News

​Embracing the Midwest in the southwest

March 28th, 2018

Brennen Leigh finds her honky tonk heaven - design by Raul GomezMoorhead, Minnesota native Brennen Hulbert, maybe now better known as Brennen Leigh, has become a fixture of the Austin music scene. The country music songstress moved to Austin at 19 and has made quite the name for herself in the 15 years that she’s been on the scene bouncing between there and Nashville.

Since then she has found herself writing for big-name acts in Nashville, tours the United States and Europe, and the late great Guy Clark even sang her praises by saying, "Brennen…

Read more...


High costs of addiction

March 28th, 2018

Justin Dietrich and his dog, Harley Bell - FacebookFARGO – Justin Lee Dietrich was an addict. A long rap sheet haunted him, barring him from joining a society that rejected him at every turn. Court documents show he had issues with sobriety, was ordered by Cass County District Court to attend sobriety programs, chemical dependency evaluations, and given two years supervised probation, after he pled guilty to terrorizing charges in 2016.

Before four Fargo Police SWAT shooters took the 32-year-old man’s life on March 12 for posing an…

Read more...


​Piece of chicken lands Native man in jail… again

March 28th, 2018

Zebadiah Gartner before a sweat lodge ceremony - photograph by C.S. HagenFARGO – In January 2017, Zebadiah Gartner took an extra piece of chicken from a Cashwise Foods sample plate, and threw it away after workers said he could only eat one. A month later, Gartner – along with other participants – were pulled out of an Indigenous sweat lodge by Fargo Police wearing little but shorts in freezing temperatures.

The ensuing resisting arrest charge against Gartner was later dropped, but the theft charge stuck, and haunted him to the Fargo Amtrak Train…

Read more...


​Plea bargain struck in Minnesota MMIW case

March 27th, 2018

Laycie Jean Williams after attacker pled guilty to kidnapping - Facebook live feed snapshotST. PAUL – The case of a man charged with multiple counts – including kidnapping and strangulation assault – against an Indigenous woman, will not be going to trial.

On Monday, Derrick Jonathan Fasig, 24, pled guilty to felony kidnapping, but not guilty to four other charges of third degree criminal sex conduct – forced or coerced, possession of ammunition and a firearm, felony domestic assault, and domestic assault by strangulation, according to Ramsey County District Court…

Read more...


​March For Our Lives Fargo - largest march in recent history

March 24th, 2018

Hundreds of people gathered at the Sanctuary Events Center and then marched through downtown Fargo during the nationwide March For Our Lives event - photograph by C.S. HagenFARGO - The March For Our Lives event that began in Washington D.C. on Saturday by Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors, spread across the nation sparking more than 800 “sibling” marches, including a rally in Fargo/Moorhead that attracted hundreds.

March For Our Lives Fargo attracted more protesters to the Sanctuary Event Center than any other recent event. Organized by Moms Demand Action FM, speakers ranged from state legislators to teachers to students.

Nobody…

Read more...


​Fourth police shooting in 2018 sends local man to hospital

March 22nd, 2018

Orlando Estrada - Fargo Police DepartmentFARGO - Fargo police responded to a domestic dispute on Wednesday approximately 11:30 p.m. at 3101 32 Street South. After issuing commands for the male involved, Orlando Estrada, 28, to exit the apartment, Estrada reportedly brandished a large knife.

“An officer, who feared for his life, fired his service weapon striking Estrada,” a police press release stated. “Estrada retreated into the apartment and secured the door.”

After being shot in the side, and before being arrested,…

Read more...


​Puddles keeps on keepin’ on

March 21st, 2018

Puddles - photograph by Emily Butler PhotographyThe High Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview Puddles of Puddles Pity Party. The clown is known for his golden singing voice but chooses to remain silent in his everyday life -- but granted us an exclusive interview via email on his performance on America’s Got Talent, his experience with Postmodern Jukebox and what fuels his sadness.

High Plains Reader: Where or rather how did you find your golden voice?

Puddles: My MeeMaw says I came into this world singing a respectable…

Read more...


​One bad little sister: Patricia McCoy in her own words

March 21st, 2018

Patricia McCoy cover, photograph by Meg Luther Lindholm, design by Raul GomezBy Meg Luther Lindholm
meglutherlindholm@gmail.com

Patricia McCoy would say that her life journey has taken her to hell and back. She has survived experiences that would kill many, including drugs, five prison terms, and attempts by others to rob her of her life. She grew up in Chicago and Milwaukee, where life was a battleground and toughness and survival went hand in hand. Initially she had hopes for escaping the hardscrabble life she inherited. She worked hard to win a college…

Read more...


‘My spirit was broken’

March 21st, 2018

Laycie Jean Williams - photograph provided by Melanie StonemanST. PAUL – When Laycie Jean Williams accepted a train ticket to the Twin Cities in May 2017, she thought she was going to protest another pipeline. She’d already spent time on the frontlines at Standing Rock. As a new mother and a strong Dakota woman from the Crow Creek Tribe, eager to defend Native and environmental rights, she was tricked, she said, held captive for two weeks, threatened with knives, a long gun, beaten, raped, forced to kneel on a broomstick, and strangled into…

Read more...


LionsWay2

March 20th, 2018

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck1 Tracker Pixel for Entry Hjemkomst Tracker Pixel for Entry nicholes Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem1B Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonMore than 1,000 pro-worker events are planned for Thursday, May 1 across the country, including rallies in Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot and Jamestown. East Grand Forks and Bismarck will host protests…

From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with…

Saturday, May 17, 7- 9 p.m.Spirit Room, 111 Broadway N., Fargo Armed with a 12 string guitar, multi-octave voice and a mountain dulcimer, Claudia Schmidt combines story, song, poetry and a dash of theatre in a one-of-a-kind…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIt’s no secret that there are folks among us who make our communities a more vibrant place through both their actions and means of creative expression. Heck, you could be one of them yourself.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comIn which century would you love to live, the 14th or the 22nd?History tells me we are in a period where Americans are fighting for their choice. Just 48 hours after Adolf Hitler was appointed…

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 After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Of the many photographs that help tell the story “I Know Catherine, the Log Lady,” the one of David Lynch dressed as FBI Regional Bureau Chief (and later Deputy Director) Gordon Cole saying…

By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…

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 Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com I remember when I was young, probably 11 years ago. One morning I was not feeling well because of my period. After I got ready to go to school, I went back to bed and it was hard to get up…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…