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Dakota Midday: 'Thieves' Road'

In the summer of 1874, George Armstrong Custer led a military expedition into the Black Hills to choose a site for a new Army fort and investigate the area’s natural resources. The expedition’s discovery of gold attracted thousands of whites to the Black Hills in violation of the 1868 Laramie Treaty which protected Lakota ownership and hunting rights.

In the new book Thieves’ Road: the Black Hills Betrayal and Custer’s Path to Little Bighorn,Terry Mortrecounts Custer’s Black Hills expedition and illuminates the economic, political and social pressures that led up to it. Mort’s previous books include  The Wrath of Cochise and The Hemmingway Patrols. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed Thieves' Road.

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.