View Point - Editorial

Traill County commissioners this week had an inkling they could somehow discharge their economic development director.
The inference was: They would explore the waters, most certainly.
With depth charges manned and ready, the county’s commissioned frigate sank quicker than a deflated inner tube Tuesday morning when the county commission met with the Traill County Economic Development board.
Sure, arguments were made, points raised, issues noted.
Meanwhile, director Rick Forsgren still has his job.
Not that it was in jeopardy; his ranking with his own Traill County Economic Development board is sound; his quarters ship-shape; sailing strategy true to course. Keep reading →

In another time when county commissioners had only to be concerned with keeping roads straight and open, bridges were of little concern.
They were all safe and sound, for the most part. Banks weren’t disappearing into the murky water below, superstructures above and planking below seemingly would last forever.
The Red and Goose were easily, effectively and affordably crossed.
Commissioners half a century ago weren’t concerned with the size of farm machinery that traversed the county’s many bridges. The roads held up marvelously well under the traffic, even at harvest. Keep reading →

Bringing order to city’s ‘cop chaos’
There’s enough blame to go around.
Given the softly-spoken regrets and hushed embarrassment, we trust that at least a few valuable lessons were learned, too.
Hillsboro’s recent “Cop Chaos” drama can be labeled with several telling subtitles: “How not to discipline an employee” . . . “Tell the truth — even if it hurts” . . . “Best of intentions or personal vendetta?”
Hillsboro’s embattled chief of police Ray Weber is back on the beat as of Tuesday night. As the top gun in the two-man department, he is expected to begin training a new patrol officer soon. By all outward appearances, things are back to normal. We suspect, though, the recent events will quietly reshape the police department and the city commission. We hope that both can say the changes are for the better. Keep reading →

Celebrities, veterans working at the Vets Club are saying they are now.
Television cameras will do that, create celebrity status in the time it takes to aim the remote at your TV.
“Hey, did you catch us on TV last night?” you might ask the wife or the kids or the in-laws.
You didn’t?
“Well, that’s too bad, it’s all everyone is talking about. Stay tuned, they might have us on the national news next week.”
Friends of Hillsboro’s Vets Club weren’t looking for notoriety when they took over the everyday duties of the club on Caledonia Avenue West last week. They certainly weren’t looking for the TV cameraman and the station’s feature reporter who appeared on the scene Wednesday. Keep reading →

Northwood, in the aftermath of the destructive tornado that tore through the town north by northwest of Hillsboro on a Sunday night two weeks ago, is getting back on its feet.
Thanks in no small part to its neighbors
The rush to help Northwood residents has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Which is good.
It shouldn’t be surprising, however. Like towns all around Northwood, Hillsboro sent its firemen, city crews and ambulances to help where needed. Traill County also sent men and trucks to the small town torn apart in the dark of night by the tornado.
We expected as much. Keep reading →

We joked about it at first. We griped about it later. Eventually we learned to live with it — but that doesn’t mean we’re happy about it.
Hillsboro city-wide street improvement project is a $2.44 million overhaul of our fair city’s thoroughfares. A wise investment we are convinced — once the work is done. These past few months, though, have tested our patience, our sense of humor and our reflexes.
We understand that road construction zones create certain inconveniences for motorists. We expected detours and heavy equipment stationed on our avenues. We didn’t anticipate the get-the-heck-out-of-the-way attitude of the construction crews. We weren’t prepared for the contractor’s haphazard approach to public safety. A little common courtesy and common sense could go a long way on a project like this. Ever heard of public relations? Keep reading →

Just when we’re ready to bury them, send the whole bunch of ‘em packing — the manager, GM and the players — the Minnesota Twins pick up a win and are back in the hunt.
Unfortunately, not unexpectedly, the wins are few and far between.
Hardly professing to be prognosticators, far be it for us to predict the future, whilst our tendency is to twist history to our liking, but we did see this day coming: the Minnesota Twins were not going to be a factor in this year’s American League Central Division Race. Keep reading →

Sympathetic to the task at hand, we poked fun last week, with tongue in cheek, at the street project currently underway in our town.
We told of the project’s many twists and turns, and how the Hillsboro populace was handling the inconvenience of taking different routes to reach Point B from Point A.
We feared for small cars, kids and pets, expecting they might be lost in the deeper holes in the middle of our streets.
We attempted to put a kind face on the Hillsboro drivers. Keep reading →

Traill County commissioners are trying to find a road into the Poor Farm Cemetery.
Opening a dialogue with the principal parties involved is a good place to start.
Friendly persuasion works wonders, we’re told.
By talking with the family living and owning the land surrounding the forgotten cemetery might, in fact, open roads so to speak, to old burial grounds along the Red River. A walking trail, perhaps?
The Traill County Poor Farm Cemetery shouldn’t be forgotten; again, it’s a part of our history. Granted it’s buried, pardon the pun, but that doesn’t mean all grave site markers have to buried, as well, and farmed over. Keep reading →

Draw a crowd.
Hillsboro generally knows how to draw a crowd — pick a good cause, cook up something good to eat and serve up a little fun.
Over the course of the summer, we’ve seen proof of this phenomenon. HMC Foundation grilled up their traditional bratwursts in May and invited everybody to witness the groundbreaking for its $12.5 million addition. Delicious and bravo.
Traill County Historical Society kept things cool on the 4th of July with ice cream sundaes, old-time fiddlers and friendly conversation in the shade. Tasty and well received. Keep reading →