Rantings and ravings don't
necessarily lower one's blood pressure
By Gordon Garnos
AT ISSUE:
Rantings and ravings come in all sizes, shapes and colors. In fact,
there's a newspaper in that town down by Harrisburg that publishes
every once in a while a column of rants and raves by whomever
volunteers for the day. So far, so good. However, it doesnıt seem to
make much difference if the author is ranting or raving about an
issue, my blood pressure boils at some, and chills out at others.
Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to devote this week's column
to some rantings and ravings of my own.
RAVING: Our
hometown newspaper recently published a story about a 73 year old
man who walks several blocks a day along a busy street picking up
trash. While he got front page coverage for the fine job he is
doing, actually he is a member of a small army of people who do the
same thing, whether it is on the east side of Watertown or around
beautiful Lake Kampeska. They may go unnoticed by most people, but
to those of us who do see them being good citizens by picking up the
trash of others, we send a most sincere thank you.
RANTING: Those
idiots who throw trash from their vehicles should be drawn and
quartered. It doesnıt matter if they do it along one of South
Dakotaıs highways or on the street where you live. To me, they are
some of the slobs and low life of our state.
RANTING:
Weeds! Those blasted weeds! They seem to be everywhere this time of
year.
RAVING: My hat
goes off to those who despise those weed patches as much as I do and
are willing to do something about it. It doesn't matter if it is a
strange weed growing in the crack of the sidewalk or the
forgotten-about empty lot in your community, all it takes are a few
minutes to make a difference in how your town looks.
RANTING: While
talking with the manager of the Watertown Humane Society the other
day I discovered that when it comes to having pets, many people
don't realize the responsibility they have. She told of case after
case of abandoned dogs and cats that are left to the care of the
society. Many of these pets are just dropped off by people passing
through a community. Some are dropped off at the Humane Society in
the middle of the night. I even heard of cases where a pet dog got
loose, was caught by the city's animal control officer. And rather
than pay the higher "pick-up fine," they sent Grandma to the society
to adopt the dog. (A lot less cost.) Being kind to animals is one of
the benchmarks of what a society is.
MIXED EMOTION:
The folks in the Elk Point area are shouldering a heavy load. Is the
proposed refinery there a blessing or a hindrance to the economic
development of that part of South Dakota? If the refinery becomes a
reality will the promises made be promises kept?
RANTING: By
the time you read this, the Sioux Empire Fair will be history. Since
the county commissioners approved a liquor license for the
fairgrounds, that newspaper I mentioned said a liquor "License wonıt
faze fair." I beg to differ.
RAVING: Iım
running out of hats, but if I had another one I would take it off to
all those folks from Sturgis who are hosting thousands of
motorcyclists from around the world. At least for the length of the
rally those noisy contraptions arenıt ear-splitting our
neighborhood.
RAVING: To
those who gathered Sunday for the former prisoner of war reunion in
Sioux Falls, there is a story, even a book, in every one of you. The
ordeals you lived need to be told. The sharing of your lives as
prisoners of war should make all of us better Americans.
RANTING: What
really bugs me is that 20 percent of the bridges in South Dakota are
"structurally deficient." Ever since the 35W bridge collapsed in
Minneapolis, bridge fever has hit a lot of us. South Dakota has an
estimated 6,000 bridges and if 20 percent of them need repairing we
had better get at it. But we must keep in mind all of these bridges
are not the state's responsibility. Many of them are county,
township and even city-owned. Do you know which ones they are? And
which one of those are part of that "20 percent"?
RAVING: The
Redlin Art Center in Watertown recently observed its 10th
anniversary with day-long musical entertainment for the thousands
who attended. While artist Terry Redlin has hung up his brushes,
what he has built in Watertown will house his works for ever. In
just 10 years his collection of paintings and the building where
they are housed has become a major destination point for visitors
from around the world.
RANTING: We
keep reading the boastings about "The Best Little City." But does
the writer even consider his "Best Little City" is about out of
water, its crime rate is high and the breakup of its streets is
beyond measure?
Well, that was fun,
but it didn't help lower my blood pressure. Oh well...
Gordon Garnos was long-time editor of the Watertown Public Opinion and
recently retired after 39 years with that newspaper. Garnos, a
lifelong resident of South Dakota except for his military service in the
U.S. Air Force, was born and raised in Presho.
