Opinion

Of opinions and editorial pages

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 11:29am

Are opinion pages still relevant in local newspapers? Are there certain topics that should be off limits when it comes to the editorial pages?
These are a pair of questions that recently came up among a group of weekly newspaper editors and publishers both in this state and in a group known as the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE), of which the Custer County Chronicle is a member.

How to improve higher education

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 11:26am

South Dakota’s kids are our future. This point really hits home for those of us who are already seeing our own kids have kids of their own. And we must set our kids up with the skills and knowledge to build the best possible future for our state and nation. A big part of that puzzle is our higher education system. Unfortunately, across the nation, higher education is in a state of crisis. I have challenged our South Dakota Board of Regents to show the nation what quality higher education is supposed to look like.

The value of friendship

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 9:06am
Did you know that three in five people feel lonely on a daily basis? 
With this high statistic, one would expect lonely hearts to be easy to spot. And yet in my experience, lonely people are good at hiding it. They are doing their best. They don’t want pity or sympathy. They don’t want a friend who feels sorry for them. Lonely hearts want a friend who genuinely cares about them. 

Debt limit issue is always unnecessary

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 11:44am

It seems the government of the United States has to always have some brinksmanship and argument going that is completely unnecessary, if for no other reason than to further divide the American people. Such has been the case with the default talks that took place over the last several weeks in a highly-publicized way.

Thought-provoking throwbacks

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 11:40am

If you haven’t checked out the Chronicle’s Facebook page, you may have missed that we recently joined in on the Throwback Thursday bandwagon, although it has been departed for some years now.  For those not familiar with it, Throwback Thursday (often stylized as a hashtag, #throwbackthursday) is really just a fun excuse to post old photos and reminisce on days gone by. In the Chronicle’s 143-year history, we certainly have no shortage of photos to pull from.

Let’s show some appreciation

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 8:46am
I appreciate you. I don’t think I say that enough to people. To my friends, to my family, even to strangers that I might meet.
I used to make it a goal to say it all the time especially during Covid when so many people were not showing up to work. Those that did, I made an extra special point of thanking. 
But maybe I forget to say it enough to the people closest to me. You know I take for granted that they’re going to be there in times of stress or when I’m sick or when life doesn’t happen the way it’s planned.

A big thank you to Custer Cares

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 10:17am

If you missed last week’s edition of the Custer County Chronicle, you missed some of the biggest and most positive news we have had on these pages in some time: A nursing home is coming back to Custer, thanks to the hard work of many dedicated inviduals in town.

What is going on in Hermosa?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 10:15am

Election season frequently brings out the worst in people (who are we kidding, in the U.S. it absolutely brings out the worst in people) but the bickering and infighting seems to be at an all-time high in Hermosa, a town that has only about 400 people but has enough political fighting to rival Chicago.

Outstanding Young Journalist? Who, me?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 8:51am
Young writers always seem to have a goal in mind. They want to get published, win an award, start a podcast, travel on a book tour or what have you. Some achieve their goals early on. They are dubbed outstanding and have a natural talent. 
Others work for years without seeing much progress. The hope of that goal can become a distant dream. But they keep plodding on because writing is in their nature. It can’t be denied. 

Encouraging work, not cutting funding

Published by admin on Wed, 05/17/2023 - 11:35am

A couple weeks ago, this opinion piece was published on CNN. It’s directed at my bill, the America Works Act. In the piece, the writers make broad, misleading claims about welfare work requirements legislation.
Let’s debunk their claims:
MYTH: The America Works Act “take(s) food from the mouths of babies.”
FACT: My bill does not affect any family or able-bodied adult with children under the age of seven. This bill won’t take benefits away from people who are able-bodied without dependents, as long as they work, go to school or participate in training programs.