Anyone who knows me has probably been wondering when I would get around to some legal topics. Their wait is over. Our communities have a Safe Community Coalition. Part of its function is to monitor licensed liquor establishments for sales to minors and other violations. They release the results to the media on a regular basis. Fines are supposedly imposed …
On March 1, I spent an entire late afternoon and early evening at City Hall observing a group of north-side neighborhood citizens presenting the Fargo Planning Commission with the reasons why they oppose the proposed rezoning of the property commonly known as Ponyland — the trace northeast of 32nd Avenue North and University Drive. The presentations by both the developer and …
Watching the Academy Awards Sunday, I wondered why Vice President Joe Biden would be making an appearance. He introduced Lady Gaga, and I thought that was odd, too — until he spoke and she sang, with a group of college-aged men and women in the background. Then Biden spoke of the sexual assaults taking place on college campuses. Lady Gaga …
Once again, the purveyors of stupid pills are making a fortune in causing some elected leaders or appointed boards to make some very bad decisions relating to both North and South Fargo. It’s time for the people to let them know they represent us. That’s why they exist! Let’s take the Don and Mary Kinzler home in South Fargo as …
Like our entire community, I awoke last week to the horrible news of the death of Fargo Police Officer Jason Moszer, killed in the line of duty. I realized more than ever why I love Fargo and Upper Midwest living. Communities and police agencies jointly took to the airwaves to rally around the family of the fallen officer. The honor …
My wife was a very happy woman last week. If you’ve been paying attention to what I’m doing with this column, you may remember I did a very long column. Right after I finished the article, I came down with a bug that, among other things, took my voice away. One and one-half weeks of silence, as best that term …
Be careful what you ask for. You may just not like what you get. … Fargo Police Chief David Todd and former Police Officer Todd Dahle did not like my article on the resignation process involving Keith Ternes that appeared in The Extra and unheralded.fish three weeks ago. They thought it short of facts. (If you’d like to review their …
I cannot help but wonder how many people in this country can be taken in by the buffoons in charge of the Republican presidential candidates’ ship of fools. Let me be clear (oh, oh, there’s that Bernie Sanders quote burned into my system): The extremist candidates ― Trump, Cruz, Christie and Rubio, and to a lesser extent Carson ― have more …
First, congratulations to North Dakota State University and its entire football team, coaching staff and athletic director on their fifth consecutive national championship. As a University of North Dakota graduate, I am in awe of the fans of this team. They moved an entire city to another state to support their team! That is awesome by anyone’s definition. Chris Kleieman, …
This is another story I had never planned on writing. Once again, I had a rough draft on another story — and then the following happened: I was at Fargo North High School for some events involving my grandchildren. While walking the halls, I saw the familiar face of a friend. He was always a good-looking young man, and as he …
I got out of bed Sunday morning and absolutely knew what I was going to write this week. Then I picked up The Forum (that’s Fargo’s paper, in case you didn’t know) and saw an article by Robin Huebner that sent me off focus. The article was on Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota and refugee settlement. It also focused …
As the holidays and new year approach, I start thinking about how things have changed since my youth and some of the fun things that have occurred between now and then. My youth was spent in Grand Forks until Dad was appointed to the federal bench at the end of my sophomore year at St. James Academy. My earliest unusual …
It was 1957 ― the year I graduated from Fargo Shanley High School and turned my senior mantle over to my sister, Kate, who was a year behind me. Sister Jody was preparing for her wedding in the fall; brother Tim was in the Air Force and also preparing for his own fall wedding; and I had no idea where my …
It has been 411 days since the cold-blooded execution of Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old black youngster, by a Chicago police officer. The facts are still coming out as I write this article. Here’s what we know so far … and no thanks to the Chicago Tribune, which by its inaction was complicit in the cover-up. None of these facts would …
As is my customary practice, I mulled over a subject for this week’s column. Politics was an option, as were the recent shootings. I was browsing ideas when the date Nov. 22 caught my eye. Nov. 22 was my mother’s birthday and the date John F. Kennedy was assassinated 52 years ago. The Nov. 22 that caught my eye, though, …
I was pondering what to write for the Thanksgiving when I saw the picture of the little Syrian boy who had drowned when his refugee boat sank. A rubber boat full of refugees trying to escape the horrors of war … and this little fella lost his life. I then saw a picture of a few bombed-out, literally uninhabitable cities …