SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - JANUARY 4, 2021
THEY TOOK THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY ND and its neighboring states saw the nation’s worst rates of coronavirus in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. An AP article said that over the last two weeks those states have seen their average daily cases drop, with decreases ranging from 20% in Iowa to as much as 66% in ND. The states have returned to infection levels similar to October. The governors of those states tend to see the virus decline as justification for their individual strategies. Epidemiologists see a different explanation — they believe that as the virus became widespread, the shock created a change in behavior. This positive direction in the Midwest offers hope if people rally and take the virus seriously.
DICKEY COUNTY (pop. 4,900) is a typical ND rural county. The county’s only medical center is in Oakes (pop. 1,700). Dickey has had 32 virus-related deaths — more per capita than any other ND county. Speaking of the month preceding Thanksgiving, the director of nursing at Oakes said, “It was very hard seeing people struggle to breathe . . . it was hard knowing there weren’t beds available . . . it was heartbreaking, and you didn’t think it was going to happen in our little town.” A Forum article used Dickey as an example of how small counties were left reeling after the outbreak.
AN OPPORTUNITY A problem such as the pandemic can become someone’s opportunity. Dickey County had some good news The county is located in the Prairie Pothole Region known for pheasant and waterfowl hunting. The pandemic closed the Canadian border and hunters who normally go to Canada have filled hunting lodges in the Dakotas. The aptly named Prairie Pothole Lodge and the nearby Hays Lodge, both in Dickey County, had to turn away hunters.
DICKINSON HIGH SCHOOL will be the first high school in the nation to offer a program to train certified dental assistants. Students will receive the certification from the Dental Assisting National Board by the time they are 18 years old. Dickinson dentists offer internships required by the program. The State School of Science in Wahpeton has the only other program in the state, but graduates tend to stay on the east side of the state.
ATTACK ON HOEVEN’S OFFICE “(Starks) is a race car with no steering wheel. He goes at everything 100%.” — A reference to fellow employee Thomas Starks (30) of Lisbon by a coworker at Bobcat in Gwinner. He is under federal criminal investigation for using an ax to smash windows in Sen. John Hoeven’s Fargo office. Starks was characterized as “very vocal” about his left-leaning political views. Another coworker said they believed the Starks family was “hit hard financially” by the pandemic.
YEAREND PATROL On Wednesday two B-52 bombers from the Minot Air Force Base made a round trip to the Persian Gulf. The show of force was meant to deter Iran from attacking Middle East targets in the final weeks of the Trump administration. The B-52s demonstrated American power could quickly be brought to the region.
SANFORD’S BAD RUN “But even the Sanfords of the world can have a bad run.” — From an article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. The article said Sanford Health went through a hectic month “one that included the departure of its longtime leader, a public relations debacle, a monetary fine related to a surgeon accused of performing unnecessary surgeries, the shuttering of a much-ballyhooed merger deal with another hospital system and the departure of its chief medical officer ‘to pursue new opportunities.’ ” The article indicated the proposed merger upset Sioux Falls business leaders and SD political figures, including the governor.
CARSON WENTZ As he watches his Philadelphia Eagles team from the bench, speculation about Wentz’s future intensifies. His coach made supportive comments: “He’s been a pro about it.” But a former Eagles’ executive said in Carson’s mind “bridges here are burned.” Discussion centers on the form of a trade — there is $65 million on the table — who will eat it? How could it be proportioned between a new team and the Eagles?
TRIBES WANT UND TO LEAD All five presidents of ND’s tribal colleges have bachelor and doctoral degrees from UND. The colleges are located at Bottineau (Turtle Mountain), Fort Yates (Standing Rock), New Town (Ft. Berthold), Bismarck (UTTC) and Fort Totten (Spirit Lake). The presidents see UND as an important part of their growth. One of the presidents contended that UND needs to lead a statewide conversation about social justice. She said ND has a lot of racism and misunderstanding, and higher education needs to be a center for that dialogue.
MIXED VIEWS “The state's economy has thrived, especially compared to other states. But the human toll has been depressing.” — From a Forum Communications article about South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and her hands-off approach to the pandemic. At times, Noem seemed to celebrate the state’s unique approach and she held steady when South Dakota’s per capita virus cases and deaths were among the highest in the nation. The cases have subsided, but the jury is still out on Noem’s policies.
FAMILY FARMS, contrary to what you may learn, are still the backbone of our nation’s agriculture. A USDA report indicates family farms accounted for 98% of farms and 86% of production in 2019. Looking below these averages, you find a more complex picture. Nearly half the farms had ag production valued at $6,000 or less, so called “hobby farms.” On the other end, 60% of all production is from farms with revenues in excess of $1 million. Non-family farms tend to be enterprises such as feed lots.
DAKTOIDS: A non-profit law firm called Earthjustice represents the Standing Rock Sioux in their efforts to halt operations of the Dakota Access pipeline — Earthjustice also represents the Minnesota tribes opposing the Line 3 pipeline . . . In the first 11 months of this year, Fargo-Moorhead realtors have sold 17% more homes than in the same period in 2019.
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