Farewell 2025, hello to 2026

My heart is full. As another calendar year comes to a close, I’m trying to figure out exactly how to feel. This year has been full of some of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced in my life as well as some of the biggest blessings I’ve ever received.

SUBMIT A LATTER

Reporter & Farmer’s Opinion page is a community forum curated for hosting open dialogue about issues impacting the Day County community. To submit a letter, you may send it by post to PO Box 30, Webster SD 57274 or by email to news@reporterandfarmer.com.

What Christmas means to me

Christmas hits differently now that I’m a mom.I’m a Christian who grew up in the church. I hardly remember a December where I wasn’t either cast as an actor, worked as set help, authored the script or served as director for the annual Sunday School Christmas pageant.

What makes a good teacher

As someone who has always had a desire to learn and practice skills I have had several teachers and mentors over the years, some of them better than others.

A love confession... for raccoons

My definition of a raccoon: the greatest living creature to walk this planet.I might have a small obsession with raccoons, if you couldn’t tell by my feeling towards them in my aforementioned definition. My phone is filled with litterally thousands of photos of raccoons.

OLE & LENA

Lena was making a breakfast of fried eggs for Ole. Suddenly Ole burst into the kitchen yelling, “Careful, careful. Put in sum more vater. Yur cooking too many at once! Too many! Turn dem, turn dem now! Dey’re going to stick, don’t burn dem!

Just a blue, blue Christmas spirit

Merry bah humbug. I know it’s a festive time with Christmas coming up, but I thought now would be a perfect time to get my Scrooge on. Since I won’t be visited by the ghosts of Christmas and I haven’t followed in the footsteps of a greedy banker, I’m safe to speak my mind.

The highs and lows of all the jobs I have ever had

Over my short life I have had a surprising number of jobs, part time positions and one time gigs. None of them as enjoyable or interesting as the one I have right now but enough variety and intrigue I thought they would be fun to share.

OLE & LENA

A burglar entered Ole’s house in the middle of the night. He was interrupted when Ole awoke. Drawing his gun, the burglar said, “Don’t move or I’ll shoot. I’m hunting for your money.”“Vell let me turn on da light,” replied Ole, “and I’ll hunt vit yew.

Christmas through the eyes of a child

It’s a silent night, holy almost in the serenity of the moment. All is still in the world, not a breath of air stirs.