Opinion

Jasper was one fire for the ages

Published by admin on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 10:08am
Twenty years ago on Thursday, Aug. 24, at about 3 p.m.  or so we were on our way back from Newcastle, Wyo., heading to Custer on Highway 16 when we spotted a plume of black smoke several miles up ahead. This would be the start of the Jasper Fire of 2000 and occurred just about seven months after we had purchased the newspapers in Custer and Hill City. We had already experienced a big April snowstorm earlier in the year.

Positives in a negative world

Published by admin on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 10:07am
Man, is the world a bummer right now. Maybe more specifically, the U.S. is a bummer.
This has been a year for the books, and not in a good way. Who would have thought the devastating Australian bushfires from January wouldn’t even register anywhere near the top of the bad things that have happened this year when they were burning out of control?

School is here again

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 10:21am

Back to school, back to school.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Chances are you’re reading this either the day Hill City students are going back to school or the day after.

Let me tell you what: as a child, one of my favorite days of the year was the day I went back to school. Yes, I was always sad to see the summer end, but I was probably one of a handful of kids in the entire nation who loved school.

More on coronavirus relief

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 9:05am
Greetings! Since writing last about the $1.25 billion received from our federal government, here is where we are now:
• $1.25 billion received.  
• Spent $200 million on cities and counties, $100 million on state’s unemployment fund and other coronavirus-related expenses. 
• That leaves over $900 million yet to be dispersed.

An open letter to state parents

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 9:05am
When your child’s school gives you a form to sign, please read it thoroughly and think about what permission you are giving to the school district.  Don’t sign any form if you don’t understand it or if you have reservations about what it does. Parents have told me they are given so many forms in the process of registering children for school that they don’t always take the time to read them closely—they just sign them and send them back.  

College football should be played

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 9:03am
When we lived in Broken Bow, Neb., for 10 years it coincided with the last years of coaching for legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, who won three national championships. Naturally, we became avid Husker football fans and managed to attend a game or two every year in Lincoln. 

Why not discuss the Convention of States

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 9:01am
I am again shocked to see my 20-year friend, Rep Goodwin, repeat his disdain of hearing from you, his Constituents. His column in this paper repeats his complaint about receiving too many letters from citizen patriots in District 30 seeking his support for the Convention of States (COS).  

An ode to bikers and biking

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:18am

I finally rode my hog over Beartooth Pass. I was told it’s one of the most beautiful roads in the country. I’m not sure I agree, but it sure was pretty. I had what could only be called a “biker’s” dream — perfect weather. I didn’t need to take off or put on any layers during my three-day, 996-mile ride.

Visiting the wall construction

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 9:14am
I received an invite a few weeks ago to fly to El Paso, Texas, to attend a seminar on the border wall being built where the Texas, New Mexico and Mexico borders meet. Attendees included sitting state legislators, both state and federal Senate and House candidates, a Secretary of State and a U.S. Attorney nominee. I was the only attendee from South Dakota who  ended up going and am glad I was able to attend.

Trader Joe’s pushes back

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 9:13am
It’s good to see that at last one American company is pushing back against a petition to change the labeling on some of its products because they were said to be racist.
After initially saying the company was in the process of removing all “ethnically” modified versions of Trader Joe’s from its branding, officials reversed their decision, saying they disagreed any of their labels were racist.