November 2014 – Page 2

Rob Remark is a lonely soul. At least for the time being.

“We’re moving,” he said as he smiled and sat down in his barren, temporary office on the first floor of the historic Elks Building in downtown Dickinson.

For now, Remark’s desk is a folding table, and his conference table is the kind you play cards at. He doesn’t have anything on the walls. In the area that will become his office, there are two large, antiquated restroom urinals — among other junk — in the process of being removed from the building.

None of that has stopped Remark — the manager and, for now, the lone employee of JLG Architects’ newest branch — and his firm from making inroads in his new community.

Continue reading “JLG Architects sets up shop in downtown Dickinson”

At 125, state remembers where it has been, wonders where its going

Growing up, my favorite class was always history. If there was one class that I actually paid attention in, it was Mike Schatz’s history and government classes at New England High School. (Except for that one time when I dozed off during a movie day. But, c’mon, who didn’t do that in history class at least once?)

As eighth-graders, Schatz taught one semester of North Dakota history and government. It was longer than the required minimum set by the state, but he was the type of teacher who felt that North Dakota kids should take time to learn more about their state rather than something that happened 1,000 years ago in a European country that no longer exists.

That class still resonates with me today. Ask my California-born and Montana-raised wife what I’m most proud of and she’ll say, “Being a North Dakotan.”

Today, North Dakota celebrates its 125th birthday as a state. It’s a time to look back at where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Continue reading “At 125, state remembers where it has been, wonders where its going”