hoden National Security for the next generation Engaging with the next generation keeps me focused on what’s important: South Dakota’s future. Recently, Sandy and I hosted all of the state government interns for a picnic.

More South Dakotans may now qualify to purchase a Governor’s House following action by the South Dakota Housing Board of Commissioners. Effective June 15, 2026, household income eligibility for the Governor’s House program increased to 100% of the State Median Income, currently $103,400.

Most of the state of South Dakota is currently struggling with an abnormally dry season. The southern half of the state, which likely makes up the majority of readers of this column, is considered to be in an “extreme drought.” According to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDS) website, the southern parts of South Dakota are down over 2 inches in rainfall this season compared to normal amounts.

BankWest has introduced a new service that is available in the front entrance to their Gregory branch office. The Big Orange Box, or BOB, is an interactive teller machine, the next generation ATM.

After all the uprisings caused by the Stamp Act, the British repealed the act in 1766. But they apparently refused to learn their lesson from those uprisings and immediately began implementing more taxes and restrictions, which became known as the Townshend Acts between 17671768.

She began taking piano lessons when a concert pianist moved to her hometown of Yankton, beginning a love affair with music that continues to this day. Mary Beth Gergen was in seventh grade when a concert pianist’s wife passed away and he gave up traveling the world to move to Yankton where he had family.