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In 1928, a literal bang welcomed in the new year in Bismarck, albeit a little more than a week late. A sharp early morning explosion at the Bismarck Fur Company was followed by a fire. The business on 5th Street was on the ground floor of the Annex Hotel building. While the fire was not expected to spread beyond the store, more than 50 people were forced to flee to the streets in the wee hours hours due to the heavy smoke filling their rooms.

On this date in 2000 the Bismarck Tribune announced that some of the best Appaloosa horses in the world could be found in North Dakota. One of the premier horse magazines, Western Horseman, had just published a profile on the Sheldak Ranch, where prize winning Appaloosas were bred. This was the first time the famous magazine had profiled an Appaloosa ranch. The breed was developed by the Nez Perce Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, and is distinctive for its spots, usually just on the rump.

“The merry-makers then joined hands in a circle and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne.’” Thus closed last week’s Plains Folk essay, which marveled at the depth of energy and the sense of community exhibited by New Year’s celebrants in Emmons County in 1885. By this time not only had the custom of singing “Auld Lang Syne” established itself on the prairies, but its manner of observance--holding hands at midnight in teary comradeship--was a commonality of such occasions.

In this week’s Main Street Eats, Sue Balcom is talking about Epiphany, the many celebrations that go with it, and of course the food!

On this date in 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Johnson was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full Military Honors. He was born on September 21st, 1917 near Cooperstown, the eighth of 10 children.

Friday, January 7, 2022 - In an excerpt from the Prairie Pulse television show, host John Harris visits with John Gieser with North Dakota EduTech, which works to strengthen education technology and provide support and training for educators. Today they discuss a fun event for students, a "cyber madness" tournament that's coming up next month. ~~~ Chuck Lura is here with a Natural North Dakota essay on “Wildlife in Winter.” ~~~ Matt Olien reviews the new movie, “The Power of the Dog.”> Link to ND Cyber Madness: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/events/nd-cyber-madness

Picture a bright, brisk, sunshiny winter day with a fresh blanket of snow. Now picture a red fox in its winter best trotting across that landscape. A friend recently described that sight to me. His excitement was quite apparent.

Sunday, January 9, 2022 - We visit with Robin Behl, author of “Price Per Barrel: The Human Cost of Extraction.” It’s both memoir and travelogue, focused on public safety and health care workers in extraction communities. Behl has first-hand knowledge – she worked as a firefighter, then as a paramedic and finally as a physician assistant over a period of 20 years. ~~~ In this week’s Main Street Eats, Sue Balcom is talking about Epiphany, the many celebrations that go with it, and of course the food! ~~~ Matt Olien reviews the new movie, “The Power of the Dog.”

Monday, January 10, 2022 - In March 2021, a busy seamstress in North Dakota received a call from a friend asking her if she would be interested in submitting a ribbon skirt design for incoming Secretary Of the Interior, Deb Haaland. Agnes Woodward found the thought of her design being a part of such an historic day for Indian Country rather overwhelming. Little did she realize that she was about to make history for herself. Alicia Hegland-Thorpe shares her story. ~~~ Dr. William Haseltine has ‘grave concerns’ about Merck’s oral COVID drug Molnupiravir, which was recently given emergency use authorization from the FDA. It’s important to note that it’s not recommended for most people and isn’t an alternative to vaccines and routine precautions. Haseltine says the drug unleashes ‘dangerous’ mutations. We share an excerpt of his comments from the Conversations on Health Care podcast.

On this date in 1838, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Carey Allen Harris, sent an angry letter to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, William Clark.