Tag Archives: agriculture

Areavoices Digest #75 – What’s life really like in the Oil Patch?

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We’ve seen the news stories and read the reports from the oil boom in Western North Dakota.  They paint a vivid picture of both the good and bad that come with an economic boom and population explosion. But what is life really like there for the people who live there now and have lived there for generations We wanted to find out. Introducing: Life in the Patch, one of the newest Areavoices blogs. It’s a community blog that allows contributors to weigh in with their stories from boomtown and beyond. If you’d like to be a contributor to this blog, just email Shane Mercer at smercer@forumcomm.com. Or if you’d like to start your own blog just let me know.

There is so much to say out in Western North Dakota. Are you the one to share it? It’s easy and we’re all waiting!

In the meantime, check out all of our recommended blogs of the week.

Life in the Patch
http://patchlife.areavoices.com
“Life in the Patch” is a Forum Communications blog documenting the good, the bad, the ugly and the pretty in oil-rich Western North Dakota.

Reel Quickies
http;//reelquickie.areavoices.com
Laurel is a popular movie blogger who not only reviews the latest movies (The Avengers) but gets her
readers involved through interactive movie quizzes.

Reggie Tales
http://reggietales.areavoices.com
Have you ever wondered about life behind the camera in a TV newsroom? Chris Regimbal, WDAZ-TV News
Director, takes you there in his blog.

Minnesota – More to Explore
http://exploreminnesota.areavoices.com
A must-see blog for anyone visiting or living in Minnesota.

Ag at Large by Mikkel Pates
http://ag-at-large.areavoices.com
Mikkel Pates is a highly respected and longtime agricultural journalist.
His blog adds depth and details to the stories he writes for Ag Week and The Grand Forks Herald.

Areavoices Digest #53 – Two new blogs and three old favorites

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I’ll keep this short and sweet. We have a couple of great new blogs on Areavoices and three older ones you might have missed. Check them out!
If you’d like to see your blog featured in this digest every week, just let me know!

 

 

The Stage at Island Park (NEW)
http://thestage.areavoices.com
The Stage at Island Park is the venue for 6 different theater companies in the Fargo-Moorhead area. This blog shares information about the various productions being held at the facility.


Bonanzaville (NEW)
http://bonanzaville.areavoices.com
News from the region’s foremost Pioneer Prairie Village and Museum located in West Fargo, North Dakota and operated by the Cass County Historical Society.


The New Forty
http://thenewforty.areavoices.com
“They say fifty is the new forty. Hmmmm, I’ll let you know” says blog author Mrs. C. who writes about anything and everything and usually has some fun along the way.


Outdoors with Sam Cook
http://samcook.areavoices.com
Writer Sam Cook covers outdoor news from the North woods of Minnesota.


Ag At Large
http://ag-at-large.areavoices.com
Mikkel Pates has been writing about agriculture in the Midwest and Upper Great Plains for 30 years. He is a staff writer for Agweek Magazine and The Grand Forks Herald, both in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Areavoices Digest #18 – Feb 9, 2011 – Have you seen these blogs?

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Thanks for your feedback about the areavoices directory. I’m still wading through it blog by blog, revising and updating information. You can now see the directory on the blog sections of your home pages as well as on the areavoices homepage. I realize we still have featured blogs that might be missing. If you notice a blog that is not in the directory please shoot me an email. I will make sure to get it on the directory as soon as possible. As I said last week, this process is giving me the opportunity to find some wonderful blogs that might be deserving of a second look.
 
Powerful Perspectives – http://powerfulperspectives.areavoices.com – When I asked everyone for feedback on great bloggers this is what Phil from River Falls told me, “Sam Bluhm’s Powerful Perspective’s blog is by far the hottest of the 25 local bloggers we have at the River Falls Journal. She brings a life coach perspective, is a professional business writer and weaves some heartwarming stories that generate lots of feedback.”  I looked through the blog and found it well written and interesting.
 
Rambling River Repair – http://ramblingriverrepair.areavoices.com – Sue and Bill Kropelnicki are fairly new to blogging, but I think this auto repair blog has a lot of potential. They own and operate their own shop in Farmington, Minnesota. Their last post addressed keeping tires in top shape during winter driving, so obviously, something we can all relate to.  The focus of their blog is to make cars and car repair understandable to the average Joe and Jane.

Rural Reflections – http://rreflection.areavoices.com – Grant Nelson writes about rural life and farm projects. His column is featured weekly in the Northern Watch newspaper in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. His Radio program is also posted on his blog every Thursday by noon.

 
Music Moves – Perspectives & Insights from a Local Music Therapist – http://musicmoves.areavoices.com -  Natasha Thomas is a board certified music therapist. She says the purpose of her blog is “for any individual looking to learn how music can enhance their own life or the lives of their loved ones, co-workers, or friends.  Weekly posts will include such topics as “how music can aid academic learning”, “using music for stress relief”, and other perspectives on the many ways in which music can impact your life.”
 
Who Needs Who? – Stories of love from a special needs mom – http://whoneedswho.areavoices.com – Kerri Kava is blogging about her life with her special needs son. He has Williams Syndrome or WS. But she writes, “I’m an extremely positive person and in no way am I wanting this blog to be a “poor me” bucket. But rather, a place to share, vent, and brag about the love and joy brought, as well as the everyday journey we experience.”
 
And finally I just wanted to point out two of our newest education-type blogs.
 
Detroit Lakes Public Schools is now blogging – http://detroitlakesschools.areavoices.com. They’ve used their blog to make school announcements and deliver other news. It’s a great use of blogging.
 
And Dr. Christopher Markwood, Interim Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Superior, has started a blog for UW Superior. I was really excited to see this one. I believe he’s the first Chancellor to blog with areavoices.  Very cool! http://uwsuperior.areavoices.com. 
 

Areavoices Digest #16 – January 26, 2011 – A nod to Art Linkletter!

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 Remember, that old Art Linkletter TV show, “Kids say the darndest things?” Well they do. And we love to read about it. That’s why I’m excited to recommend the following new blog by Shane Mercer, followed by 4 others.  Enjoy!
The Crazy Things Kids Say – http://thingskidssay.areavoices.com -   Readers are invited to share their cute kid stories with Shane Mercer. Shane will then review the stories and post them to the blog. I found myself smiling as I read the blog today. It’s a very cute FAMILY blog that I think would work for everyone.
 
Cute Kids Pics Submitted by Our Readers – http://kidpics.areavoices.com  Readers are asked to send photos of their kids. Shane is the author of this blog as well. People love to show off their kids. Why not on our platform? It’s appropriate region wide as well.
 
The Old Nichols Farm – http://oldnicholsfarm.areavoices.com  -
This blog is written by a stay-at-home mom of three living on a hobby farm near Jamestown, ND. She’s also an amateur photographer and former microbiologist.  She says, “mostly I blog about the simple chaos around here, and the way I see the world through my camera.” She’s written this blog on blog spot for a year-and-a-half and has built a nice following. While she lives in ND, she doesn’t talk about the area, so I think it would be appropriate region wide.
Coach Carolyn – Happiness and Success are up to you – http://carolynbaana.areavoices.com Carolyn Baana is pursuing her certification with the International Coaching Federation, a group which trains life coaches.  Carolyn says of her work:
“Ultimately, the simplest explanation is that if you’re looking for someone to help guide you to get to your goals and dreams more quickly – and someone to hold you accountable in the process of moving toward them – then a coach would likely be a benefit to you. When my clients find the actions they need to take based on our conversations, then follow through and see progress which strengthens them to keep progressing toward their final destination, it energizes me. And that is why I coach.”

And finally…congrats to Melissa Schmalenberger. She writes a blog called MS Simplicity – http://mssimplicity.areavoices.com  Melissa Schmalenberger just started her blog on areavoices in the fall and she has quickly become one of the most popular bloggers on the platform. She’s consistently in the top 20 among the 2,600 areavoice bloggers. Way to go Melissa!