Tag: scranton

Disgust in Bowman County, Baker over Keystone XL rejection

 

Pipes to be used in the Keystone XL pipeline sit in a railyard near Gascoyne, about 65 miles southwest of Dickinson, in this file photo from 2013. (Dustin Monke / File / The Dickinson Press)
Pipes to be used in the Keystone XL pipeline sit in a railyard near Gascoyne, about 65 miles southwest of Dickinson, in this file photo from 2013. (Dustin Monke / File / The Dickinson Press)

SCRANTON, N.D. — Ken Steiner looks out the window of his house and sees thousands of pipes sitting in a railyard.

Today, the Bowman County Commissioner learned those pipes aren’t going anywhere soon.

As much as 600 miles of 36-diameter metal pipe intended for use in the Keystone XL oil pipeline project will likely sit unused and in stacks near the tiny southwest North Dakota town of Gascoyne–about 65 miles southwest of Dickinson–after President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the 1,179-mile pipeline project proposed by TransCanada Corp.

Keystone XL’s rejection comes more than 2,600 days after it was proposed in 2008 and more than three years since the pipes began being stored in eastern Bowman County.

“Everybody has been wondering what’s going on,” Steiner said. “… It puts a bad taste in everybody’s mouth because people think it should have been done a long time ago. I don’t see that one person should have the authority to OK that. It don’t seem right to me.”

Continue reading “Disgust in Bowman County, Baker over Keystone XL rejection”

A century of shaping Scranton: More than just an elevator, Scranton Equity Exchange enters 100th year as successful independent cooperative

Scranton Equity Exchange General Manager Roger Goodfellow, who retires in April, stands in front of the elevator.

SCRANTON — Mike Wedwick chuckles when asked about what this small town would be like without the Scranton Equity Exchange.

“It’d be just like Bucyrus. How about Gascoyne?” said Mike Wedwick, the Equity’s grain manager, evoking a similar chuckle from general manager Roger Goodfellow.

Wedwick’s assumption of Scranton turning into a ghost town may not be far off — at least not in the eyes of the Equity’s employees.

“It’s basically the community,” said Kim Hodell, the Equity’s truck shop manager and an employee of 32 years.

Continue reading “A century of shaping Scranton: More than just an elevator, Scranton Equity Exchange enters 100th year as successful independent cooperative”

Perkins leads off ‘The Voice,’ picks Levine as coach

Scranton native Kat Perkins got the leadoff spot and a lengthy introduction segment on Monday night’s episode of NBC reality singing show “The Voice.”

It was for a good reason, too.

Perkins sang “Gold Dust Woman” by Fleetwood Mac and got three of four coaches to turn their chairs. Country star Blake Shelton was, ironically, the lone holdout. Perkins began her career in country music before turning to the rock genre.

The 33-year-old singer’s love of rock influenced her choice. She picked Levine, the lead singer of rock band Maroon 5, to be her coach.

Perkins said, “This is crazy” while making her choice before picking Levine.

Levine, Usher and Shakira praised Perkins’ performance.

“The end of your performance, that note, that seared the entire audience,” Levine said.

Usher said that while he isn’t much of a rocker, he hoped to add to her talent.

“I could only imagine how incredible of a performer you could be with the type of encouragement and help to be great,” Usher said.

Shakira, a Grammy-winning Latin pop singer,  all but begged Perkins to choose her.

“I want you desperately,” Shakira said. “… I’d like for you to be the architect of your own destiny.”

After leaving the stage, host Carson Daly asked Perkins why she picked Levine.

“His pitch. He was so determined to get the rocker chick,” Perkins said.

Perkins’ rendition of “Gold Dust Woman” can be purchased on iTunes.