OUR VIEW: Week in review: the best, worst

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW

Talk about it

CHEERS to the summertime events that tend to be held this time of year throughout central South Dakota. Just this past weekend, Kimball held Desperado Days, Mitchell and Chamberlain-Oacoma held Crazy Days, Platte held its annual summer Play in Platte event, Parkston held Old-Fashioned Saturday Night and — get this —Mount Vernon held Redneck Days. What a great weekend, highlighted by these original and interesting events. Couple it with postseason baseball tournaments and it makes for a unique time of year.

HISSES to the prediction that dry weather could actually bring an uptick in West Nile virus, despite fewer mosquitoes this summer. Mitchell’s mosquito population is down considerably this year, this newspaper reported last week. However, a national report shows that dry weather has created the perfect conditions for the Culex mosquito, which spreads the disease. Don’t get complacent, readers. Keep your kids doused in repellent, even if it doesn’t seem many mosquitoes are out and about this season.

CHEERS to the nationwide crackdown on synthetic drugs. Last week, The Associated Press reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration had seized more than $36 million in cash and arrested 91 people Wednesday in a crackdown on synthetic drugs, which generally are falsely marketed as bath salts and the like. This stuff is a big problem in the Midwest, and parents need to be on the lookout.

HISSES to the terrible mass shooting that happened earlier this month near Denver. Another crackpot has done irreparable damage to the lives of so many good people, and we just can’t help but wonder: Why? It’s so sad, and our hearts and prayers go out to those involved.

CHEERS to the federal grants coming this way to purchase new transportation buses. It was announced last week that Mitchell’s Palace Transit will get a $240,000 grant to replace buses in its fleet that have exceeded their useful lives. Also, grant money will benefit folks in Bonesteel and Gregory.

Tags: opinion, updates, editorials