January 15th, 2025
By HPR Staff
We’re all a part of building strong, healthy and inclusive communities. But the region’s non-profit organizations do a lot of the heavy lifting. Now it’s time for these organizations to step into the spotlight.
We asked several North Dakota and Minnesota nonprofit organizations to share three easy ways our readers can help them reach their goals in 2025. From Fargo-Moorhead to Grand Forks, Valley City to Bismarck, these groups showcase great art, local agriculture and…
December 26th, 2024
By Sabrina Hornung
The onion calendar is an old German folk tradition used to predict levels of moisture each month throughout the coming year using salt, a knife, an onion and a little bit of patience. Donna and Delbert Eszlinger of Ashley, North Dakota, honor this tradition each New Year’s Eve. They along, with a number of other locals, swear by it.
“It’s a German tradition that's been carried on from grandparents and great grandparents,” Donna Eszlinger said…
December 19th, 2024
SHSND delves into their ornament collection
In 2017 we received Christmas ornaments from the North Dakota Former Governors’ Residence. The ornaments were gifts from local chapters of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society of North Dakota, Three Crowns Swedish American Association, Sons of Norway and the Ukrainian Cultural Institute. Starting in 1985, different ethnic-themed Christmas trees were decorated at the residence as each year another group…
December 19th, 2024
By Michael M. Miller
As the holiday season approaches, I wish to extend Yuletide best wishes and a special “Weihnachten” greeting to you and your family. I would like to share with you some Christmas memories from our Germans from Russia community. Please email or send me your Christmas memories.
A Christmas tradition in many Germans from Russia homes was halvah. This Turkish confection is made of pressed sesame seeds and honey. Curt Renz recalls his father…
December 18th, 2024
An exclusive Q&A with Dr. Scott Bonn
By Sabrina Hornung
Dr. Scott Bonn is a renowned criminologist and serial killer expert. He is a professor, a best-selling author and he also travels the country discussing America's fascination with serial killers and true crime. In January, he’s bringing his 90-minute show to Fargo and Bismarck followed by a Q&A session, so get your questions ready.
During High Plains Reader’s exclusive Q&A opportunity, Dr. Bonn revealed a number…
November 23rd, 2024
By Winona LaDuke
There’s not really a word for reconciliation, it's said in our language. There’s a word for making it right. To talk about reconciliation in terms of the relationship between Indigenous people and North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota, would assume that there was a good relationship to begin with. That’s a stretch.
There is a word for making it right: gwayakochigemin. That’s what we must try and do. Gwayakizhichigemin: making it right.
…
October 17th, 2024
By Johnathan Campbell
Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I’d share three mysterious — and mildly creepy folktales — that have been shared about the Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site, which housed 20 chief executives between 1893 and 1960. Folktales are one of those things that both confound and delight historic house interpreters when their visitors engage them with a statement or question that they believe with all their heart to be…
October 16th, 2024
By HPR Staff
Halloween is upon us and we did our best to share some spooky and altogether ooky attractions as our top picks for the season. We included a 13 pack of haunts with a couple extra bonuses if you’re willing to go the distance.
We stirred up some of our old favorites as well as some historic haunts for the occasion. Don’t blame us if you have to sleep with the lights on.
Paranormal Investigations
October 4-26
Bonanzaville, West Fargo
Staff and guests have experienced…
October 10th, 2024
By Michael M. Miller
On October 11 and 12, Dr. Ann Braaten and I are presenting at the Regina and District Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ann will speak on Friday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m. Her talk will be titled,“Traditional Textiles and Clothing of the Germans from Russia Immigrants.” And I will speak on Saturday, October 12 at 7 p.m., discussing “The Genealogical, Historical & Cultural Information…
September 19th, 2024
By Michael M. Miller
I was pleased to visit with many colleagues and at the Germans from Russia Heritage Society Convention in Mandan in July, and at the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Convention in Oklahoma City in August. There were many excellent workshops, displays, and presentations.
In July, Leo Rung of Munich, Germany, visited the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection to research his Hopfauf family that settled near Fallon/Flasher,…
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By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.comIt’s been eight years since the Water Protectors were cleared off the banks of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. It was a bitter ending to a battle to protect the water; and for most of us…
By HPR Staff We’re all a part of building strong, healthy and inclusive communities. But the region’s non-profit organizations do a lot of the heavy lifting. Now it’s time for these organizations to step into the spotlight.…
By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com As I write this article, it’s January, and the temperatures in North Dakota are negative. I’m living in a house and our furnace just died a forever death after years of quick fixes. Yet,…
By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWill the Divided States of America Add or Subtract to the Future?In 1937, English writer Aldous Huxley published his novel of the future “Brave New World 632 A.F.” (after Henry Ford), a world…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com So far in 2025, announcements for new restaurant openings in the metro far outnumber closings. This is good news going into the new year for us hungry folk. In my opinion, the positive trend will…
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By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Local band Zero Place has been making quite a name for itself locally and regionally in the last few years. Despite getting its start during a time it seemed the whole world was coming to…
By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com For so many of us, the news announcing the death of the brilliant David Keith Lynch — who died just a few days short of his 79th birthday — interrupted beautiful blue skies and golden sunshine…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIn 1974, the Jamestown Arts Center started as a small space above a downtown drugstore. It has grown to host multiple classrooms, a gallery, performance studio, ceramic studio and outdoor art park.…
By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…
By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…
By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com On Dec 5, the Turning Point USA chapter at North Dakota State University hosted an event called BisonFest. This event featured Chloe Cole, a former trans kid, known for detransitioning and…
By Jim Fugliejimfuglie920@gmail.com A friend of mine, a well-known Bismarck liberal (I have a few of those), came up to me after church the other day and asked, “So, are you moving out of the country?” I knew he was referring…
