Ryan Bakken: Treasures big, small found rummaging

GRAND FORKS - Among the many bargains Doug Thomasson has found during his time as a serial rummager, he said his hands-down best acquisition came in a garage in rural Warroad, Minn., in 2008.
The prize was his future bride, Denise.
But Denise put a qualifier on his best-ever label: “I was in the free box,” she said.

• Ryan Bakken

Zaleski: How easily we buy into the scams

Modern marketing is so effective that it fools people into buying into a lot of nonsense. By “buying into,” I mean literally buying.

• Jack Zaleski

Ahlin: Angelina Jolie, cancer and health care choices

Only once did I come close to seeing Angelina Jolie in a movie and that wasn’t in a theater. While flipping TV channels, I happened onto “Mr & Mrs Smith,” the movie infamous for beginning her relationship with Brad Pitt. I remember watching for a few minutes and thinking, “Gee, this is dumb,” and changing the channel.

• Jane Ahlin

Minding Our Elders: Siblings disagree about mom seeking dementia evaluation

Dear Carol: My sister Jean has wanted our mom to see a doctor about memory issues for months but Mom says she’s fine. Jean lives out of town, so she set aside a day to come into town and take Mom to lunch and get Mom’s hair cut. Then, Jean sprung a doctor appointment on Mom and, not surprisingly, Mom refused to go. She and Jean had a fight. I took Mom’s side, which probably didn’t help matters.

• Carol Bradley Bursack

Coming Home: My love of wildflowers started young

When I was 10 years old, I was obsessed with wildflowers. Obsessed. Coincidentally, I was also obsessed with 4-H.

• Jessie Veeder

Lind: ND farmer saved man pinned under machine

This story could be in Nicole Phillips’ Forum column, which focuses on kind things people do for one another.

• Bob Lind

‘Father of forward pass’ coached football in Fargo

"The father of the forward pass," who is also credited with being the first person to put numbers on the jerseys of his football players, coached college football in Fargo.

• Eddie Cochems
• Curtis Eriksmoen

Schnepf: Timing mats at Fargodome part of Boston bombing scene

The mats that recorded the times of about 13,700 runners at Saturday’s Fargo Marathon were part of a crime scene last month.

• Fargodome finish line mat

Living Faith: Mother as widow changes daughter's focus

Mother’s Day was different this year. Mother’s Day was different this year. The burnt toast, sloppy bowl of oatmeal and lukewarm coffee never arrived. Pictures of stick characters with word bubbles of “I love you, Mom” didn’t appear. No crumpled dandelions were offered.

• Roxane Salonen

Growing together: Garden center field trip inspirational

Being of stoic German descent, the emergence of rhubarb in spring doesn’t usually make me giddy. This year it did. I suspect I am not alone in watching buds open with new delight.

• Growing Together

Coupon Queen: Rebranding the stockpile

‘Stockpiling” is the term couponers have long used for shopping ahead of sales cycles, then storing groceries and supplies until the next sale. It’s a great strategy for shelf-stable, nonperishable or freezer-stable items because prices fluctuate.

• Jill Cataldo

Trade Talk: New Smiling Moose charms downtown lunch crowd

A Smiling Moose Deli has opened at 102 Broadway in Fargo. The restaurant is the second Smiling Moose in Fargo owned by Williston native Nathan Everson.

• Dave Olson
• New Smiling Moose

Schnepf: Marks bring coaching stability to Force

Fargo - When someone utters the word “dormie,” you know they love the game of golf.

• Head coach John Marks
• Dubuque clinches Clark Cup with OT win over Fargo

Areavoices: Excuses professional organizers hear

When I tell people that I am a Professional Organizer, their response is usually the same, “boy do I need you in my house!” and they laugh.

Prairie Fare: Son’s graduation prompts food for thought

“They grow up in a blink of an eye,” our friends with grown kids would remark a bit wistfully when we arrived with a stroller carrying our bright-eyed baby boy.