Opinion

Winter blues don’t have to win here

Amanda Dulitz

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Winter in South Dakota is not for the faint of heart. The days are short, the wind has opinions and the sun often feels like a rumor. And that’s considering that by this point in January, most of the time, we’ve gotten through the worst of it.

My favorite football memory, the infamous giant moth incident

Leyton Beardslee

Saturday, January 24, 2026

I have many meaningful memories from my time playing high school football. During that time I learned how to be a better leader, how to support my teammates and deal with adversity.

OLE & LENA

News Staff

Saturday, January 24, 2026

At one time Ole ran a dairy farm and did pretty well. He adopted a slogan which he hung on the wall: “All dat I am, I owe to udders.” ~~~ Ole and Lena went to a nice restaurant for a change and as they were leaving, Lena helpfully suggested to Ole, “Vhy don’t yew give da girl a tip.

Dream big, just don’t get caught sleeping

Connor Handrahan

Saturday, January 24, 2026

I encourage people to dream big and chase your goals. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, but I believe it should be realistic. As a kid, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I usually wouldn’t give a solid answer and took a more realistic approach.

How I come up with a new column every week

Leyton Beardslee

Friday, January 16, 2026

I have been asked several times since I started writing for the paper how we come up with new ideas for columns and stories every single week.

Money is the root of all evil

Connor Handrahan

Friday, January 16, 2026

It’s quite unfortunate money is something people need to live a normal life, unless someone can survive in the wilderness, which I don’t think I could. I believe strongly money can cause corruption. Not everyone who has money is a bad person, but it’s the temptation money gives you.

It gets lonely at the top, surround yourself with those who understand

Amanda Dulitz

Friday, January 16, 2026

Sometimes you hear about a thing and decide to sign up before you even have the chance to talk yourself out of it. That’s sort of how I found myself sitting in Pierre last week as one member of a new business leader training group through the South Dakota Retailers Association.

Missing January in Webster after 40 years

Rocky Bartos

Friday, January 9, 2026

January in South Dakota is the heart of a season that I no longer experience. I miss it.Recent R&F editorials from Amanda offered good tips on practical and psychological winter survival. Leyton and Connor appear to be receiving community advice for facing their first South Dakota winter.

The time I whacked my sister in the head with a golf club

Leyton Beardslee

Friday, January 9, 2026

As a former rambunctious little kid, like generations of boys before me, I had many grand ideas of entertaining pastimes some of which led to bizarre and easily avoidable injuries of various severities.

OLE & LENA

News Staff

Friday, January 9, 2026

Ole and Lena were on a trip and had a little quarrel along the way. As they passed a farm in the Ozarks, Lena spotted a jackass grazing along a fence. Calling Ole’s attention to it, she asked, “Relative of yours?”“Of course,” said Ole.“By marriage.

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