Articles

Grand Forks woman makes sure kids can afford prom with free gowns

Over the last 11 years, the 56-year-old Sylvia Wolf has secured an estimated 150 free gowns for girls attending school dances, most notably for prom. They go to students who can’t afford the finery that routinely costs in triple figures.

• Sylvia Wolf

Karlstad native gets military honor for help with injured mountain climber

A native of Karlstad recently received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroism while on leave in Japan in December 2011.

• Former Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Corey Baughman, right, is awarded the Navy and Marine Corps medal
• Navy and Marine Corps Medal

Park District to decide Springfest's fate at Tuesday meeting

The Grand Forks Park District will decide Tuesday whether to allow Springfest at University Park. By then, park officials should be able to determine if the park will be able to handle the 3,000-plus people who attend the annual, unofficial celebration of the end of the UND school year.

• Springfest 2011

East Grand Forks council against Red River phosphorus rule

The City of Moorhead found sympathetic ears from East Grand Forks City Council members Tuesday in regard to proposed phosphorus restrictions in the Red River basin.

• City of East Grand Forks

East Grand Forks floodwall work to begin Thursday

The planned installation of the “invisible floodwall” in downtown East Grand Forks this week is not because high water is arriving sooner than anticipated. Instead, it’s a matter of holding down overtime.

• 2013 Floods

RYAN BAKKEN: Keeping the past present

Jerry Amiot has been on both sides of historic preservation. As the Polk County auditor for 25 years before his retirement last summer, he understands that some historic buildings, such as the downtown Wayne Hotel here, are too deteriorated to be salvageable.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Protecting the Bakken brand

Last week, developers announced their plans to establish Bakken Village, a community just north of Williston, N.D.

• Ryan Bakken

EGF pool supporters push hybrid pool for year-round use

At first, the talk about a new or remodeled swimming pool in East Grand Forks centered on an outdoor model. Then, Mayor Lynn Stauss widened the conversation by saying he preferred an indoor pool. In the interest of reaching a potential compromise, Save Our Pool committee members last week started looking at a third option — a hybrid model.

• Save our Pool
• Lynn Stauss
• Potential pool option for East Grand Forks

Oklee, Plummer, Minn., schools become one

The Oklee and Plummer school districts have been going steady for 11 years. By the time school restarts in the fall, they’ll be married. That’s married, as in becoming a consolidated school district.

• Oklee & Plummer, Minn.

East Grand Forks passes law limiting adult businesses

Without discussion Tuesday, the East Grand City Council passed two stop-gap laws dealing with adult-use businesses. One law repeals the city’s existing definitions of adult uses, which have been deemed to be too vague. The second law places a six-month moratorium on adult uses, giving the city time to more clearly define “adult use.”

• City of East Grand Forks

Columns

RYAN BAKKEN: Drive-in makes a night out in Hatton

RYAN BAKKEN: This weekend, Hatton will be home to the only outdoor movie theater in North Dakota.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Saving the Delchar for digital age

Once upon a time, the survival strategy for small towns was to chase smokestacks. But, as the words “once upon a time” might suggest, that strategy was a fairy tale. Landing a manufacturer to provide jobs and stability for a town’s future was a long shot. And, the rare successes came at a steep price.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: All hail the AC

On Saturday, the Bakkens attended an outdoor wedding. Alas, we didn’t arrive early enough to occupy the highly coveted in-the-shade chairs. Bow in reverence to air conditioning, the greatest invention in the history of the world.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Grand Forks native dons Spider-Man mantle

Andrew Lander, a comic book geek in his youth, wore the Spider-Man suit in the recently released “The Amazing Spider-Man” movie. A waiter the last four years, he now hopes having Spider-Man in his resume will help him get that big break he’s been waiting for.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Chermans and Luterans and mapping the stereotypes

A new map of North Dakota making the Internet rounds may not be politically correct. However, the stereotypes portrayed are quite accurate, at least as far as stereotypes go. And, many are giggle-worthy.

• Ryan Bakken
• North Dakota Map

RYAN BAKKEN: A message for the next 100 years

On Tuesday, Pembina County commissioners will discuss what to put into a courthouse time capsule that will be opened in 2112. Nothing has been decided, but there’s a good chance that the contents will follow the example set 100 years ago. Last week, commissioners got a peek at what was placed in the original capsule in 1912.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: How close did you pay attention to the news last month?

June had its serious moments, with the American Crystal Sugar lockout, the Fighting Sioux nickname vote and other issues on the primary ballot. June also had its frivolity.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: 10 random thoughts

For this column, Ryan considers the injustice of having a hairy chest when hairy chests are out, the fact that "old" people are always older than you, why "love stinks," and other deep thoughts.

• Ryan Bakken

UMC professor wanted to be a “millionaire”

But he can’t tell you if he is one
John Loegering went on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” Nov. 2, but has had to keep mum until the show airs June 28. “I can’t disclose a thing about the outcome,” he said. “They told us that they can take away any money if you tell anyone. They like to maintain the suspense.”

• Ryan Bakken
• John Loegering

RYAN BAKKEN: Hanging with the ‘bottom-feeders’

At his Hallock, Minn., home, Ben Rosenau has a three-car garage and a two-car garage. “But, all of our cars are outside,” said his wife, Michelle. That’s because the two garages are stuffed with stuff, much of it coming from rummage sales. I got a peek at their purchasing power Friday when they were participants in the “Rummaging with Ryan” Herald promotion.

• Ryan Bakken