Dakota Beacon

“Everyone is forewarned.” -- A Bismarck Tribune editorial warned of 6,000 additional oil wells in the state in the next three years -- more than are currently producing. The Tribune said, “This kind of ‘big surge’ means more of everything — good and not so good.” The “you ain't seen anything yet” tone of the editorial cautioned that it will take a major effort to maintain balance in western ND traffic.

“One glance at the Williston Herald in recent weeks makes it look like we live in a city overrun with criminals.” -- A Herald editorial hastened to assure everyone that Williston was really full of good people making the best of challenging times.

Lloyd Omdahl may be the state’s most widely read columnist. The former lieutenant governor appears in four Forum papers as well as the Bismarck Tribune. At times he is hard to follow and seems to deliberately circle a subject. His column this week was about the disappearance of Christian mores in ND and American culture. Does Omdahl think the trend is unstoppable? He wrote, “Times have changed, and the unfounded argument that America was created as a Christian country doesn’t carry any water these days.” Or was he mounting a rallying cry? He also wrote, “Forget about the government. The Christian community must assume responsibility for its own values.” He said the church needs to revolutionize its methods of teaching.

Heidi Heitkamp’s first speech in the U.S. Senate was in support of a proposed law allowing states to collect sales taxes on Internet sales. But before digging into her subject, Heitkamp felt it important to tell the Senate she grew up in little Mantador, ND (near Wahpeton), a place where people of different backgrounds work together. ND’s other senator, John Hoeven, spoke briefly to congratulate Heitkamp on her first floor speech and “spirit of bipartisanship.”

“The tribe is still talking about those needs.” -- GF Herald writer Chuck Haga noted that in 1970 the Spirit Lake tribe hosted a conference on child welfare. The conference centered on needs: family counseling, juvenile delinquency programs and better housing. Haga’s article dealt with the issue of Indian foster children placed in white homes.

The late Al Neuharth (89) was not a Nodak, but the state would be happy to claim him. He was born in Eureka, South Dakota, immediately south of ND’s Lawrence Welk Country. The former chairman of Gannett newspapers had characteristics of the type admired in ND. He was both a first rate journalist and an equally adept entrepreneur. He had the courage and foresight to create USA Today. Under his direction Gannett became the nation’s largest and most profitable newspaper chain. Although he seemed like a giant, he was just 5-foot-7, but had no shortage of ego. He had a fondness for black and white clothing and wives. Neuharth’s first wife was a South Dakota girl, his second wife was a Florida legislator, and his third a chiropractor 26 years younger than himself.

“It’s a restaurant where you find elegant meals with a unique emphasis on North Dakota cuisine.” -- In her “Eatbeat” column, Herald restaurant critic Marilyn Hagerty, gave a “thumbs up” to the 40-year-old Sanders restaurant in Grand Forks. Early in her career as a journalist, Hagerty was a colleague of Al Neuharth.

Was it an interesting coincidence? Moorhead State University President Edna Szymanski was profiled in a Forum series about “Women of influence.“ The article said she “gets results with unconventional leadership style.” Another article in the same issue quoted her as saying the university lost a “significant amount” of donor money for hosting and honoring William Ayers, a former terrorist. As a result, the university is receiving “institutional and personal threats” creating a need for greater security.

“Some of the projects can’t wait. One of them is the renovation of the UND Law School.” -- Herald columnist Tom Dennis leaned hard urging the Legislature to fund a $12 million upgrade. Dennis gave numerous reasons and noted the ABA threatened to pull the school’s accreditation because of its cramped 90-year-old building.

It’s the time of the year for property tax assessments. Residential assessments in Dickinson rose 26 percent; commercial properties were up 42 percent. Williston assessments rose double digits in both categories. Property taxes will not necessarily rise in the same proportions, because tax rates are set in a separate process. A Dickinson home valued at $100,000 ten years ago is well over $300,000 today.

“A stitch in time saves nine.” -- This old proverb was probably on the minds of Fargo leaders as they filled over 1 million sandbags in preparation for a record flood. It now looks like about 100,000 bags will be needed.

Quite frequently, obituaries in the northern Red River Valley note the deceased was an avid UND Fighting Sioux fan. Alan Monsebroten (57), pictured wearing green Sioux clothing, was one; he had also been a member of the St. Cloud Singing Saints. Leon Robinson (87) of Fargo was musically inclined too, playing his guitar many years with The Minnesota Wood Choppers. He was also an artist and maintained both avocations while working 40 years for the Burlington Northern.

DAKTOIDS: The sheriff of Dunn County quit his job to get better pay as an oil field truck driver. No problem -- nine “would be sheriffs” applied for his job . . . Volatility is a big part of ND weather -- on April 21, 1980, Fargo’s temperature reached 100 degrees, on April 23 the high was 26 . . . Minot turned the Amtrak Depot into a showcase, and then came the Souris River flood of 2011 -- after a two years, the depot (one of the busiest stops between Seattle and Chicago) is back in business