2007 in Review: Part 4

From the capture of a nationally-wanted fugitive to some special celebrations, July and August were busy months in the news in the area. Jim Olson has a look as his review of 2007 continues. July began with the dedication of a memorial that had been years in planning and months in construction. The Medal of Honor Memorial was christened during the Independence Day festivities at Minot’s Roosevelt Park. Among those honored were Richard Starke, who had for years searched for a way to pay tribute to the state's 18 Medal of Honor recipients, and Michael Fitzmaurice, the only living member of that exclusive group. A nationally-famous war memorial visited North Dakota in July as well. The half-scale model of the Vietnam Wall - the original stands in Washington DC - was in Harvey for a week. The wall proved to be a popular attraction with many area veterans and family members of those honored paying visits. A park that has been around most of a century celebrated its 75th birthday in July. The International Peace Garden hosted a special day to mark the milestone - a day that was attended by thousands. Another anniversary was noted in July - the 50th for a waterski club. The Skinatiques of Lake Metigoshe put on two special 50th anniversary shows that included several performers who were charter members of the club. News of the summer included a third murder case in Minot in the course of just a few months. Joshua Valasques was shot and killed - police reported finding nine spent shells near his body and determined he was shot four times. They quickly arrested Antonio Stridiron and charged him with class double A murder. He's due in court early in 2008. A man and woman suspected in murders in Louisiana, Kentucky, and Minnesota turned up in North Dakota in August. Jeremy Brooks and Coty Martinez were subjects of a national manhunt. Martinez was discovered in Drake, saying she needed food and shelter. Sheriff's department officers quickly realize...