Why herd immunity is a bad idea

There are a number of published reports and many people talking about herd immunity. What is herd immunity and what are some of the consequences of trying to reach it through natural immunity to COVID-19? In South Dakota, it means there is the potential for more than 14,000 people to die.

Calendars

The October Community Calendars for Timber Lake/ Isabel and Dupree will be published next week. Anyone who has events to list is asked to submit them to the Topic by noon on Monday, Sept. 28.

The time is now for COVID-19 clinical trial

A virus is something that cannot live alone. A simple sneeze can spread as many as 20,000 droplets from an infected person to those around them. These droplets can gain access to the next person through open sores, breathing, or infected hands touching the face, especially the mouth, nose or eyes.

Respect

First, I’d like to apologize to the men talking at the sidelines during the football game. I generally don’t eavesdrop on conversations as there is already enough noise in my own head.

Science presents new answers to old questions

Early in the pandemic, I had occasion to page through photo albums my mother assembled during my childhood. Some of those happy images chilled my physician heart. There I was, two months old, sleeping peacefully on my stomach, in the middle of a sheepskin rug.

What you need to know to vote

I wanted to take this opportunity to share information concerning the upcoming general election, which will be held Nov. 3. South Dakota voters have the choice of voting in-person on Election Day or by casting an absentee ballot.

Hare of the Dog

My ten-year-old dog and I go for a run nearly every day, or to be more accurate, he runs a few miles while I drive my even older all-terrain vehicle by his side.

LETTER

Dear Kathy, I just read your comment in your paper about the current mail delivery. I have been disgusted with it since they started it. Years ago, we had over night mail service almost everywhere in the state.

There is still time to be counted

As of August 30, 65.4% of households in South Dakota had self-responded to the 2020 Census. The national response rate was at 64.7%. Compare those numbers to the response rates for our local area: Dewey County: 28.1% Ziebach County: 21.1% Corson County: 34.9% Cheyenne River Reservation: 26.

Formulas

There is a formula for success in American education.