Opinion

Thank you chamber, city and volunteers

Published by admin on Wed, 07/22/2026 - 12:22pm

The gauntlet has been run once more.

Some post-primary observations

Published by admin on Wed, 07/22/2026 - 12:21pm

The outcome of June’s Republican gubernatorial primary raised plenty of questions and provided few answers. When the dust settled, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden were heading for a July 28 runoff and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state Speaker of the House Jon Hansen were looking for work.
Among the questions raised by the outcome:
How does an early frontrunner end up finishing in third place?
How does a man with no political experience finish ahead of an incumbent governor and a sitting congressman?

Soaring higher

Published by admin on Wed, 07/22/2026 - 9:44am
America 250 is a great time to reflect on who we are and what we have fought to build and keep for so long. We are an example for freedom to the rest of the world, and a symbol of hope as well. But we have our own symbols that represent who we are.

Rooting against your country is gross

Published by admin on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 9:29am

The World Cup has come and gone for the United States of America. After an exciting group play stage that saw the Americans win their stage, hopes were high for the Americans to advance further in the tournament than they had before. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen when the team was unceremoniously trounced by Belgium. It showed how far American soccer still has to go (the men at least) when it comes to seriously competing on the national stage.

Life, liberty, happiness

Published by admin on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 9:28am

I didn’t see a single firework this year. Is that crazy? Our country celebrates her 250th birthday and I don’t see a single firework? But we are in a season of family life where naps and bedtime are pretty important, and bedtime is well before sunset. Hence, no fireworks. We did, however, enjoy some excellent smoked beef brisket and cheesecake and in our own way fully reveled in patriotic festivity. After all, it is good to live in a country so great that even the people who hate her refuse to leave. 

It’s too hot for the Hills

Published by admin on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 8:44am
I am officially getting old. Chronologically I am only 56, and I still act like a teenager or even a bratty child at times. Yet my body is screaming that I am old because…it’s too hot for me to go outside. 
Me.
The gal who used to say “I’d way rather be hot than cold.”
The gal that used to go rock climbing in full sun in 100 plus weather. 
Now I am officially melting at a whopping 80 degrees in my home, fighting my dog Zeuss for the tiny area of the living room where the mini split blows out cool air. 

Right result in the wrong way

Published by admin on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 10:13am

The vast majority of fans of the U.S. men’s soccer team were overjoyed when they heard one of the team’s best players, Folarin Balogun, was going to be able to play in Monday’s World Cup game against Belgium. What many were unsure about is the way that decision was reached.

Bloom where you’re planted

Published by admin on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 10:12am

The wild roses are blooming once again. Their soft, pink petals adorn hillsides, fields, ditches and more. You can smell a hint of their sweet scent in the breeze as the flowers bob their bright heads and bees buzz around them. It always amazes me that these delicate plants can not only flourish but grow year-to-year in our climate. 

Opinion on opinions

Published by admin on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 9:33am
You’ve heard the saying, “Opinions are like _____, everybody’s got one.”
These days, especially on social media, it seems everybody feels the need to share theirs—whether asked for or not. 

A great evening at Mount Rushmore

Published by admin on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 9:32am
Greetings. What a historic week! Happy 250th birthday America! I had the pleasure of attending the 250th celebration at Mount Rushmore on the evening of July 3. The reason we had it on the third and not the fourth was because that’s the only day President Trump would attend. He had the actual 250th celebration at our nation’s capitol on the actual Independence Day, July 4.