Dakota Beacon

Lloyd Omdahl went outside ND in his weekly column to examine a federal judge's decision to reverse a California law banning same sex marriage.  Judge Vaughn Walker has been criticized for being an activist judge who overturned a decision of California voters -- Omdahl would have none of those arguments.  But, as he is apt to do, near the end of his column, Omdahl pivoted and declared “that Walker came to the wrong conclusion.”  Omdahl said Walker “will be reversed in the appellate process” because of “a number of unfounded suppositions and conclusions” and a failure to see a compelling state purpose for protecting traditional marriage.

Tribune columnist Clay Jenkinson has a liberal bent, but on a long drive to Kansas he listened almost exclusively to conservative talk radio.  He got an earful about Obama, Justice Elena Kagan and Judge Vaughn Walker (above).  Jenkinson does not share most of those talk show views, but believes they were spoken “from deep conviction.”  His conclusion: “We’re in for a wild ride come November.”

This year’s inductees into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame are a varied lot: The late John Odegard founded the UND School of Aerospace, actress Tippi Hedren is known for her role in the Hitchcock movie “The Birds,” Lute Olson achieved records as basketball coach at the U. of Arizona, and the aforementioned Lloyd Omdahl is a ND newspaper columnist and former lieutenant governor.  Hedren is a Minnesota native; the other three grew up in ND.  Induction will take place in September at the Minot Norsk Hostfest.

“Jamestown and Valley City are connected and it’s important our communities grow together.”  The Jamestown Sun made this comment as it gave the local Chamber of Commerce a “bravo” for including Valley City in its leadership classes.  The “growing together” thing may be a little puzzling to residents of both cities.  They are over 30 miles apart and both lost population in the last decade.

Jamestown’s population is about 15,000. The number of Somali families applying for housing there is now 550 -- 20 Somali families live in housing provided by the Stutsman County Housing Authority, more are living in Jamestown without SCHA assistance.  Dave Klein, the executive director of SCHA, attributes the long list of applicants to a shorter waiting period in Jamestown than elsewhere.  Most Somali refugees have limited English and Jamestown public schools have instituted English Language Learning programs.

US Sen. Byron Dorgan will be stepping down after more than 40 years of public service.  He is the state’s most liberal congressman and a product of its populist history.  Friend and foe alike acknowledge his substantial influence -- the federal money he has helped siphon into the state runs into the billions.  In Grand Forks alone, Dorgan will be remembered for flood protection, efforts to keep GFAFB open, and fathering the Red River Valley Research Corridor.  GF City Council President Hal Gershman said, “I can think of no one in the history of North Dakota who has done more to improve our state in ways that will last generations.”   Republicans are in the forefront in ND these days, but Dorgan’s legacy is a substantial challenge.  How can the state both deplore federal spending and continue to love huge federal benefits?

Fargo area officials signaled they will support lowering Devils Lake by releasing water into the Sheyenne River.  However, their support comes with a price.  Fargo and West Fargo obtain drinking water from the Sheyenne and they want federal assistance for water treatment.  Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said: “Devils Lake is a real significant problem and we sit here and argue about sulfates.  But the reality is that the city of Fargo would like some assistance.”

ND continues to take heart from its students scores on national tests.  Supt. of Public Instruction Wayne Sanstead said, “We’re still above the national (average), which is always a good sign, but we’re not making any real movement upward, and the flatline bothers us.”  Sanstead was referring to the ACT test taken by graduating high school seniors.  The state had an average score of 21.5 making it #30 in the nation.  All states bordering ND have higher scores.

White students in ND (89%) score well below the national average for whites -- that should bother Mr. Sanstead most.  Many states that do poorly on an overall basis, such as New Mexico (#42) and South Carolina (#44), have scores for white students that handily beat ND.  Both NM and SC have a large percentage of either black or Hispanic students, groups which do poorly on the test in almost every state.

The Organic Seed Alliance is one of a number of environmental organizations which oppose the growing of GMO sugar beet seeds in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the sole US source of such seed.  A San Francisco federal judge has revoked the government’s approval of the seeds.  If the revocation were to stick, it could upend the US sugar beet industry for two to three years.  GMO sugar beets provide about one-half of US sugar supply.  The judge expressed little sympathy for any disruption his decision may cause.

Today’s flush of prosperity, makes it easy to forget the desperate realities of ND in the 1930s Depression.  Helen Kay Dockter Just was born in Lawrence Welk country in 1919.  As a teenager she felt fortunate to learn to sew in a program funded by the National Recovery Act.  Her world steadily improved and led to a long and productive life in Berlin, ND.  She died at 90 -- her obituary read, “Helen lived a life of humility and kindness.  She never knew an enemy and modeled grace and understanding to all.”

By mid-August, the Red River Valley reached a record number of severe weather events: 158 severe thunderstorm warnings -- 115 tornado warnings.  In all of 2009, the respective numbers were 52 and 53.  We need to blame something, let’s make it El Nino.  

DAKTOIDS: Indian tribe chairmanships are highly coveted -- they bring influence and perks.  There are 16 candidates for chair of the Three Affiliated Tribes at Ft. Berthold . . . A Tribune editorial noted the great and growing talk about Bakken crude oil in ND, but reminded readers that in 2008 ag was still 36 percent of the state’s economy (before federal payments) with another 10 percent coming from the manufacture of farm equipment . . . A man who moved from Michigan for  work summed up Williston like this: “Great jobs, bad housing.”