Jonathan J. O'Konek

Thank you so much Morton Mandan Public Library and Shawna Marion for inviting me to read “To the Tent: A Hide and Seek Story” today at the MMPL! It was great for my daughter, Reece, and I to be able to share our story to smiling faces, and it was fun to watch the amazing build your own tent event.

“[Y]ou’ve likely heard the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis” (Latin for “Always Faithful”). And you may know that the Coast Guard motto is “Semper Paratus” (Latin for “Always Ready”). Both convey a message about devotion, loyalty, and dependability. Yet, there is one motto about which you probably haven’t heard -- “Semper Gumby” (faux Latin for “Always Flexible”) -- and it is the unofficial motto for the uniformed services. It satirically mixes the Latin word semper (“always”) with the cartoon character Gumby (for “flexible”) and it might be the motto North Dakota needs to adopt to address its workforce shortage challenges. According to the 2025 North Dakota Workforce Ecosystem Assessment Final Report, our state had the “3rd lowest unemployment rate in the country, averaging 1.4% lower than the national average,” but still had approximately “16,300 job openings.” (bit.ly/4t8tEDF) And it describes how the lack of both childcare and housing are significant barriers to attracting employees to our communities and how other “qualified workers are moving out of North Dakota.” A “key insight” of this assessment is that “recruitment efforts have been stifled by a lack of workers.” Thus, North Dakota leaders need to consider how to better attract and retain employees. I recently read a March LinkedIn article from Retired Army Lt. Gen. Milford Beagle Jr. entitled, “Agility When the Map Runs Out,” in which he described how -- when becoming the assistant to a four-star general -- the general told him, “Put me in a position to make hard decisions every day for the Army.” This statement resonated because it identified a necessary component of effective leadership -- deliberate movement toward challenges. As LTG Beagle explained, it comes down to having agility, which “is the ability to take a step, assess, and adjust without losing direction . . . (and) maintaining the ability to find your way forward when the answer is not obvious.” . . . [T]o address North Dakota’s workforce shortage our leaders should embrace a new (unofficial) motto, “Semper Gumby.” Because it will only be by acting with inventiveness, agility, and most importantly, flexibility, that North Dakota will attract, retain and ultimately welcome workers.” #sempergumby #flexibility #agility #workforceshortage A special thank you to, Milford H. Beagle, Jr - Beags, for his inspirational, “Agility When the Map Runs Out,” article. Full Bismarck Tribune article located here: #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">bismarcktribune.com/opinion/column…

In 2023, I returned to the Catholic Church after a long period of absence. This article explains how, during a time when I was at my lowest due to my son's chronic illness, three unexpected events (involving a chiropractor, a judge, and a priest) restored my faith in God and brought me back to the Church. ----The Dakota Catholic Action, May 2026, pp. 28-30. Thank you to Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church (Bismarck, North Dakota) for welcoming me back into the faith with open arms. And, specifically, thank you to Father Zwack, Father Hochhalter, and Ms. Holly Keller for your amazing support. I hope this article will help others who are enduring difficult circumstances find Jesus Christ and trust in God's plan. #catholic #catholichomecoming #prodigalson #godsplan files.ecatholic.com/2950/documents…

Tomorrow, May 1st, is Law Day, which celebrates the role that the law and lawyers have in our communities. Each year, I enjoy speaking with students about pursuing a career in law and, this week, I was blessed to speak with students about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the important roles that lawyers serve in our nation. During one of my presentations, a student “sketched” my likeness and gave it to me after I finished my speech. Since this is the first time a “sketch artist” has drawn my likeness, it absolutely made my day. So, I just had to share it. And, if you must know, yes, I will be getting it framed 🙂.

It is with a heavy heart that I just learned that Josh passed away. I ask you to pray for the repose of his soul and for Katlynn and her children.

I normally do not post about fundraising, but I was a middle and high school classmate of Katlynn’s. Her husband, Josh, is courageously battling a rare cancer diagnosis, and based upon reviewing their Facebook posts, they are enduring many challenges. Cancer sucks. Being in the hospital sucks. And, uncertainty about a loved one’s health really sucks. So, I encourage you to click on the below link and support Josh’s treatment if you can gofund.me/f313a0dee

“Recently, I went to my first Bismarck Bobcats game. And before you say anything, having lived in Bismarck for the past 10 years, I know it was long past due for me to support our local hockey team. And it was an entertaining game, with the Bobcats coming back from three goals down to defeat the Minot Minotauros. Yet, before the game began, I experienced something startling -- and I was the only one who felt it. As my family went to the concession area, the lights dropped, spotlights came on and loud music played. From there, a cacophony of sounds and excitement filled the hockey arena. Then something disturbing happened. I overheard the booming lyrics of Five Finger Death Punch’s remake of the song “Bad Company.” Then after hearing the lyrics, “A company, always on the run,” I had an Afghanistan flashback, and for the next 30 minutes was overcome with fear. You see, between 2011 and 2012, soldiers with whom I served often played this song at FOB Lagman, at FOB Masum Ghar, and while we drove around the desert in MRAPs and Stryker vehicles. . . . But what I do know is that I got back from Afghanistan more than 14 years ago. And if a song I routinely heard while deployed can still affect me, then I know that other veterans have similar experiences. Recently, our servicemembers have been involved in a war with Iran, which means a new generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will return to America with trauma and PTSD. And some of them will still experience triggers causing them to have flashbacks 10, 20 or even 50 years after they return. . . . I love that North Dakotans passionately support our troops, and it is one of the reasons I enjoy living in this great state. The patriotic banners, flags and bumper stickers create an atmosphere that ensures that no service member is left behind. But what we often don’t think about is how these troops will eventually become old men and women who will live with experiences from their service. I was fortunate that Vietnam veterans -- who were treated poorly when they returned -- paved the way to ensure that no Iraq or Afghanistan veteran was left behind. So, it is up North Dakota veterans and non-veterans alike to support -- and be there for -- our Iran veterans when they experience flashbacks when they are 30, 40 or even 70 years old. Therefore, it is vital to support not only the troops but veterans of all ages, because that 25-year-old soldier today will eventually become an older veteran who will need their community’s assistance tomorrow.” #supportthetroops #supportveterans #iranwar #Afghanistan #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">bismarcktribune.com/opinion/column…

Today, I was looking at the letters I sent to my wife 15 years ago while I was deployed to Afghanistan from 2011-2012. Two things that I kept writing to her about was that I didn’t know what I was doing and how I felt scared. And, I wrote to her about how much I loved and missed her. I thought that I would post one of these “less personal” letters because it shows, no matter what conflict soldiers are in, they tell their loved ones very similar things; they’re scared, they’re tired, and they miss home. A reminder that, right now, there are servicemen and women participating in the Iran War who are writing about these very things to their loved ones and they need our support now and when they become future veterans in 15 years. #supportthetroops #veterans #lettersfromafghanistan

There are still three more days to complete the Friends of the Morton Mandan Public Library scavenger hunt. Can you find the sticker hidden somewhere in the MMPL after reading the clues contained within the attached poem? #nationallibraryweek

*This was originally posted on the Friends of the Morton Mandan Public Library’s Facebook page* Happy (almost) National Library Week! In celebration of National Library Week, the Friends of the Morton Mandan Public Library are offering YOU, our Friends, three amazing contest opportunities! So, from Monday, April 20th, through Saturday, April 25th, stop by the MMPL to: 1) Enter a guess as to how many items are in circulation at the MMPL (Price is Right Rules) for the chance to win a $50 prize; 2) Participate in a scavenger hunt (with clues contained within a poem written by a certain person who will remain anonymous . . . Okay it was me, your friendly Vice President of the Friends of the MMPL, Jonathan O’Konek (*applause*) 😉) to find a sticker, strategically placed somewhere in the MMPL, that lets you enter a drawing to win a free Friends of the MMPL merch of your choice (and everyone who finds it will receive a coupon for a free book from the “A Novel Idea Bookroom”); and 3) A ten question quiz about the MMPL and Mandan where the individuals who guess the most correct answers will have their name, photo, and a caption of their choice on the MMPL Celebration Screens located throughout the MMPL (some of these questions may require that you actually come inside the library and ask MMPL employees questions, like what Shawna’s favorite movie is 🤭). Full details and descriptions about the contests and eligibility are attached to this post! A big thank you to Kayla for making the great artwork and fliers for all these contests, we couldn’t do this without you! So, come stop by the MMPL next week to see all the great things the MMPL does for our community! #NationalLibraryWeek #librarylove

"Mittagessen (German). Déjeuner (French). Pranzo (Italian). Lunch (English). Regardless of the language you speak, studies suggest that the second meal of the day is the most important. . . . When it comes to lunch, you will often find me in one of two places -- at my desk, or enjoying a delicious meal at the Gifted Bean Coffee House, which is located inside the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library. In recent weeks, you may have seen people standing outside the library -- and other public places-- asking individuals to sign a petition that would add a proposed amendment to the North Dakota Constitution on this November’s election ballot. If 31,164 valid petition signatures are verified by the Secretary of State's Office, North Dakotans will be able to vote on whether public schools should be mandated “to provide one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day to enrolled students.” Supporters last week submitted more than 57,000 signatures, so it is likely that lunch will be on both the menu and the ballot this fall. And no, this column is not about politics (I don’t write about that); it is about lunch. But the school lunch petition did make me think about an old saying, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” This expression has its origin during the late 19th century when saloon and tavern owners would offer a “free lunch” if a customer purchased at least one beverage. However, the “free” meal some owners served would be extremely salty, like sardine sandwiches. So, patrons who consumed their free lunch would inevitably buy two, three or even more drinks to quench their thirst. Therefore, although the lunch was free, the saloon owners offered it to customers with the intent of getting them to spend money. Thus, in life, you never get something for nothing . . . Do we want to pay a little extra as a community so that all children -- regardless of their background -- can have a full meal? Are we willing to forgo a portion of our own income so that our kids spend their lunch hour socializing and catching up with their peers rather than focusing on hunger pangs? And can we look ourselves in the mirror and say “that’s not my problem” when we have an opportunity to ensure that the next generation of North Dakotans concentrate on the abundant and amazing information within their classrooms instead of the sparse contents of their lunchboxes. Remember, this is not about politics. It is about lunch. And the choice of what school children in North Dakota have for lunch is up to you." #schoollunch bismarcktribune.com/opinion/column…

*IMPORTANT NOTICE* for North Dakota: 1) parents of children living with disabilities; 2) family members and friends of children living with disabilities; 3) caregivers, teachers, and other individuals who work with children with disabilities; and 4) anyone who has an interest in the North Dakota cross-disability children's waiver process. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The North Dakota Cross Disability Advisory Council (NDCDAC) will be meeting this Thursday, April 16, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the North Dakota State Capitol. And, from 4:00-4:30 p.m. there will be a PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, which (as the name suggests) will be an open period for the public to ask questions, offer feedback, and provide suggestions on the North Dakota Cross-Disability children's waiver, paid family caregiver program, and other topics relevant to childrens disability services in North Dakota. Attendance is available both in person and remotely through the attached MS Teams link. I have also attached a copy of the Meeting Notice and Agenda as well as a photograph of the members of the NDCDAC who are working to protect, advocate for, and represent the interests of, children living with disabilities. As a member of NDCDAC, and the father of a son who requires North Dakota disability services, I encourage members of our North Dakota community to participate in this meeting since, as the NDCDAC Motto states, we are "Stronger Together for People Living with Disabilities." So, please share with people in our communities who want to learn more about the cross disability children's waiver, paid family caregiver program, and NDCDAC. I look forward to seeing (or hearing from 🙂) everyone on Thursday! #disabilityrights #disabilityawareness #childdisability #hope

"Quick question. How do you quickly find dad jokes on social media? For me, the best way is to post about a “pop quiz.” I know that was a bad joke, but since I am a father -- who prides himself on his wide variety of dad jokes -- I wanted to surprise you with a pop quiz of my own. How many of the following 10 popular social media platforms do you have: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, Reddit and Pinterest? Well, concerningly, the average person uses six or seven social media platforms per month and spends over two hours on social media each day. . . . But social media is addictive. I mean, it’s hard to pull away when your friend (I’m looking at you James) keeps sending you entertaining Humphrey Bogart, Christopher Walken and Robert Loggia videos. And it probably is not great for my sleep schedule to watch Walken’s SNL “I gotta have more cowbell” video for the third time. Plus, social media has its negative side with antagonistic posts and repugnant comments, which can be just as addictive as the feel-good videos described above by making people doomscroll through, and comment on, the negative posts. Well, this addictive side of social media finally made its way into the court system. On March 25, a Los Angeles jury found Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google (YouTube) liable for negligence for creating addictive social media platforms. Although both verdicts ($4.2 million against Meta and $1.8 million against Google) were meager, the case represents the first time that social media companies have been held accountable in court for how they design their platforms. . . . There is a lesson in this verdict. In 2026, social media may make us feel “good” or “bad” in the short term, but it also causes us to detach from the world in the long term. Conversely, today, real experiences and genuine relationships are more difficult to achieve, but they provide us with a deeper purpose and a stronger connection with others. And all it takes to start these relationships is a pen and a piece of paper. You see, since I started writing columns for The Bismarck Tribune in 2023, I have been blessed to form genuine relationships -- and routinely correspond -- with three amazing pen pals (thank you Patricia, Joy and Pam). And there is something special about opening the mailbox and seeing a letter from a friend who cares about you. While pen pals may feel like a thing of the past, trust me when I say that sending and receiving cards from my pen pals brightens my day and, most importantly, feels real." bismarcktribune.com/opinion/column…

*This was originally posted on the Friends of the Morton Mandan Library Facebook page where I serve as Vice President* Happy Easter to all of our Friends! We hope you take time to enjoy today and spend some quality time with family and friends. We, at the Friends of the MMPL, have been blessed with many wonderful moments, great people, and an amazing library (thank you Morton Mandan Public Library) and we are lucky to be able to share these moments with our community family 🙂. One of those moments happened last week when it felt like the entire Mandan community came together to celebrate the unveiling of the MMPL’s branch satellite library at the Mandan Little Learners PlayLab. So, I’ve attached a picture of that community holding the Rural Grant $50,000 check (thank you T-Mobile!), awarded to Mandan Little Learners and the MMPL, which symbolizes how a great group of people can make incredible things happen if we all work together! Again, Happy Easter and we look forward to a great spring with all of you at the MMPL! Jonathan J. O'Konek Linda Austin Shawna Marion Morton County, North Dakota - Government Mandan, North Dakota - City Government Mandan Progress Organization Morton Mandan Public Library Mandan Little Learners Mandan Public School District Mandan Lions Club Dacotah Mandan Lions Club T-Mobile #happyeaster #spring #libraries #mandan #ForwardTogether

Yes, he certainly does. #GoodFridayReflection

Congratulations to Mandan Little Learners and Morton Mandan Public Library for receiving a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant and using it to transform Mandan’s 3rd Street Corridor into a dedicated family learning and gathering space! The Friends of the Morton Mandan Public Library were privileged to attend the unveiling of this grant (and the wonderful space where it will all happen) today at the Mandan Little Learners PlayLab. The MMPL will soon have a satellite branch at the PlayLab so that you do not need to cross the railroad tracks to find a good children’s book! Shortly, there will be a little library right in the 3rd Street corridor. 🙂 AND we’re proud to see the hard work that the MMPL and Mandan Little Learners have done to make the PlayLab an accessible and welcoming space for everyone! Please take a look at the below photos to see this excellent project. And, please give a big thank you (and a great job high five) to Janet from Little Learners, Shawna from the MMPL, the library board of trustees, the City of Mandan, Mandan Public Schools, and T-Mobile for making this event possible! #mandan #library #learning #northdakota #TMobile

Today I was blessed to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Saint Anne Catholic Church in Bismarck, North Dakota, during Palm Sunday Mass. Decades ago, I left the Catholic Church in high school before being confirmed. Yet, God works in mysterious ways and he found me three years ago, and restored my faith, when my son was in the hospital. Since then, I have been blessed to have been received with open arms by Church of Saint Anne and its wonderful parishioners and have found my spiritual home. Thank you Holly, Father Zwack, and Father Hochhalter for your guidance, support, and encouragement. I could not have done it without each of you. #faith #PalmSunday #confirmation #catholic

In 1995, a nurse broke hospital rules to place a newborn into her twin sister’s incubator. The baby was not expected to survive. Kyrie and Brielle Jackson were born 12 weeks early at a hospital in the United States. Each weighed roughly two pounds. They were placed in separate incubators, standard practice to prevent infection. Kyrie gained strength. Brielle did not. Three weeks after birth, Brielle went into critical condition. Her oxygen dropped. Her heart rate spiked. Her skin turned bluish-grey. Nurse Gayle Kasparian tried everything. She held her. She had her father hold her. She wrapped her in a blanket. Nothing worked. Kasparian remembered hearing about a practice used in parts of Europe but never tried in American hospitals. She placed Brielle into Kyrie’s incubator. Their father described what happened next: “She snuggled up to Kyrie and she was just fine. It was immediate. It was absolutely immediate.” Within minutes, Brielle’s oxygen levels were the best they had been since she was born. As she slept, Kyrie stretched her left arm across her sister’s body and held her. Photographer Chris Christo captured the moment. The image spread around the world and became known as “The Rescuing Hug.” Hospitals across multiple countries began placing premature twins together, a practice that had been resisted for decades. Both girls went home healthy. They are now 30.

It is the search for the truth, not possession of the truth which is the way of philosophy. Its questions are more relevant than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question. - Karl Jaspers