GBU: Some naughty, some nice

By Journal Editorial Board | Friday, December 28, 2007

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THE GOOD:  White River basketball standout Louie Krogman became the new all-time high scorer in South Dakota boys basketball on Dec. 20 at the Lakota Nation Invitational tournament in Rapid City, when he hit a free throw and 2,826 points. Congratulations to Krogman and  condolences to Don Jacobsen, who set the previous record 50 years ago in 1957.

THE BAD: Don Garnier, former Oglala Sioux Tribal councilman, must be on Santa’s naughty list this year. While out of jail on bond on federal drug charges in New Mexico, he violated conditions of his parole by patronizing a Rapid City bar, where he was arrested on simple assault charges during a bar fight.

THE GOOD: Gen. Joseph Hooker’s good name is safe in Whitewood again, as the Whitewood City Council took about one minute during its Dec. 17 meeting to dispatch a controversy that had grown well beyond the city limits. Councilman Wily Friedel noted that “opinions from around the world” were heard, but local opinions were the only ones the council considered.

THE BAD: More than 200 Rapid City drivers who ran over a firehose that crossed traffic lanes on West Main Street Monday, Dec. 17, as firefighters fought a mid-afternoon blaze at a local tackle and bait shop in the Gap.

It’s illegal to drive over a fire hose, because it can endanger firefighters and hamper their efforts. It also damages the hoses, which cost a lot more than a garden hose, we’re guessing.

THE GOOD: Air traffic numbers soared at Rapid City Regional Airport in October and November, thanks to the entrance of Frontier Airlines into the market. Boardings were up 20 percent over last year's. That's good news for the airport, the airlines and Rapid City travelers.

THE BAD: A lump of coal in the stockings of the Pennington County Commission, which chose the holiday season to give Wayne Sumner, a visually impaired coffee shop owner, the boot. Sumner lost his lease in the courthouse because of the county's need for more office space. He’s philosophical about the loss of his lease, noting that business hasn't been that great ever since the coffee shop was forced to go smokefree .

THE GOOD:  A mystery donor or donors who dropped 10 gold coins into the Salvation Army’s red kettles at 10 different kettle locations around the city this past week.

THE UGLY: Despite that remarkable generosity, Salvation Army officials said the rest of us have been less giving this holiday season. Last week, the charitable organization was almost $80,000 short of its $220,000 goal to meet the needs of the poor in Rapid City in the coming year.