Year in Review: Relive Bismarck-Mandan’s Top Local Stories of 2014
There were a number of local stories that peaked the interest of the Bismarck-Mandan community throughout 2014, and we thought it would be fun to review the top 10 posts as determined by you!
From the ban on tight pants at Devils Lake High School to the shocking decision to cancel the 4th of July parade, join us as we count down the most popular posts from 2014.
- 10
10 Words That Have a Different Meaning in North Dakota Than the Rest of the Country
Words like "bars", "hotdish", and "barbeque" may seem like relatively common terms around North Dakota, but they mean something completely different around the rest of America.
- 9
Mandan Woman Pulled Over by Phony Police Car
A scary incident back in August had all of Bismarck-Mandan on edge, as an unidentified man driving a car disguised as a police car pulled over a woman on Old Red Trail in Mandan.
After seeing flashing lights and a siren, the woman quickly realized the man was not in uniform and drove away.
- 8
North Dakota Native Rumored to be Contestant on 'The Voice'
Interest was peaked back in February when a ND native was rumored to be on season 6 of NBC's 'The Voice'.
Of course, this turned out to be Scranton native Kat Perkins, who made it all the way to the semifinal round and in the Top 4 before being eliminated.
Kat continues to pursue her dream as she continues to tour the country and release new music.
- 7
New Video Offers Controversial Glimpse Into Williston, ND
Way back in March, BBC published a video featuring the stories of several Williston residents, highlighting was life in the western oil town was like.
The video was met with controversy, with some arguing it wrongly focused on the negative aspects of the growing city rather than offering a balanced look at how Williston has changed as a result of the oil boom.
- 6
Parade Co-Chair Explains Decision to Cancel Mandan’s 4th of July Parade
The July 4th celebration in Mandan got an unexpected (and mostly unwelcome) surprise when the annual Independence Day parade was canceled due to lightning strikes in the area.
In this post, we spoke with Marlo Anderson, one of the parade's co-chairs, about the decision to cancel the historic parade. Predictably, the decision was met with resistance from the public.
- 5
Five Films Set in North Dakota That Aren't Named 'Fargo'
Let’s face facts…When people hear the words ‘North Dakota’, one of the first things they think of is the movie Fargo. While it is a great movie, the majority of the film isn’t set in North Dakota.
That’s why we put together a list of five films that are set in North Dakota, that aren’t named 'Fargo'.
- 4
ND High School Says 'No' to Tight Pants, Compares Attire to Prostitution
By far one of the most controversial posts of the year, Devils Lake High School came under fire for banning girls wearing tight pants and the questionable decision to illustrate the point by showing clips from 'Pretty Woman', where the main character is a prostitute.
Predictably, the backlash was strong. The situation even gained national attention, with outlets like Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, and others picking up the story.
The school did respond, admitting the situation could have been handled differently.
- 3
Iowa Sports Reporter Slams North Dakota & NDSU in Every Way Possible
Back in August, Iowa sports reporter Andy Fales fired up the Bison faithful when he he questioned the team’s legitimacy, took aim at the culture of North Dakota, and made light of the school’s reputation as one of the best traveled teams in all of college sports.
Upon NDSU's decimation of the Iowa State Cyclones, Fales later ate crow ... sort of.
- 2
Check Out a Map of the Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Bismarck-Mandan
One of the best things to do around the holidays is pile the family into the car and drive around town to see all the Christmas lights. We were able to get our hands on a map of some of the best around Bismarck-Mandan, and the response was incredible!
Make sure to bookmark the page, since the map is updated every year!
- 1
Holiday Train Rolls Through North Dakota This Christmas Season
For the 16th year in a row, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train steamed across the country to raise awareness for a great cause.
The train rolled through North Dakota, visiting Hankinson, Enderlin, Carrington, Harvey, Minot and Kenmare and offered free concerts from Home Free and Kira Isabella, as well as seasonal festivities from a brightly lit boxcar-turned-stage.