Dakota Beacon

“But there is no such way” -- according to Tom Dennis of the GF Herald the Fighting Sioux name can’t be redeemed.  That was after saying that a supermajority of Nodaks, large numbers of people on both Sioux reservations and even the Herald’s editorial board like the name.   Almost everyone of consequence, except the NCAA and certain academics, favors the name, but it is doomed.  Are public issues supposed to be resolved this way in a democratic society?  Political correctness has a cost.  When does that cost exceed the benefit?

The Fargo Forum has been an unrelenting foe of the Fighting Sioux nickname.  For only high-minded reasons, I’m sure.  The Forum mercilessly attacks nickname supporters and chooses its victims on an equal opportunity basis.  The Spirit Lake Sioux were the Forum’s most recent target  -- the Forum characterized them as know-nothings who didn’t have “anything better to do” than “prolong the losing battle.”

Fargoans pretend to loathe the movie “Fargo,” because it’s demeaning and portrays Fargo as a place of cold, snow and hicks.  But is the dislike real?  Each September the Fargo Fest celebrates all things Fargo.  One of the most popular highlights is a showing of the Coen brothers movie on the wall of the Radisson Hotel.  Of course, the iconic woodchipper is there for all to touch and admire. 

John Irby (62) retired as editor of the Bismarck Tribune after a rich 40-year career in journalism.  Much of his career was in California (six years as managing editor of the Bakersfield Californian).  For eight years prior to his 4-1/2 years at the Trib, Irby was a journalism instructor at Washington State in Pullman.  His editorials were professional and balanced -- his critics could not decide if he was right or left.  The Trib article announcing Irby’s retirement received about 30 comments, mostly rants.  In a farewell editorial, Irby made it clear that it was such outbursts that hastened his retirement: “I am tired of being the whipping boy, by one and all.  My skin has thinned.”  

Kristen Daum writing for the Forum papers said Irby’s comments “reignited the ongoing discussion of online decorum,” especially the role of anonymous comments.  The Forum pulled back on online comments in 2010 -- the comments are still there, but less directly associated with articles.  Irby told Daum “he’s not opposed to online comments, but wants controls to encourage civil discourse.”  Minot blogger Rob Port believes “Anonymity makes people more honest.”

Is ND ready for a cowboy humorist?  State senator Ryan Taylor is a rancher near Towner who entertains with rope tricks and cowboy humor.  He also writes “Cowboy Logic,” folksy observations about life at the ranch.  Taylor announced that he is not quite a Democratic candidate for governor.

Like ND, rural Iowa has a shortage of physicians, so foreign doctors serve many communities.  The Wall Street Journal reports the doctors often know little about Iowa and vice-versa, so a hospital has hired university professors to teach new doctors about Iowa.  The course includes wise admonitions such as “In practicing medicine, it is vital to take into account that ‘life in Iowa is closely tied to the harvesting cycle.’”  Patients may refuse treatment until after harvest.

ND traffic deaths continue a frustrating pattern: In early September, the state had 79 fatalities in 74 crashes.  Alcohol was a factor in half the deaths and the wide majority of victims were thrown from their vehicles because they were not wearing seat belts.

“What is that loud, annoying horn?” -- That was Sheri Whitworth’s reaction when her car stuck on the train tracks in Dickinson about 1:30 a.m.  The train struck her car, carrying it three blocks while both the car and train engine burst into flames.  Nimble Sheri jumped out before the train hit, but was arrested for driving while drugging.

Ayla Shawntay is one of the ringleaders, she was assisted by Latesha and Mohamed.  They are among 20 defendants charged with a counterfeit check scheme at Fargo Walmart stores.  Some of the bogus checks said “Hennepin County” -- the Cass County State’s Attorney Office said this case is similar to another in which Twin Cities people came to Fargo to cash checks created on a laptop computer.

The Mountrail County city of Stanley is in the heart of oil country -- its 2010 population was 1,460.  In September, a Minneapolis developer opened a model home, one of 50 new residences to be completed by Christmas.  The open house was overwhelmed by a weekend crowd of 400 to 500 people.  The developer proposes an additional 100 homes, a grocery and a discount store.

Three of the 9/11 victims are ND natives.  One in particular is remembered in the state.  Ann Nicole Nelson was a high achieving native of Stanley who died at age 30 on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center.  Her parents have refurbished a performance hall at Minot State in her name.  She is also memorialized in the Stanley cemetery by a tall, black granite marker in the shape of the Twin Towers. 

New census data is available on income and poverty.  In 2010, ND median household income was $51,400, above the national average of $49,400 and substantially higher than Montana or South Dakota.  More surprising, median income in ND was only slightly less than Minnesota’s $52,600.  ND’s poverty rate was 12%, somewhat better than MT and SD, but higher than MN’s 10.5% rate -- ND and neighbors are well below the national rate of 15%.

ND Farmers Union President Robert Carlson plans to leave his position late this year.  He has been elected president of the World Farmers Organization, a farm advocacy group based in Rome, Italy.  WFO’s membership includes 50 farm organizations in 39 countries.

U.S. News and World Report’s best college lists are the most closely followed of many such rankings.  The rankings are broken into many categories (regional, public, private, etc.) so almost every college has a chance for a respectable ranking in some category.  In the ranking of public national universities, UND came in #89 and NDSU #100.  Montana State was ranked #108 closely followed by the U. of South Dakota, South Dakota State and U. of Montana all tied at #111.   Grand conclusion: the larger Montana, ND and SD schools are bunched together in the lower quartile of public universities.

DAKTOIDS: ND’s 2011 flooding cost $500 million dollars -- the federal government will pick up 92% . . . Enough!  Williams County (Williston) has placed a six-month moratorium on “man camps” -- the strain on roadways and water and sewer systems is too great.