Earlier this week, 30-something graduates of Minot high schools met for a rare reunion, indeed. Participants were from the class of 1947 and met for their 70th high school reunion. Imagine that? In this day and age, that many folks over 80-years-old with a connection dating back seven ...

It’s surprising that there are mixed feelings among farmers about the farm property tax exemption. One might assume that farmers would support the exemption whether or not they qualified under new regulations or not. Instead, while some farmers and organizations representing agricultural ...

News this week that Minot will receive a $180,000 state grant to strengthen its efforts to treat opioid use disorders and improve community education is great news for Minot and for the Mayor’s Committee on Addiction, which has been meeting to look at holistic ways to address the threat. ...

The country has been gripped by bad news lately, from ridiculous protests turned violent to crazy foreign leaders thinking they need nukes to negotiate for international public assistance. Fortunately there has been a spate of good news here at home as of late – it has remembered how to ...

A slew of ideas have been discussed, debates have raged and it has all often ended up in hands thrown up in the air for some. While some communities in our region have developed event centers and similar institutions to act as prime visitor draws, Minot has not. Here, instead, we have chosen to ...

Nobody – well, hardly anybody – brings teacher an apple these days. That tradition vanished years ago. That is a shame. Afterall, today’s teachers are no less important than those of a generation or two ago. Some would argue the teacher of today is of more value to society than our ...

North Dakota’s policy on the home monitoring option for those convicted to serve time in jail is problematic for a couple of reasons. As reported in last week’s Minot Daily News, the North Dakota Legislature voted to pass the Re-investment Act. In summary, the Re-investment Act directed ...

This weekend, Minot Daily News enjoyed a visit from City of Minot administrators and staff. The subject was the 2018 proposed working budget. Their objective was to explain the lengthy document and to answer questions. To be clear, it was informational and not a lobbying effort. In fact, it was ...

Judge Mark Rasmuson, recently featured in a Prairie Profile by Minot Daily News reporter Kim Fundingsland, is not only an interesting “read” but a fine example for others who might seek public office some day. First elected municipal judge in 1974, Rasmuson attended Minot State University ...

A cursory review of the proposed City of Minot 2018 proposed annual budget reveals a spending plan that is already conservative and responsible. It is, however, “proposed” and both the city council and public have opportunities to weigh in on it, which could quite possibly alter the ...

The recent controversy surrounding the City of Minot’s community facility fund has placed the allocation of the city’s second penny of sales tax firmly in the public eye. Among other reasons, many – including members of the city council – wonder if the intent of the public when the fund ...

There are a few things expressed by Minot residents that one would be challenged to avoid hearing in coffee klatches, in diners and anywhere local folks gather. Among these are the assertions that taxes are too high and that the City of Minot could reduce the burden on taxpayers by cutting ...

A letter writer to the Minot Daily News suggests that the Souris River could become a centerpiece for the city, as rivers are in so many places today. Advocates for an environmental approach to the riverfront sit on the city council. An entire plan has been developed for incorporating ...

The Minot City Council is on the right track by reviewing the city’s list of banned animals. Meeting Wednesday, the Minot City Council, acting as the committee of the whole, supported the creation of two ad hoc committees. One would revisit the list of animals banned in city limits and the ...

The City of Minot’s admirable initiative, the Mayor’s Committee on Addiction, is in action and seeking members of the community to contribute by serving on subcommittees. So, the questions are: does the city’s addiction problem trouble you, do you feel you have something to offer, and ...

In the past, I’ve written about how interesting and often surprising it is when we at Minot Daily News see a particular story or initiative gain steam, spread around the world on the internet or otherwise attract a healthier response then we might have imagined. Here I will let you in on a ...

What a delight it must have been for the Minot City Council, meeting as the committee of the whole, to hear and approve requests from organizations attempting to beautify downtown. Minot Street Art Movement plans to install pet waste bag dispensers at various locations downtown which would ...

President Donald Trump has made a wise decision in nominating Minot native Lt. Col. Daniel M. Gade to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The nomination is for the remainder of a five-year term expiring July 1, 2021. Gade will be a good fit for the position and we congratulate ...

Going to one’s polling place and casting a ballot is one of those time-honored traditions that has been a staple of American life for generations. It’s the stuff of a Norman Rockwell illustration. These days, things have changed. Election Day is still an occasion, but in many places a ...

There is a harsh reality on the horizon about which some in Minot might still be in denial. It isn’t pleasant in the least, but understanding the situation now will save considerable consternation in the near future. Taxes (and fees) are going to go up in Minot in the next few years. ...