Dustin Monke

The monument to America’s memory

mount rushmore — Will Mount Rushmore near Keystone, S.D., be America’s greatest monument to history?

What will be America’s monument to history?

Every great civilization has left behind a monument denoting its time of power. Many of those monuments also give us a glimpse into their rise, dominance and eventual fall.

So, what will be the monument future civilizations look to when remembering America? Given that scientists imagine Earth will be around for a few billion more years, give or a take a hundred million or so, it’s a safe bet that the way things are going, America’s lifespan is a bit shorter than that.

One would imagine that more than a few monuments will survive to be relics in a thousand years. I’d put good money on Mount Rushmore being one. After all, it’s still a mountain.

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An eye-opening case of elder abuse

There is a type of abuse you don’t hear about much but is one psychologists believe has persisted for generations.

We often hear of spousal abuse and sexual abuse, while bullying has been the most recent hot-button issue. But rarely, if ever, do people think about elder abuse. Until recently, I was one of those people.

There is a family that is close to me and has been telling me about their ordeal involving their patriarch.

Their story began last summer when the man, whom I’ll call Grandpa, suffered a stroke. His prospects didn’t look good for what seemed like the longest time until he finally took a turn for the better.

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Dickinson’s little world hinges on the big picture

A look at the neighboring Halliburton and Baker Hughes campuses in north Dickinson.

Last week brought word of numerous brand-name businesses planning to open in Dickinson.

Franchisees of Famous Dave’s barbecue restaurants are making plans to come here — though they aren’t sure where or when — and Five Diamond properties says Petco, JoAnn Fabrics and Dollar Tree are among the retailers planning to lease space in its new development planned for west Dickinson. The Roers West Ridge development has Menards and hotels that are sure to draw other big-box stores. Who knows? Maybe someone will even bring in Target for those of you who can’t stand Walmart.

I say this all the time because I believe it will be true: At the rate we’re going, there is going to be an entirely new part of Dickinson off Interstate 94’s Exit 59 in a couple of years.

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Downtown Dickinson revitalization a growing need

While in Bismarck on Saturday night, I decided it was time for Sarah and I to try something different and move our palettes beyond the growingly bland chain restaurants we have eaten at too many times.

When I started looking for a different place to eat and surprise her with, my first thought was to look up dining in downtown Bismarck. That’s when I came up with the Toasted Frog. I had heard a lot about it, but had never been there — much like many of the dining spots in our capital city’s downtown.

Before Saturday, I had never been in Bismarck’s downtown and thought, “Wow, what a cool atmosphere.” Despite rain, people were out and about and the place was vibrant. The Toasted Frog had great food, and the restaurant and its surrounding streets provided something we don’t have much of in Dickinson — a vibrant downtown atmosphere.

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Fall TV Preview

Every fall, a new TV season rolls around with an assortment of new choices and at least one show that you instantly fall in love with and almost as quickly gets canceled. Anyone remember “Lone Star”?
Well, here’s a list of possibly great, possibly horrible new shows you should at least try out this fall. But do it quick. Before they get the axe.

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