SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - AUGUST 11, 2014
THERE’S A REASON TO BE TIMID UND is talking about a new nickname -- little more. The GF Herald calls that timid. The Herald editorial states the obvious: “The only reason UND gave up its Fighting Sioux nickname is that it was forced to do so. In other words, if the NCAA hadn’t imposed sanctions, UND still would be the Fighting Sioux, to the clear satisfaction of most people in the state.” The editorial goes on to say, essentially, but that’s the way it is and UND should “go forward with confidence and drive” to choose a new nickname.
BIG SPENDER A Minneapolis StarTribune headline read, “After North Dakota, Minnesota leads Upper Midwest in income, spending growth.” The changes in spending patterns in ND have been particularly dramatic. Its per-capita spending in 2007, before the recession began, was $33,000. That ranked it 24th among states. By 2012, ND’s per-capita spending was $44,000, fourth-highest nationwide.
LIGHTEN UP ON BAKKEN CRUDE The national media has made many reports about rail transportation of ND crude oil. Frequently, the articles include alarming statements about the special dangers of Bakken crude. The ND Petroleum Counsel has issued a report, consistent with national scientific studies, that Bakken crude is similar to other N. American light, sweet crudes and does not pose a greater risk.
BACKFIRE A documentary called “The Overnighters” won a prize at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The film is about the generosity of the Rev. Jay Reinke who opened his Lutheran church in Williston to newcomers without housing. Keith Graves (38), a California truck driver, is featured in the documentary. Graves was a registered sex offender knowingly accepted by Reinke. Graves has been arrested for a series of crimes related to human trafficking and sexual assault -- his bond has been set at $2 million.
OIL WORKER PATIENTS A Detroit doctor came to Watford City to get away from crime and bullet wounds. After five months in the McKenzie County Clinic ER, she doesn’t feel any safer. Dr. Donita Diamond says, “We have people come in here because of all the drugs here. We constantly have to call the police because we can’t lock the hospital down and we’re here alone at night, and we’re all women here. … It’s more threatening.” The influx of oil workers has brought an increase in cases involving drugs and alcohol.
SIC ‘EM Minnesota’s Dept. of Natural Resources and Gov. Mark Dayton are joined in opposition to the Fargo-Moorhead diversion flood control project. ND Gov. Jack Dalrymple has stayed on the sidelines. A Forum editorial says Dayton “has opted for parochial political expediency rather than enlightened regional leadership” and urges Dalrymple to counter what the paper calls Minnesota’s “arrogant overreach.” The editorial is peppered with other explosive phrases, typical of the Forum. The attitude is mildly surprising, because Forum Communications has such an extensive network of newspapers in Minnesota.
A BILLION HERE, A BILLION THERE The $2 billion CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant planned near Jamestown, if constructed, will be the largest private project in ND history. CHS is a Minnesota-based ag cooperative. Sen. John Hoeven is attempting to arrange a $1 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
JOURNALISM’S ILLUMINATI A doctoral student and former Forum reporter is recording an oral history of ND journalists to be exhibited at the ND Heritage Center in Bismarck. First up: Bill Marcil Sr., chairman of Forum Communications; Marilyn Hagerty, 88-year-old columnist for the GF Herald; and John Andrist, a state senator and former publisher of the The Journal in Crosby. On deck: former Herald Publisher Mike Jacobs; former Herald and Twin Cities reporter Chuck Haga; and Roger Bailey, former publisher of the Turtle Mt. Star.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE A 250-mile electrical transmission line from Center (30 mi. northwest of Bismarck) to Grand Forks is the longest line beginning and ending in ND and is the largest investment Minnkota Power has ever made in transmission facilities. Grand Forks-based Minnkota is an umbrella cooperative which provides generation and transmission services for 11 member-owner cooperatives in ND and Minnesota. The new $350 million project brings power from Minnkota’s western ND coal plants.
THEY PLAY ROUGH IN FARGO Prostitutes came to the house of a Fargo man to negotiate services. The discussion turned bad and the two women produced a taser and “sparked” the man. He was properly intimidated and they stole his TV and Xbox 360. The St. Cloud women have been arrested.
EBOLA Most of you are aware of Minnesota’s substantial Somali population, variously estimated from 25,000 to 50,000. There is also a large Hmong population. Less known are the more than 30,000 people of Liberian descent living in Minnesota, primarily in northwestern suburbs of Minneapolis, such as Brooklyn Park. The Star Tribune drew attention to the Liberians in an article about the Ebola outbreak in Africa -- Liberia has hundreds of Ebola cases.
CAUTION IN THE BURBS A resident of Coon Rapids, another Minneapolis suburb, was the first American to die from Ebola in Africa -- before his death, about two weeks ago, he was scheduled to return to Minnesota. His Liberian sister also died of Ebola. As a precaution, Brooklyn Park firefighters and police officers will wear eye shields, masks and gloves when responding to calls involving flulike symptoms. A number of Liberian residents in Minnesota are attempting to evacuate relatives to Minnesota from Africa.
HOGS DONATE FOOD The Jamestown Sun awarded one of its weekly Bravos to HOGs. The Harley Owners Group in Jamestown was applauded for providing food-filled backpacks to deserving elementary school children.
WHEEE! The Young Professionals of Jamestown will sponsor a street dance at the “World’s Largest Buffalo.”
DAKTOIDS: At 81, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle is the longest-serving chief justice in ND history and the oldest state chief justice in the nation. The Noonan native will run for another 10-year term in November . . . Expect fireworks in Minot. Ward County voters approved new county facilities estimated at $39 million -- voters will be asked in November to approve correction of the estimate which a county official says was “grossly underestimated” . . . Amidon (pop. 26) in Slope County is the state’s smallest county seat and has the last remaining wooden courthouse. Amidon will remain tiny, but the courthouse will be demolished to make room for parking for the new brick courthouse.
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