Culture

The Winners in Rural Broadband - the Customers

March 18th, 2020

photo courtesy of Debra Ruh

by Sonja Thompson

Debra Ruh is the CEO and Founder of Ruh Global IMPACT, a consulting firm that strives to help clients amplify their impact and become disability inclusion leaders. She also serves as the Chair of the United Nations' G3ict EmployAbility Task Force, which supports information and communication assistive technologies in over 100 countries. Her advocacy for people with disabilities has changed the way technology companies interface with their customers; and she has…

Read more...


Pie and Derby: Skating for a Cause

March 11th, 2020

photo by Raul Gomez

High Plains Reader spoke with Beth Ambrosio, "Maulflower," board member and skater with the FM Derby Girls about the first bout of their 11th season, and the charity events taking place for Pi Day.

HIGH PLAINS READER: What is your role with the FM Derby Girls? How long have you been a member?
BETH AMBROSIO: I am a skater, and I'm also on the Board of Directors - all of us take part in running our league and making it a success. I have been skating since the first season of FMDG, although…

Read more...


A Boy a Band & a Book

March 4th, 2020

cover design by Raul Gomez

Max Patzner, guitarist, artist and lead vocalist of the Minot-based indie folk band Wild Hands is at it again but this time he has a few new tricks up his sleeve. He’s the brains and talent behind The Little Why Not? Publishing house. Along with art and music he’s created a homegrown publishing house with the intent to not only produce children’s books but to inspire, educate and light the creative fire within both the young and young at heart.

HPR had the opportunity to chat with…

Read more...


Don’t get angry about Internet Trolls

March 4th, 2020

It is totally useless to have your blood pressure increased because of an Internet troll. Not only that, but your doctor will have to increase your dose of blood pressure medicine, costing you more money.

Internet trolls are people who want to provoke and upset others online for their own amusement. Here’s how to spot the signs that someone is a troll, and how to handle them.

If you’ve been on the internet for any period of time, you’ve likely run into a troll at some point. An…

Read more...


Field trips: Setting the hook for lifelong engagement

March 4th, 2020

by Chris Dorfschmidt

I have always been a storyteller. My notebooks from school contained bits of stories or skits, things I found amusing, or ideas that would not leave my head until I had them down on paper. I still carry a notebook for that reason. My love of storytelling was a part of what made me an engaging teacher. Like a good story, I had to hook my audience. Right now, my focus is on field trips and how we can create a memorable experience. Students are not going to remember all…

Read more...


Transgender Support : Summit and Gala

February 26th, 2020

photo by Taylor Snyder Art Photography

by Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

The Tristate Transgender Support Summit is a conference and marketplace with speakers, workshops, and vendors. The Trans Support Gala takes place on Saturday, February 28, at the Radisson Hotel in Fargo. High Plains Reader spoke to the Vice President of Tri-State, Rebel Marie, about the Summit and Gala.

HIGH PLAINS READER: Can you give a little background on what Tri-State Transgender does for the community, and your role with it?
REBEL MARIE
: I am the vice…

Read more...


Get Rhythm: King of the sale ring

February 26th, 2020

photo courtesy of ND Winter Show

The North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City will celebrate its 83rd year in 2020. Attendees can anticipate a variety of agricultural and heritage programming from rodeos to dances to keynote speakers and vendors but this year organizers of the event have a couple of new tricks up their sleeves. One in particular is the first annual “King of the Sale Ring” auctioneer contest to be held on Sunday, March 1.

There are two rounds to the contest. The first round of participants auction…

Read more...


What about Public WiFi?

February 26th, 2020

This is a complicated topic. It’s true that browsing on public Wi-Fi is much safer and more private than it used to be thanks to the widespread embrace of HTTPS on the web. Other people on the public Wi-Fi network can’t just snoop on everything you’re doing. Man-in-the-middle attacks aren’t as trivially easy as they used to be. The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) recently came down on the side of public Wi-Fi being safe, writing that “There are plenty of things in life to…

Read more...


Skip the clichés and reclaim Valentine’s Day

February 12th, 2020

cover design by Raul Gomez

Valentine’s Day can inspire annoying questions if you’re single and the spending of a whole lot of time or money if you’re not. So shake up the old routine with fun, unusual and affordable (or even free) activities.

Feel free to disregard traditions that don’t work for you and make new ones that matter. Override date night (even if you’re part of a couple) and meet a group of friends for cocoa, a concert or a barn dance. Trade your usual dinner for two for a salsa lesson, a…

Read more...


Nature of the North: Bringing People Inside to Get Them Outside

February 5th, 2020

photo provided by John Showalter - Nature of the North - Construction of Fargo-MoorheadYs first-ever retail rock and bouldering wall is underway.  The bouldering wall will be open to the public for use spring of 2020.

A lot of us may sigh and roll our eyes when our parents or grandparents chastise us for spending too much time attached to our electronic devices. There may be a grain of truth in their complaints, however. According to the Outdoor Foundation’s 2019 Outdoor Participation Report, almost half of Americans did not go outdoors for recreation. We went on one billion fewer outdoor outings in 2018 than in 2008. How should this loss of passion for the great outdoors be addressed? …

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry MidwestRoadTripAdventures Tracker Pixel for Entry Tracker Pixel for Entry Tracker Pixel for Entry TheatreBSMS Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck1 Tracker Pixel for Entry Dvfa

Recently in:

Proposed Bills Could Take Books off Library ShelvesBy Laura Simmonslaurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu The passing of ND House Bill 1205 and ND Senate Bill 2360, which would prevent sexually explicit books from being in public…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comHPR chats with a local legendThe following interview was done in February of 2016, just a few months after Mr. Josef Olivieri's 90th birthday. We're sorry to hear of his passing at the age of 97 on…

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30pmZandbroz Variety, FargoAuthor of “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land” Taylor Broby will discuss the important role libraries play in their communities as sanctuaries of acceptance. He will…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.comOur Opinion: Who on Earth would ever want to move to North Dakota?Let’s talk about the left hand and the right hand. Or, more correctly, let’s focus on the right hand, being as there is no left in ND…

By Ed Raymond  fargogadfly@gmail.comHas Christianity Gone Bankrupt Because of Evangelicals, Stupidity, and the Vatican?The word “bankruptcy” refers to money because…

Well shiver me timbers. After weeks of sampling some of the finest drinks in F-M from more bars than we could shake a belaying pin at, the results of High Plains Reader’s 6th Annual Cocktail Showdown are in! For nine weeks,…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.comWhen thinking of popular sandwiches associated with the Upper Midwest, the sloppy joe immediately comes to mind. But let’s not forget the sandwich with a spicy side – the taco grinder. It’s a…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Upon discovering the music of Arkansas-based musician Nick Shoulders, there are a couple of things that come to mind. At first listen it’s no secret that his sound is a celebration of past music…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comOn Saturday, March 25, filmmaker Mike Flanagan returns to the Fargo Film Festival, where “Absentia,” his debut feature, made its world premiere in 2011. This time, he will be joined by his…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIf you’ve ever driven down the Enchanted Highway, the 32-mile ribbon of road connecting Regent to Gladstone in western North Dakota, home to the world’s largest salvaged metal sculptures,…

By Jessica M. Hawkesjmhawkes84@gmail.comIt wasn’t long after the founding of the railroad and river town of New Rockford that entertainment venues started to put down their own roots. Its population bolstered by booms of nearby…

By Jan Syverson  Jan.r.Syverson@gmail.comFor the past 30 years live, stand-up comedy has had a place in the Fargo Moorhead area, Starting with…

By Kris Gruberperriex1@gmail.comSpring is here (mostly), and our area is buzzing with people eager to get back out and about -- many newly vaccinated and feeling a bit safer. Partnering with Jade Events, Fargo Brewing is just…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

JANUARY 19, 1967– MARCH 8, 2023 Brittney Leigh Goodman, 56, of Fargo, N.D., passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 8, 2023. Brittney was born January 19, 1967, to Ruth Wilson Pollock and Donald Ray Goodman, in Hardinsburg,…

By Ken and Alice Christiansonsubmit@hpr1.com HB 1332 is currently before the North Dakota legislature. The bill proposes to permit social workers to use a discredited treatment method to convert the sexual orientation of gay and…