Editorial

Starting anew

July 29th, 2015

Welcome, Sabrina Hornung and Chris Hennen; a grateful send-off for Diane Miller

We’ve known for several months that HPR editor Diane Miller will be moving to the Twin Cities. We fully expect she’ll soar to new heights in her new environs.

That said, it will be with full hearts as we wrap up Diane’s tenure as editor-in-chief here at the High Plains Reader. She’s done a stellar job to say the least and we love and respect her.

When the inevitable move away from Fargo became apparent,…

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Don’t trample rights of individuals

July 23rd, 2015

A week ago, as HPR was preparing to go to press, a firestorm was unfolding in our community. Long story short – as most of you know this well – a Fargo resident was targeted on social media and it was implied that he was inappropriately taking pictures of young children at the Island Park swimming pool.

The original Facebook post included pictures of 37-year-old Kirk Ludwig, as well as his car and license plate. That post went viral. It was like someone opened a flood gate. A tsunami…

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​Public safety in question

July 15th, 2015

Fargo was in a bit of an uproar this week after a man was allegedly caught taking pictures of kids swimming at Island Park Pool. While he can’t be criminally charged, he was promptly banned by the Fargo Park District from all city parks. Also, Police identified the man and cited him for pot possession.

Much debate ensued on social media about the rights of the swimmers and the freedom of speech rights of the photographer. While it’s important for everyone involved to follow the law,…

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​Adventures in Eating: Accident Forgiveness

July 9th, 2015

Remember that reality TV series “Boiling Points”? It was a hidden camera show that survived a few season on MTV about a decade ago.

Actors would pretend they were workers in restaurants or other service-industry establishments and they’d test people’s patience essentially by being awful. They’d make people wait, sell them faulty products that they’d deny were faulty, ask odd questions and be irksome in dozens of other ways. If the customers reached their “boiling points”…

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​Our Opinion / The Supreme Court’s landmark 5-4 ruling on same-sex marriage rocked the country

July 1st, 2015

Love is Love

SCOTUS on marriage equality

The Supreme Court’s landmark 5-4 ruling on same-sex marriage rocked the country and the message rippled out around the world. Hear, hear!

North Dakota is one of the states that had embedded into its constitution definitions of marriage to be between one man and one woman. That too, now shall pass.

The public reaction to this ruling, predictably, has been mixed. The younger generation, especially, is ebullient. They are our future and they could not…

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​Downtown crime getting worse?

June 24th, 2015

Recent stories have us worried

The recent spate of violence in Fargo, including two murders, has many wondering just what is happening in our fine little city -- which doesn’t seem so small any more. Just as HPR was going to press, I witnessed an unprovoked assault outside a downtown bar in Fargo.

It’s true that with growth come changes. That’s to be expected. But all of this seems a little too much, too soon for all of us. There is so much to be proud of about in downtown Fargo.…

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In honor of Marguerite’s Music

June 17th, 2015

Marguerite's Music, a store that has served the community of Fargo-Moorhead since 1975, will close at the end of June.

HPR would like to dedicate this music-related editorial to the wonderful store and its staff. Over the years, Marguerite’s assisted thousands of traveling professional musicians, local musicians, aspiring musicians and closet musicians -- myself included. I bought my first C.F. Martin guitar, loop-station pedal, foot-pedal tuner and banjo from Marguerite’s. I took…

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​Thoughts on the news

June 12th, 2015

By Chris Hennen

As HPR was going to press, we learned that Colleen Sheehy, director and CEO of the Plains Art Museum since 2008, will be leaving her post later this year. While we will be sad to see her go, we are thankful for the time we’ve had her and wish her the best of the luck in the future.

Under Sheehy’s stewardship, the Plains Art Museum has continued its role as a jewel of downtown Fargo and a beacon in the arts scene. The annual Spring Gala has thrived in recent years and…

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HATS OFF TO THE BEST ​

June 3rd, 2015

Our Opinion/ We extend a hearty thanks to the 300 or so people who showed up Thursday night

Fifty winners were announced May 28 at HPR’s Best of the Best awards night. The annual contest reflects the cream of the crop in our local arts and entertainment world.

The original “Best of” contest in the Fargo region, HPR’s Best of the Best began in 1997. Over the years, the categories have evolved, some new ones, some weeded out over time. This year 50 certificates were awarded.

Next…

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​Drug Task Force Back In Action

May 29th, 2015

Andrew Sadek

They’re back. Recently, we learned that SEMCA (Southeast Multi-County Agency Drug Task Force) is back in action on the campus of the ND State College of Science in Wahpeton.

You may remember this same task force was responsible for busting Andrew Sadek on campus at NDSCS, which ultimately lead to his work as an informant. Sadek ended up dead right before his graduation. The case still has not been solved.

Sadek was reportedly threatened with over 20 years of jail time for selling $80…

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