OUR VIEW: Week in review: the best, the worst

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CHEERS to news that South Dakota’s tax revenues are growing more quickly than anticipated. That means millions more dollars than expected are flowing into state coffers, according to a report published last week in The Daily Republic. According to the report, tax collections and other ongoing revenue for the current year are expected to be around $12 million more than Gov. Dennis Daugaard projected during his budget address in December. The increase likely is due to growth in personal income for South Dakotans, as well as the state’s current agriculture economy.

CHEERS to the Mitchell Marlins bantam “A” hockey team, which headed into the state tournament over the weekend with an unbeaten league record. Any team that finishes a league season without a loss is unique and worthy of recognition. Hockey seems to be in great shape in Mitchell, where the sport was born in the 1990s and has seen moderate success throughout the years. The varsity program is solid, and the success of the secondary teams — like the bantam “A” squad — shows that the future looks good.

HISSES to the concern caused to winter wheat producers, some of whom have expressed worry about the lack of snow this season. Last week, The Daily Republic published a story that outlined the lack of snow cover in the Dakotas. Without that protective layer, winter wheat is vulnerable. Ryan Schuchhardt, sales manager for the South Dakota Wheat Growers, was quoted in the story as saying, “My gut tells me we’re in trouble.” We hope the situation improves, and perhaps it has, with the recent wet snow that was dumped on the region last week.

CHEERS to the Mitchell Rotary, which last week helped celebrate Rotary International’s 107th anniversary. This organization was started in Chicago back in 1905 and has grown exponentially in the century since. Local club president Fran Rietveld helped mark the organization’s birthday last week with cake and proclamations from the governor and mayor. Rotary is involved in many local causes, most notably a program that provides scholarships to local students.

HISSES to the poor condition of ice this winter. Numerous reports have come our way of cars falling through ice in the Dakotas and Minnesota, and last week the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks issued a release that urged caution to anyone who is still venturing out on lakes this winter. The season just hasn’t been consistently cold enough, and the GF&P wants people to “be as safe as possible,” the press release noted.

Tags: opinion, updates, editorials