Articles

Choice fitness center ahead of schedule

Choice Health & Fitness is taking shape. The Grand Forks Park District’s fitness center’s construction is a month ahead of schedule, with a tentative opening in September.

• Choice Health & Fitness logo

Pennington County, Minn., bar seeks 2 a.m. closing

Pennington County, Minn., will soon have its first bar with a 2 a.m. closing. County commissioners recently granted the one-hour extension to Carpenter’s Corner, a rural bar in the northwestern corner of the county, 10 miles west of Thief River Falls.

Official: Union bringing ‘significant’ offer to Crystal negotiations

A Bakery Workers union official is saying that locked-out American Crystal Sugar workers will bring a counteroffer to the June 8 negotiations with the company. The counter offer will include “a new set of proposals to address their concerns since the last time we met,” Roger Delage, president of Local 2676 in Crookston, said today.

• American Crystal Sugar Co. logo

RYAN BAKKEN: All you can eat, free ice cream

If you enjoy ice cream, Cavalier is the place to be June 9. I can guarantee two things: 1) the price (free) is right; and 2) you’ll be able to eat all you want. Everyone’s invited. A free dessert buffet? That’s tough to beat.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: A civil society?

Can’t we all just get along? Currently, the answer is an emphatic “NO.”

• Ryan Bakken
• IF YOU GO: “Civility in Public Conversation: Have We Lost Our Ability to Talk?”
• OUR OPINION: Discourage demonizing to encourage civility

South-end bypass still possible, faces a few challenges

Twenty-one years ago, Roland Young presented the idea of building a south-end bypass around Grand Forks on Merrifield Road. Sixteen years ago, the local planning office agreed, putting the concept into its long-range transportation plan. His idea’s inclusion in the plan is no longer enough for the 83-year-old Young. He wants the work moved to the front burner.

• South bypass

Demand for student housing on the rise

Rising demand for student housing options that offer more privacy than traditional dormitories has launched a $9.8 million project at the University of Minnesota-Crookston and prompted UND to consider its own housing project.

• Dorm

Bar’s get-out-the-vote move backfires

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating a downtown Grand Forks bar’s promotion of rewarding voters with a free beer.

• Tyrone Grandstrand
• Gilly's

Officials: Early voting in Grand Forks County is special challenge

Grand Forks County voters will get a chance to go to the polls earlier this year, running eight days starting the day after Memorial Day. The county usually doesn’t hold early voting for a primary, but County Auditor Debbie Nelson said a combination new precinct lines and expected higher voter turnout makes this primary different.

• Alerus Center logo

Grand Forks skaters seek funds for new skate park

Grand Forks skateboarders are hoping to raise $215,000 to build a new facility in town. It’s still unclear if they’ll be able to collect that amount in grants and donations, but they know one thing for certain: Skateboard parks are an easier public relations’ sell now than they were a decade ago.

• Skateboard jump

Columns

RYAN BAKKEN: More than walleyes offered as tourism options

I grew up one block from The World’s Largest Oxcart, Crookston’s No. 1 tourist attraction for decades. Even as a grade-schooler, I was baffled why travelers were lured off U.S. Highway 2 to this oxcart-on-steroids.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Elections should use lottery tickets to boost participation

For the ultimate in suspense, look back to last month when the Mega Millions lottery jackpot reached $656 million. That would have been the ultimate door prize. Across the land, coworkers pooled their $1 bills to form lottery consortiums, with hopes of becoming instant retirees. The chance at vast riches drove 100 million people to buy Mega Millions tickets. That’s about half of the country’s adult population. So, what if a lottery ticket was free just for showing up at an election? Turnout would be astronomical, right?

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Remembering ‘America’s oldest teenager’

In the spring of 1964, I joined my two older sisters in watching “American Bandstand” on Saturdays. The Beatles’ popularity was one reason. My second, more-important motive was to learn the “twist,” the dance craze of that time. The show did more than provide dance lessons. It also opened our narrow world to rock and roll. Many adults hated rock and roll, some even considering it the work of the devil. That, naturally, made rock and roll even more desirable to the young. But wholesome “American Bandstand” host Dick Clark eventually made it more palatable to parents.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Why not a pay-for-wins Vikings stadium plan?

Minnesota legislators are in a quandary. Do they give millions to a billionaire? Or do they allow the Vikings to hightail it? Neither option is risk-free. But, as always, I’m here with a solution.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Another one snuffs the butts

Cavalier, N.D., looks to be going smoke-free soon
Within five years, smoking will be banned in all public buildings in North Dakota. That’s my bold prediction for 2012. Or is it really all that bold? It may be a safe bet considering that Cavalier is the latest town headed in that direction. Cavalier is a conservative town in a conservative county in a conservative state.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: All eyes (and stomachs) on tater tot hotdish

Upon arriving for work Monday, I braced myself. The reason was that Saturday’s Herald included my story about a Grafton, N.D., man who has been on 11 big game hunts in Africa. Since trophy hunting can be an emotional issue, I anticipated calls, mail and emails from critics and defenders. As expected, hordes of readers filled my various inboxes. But they weren’t reacting to the story about the 40-plus animal mounts. Instead, they were seeking details about the winning recipe at Saturday’s tater tot hotdish contest in Finley, N.D.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: Luverne, N.D., woman wins third tater tot hotdish crown in five years

Lisa Jacobson’s tater tot legend grew larger here Saturday. For the third time in its five years, the Luverne, N.D., woman won the highly coveted tater tot hotdish crown at The Press Box tavern’s annual contest.

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: National spotlight shines on another Red River Valley native (VIDEO)

VIDEO: Watch at bottom of page
Marilyn Hagerty isn’t the only woman in the Red River Valley to recently obtain Internet fame and a free trip to a foreign land. Meet Jan Berg of Karlstad, Minn., whose time in the spotlight came from recently being named “Fan of the Week” on NBC'S "Today."

• Ryan Bakken

RYAN BAKKEN: In ’97, Clinton brought hope, optimism, cash

When President Clinton first landed in Grand Forks almost 15 years ago, he had a captive audience. His listeners in a Grand Forks Air Force Base hangar on April 22, 1997, included about 3,000 homeless who had nowhere else to go. He brought compassion. He brought praise. He brought optimism. He brought hope. He brought all of the needed intangibles. Last, but certainly not least, he brought money. Lots and lots and lots of money.

• Ryan Bakken
• How to see Bill Clinton in Grand Forks
• Clinton visit brings extra security

RYAN BAKKEN: Marilyn the media darling

The running joke in the newsroom is to insert the words “UND hockey” or “Fighting Sioux nickname” in every story because they’re the topics that drive the most online readership. We now can add a third subject to obtain readership gold: “Marilyn Hagerty.”

• GALLERY: Marilyn Hagerty March 13, 2012
• Ryan Bakken
• RYAN BAKKEN SUNDAY: Marilyn’s press secretary speaks
• SATURDAY: 'I've been a lot of other things, but never viral': Marilyn's interview about Olive Garden review on 'CBS This Morning: Saturday' (VIDEO)
• VIDEO: 'I still don't get it': Herald columnist Hagerty reflects on whirlwind publicity
• Read more Eatbeat columns and others by Herald columnist Marilyn Hagerty
• Carrie Sandstrom, Bismarck, letter: Thanks, Grandma! Notes of Marilyn’s biggest fan"
• THE EATBEAT COLUMN THAT WENT VIRAL: Long-awaited Olive Garden receives warm welcome
• Marilyn Hagerty: 'The little old lady on Cottonwood Street’
• Marilyn takes Manhattan: This week ... on Areavoices
• Marilyn mania continues with 'The Tonight Show' snub
• Marilyn breaks Olive Garden breadsticks with NBC 'Today' correspondent
• NEW THAT REMINDS ME WITH MARILYN HAGERTY: Grand Forks hosted state basketball tourney in ’62
• From Wall Street Journal: Reporter Bob Hagerty's report on Marilyn, 'When Mom Goes Viral'