Mid September's Page One . . . Faced with persistent crimes ranging from drug dealing to vandalism, the communities are returning to ancient tribal customs that bring people together to unearth the root causes of misconduct. It's called circle sentencing. It begins with an offender pleading guilty in court and agreeing to accept a community-imposed sentence. Opening with a prayerful appeal to seek the common good, victims, offenders and their supporters gather in a circle with other interested community members to discuss the crime's impact.
Experts say Minnesota is the first state in the nation to use circle sentencing.
With a few tears and the conviction that she was doing the right thing, Jean Mitchell traveled from her home in Louisiana to the Southeast village of Hyadaburg to give away an heirloom that had been in her family for more than 50 years. Internal memos obtained by the Lincoln Journal-Star said nearly 12,000 of the missing bones came from a single Pawnee burial site in northeastern Nebraska. A criminal investigation began in August. Some Coeur d'Alene citizens may have to start paying county property taxes, even if the land they own is within the boundaries of their northern Idaho reservation. These are the offerings made to the Creator for the protection of the lives of current and future generations.