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New Book Details Wounded Knee Massacre

December 29, 1890 was one of the darkest days of South Dakota and American history. In a clash with U.S. Army soldiers, some 200 innocent Lakota men, women and children were massacred at Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Reservation. 124 years later, the horrific tragedy still haunts. In the first comprehensive account of Wounded Knee in more than fifty years, American Carnage: Wounded Knee, 1890, historian Jerome Greene provides a detailed account of the misunderstandings, mistrust and fear that led to the bloodbath. Greene is a retired research historian for the National Park Service who has written numerous books and articles about Indian-white relations in the mid-to-late 1800s. He joined Dakota Midday from his home in Colorado.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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