Dakota Beacon

“Violence has been growing . . . including drug problems and gang activity . . . it has all greatly escalated since the oil boom.” -- Mark Fox, a director of the Three Affiliated Tribes, speaking about the New Town murders of a highly regarded grandmother and her three grandchildren. The victims lived in New Town (headquarters for the Ft. Berthold Reservation), but were not tribal members. Kalcie Eagle (21), the son of a former tribal official, committed suicide while being investigated for the murders. He had previous encounters with law enforcement.

Major reservation crimes are investigated by the FBI. All eight of the FBI’s ND agents are assigned to the New Town murder case and a complete report will be made to the public when the investigation is complete. While Kalcie Eagle has not been officially linked to the murders, the Bismarck Tribune reported that soon after his suicide the FBI announced there was no longer a public threat.

New Town area residents are displeased that the FBI remained tightlipped during its investigation -- an FBI policy. Perhaps, they would rather have had the matter handled by the local police. The New Town Police Chief was traveling to the murder scene when he was “rear-ended” by a female tribal officer who required hospitalization after the accident.

It used to be that a million dollar project in western ND cities was a big deal. Today, both Dickinson and Minot are tossing around billion dollar numbers. For Minot, that’s an estimate of flood recovery costs remaining after all current sources of aid have been exhausted. A study estimates that it will take 45 years if the city has to meet the needs on its own. In Dickinson’s case, KLJ Engineering has conducted a land use study indicating the city needs $1 billion by 2025 for infrastructure to support a projected population of 40,000. The city can’t handle that and is eyeing the same solution as everyone else -- oil tax money. Old-timers mistrust the Dickinson estimates -- they’ve seen the city overshoot before.

Housing, housing, housing. The director of the ND Housing Finance Agency said that the state’s growth will continue for 15-20 years. A study shows ND’s population growing by more than 25 percent by 2025. During that time housing demand is expected to increase by 30 percent. The increase comes in the shape of a barbell -- young households will increase by over 40 percent (primarily in the oil patch) while households with people 65 and older will increase by nearly 60 percent.

Many ND natives have earned national recognition in arts and culture. Almost all have one thing in common -- they did not remain in the state. Louise Erdrich is one. Erdrich received the National Book Award for her novel “The Round House” set on a ND Indian reservation. She lives, writes and runs Birchbark Books in Minneapolis. A U. of Minnesota professor said Erdrich, who has 14 novels, “would’ve gotten the award a long time ago if she’d lived on the East Coast. Some people in New York think it’s a failure of taste and intellect to live in the Midwest.” Erdrich is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mt. Band of Chippewa and plans to take the award, a bronze statue, to the reservation. Her parents and other relatives live in Wahpeton.

Did the Bismarck Tribune miss the boat? The Trib, for whatever reason, chose not to publish an article about Paula Broadwell, a Bismarck girl now famous as the former mistress of CIA Director David Petraeus. Reporters swarmed Bismarck and filled the void left by the Trib -- the Charlotte Observer was one. The Observer article indicates Broadwell was one of the most outstanding graduates of Bismarck Century High School, if not the greatest. She was valedictorian, homecoming queen and star of a state championship basketball team. She also accepted humble roles such as Christmas elf and violinist in the school orchestra. When Paula was nine years old, her parents began a messy divorce which raged for years. Bottom line -- Bismarck has only good words for Paula.

What has been ND’s greatest export? It’s been people -- there may be more people from the state who live outside than in. A Bismarck Tribune article indicates the flow is partially reversing. Nodaks who have lived outside the state, particularly those in areas of high unemployment, are trickling back. While jobs are the big attraction, many also seek educational opportunities and a good place to live.

You won’t find this headline in any other state: “Airline boardings up 19 percent.” And that’s the average for all of ND, some western destinations are up 50%.

Last week, Mike Jacobs of the GF Herald examined Heidi Heitkamp’s surprise victory in the U.S. Senate race. Other opinion page writers chimed in this week: An editorial in the Bismarck Tribune said Heitkamp was almost totally opposed by the establishment -- by business interests and newspapers, and a nudge from the Catholic church. The Trib said “That’s pretty remarkable,” but she still prevailed by veering right and stressing her independence. Lloyd Omdahl said “the whole state has become more Republican across the board,” making the election of Heitkamp “even more remarkable.” Tribune columnist Clay Jenkinson gave five lengthy reasons for Heitkamp’s win. Boiled down: she was more likable, worked harder at the grassroots level, and opponent Berg had too much hubris.

U.S. Senator Kent Conrad, retiring chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal. His senate spot will be filled by Heidi Heitkamp. Conrad was optimistic the current budget crisis will be resolved and, unlike many Democrats, he believes entitlements must be reformed to slow the growth of spending. He also believes the defense budget must be reduced in a sensible way.

Bonners Ferry is in Idaho’s far northern panhandle and best known for the nearby 1992 Ruby Ridge confrontation. The town of about 2,500 has a 20% unemployment rate. Mike Ziegwied says about 50 people from that town have recently come to ND for work. Mike (47) has a master’s degree in educational psychology, yet sleeps in a van in Williston. His wife and two daughters are still in Idaho. Mike’s business in Bonners Ferry failed and he could have declared bankruptcy, but chose instead to come to ND, tough it out and work down his debt. Amy Dalrymple of Forum Communications profiles Mike as an example of people trying to make a go of it in the Oil Patch.

UND hockey attendance is the highest in North America during the NHL strike. UND hockey attendance is believed to be the fourth highest in the world, after one Swiss and two German venues. Average attendance at the Ralph Engelstad Arena exceeds official capacity because of standees.