Opinion

The Gregory Community Blood Drive recently proved that real heroes walk among us, as dedicated donors and volunteers came together to provide lifesaving blood donations to patients in need. The event saw an incredible turnout, with 29 donors stepping up to give the gift of life.

The South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS) is warning the public about a jury duty scam targeting people in central South Dakota. UJS has been informed that the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office received more than 30 reports today regarding suspicious phone calls.

hoden We have a friendly rivalry with our neighbors to the north in North Dakota. I’ve joked many times that I’d much rather have Mount Rushmore than oil – and we all know that South Dakota’s Badlands are far more stunning! But we’re a lot more similar to North Dakota than probably any other state in the Union.

C David Gerald Jaros, 39, Gregory, SD, fail to maintain financial responsibility, disposition: dismissed - motion by court (including for no probably cause)..

Kevin Lee Bailey of Bonesteel, SD, age 55, to Michelle Marie Halvorson, Bonesteel, SD, age 47, on March 28, 2025, in Burke, SD. Brian David Hermsen of Harrisburg, age 51, to Jan Karla Dunteman, Harrisburg, age 55, on March 28, 2025, in Burke, SD..

Sarah Kathryn Dulin, 32, Denton, TX, speeding on a state highway, fine $39.00, court costs $50.00, surcharges $28.50. Nora Alma Chavez Rubio, 46, Austin, TX, speeding on a state highway, fine $59.00, court costs $50.00, surcharges $28.50.

In 1832, Joseph La Barge, then only seventeen years old, was working on steamboats on the Mississippi River and was present at the Indian battle of Bad Axe, Wisconsin. During that same year he came over to the Missouri River and began learning its odd and peculiar habits which challenged the captains of the early steamers that ventured into what would become Dakota Territory.

Now that the legislative session is in the rearview mirror, I’m focused on looking forward and unlocking new opportunities for South Dakota. We had a historic 100th legislative session, and we accomplished a lot for the people of South Dakota – but there’s more work to do! I recently announced next steps to deliver a real property tax cut for the people of South Dakota.

The founding fathers of the United States established our democratic form of government on the basis of first-hand experience with dictatorial rule (King of England). They selected democracy on the basis of its promises of providing maximum protection from dictatorship, maximum preservation of citizen freedoms, and maximum fair citizen participation in government. These promises are achieved through a system of checks and balances that keeps any one group from taking control of government. Institutional checks on power include a written constitution and three equal and separate branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial). A balance of power between competing groups is maintained through fair elections based on equal voting rights for all citizens and the rule of law. Groups win and maintain governing control on the basis of receiving a majority of citizen votes.

Dear Editor, Nearly three months ago, Donald John Trump took the oath of office as our 47th President. As his supporters, I among them, hoped, he is shaking up the status quo and is sending his liberal critics and enemies into an absolute tizzy - they are fighting him tooth and nail with the judicial branch of gov’t as they control. The worst example of their resistance to reason and sanity is of U.S. District judges handing down rulings against any action Trump takes on pretty much any issue. Now, I’ve read our Constitution and I cannot find any provision giving mere District judges any power and jurisdiction over cases outside the districts in which they are seated. Among other evils judges are doing, they want to stop Trump from removing barbarian invaders - any illegal aliens who happen to be drug runners, gang members, rapists, murderers, the worst of the worst offenders - from our country. If our chief executive cannot remove dangerous invaders from our shores, our country as we know it is done for, toast. Not only that, these judges and the liberals they represent oppose any action Trump promotes or takes to end wasteful gov’t spending, and increase external revenue, that is, levying tariffs on imported commodities and goods. What rational person would support governmental waste and fraudulent spending? Rhetorical question; the answer is “those who benefit from the spending.” This is why the Left squeals like demonpossessed warthogs when it appears the gravy train may run out of track. About tariffs: Many on the political Left tell us, U.S., that our gov’t shouldn’t levy import costs on goods and commodities that we import, that this is very dumb and terrible! IF this would be so, then why, in 2024, did other nations charge us $370 billion to export to them while we charged them but $50 billion to export to us - a $320 billion de facto deficit? This averages about $1,000 for each man, woman and child in the U.S.. I don’t know about you, Hoss, but I’d like to have an extra thousand dollars or so stay in my pocket. Not at the cost of my eternal soul, mind you (see Matthew 16:26), but within reason, a grand would sure go good. Now, I don’t blame foreign nations for charging tariffs. Like Canada, with their 200% tariff on dairy products they import. They are putting their ag and mfg interests, their people, first. And that is what Trump is doing, putting America First. This is what he should do! It won’t be painless; for decades our nation, with bad tax policies and over-regulating of every aspect of business, sent mfg jobs overseas and outsourced for goods we used to make here, even much of our food. For example, we import about 70% of the lamb we eat and have all but destroyed our sheep business Stateside! Time will be needed to return more ag and mfg to our shores. I hope it isn’t too late to do this.