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Whipping inflation – then and now

In 1974, when the inflation rate was 11.04 percent, President Gerald Ford came up with a slogan: “Whip Inflation Now.” WIN buttons were manufactured by the millions and people were asked to wear them to demonstrate grassroots solidarity to combat the economic scourge. The campaign was later described by Martin Crutsinger in an Associated Press story titled “Ford’s WIN buttons remembered” as “one of the biggest government public relations blunders ever.” Today the inflation rate is 8.5 percent, up from 7.9 percent in February and the largest year-over-year rise since 1982. ...

County should get on board if TIF is necessary

In coming weeks, the Ward County Commission is likely to take another look at a proposed Tax Increment Financing proposal for the former Midwest Federal building, also known as the “Big M” building for the iconic letter that has adorned its roof for many years. The building has been largely vacant for about 20 years. The imposing building has been on a path to deterioration and, over time, possibly eventual demolition at the county’s expense. The building was in property tax arrears last year when EPIC Companies purchased it for renovation into commercial space, apartments and ...

Minot Great Northern Campus, Stars good choices

While the Minot Public School Board is reviewing possible names for the city’s new school and team name or mascot, we thought we would offer our suggestions to help them in this endeavor. When naming a new school, a partner to Minot High School-Magic City Campus, it seems selecting a name to coincide with that existing school would be most appropriate. Some names for school, team name or mascot would not be suitable. But there is one name that has plenty of good reasons to use it: Minot Great Northern Campus. Great Northern ties in with the history of Minot just as Magic ...

North Dakota recognizes Arbor Day May 6

On Arbor Day, we celebrate all of the wonderful benefits that trees provide by taking some time to plant, care, or maintain a tree. Just being around trees improves our mood, reduces stress, and lowers blood pressure. They perform environmental services like providing shade, windbreaks, filtering pollutants, and producing oxygen. Trees also increase tourism, raise property values, and make our communities more attractive places to live, work, and play. Gov. Burgum has declared May 6, 2022, as Arbor Day in North Dakota. State Forester Thomas Claeys said, “Arbor Day is traditionally ...

Ignoring domestic energy comes at a cost

Between the Russia-Ukraine conflict, rising inflation coming out of the pandemic and the Biden administration’s push towards renewable energy, retail gasoline prices have reached record highs. Earlier this month, oil surged above $100 dollars per barrel for the first time since 2014. When President Biden took office in January of 2021, the average price per gallon was $2.37, however, that number has doubled to over $4 this year. The administration continues to use Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as the scapegoat for the rise of energy costs. As Russia faces the consequences for its ...

Power outages challenging time for northwest ND

We don’t really think about what it means not to have electricity until we don’t have it. When the power goes off, we wait for line workers to go out in all kinds of weather and conditions to restore what we have become accustomed to having for many years thanks to electrification. Workers with electric cooperatives have had their days filled with restoring power across a wide area of western North Dakota as the result of last weekend’s freezing rain, snow and wind storm that brought down thousands of poles and miles of power lines. The storm left customers without power for ...