I thought I’d borrow an 80’s song title from The Church for this post. I spent last night with one of my best friends (of which I am blessed to have three) out at Sweet Briar to catch the Delta Aquarids meteor shower. We were not disappointed.
While I did not catch any of the faint meteors on camera, we did see some spectacular ones and plenty of satellites. Of course, when the really amazing ones with glittery trails came by, I wasn’t in the process of taking a photo…so I came back empty-handed in that regard.
Taking photos of the starry sky requires a lot of things to go right. We need a clear sky, no wind, and decent temperatures for the long exposures. One other thing we need is for the camera to NOT fog up. Sadly, it did just that as a wave of fog rolled in just before we decided to call an end to the evening.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. -Psalm 19:1
The Army Corps of Engineers has some tough questions to answer. I don’t envy them. A recent investigation is turning up some very interesting emails regarding the Missouri River flood situation.
Any investigation and resulting action that is taken in the aftermath of the Missouri River flood needs to be more than a simple headhunt. It also needs to take a long, hard look at the way the Missouri river system master management manual is written. Perhaps the dams should be returned to their original intended purpose: flood control. That way when barge traffic, recreation, and an endangered bird begin to cause mismanagement of the system, people’s lives and property don’t become casualties of the resulting mess.
A few Fridays ago I spotted some pretty wild clouds overhead and had some time to pursue them. As it turns out, the sky provided a pretty good variety for me…it just took a little legwork.
Although the previous photo was taken from the parking lot of Bismarck High School, I knew I needed a better vantage point in order to capture some of the more spectacular sights. I headed for Promontory Point to catch the tail end of this weather system. It had some pretty astonishing lift, making for some really visually appealing artifacts in the clouds.
Here’s the trailing edge of this weather cell. While it looks pretty cool on its own, it’s what was taking place within the clouds that was most exciting.
As you can see, the lines forming within this group of clouds are pretty neat all on their own, illustrating some very unique dynamics within the system. I decided I needed a better look, so I decided to head to Fort Lincoln.
Sadly, I was told at the gate that the blockhouse hill had been closed because of these very clouds. I was extremely ticked; I mean, why do I pay for a state parks pass if they close whenever it’s most useful? The blockhouse hill is closed until the sun has risen, it closes at sunset, it closes for weather… it’s ridiculous. I retreated to the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery for a hasty shot before the sunlight went away for the evening.
Out by Huff I noticed that I once again had feathery company in my observation of local weather patterns. On the way back I saw several more of his counterparts perched atop power line poles along the highway.
As always, I maintain that North Dakota has some of the most dramatic skies. Keep looking up, or you just might miss ’em!
The New York Says Thank You Foundation is sending a National 9/11 Flag around the country to have it stitched back to its original format after being damaged during the terrorist attacks ten years ago. Commemorative patches are sewn on in each state. This flag will be in Bismarck on August 12th and they are looking for nominations of local service heroes to help stitch the flag.
Fill out the form with your information and a description of what Sergeant Kenner’s service and the Bismarck Police Department mean to you. Tell them that you wish to ask the Bismarck Police Department choose a representative to participate on Sergeant Kenner’s behalf and in his memory.
For “Their email” you can enter “bismarckpd@nd.gov” and for “Their phone number” enter “701-223-1212”. That will ensure that inquiries from the organization reach the Bismarck Police Department.
Here’s a link to the poster for the event (PDF): Click Here
Here’s a link to the press release for the National 9/11 Flag (PDF): Click Here
Spread the word, let our local law enforcement know that we stand with them, and help honor a local hero!
The city of Bismarck has lost another member, one who served not only in the Public Works department but also as a state senator and leader. Services are being held today for Senator Bob Stenehjem, the senator from my district. If you live in south Bismarck, chances are he was your senator too.
Condolences to the Stenehjem family and the many others…family, friends, coworkers, and fellow legislators who will feel his loss.
No, I’m not talking about the Enya album. I’m actually talking about indications of how high the river level has been. One of the best ways for someone who doesn’t live in a flood-affected area to get a handle on the water level is to find a familiar place which can give you a good point of reference. For many, including myself, Pioneer Park is one of those places. If you look at the photo above, you can tell that the water level has dropped significantly.
Picnic tables that were bobbing in the water before are protruding from the water quite nicely now.
The only thing monumental about these things is the the waste of tax money to produce them. In any case, there’s a good reference point here as well. A clear high water mark can be seen and the water was up to the signage at one point as well.
That’s not all: the pilings for the NP railroad bridge have a tale to tell as well. Note the turbulence along the side of the pillar. I’ve got some amazing photos and videos of that from earlier in the flood event, I just haven’t had time to share them…yet.
Even at good ol’ Fort Lincoln, there are signs of receding water. In addition to the birds-eye view of the flood from the top of the northeast blockhouse, there’s also this little slice of backwater.
Once again, the structure gives a good indication of water finally receding. There’s a beaver that hangs out in this little inlet who I think has been enjoying the high water levels and is in for some disappointment! A couple of weeks ago I watched him slap his tail as he swam back and forth.
With releases from the Garrison Dam continuing to diminish, I’m sure we’ll begin to see a major difference. I notice that the river gauge in Bismarck indicated 23.67 feet earlier today, but that’s obviously a glitch. Hopefully we’ll start a steady decline toward normal river levels soon!
If you head down Washington Street and take a gander at the Main Avenue overpass, you’ll see something unexpected… something I spotted weeks ago but subsequently forgot about.
Someone stenciled a couple of Pooh Bear silhouettes on the support pillars of the bridge. Despite the fact that they’re sorta Kawasaki Green and Suzuki Blue, I’m not a fan of this sort of defacement.
My guess is that someone downloaded a copy of the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop and decided to be small town North Dakota’s version of Banksy or something. The fact of the matter is that no matter how clever or extravagant, this “street art” is vandalism. It doesn’t get any more complicated than that. Hopefully this sort of thing doesn’t become too common in our city.
I can’t help but wonder if the Pooh bears are in any way related to this stencil of Waldo that used to adorn a boarded-up rear entrance of the former Home Depot building. I wrote about it last year and it’s no longer on that building, as the building configuration has been changed.
My suggestion for anyone who wants to get into “street art” is that they rent or buy a piece of property, and then go nuts with it. In the mean time, don’t bother defacing property around the Bismarck-Mandan area that doesn’t belong to you, and find a more constructive outlet for your stencil skillz (sic).
Hundreds of area citizens joined hundreds of law enforcement officers on Thursday for a memorial service honoring slain Sergeant Steve Kenner of the Bismarck Police Department. The number of people attending, uniformed and civilian, was larger than any local church could hold.
Mayor Warford gave remarks honoring Sgt Kenner’s service, saying that his stature as a man was paralleled by his stature as an officer and member of the community.
Chief Witt expressed that even now he’s learning of things Sgt. Kenner did in this community that touched the lives of Bismarck citizens, things that nobody knew he did until the letters began pouring in at the Police Department over the last week.
Back when I was just a kid hanging out at the police department control room at any opportunity, Craig Sjoberg was one of my favorite officers. He also offered his personal recollections of Sgt. Kenner.
I was encouraged at the sight of many of my fellow citizens who came, like me, to join in support of all those grieving. Things like this make a fella proud of the community…
Just as the sight of people lining the streets along the route of the procession. It was an emotional thing, seeing people slowly arrive and display flags, flowers, even handmade signs of support. When the procession began, despite the number of people waiting at this intersection, downtown Bismarck was SILENT. It was a very moving experience.
One reason why Bismarck enjoys a low crime rate is because of its professional police department and officers like Sergeant Kenner who risk their safety to protect ours. Another is because of a community that will band together in support of those officers. People lined Fifth Street, Main Avenue, the Memorial Bridge, all along the route to the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. I was told that afternoon by people who were in the procession that the show of the community was amazing and really meant a lot.
I put together a little video of part of the procession with the audio of A Hero’s Last Call. This audio was among the most stirring things I’ve ever heard, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the Civic Center as it played.
Bismarck surely has suffered a tragic loss, one I hope we never forget. What can we do to help honor the memory of Bismarck’s lone fallen police officer? I think I have an idea:
Update: You can read Sgt. Kenner’s nomination by clicking here. (see below for background)
The New York Says Thank You Foundation is sending a National 9/11 Flag around the country to have it stitched back to its original format after being damaged during the terrorist attacks ten years ago. Commemorative patches are sewn on in each state. This flag will be in Bismarck on August 12th and they are looking for nominations of local service heroes to help stitch the flag.
Fill out the form with your information and a description of what Sergeant Kenner’s service and the Bismarck Police Department mean to you. Tell them that you wish to ask the Bismarck Police Department choose a representative to participate on Sergeant Kenner’s behalf and in his memory.
For “Their email” you can enter “bismarckpd@nd.gov” and for phone number “701-223-1212”. That will ensure that inquiries from the organization reach the Bismarck Police Department.
Here’s a link to the poster for the event (PDF): Click Here
Here’s a link to the press release for the National 9/11 Flag (PDF): Click Here
Spread the word, let our local law enforcement know that we stand with them, and help honor a local hero!
I took my little boys out for a bicycle ride on the Memorial Bridge last night and took in the sight of the flags flying at half-staff per Mayor Warford’s declaration. It’s been moving to see the outpouring of support for Sergeant Steve Kenner since some worthless piece of crap gunned him down on Friday.
A Facebook page has been set up for people to pay their respects and it already has over three thousand fans. That goes to show the kind of community we have, where people rightfully hold dear the men and women who risk their safety to protect ours.
One thing that makes this so infuriating is the fact that Sgt. Kenner has been a well-known part of Bismarck for decades. Anybody who was a teenage driver within the last thirty years knew of Officer Kenner. In fact, he was an expert in traffic enforcement and, as a young motorcyclist, that’s how I encountered him most frequently.
I remember sitting at a red light with FOREVER on one of my motorcycles many years ago, late at night, with Officer Kenner (he made Sergeant in 2000) behind my friends and me in his patrol car. I let the light go through a few cycles without turning the light green in the left turning lane which I occupied, looked over my shoulder at Officer Kenner to convey my intentions, and looked back ahead as I proceeded through the light. Naturally I saw red strobes in my mirrors a few seconds later!
Since I used to build the type of inductive loop sensors that the traffic signals used when I worked at the DOT, I knew that the one beneath my bike was unaffected by the large amounts of aluminum, titanium, and magnesium in the motorcycle. They’re not very effective on these sensors. I explained my case to Sgt. Kenner and he agreed with my explanation, and we parted ways. I thought that was quite fair. Then he wrote up one of the guys I was riding with for not having proof of liability insurance.
I read in the Tribune that Sgt. Kenner performed a lot of noteworthy feats in his career, saving lives and performing rescues. He received many commendations and awards, as the newspaper and TV articles will tell you…but he was more than that. He was a part of Bismarck that you just always expect to be there. Then along comes some good-for-nothing jackhole who, for no reason at all, takes him from us. I’m being as careful as I can with my words because I’m very angry, and clearly many others in our community are as well.
I’m sure there will be many things said in heartfelt remembrance of Sergeant Steve Kenner, I think the most meaningful I can articulate is what I said above: Sergeant Steve Kenner had a PLACE in this community. Only he could fill it. You didn’t have to know him personally to be glad that he was in that place, and you don’t have to have known him personally to be furious that his place is now occupied only by his memory.
It’s no secret that I’m a passionate advocate for local law enforcement. I’ve participated in ride-alongs, had the privilege of attending the Citizens’ Police Academy, I was a first lieutenant in the Mandan Police Explorers youth club and spent lots of time helping in the control room of the Mandan LEC before leaving for college. I have a great deal of respect for the men and women who serve in law enforcement, and I pray for them daily. I encourage you to do the same; don’t let it take a tragedy like this to get you to that point.
As we offer prayers on behalf of Sergeant Kenner’s family, let’s remember the others who mourn his loss as well as those who continue to serve on a daily basis to keep our communities safe. They work long, hard jobs dealing with people you and I would loathe or fear, and they do it without recognition. Please give them your support daily as they continue to perform their duty even in the shadow of this terrible tragedy.
I was perusing a magazine last weekend when something caught my eye. I’m a speed reader and I have this disorder where typographical issues jump out at me as if I’m viewing one of those Magic Eye 3D images. Did you already spot this one?
Fort Arbaham Lincoln. Hm. Okay, so my disorder doesn’t end there. I figured perhaps there might be a legitimate use of Arbaham somewhere, so I typed “Arbaham” into Google and got some interesting results.
Most noteworthy is a book titled A Man of the People: a Drama of Abraham Lincoln. This stood out right away, so I went to Barnes and Noble’s site to see if it really was listed under that title. Yup.
I found listings for Arbaham on Amazon, Biblio, Alibris, and others. So who’s right? All of them, sorta…
A quick search of the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) these folks are using for Thomas Dixon’s 1920 book, #9781140264811, shows a typo in the ISBN registry listing for this book. That means whoever relies on the ISBN entry as their source for correct information on this book has a problem.
Since this book is in the public domain, you can read it online for free or even download it in various formats and note that the cover page has the correctly spelled title, meaning that Borders has it right. However, since the other sites are using the “official” title of the ISBN registry, can you blame them?
Anyway, we all make little slips from time to time. It happens. Sometimes it’s funnier than others, sometimes it goes completely unnoticed for decades. While this book was written in 1920, the ISBN has only been in use for a little over fifty years. Hopefully my typographical errors and misspellings will live on in infamy as well for someone to discover later. Have a great weeekend! 😉
