Editorial

​Political infighting: Who are they working for?

February 15th, 2024

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

When one googles “What traits are desirable in a new employee,” some of the first words that pop up “from sources around the web” include “communication,” “team player,” “leadership,” “honest,” “reliable.” Now take these words and think: How do these words best apply to my preferred candidate on a local, state, and national level?

That’s our role as voters. We elect these candidates so they can represent us and to make…

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Arts Off the Beaten Path

January 18th, 2024

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our Opinion: Reinvigorate that sense of wonder

This month’s focus at High Plains Reader is the State of the Arts. From a regional standpoint, we’re small but mighty – and there are so many organizations that go above and beyond that deserve a shoutout and are certainly worth a day trip. A quick google search can determine dates, times, and reservations, if needed.

The Ellendale Opera House and Ellendale Area Arts Council is located just an hour…

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BE A DO-GOODER THIS YEAR

December 19th, 2023

Our opinion: Make your mark and consider volunteering.

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Last September, the Fargo Forum reported that the Kilbourne Group, along with Fargo’s finest elected officials, met with the Salvation Army behind closed doors to propose they leave their downtown home on Roberts Street. They have called that space home since 1904.

According to that article, Mayor Mahoney says there are no solid plans to move the facility but they have shopped around for a potential…

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The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease

November 13th, 2023

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Remember the legacy of the NPL.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting and dinner hosted by the Dakota Resource Council in Bismarck. I came in feeling a little defeated, jaded with not only regional politics, but national politics and pretty much anything in between.

Michael Lansing, historian, academic and author of “Insurgent Democracy: The Nonpartisan League in North American Politics,” gave us a really effective lecture…

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The Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park Need Your Help

October 16th, 2023

By Birgit Pruess 

birgit.pruess@gmail.com

Guest editorial: If you are a taxpayer, these are your horses.

If you are one of many fans of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) horses, here is an update on the current situation. TRNP has released 94 pages of environmental assessment on September 25, which is now followed by a month of comment collection. You can see both the assessment document and the…

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​The Strenuous Past, the Way Forward

September 19th, 2023

By John Strand

jas@hpr1.com

Our Opinion: Thank you, Reader readers, for 29 fulfilling years

Chugging along, The Little Newspaper That Could commences its 30th volume and year with this issue. Simply getting here speaks volumes. Just imagine the words, the bylines, the opinion pieces, the heart that has been part of the High Plains Reader’s nearly three-decade storied journey.

At the risk of sounding like a relic – spanning a couple generations can do that – HPR has always tried to be…

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The Sound of Violence: ‘That’s Our History!’

August 14th, 2023

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our opinion: Governor Burgum, you’re embarrassing us.

As Jason Aldean’s song “Try That in a Small Town” soars to number one on the billboard charts here in the Divided States of America, has it managed to become a right-wing anthem in this ever abysmal culture war?

The lyrics themselves aren’t the most controversial part of this pop cultural talking point. The song came out months ago but didn’t get people talking until the music video…

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Pride: The Once and Future Riot

July 16th, 2023

By Janessa Jaye Champagne (Chris M. Stoner)

ChrisMStoner@hotmail.com

Photo by Studio 208

Guest editorial: The homophobes and transphobes forget that queer folk have been through this before.

I’m not going to lie. Celebrating Pride this year felt…different.

Obviously, last year was difficult, what with the death threats and the doxing and constant online harassment from a small group of religious fundamentalists organizing through a Facebook group.

There was less of that this year as the…

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We Ponder

June 11th, 2023

By John Strand & Thomas Bixby

jas@hpr1.com

Our Opinion: No way to delay, trouble comin’ every day.

Whatever happened to dignity, empathy, and so much that goes into our hard-won civilization. How did we get here and where are we going?

These United States are on the brink of collapse, each in its own way. The divisiveness is so prevalent that about the only consensus is a sense of noncohesion.

The polarization of otherwise ordinary people is palpable, borderline dangerous. Except now more…

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​Round Pegs in Square Holes

May 16th, 2023

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our opinion: Keep your chins up, class of 2023

As the school year draws to a close, this seems to be the time of year when most editors offer up their best advice to the most recent graduating classes, so here are a few words of wisdom from one of the last people who should be doling out advice.

I’d like to direct these words of wisdom and encouragement to those who are having a tough time. To those who lacked encouragement, who didn’t get endless…

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