Regional briefs: Feds add $300M to Red River flood project

The federal government last week pledged another $300 million to a Red River flood diversion project aimed at protecting the Fargo-Moorhead area from high water.

The commitment from the Army Corps of Engineers, announced by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., raises the federal portion of the $2.75 billion project to $750 million.

"We've been working very hard on this, and it's a big step forward," Hoeven said.

The diversion project would help manage the water levels on the Red River, which is highly prone to flooding.

More approvals and permits are needed, however, before construction can begin.

David Mullen

A portion of Hwy. 23 between New London and Spicer could soon be called the Ryane Clark Memorial Highway if a bill in the state Senate is passed.

Clark, a 2007 graduate of New London-Spicer High School, was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in Shekhabad, Afghanistan, in 2010 while he was an Army private first class. He was a prep wrestler and Eagle Scout and studied law enforcement at Alexandria Technical and Community College.

"Our communities — and our entire state and nation — are eternally grateful for Pfc. Clark's sacrifice in service of his country," Lang said in a statement. Renaming a portion of the highway is a small gesture, he said, "but it will ensure Pfc. Clark's legacy is cemented in our community forever."

Pam Louwagie

The State Fire Marshal's Office says it may take some time before it knows what started a fire last week that killed 18 dogs at a boarding kennel in Stacy.

"Fire investigations typically are not a quick process," said Jen Longaecker, a spokeswoman for the fire marshal.

A few hours before the fire, a caretaker had checked on a wood boiling system outside the kennel that provided heat. It's not clear, however, whether the boiler sparked the blaze, authorities said.