Unheralded

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Rhode Island

Melissa Leet scored a career-high 15 points and Julia Fleecs added 13 to lead the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team to a 67-61 win over the University of Rhode Island on Friday afternoon in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Leet added five blocks and three steals and Fleecs had a game-high nine rebounds for the Fighting Hawks, who raised their …


Unheralded

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — Remembering The Dead

If I were at home, I would probably take the day off. I woke up achy and miserable, after hacking all night with a cold our group seems to be sharing. At first, I was feeling sorry for myself knowing I couldn’t take a bread. I needed to charge through. But then I thought of all of the people we …


CLAY JENKINSON: The Jefferson Watch — Whose Idea Was This Anyway?

Clay Jenkinson wrote this Tuesday. I don’t deserve to pretend to be Thomas Jefferson. Not only don’t I speak and write French and Italian, but I have virtually none of Jefferson’s famous organizational skills. My home library has more than 20,000 volumes now, and though I have a relatively logical library classification system, I have a hard time finding books …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — When I Was A Stranger, You Welcomed Me

What would you do if, all of a sudden,  your city was overwhelmed with desperate people? They gave everything they had to get to your city  to legally claim asylum, fleeing violence and government oppression and starvation due to climate change. But after claiming asylum and being held in the “ice box” detention center for up to to 30 days …

TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — Watergate And The “Witch Hunt”

Public impeachment hearings began in the House this week in Washington. They weren’t just seen on the cable news networks this time. Daytime game shows and soap operas gave way to the first public testimony on the major broadcast networks as well. Some of us of a certain age recall another set of Washington hearings, the Watergate hearings. By some …

RON SCHALOW: Trump Gang Of Invertebrates Retools Messaging

“As some of you may have noticed before the formalities took the cocktail weenies right out of my mouth, I’m presently talking more like a normal person to give my jowls a rest. Do not be alarmed. It’s not easy to mimic the look of having no bones or teeth below the nose. Just lips and skin. It makes me …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — The Truth About What Happens At The Border

What really happens when someone comes across the border and asks for asylum? That is a question many ask, hearing so many proclaim the stories of abuse as fake news. Pastor Rose Mary Sanchez, an ELCA pastor serving at Iglesia Luterano Cristo Rey in El Paso, Texas, knows. She serves a small congregation where only eight of the families that …

CLAY JENKINSON: The Jefferson Watch — The Incomprehensible Machine

I’m fascinated and troubled by the mystery of Thomas Jefferson. I’m reading a biography in which he is working hard in 1784, spending political capital, to try to convince the Continental Congress to outlaw slavery in the American West. Jefferson is working on his celebrated Bill for the Government of the Western Territories. He reckons that if we can keep …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — Red Oak House Tenth Anniversary

November is our 10th anniversary at Red Oak House and the longest I’ve lived in one place in my lifetime. The explanation for my peripatetic life is, in part, that I was an Army brat. Looking back, I think that my heart was seeking the perfect match for my home and didn’t find it until we bought Red Oak House. I …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — In Memory Of Joshua Birchem

This is different from my usual blogs. This is the sermon I preached at the funeral for my nephew, Joshua, who lost his battle with depression on Sept 30, 2019. He was 20 years old and a sophomore at Gustavus Adolphus. He was a beloved son, brother, cousin, nephew and friend. His loss left a hole and I am sharing …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Michigan Tech University

Jordan Kawaguchi, Matt Kierstad and Gavin Hain scored goals and goalie Adam Scheel stopped 14 of 15 shots to lead the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to a 3-1 win over Michigan Tech University in the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks have won seven straight U.S. Hockey …

MICHAEL BOGERT: Photo Gallery — A Trip To Remember

Grand Forks photographer Michael Bogert and his wife, Mary Bauer, recently returned from a trip to that took them through North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Sights taken in included Yellowstone National Park, Lucky Peak Recreation Area, Payette River and the Badlands and Sully’s Hill in North Dakota. These images are just a portion of what caught his eye.

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — A $30,000 Check And A $100,000 Bond

It looks like Wylie Bice is going to have to write a check for $30,000 to the U.S. government and tuck away $100,000 in a bond bank somewhere as his penalty for building an illegal bridge on public land in the Bad Lands. (If you’re not familiar with this story, here’s the background.) Those are the numbers being floated around …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — A Discordant Melody That Refuses To Be Silenced

Today we crossed the border and entered into the reality of the struggles of those who live in Juarez, Mexico, and those who are forced to wait there as they seek asylum. It was a short trip across the river and a long journey into the depths of human pain. It was hard to comprehend that the squalor in Juarez …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — An Asylum Policy Gone Awry

Imagine you have walked for months from El Salvador to the United States with your family, fleeing threats of death from where you came and untold horrors on the journey. You finally arrive in Juarez, Mexico, and legally present yourself for asylum. Then the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent takes your family into a room and they take your …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — What Are You Doing?

“Don’t come here asking what you can do at the border to help. The work that must be done is where you came from.” So began Ruben Garcia, advocate for asylum seekers and the founder of Annunciation House, a place of refuge that houses those who have come to the El Paso, Texas, border seeking asylum. He told our delegation, …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — A Broken Immigration System

Nothing about the current immigration crisis in our country is simple or easy. After one day as part of the Abriendo Fronteras/Opening Borders delegation, spending six days in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, exploring issues related to immigration, that is my greatest take away. Our morning began early, at 6 am. The group of 16 — which includes our two …

TOM COYNE: Back In Circulation — Promises, Progress And Penn State

As an instructor at Brown College several years ago, I taught a course in Broadcast Sales. I recall there were two cardinal rules, supposedly instrumental for success: 1. When working with a client, be sure to underpromise, but overdeliver. 2. A-B-C stands for Always Be Closing. University of Minnesota football Coach P. J. Fleck is now in his third season …

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — ‘Do What You Want, But Stay Off Of My Little Mo’

Here’s part of an article that appears in the November issue of Dakota Country magazine, on the newsstands now. “If we find the moral courage to save the Little Missouri River Valley today, we will congratulate ourselves 100 years from now, just as we congratulate Theodore Roosevelt for bucking the industrial zeitgeist a hundred years ago to set aside 230 …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — Beneath Human Dignity

I cannot show you any photos of the women whose stories we heard today because their lives are at risk. But it broke me. We heard from five of the six women living in a safe house in Juarez, Mexico. They all fled their native Central American countries with their children  because they were facing death threats from the police …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings by Barbara La Valleur — St. John’s Pottery Johanna Kiln

The firing of the Johanna Kiln, the largest wood-burning kiln in North America at St. John’s University and Abbey in central Minnesota only happens every two years. The 87-foot-long brick kiln was designed and built 25 years ago by the university’s master potter and artist in residence Richard Bresnahan, along with help from apprentices and volunteers.  The latest firing was completed …

RON SCHALOW: Why Won’t Kelly Armstrong Leak Testimony?

What the hell is going on? Why isn’t Congressman Kelly Armstrong patriotically leaking the great impeachment news — that the lamestream media refuses to report — that would exonerate Donald Trump of airtight charges stemming from a super successful witch hunt? The congressman is sitting right there as the “never Trumpers” testify. It’s the least he can do if he were …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Bemidji State University

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team completed a weekend sweep of Bemidji State University with a 4-1 win Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Grant Mismash, Colton Poolman, Mark Senden and Jonny Tychonick scored for the Fighting Hawks, who improved to 4-1-1. Aaron Miller scored the lone goal for the Beavers (0-2-2). UND Goalie Adam Scheel had19 saves, …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Montana State University

A fourth quarter blocked punt in the end zone by Alex Cloyd and recovery for a touchdown by Jason Coley propelled the University of North Dakota football team to a 16-12 win over No. 9 Montana State University on Saturday in the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. Quarterback Nate Ketteringham was 27-of-36 for 220 yards for UND (5-3), and wide receiver …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Bemidji State University

Westin Michaud’s goal just 52 seconds into overtime gave the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team a 2-1 win over Bemidji State University on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Jordan Kawaguchi scored the other goal for the Fighting Hawks (3-1-1). Owen Sillinger scored for the Beavers (0-1-2). Adam Scheel made 16 saves in goal for UND, while Zach …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — Red Oak House Garden Notes No. 55: Autumn Sunshine

On Friday, I worked joyously in the autumn sunshine at Red Oak House, on a rare still day, planting 92 tulip bulbs at the request of my husband. He had asked me last spring to plant more and when I received an email from a seed company mentioning bulbs, it hit me that there was still time. On Thursday night, …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Concordia College

Freshmen Kacie Borowicz and Lilly Keplin scored 19 and 15 respectively to lead the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team to a 98-19 exhibition win over Concordia College on Thursday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Julia Fleecs added 18 points for the Fighting Hawks, who travel to Arizona for a Thursday game against the 2019 WNIT champion Wildcats. (Check …

CLAY JENKINSON: The Jefferson Watch — The Republic On The Brink Of Collapse

“Checks and balances, Mr. Jefferson. Checks and balances,” said John Adams. We are only a republic if each of the three branches of the national government has some capacity to check the excesses of one or both of the other two. The Founding Fathers sought to ensure that no single individual or entity would ever have unlimited, unchecked power. The …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Denver

The University of North Dakota women’s soccer team was defeated 7-0 by the University of Denver in its final homestand of the season Thursday afternoon at Bronson Field. The Summit League champion Pioneers upped their record to 8-4-3 overall and 4-0-1 in the Summit. The Fighting Hawks (9-6-1 overall, 3-3-0 Summit) ended weekend play Sunday against the University of Nebraska-Omaha. …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — A Democracy At Risk

“You people with this phony Emoluments Clause.” — Donald Trump, Oct. 21, 2019 “No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” — U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 8 You …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Minnesota State University-Mankato

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team skated to a 4-4 overtime tie with second-ranked Minnesota State University-Mankato on Friday night at Mankato Civic Center in nonconference play. Westin Michaud, Harrison Blaisdell, Dixon Bowen and Jackson Keane scored for the Fighting Hawks (2-0-1), while Lucas Sowder, Edwin Hookenson, Nathan Smith and Connor Mackey scored for the Mavericks (2-0-1). UND …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — My Tomato Herb Phyllo Tart

I love to cook and I love to share food with family and friends. I’ve been cooking on my own for a crowd since I was 10 years old. The other night, I made this dish, which makes my husband very happy. Many friends requested the recipe. Here it is, a first for WildDakotaWoman. Tomato and Herb Phyllo Tart 7 …

CHUCK SCHUMACHER: Coach Chuck — Why It’s Important To Train Right

Everything we do amounts to training — intended or unintended — and you become what you’ve been trained to become. If correct movements are repeated and the correct mind-set applied, progress will be made; belief and technique are one. But if incorrect movements are repeated and they become habit, it won’t matter what you believe. If it’s a person’s goal …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. North Dakota State University

Despite Ashley Brueggeman’s second-straight double-double —17 digs and 18 kills — the University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team dropped a four-set match to in-state rival North Dakota State University on Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (9-11 overall, 1-5 Summit League) fell 22-25, 26-24, 20-25, 23-25 to the Bison (8-11 overall, 3-4 Summit). Lydia Rutten …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot the Rapids — In Memory Of A Giant … And A Challenge

“As a country, we are so much better than this, When we’re dancing with the angels, the question will be asked: In 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact?” — Elijah Cummings Elijah Cummings was the moral voice and conscience of the U.S. House of Representatives. The son of sharecroppers, he rose to the …

CHEF JEFF: One Byte At A Time — German Potato Salad

I’ll have to admit, traditional potato salad the way Mom made it and Therese’s version are high on my list of favorite foods. But a good German potato salad is hard to beat. Therese made the following recipe, an update of one in her Better Homes and Garden cookbook. It was the perfect complement to a ring of cooked beef …

NICK HENNEN: Now I See — Dakota Magic

Despite how this looks, and I suppose partially because of it, North Dakota is a beautiful place. I sometimes miss the wide openness and wildness of a good blizzard. The whole world shuts down and you can crawl under the covers with a good book for hours unnoticed. Stopping to listen to the wild wind. Appreciating the warmth of your …

TONY J BENDER: That’s Life — Our Gang’s Got a Hole in It

We all know how this works. The older we get the more often we’re reminded of it. Each entrance begets an exit. We contemplate these things as grandparents and parents get slow and gray, as we track the lines in our face in the mirror some mornings. But I never imagined a world without Gary Edwin Schlosser in it. Gare …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Canisius College

Seven different players scored goals to lead the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to an 8-1 win and a weekend sweep of Canisius College on Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Cole Smith scored twice and Gabe Bast, Mark Senden, Westin Michaud, Andrew Peski, Harrison Blaisdell and Collin Adam added single tallies for the Fighting Hawks (2-0). Austin …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — A Long-Overdue Wild Badlands Day

My family journeyed west earlier this week for a long-overdue wild Badlands day. Our first stop was to view the ongoing bison round-up at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The corrals were full of bison and from outside the fence, we watched the trailers being loaded, and we could hear the racket those massive beasts make when their bodies meet steel. …