In this so-called age of technology dozens, if not hundreds of new words have cropped up. But like a painting, some you like and some you dislike. Today’s column concerns where spelling is going and some of my dislikes. When I read of 13-year-old Maria Braga-Henebry’s recent accomplishments at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md., I think I felt as proud for this Garretson gal as were her parents. In round 2 she correctly spelled “basmati.” When I saw this word I had to go to my Webster to see what it meant, but to no avail. It wasn’t there. I had to go to Google to learn it is a type of rice.

Every day of our lives-except one-we are preparing for the future. Whether we are making our monthly house payments or going to the grocery store, we are looking forward to all of our tomorrows. But that one day, last Monday, we paused in our preparations for the future to reflect on the past, especially to remember those who have gone before us-and especially those who have given their lives, their futures so we can have our tomorrows.

Derric Iles, South Dakota’s state geologist, announced at a recent conference that the state has significant potential for oil development, but that potential largely has been unexplored. He noted that while the Red River Rock formation in northwest South Dakota has produced oil since the 1950s, geologists largely have ignored the potential of the Three Forks and Minnelusa formations. The Spearfish conference discussed how to prepare for an oil boom like the one in North Dakota. It is now third in the nation for oil production.

Every so often someone asks me to help publicize an event in their community. This time it was a former resident of Vivian wanting me to give a push for its annual Syttende Mai (Norsky Independence Day) celebration to be held this Thursday, May 17, and tie in that old, old, story about the Vikings wintering in Ireland “I believe you wrote about one time.” And for the umpteenth time I have had to say no because if I did, that’s about all I would get accomplished. Besides, I’ve told that story almost annually for years that it is starting to smell like lutefisk.

Two new political parties have been formed and are now official in South Dakota. One could ask wasn’t the Republican or Democratic parties good enough for them? Obviously not. Why? Is all the haggling in Washington at least part of the cause? I believe it is. Forming new political parties is certainly a symptom of that disease in our nation’s capitol.

It was a Friday night, June 9, 1972. The Rapid City Flood was the fifth worst flood in American history. Two hundred and thirty-eight people lost their lives. Another 3,000 were injured. Many were saved. And the lives of everyone involved were changed for ever. Thousands of stories came out of that flood. Here’s mine.

To everyone who has a dog, it is special to them. I know our Coco is. That is why the title of this epistle says “special, special.” The “special, special” pooches are the many “service” dogs that are at work in our great state. They often work long hours, perhaps just for a treat or a thank you pat on the back.

In my community we have some new, or in a couple of cases relatively new residents. While they may not get a plate of cookies, we need to get acquainted with them. These new residents actually do work like a dog because they are dogs. Not just dogs, but very special dogs. And while their occupations vary they are all extremely unique.

By now, most of us have heard about lean finely textured beef, or by its new moniker, pink slime. BPI’s product has been around since the mid 1990s apparently with no misgivings-until very recently. Has all the negative publicity hurt the firm? Ya darn tootin’. BPI has had to shut down three of its four plants, lay off some 600 employees and has the potential of wounding one of the state’s leading industries, cattle. Has the bad publicity been fair? Not on your nelly.

New research found that living together before marriage is more common today and doesn’t carry the stigma that it once did. But is that right? Statisticians don’t seem to look at that. But they should. A CDC study found: “Almost half of the first marriages today will break up within 20 years.” Considering what the study showed is the norm today about living together before, or instead of marriage, those couples might want to reexamine their living arrangements….

Read more ›