The babies have lost their downy, furry look and have developed feathers. They should be flying this week. That's the word from the UND campus where the peregrine falcons made their nest on the water tower after Smiley, the old city water tower, was dismantled.
The babies born on campus were named Lux, Lex and Clifford. That seems only fitting because Lux et Lex is the motto of UND and the late President Tom Clifford was loved and revered by those who knew him. Lux et Lex is Latin for Light and Law.
The UND peregrines are one of only two known pairs in the state of North Dakota. The others are in Fargo.
Dave Lambeth of Grand Cities Birds Club thinks the baby birds should be flying any time now. And Lord only knows what happens when the birds leave the nest!
The bird people do know that peregrines pass over here all the time going to the Arctic. And there are more of them in Minnesota than North Dakota.
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Along with birds leaving the next there are old grads coming back to meet their classmates and reminisce about the good old days. Carrie Dewald Drees was class president at Central High School in 1990, and she will preside Saturday evening when classmates hold a social at Crosstown Lounge. Kari Jahnke Hainey was Red River's class president. Tanya Sexton Butler will speak for that class.
The weekend event begins tonight when Central grads gather downstairs at Whitey's and Red River grads meet upstairs. All the better for visiting back and forth. There will be golf and tours Saturday, and a picnic at University Park on Sunday will provide time for a round of farewells. The Red Pepper Wagon will be on site.
Meanwhile, Central High School class of 1950 will be holding its 60th reunion this weekend at Canad Inn with arrangements by classmates Eileen Nelson, Joanne Baglien, Jean Danner Thompson, Dell Krause and Bob Nygaard. Lloyd Omdahl will be banquet speaker. Frank Danner of Anchorage, Alaska, who was senior class treasurer, will give the toast at dinner. The class will remember those who have passed on including three local businessmen -- John Norby, Hugh Bray and Pete Smith.
Other reunions are scheduled this weekend for the classes of 1990 from Red River and Central high schools. Let's see, those grads would be pushing 40 this year.
This is the weekend of the annual Garden Tour sponsored by Grand Forks Horticulture Society with a plant sale at the Myra Centennial Pavilion. ... "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" ends with performances tonight and Saturday at Fire Hall Theatre. ... "Guys and Dolls" SPA performance kicks off a six-night run tonight at Red River High School. ... There will be action tonight at River Cities Speedway. ... The Farmers Market will have good things from the garden downtown Saturday. ... And there's an Art and Wine Walk scheduled for Saturday afternoon. ... They are holding a Riverfest at Drayton, N.D., this weekend with a catfish tournament Saturday and supper at the sod shanty. ... It's Christmas in July at Icelandic State Park near Cavalier, N.D., this weekend. ... And they are holding the annual McVille, N.D., Days.
Ask Marilyn
Q. What kind of vanity license plates have been spotted this week?
A. I have made note or been told of UND4US parked at Starbucks and ITFTZME (It Fits Me) on a little car. Then, there was LOYAL2U on a big wagon and WATTEVR on a red pickup. IRISHIZ (Irish Eyes?) was seen at the library and OFF2FLY was driving along the city streets.
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John and Dawn
Cheerful person of the week: John Horpedahl. Runner-up: Dawn Boyd.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or by telephone at (701) 772-1055.
