Opinion

Steamboat service for passengers and freight began working its way up the Missouri in the 1820s, reached the mouth of the Yellowstone River in 1832, and the end of the line at Fort Benton, Montana, in 1860. Records indicate that the last steamboat docked at Fort Benton in 1890. The steamboat had been permanently superseded thereafter by the transcontinental railroad.

Farmers are some of the biggest gamblers I know. They go to a bank, borrow money to buy land – borrow more money to buy equipment.

During the thirtysix years and five months that Fort Randall stood on the west bank of the Missouri River, the establish ment and subsequent maintenance of that post was only possible by the aid of the steamboat, freight wagon, and stagecoach. Fort Randall was not the terminus or destination for any railroad which entered South Dakota.

Dear editor, What has happened to Politics today; as a young lad, I saw people have differences of opinion only to laugh and praise one another at the end of a disagreement. My granddad was a very staunch Democrat, but three of his close friends were Republicans, South Dakota Republican Senators- Karl E. Mundt, Francis Case and Nebraska Senator Romain Hruska. It was not uncommon for all of them to be together discussing State, National and World matters drinking a Stor or a Falstaff beer. I know this to be a fact, because as a young boy I personally got to meet these three Senators at my grandparents’ house. I also received a book on marketing from the library of Congress Signed by Karl E. Mundt, which I wish I still had.

This week I had the opportunity to spend time with a group of people who are involved with our Foster Care system and some of the young people who participate in it. Our Secretary of Social Services invited me to attend, as the day was facilitated by his wonderful staff. When I walked into the gym, I was suddenly stuck by the number of young people in the room who were 14-17 years old and were there to learn how to prepare to live independently. Some had foster families caring for them, but many are currently living in group homes in communities throughout the state. I could tell that many of them must have been thinking, “this lady has no idea who I am or even cares.” I saw crossed arms, hard faces, and even some anger.

During April and May of 1866, thirty-six steamboats passed Yankton, all heavily loaded with equipment and supplies which were needed farther upstream at forts, communities, and river landings. It is reported that in 1877 thirtynine steamboats were in use above Sioux City.

oem The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder about just how much it matters who our leaders are. Governors across the nation shut their states down.

Dear editor, The majority of voters in Tripp, Gregory and Haakon Counties have chosen to continue using the ES&S Election Management system. The choice to use the machines still leaves us with the need for transparency. I will continue to call for the CVRs and ballot images from the machines to be released to the public.

ERSPECTIVE A belated congratulations to all high school graduates and all graduates at all levels because our future is truly in your hands. My hope is that the future will be like Secretary of State Blinken’s guitar solo in Ukraine “Rocking in the Free World”.

At the bottom of the Missouri River and in the old channels of that treacherous stream lie cargoes of sunken steamboats valued at millions upon millions of dollars when those boats and their precious cargo became victims of the turbulent and turbid river.