News

In the photo from left: Scott Thompson and Amy Heilman of First United Bank and Christa Brodina director of LACTC and Ned Clooten Superintendent of DLPS.

It’s not everyday a gal turns 100 years old!

A man was arrested on Monday, Sept. 23 by Devils Lake Police after a nearly 12-hour standoff. Joseph Gleason, 42, was arrested for burglary, terrorizing, and reckless endangerment after barricading himself inside a home and firing a gun, according to police. No one was injured nor did he target the police with the shots.

What does the word Hethuska have to do with the Dakota? The word comes from the Dhegihan language group of Siouan speakers. These Dhegihan are the Omaha, Ponca, Quapaw, Osage, and Kansa Nations. They lived along the Ohio River back east and can be traced to their final destination, sent to Oklahoma after the Indian wars. Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca made history in the 1870’s to 1882 when he sued to be allowed to go back to their former stopping place in Nebraska. The Ponca Nation was now split into two divisions; the Northern Nebraska and Southern Oklahoma Nations, where they reside today. Their reservation in Nebraska is just south of the Pine Ridge Lakota reservation. The Northern Ponca sold the Lakota the Hethuska Society. About fifty years ago the Lakota called this society Omaha Wacipi or Dance of the Hethuska Society. This society is now known in Dakota / Lakota country as the Pow-wow.

The Devils Lake Public Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for their long-awaited new agriculture addition at the Lake Area Career & Technology Center (LACTC). The ceremony took place on Tuesday, Sept. 17 outside LACTC in the afternoon. The addition will provide a new classroom and workshop dedicated to agricultural education. Access to the LACTC from the high school will improve with a more convenient location. The existing greenhouse will also be renovated.

I keep three North Dakota OUTDOORS calendars on the wall in my office. When I glance up and see a dark shaded day I know it’s pretty significant. A season opener or application deadline is reason for a second look. While glancing at September I recalled how years ago there would be a three day stretch mid-week indicating the open and close of the sage grouse season.

The Devils Lake Public School Board held a regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 16. Here are some highlights from the meeting.

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the DLJ’s Andrew Benjamin visited Sweetwater Elementary School to read some books to the students in the library. Through the Kiwanis Club, people have the opportunity to read to students at Sweetwater, Minnie H, and Prairie View. The libraries there are always looking for readers at 8 a.m. every Wednesday during the school session. There are a number of books the librarians make available to choose from for reading. The two books that were read to the students at this session were “The Skunk” by Mac Barnett and “The Great Golden Thing” by Linard Bardill.

The Devils Lake City Commission met Monday, Sep. 16 in City Hall to finalize its 2025 budget and take care of other agenda items and business.

It is well known that the Dakota people were always traveling to seek out a food source. Winter was probably the season to hunker down in the woods and open their food caches saved for this time when hunting and gathering were curtailed. The Dakota were also known for sharing their food and property. They gave it away. It was very impactable to pack up their belonging and move to another location. Dakota were also known for their dancing and singing, which they did on numerous occasions. During the Reservation Period (1880 - 1940) the people gathered at their round dance halls to sing and dance. One dance was called Thankyou for a gift (Wopida Wacipi). Alternate names for this dance: Slide Stepping, Giveaway Dance, and Friendship Dance.