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2/8/2012: In his inaugural address in 1925, Governor A. G. Sorlie stated, "Taxes upon our lands and properties have, during the past ten years, increased one, two and sometimes three hundred percent; so that their payment has become a tremendous burden upon our citizens; almost too grievous to be borne, and the unmarked line between legitimate taxation and unwarranted confiscation of our properties has at least been approached." His words echoed those of the North Dakota Taxpayers Association, which formed on December 20, 1922 with a purpose of examining how state tax dollars were spent.

2/10/2012: In June of 1881 Sitting Bull surrendered at Fort Buford, which in many respects marked the end of the Frontier Era in what is now North Dakota. With all but a handful of Indians now on reservations, the vast open prairie in western Dakota Territory became desirable for settlement. But unlike the Red River Valley, the rugged hills and Badlands were semiarid and less fertile. Crop farming was difficult and the cattleman became king.

2/12/2012: North Dakota audiences were treated to the first production of “The Professor’s Predicament” on this date in 1907.

2/14/2012: Today is Valentine’s Day for which the origin dates back to the Roman celebration of Lupercalia in honor of the Greek god, Pan. The names of the virgin daughters of Rome were placed in a box. The young men of Rome would then each draw a name and present this girl with a gift. He would then serve as her escort for the celebration, which, by custom, occurred on February 15th.

2/16/2012: The French Gratitude Train Boxcar had arrived in Bismarck on February 15th, 1949. It carried gifts from the French people in recognition of not only the military sacrifice of America’s young men and women, but also for the acts of kindness following the war.

2/19/2012: The Dakota Sioux and the U.S. Government signed an important treaty on this date in 1867. It was the wish of the Government to construct a road to the Pacific through Dakota Territory.

2/22/2012: Last week some of us enjoyed chocolates, flowers, and romantic canoodling with our sweethearts for Valentine’s Day. But then others were celebrating “Singles Awareness Day,” an equally legitimate holiday where single people can choose to celebrate or commiserate their independent lives.

2/28/2012: North Dakota’s historically small population has nonetheless, been the home of many nationally known entertainers and performers. When 87-year-old Hollywood actress Jane Russell died on this date in 2011, many citizens were unaware of her North Dakota roots.

3/2/2012: A cartographer certainly had his work cut out for him when it came to the early days of mapping Dakota Territory.

3/4/2012: Henry Hansbrough began the first of his three Senate terms on this date in 1891.