News

Pat Zavoral named AE2S Senior Management Consultant

December 23rd, 2015

An engineering firm working closely with many aspects of the FM Diversion Project went on the offensive Monday morning so their hiring of former Fargo City Administrator Pat Zavoral would not become a polarizing topic, as evidenced in an email acquired by the High Plains Reader.

Among the 81 people to whom the email was sent were several elected officials and respective staff including Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams, Fargo City Commission and Moorhead City…

Read more...


Getting Surly

December 23rd, 2015

HPR chats with Surly Brewing Co. Founder Omar Ansari

Monday December 14th was a big day for the craft beer community. Zorbaz in Detroit Lakes had a Surly Brewing Co. tap takeover which included 37 beers. This was the biggest Surly take over in history. Not only were there beers on tap that have never graced the lines outside of the taproom but there were also 4 years of Darkness (2012-2015), as well as 2015 Barrel Aged Darkness.

This event boasted a great turnout; from young to old,…

Read more...


Happy Hooligans honored​

December 23rd, 2015

ND National Guard unit recognized with top award

On December 5 the North Dakota National Guard’s 119th Wing, aka the Happy Hooligans, was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its “exceptional service, commitment and mission accomplishment.” The AFOUA is an annual award presented to units across the active-duty Air Force, Reserves and Air National Guard that have distinguished themselves. This event marked the 17th time the Happy Hooligans have been honored with an…

Read more...


We do it! Behold the power of giving.

December 17th, 2015

Q & A with Great Plains Food Bank. organization working to fight hunger in Fargo and Moorhead

As we approach the holiday season, we at the High Plains Reader wanted to learn more about efforts to end hunger in our region. The Great Plains Food Bank is the only food bank in North Dakota, as well as in Clay County in Minnesota, and provides food to all of the food pantries in our region. We asked Marsha Paulson, director of marketing and development for the Great Plains Food Bank, about…

Read more...


Clearing the bottle neck

December 9th, 2015

Is Fargo’s liquor license code too complicated? Is it time for change? A new task force examines what changes could be made.

A task force in Fargo is looking at methods to reform the city’s complex liquor license code. Currently there are many different types of liquor licenses, letter coded from A to Z for different types of establishments, most of which are available for purchase if you have the funds. However, there are no more A and A-B licenses currently which are for bars that…

Read more...


Planned Parenthood under attack

December 2nd, 2015

CEO of MN, ND and SD discusses threats to women’s health care provider ahead of visit

This Thursday, following an unprecedented attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado which saw three people lose their lives, the local Planned Parenthood organization will host its 11th annual Progress on the Prairie event with the CEO of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards and Sarah Stoesz, Planned Parenthood director for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

This event comes as Congress…

Read more...


It takes many hands

November 24th, 2015


For this week's cover story, we asked High Plains Reader staff members and volunteers as well as cover story subjects from 2015 and friends of the paper what they are grateful for this year. Below are the responses. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at HPR!

"I am thankful for all the amazing people I have in my life. The right people help you grow in love and knowledge and - from my family to my close friends to simple acquaintances within the community – I’m truly blessed with an…

Read more...


Love or Fear?

November 24th, 2015

#loveoverfear What are you so afraid of?

By Whitney Retzer

The Economist reports that 750,000 refugees have resettled in America since 9/11, and not one of these refugees have been arrested on domestic terrorism charges.

The world has always been a fragile ecosystem living and breathing between the balance of nature and the desire of man. Last Friday’s attack was a grim reminder of what man is capable of, if you can call these attackers human. It is often preferable to think of these…

Read more...


Informant’s mother pushes for changes

November 18th, 2015

Sadek’s death results in call for new laws

The mother of a North Dakota State College of Science student who was an informant for a drug task force and was killed by a gunshot, yet whose death is still unsolved, says she is working with legislators on a bill for the next North Dakota Legislative session, which would ban college students as drug informants.

Tammy Sadek, who has started the Facebook page Justice for Andrew Sadek, says she is resigned to not finding answers on her own…

Read more...


Black is Back

November 11th, 2015

After the runaway success of Dylan Fest last February, Merrill Piepkorn knew he was onto something. Not long after the tribute concert sold out the Fargo Theatre, the president of the Prairie Airwaves production company found himself inundated with avid suggestions for his next endeavor.

Country artists dominated a majority of the pitches, as the Highwaymen and Merle Haggard were lightly considered for homage, though none seemed quite right.

“Then I thought to myself,” Piepkorn…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry WurstWF1 Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL1 Tracker Pixel for Entry WurstWF2 Tracker Pixel for Entry seven Tracker Pixel for Entry Blackbird

Recently in:

By Bryce Vincent Haugenbrycevincenthaugen@gmail.com Audra Maurer never used marijuana until Minnesota businesses started to sell low-dose hemp-derived THC products. “The first time I was pain free was using legalized hemp…

By Michael MillerAs the holiday season approaches, I extend Yuletide Best Wishes and a special “Weihnachten” greeting to you and your family. I would like to share with you Christmas memories from our Germans from Russia…

Now-Feb 26All three Fargo Public Library locations have mitten trees and they’re accepting new or very gently loved clean gear for the cold. Handmade or purchased gloves, mittens, scarves, hats, and warm socks are appreciated.…

By Darrell Dorganddorgan695@aol.com I’ve been digging around for information on a company called High Plains Acres. High Plains, which has a presence in Jamestown, Bismarck and five North Dakota counties, owned thousands of acres…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWill we move up from Homo sapiens to Human empathians? The big question is, will the world’s billionaires who are now Homo sapiens gain enough human empathy to save the world from themselves —…

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 Mandy Dolneymandy@ksbsyndicate.com This cake will be on the menu at Nova Eatery through Thanksgiving served with maple crème anglaise Ice cream. It uses pumpkin pie pumpkins grown locally at Ladybug Acres and local apples grown…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The brilliant film essayist and documentarian Raoul Peck tackles the looming shadow of contemporary American and international totalitarianism in “Orwell: 2+2=5.” Following a May debut at…

The holidays are fast approaching. If you’re on the lookout for finding your loved ones something truly special and unique, we sought out some of the area’s independent and creative hotspots.VINTAGE AND ANTIQUESMoorhead Antique…

Press release“Shakespeare with a sharpened edge.” To launch its 2025 – 2026 season, Theatre NDSU is thrilled to team up with Moorhead-based organization Theatre B to perform a co-production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and…

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 At the beginning of the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the Grinch is introduced as having a smaller than average heart, but as the movie progresses, his heart increases three…

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 Chandler Esslinger Across North Dakota right now, a familiar conversation is resurfacing. We hear the argument that harm reduction “enables” people, that syringe access encourages drug use, that naloxone keeps people…