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LATE EDITION Wednesday, July 10, 2019 INFORUM.COM

Vettel severance provides salary,

benefits through end of 2019
Ex-Fargo parks leader and elected board agreed to silence
By Dave Olson Vettel with six months of trict board on July 2, at released Tuesday.
dolson@forumcomm.com salary worth about $75,000 which the board accepted Attorney Greg Selbo,
FARGO — The Fargo plus benefits through the Vettel’s resignation and who provides legal rep-
Park District on Tuesday, end of 2019. appointed Dave Leker as resentation for the park
July 9, released details of a The terms of the agree- interim executive direc- district, said Tuesday that Forum file photo
severance agreement with ment were essential- tor, according to a draft the purpose of the special Joel Vettel resigned July 2 as executive director of the
former executive director ly agreed to at a special of the minutes of the spe- Fargo Park District. The circumstances about why he
Joel Vettel that provides meeting of the park dis- cial meeting, which was VETTEL: Back Page resigned are still unclear.

WINNABLE?
Woman to
ARE FAIR GAMES publicly accuse
priest of sexual
assault in ND
Fargo news conference
planned for Thursday
By April Baumgarten
abaumgarten@forumcomm.com
FARGO — A woman plans to publicly
accuse a Belcourt, N.D., priest of sex-
ually abusing her and assert that the
Catholic Diocese of Fargo blamed her
for the alleged assault, according to
her attorneys.
Lawyers representing the woman
have named the Rev. Michael Wright of
St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Belcourt,
alleging he sexually assaulted her while
he was a priest at the church, according
to a news advisory issued this week. The
woman plans to speak about the alleged
abuse at a news conference at 2 p.m.
Thursday, July 11, at the law offices of
O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Foss in Fargo.
During that news conference, attor-
neys will accuse the Fargo Diocese of
blaming the woman when she reported
the alleged abuse and sending Wright to
Texas without investigating her claims.
Lawyers also will demand the diocese
release its list of known offending priests
and press North Dakota legislators to
open up the statute of limitations on civil
suits against offenders, the advisory said.
David Samson / The Forum
The advisory doesn’t provide details
Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies Lindsey Nettestad and Keenan Zundel take shots at the Hoop Shots game on the on the alleged assault, including when
midway at the Red River Valley Fair on Tuesday, July 9. it happened. Attorney Michael Bryant
said the woman was a vulnerable adult
when the assault allegedly occurred.
SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES PUT RRVF MIDWAY game isn’t impossible to win.
Jahner said his office often receives
In response to questions from The
Forum, the diocese said it notified the
TO THE TEST DURING INSPECTIONS complaints about supposedly
“unwinnable” games at the fair, so
Belcourt Police Department on July 12,
2016, of the allegations. That was the
along with a couple of prosecutors
By Mitra Norowzi Jesse Jahner to the fairgrounds as the same day the woman came forward, the
and deputies, he comes to check for
mnorowzi@forumcomm.com midway opened at 3 p.m. Tuesday, diocese said.
himself on or before opening day.
July 9 — delayed from the scheduled “After the police had made contact
West Fargo “We always have done this to be

D
espite a soggy opening
morning, the Red River Valley
Fair has arrived, bringing with
it all the trappings of carnival fun.
The fair’s midway is home to
the usual suspects, including food
vendors serving up corn dogs,
funnel cakes and a variety of
rides and games.
It’s the latter of these attractions
that brought Cass County Sheriff
11 a.m. start time due to rain.
Carnival-style games are
notoriously difficult to conquer.
Many of us can recall a time when
we blew all our cash trying to win
a stuffed animal.
That the games are designed to be
difficult is a given, but they must
be winnable. That’s why local law
enforcement inspects each game
to check for fraud and ensure the
proactive,” Jahner said. “We go out
to each game and have the operator
show us how it works.”
Jahner’s inspection team
consisted of deputies Lindsey
Nettestad and Keenan Zundel as
well as prosecutors SheraLynn
Ternes and Ryan Younggren.
Their first stop was at a game
GAMES: Back Page
with Father Wright, the Diocese notified
him on July 14, 2016, that his faculties
to provide ministry within the Diocese
of Fargo were removed, effective imme-
diately,” diocese spokesman Paul Braun
said in a statement.
Wright is a priest with the Society of
Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, a
community based out of the Diocese of
Corpus Christi in Texas. He began his
service at St. Ann’s in Belcourt on Feb. 1,
ASSAULT: Back Page

2 bodies recovered after reservation highway washout

Business................... A4
INSIDE TODAY’S
Classifieds............ C4-8
FORUM Comics..................... B5 Travis Svihovec Tribal Chairman Mike
Crosswords....... B5, C7 Bismarck Tribune Faith said Vanderwal’s
Life........................ B1-6 FORT YATES, N.D. — body was recovered about
Obituaries... A6, C2, C4 Search teams on Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. Peterson’s body
Opinion.................... A7 July 9, recovered the bod- was recovered hours
ies of a man and a woman later. Edwards said about
Sports................... D1-6
near a washed-out sec- 9 p.m. that the search
tion of a highway on the and recovery effort had
Today’s weather Standing Rock Sioux Res- ended, with no one else
believed missing.
77°
ervation in southern North

55°
Dakota, after authorities
had rescued two other
The drivers of two vehi-
cles were rescued from
people from the water. floodwaters Tuesday
Cloudy w/ showers BIA Police Chief Sparky morning on BIA Road 3,
Details, D6 Edwards confirmed the known locally as the Kenel
dead as Trudy Peterson, Road, which becomes
an Indian Health Service Highway 1806 south of
NEWS: nurse from Mobridge, the North Dakota-South Special to Forum News Service
Wild weather: S.D., and Jim Vanderw- Dakota border. About This drone photo taken by JR Red Tomahawk with
Region beset by al, either a mail carrier 30 feet of the road was the Standing Rock Tribal Roads Department shows
$1.50 or UPS driver. It wasn’t washed away just north a washed-out segment of BIA Road 3, also known as
heavy rain, twisters. (Suggested retail price) immediately clear where Kenel road, near Highway 1806 on the Standing Rock
PAGE A2 Copyright 2019 The Forum he was from. WASHOUT: Back Page Sioux Reservation.
A8 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 The Back Page The Forum

VETTEL Under the agreement, the

From Page A1
meeting July 2 was a
job performance review
for Vettel.
However, Selbo said
prior to the special meet-
ing Vettel asked for and
was granted a meeting
with park district board
President Rusty Papachek,
which took place on Mon-
day, July 1.
Selbo said at that meet-
ing, which he attended as
well, Vettel said he intend-
ed to resign as executive
director and asked for a
severance package.
Selbo said the July 2 spe-
cial meeting of the park
district board was large-
ly a discussion of what
the separation agreement
would look like, and he
said since then an agree-
ment has been signed by
park district officials and
Vettel, though he said Vet-
tel will technically have
about a week during which
to change his mind.
park district will pay Vet-
tel his regular salary until
the end of the year payable
bi-weekly at about $6,178
per two-week period. The
payment will be less income
tax and other withholdings
and deductions.
Accrued vacation time is
to be paid in a lump sum
at the end of the year. The
agreement said Vettel had
134 hours of vacation time
at the time of his resigna-
tion and he will not accrue
additional hours.
The district will also con-
tinue to pay Vettel’s health
insurance until the end of
the year — estimated to be
about $1,184 a month —
as well as his retirement
benefit at the rate of about
$1,105 a month.
Part of the agreement
under the heading, “no
public statement”, reads
that no formal announce-
ment would be made by
the park district regarding
Vettel’s resignation and,
if asked, the district will
state that Vettel voluntarily
resigned effective July 2.
The agreement also calls for
the severance agreement
itself to remain confiden-
tial and not be discussed by
either Vettel or the elect-
ed Park Board members.
North Dakota’s open meet-
ings law, however, required
that it be disclosed when
The Forum requested it
since it involves taxpayer
money and the district is a
taxing entity.
As executive director,
Vettel oversaw the equiva-
lent of about 700 full-time
employees and an annual
budget of about $27 mil-
lion. Vettel’s job with the
park district started with a
salary of $145,000 in 2016.
Since the July 2 meeting,
park district officials and
Vettel have been silent on
why Vettel chose to resign.
Vettel issued a written
statement on Wednesday,
June 3, but it shed lit-
tle light on what precip-
itated his departure from
the job he held for about
three years.
Vettel replaced former
executive director Roger
Gress, who retired at the
end of 2016 after 20 years
with the park district.
Before becoming exec-
utive director, Vettel had
served on the park dis-
trict board about a dozen
years, serving twice as
board president.
In the written statement
Vettel released on July 3, he
stated he had taken the job
with a “vision and dream
of improving upon our
wonderful park district.”
“This was a huge under-
taking and I recognize I
had huge shoes to fill,”
Vettel wrote in the state-
ment, adding that he had
done the job to the best of
his ability but felt he could
“no longer continue in the
role as executive director.”
Asked for comment
this week, Vettel said in
a text message that he
was spending quality time
with his family and look-
ing forward to assisting
with the USA Wrestling
Tournament set for next
week at the Fargodome.
“This event is special
to me, and I have had the
privilege of working with
the tournament for over
25 years,” Vettel said.
He added that he has
made no decisions involv-
ing his professional future.
“My family and I will
always be strong sup-
porters of this wonder-
ful community, and I
look forward to finding
new ways to continue to
serve,” Vettel said.
Vettel’s interim replace-
ment, Dave Leker, most
recently served as the park
district’s deputy director.
When Vettel was chosen
as executive director of the
park district, he and Leker
were the two finalists for
the job.
The special meeting held
July 2 lasted about an hour
and a half. The agenda for
the meeting had one item
listed, which was described
as “HR/Staff Review.”
While no official infor-
mation has been disclosed
that would underscore
possible issues between
Vettel and other park dis-
trict officials, two park
district supervisors left the
park district during Vettel’s
tenure, including Jim Lar-
son, who had worked for
the park district for about
25 years, most recently as
director of finance.
Larson is now finance
director for the city of
West Fargo.
The other supervisor who
left under Vettel’s ten-
ure was Jenny Satter, who
headed human resources
for the park district.
Larson declined to talk
about the recent shakeup
at the park district, but
he said much was accom-
plished during the 25
years he worked for the
park district, particular-
ly, he said, the years he
worked for Roger Gress.
Vettel came to the park
district job after a long
career in the Fargo Police
Department, which he
joined in 1997.
Readers can reach reporter
Dave Olson at 701-241-5555.

WASHOUT Regional Hospital and

later airlifted to Bismarck.
County team, which con-
sists of sheriff’s depart-
way Patrol sent aircraft to
survey the area, Lt. Steven
ASSAULT
From Page A1 Their names were not ment and Bismarck Rural Fischer said. From Page A1
of the South Dakota line immediately released, and Fire Department mem- The highway could be
2016, the Fargo
by 7 inches of rain that the nature of their inju- bers, considered sending closed for a week, accord-
Diocese said.
fell overnight, according ries was unclear. There personnel to assess the ing to Landeis.
Attorneys for the
to Sioux County Sheriff were no passengers in site but decided to send “If we keep getting rain, woman will argue
Frank Landeis. either vehicle. the team and equipment there’s no way they can Wright was sent back
The driver of a Sitting A swiftwater rescue as soon as possible. work on it,” he said. to the community for
Bull College bus was air- team, a dive team and “It’s a very difficult situ- Edwards confirmed that counseling in an effort to
lifted to a Bismarck hos- a drone operator from ation,” he said. “Commu- Tuesday night, saying the resolve the alleged sex-
pital, Faith said, and a Burleigh County went to nication is limited. Cell- road is closed “indefinitely.” ual assault, saying that
tribal worker rescued the scene about noon, phone communication in “Mother Nature showed move was “inadequate
from the back of his pick- Sheriff Kelly Leben said. that area is not the easiest.” us she’s still the boss,” and reprehensible,” the

NEW JOB OPENINGS

up was taken to Mobridge He and the Burleigh
GAMES
From Page A1
called Clown Toss, where
players are given two
baseballs and must knock
over two clown pins to win.
HOUR
The North Dakota High- he said. advisory said. Lawyers
also plan to speak about
the “troubling public
safety danger and lack
Tips for winning carnival games of information regard-
For games that involve hitting and knocking making it more prone to bouncing off the hoop ing the whereabouts and
over or breaking a target, like a bottle or pin: or backboard more than you’d expect. status” of Wright, the
It doesn’t matter how good your aim is if your advisory said.
Balloon throws with darts or balls: Similar
throw isn’t hard enough to move a potentially to other target games, force is more important When asked about
weighted target. Aim toward the bottom of than accuracy. The balloons are usually under-

Although he wasn’t able
to hit two of the clowns,
Younggren succeeded in
knocking over one of the
pins, proving they hadn’t
been rigged to be too
heavily weighted.
Up next was Ternes
as she tried her hand at
the M.R. Ducks Ringateria
game.
“If you want to see if
these games are winnable,
I’m not sure I’m the right
person,” she laughed,
but she was able to
successfully land a ring on
one of the floating ducks.
The team also checked
out a football tossing
game called GridIron,
making the operator show
that the holes were large
enough for the football
to fit through, a common
rigging trick for games
ADDED
EVERY
your target, but keep in mind that force, not
the current status of
inflated, making them tougher to pierce, so a Wright, Braun deferred
accuracy, is ultimately what will help you win. hard throw is going to serve you best.
There aren’t prizes for simply hitting the target if questions to the Society
it doesn’t break or move as required. Ring toss: The rings are often a bit small for
of Our Lady. “Due to
whatever they’re supposed to fit over, and tend
For basketball tosses: These are among
to be lightweight. Snapping your wrist will help the pending litigation,
the most difficult games for carnival-goers the Diocese of Fargo will
stabilize the ring and help it settle over your
to win for a couple of reasons. They aren’t
target rather than bouncing off of it. have no further com-
unwinnable, but players need to adapt to a few
alterations to the hoop. Standard basketball BB gun games where you have to shoot a ment on this matter,”
hoops are circular, but carnivals sometimes target on a piece of paper: Not only are the Braun said.
use hoops that are slightly oval-shaped. The guns notoriously inaccurate, but physics starts Braun did not com-
hoops are also usually higher and farther away to work against you during this type of game. ment on whether there
than players are probably used to, so try to get After a few shots go through the paper, there
are other allegations
as close as possible with your feet and lean isn’t enough stress left to rip out more of the
in before shooting. It’s also better to attempt design. Try shooting around the design so it against Wright or if the
clean shots. The ball is often over-inflated, will fall away completely. church told the woman
it was her fault, nor
did he address the
requiring players to throw inspection didn’t turn up and partnering call to loosen civil law
a ball through a hole. any violations. organization Murphy limitations.
They also inspected Zundel said mostly the Brothers Exposition have The Fargo Diocese has
Q.COM
basketball toss games inspection serves to put said it is reviewing its SH
and a shooting game, fair-goers at ease. “I’ve
teamed up with Crabtree
Amusements to create files before it releases its W. JOB
and found them to pass worked here for 12 years,
a new midway after
list of credibly accused W W
muster, with the team and I can’t remember clergy. It’s unclear
particularly enjoying the finding any violations,” the group they worked
when that list will be
chance to show off their he said. with in the past, Reed made public.
shooting prowess. This year, the Red River Exposition Midway, went Reach Forum reporter April
Jahner and his crew’s Valley Fair Association out of business. Baumgarten at 701-241-5417.

BRIEFS

New Life Center to for the reopening. The tially spotted floating in
celebrate re-opening event is open to the public.
the river by M.B. Johnson
For more information, Park in Moorhead at about
Thursday visit https://www.far- 4 p.m. June 29.
FARGO — The New Life gonlc.org/. The body was taken to
Center, a homeless center, the Ramsey County Medi-
shelter, food pantry, and Body pulled from cal Examiner’s Office in St.
medical respite center in river identified as Paul for identification after
Fargo, has announced the Moorhead man being pulled from the river,
re-opening of its mission MOORHEAD — A man according to the Moorhead
on Thursday, July 11. found dead in the Red Police Department.
From 4 to 6 p.m. on River late last month has Foul play is not sus-
Thursday at the north been identified as Jeffrey pected, but police say they
Fargo location, 1902 3rd Lindell, 56, of Moorhead, won’t know for sure until
Ave. N., there will be food, police said Tuesday, July 9. the final autopsy results
games, music and more Lindell’s body was ini- are available.