Monke: A few thoughts to chew on this weekend

Some weeks, I’m afforded few opportunities to write a really good, fleshed-out Sunday column. So, today, I’m going to give you a few quick bites to chew on.
- Call me the first person to raise a red flag about this potential, and very ambitious, Barons Vista development proposed for west Dickinson. Though I’m all for progress and the growth of the city, and while it’d be amazing to see come to fruition, I can’t wholeheartedly accept that a $300 million development featuring a 15-story “lighthouse” tower is something the economy of southwest North Dakota can financially support, regardless of how fast we’re growing. How about some affordable housing first? - This 40th Street issue is the first glimpse we’re seeing of the city of Dickinson showing lack of foresight in its annexation and planning. Let’s hope it’s the last. - Someone called Friday morning to drop their subscription over the “negative” stories and “garbage” on our front page. The person was referencing our story about the state’s attorney general issuing an opinion that the Dickinson State University Foundation violated open records laws by denying a request The Press made to view some of its emails last fall. Just a reminder, if the mass media has clouded your ideas about how our business works, know that what we printed isn’t “garbage.” It’s actual journalism at work. Remember, a newspaper isn’t just the voice of a community, it’s also a watchdog. - Pushing back the Thomas Sander trial and calling for a change of judge is a waste of time. And that folks, is why people don’t like lawyers. Monke is the managing editor of The Dickinson Press. Email him at dmonke@thedickinsonpress.com, read his blog at monke.areavoices.com and tweet him at monkebusiness.Some weeks, I’m afforded few opportunities to write a really good, fleshed-out Sunday column. So, today, I’m going to give you a few quick bites to chew on.
- Call me the first person to raise a red flag about this potential, and very ambitious, Barons Vista development proposed for west Dickinson. Though I’m all for progress and the growth of the city, and while it’d be amazing to see come to fruition, I can’t wholeheartedly accept that a $300 million development featuring a 15-story “lighthouse” tower is something the economy of southwest North Dakota can financially support, regardless of how fast we’re growing. How about some affordable housing first?- This 40th Street issue is the first glimpse we’re seeing of the city of Dickinson showing lack of foresight in its annexation and planning. Let’s hope it’s the last.- Someone called Friday morning to drop their subscription over the “negative” stories and “garbage” on our front page. The person was referencing our story about the state’s attorney general issuing an opinion that the Dickinson State University Foundation violated open records laws by denying a request The Press made to view some of its emails last fall. Just a reminder, if the mass media has clouded your ideas about how our business works, know that what we printed isn’t “garbage.” It’s actual journalism at work. Remember, a newspaper isn’t just the voice of a community, it’s also a watchdog.- Pushing back the Thomas Sander trial and calling for a change of judge is a waste of time. And that folks, is why people don’t like lawyers.Monke is the managing editor of The Dickinson Press. Email him at dmonke@thedickinsonpress.com, read his blog at monke.areavoices.com and tweet him at monkebusiness.