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Letters to the Editor

Class rings are good as gold these days

Duane Brekke, Minot I, Duane Brekke, was in the high school class ring business the years of 1961 to 2000. Forty years of being blessed and in North Dakota. I was called “The Ring Man.” In the first 12 years of my career, gold was $35.00 per ounce, making the price of a class ring $17.00 to $21.00. Many parents thought this ring was excessive and unnecessary. Over the years, I have said to many of my former customers that I would buy back any ring for double what was originally charged – mostly in jest. I had only three takers. While at the 2025 Norsk Hostfest, three people ...

Raise voice before they raise rates

Josh Askvig, State Director, AARP ND, Bismarck No North Dakotan should have to choose between paying their utility bills and putting food on the table or refilling their prescription medications. However, when utility companies seek to raise their rates annually and the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC)permits it, then choices like these become reality. Utility costs remain top of mind for many older North Dakotans and their families, who are already concerned about making ends meet. On their own, these increases may appear minimal. However, these costs accumulate, and ...

Local preference ordinance is shortsighted

Harley Nesehm, Berthold I have followed with informed interest the news reporting as Minot considered giving local contractors preference when bidding City funded construction projects. When consideration evolved into development of an ordinance, I contacted the Public Works Department and stated the construction industry does not favor preferences in any form, in part because “what goes around comes around.” I said the city will expend a great deal of effort and likely incur legal costs in trying to plug the “loop holes.” But when I read the draft ordinance and saw that ...

South Dakota has it right

Patricia Marquard, Minot The Governor of South Dakota and the legislature are listening to the voice of their constituents and protecting property rights and the health of the people. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley wants to sue South Dakota over a bill that was passed and signed to reflect the citizens’ concerns. The bill will make it harder to construct CO2 pipelines. The predominant greenhouse gas is water vapor by far, which is not being sequestered. Why is a less important gas being buried? Eminent domain refers to necessary utilities providing electricity, water, ...

Do we really believe in the Constitution?

Bob McNamara, Upham Do people really believe in the constitution? Forty percent plus of people in an MDN poll said they are okay with using the military to provide law enforcement in our cities. Boats are blown up because we suspect they are runnting drugs. Government officials are using their position to limit free speech. Yet all of these people say they believe in the constitution and America. Obviously, we have the ability to track suspicious boats in the Caribbean. There was a time, however, when the Navy or Coast Guard would stop that boat, board it, and if drugs are found, ...

Thanks, Minot, for your hospitality

Pat Fischer, Ellensburg, Wash. I recently visited Minot to attend the funeral of my sister. Most of us were from out of the area and we stayed at the Sparks Hotel on the 20th. We had family in from Texas, Arizona, Washington, Indiana, Iowa, Montana and South Dakota. Thanks to the hotel and their fabulous staff. The facility was amazing. We gathered in their lunchroom facility and their lobby with around 20 to 30 of us at times. We dined, reminisced and took photos along with visiting with relatives who dropped in and brought goodies from the CrossRoads. We had the opportunity to ...