Farm Bill Surprise: American Indian Higher Education

Gardening season is here. A perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors getting some fresh air and sunshine and being productive. Well, hopefully. Most years I get the fresh air and sunshine – … Read moreMindful Bits -- How Does Your Garden Grow?

The organization that provides about 40% of the energy used in Pierre, Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), recently had its 60th Annual Meeting. MRES supplies electrical services to 61 comm… Read moreFrom Pierre's Mayor : MRES Award

It’s warming up and row crop planting has begun in South Dakota. On average, corn requires approximately 90-120 growing degree days (GDDs) to emerge, however planting date and environmental co… Read moreSow and Grow with Sara: Understanding GDDs and Range Turnout Timing

When I was young, there was a cuckoo clock in my bedroom. I wasn’t a big fan as it was noisy and kind of freaked me out. Now that I’m older, I actually enjoy birds. If that clock was still aro… Read moreMindful Bits -- Time to Migrate

110 Years Ago Read moreDown by the Old Missouri

I don’t say much. I’m only talkative around people I’m comfortable with. But if I’m quiet, it doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t have something to say. My words come out differently on paper. So… Read moreMindful Bits -- Make History Your Story

In 2018, the Wellmark Foundation offered technical assistance to make communities healthier. Fort Pierre took advantage of the offer and formed a local Healthy Hometown committee, facilitated … Read moreFrom Fort Pierre's Mayor -- Healthier Communities

Hello people. I know you’re out there. People are pretty much everywhere – even if you’d rather they wouldn’t be. Are you a people person? I’m not. It’s not that I don’t like people – I’m just… Read moreMindful Bits -- Are You a People Person?

Achieving financial stability doesn’t happen overnight — it takes a journey. And, as with every journey, you’ll need to make some stops along the way. These stops, or milestones, can tell you … Read moreFinancial Focus: Three stops on the road to financial stability

As you may have noticed by now – I like to play with words. There are many words in our language that are pronounced the same, but are spelled differently and have totally unrelated meanings. … Read moreMindful Bits -- A Weighty Subject

On paper, it probably didn’t make a whole lot of sense—an African safari in the middle of my final semester of high school, with big decisions about college and career looming ahead. My plate … Read moreThe Senior Trip of a Lifetime

Spring is here — which means it’s once again time to wash the windows, organize your cabinets and steam your carpets. This year, in addition to tidying up around your house, why not also consi… Read moreFinancial Focus: Time for some financial spring cleaning

100 Years Ago Read moreDown by the Old Missouri

Bridges have been the topic of discussion in our area recently. I’ve always loved bridges, and even the concept of bridges is an inspiring thought. I like the notion of someone who bridges an … Read moreFrom Fort Pierre's Mayor -- Chamber Column

I was finally forced to do it. I thoroughly cleaned my office coffee cup. I do rinse it out daily; but after a while you wouldn’t know it was supposed to have a white interior! When it gets re… Read moreMindful Bits -- My Daily Grind

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women. The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is 1 in 24 for men and 1 in 26 for women. Early detection and t… Read morePrairie Doc Perspective: Colon cancer screening is important

A person really does need food for thought. Sometimes you just can’t think straight if you’re hungry. If you’re thinking about food you might as well give in to your craving. That snack will t… Read moreMindful Bits -- Food For Thought

Over one hundred years ago, the gold mining industry of South Africa had a problem: too many workers were dying from pneumonia. They turned to Dr. Almorth Wright, a British physician who had s… Read morePrairie Doc Perspective: Pneumonia Vaccine Saves Lives

Now that I’ve got your attention… Words are powerful. They can be kind or do harm, depending on how they’re used. They can be harsh or soft; presented eloquently, with a drawl or accent, or sh… Read moreMindful Bits -- Word is a 4-letter Word!

With temperatures rising it’s time to start thinking about pest control. SDSU Extension offers an excellent free resource to help determine what pesticide products may be appropriate for your … Read moreSow and Grow with Sara: Using Dicamba in SD- 2025

I envy people who do meal preps. Both my kids do this – they certainly didn’t inherit this skill from me. It sounds like a great idea to make things ahead and have quick easy meals ready for a… Read moreMindful Bits -- Not Prepared

Effective medical diagnosis depends not just on looking, but on truly perceiving. Recognizing this, many medical training programs have adopted Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) discussions abo… Read morePrairie Doc Perspective: Learning to Perceive: Visual Thinking Strategies in Medical Education

I want to express my sincere gratitude for your comments, support, and kind words throughout this session. I've received your phone calls, text messages, emails, and greetings in various setti… Read more100th Legislative Session 2025 – Week 9

The City of Pierre is replacing water meters, residential and commercial, throughout the entire city this spring. Read moreFrom Pierre's Mayor -- Water Meter Swap

Your Social Security benefits can be an important part of your retirement income — but when should you start collecting them? It’s a big decision, so you’ll want to consider your options carefully. Read moreCarefully consider Social Security decisions

When businesses support working parents, they're not just boosting their bottom line – they're helping prevent child abuse and neglect. In South Dakota, 72.5% of all children under age six hav… Read morePrairie Doc Perspective: Businesses for Babies