Opinion

I recently visited Washington, DC, to see our South Dakota National Guard soldiers who are part of President Trump’s effort to make DC safe and beautiful again. I was amazed by what they told me about their mission. But I was even more impressed by what I heard from a South Dakota native who lives in DC: “Having the National Guard here has changed everything. I’ve been here for five years, and I’ve never felt so safe as right now.”

In June of 1883, the County Clerk at Canton (Lincoln County) came to work and found a man of 77 years, giving his name as Szvman Szezech, resting his weary limbs at the office door. “I want a license,” the visitor said, “and I want it right away quick – I’m in a hurry.”

Dear Editor: South Dakotans, it’s time for a change! It doesn’t matter whether you blame the Democrats or the Republicans, the fact is, our congress is not doing their job. Politicians fussing, and fighting, and namecalling, and railing against the opposing party is getting old, and it’s just not funny anymore. This won’t change until we make a change. So, it’s time - vote them ALL out of office!

Recently, I got to visit one of the greatest symbols of freedom in the world: Mount Rushmore. I’ve been there many times, but I will never cease to be amazed by the power and splendor of that monument. We were there for a naturalization ceremony, which made that symbol of freedom even more powerful.

It’s tough rounding up 1,500 buffalo in the annual Buffalo Roundup, but it’s a whole lot tougher rounding up a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature to support a new prison. Regardless, we got both done this week, and what a week it was!

Doane Robinson, in his 1925 edition of the Encyclopedia of South Dakota reported that in South Dakota “Cauc asians cannot be licensed to marry Africians, Coreans (Koreans), Malayans or Mongolians. Consanguineous (descended from the same ancestor) marriages are forbidden. Marriages may be dissolved for adultery, extreme cruelty, willful desertion, willful neglect, habitual intemperance, or conviction of felony.”

In the 1870s and early part of the 1880s, there were some significant changes which occurred in Charles Mix County. For many of those living on the east side of the river above Fort Randall, this was their first experience in politics in the county.

DITOR Dear Editor, Marv and I were very honored to be asked to be Parade Marshals for the GHS 2025 Homecoming parade. As parade marshals, we had a unique perspective of the parade. . . we followed the GHS marching band. They were awesome! They marched, jumped, danced, sang and played their instruments the entire way, entertaining the residents at the nursing home and countless parade watchers. We were so proud of them! They look good and sound even better. We are so blessed to have Jared and Katie Opp in our school system and community. We also got to interact with a different set of students at the Harvest Fest. The FFA students helped out with that event. There were set up crews, serving crews, and clean up crews. Every student was polite and helpful and they stayed until everything was cleaned up and put away. They are a credit to their communities, Burke and Gregory, and their advisors, Mollie Andrews and Kayla Begeman. We have some pretty great people living here! Marv and Julie Braun

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.

History records the fact that the French began trading up the Missouri River in 1764 from St. Louis. Loiselle’s trading post was built in 1796. It was located on Cedar Island and was strongly fortified. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was the first major governmentsponsored exploration of the Missouri River and the northwest.