Culture

Fire!

June 12th, 2019

High Plains Regional Rendezvous participants wearing fur trader era clothing - photograph by Ryan Janke

In a remote area along the Sheyenne River just southeast of Sheldon, North Dakota lies a sleepy patch of land that comes to life this week as the High Plains Regional Rendezvous kicks off this Saturday.

The rendezvous is a week-long event in which participants re-enact the life and times of the fur trader era, which spanned from 1610 to 1840. The week will be filled with many different activities that are true to the time period and give participants of what life was really like during…

Read more...


Festivals of history in South Dakota

May 29th, 2019

Esmond population 4 - South Dakota Public Broadcasting producer Stephanie Rissler

FORT SISSETON, SD – Everyone knows small towns are disappearing across the Dakotas, few, however, have ever investigated how these ghost towns began and produced a documentary.

In some areas throughout South Dakota the buildings remained strangely intact, but the people were gone as if taken by the rapture during the height of the Cold War.

“Looked like aliens came and just took the people, but left the buildings and the houses,” South Dakota Public Broadcasting producer Stephanie…

Read more...


​Camping Dining 101

May 29th, 2019

Camp food

As a boy scout the phrase “Be Prepared” was hammered home at every turn. Guess what? It worked. 

Now I tout to anyone who will listen “Preparation is the Key to Success,” and guess what? That works too. Coming from an avid camping family I learned early in life to enjoy being out in the woods and to appreciate the old adage, “everything tastes better outside.” I think that is true because you are hungry as hell after hauling all that gear to the campsite and getting…

Read more...


Computer Use is not supposed to be Stressful

May 29th, 2019

Doctors will tell you to get away from stress. But I am not a doctor so we won’t get into that here. Let’s just talk about your Inbox. We all get email right? After many years of receiving email and interacting with others on the Internet, I get about 125 emails a day. Last week I culled out about 25 emails so now it is down to 125 from 150. It is still stressful.

There are many articles on “Inbox Zero” on the Internet. Inbox Zero is a staple of digital productivity advice.…

Read more...


​Riding on gravel

May 29th, 2019

Photograph provided by Jayden Hanson

Bicycling is becoming more and more popular in North Dakota bringing more challenging bike races around the state. The newest one is the Kidder County Classic which is set to roll out from Main Street in Robinson on June 22.

The Classic is made up of two courses of 70 and 22 miles and will primarily be run on gravel roads in Kidder County. Robinson, where the race will begin and end, is a small town of about 100 residents. It is located roughly 70 miles northeast of Bismarck and about 65…

Read more...


​Did you know about Shodan?

May 22nd, 2019

Shodan has been called the “scariest search engine on the internet.” It has the ability to expose and allow access to many devices including servers, computers, phones, fridges, traffic lights, security cameras and even control panels of power and utility systems. What exactly is Shodan? Shodan is a search engine, much like Google or Yahoo. The difference between Shodan and other search engines is Shodan provides information regarding devices which are connected to the internet,…

Read more...


​Getting to the Core(Con) of the Matter

May 22nd, 2019

Photograph by Kris Gruber

It has never been a better time to be a nerd. One look at the top-grossing movies at the box office is enough to show that geek is chic. Once solely the butt of jokes and the target of school bullies, the nerds and geeks among us find ourselves in a time when it’s socially acceptable to enjoy everything from superheroes to “Star Wars.” One thing has always remained a linchpin of fandoms over time: the convention. For the uninitiated, however, it can be daunting to get involved…

Read more...


​Fixing it forward

April 3rd, 2019

Fix it Forward - photograph by Ryan Janke

It was an, “aha,” moment, said Jeremy Jensen. A woman had her vehicle towed into the Fix It Forward Auto Care shop in Moorhead. Jensen and fellow Fix It Forward Auto Care co-founder Matt Carlson had the vehicle on a hoist trying to diagnose what they thought was going to be a simple repair.

“[She] was a single mom,” Jensen recalled. “She said it was leaking brake fluid. We’re like, ‘It’s a brake line. No big deal.’ We got it up there, [but] couldn’t figure out where…

Read more...


Talking Fargo and ‘Fargo’ with Bill Lempe

March 13th, 2019

Bill Lempe

By Gabrielle Hersch
gabbyhersch@gmail.com

“North Dakota (and Minnesota) nice” is an attitude, a stereotype, and a way of life that has permeated our region, as well as perceptions of the Midwest, since as long as people have been here. But the wildly popular film by the Coen Brothers and the quirky FX television series, both sharing our town’s title of “Fargo,” craft a dark, brooding world of crime with our landscapes as their snow noir backdrop. At what point did stereotypes of…

Read more...


​‘Pull-Tab’ machines

February 13th, 2019

Pulltab slots - photograph by Zach Nerpel

By Zach Nerpel
zachnerpel@gmail.com

There is nothing more hopeless than a feeling unrequited. The obsession it brings, the doubt it stews, and the madness which erases your sense of self are crippling. You’ll give more than you are given to something that was never there but eventually realize that much of the misery you have gone through is of your own fault; the flashy exterior and promising first few goes ultimately mean nothing, but the investment is your own.

What else could I be…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry potluck Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL Tracker Pixel for Entry Blackbird Tracker Pixel for Entry Empire Tracker Pixel for Entry Potluck2 Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck

Recently in:

Summer is a tough time for families who depend on free or reduced-price school meals, so YMCA of the Northern Sky will provide nutritious, no-cost meals to kids 18 and under through August 26. Breakfast and lunch are available…

By Jeff Armstrong Despite a history dating back many centuries and a reputation as fierce resistance fighters, the Kurds remain the largest stateless nation in the world. Divided by colonial post-WWI borders and subsumed into four…

June 6-7StatewideYou grab a line and I’ll grab a pole — and if you’re a North Dakota resident, you can head on down to your favorite fishing hole, no license needed (for this weekend, anyway). All other rules still apply…

By John Strand It took us over 30 years for us to reach out and ask for your help. The High Plains Reader has always been subscription free and paywall free. Our content has — and always will be — free to access for all of our…

By Ed RaymondCongratulations! A world record held by Trumplican Party and NRA!During the Minnesota Legislature’s discussion of gun controls, Republican State Senator Drew Roach of Farmington said he would never ban assault…

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…

July 8th, 5:30-8 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead We’re celebrating America’s 250th birthday, Minnesota style. Moorhead Parks and Recreation and HCSCC are hosting the ultimate potluck. Whether you’re bringing…

Tuesday, June 30, 7 p.m.Parachigo, 14 8th St. S., Fargo Inspired by folk and rock influences, Bielanski's upbeat catchy tunes have gone worldwide — literally. He’s played 2,500 shows, 311 of which were performed last year alone.…

By Greg Carlson The feature directorial debut of established internet phenomenon and entertainment hyphenate Hayley Kiyoko — known unironically to her fans as “Lesbian Jesus” — carries with it a curious backstory becoming more…

By Jacinta Zens I recently sat down for a chat with ceramicist Louie Albertson, Clay and Studio Program Manager at the Plains Art Museum. Before the interview, I had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit as a colleague when I…

Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…

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 Eli Liverani It was in the mid-90s when I heard of homeopathy for the first time. I was at university, and it was through word of mouth. Some friends were seeking homeopathy to solve minor health issues, such as weight gain,…

January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…

Chris M. Stoner I was recently dismissed from my role as drag show director and emcee for Dakota OutRight, a role I had been fulfilling for more than two decades. The reason given? My political commentary during shows, while…