The Cando City Park was alive with the smell of grilled meat and, perhaps, a hint of mesquite the evening of Aug. 10.

For those who had questions about grilling, but were afraid to ask, the BBQ Boot Camp was just the ticket.

It was a boot camp where, instead of calisthenics and a screaming, beet-red faced drill sergeant, servings of barbecued meat and an education on it were offered.

The purpose of the camp was to help educate the public about barbecuing, as well as issues like meat selection, food safety and grilling techniques.

The boot camps also give North Dakota State University an opportunity to discuss the meat and livestock industry with those who aren't necessarily producers, said David Newman, NDSU extension swine specialist.

"(The) BBQ Boot Camp is a unique opportunity to explain and discuss current topics in the food industry at the grass-roots level, all while having a lot of fun with barbecue," Newman said.

During the 3 1/2-hour camp, participants moved from station to station - each with thirty-minute presentations - which helped identify issues related to barbecuing.

While Newman discussed issues in the industry today, Austen Germolus, a meat lab technician for NDSU, and Wendy Becker, NDSU extension agent for Foster County, discussed grill selection and grilling techniques, as well as distributing samples of grilled kebobs. Kristin Newman, assistant lab manager of the School of Natural Resource Sciences, and Ashley Lepper of the Animal and Range Sciences Department, discussed the different cuts of meat and how to cook them.

Paul Berg, an associate professor in the Animal Range Science Department, demonstrated different spices, sauces and marinades, while Marietta Good, an NDSU extension service nutrition education agent for Towner and Bottineau counties, shared important tips on food safety.

After three and a half hours of discussions about meat, coupled with meat cooking around them, the participants were treated to a barbecue.

-Towner County Record Herald, Cando

Another city council member resigns

Another member of the Minnewaukan City Council has resigned as a result of the firing of longtime city employee Verdeen Backstrom. Council member Connie Ambers submitted her resignation effective Aug. 6.

Mayor Curtis Yri also resigned in protest, effective Aug. 7.

Members of the council Mark Motis, Rita Staloch and Steven Huffman voted to fire Backstrom on July 14. Ambers was opposed. The mayor does not vote except in case of a tie.

The reason given for firing Backstrom was insubordination. At a special meeting July 23 the same three members of the council refused to reconsider the firing. Ambers was in favor of reconsidering.

The council will now either call for a special city election to fill the two vacant positions or, after 15 days from the date of such vacancy, Aug. 22, elect one of its members to act as mayor. The member elected would serve as mayor until the next election in June 2010. The council can also appoint someone to fill out the remainder of Ambers' term.

If a petition is filed by Aug. 22 with at least six signatures of residents of the city calling for a special election - 5 percent of the qualified electors, as determined by the total number of votes cast in the city in the last general election - the council must call for a special election for mayor. In the interim, council president Mark Motis will be the acting mayor.

The terms of Huffman and Ambers expire in 2010 and the terms of Motis and Staloch expire in 2012.

Backstrom, who worked for the city for 22 years, is having an auction sale Aug. 29 and has placed his 80-acre farm up for sale. He and his wife plan to move to Bismarck.

-Benson County Farmers Press, Minnewaukan

Book of essays on Powers Lake released

Karin Knudsen first came to Powers Lake when she was 7 years old to visit her uncle who had once served as the Baptist pastor. Treasuring those days, she knew that indeed she would return.

She fell in love with the area and looked forward to traveling from her New Jersey home to the prairie of North Dakota.

"When I was 7 I wanted to live in Powers Lake," Knudsen said.

After some 40 years past that her goal was achieved.

Once her home sold in New Jersey, Knudsen set foot in the comfort of her memories to a home she purchased without even seeing it in advance.

"I love it here more and more every day," she said.

A while ago Knudsen began writing an essay once a month for publication in the Burke County Tribune. Taking a reflective approach describing her observations of the way of life in Powers Lake she colorfully revealed her view from the outside looking in as a "Jersey Girl in Powers Lake."

As the Powers Lake Centennial planning was under way, friends of Knudsen pursuaded her to compile her writings to share with others. After much encouragement from locals to get her essays published, Knudsen went for it and put together a collection of her essays.

The talented writer has title the printed edition as, "A Jersey Girl in Powers Lake."

"I never thought I'd do something like this," said Knudsen.

As the recent centennial visitors picked up the collection, she was overjoyed to learn of the publication selling well and was quick to thank Harvest Publishing for marketing and selling the book.

Currently the book can be purchased in Powers Lake at the retail stores, Tioga and in Williston and Minot.

-Burke County Tribune, Bowbells

Historic photos preserved in digital form

Manfred History and Preservation Inc. was happy to help with Digital Horizons-A Plains Media Source to give easier access to their photo images that are stored at the museum in Manfred, according to preservation member Pam Norstedt.

Digital Horizons was established in 2007 by a consortium of colleges and organizations.

The Manfred Museum was asked to submit some ideas of photos that they had for the project and Amy Bellefeuille, a student working with NDSU, came to Manfred to view several hundred photos and slides, and selected some of the most interesting. Several of those images were from the Burkum slide project which the tech class from Harvey High School in 2007-08, along with instructor Ted Sitz, helped digitize to computer. Many images are of Harvey's early days and events not previously published.

The Digital Horizon project has these photos and many others from around the state online at their Web site. They can also be viewed at the museum in Manfred.

"MHP encourages teachers of public and home schools to investigate our little place in Wells County," said Norstedt. "We are always looking for students to tell us what they enjoyed about their visit here where they can see firsthand what they learn in school. We are a resource that is growing, and hope to be a helpful educational tool in the future."

Tours can be arranged with classes individually as the museum does officially close in October of every year, but will open for groups by appointment.

Norstedt said, "We are usually getting the summer season going in April, with cleanup and other organizational duties. During the winter we could come into the classroom with some articles of history of North Dakota, also by appointment.

Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. For more information, call Norstedt at 324-2027.

-The Herald-Press, Harvey

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