Beulah Beacon

05/31/2026

Voters will be choosing among three candidates for city of Beulah’s new mayor and three candidates are running uncontested for ward seats during the June 9 Primary Election.
With current Mayor Sean Cheatley not seeking reelection, voters will choose a new mayor among three candidates – Jeff Gooss, Olivia Akin and Lucinda “Cindy” Johnson. Cheatley served as a Ward 4 councilman and replaced former mayor Jeff Gooss following a contentious recall election process in 2023.
Each of the city’s four wards has one seat that will be vacant. Mike Heidel is running for the Ward 1 seat, KC Unruh for Ward 2 and Kevin Herrmann is running for Ward 4.
Herrmann was appointed to council in October, filling the vacancy left by Gary Miller, who resigned last August. If Heidel is elected, he will take over the seat currently filled by Tim Aichele, who is finishing out a term that was vacated by Dave Czywczynski, who resigned and moved out of state. Unruh, if elected, will fill the seat currently held by Jason Isaak, whose term is ending.

There is also a vacant seat in Ward 3, however, once the new mayor and council members are sworn in, council will have to appoint a Ward 3 resident to the seat as no one registered to run in the Primary Election. The seat has been vacant since February, when Gina Campbell resigned. Campbell was appointed to fill the seat after Auston Biles resigned.

Tonia Knudson and Ryan Ahlschlager are running for a seat uncontested on the city’s park board.

City voters will also weigh on a measure of whether they would want to allow residents within the city limits to own a limited number of chickens on their property. This will not determine the official outcome of the ordinance. It is merely providing feedback information to the city to see the amount of local support the proposed ordinance draft has as written.

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Voters will be choosing among three candidates for city of Beulah’s new mayor and three candidates are running uncontested for ward seats during the June 9 Primary Election. With current Mayor Sean Cheatley not seeking reelection, voters will choose a new mayor among three candidates – Jeff Goos...

05/29/2026

Beulah High School’s Class of 2026 included 45 students who celebrated the end of their high school careers with a graduation ceremony Sunday, May 24.

The ceremony, held at the high school gymnasium, opened with a welcoming presentation by Beulah Public Schools Superintendent Carl Blackhurst. The Class of 2026’s top honor students, Jonas Braun and Norah Richter, then presented the class with their speeches.

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

Beulah High School’s Class of 2026 included 45 students who celebrated the end of their high school careers with a graduation ceremony Sunday, May 24. The ceremony, held at the high school gymnasium, opened with a welcoming presentation by Beulah Public Schools Superintendent Carl Blackhurst. The ...

05/28/2026

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION:
* Beulah High School Class of 2026 graduation recap
* BPS board’s Dwight Hatzenbuhler reflects on 22-year career
* PRIMARY ELECTIONS: City of Beulah candidates Q&A

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

05/28/2026

One male suspect is hospitalized after a six-hour shooting stand-off with multiple law enforcement agencies in Beulah on the afternoon of May 27.

A Beulah man was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Bismarck after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound during a six-hour stand-off with law enforcement at the man’s home on 2nd Ave. NW, just east of Bronson’s Marketplace on Main Street, according to Beulah Police Chief Frank Senn.

The incident began when a Mercer County Sheriff officer and Beulah police officer contacted the man at the man’s house to investigate a felony case. The man then began firing a weapon and the Mercer County deputy returned fire. Multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency first responders arrived on scene and secured a two-block radius around the home.

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

One male suspect is hospitalized after a six-hour shooting stand-off with multiple law enforcement agencies in Beulah on the afternoon of May 27. A Beulah man was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Bismarck after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound during a six-hour stand-off with law en...

05/22/2026

Despite advancing steadily through three large subcommittee meetings, a draft ordinance for data centers in Mercer County fell flat when appearing before the full planning and zoning board May 13.

Ultimately, no vote was actually taken on the draft. A motion to approve the draft never received a second, resulting in the failure of both motion and draft and a return to the drawing board.

However, comments from a couple of zoning board members, as well as some concerns voiced in the crowd, pointed to reasons why the draft did not provide what the board was looking for in an ordinance.

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

Despite advancing steadily through three large subcommittee meetings, a draft ordinance for data centers in Mercer County fell flat when appearing before the full planning and zoning board May 13. Ultimately, no vote was actually taken on the draft. A motion to approve the draft never received a sec...

05/22/2026

Every day at Beulah Public Schools, Bev Frank tries to have at least 120 conversations a day.

“It’s a good thing I like talking,” laughed Frank, who was recently named Mercer County’s Teacher of the Year by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Frank, who currently teaches seventh grade world geography, eighth grade U.S. history and exploratory German, said she makes it a point to try and talk with all 120 students she teaches. For the past 18 years, it has made her successful in her profession as a teacher. It is what she believes has helped her win this year’s award.

“It’s pretty cool,” she said. “I felt really honored when I found out, but I also felt a little guilty because there are so may deserving teachers here. After many years of teaching, though, it’s always nice to be recognized.”

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

Every day at Beulah Public Schools, Bev Frank tries to have at least 120 conversations a day. “It’s a good thing I like talking,” laughed Frank, who was recently named Mercer County’s Teacher of the Year by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. Frank, who currently teaches seven...

05/21/2026

Whether she realizes it or not, Myleana Dostal was destined for the culinary arts.

The Beulah High School senior, who is set to graduate with the Class of 2026, Sunday, May 24, will be headed to Providence, Rhode Island, in the fall to attend Johnson & Wales University, which is well known for its culinary arts program.

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

Whether she realizes it or not, Myleana Dostal was destined for the culinary arts. The Beulah High School senior, who is set to graduate with the Class of 2026, Sunday, May 24, will be headed to Providence, Rhode Island, in the fall to attend Johnson & Wales University, which is well known for its c...

05/21/2026

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION:
* Settlements reached in Beulah CVB gaming investigation
* Beulah Middle School’s Bev Frank named County Teacher of the Year
* 2026 Beulah graduate Myleana Dostal to pursue culinary arts degree

Read the Beulah Beacon in print or online: www.centralnordak.com/the-beacon
To subscribe: www.centralnordak.com/subscribe

05/19/2026

🚨 NEWS BREAK | Beulah CVB Gaming Case

Two individuals named in the North Dakota Attorney General’s complaint involving alleged misuse of gaming funds by the Beulah Convention and Visitors Bureau have been dismissed following settlement agreements.

Granville “Beaver” Brinkman and Marcie Krumwiede were both dismissed with prejudice, meaning the complaint cannot be refiled against them based on the same facts.

The agreements state neither was accused of fraud or personal financial gain. Both denied the allegations but acknowledged there is a factual basis under which regulators could find violations.

As part of the settlements, both are permanently prohibited from participating in charitable gaming operations in North Dakota.

The complaint against the Beulah CVB remains ongoing.

👉 Read the full story early here: https://www.centralnordak.com/articles/settlements-reached-in-beulah-cvb-gaming-investigation-two-individuals-dismissed-agreements-impose-permanent-gaming-restrictions/

Or pick up a copy of the Beulah Beacon on stands tomorrow!

By Ryan Schlehuber Beulah Beacon Editor Two individuals named in the North Dakota Attorney General’s official complaint alleging illegal use of gaming funds by the Beulah Convention and Visitors Bureau have been dismissed following settlement agreements with the Attorney General’s office. Granvi...