Culture | February 4th, 2015
Friday, Jan. 23, was a delicious night of Choice Desserts, an annual fundraiser for the Red River Women’s Clinic, taking place at the Alumni Center at North Dakota State University. As the only abortion clinic in North Dakota, the RRWC also serves women of northwestern Minnesota and northern South Dakota.
The desserts included lemon bars from Scratch Deli, cupcakes from Bakeology and Love in the Oven Bakery, almond bars from Josie’s Corner Café & Bake Shop, and caramel-apple pie from Perkins. Meanwhile, the silent auction raised a good deal of money for the Women in Need Fund (WIN), which has aided women in paying for reproductive healthcare services since 1999.
Auction items included gift cards, ticket vouchers to local theatres, and handmade items donated by local artists, including crocheted winter hats, beaded bracelets, two paintings, a paper crane mobile, and a framed cross-stitch piece that says “Girls just want to have fundamental human rights.”
Later in the evening, speakers took to the podium, starting with board president Miriam Mara and director Tammi Kromenaker. In addition to sharing news about reproductive rights legislation, both local and national, these women paid tribute to George Tiller, the Kansas physician who was murdered in 2009 for providing late-term abortions.
In the wake of his death, which sparked concerns about clinic security nationwide, Kromenaker was quoted as saying, “As we see what happened with Dr. Tiller, you can have all the security in the world and still not be safe.”
Mara and Kromenaker’s speeches were followed up by volunteers Jen Hoy, Nicole Kolbe, Warren Christensen, and Sarah Palm, who read the personal stories of real patients of the RRWC. These stories included a wide range of experiences, from that of a single mother with insufficient healthcare coverage to a mother of four who needed her uterus surgically removed to save her life.
Judging from these women’s stories, the RRWC seems to have no trouble providing a safe, secure facility where patients can get the medical attention, financial support, and counseling services they need. One woman even expressed her gratitude for the clinic paying for her bus fare and hotel room, as the WIN Fund covers not only abortion costs but also travel expenses for its prospective patients.
February 23rd 2026
February 16th 2026
February 13th 2026
January 15th 2026
January 15th 2026
_(1)__293px-wide.png)
_(1)_(1)_(1)_(1)_(1)__293px-wide.jpg)
_(1)_(1)_(1)_(1)_(1)__293px-wide.jpg)
__293px-wide.png)
By Bryce Vincent Haugen By his own account, Edwin Chinchilla is lucky to still be in the United States. As a 12-year-old Salvadoran, he and his brother were packed into a semi with a couple dozen other people and given fake…
By Michael M. Miller Rev. Salomon Joachim, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Beulah, North Dakota., delivered an address to the Western Conference of the Dakota District of the American Lutheran Church in 1939. His presentation was…
Wednesday, March 25, Group lesson 7 p.m., Dance 9 p.m.Sons of Norway, 722 2nd Avenue North, FargoCare to dance? If you don’t already know how to dance, the Northern Lights Dance Club can show you a thing or two about social…
By John StrandDisclaimer: This editorial is the work of someone who’s spent most of his adult life working in the media — most of those years co-owning this very entity, the High Plains Reader, since 1996. The notion that folks…
By Ed RaymondBernie Sanders is on the world’s longest and oldest walkaboutAdolescent Australian Aboriginal males often volunteer to challenge the transition to adulthood by performing well (that means staying alive) in a…
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 GionFor those folks with busy lives who can’t afford or attend culinary school, community cooking classes are a good way to learn new tips and tricks in the kitchen. Cookbooks, instructional online videos and watching…
The Slow Death at The AquariumSaturday, March 21, doors at 7:30 p.m. The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe Slow Death is a punk supergroup led by Jesse Thorson, with members and collaborators that include…
By Greg Carlson A number of critics and media outlets have already noted the variety of cinematic antecedents that have influenced writer-director Amy Wang’s movie “Slanted,” pointing out how the story of a frustrated…
Saturday, March 7, 4-8 p.m.Swing Barrel Brewing, 814 Central Ave., MoorheadEmpty Bowls is a nationwide, grassroots, artist-led movement to support hunger related organizations in their communities. On March 7, prepare to fill your…
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 Ellie Liverani In January 2026, the 2026-2030 dietary guidelines for Americans were released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They are supposed to be revolutionary and a “reset” from the previous ones.…
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…
By Vern Thompson Benjamin Franklin offered one of the most sobering warnings in American history. When asked what kind of government the framers had created in 1787, he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Few words…