Last Word

​Good evening, Valley City/Barnes County Public Library Board Members and Fellow Community Members

January 8th, 2023

By Stacie Hansen-Leier

submit@hpr1.com

I’ve been a resident of Valley City for most of my fifty-one years, with the exception of short residencies in Jamestown, Fargo, the Park Rapids Minn. area and five years in the Cities.

I’ve been a voracious reader for most of my life and some of my best childhood memories come from days spent sitting in a bean bag chair downstairs in the children’s section of the public library, a pile of books at my feet just waiting to be read, as I paged…

Read more...


​An Open Letter to Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians.

November 17th, 2022

By Waylon Hedegaard

retiringwithcats@gmail.com

For all those who still decry my departure from the Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian faith, understand that I will never return. I see the examples you set and want no part of them.

For I know you. I used to be you, and I never want to be that again.

I have heard you preach against lies, then lie about others. You fabricate new truths when the old no longer suit. You twist events into unrecognizable shapes, then use them as weapons to…

Read more...


​Feudin’ a-fussin’ and a-fightin

September 14th, 2022

By Andrew Alexis Varvel

mr.a.alexis.varvel@gmail.com

Will our congressperson be Cara Mund or Kelly Armstrong?

Back 75 years ago in 1947, American radio stations played the hit song “Feudin' and Fightin'.” Its refrain went, “Feudin' a fussin' and a-fightin'. Sometimes it gets to be excitin'.”

That sounds increasingly like North Dakota politics this year!

North Dakota's races for US House and US Senate have been tumultuous, as weird as they are exciting, and with momentous …

Read more...


​Woodstock and The Age of Aquarius

August 17th, 2022

By Stewart Rogers 

Stewart_Rogers2001@yahoo.com

On August 15, 1969, a half million long-haired freaky people gathered in the mud for the Woodstock Music Festival in Upstate New York. For some, the event symbolized the worst of American youth – dirty, drug-crazed dropouts, listening to the devil’s music, obsessed with free love, unwilling to take personal responsibility, spitting in the faces of hardworking…

Read more...


​Doug Burgum’s Climate Crisis Plan: Will It Help? Is It Going To Work?

June 18th, 2022

By Madeline Luke

madelineluke@ymail.com

Sonja Kaye, of CLEAN in Fargo gave the third of four talks on climate change issues specific to North Dakota for the “What in the World Series,” in Valley City on April 5.

While the topic of the event was Project Tundra, a carbon sequestration project proposed to operate at the Milton Young Coal Station, Sonja’s information introduced the audience to the science, finances, and possible limitations of this technology which is the cornerstone of…

Read more...


Fargo Mayoral Candidates: Michael Borgie

June 5th, 2022

By Melissa Van Der Stad

m.forfargo@gmail.com

Michael Borgie was unable to be reached for comment on a tight timeline, so the following information has been taken verbatim from his campaign website.

“I live in the Prairiewood Golf Course neighborhood, but I also work in far south Fargo and downtown Fargo by Block 9. I have season tickets to the RedHawks so I’m up there 50 times a summer. I also have a pass for all the Fargo Parks golf courses as well, so you’ll see me all over in…

Read more...


Fargo Mayoral Candidates: Tim Mahoney

June 3rd, 2022

By Melissa Van Der Stad 

m.forfargo@gmail.com

Tim has been the mayor for seven years and the deputy mayor for six.

He is from south Fargo, and he's enjoyed seeing it grow in his many years in the neighborhood. He spends a lot of his free time in our local parks and attends many of the different public events throughout the city. In particular, he enjoys visiting Broadway…

Read more...


Fargo Mayoral Candidates, a Series: Shannon Roers Jones

May 28th, 2022

Shannon took my call while doing some grocery shopping during a busy weekday evening.

“I’m usually pretty busy, there’s always things going on, but at the same time there’s always time for talking to people.”

Shannon lives in South Fargo in the Maple Valley neighborhood. She chose to raise her kids here because it is close to her family. She spends a lot of time supporting her talented kids as they pursue a variety of after school activities, including swimming and theater.

When…

Read more...


Fargo Mayoral Candidates: Hukun Dabar

May 20th, 2022

Hukun provided his responses via email. “I live in downtown Fargo. Downtown living makes everything accessible and convenient! I love taking my kids to Lindenwood, and enjoy the food at Rugsan on 13th Avenue. I also like shopping at West Acres.” He has deep ties to the Fargo community, and he plans to use his talents to serve the citizens of Fargo from the mayoral office.

He has been positively affecting the Fargo community for years. The strong relationships he has built within the…

Read more...


Fargo Mayor Candidates: Arlette Preston

May 18th, 2022

Arlette Preston

She’s lived in Fargo for 45 years, and currently resides in Downtown Fargo with her husband.

“We don’t eat at home much and because the restaurants are so accessible here, we can walk to them easily. So we spend a lot of our time out on the sidewalk talking to people and you know, that’s the other thing about being Downtown is you get to know your neighbors, it’s kind of amazing. Because you see them all the time. It really feels like a neighborhood here. It’s…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck1 Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans Tracker Pixel for Entry EmpireAUG2021 Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem1 Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2C Tracker Pixel for Entry hjemkomst

Recently in:

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.…

February 28- March 2Ramada Hotel & Convention Center, 3333 13th Avenue. S, FargoLove comics? Fargo-Moorhead Comic-Con is calling fans of all ages because this is your gateway to all things pertaining to comic fandom. Check out…

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.comHomo Sapiens are now old enough to know betterAccording to fossil experts — so far, Homo sapiens have been around for about 300,000 years, evolving slowly from a few other Homos, until most of 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 Lizzie Allan The silver anniversary of the annual Fargo Film Festival will take place from March 18 to 22 at the Fargo Theatre. From its beginnings a quarter of a century ago, the showcase of cinematic talent across multiple…

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 Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.com Some days I just sit out by Bad Medicine Lake in the no internet zone. (Well at least last time I checked, there were no bars on those roads towards Rice Lake in the back country.) That’s…