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

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CHEERS to news that U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Vrooman will soon posthumously received the Bronze Star for Valor. Vrooman, who attended school in Mitchell through the 11th grade, died on July 15, 2008, while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Bronze Star for Valor is awarded for an act of merit and heroism and is the fourth-highest combat award given in the United States Armed Forces.

CHEERS to the dollars being pumped into public access by the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks. According to a report in Friday’s Daily Republic, landowners in the state received more than $5 million in the past year from the GF&P for granting public hunting access on private land. This is good news for South Dakota hunters who need places to pursue their pasttime.

CHEERS to news that timing adjustments will be made to traffic lights at the corner of Burr and Spruce in southern Mitchell. At present, congestion at that corner is frustrating drivers and causing traffic troubles. The adjustments will be made until a more permanent plan — such as renovation — can be figured out and put into place. The Burr-Spruce intersection was a country crossroads 15 years ago but today is one of the busiest corners in town.

HISSES to the new pheasant statistics released recently by the state GF&P. According to that agency’s numbers, there were 1.5 million pheasants harvested in South Dakota in 2011, down some 1.8 million from 2010. That’s not much of a decrease, but it still is slight valley on that statistical line. It could be because of fewer pheasants in the state or slightly fewer hunters chasing them, but economically, neither is good. Granted, the 1.5 million harvest number isn’t too far off other recent years, but we hope to see more birds and higher harvest numbers in 2012. This past winter may be just what the doctor ordered in boosting the state pheasant population.

CHEERS to the Court Appointed Special Advocate program and all of the great work it does. CASA relies upon volunteers to advocate for children going through difficult family situations and, according to CASA Director Jackie Horton, “be the one constant in that child’s life.” Last year, CASA helped 75 children, and we hope the program continues to be strong in Mitchell. This is a good program and it warms the heart to think of volunteers being there for kids in such trying times.

CHEERS to the update that soon will happen at Mitchell Wesleyan Church. Early next month, work will begin on a 600-seat sanctuary at the church site on Sanborn Boulevard. The reason for the renovation? “We are just busting out of the seams,” according to church board member Chad Glanzer. Good for Mitchell Wesleyan.

Tags: opinion, updates, editorials