MyHometownAds - Opinion

Get ready for IRS to enforce Obamacare

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:36:53 -0500

Before the massive national health care bill was passed earlier this year, it became known that the enforcement arm of this bill would be the Internal Revenue Service. It was estimated that the IRS would have to hire at least another 16,500 agents to see that businesses and individuals comply with the mandatory provisions of this bill. These are more jobs created that the Obama administration can take credit for. Government employment is the fastest growing sector of our nation's workforce and this is just another example. Yet to be seen is whether the IRS information systems will be able to manage and track all the additional data needed to be gathered.

Old-fashioned hostility in a digital world

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:36:18 -0500

Everyone has an opinion. Nearly everyone has access to the Internet. Therefore, nearly everyone has the ability voice his or her opinion in a worldwide forum.

And along with this, of course, nearly everyone has the ability to sarcastically, maliciously, and, most importantly, anonymously reply to everyone else’s opinions.

Welcome to 87th annual Gold Discovery Days

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:44:19 -0500

We join in welcoming everyone to the 87th annual Gold Discovery Days in Custer City. The event marks the discovery of gold in the Black Hills near Custer City during the 1874 Custer Expedition to the Black Hills. We especially want to welcome returning alumni of Custer High School to their respective class reunions here. We’ll see you in the Saturday parade.

A Jeep means adventure

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:44:32 -0500

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee commercial came on TV the other day. Grainy historical footage of the Jeep’s roots in World War II segued into pictures of the American flag, moon launches, smiling babies and finally a look at the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee. A total restyle of the soccer-mom standby SUV apparently called for a total restyle of the Jeep slogan: “The things we make, make us.” As Jeep slogans go, it’s pretty…um…limp.

City, CCHSshould find happy medium

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:11:05 -0500

There will be an interesting—and perhaps future-altering—vote taken at this coming Monday’s meeting of the Custer City Council. It’s not a stretch to say the future of many infrastructure projects in the city, as well as the future of healthcare in the city, are at stake when the votes are cast by the six members of the council.

Liquor store saga comes to an end, finally

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:10:03 -0500

It appears that the controversy over a new liquor store being built by the city has led to the demise of the municipal liquor store itself. The business at the intersection of Highways 16 and 385 abruptly closed last week after an early June vote of city residents. The residents said they no longer wanted the city to be in the retail liquor store business and voted 349-218 to close it after business hours Tuesday, June 8.

Response to Gulf oil spill is disappointing

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:54:28 -0500

It’s more than disheartening to observe the federal government’s and British Petroleum’s response to the disastrous April 20 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Since the unprecedented oil rig accident explosion and fire there has been a lot of handwringing and finger pointing going on, but no single concerted effort to clean up the mess as fast as it is created. Critics point to a lack of leadership in mounting a concerted effort to cut the flow of oil and clean up the mess.

The last time I saw my dad smile

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:53:53 -0500

It was 45 years ago this week—Sunday afternoon, July 11, 1965—that was the last time I saw my dad smile.

But first, some background.

While my inclinations toward music came without a doubt from my mother (and Dad would have been the first to admit that!), my dad gave me baseb

State Vets Home should stay in Hot Springs

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:46:38 -0500

The S.D. State Veterans Home has served veterans and their families since the cornerstone was laid in 1889 at what was called the S.D. State Soldiers Home on a hilltop in Hot Springs. The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs says the facility has a lot of maintenance issues and no longer meets modern methods of long-term health care. Rapid City, Sturgis and Hot Springs are under consideration for a new 125-bed long-term care facility in western South Dakota, according to a letter from department secretary Maj. Gen. Steven Doohen.

Find time for play time with a child

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:45:57 -0500

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” So said Forest E. Witcraft, teacher and Scout leader.

So, while Charley attended the Cubs baseball game two weekends ago with two of our sons and one grandson, Jesse, while we were in Chicago, I chose to spend that time with my newest grandchild, Jemma, age 10 months.