Opinion

Safe and effective medicinal marijuana

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 9:04am

Whenever our state faces a major policy change, it’s the role of the state government to ensure that it is implemented and regulated in a way that best benefits the people of South Dakota. Our role is to create and administer a program that operates safely and effectively. This past week, legislative leaders and I announced our plan to guarantee a safe and effective program for medicinal marijuana.

Saying goodbye to my mother

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 9:02am

“You don’t know about real loss, because it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself.”

Auctions and hot button issues

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 8:53am

Greetings! Before we talk about what’s happening in the legislature in Pierre, let’s talk auctions. STAR Academy had its fourth auction and sold to a realtor group for $1.3 million.  At the previous auction (No. 3), a sweetheart deal was made when they parceled off 40 acres and sold it for $340,000.  So, all told, the state received about $1,640,000.  

Dealing with session and death

Published by admin on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 8:53am

As some of you may have heard by now my father passed away Feb. 3. I have been back and forth to Pierre juggling representing the people and supporting my family here. I appreciate all of the cards, calls and emails our family has received. We miss him very much. My mom and dad met 60 years ago on Feb. 11, the day of his visitation, and it has been very hard on her. Their 59th wedding anniversary would have been May 5. Thank you all for understanding that I needed to miss a few days of session during this time.

Who is afraid of Elon? Me

Published by admin on Thu, 02/11/2021 - 10:50am

Elon Musk terrifies me.

I know many of you think he’s a genius.

I think he’s a madman.

Maybe there’s no difference.

Based on what I read and see I’d equate him to a cross between The Music Man and Frankenstein.

Biden is just a typical politician

Published by admin on Thu, 02/11/2021 - 9:59am

We were afraid what would happen to our country if, by some kind of miracle, Joe Biden was ever elected president. He and his socialist friends Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama would make sure he started unraveling everything good that Donald Trump had done for our country the past four years. Trump tried to run the country like a business, while Biden is running it like a typical politician who has been in Washington, D.C. for the past 47 years. Imagine how out of touch one can become by being in a bubble for 47 years!

I can’t change the world, only myself

Published by admin on Thu, 02/11/2021 - 9:59am

Is anybody else tired of politics? Hearing about it, reading about it, talking about it, thinking about it?
I know I am, but then I’m a political atheist, so I don’t spend much time on the aforementioned activities anyway.

Sending bills to the 41st day

Published by admin on Thu, 02/11/2021 - 9:41am

“Mr. Chair, I move this bill be sent to the 41st day.”

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

Published by admin on Thu, 02/04/2021 - 9:58am

I’ve discussed music before — why “Old Town Road” is not a country song, what happened to country music and the fact that I cannot play an instrument or sing to save my life.

But I don’t think I’ve ever discussed why I like the music I like.

I’ll admit: I’m weird. I like everything. And when I say everything I mean mostly everything. I’m not a big fan of metal or hard rock or anything like that. But other than that, for the most part I like it. I feel just as comfortable listening to Beethoven as I am listening to the Wu Tang Clan.

Reading success begins at the library

Published by admin on Thu, 02/04/2021 - 9:58am

“In February there is everything to hope for and nothing to regret,” Patience Strong

The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program is available at the library for children from birth to kindergarten. The children are rewarded at every 100-book milestone and a grand prize is awarded when 1000 books read is reached. For more information or to register please stop in the library.

• Children that are read to are more successful in school.

 • A child’s brain develops most rapidly before the age of three.