OUR VIEW: Week in review: the best, worst

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW

Talk about it

CHEERS to the renewal of the football game between South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota. We always have felt it was a good idea for those schools to move to Division I, and now that they’re reunited for rivalry games, it makes it even more fun.

CHEERS to the 24/7 Sobriety Project, which is helping reduce DUI and domestic violence arrests in South Dakota. According to a study recently released, researchers found that the program – which checks offenders’ sobriety twice a day – has helped bring about a 12 percent decrease in repeat DUI arrests and a 9 percent decrease in domestic violence arrests. The 24/7 concept was introduced in South Dakota in 2004.

CHEERS to the holiday decorations that were placed last week on Mitchell’s Main Street. Yes, it’s already that time of year. We urge readers to enjoy the holiday season, and also to have some spare pocket change to be donated into the Salvation Army kettles. We know this from experience – so many people use various debit and credit cards these days that pocket change is becoming a thing of the past. Please remember to bring a few quarters (or a few bucks) to the store with you in the coming month, and then drop that money into the kettle when the opportunity presents itself.

HISSES to more maddening discussions about water releases in the Missouri River. Downriver interests constantly are barking about needing more water, but such requests come at the interest of upriver industry. Our recreation and fishing industry is unique; their shipping industry can figure out other ways to conduct business and get commodities to market. Roads and rails, perhaps.

CHEERS to Tevyn Waddell, of Mitchell, who broke two state swim records at a meet earlier this month in Minneapolis. Waddell broke the 13-and 14-year-old record for the 200 freestyle and also set a new mark in the 100 backstroke.

Tags: opinion, updates, editorials