Opinion

On January 27, 2025, Larry Rhoden was sworn in as the 34th Governor of South Dakota. May 7 marks his 100th day as our Governor. Though the time has passed quickly, the list of accomplishments is long and offers a preview of what we can expect from his leadership.

The Madison Daily Leader of May 6, 1905, reported: “Horse thieves appear to be doing large business in Keya Paha county, Nebraska; Lyon county, Iowa; and in the southeastern part of South Dakota. Notices have been received by Sheriff Young of this city, notifying him of the operations of a gang of horse thieves that infest those sections.

South Dakota is such a wonderful state that millions of visitors come every year to see it for themselves. And who can blame them? There’s something here for everyone in all seasons of the year.

Stroke is a medical emergency that can happen anytime, anywhere. While risk of stroke increases with age, anyone can have a stroke.

ERSPECTIVE Dear Editor, It is 250 years since the 2-lantern signal was given to start the American Rebellion to free this country from the British King, with an army led by George Washington, who won the Independence Day celebrated on July 4th. The world is mourning the passing of Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, born in Argentina, a champion of the disadvantaged and forgotten poor everywhere who most recently criticized the US and Israel for the endless bombing of Gaza resulting in needless deaths and destruction of the last hospital on that “beautiful piece of real estate.” 40% of Catholics in the world are Hispanic.

A law was enacted by the Legislature of 1870 – 71, designating the penitentiary at Fort Madison, Iowa, as the official penitentiary of the Territory of Dakota. The United States had confined the first Dakota convicts in the United States prison at Detroit, and in some instances at Fort Madison, but the territory had had no occasion for a penitentiary until Frank Sullivan was convicted of horse stealing in the Territorial Court at Yankton in October, 1870. He was sentenced by Chief Justice French to three years’ hard labor in the “Iowa state prison at Fort Madison.”

DITOR Dear Editor, We would like to increase awareness about the memorial poppy and the poppy crosses that are displayed in many Gregory businesses. The memorial poppy is a symbol of the price of war and the sacrifice of millions.

hoden In South Dakota, we value personal responsibility, strong families, and local control. We believe parents should remain the primary decision-makers when raising their children.

Dear Editor, A few weeks ago, I mentioned that partisans of the Left had accused pro-life people, in SD and elsewhere, of striking a corrupt deal with Republican politicians wanting to reduce excess Federal spending. Allegedly, if the politicos would act to restrict and outlaw abortions, pro-lifers would not object to cuts in Federal funding of programs and projects intended for SD and other states. This can and should be dismissed as a conspiracy theory, a product of someone’s fevered imagination, and nothing more. In fact, pro-life people tend to be fiscal, as well as social, conservatives and would most often be on the same page with cost-conscious congresspeople and legislators anyway. More importantly, pro-life supporters in good conscience would never trade the lives of pre-born children for increased Federal and state funding for their states. Such “dirty money” is called “filthy lucre” in the apostle Paul’s letter to Titus, ch 1, vs 11 (KJV). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose Resurrection we just celebrated on 20 April, Easter Sunday, also addressed this issue. Quoting Matthew 16:26, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (From the Lutheran Study Bible.) The answer to both questions is of course “NOTHING!”

We’re at the Easter holiday. It’s a great holiday to celebrate traditions with family and loved ones. I remember when I was a child, the day before Easter we would dye eggs that we’d just gathered from the chicken coop. You rarely see real eggs at Easter egg hunts anymore! To this day, my wife Sandy hides Easter baskets outside for everyone to find – adults included.