Brother from another mother

I got a text not so long ago from a good man from my old neighborhood trashing it as a “ghetto” now and how it was in his mind way back when. I had to stop him in his tracks. I loved that old reservation neighborhood. We both had adults who loved us, fed us, clothed us, and watched our backs.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

When I was 18, I left my home in Minnesota to go to college on the East Coast. I was woefully under prepared for the adventure I was undertaking and I knew it. Even with the hubris of youth on my side, I was daunted by the enormity of leaving everyone and everything I knew behind.

LETTER

(Editor’s note: During the last school year, free meals were available to all students in the Timber Lake School due to federal COVID funding. BUT - not next year. Eligibility will not be automatic. Below Supt. Dan Martin explains.

A message to the graduates

(Editor’s Note: Fred Vogel of Timber Lake was the guest speaker at the honoring ceremony for Native American graduates at Timber Lake High School. He generously granted our request to share his remarks here. Fred is a 2007 graduate of TLHS and is an ag loan officer at Dacotah Bank in Mobridge.

Thoughts on the Class of ‘22

This class is special to me, as it is the class that I grew up with. In fact, most of us grew up together. I know what some of you may be thinking, yes, I did move far away for three years, but when I moved back to Timber Lake, freshman year, it was almost like I had never left.

LETTER

To the editor, I attended Mrs. Schaffer’s Spring Music Recital on May 1. I was very impressed with the professionalism of those young people. They can play instruments and sing so beautifully. They are so self-assured and not a bit shy. Mrs.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

This morning, as I threw open the curtains I told the kids, “It’s May Day! Spring has sprung!” Sun streamed in through the window, and as I gazed across the prairie, I saw that it was true: a brilliant green mist gleamed amidst the bent stems of last year’s grasses.

More Circumstances than Pomp

It always seems like a tough time to send graduates out into the world. But at this moment, it seems there is very much more to worry about. College costs increase even as college degrees are not the guarantee they once were.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

As predicted we were hit with another winter storm this weekend. Rain fell through the night then turned to sleet after the sun rose. My husband had carried three chilled-down calves in before I’d even made breakfast. “It’s just ice falling from the sky and the wind is blowing it sideways.

Stray Thoughts: Statues

It is a blessing and a curse to live life in public. Like new statues unveiled in the town square, we occupy small spaces in full view of others, maintaining our most vigilant presence.