Quigley found them.

"He came over and said, 'I have a special job for you two,'" Shirley said. "When I saw the cutter I thought, would I love to get my hands on that."

She and her husband did just that, spending over three hours cleaning the treasure.

The cutter arrived in Kenmare after Christmas last year, delivered by Jamie and Heather Livingston after their holiday trip to Minnesota.

The cutter is believed to be in mint condition, as evidenced by the gleaming green paint trimmed with red dots and pinstripes. The runners were painted a contrasting red, with black dots and pinstripes. A shiny brass whip holder is bolted in place on the driver's side of the cutter, which is judged to be over 100 years old.

Now, after being washed and polished by the Christensens, the cutter is displayed in the Niobe Hall at Pioneer Village. Shirley Christensen encourages Pioneer Village visitors to make certain to see the elegant sleigh.

"It's really something," she said. "It was worth whatever they did to get it here."

-The Kenmare News, Kenmare

Herb farm becoming

tourist hot spot

It isn't uncommon for visitors to stop by gardendwellers FARM in Churchs Ferry and find no one there because the couple that owns it have second jobs - for now anyway.

Holly Mawby, with a degree in horticulture and business industry education, works for the Entrepreneur Center for Horticulture at MSU-Bottineau and runs this farm, too. Husband Barry works in printing as well as filling in at the bar in Churchs Ferry.

It is uncommon that Holly wants the public around even when she's not there. She wants people to feel free to roam around the grounds and check the place out on their own. She feels this is part of the whole "living in North Dakota" experience.

The gardendwellers FARM, started in 2002, is now North Dakota's largest herb farm and one of the local area's best kept secrets. But word is getting out.

Since planting the first seed six years ago gardendwellers has been growing steadily. They now grow and sell over 15 varieties of culinary herbs, such as basil, rosemary and thyme, to grocery stores and restaurants in the Minot and Grand Forks areas and are expanding their market to include Bismarck.

Growing and selling herbs is the primary activity at gardendwellers, but it certainly isn't the only thing going on at this busy place.

Thanks in part to the North Dakota Department of Tourism, gardendwellers has become a stopping point for tourists, birdwatchers and people in need of a break that just happen to be traveling through the area. The farm has been featured in Readers Digest's tourism guidebook "Off the Beaten Path" and National Geographic's "The 10 Best of Everything for Families."

Classes and workshops are offered throughout the summer at gardendwellers. Saturday, Sept. 5, over Labor Day weekend the farm hosts a produce party, farmers market and garden festival featuring demonstrations and speakers throughout the day.

The chalkboard sign by the entrance to one of the buildings at gardendwellers FARM reads: "Welcome. 701-351-2520. Make yourself at home. Please leave a note. Check out the self-guided activities in the vending machine behind the building."

The sign is Holly and Barry Mawby's way of letting people know they are always welcome. They want the people that stop to stay and dwell there for awhile because the sights, sounds, smells and overall tranquillity of this place are much better experienced than described.

-Benson County Farmers Press, Minnewaukan

Fire Department contacts architect

The Rugby Volunteer Fire Department is seeking input from a Grand Forks architect regarding designs and cost estimates for a proposed new fire hall.

Gary Kraft, fire chief, said the department plans to discuss the project with the architect sometime this month. The department already has some ideas for a hall design.

In June the Rugby City Council contacted its engineer, Advanced Engineering, asking for assistance in regard to construction of a new fire hall in the city, including finding a favorable location. In a letter to the city, Roger Grimsley, engineer with Advanced Engineering, recommended the city issue a request for qualifications from professional architectural firms as a first step.

The decision by the department to proceed on its own in getting advice from an architect is a bit puzzling, since the city council agreed this past month to contact an architectural firm. Since the department went ahead with finding an architect, the council has not proceeded on its part.

Just where a future fire hall will be built is unknown. The fire department is still awaiting a formal decision from the Rugby Park District concerning its request last November about using a portion of Southside Park to construct a new hall. The department asked the park board if it would deed part of the park land to the city, which would enable a fire hall to be constructed there in the future. Park officials have mixed opinions on the issue.

There was talk of holding a public meeting to get feedback from residents concerning the request. No meeting has been planned.

The other much talked about location is a city-owned lot across from M.J. McGuire's dealership along North Dakota Highway 3. However, how suitable the ground is to build a hall and support the fire trucks is questionable. Soil testing completed last year determined the location was not the best for building and would take significant work and cost to prepare it for construction. That location has been ruled out by Kraft and many others on the department. However, some city officials indicated that lot is still a possibility.

-The Pierce County Tribune, Rugby

(The Regional Roundup is compiled by Minot Daily News staff writer Dan Feldner)