LETTER

To the editor: I am so proud to think that the little community of Isabel could do such an amazing job of working together for the funeral of Jim Boldt. I was impressed at how well organized everything was. The service was excellent, the military rites were so precise and so well-done.

Empty Nesters

We spent a lifetime raising our kids the best we could and now that they are away in college, our big house seems awfully quiet…. almost painfully silent at times. Mostly we miss the simple things, like the sounds of laughter…at meals we always ate together.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

“If we get heavy snow this winter, we are in real trouble,” a neighbor says. “And if we don’t get heavy snow, we are in real trouble…” “True,” my husband replies, nodding his head. “What does that mean?” I ask my husband in private, later.

Stray Thoughts: Highway to Smell

Driving down the highway this evening, my wife and I came upon a skunk in the road, so we slowed down. When we got close enough to pass the skunk, it assumed “the position,” ready to unload on our van!

Reach out for that lifeline

Imagine yourself in a blizzard so thick and cold and blinding that you could not see your hands right in front of you. Such blizzards were common 150 years ago on the upper great plains.

News You Can Use

Local newspapers – radio and T.V. stations too – are often the go-to source for everything from Friday’s football scores to keeping up with the city council. These entities are fundamental to our communities, and they have the best pulse on the news that South Dakotans care about the most.

Count on your local paper

When I was growing up, there were a lot of things I could count on: more than one Rounds brother to a bedroom, a prayer before meals and a local newspaper in the house. I learned early on the local newspaper was not only a source of information, but also a source of income.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

Walking on the gravel toward the draw, I am surprised by the tops of the ash trees nestled in the folds of the land. They are burnished shades of glowing amber, ochre, and lemon-yellow, brighter than any autumn since I moved here.

Stray Thoughts: The Gift of a Garden

Last year my raised-bed home garden grew nothing. I filled the beds with sheep manure which I thought would be really good for plant growth, but an old friend told me that was just too rich for plants to grow in.

Time to start the conversation

Alcoholism, and addiction overall, isn’t a character flaw, or a weakness of self-control. It’s a disease. And, if you are like most of us, you’ve probably been affected by it. Maybe you struggle with alcohol consumption yourself or have a friend or family member who does.