John Bluemle’s new book, “North Dakota’s Geologic Legacy” (actually published in 2016 and now in its second printing), is a culmination of a career of more than 40 years he spent with the North Dakota Geological Survey, researching all facets of North Dakota’s geology, carrying the title of state geologist. It’s his fourth in a series of books designed, as …
Lizzie was sad Monday a week past. She saw those suitcases, and she became clingy, not sure whether she was going with us or not. For her, this time it was the kennel, as Chelsea is gone for schooling and thus her best pal not available for dog-sitting. Thus, it was that we two English majors made a road trip east, …
For most people, it’s hard to draw any comparisons to eating sauerkraut right out of the crock. That’s because making homemade sauerkraut is one of the things from the past that not may people do anymore. You can’t count my septuagenarian friend, Darrel Koehler in that group. Darrel has been making sauerkraut for years, something he learned from his parents …
Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson spent the summer working at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Here are some of the spectacular sights that caught his eye.
The University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team won its 20th straight home match, defeating the University of Montana 25-15, 22-25, 26-25, 25-19 in Big Sky Conference play Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (24-2 overall, 9-2 BSC) did have their school-record consecutive home set winning streak come to an end at 39, though, as Montana took …
At other times of year, it’s not so apparent that our neighborhood is aging. Nothing moves on those short, frozen winter days but grumpy wool-wrapped critters of indeterminate age herding snowblowers. The grass groomers mostly seem to tend to their lawns early Sunday mornings, when I’m far too drowsy to care about whether whoever’s at the helm has wrinkles. Scouts …
There has been quite a movement across this nation to focus on demeaning and horrible things happening to women in this country. To be sure, the stories on the national stage deserve the attention they are receiving. Let’s put the brakes on the current outcry, however. Let’s study the issues and do more than sensationalize and talk. Khizr Khan, an …
The Minnesota Wild dropped a 1-0 National Hockey League decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night in St. Paul’s Xcel Center. Jake Virtanen scored the game’s only goal. Anders Nilsson made 29 saves for the Canucks to pick up the shutout. (Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.)
Is it still too soon to talk about guns — and the slaughter in Las Vegas — or is too late? Who makes the timing rules? I think it’s Sean Hannity, who is in some unholy alliance with Bobo, aka the president of the United States, who is so short on brain juice that he’ll believe or lie about damn near anything. …
Even with hundreds of television channels, HBO and all the rest to watch, and Netflix, Amazon and Hulu to stream, sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be “much” on TV. So, every once in awhile, Ginny and I like to watch “What’s My Line?” The 1950s and ’60s game show is seen currently in all its glorious black and white-ishness …
Christian Wolanin scored two goals to lead the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to a 4-0 win over the University of Minnesota on Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The victory for the Fighting Hawks (4-1-1) gave them a split of the weekend series with the Gophers (3-3). Minnesota won the Friday night opener 2-1. Nick Jones and Colton …
It has truly been a lovely autumn here in Bismarck. On Sunday, our small aspen grove rewarded us with golden glory. Three of the aspen trees were a gift from dear Sheila Schafer, as a tribute to Jim’s late mother. Sheila came over to watch Cashman Nursery plant the trees. She loved to see trees planted and frequently gave these …
Grand Forks photographer recently spent some time at “a place in Minnesota,” and this is what caught his eye.
A fourth-quarter comeback fell short for the University of North Dakota football team Saturday in the Alerus Center, as the Fighting Hawks dropped a 34-27 decision to Sacramento State University in a matchup of Big Sky Conference foes. UND (2-6, 1-4 BSC) and Sacramento State (4-3, 3-1 BSC) were tied 10-10 at halftime before the Hornets opened up a 24-10 lead in …
University of Minnesota goalie Eric Schierhorn stopped 34 of 35 shots as the Gophers defeated the University of North Dakota 2-1 in their first visit to Ralph Engelstad Arena since January 2012. Rhett Gardner scored the only goal for North Dakota (3-1-1), while Rem Pitlick and Steve Johnson tallied for Minnesota (3-2) in the nonconference game between the traditional rivals. Fighting …
One of Us The other day, I ran into a friend who wondered why I couldn’t get with the program, like the rest of the Republicans in my neck of the woods. I explained I’m not really anti-Republican, I am pro-common sense. Since these days we are entitled to our own facts, along with entire networks to support them, please …
Well, on Thursday I said it to Jim. That statement that comes around every year: “I don’t want to see another tomato again for quite awhile.” By this point, we’ve converted thousands of tomatoes (Jim says over 1,700, plus my sister gave us some of hers) into salsa, juice, marinara — and Thursday, I canned 14 quarts of tomato basil …
The University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team ran its home winning streak to 18 behind three different players who recorded double-doubles in defeating Idaho State University 25-22, 27-25, 25-16 in Big Sky Conference action Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Faith Dooley (10 kills, 10 blocks), Tamara Merseli (10 kills, 14 digs) and Sydney Griffin (40 assists, 10 digs) all scored double-doubles, …
Grand Forks photographer Dave Bruner has been out for several days this fall photographing the fall colors in our area. Here are some of the spectacular images he’s captured.
My close friends and husband know that the musician Lucinda Williams rocks my world. Has since I first listened to her decades ago. I have all of her recordings, and I’m currently listening to “Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone” in my car. She is the daughter of the late poet Miller Williams and a fierce songwriter. I’ve been …
Grand Forks Central closed out its 2017 high school football season on a winning note, defeating Fargo North 28-27 on Wednesday night at Cushman Field in Grand Forks. A 5-yard touchdown pass from Zach Murphy to Caleb Johnson and and the extra-point kick by Lucas Kanta with 3:03 left in the game gave the Knights the win. Murphy finished the …
Tuesday morning, I worked in the cool autumn sunshine on yard chores, getting things done before the snow flies. First, I tackled the pile of limbs we had accumulated over the summer in our trailer, breaking and sawing up the branches to add to our kindling pile. Lizzie the springer spaniel happily nosed around in the fallen leaves and disappeared …
In the interests of humanity, the lives of the people of our country should have priority. Hence, funds that would have been appropriated for the wall will instead be diverted to rebuilding the devastated communities. That would include infrastructure and replacement of utilities, as well as immediate provision of food and medical care, including the means to “deliver” them. We …
Grand Forks photographer Michael Bogert recently took a walk along the Red River and did his best to catch one of these great horned owls in flight but to no avail.
Jim and I maintain a lifelong love affair with the Little Missouri River. It is one of the things that most deeply bond us together. We know every mile of this river intimately. What follows is my letter of last week to North Dakota Department of Transportation regarding the Long X Bridge project. The bridge is near to the North …
The North Dakota Legislature approved, and Gov. Doug Burgum signed, legislation last May authorizing the use of water from the Little Missouri State Scenic River for fracking oil wells. Now our state engineer, Garland Erbele, has issued industrial water permits authorizing more than 2.1 billion (that’s 2,142,000,000) gallons of water to be taken from the river. So far. The withdrawals …
Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson and his wife, Joanne Plager Burke Olson, recently traveled to upstate New York and took in a few sights, including hiking trails in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, Fort Ticonderoga and Split Rock Falls.
Grand Forks photographer Dave Bruner was out in the southwestern part of North Dakota recently doing some bird hunting. The hunting wasn’t so good, but the fall colors were full. So, he ventured out in mornings and evenings to capture these images.
The University of North Dakota fell to 2-5 and 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference after the University of Montana (5-2, 3-1 BSC) scored a 41-17 victory over the Fighting Hawks Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula. Montana redshirt freshman Gresch Jensen overcame a shaky start to finish the game with 423 yards passing and four touchdowns. The Fighting Hawks were playing without …
“But your solitude will be your home and haven even in the midst of very strange conditions, and from there you will discover all your paths.” — Ranier Maria Rilke My path this past week took me to North Dakota’s Roughrider Country. Our first stop was a meeting of the Little Missouri River Commission in Dickinson, where we bore witness …
The West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs handed Grand Forks Red River a 41-15 loss Thursday night at Cushman Field in Grand Forks. The loss dropped Red River to 0-8 on the season, while Cheyenne improved to 6-2. (Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.)
“Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it,” the wise man said. And you might not like what you get, I might add. That’s what I was thinking about four hours into last week’s second meeting of the newly reconstituted Little Missouri Scenic River Commission. I’ve been harping for a couple of years on the idea …
An interview I did with Dan Keating of KMAV/KMSR Radio in Mayvillle stirred up some memories for me earlier today. Clomping down memory lane a bit. For me, before there was television, there was radio. And before there was television news, there was radio programming. KMAV is where I picked up my first paycheck in broadcasting “some” years ago. In …
Sometimes it’s just too much. Mass shootings. Hurricanes. Nazis. Nukes. Juvenile name-calling by bullies in D.C. Eroding civil rights. Immigrant-bashing. Wildfires in wine country. And then Tom Petty dies, and the petunias freeze. It takes a strong stomach to keep up with the news these days. For the past — oh, 11 and a half months or so — I’ve been …
Brock Long, Trump’s FEMA administrator, wins first place as the most cold-blooded person this week. While emergency supplies have still not been distributed to the citizens of Puerto Rico, and while the people plead for food and clean water; die for lack of medical care because of lack of energy; and basically suffer through the aftermath of the hurricane — …
When I don’t know what else to do, I like to take walks. Or write. Yesterday, I did both. The walk had to come first, because I find it helps me think a bit more before attempting to just pound out random thoughts. That’s always a good thing. And the cool, cloudy conditions were definitely a factor in my brisker-than-normal …
Grand Forks Red River defeated crosstown rival Grand Forks Central 25-16, 25-10, 25-18 in girls high school volleyball Tuesday night on the Knights’ home court. The Roughriders were led by Maggie Steffen, who had 15 kills. Korri Gust, Bailey Jaeger and Jaylin Perrault had four kills each to lead the Knights. Red River upped its record to 6-9 in Eastern …
“A mosaic is a conversation between what is broken.” — “Finding Beauty in a Broken World,” a book by Terry Tempest Williams In what has been described by many as a “soul-crushing week” in the United States, I’m trying my damnest to focus on the blessings and gifts in my life. One of the finest gifts of friendship in my …
A late goal in the second half by Myah Merino gave the University of Idaho a 2-1 win over the University of North Dakota in Big Sky Conference women’s soccer Sunday afternoon at Bronson Field. Merino’s goal broke the tie after UND freshmen Mimi Eiden scored her second goal of the season just eight minutes earlier. Taylor Brust scored the other …
“That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality — your soul, if you will — is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. … Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.” — George Saunders My next door neighbor’s ash …
Twenty-seven years ago this past week (Oct. 3, 1990) is a date I won’t soon forget. It was the “reunification” of Germany. East met West or rather East reunified with the West. For the world, it was a huge celebration — The Wall Fell — it was a strike for freedom, it meant democracy for millions and yes, even the hope of …
Like birth, I think the hour of our death is very meaningful, whether our earthly minds allow us to solve the puzzle or not. It is drenched in meaning, here and also somewhere else. The year, month, day, hour and second — it is already written for each of us. I think I’m lucky in that I can see the light of …
One more time around for pheasants and Paul Southworth Bliss, in honor of Saturday’s 2017 Pheasant Season Opener. This will be my 59th pheasant season. Actually more because before I was 12 in 1959, when my dad bought me my first shotgun, I had tagged along since I was able to keep up with him in the field, probably starting …
Bloomington, Minn., photographer Dave Vorland recently returned home from a trip to California. Here are some of the view he and his traveling companions saw while in the Golden State.