Opinion

Senator Erin Tobin District 21 Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory, Tripp Counties Committees: Chair of Health & Human Services, Executive Board, Agriculture and Natural Resources, State Affairs Capitol Address: 500 E. Capitol Ave.

oem South Dakota’s economy has been thriving over the past few years, but even though our unemployment rate in 2022 was the lowest it’s been in our state’s history, we still have 23,000 open jobs in our state. These are growing pains, and we’re tackling them head-on.

Area newspapers and law enforcement personnel during the later part of the 1800s and the earliest part of the 1900s reported on the activities of those who were suspected or participated in the theft of livestock on the open range. The following tells of one of those rustlers who lived on the Rosebud: “This region (Charles Mix County) was infested by a tough gang of horse thieves and cutthroats in an early day. Hartrett and Henry Hyer were hung in La-Roche Township in 1871.” It is not known if Jack Sully was involved in rustling with these two individuals; however, it was reported that “Among those who enjoyed this hanging bee are said to have been William Kinkaid, Jack Sully, Bill Cunningham, and others.”

The Gregory County Board of Commissioners’ first meeting of 2023 was held at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, January 5, in the Gregory County Courthouse. Previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 3, it had to be postponed because of heavy snow.

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides assistance to you for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather. For 2022 livestock losses, you must file a notice within 30 calendar days of when the loss is first apparent.

In a radio address to the nation on January 1st, 1983, President Reagan said that “New Year’s Day was an especially American tradition, full of the optimism and hope we’re famous for in our daily livesan energy and confidence we call the American spirit.” Now, as we ring in 2023, I reflect not only on Reagan’s words, but also on South Dakota’s growth over the past year.

It was an old-timer’s vivid account of South Dakota’s last big cattle roundup in 1902 that inspired Bert Hall of Chamberlain to “assemble and compile” a 582-page book entitled ROUNDUP YEARS -- Old Muddy to Black Hills. It was first published in 1954, and for Mr. Hall, it was a “labor of love.”

The South Dakota Board of Regents is attempting to bolster the numbers in its university system by extending its program to offer in-state tuition to out-of-state students. Last month, the regents voted to add Illinois and Wisconsin to the South Dakota Advantage Plan, which offers in-state tuition rates to students from certain other states.

Celebration of Life set for Kevin Sundquist, 66 Celebration of Life services for Kevin Sundquist, age 66, of Dallas, SD, will be held on Monday, January 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Gregory Memorial Auditorium in Gregory, SD.

T ransfers Affidavit Terminating Life Estate/Joint Tenancy; Donald Farrell Soesbe, a/k/a Donald F. Soesbe, son of the deceased, Evon Soesbe, to Donald Farrell Soesbe, a/k/a Donald F.