Opinion

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2 percent in 2024, the Social Security Administration announced on October 12. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by more than $50 per month starting in January.

The editors of the Press and Daily Dakotaian in a front-page story on November 29, 1886, informed their readers that the Dakota Territory Delegate to the U. S. Congress had been notified that he had secured an appropriation for a survey of the James River. Delegate Gifford was told that the special appropriation was to conduct a survey of the James River with the purpose of rendering it navigable for steamboat travel like that already on the Missouri River.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that Alec J. Dostal, Sr., of Gregory, SD, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison, with 20 years suspended, after he earlier had pled guilty, but mentally ill, to one count of first-degree manslaughter.

One doesn’t have to be an astute observer to notice that the leaves are still on most trees as we move into the second week of October. Normally, last week’s strong winds would have left the trees bare this time of year, but this year the leaves are not only still clinging to the branches but most are even green.

The earliest settlers to the Missouri Slope (area on the north side of the Missouri River and close to the river between Sioux City and above Fort Randall) depended a great deal on hunting and fishing for their survival. It is true that there were supplies in Sioux City; however, for many, the cost was more than they could afford.

It was only a few years ago that if you stood at a cattlemen’s meeting and said a globalist organization is forming that will bring together global food processing companies, global banks, global food retailers, global pharmaceutical companies, some of the world’s largest feedlots, cattle organizations like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and several of its state affiliated organizations, and global environmental groups to tell American producers how to run their farms and ranches, you would have been laughed out of the room and told to leave on the horse that brought you.

Welcoming home South Dakota’s finest Welcoming troops home has always been one of my favorite parts of this job. Seeing the joy that our soldiers feel when they are reunited with their families is truly greater than words could ever describe.

It is interesting to note that food on the early frontier was often ignored or overlooked by the writers and historians of that time. It is one of the most commonly overlooked details of early travel across America. Oh, they may have commented from timeto- time about the “hardtack,” “jerky,” and “Indian meal” but that is about all we have been told.

South Dakota State University Extension announces Jimmy Doyle as a new Diversified Agriculture Field Specialist. Based out of the SDSU Extension Winner Regional Center, Doyle will focus on helping South Dakota farms and ranches enhance their resilience and sustainability through diversification.

The 71st annual meeting of the Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative was held at the Wall Community Center on Saturday, Sept. 23. Members attending the meeting heard updates about the cooperative from the president and general manager, elected board members, and approved changes to the co-op’s bylaws.