Letters to the Editor

Rozum’s legacy continues to this day

To the Editor:

Dance performances will take place at the Corn Palace soon with much excitement, glittering costumes and photos being taken. It makes me think of my childhood dancing and twirling a baton under the direction of Sally Rozum.

She was remarkable and still lives in Mitchell.

In those days, we had to have friends, relatives or moms make our costumes designed by Sally. We used not only material but crepe paper as well. She even had professional photographers back then, like Bob Brown, who is still a resident of Mitchell.

Sally was most patient and understanding of those awkward performers like myself. Her encouragement inspired me to do my best. Her legacy has continued on to this day. It is a thrill to watch the lovely, young performers in their glittery costumes that bring back fond memories.

Enjoy the show.

Shirley Lohnes, Mitchell

Corn must be hauled somewhere anyway

To the Editor:

In response to the editorial printed on April 15, titled “Ethanol isn’t perfect, but it has its benefits,” I would like to say that it was a generally good opinion but lacked some factual information.

The Loomis plant is owned by 350 South Dakota investors and managed by Poet. In regard to the food vs. fuel comment, the plant produces an equal amount of high protein feed as ethanol product. The statement that it is a sad side effect of ethanol that corn needed to be hauled ignores the reality that the same corn would need to be hauled somewhere regardless of the presence of an ethanol plant.

Thank you for highlighting the benefits of ethanol as a homegrown industry and the positive impact it has on the local farm economy and corn market.

Cathy Frederickson, Mitchell

Politicians only tell us part of the story

To the Editor:

Your April 14 “Our View” promoted the idea of a county opt-out to use more taxes to pay for county roads. I suggest that this paper stop taking politicians’ word and do some investigative work and report your findings to the people.

On March 10, your front-page report titled “Money tight, but area’s legislators say they’ll try to ease budget woes” misled it was due to lack of state funds that there was no more help for local governments. The fact remains that the state’s general-fund budget is higher than it ever has been, and the current 2010 budget is $1,127,819,469. The Legislature approved the 2011 budget at $1,161,406,651. That is a $41 million increase in state spending. So how can politicians say with a straight face that they are cutting anything other than a complete presentation of the truth?

One thing that is not talked about is the federal government expanding its 2009 $1,395,547,053 debt-based funding for South Dakota to $1,930,734,948. That should be portrayed as state government living high off the hog. That half-a-billion-dollar increase includes a $125 million increase for the Department of Transportation. In response to that, politicians like Sen. Mike Vehle point out that federal money can’t be used for maintenance, only reconstruction. So he insists on raising our gas taxes, instead of finding ways to share the federal pork with local government.

Our budget woes are not due to lack of taxes. It is due to a tremendous increase in government spending, primarily at the federal level, which is not properly prioritized as it ends up in special interests’ pockets and not for the common good. That federal spending is funded by deficit spending, meaning that it will be future taxpayers who will suffer the economic perils of excesses we are wasting today. It is now past the time for the people to insist on responsible, honest representatives to serve them and not politicians who only tell part of the story so that the gravy train for special interests continues.

Steven L. Sibson, Mitchell

Act now to vote in Hanson Co. race

To the Editor:

To all Hanson County Residents:

There seems to be much concern with the upcoming election for sheriff in June. In order to vote in this primary election, you must be registered as a Republican since both candidates are on the Republican ticket.

If you wish to vote for your choice for sheriff, you will need to do this simple little deed:

Stop in at the new Hanson County Courthouse. Go to the Auditor’s Office. Change your party preference to Republican, so then you will be able to vote in the primary election.

Afterward, if you choose to return to your original party, you may do so by filing out the same, simple form.

This all must be done before May 23.

Mitch Wilcox, Hanson County

New soccer complex is good for Mitchell

To the Editor:

I spent part of Thursday evening at the new Pepsi Cola Soccer Complex. I would like to compliment the facility, the design and all of the effort that went into it. The field provides ample space for use by the nearly 500 kids enrolled in the spring Park and Rec soccer program as well as the Dakota Wesleyan soccer team.

Please join me in thanking the Nordby Family of Pepsi for their support, the City Council, the Mitchell Park and Rec Department, the Dakota Wesleyan University soccer team and the numerous other parties that gave of their time and wallets to bring together this great facility. The new soccer complex will pay dividends for years to come for the youth of Mitchell.

The Pepsi Cola Soccer complex shows what can be accomplished when the entire community gets behind a project with a common goal.

Dan Beukelman, Mitchell

Tags: letters to the editor, sally rozum, shirley lohnes, cathy frederickson, steven sibson, hanson county sheriff race, mitch wilcox, soccer complex, dan beukelman, opinion, ethanol, poet, politicians, debt