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Dakota Midday: Spearfish Woman Shares Story In 'Chicken Soup For The Soul'

Over the past two decades, the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series has compiled inspirational, true stories from regular people’s lives. The latest edition in the series, Time to Thrive: 101 Inspiring Stories about Growth, Wisdom and Dreams, includes a story by Marsha Warren Mittman about her bold decision to move to Spearfish. Friends and family took bets on how quickly she’d return home to New York City. 17 years later, she’s still in South Dakota.

Originally an editor of an international company’s in-house magazine, she recently returned to writing. Her current projects include More: A Most Extraordinary Journey, a memoir about her worldwide spiritual experiences from the Himalayas in Nepal and Andes in Peru, to the pyramids of Egypt and temples of India, to the mystique of the Far East and Australia. 

On Saturday, May 16, she’s signing copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time to Thrive at Books-A-Million in Rapid City. Marsha Warren Mittman joined Dakota Midday and shared the story of how she came to Spearfish.

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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