March 16th, 2016
Ruth Rheault speaks openly of nephew’s death
By John Strand & Tom Bixby
Zachary Spieker died Feb. 22 in East Grand Forks due to a heroin overdose. A 2008 graduate of Moorhead High, he excelled academically and had been named to the National Honor Roll Society, as well as the National Who’s Who of high school students. He then attended Concordia College.
Zach’s aunt, Ruth Rheault of Rollag, spoke candidly with HPR about the ravages of addiction, difficulties individuals and families…
March 16th, 2016
Staying Alive: Jeremy Kelly and the F-M Good Neighbor Project
By John Strand and Tom Bixby
There are big organizations that help drug users. A small one in Moorhead goes where the addicts are and really takes care of business. HPR spoke with Jeremy Kelly, founder of the F-M Good Neighbor Project.
High Plains Reader: What’s your mission and what do you do at the Project?
Jeremy Kelly: Social justice. We go by the harm reduction model of human service in the addiction field: low-barrier…
March 16th, 2016
Three heroin overdose deaths in seven days
Law enforcement warns the public to be vigilant and to watch out for those at risk
By John Strand & Tom Bixby
Law enforcement officials representing several agencies warned the public Sunday about an extraordinarily dangerous situation involving tainted or laced heroin in the FM area.
“The purpose of this press conference is to provide a public safety message in relation to several narcotic or opioid overdoses that have occurred in the FM area in…
March 9th, 2016
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In my column last week, I wrote about the passing of someone in the region due to heroin overdose. Less than a week later, I heard of another. I heard some reports that it was due to a bad batch of heroin. So I decided to seek answers from experts on how people can get help for those in need which is never easy. A lot of people are hoping the deaths don’t continue happening, but that can only change with awareness on how to get help. Over in…
March 2nd, 2016
Stenehjem supports tougher gun laws for felons
Says North Dakota law mirrors federal law but still needs to be changed
By Chris Hennen
As discussion has been sparked in North Dakota about changing our gun laws for felons following the shooting of officer Jason Moszer in Fargo by convicted felon Marcus Schumacher, we decided to ask North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, also a candidate for Governor for the Republican nomination, for his thoughts on the matter as the state’s chief…
February 25th, 2016
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In the wake of the fatal shooting of Fargo Police Officer Jason Moszer responding to a domestic violence call at the home of Marcus Schumacher, many have wondered how someone previously convicted of a felony was allowed to possess firearms. There are have been various reports that Schumacher petitioned for his gun rights although the legislator we speak with below said that is unconfirmed.
The bottom line is this: the ATF told both the GF Herald and Valley News Live that Marcus…
February 17th, 2016
The city of Fargo was rocked to its core last week when a police standoff following a domestic violence call resulted in the death of police officer Jason Moszer. While the shock hasn’t subsided, the community has sought various ways in the days following to heal and help. Support has been shown for the police officer with vigils and a fund was started for Officer Moszer’s wife and children. A funeral will be held later this month at Scheels Arena.
This week activists started a fund…
February 10th, 2016
As Fargo continues to experience major growth and redevelopment in its downtown region, some are concerned that it has a ripple effect resulting in gentrification. It is an issue being discussed more and more across the country as cities experience continued years of rapid growth.
Major cities like Austin and San Francisco are experiencing extreme gentrification currently where tech firms have settled in. Developers build condos, raise rent, and force out long-time residents, restaurants…
February 4th, 2016
A new budget forecast for the state of North Dakota shows a little over $1 billion dollar shortfall from projections made for funding during the last Legislative session. Because of that, Governor Jack Dalrymple called on most state agencies to cut over four percent from their budgets this week. For his reaction to this news, how it happened and what it means, we interviewed ND State Rep. Kylie Oversen (D-Grand Forks), who is also Chairman of the ND State Dem-NPL party. Does this mean…
January 27th, 2016
Loren Yellow Bird has a memory he won’t be forgetting any time soon. He was standing in the mountains of Alberta, surrounded by the cast and crew of a Hollywood film and having celebrated film actor Leonardo DiCaprio shout out to him for help after struggling with a line.
This wasn’t an average day for Yellow Bird, who had never worked on a Hollywood film before, and in DiCaprio’s defense, he was speaking a language that wasn’t his own. He was speaking the native language of…
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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.…
Friday March 7, 8 p.m.The Aquarium, 226 N. Broadway, FargoDJs and drummer teams compete head to head and have the opportunity to compete for the national championships in November. DJs are judged on performance and creativity.…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com 2025 marks us halfway through the roaring 2020s. Boy, am I glad I didn’t bob my hair for this go-around. It feels like we’re off to the wrong roar, opening Pandora’s box of what-the-Fox…
By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comLennon: “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can!”On January 8, 2025, Timothy W. Rybeck of “The Atlantic" magazine published “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days” with the…
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 As a food enthusiast, there’s nothing better than attending a local event featuring hotdish. And as far as hotdish events go, no place does it better than the fine folks at Brewhalla and Drekker…
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 sixteen features I saw during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, none left as big an impression as filmmaker/artist Kahlil Joseph’s astonishing “BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions.”…
By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Everyone has heard the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” However, it is safe to say there are far more than a thousand in Mickey Smith’s photographs. When one hears…
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 Gilbert Kuipersgilbertkuipers@outlook.com I live in North Dakota District 24 and have been challenging the district Republicans about their understanding of climate science for years. There has been no serious response to my…
