Our View: Week in review

CHEERS to the Memorial Day services held in Mitchell and throughout the state last week. At the ceremony in Mitchell, Marine veteran Jack Thurman told the crowd about his service in World War II, including the battle of Iwo Jima. His is a riveting story, and we are pleased that veterans like Thurman come out and share their tales with the public. Warfare is not the glorious scenes we see in some Hollywood movies, and hearing real stories from real veterans is the best possible history lesson for those of us who have not sacrificed like they have. Please, South Dakota, continue to invite these men and women to events and ceremonies where they can be properly honored. And please, veterans, tell us your stories so we can learn of, and then never forget, the sacrifices that you and others have made on our behalf.

CHEERS to a decline in unemployment in Mitchell. According to a recent report, unemployment in this city fell by a full point, dropping from 5.2 percent to 4.2 percent. And even better news: Mitchell has a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the state and far lower than the national number.

CHEERS to the SolarBee circulation device that has been installed at Lake Mitchell. The machine was placed in the water May 21 and will spend its time churning the lake water in its vicinity in hopes of clearing the water of algae blooms. Can the $22,000 device by itself clear all of Lake Mitchell? Well, no, nobody expects that. But this single machine is on something of a test run, and city officials will monitor it to determine if water circulators are the answer to the green-hued water that hits the lake each summer. The worst thing that could happen, we feel, is not doing anything at all. The city is trying out this device to see if there’s merit in water circulation, and we’re behind that decision 100 percent.

HISSES once again to the oil slick that is drifting ashore in the Gulf of Mexico. The result of the oil rig explosion in the Gulf last month, the oil slick last week was drifting toward the sugar-white beaches of northern Florida. What a terrible, terrible mess that has been unleashed off American waters.

CHEERS to the Mitchell Convention and Visitors Bureau, which last week announced it is handing out nearly $5,000 in grants to athletic events that have made the commitment to Mitchell. Hannah Walters, director of the CVB, said she believes that funding the events will help increase visitation in Mitchell, thereby boosting dollars spent in local businesses. We believe she is right, and we’re glad the CVB has undertaken such a worthy program.

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