COMM 313: The summing up: copy edit the story below to catch everything we covered so far. That may include AP style, grammar, commas, spelling, word clutter, clichés, slow leads, fact errors, missing information, and those sneaky things, such as interpretations/judgments disguised as facts. (If you see one, make a comment in the margin.)

County Farmers may apply for emergency loans
FARGO, N.D.--Farmers in the County of Cass, ND, that have suffered physical and production losses because of major flooding, excessive precipitation, serious drought, severe heat, insect perils, disease, hail and damaging wind conditions, which occurred from May 1 through November 31, and continuing may now apply for Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans, federal agriculture Credit offi er Joseph Blow told the Cass County Commission Monday.

Adverse weather has caused the extension of the deadline to file, stated Blow. Agricultural field entrepreneurs have 8 months to file the deadline is the end of October. “As a matter of principal, the standard deadline is usually long enough,” stated Blow, “but our weather has been severe enough to keep farmers away from this years federal assistance program. We’re trying to be more flexible.”

There are payments available to any and all farmers who’s losses can be well documented. Blow says a total of $5 million has been earmarked by Congress for relief to farmers. At their regular meeting Monday, the Cass County Commission debated the merits of accellerating payments to farmers impacted by natural disaster.

While the federal program appears to be a no-brainer for the county, commissioners are divided over the wisdom of accepting federal money. “I appreciate his well meaning attempt to help us, but it still seems to me that federal loans should not be tied to bad weather,” said commissioner Polly Tique. “Farmers are prey to miriad economic problems they have no more control over than the snow.” What she believes is that the bottom line concerning government loans is that they should be available more generally to farmers. She noted statistics show fewer and fewer family farms are viable economic entities at the present time, “and that’s disasterous.”

Tired from a long day in the field, the meeting was almost too intense for commission chair Farr Moll. He responded, “I agree farmers may need federal help sometimes,” he said. “We as a commission don’t have the authority to designate when and where, however.” He said that nearly every weak he meets a farmer, whose thankful for Washington support. We’d best let sleeping dogs lay, he emphasized, instead of complaining about farmers and they’re federal support programs, which are optional anyway. “I think we ought to encourage these federal progams bringing money to the county. And if we don’t like the way its handled, we can complain to our congressmen, and not at a public meeting.”

Grant pays for replacement computers
FISHBAKE FALLS, N.D.--Thanks to a federal grant program, Fishbake Falls School District will install sixteen new Macintosh computers at its high school computer facility this fall. Principle Irving C. Nern said many of the facilitys computers were partly destroyed after precipitation from weather leaked through the school roof. The computer classroom is located on the north side of the building. By the time the leak was discovered at 8 a.m. in the morning, the district had lost equipment worth a total of $10,000 in cash.

According to Nern, the roof leak began all of a sudden. The maintenance staff made an investigation of the incident, and reported two twin problems with the air conditioner and sprinkler units. There are affected classroom facilities on the north and east sides of the high school building. Nern stated that it cost the sum of 2,000 dollars to replace worn building materials. Asked if the school district plans to inspect the rest of the building, Nern commented, "We have hired a maintenance service to evaluate the entire building."

While the district is thankful for the new computers, the bottom line is that several parties still are in need of new machines. At the present time students must accomodate faculty who need the equipment to write lesson plans. The school board plans to discuss this thorn in its side at their regular meeting on Monday at 7 PM in the Fishbake Community Center.    

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