SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
It would be the state’s tallest building and largest office tower -- 100 feet taller than the ND Capitol. That’s Doug Burgum’s proposed $125 million “Dakota Place” on Broadway in Fargo. He also proposes that his project be coordinated with three downtown public projects: a new City Hall, a convention center and a flood control project. Burgum built Great Plains Software and sold it to Microsoft. He is responsible, more than any other single individual, for the rebirth of downtown Fargo.
It’s more “iffy,” but Bismarck is also dreaming big. The city unveiled a Downtown Bismarck Study which could result in $1 billion of investment in the downtown district. Under the plan, downtown would become a people friendly corridor for shopping, events and entertainment.
“The way it looks, we’re becoming more of a regional center like a Devils Lake or Valley City.” -- Who’s doing the bragging? Watford City, 30 miles southeast of Williston, is targeting a population of 8-10,000. In the 2000 census, Watford City had only 1,400 residents. Once a ranching town, today Watford City is near the center of the oil boom.
Look at the list of past honorees in the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame (part of the Norsk Hostfest) and you will find, that at the time they were nominated, most either lived in ND or were from the state. This year’s three nominees have a different flavor: Entertainer Ricky Nelson was a “teen idol” before being killed in a plane crash. The Nelson family is of Norwegian descent, but do not have ND connections. Kris Kristofferson, another celebrity entertainer, has Swedish descent, but is a stranger to ND. Keith Johanneson, a Bemidji supermarket executive, has Icelandic heritage and appears to have lived in ND as a child.
A company to watch! Titan Machinery is a $2 billion ag and construction equipment company headquartered in West Fargo. It has grown by leaps and bounds -- mostly by acquiring smaller equipment dealers. The company’s markets are doing well, but its earnings are decreasing and its already heavy borrowings are increasing. The company is very sensitive to commodities and agriculture. Unless the company trims its sails, there may be trouble.
Were you thinking of getting into farming? It might be fun. But before you do,stop by the Big Iron farm show in West Fargo. One John Deere combine on display carries a price tag of $550,000. Exotic African garb can also be seen at Big Iron -- visitors from 16 countries are taking in the show.
Political extremists prepare for battle in Leith. The National Socialist Movement (a white supremacist group) is taking a delegation to Leith in late September for a “fact-finding tour.” The NSM would like to hold a town hall meeting and give Leith residents a chance to ask questions. At the other end of the political spectrum, past members of Anti-Racist Action will bring their followers to Leith to protest the NSM. The ARA representative said they are “about what’s right and protecting the people who live in this state (ND) from hatred.” Gentlemen, prepare your weapons.
NDSU has been in hot water with the ND Legislature for a plane that costs them $5,600 an hour to operate. Scheels All Sports headquartered in Fargo is a major NDSU supporter. They are about to solve a problem -- Scheels will purchase the plane, but make it available to NDSU.
Betty Clarine Erickson (89) graduated from UND in 1945 with a degree in chemistry and math. Today, that would be a ticket to a career in science. In Clarine’s day it often meant something different -- soon after graduation she married and began a family. Clarine’s obituary said she likened her personality to a house cat. She loved being in the kitchen. She cooked, canned, baked, and inventoried every item that went into the freezer; complete with its date; and deleted from the list when eaten. After her children were grown, she switched gears and became a business partner at Gallery West in West Acres (Fargo) where she enjoyed retail and the arts for over ten years. An ideal career or wasted training? Her three married daughters undoubtedly have an opinion.
The late Perpetua Fox (Pumpkin “Ga Gu Wish”), 90, was born in Elbowoods, now covered by Lake Sakakawea. She was a member of the Prairie Chicken Clan and a child of the Dripping Dirt Clan. She lived the majority of her life on Fort Berthold where her pets included a bobcat, an owl and an antelope. She was an expert horsewoman and could rope and shoot.
“The eastbound train has not been on time in more than four months and just three times so far this year.” -- A Forum article about Amtrak’s Empire Builder. It’s bad enough that the eastbound Empire Builder is scheduled in Fargo in the middle of the night, but on average it’s two hours late.
DAKTOIDS: Minot’s south side set an all-time rainfall record, 27.5 inches by September 9th. The previous annual record at that location was 27 inches . . . The average Nodak consumer had a $3,000 credit card balance, the second lowest in the nation . . . The ND Wheat Commission has a 2-year deal to sell $500 million of wheat to Taiwan -- that’s a lot of bread.
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