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Three more newspapers are participating in the Dakotafire project, bringing our total to 14 newspapers in North and South Dakota. Read More »
Author Archives: Heidi Marttila-Losure
Out-of-school-time programs succeed when they are connected to schools, local programs show
Many out-of-school-time programs have struggled in rural areas, but programs in Clark and Groton suggest that when these programs are run by schools, many of the problems can be avoided. Read More »
Why should you buy from a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs can offer a wide variety of benefits to consumers, says Chris Zdorovtsov,SDSU Extension Community Development Field Specialist. Read More »
FiredUp: Are low expectations haunting rural schools?
Are low expectations haunting the halls of rural Dakota high schools? I'd say yes, in some ways. But I think there's also a decidedly mixed message coming out of our rural schools, and it may well be because we in rural places have convinced ourselves that success can't happen here. Read More »
High prices pique interest in organic corn
In December 2012, Steve Zwinger’s phone started ringing, with many North Dakota farmers at the other end of the line. Organic corn had hit a flabbergasting $14 per bushel, and conventional farmers wanted to ask Zwinger, an extension agent for NDSU, how they could cash in on organic corn. Read More »
Shelterbelts, one of the great soil conservation measures of the 1930s, are being removed
In the late 1930s, farmers all across the Great Plains planted trees. After the dust storms that swept away essential topsoil, tree planting was a sign of hope for a brighter future. Today, many of those trees are being cleared away. Read More »
LaMoure couple takes wedding to nursing home so mother of the groom could be there
Bette Doehler didn't miss her son's wedding on Jan. 19. She was there, smiling from her wheelchair, in mother-of-the-bride attire, complete with corsage. Read More »
FiredUp: Why is S.D. Department of Labor focused on “top cities”?
See if you can see what bothered me in the first two graphs of the press release that the S.D. Department of Labor released on Tuesday. Read More »
Rural churches, built for a different era, look for ways to stay relevant
Many rural churches that were established for a different time and to serve different needs are struggling to survive. Some church leaders suggest that these churches might find new energy and purpose in working to revitalize their communities. Read More »
Rural churches’ survival sometimes depends on crossing denominational boundaries
Across the Dakotas, rural churches are struggling with declining membership, trying to discern what the next step is for their congregations. Many have found an answer in partnering with another nearby congregation—or perhaps several. Read More »