RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — DockDogs

DockDogs is one of the fastest-growing sport on four legs. It was started in 2000 “to create a nationally recognized competitive sport based on rules and precedents in track and field competitions,” the organization’s website states. DockDogs brought the competition this past week to the Polk County Fair in Fertile, Minn. Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons was on hand for the …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — West Polk County Fair

County fairs in a way are a slice of small-town Americana. Photographer Russ Hons recently took in the West Polk County Fair in Fertile, Minn. Here is a small sampling of what he saw, including the rodeo Wednesday night and the DockDog’s competition Saturday and Sunday. (Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.)

MICHAEL BOGERT: Photo Gallery — Three Island Lake County Park

Three Island Lake County Park was the destination recently for Grand Forks photographer Michael Bogert. The quaint park is located in Beltrami County, 12 miles north of Bemidji, Minn. The scenic Turtle River flows from the mouth of Three Island Lake providing spectacular views, rolling terrain and a diverse plant ecology. The park was deeded to the county in 1967 …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings by Barbara La Valleur — I Was ‘Mayo-ed’

It’s been an Epic week. So there I was last Thursday in Wahpeton, N.D., at the Red Door Gallery preparing for my next photo exhibit, “A Photojournalist’s Retrospective” highlighting my work of the past 55 years. As I passed Chahinkapa Zoo on my way out of Wahpeton, my cell phone rang. It was Erin, a Mayo Clinic appointment secretary, to …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — Two English Majors Take A (Mostly) Blue Highways Trip East

Lizzie was sad Monday a week past. She saw those suitcases, and she became clingy, not sure whether she was going with us or not. For her, this time it was the kennel, as Chelsea is gone for schooling and thus her best pal not available for dog-sitting. Thus, it was that we two English majors made a road trip east, …

DAVE VORLAND: It Occurs To Me — Eden Prairie On My Mind

Back in my North Dakota days, I served a term on the Grand Forks Historical Preservation Commission. Thus, when Dorette and I moved to Eden Prairie, Minn., I was impressed by the historic Smith Douglas More House. This picture (above) was taken Monday. The original building was constructed in 1877 to provide passenger services to a then-nearby railroad line. The …

MIKE BRUE: Cubs-Indians World Series Game 7 Ranks As One Of The Best — But THE Best . . . .?

For high drama, Wednesday-into-Thursday’s historic World Series Game 7 between the long-suffering Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians franchises made for worthwhile baseball viewing and listening. In my case, it was some of both. Thank goodness for car radios. A cleanly played game? Not really. You could question some of the unorthodox managerial decisions, too.  Still, the contest featured enough some …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — Day 2 At Ryder Cup

Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons is taking in the 41st Annual Ryder Cup, which is being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. The tournament, which pits the best golfers from the United States and Europe against each other, starts Friday morning with foursome competition. Wednesday (Day 2) was practice day, and here are some of the images that caught …

MIKE BRUE: In honor of fallen peace officers past and future

When approached several months ago to speak Oct. 10 at Minnesota’s memorial site for fallen law enforcement officers, I accepted — with some hesitancy. The public event in St. Paul was the Blue Light Service, held annually each October to honor peace officers who have died in Minnesota. The nonprofit Minnesota Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) sponsors the program and …