Opinion

Plenty of prison feedback given

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:11pm
Greetings. Thank you for all the positive remarks, emails, texts, calls regarding my yes vote on the new men’s state prison! It really was the right thing to do to pass funds already in our prison construction fund to build a new state men’s prison.

No, GFP did not add more campsites

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:08pm
As we deal with weighty issues locally, statewide, and nationally, I thought we could all use a little humor … and a reality check.

Legislature did the right thing

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 12:41pm

Last week state legislators met for a special session with the purpose of taking a vote on whether or not to fund the largest capital project in the history of the State of South Dakota. That project, of course, is the construction of a new state prison that will replace the oldest part of the current state prison, referred to as “The Hill.” This portion of the prison was constructed a whopping 144 years ago, before South Dakota even had statehood. It is said it is the oldest functioning prison in the United States.

Cheaper than therapy, better than worry

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 12:40pm

A friend of mine likes to say, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” 
Mentally, we understand this. Yet so often, we go back to the rocking chair anyway. And why wouldn’t we? We live in a society that is plagued with anxiety, stress and depression. Worry creeps into our minds daily. Sometimes, it’s so overwhelming that it feels as if we have no choice other than to sit down, paralyzed by our emotions.

Investing in public safety

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:02am

Government isn’t very good at solving problems. You might find that rich coming from someone who’s served in public office for 20 plus years, but it’s true—it isn’t government that solves our problems. Even when bills get passed by the Legislature, it’s citizen legislators— elected by their neighbors— who come to Pierre for a short amount of time, do the people’s work, then go home and live with the new laws that they passed.

Voted for building new prison

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:01am

Greetings again.
So, what happened in Pierre during Special Session Sept. 23? I thought you’d never ask! We in the House went into caucus at 8 a.m. on the 23rd and I walked out of the capitol at 7:25 p.m. with a new prison approved and paid for!

New prison will protect citizens

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:00am

Well, the 2025 special session has come to a close. We had caucus, open meetings, testimony from opponents and proponents, and legislators. We began at 8 am and continued through to almost 8 pm. It was a long, brutal day, but one that we knew had to happen in order to further the project and help to safeguard our citizens going forward. Quite frankly, it is too bad that legislators are not as committed to property tax reform…but that’s a subject for another time. 

Chamber, city face difficult choices

Published by admin on Wed, 09/24/2025 - 1:15pm

If you read the front page of this week’s issue, you likely read the story about the City of Custer voting to change the ordinance through which is provides funding to the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce. In doing so, the chamber will see its funding from the city cut in half over the course of the next five years.

The debate on free speech and consequences

Published by admin on Wed, 09/24/2025 - 1:06pm

“The alligator doesn’t spare you. It just eats you last.”

Time for special state prison session

Published by admin on Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:48pm

Greetings. So, how’s everyone doing with all this rain, rain, rain? I take that back for the southern portion of Fall River County, as it’s been dry down there.