Kooiker a leader with no favors owed to anyone

Sam Kooiker represents a rare opportunity for the voters of Rapid City. He is young and vigorous. He has the education and training especially aimed at municipal administration and executive leadership. He approaches each problem with an open and honest effort and is not afraid to say no when that is the proper solution. As far as I can determine, his efforts to assist city residents with problems are not affected by anyone's financial or political status. I firmly believe that Sam can steer this city toward practical, workable solutions to the challenges it faces now and in the future. This is your chance to elect a leader who will take office with no strings attached and no favors owed.

FRED P. DURRETT

Rapid City

Thank you for participating in historic preservation month

The Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission wishes to thank the following for their participation in this year's National Historic Preservation Month: Helen Wrede; Norm Nelson; Chuck Rausch, Rausch Monument; Chris Nelson, South Dakota State Historical Preservation Office; Donovan Sprague; KOLC; Dahl Arts Center; Colonel Robert D. Grams (Ret.), Camp Rapid; Mike Bender, Dream Design International; Michael Fosha, state Archaeological Research Center; Pastor LeRoy Flagstad; Pastor Jeff Otterman, St. James Lutheran Church; Tim Cheever, TSP; Pastor Wilbur Holz, Trinity Lutheran Church and Fred Thurston, enVision Design Group for their outstanding programs; the Elks Theater for showing the "One and Only Genuine Original Family Band." Mark Landon and Gordon Hopperdietzel, Lewis House tour; Mayor Shaw and the Growth Management Department staff; Travis Brink and Rapid City Public Library for "treasure hunt" partnership; The Clock Shop; The Corn Exchange; West Boulevard Neighborhood Association; Trader's Corner; Minnilusa Historical Association and Adrienne Merola Kerst; Jean Oleson-Kessloff and Patrick Roseland for sponsoring the "treasure hunt" prizes; Todd Rigione and Dennis Halterman, Art Alley; Dan Senftner, pamphlets; Minnilusa Historical Association; Rapid City Journal; Patrick Roseland; Dakota Business Center and Hobby Lobby for historic pictures of Rapid City; and the downtown merchants for displaying those pictures.

JEAN KESSLOFF

2007 Preservation Month Committee

Rapid City

Schwartz school board candidacy raises questions

I have concerns about Kelly Schwartz running for election to the Douglas School Board. Her husband, Les Schwartz, is currently on the school board.

Although it is legal for Kelly to run, it seems unethical for a husband and wife to serve on the same board at the same time.

In addition, one must question the motives of the Schwartz family. Why would they serve on the Douglas School Board if they plan to send their daughter to another school district next year?

How can they have the best educational interests of Douglas students as a priority? I urge Douglas residents to vote for Jan Jungemann, who is a loyal parent, grandparent and retired employee of the district. As an appointed board member, Jan participated in board training sessions sponsored by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota and was selected to serve on the ASBSD Board of Directors representing area schools. Jan has familiarized herself with board policy and the operations of the Douglas School District. Jan cares about students, staff, curriculum and activities. If you care about Douglas and its students, vote for Jan Jungemann.

JUDY SMITHER

Rapid City

Please return bag that had my special jewelry in it

I hope the person who stole my cosmetic bag from the women's locker will return the bag with my jewelry.

I really don't think that you want to wear my wedding ring. I also had two Black Hills Gold rings and a set of clipped earrings that my husband gave to me on special occasions. There will be no questions asked. Just return my items to the location that you took it from.

RETA THOVSON

Hill City

Behavior won't attract tourists downtown

On Wednesday the 6th, around 5:15 pm, I was attempting to turn right onto St. Joseph street from 7th street. My light was green.

A local downtown business man wearing a kilt, who shall remain nameless, was crossing St. Joe against the do not walk light.

He began yelling at me from the middle of the crosswalk that the sign said, "No right turn on red!"

I was not speeding. I was not honking at him to get out of the way. In fact I was slowing down to make sure he had plenty of clearance.

I thought what a nice way to attract tourists and customers to the downtown area.

RUSS BROWN

Rapid City

Summerset residents get survey, not election

A Summerset resident of two years wrote to the weekly paper on 3 May 2007. Sharon Jenkins apparently lives where she doesn't know about the forced annexations, the lawsuits and the controversy the town has generated.

The paper won't print my response. Some residents would miss the point anyway.

Our mail comes to us at Summerset, 57718. It successfully shares Black Hawk's zip code. We will not change from Black Hawk.

The city planned elections every two years. We couldn't vote in June 2005 as we were not a part of Summerset's original boundaries.

We looked forward to the election this month.

So what did we, the annexed, get? A survey!

SHIRLEY BAUER

Black Hawk

Sheer column points out GOP hypocrisy

Robert Scheer's great June 6 column about Cheney's lesbian daughter and new grandson points out the Republican party's hypocrisy in catering to the religious right's condemnation of gay people despite all the credible evidence that gay people are just as normal, diverse, hard-working and capable of living decent respectable lives, and, yes, just as capable of messing up.

At least the Cheney's accept their daughter and grandson. Other notable right-wingers aren't so family friendly. Phyllis Schlafly's son John is gay. The godfather of the ex-gay movement, Charles Socarides' son Richard was Clinton's Gay liaison. Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry's son Jamiel is gay. Allen Keyes daughter and Newt Gingrich's sister are lesbians. Many of these individuals have been disowned for being gay. Family values?

Ironically, thanks to this Cheney child's grandfather, his boss and the right-wing political base holding them up, his immediate family will be denied benefits, freedoms and protections automatically given to his peers' families.

There's a PFLAG (Parents, Families and friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter in Rapid City for those who wish to support, learn about and advocate for inclusion and acceptance of GLBT children in all aspects of society and family life. Call 348-3244.

MICHAEL M. COATS

Rapid City

Thank you to stranger who helped with car

Over the Memorial Day weekend, my family had just left Mount Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City and got to where Legion baseball is played. Our van made a pop noise, and we pulled into the nearest parking lot. Our van wouldn't move.

We opened the hood and really never knew what was wrong. We were all women standing by the van. Car after car went by, until one man named James stopped to help us. He said, "Our big belt came off." It wasn't broke. He tried and tried to help us by putting the belt back on. It finally worked.

He was tired and dirty after he helped us. We offered to pay him, but his answer was no. He didn't know if the van would make it back to Deadwood where we live. James, I couldn't remember your last name. I wanted you to know we made it just fine.

One again, thank you, James, and may God bless you always. Your kindness will always be remembered and appreciated.

ROSE M. JONES

Deadwood

Cool weather dampens global warming ideas

Well, well. Winter weather advisories in the Bighorns yesterday and a 40-degree tie of the record low at Regional Airport this morning. Ohhhhh, that pesky global warming. Al Gore, please bring your sasquatch-sized carbon footprint to Rapid City and save us from ourselves!

JAMES BUROW

Rapid City

Support Jungemann for school board seat

I am proud to support Jan Jungemann in her bid for the Douglas School Board. Having worked with Jan for close to 20 years, I know firsthand her commitment to the families of this school district. She cares about all students, and is an avid supporter of the district's academic, athletic and activity programs.

As the in-school suspension aide at the high school for numerous years, Jan earned the trust of the faculty, students and their parents. The same qualities that made her effective in her job will also make her an effective school board member. Jan is fair and willing to listen to all sides before deciding difficult issues. She is a caring person who treats others with courtesy and respect. She uses her common sense to solve problems and works hard to achieve established goals. Finally, Jan is committed to keeping costs down while continuing to provide an outstanding education for our district's youth.

A vote for Jan Jungemann June 19 is a vote for a strong, effective and responsive school board that will continue to prepare our students for, the challenges of the future.

RENE EMME

Box Elder

Prescription prices can vary greatly

I had a recent experience that is a good lesson for all. I filled prescriptions at the local Pamida in Sturgis. I was shocked when a common blood pressure medication, Lisinopril, came to $56.10 and Methotrexate was $58.39 for a total of $114.49!

I called Lynn's Dakota Mart in Belle Fourche, and they quoted me their prices. It was a shocker! The Lisinopril was $13.30 and the Methotrexate was $24.45! A difference of $76.70! I was furious and went back to Pamida demanding a refund.

Here's the kicker: The pharmacist's excuse for the discrepancy in price was that he thought I had insurance! I never informed them I had insurance. I paid cash, and they don't file insurance forms, so I am of the opinion that this is borderline fraud as well as unethical to charge more for drugs if you have insurance. Do not advise the pharmacist you have insurance. At the end of the year, get a printout of your prescriptions and send it with a claim form to your insurance company.

All it takes to save money on prescriptions is a couple of calls to various pharmacies. You will find that the prices vary significantly between pharmacies.

JOLENE JENSEN

Sturgis

Mayor Shaw did the best that he could

Watching the recent election to find that incumbent mayor Jim Shaw was ousted from office, his work and decision-making - right or wrong - deserves a thumbs up. We must remember that the mayor has given it his all and done the best that he could. I will be one to say I don't agree with every decision that he has proposed, but that is the beauty of speaking out. In this case, I would like to say thank you, mayor, for your tireless dedication to our community.

AARON SAMMELI

Rapid City

I will continue to work for voters of Ward 2

Thank you to all voters of Ward 2 and all the people that helped me with my campaign.

I appreciate the confidence that my ward and city has in me; and my re-election proves that action speaks louder than words. When others will be talking about what they will do, I will work on getting it done. Continuing to take care of the infrastructure and the downtown as well as keeping my ward informed on various issues will be my quest for the next two years.

Again, I thank all who made a difference in this election for me this year; I will not let you down.

DEB HADCOCK

Rapid City

Tournament schedule hard for Christians

Leaders of the Spearfish Majors Little League Baseball Tournament last weekend (June 8-10) demonstrated hostility toward Christian families by scheduling Sunday games to begin at 8:30 a.m.

It is inconceivable that tournament leaders are not aware that Christians gather for worship on Sunday mornings. The only logical explanations for their decision are that tournament leaders either do not care how their decisions affect others or that they are working to keep families from worshiping God.

As a pastor, I was unable to attend my son's baseball game on Sunday morning because I have an obligation to lead worship. Other families were forced to choose between their commitments to God and to their families.

Churches and Christian people serve our society in many ways. Scheduling games in a way that is understanding of families' commitments to God is not too much to ask of those planning tournaments.

I challenge parents of players in the Spearfish Little League and church members in Spearfish to work to change this practice so that future tournament games can be scheduled at a time that is supportive of families - even those families that happen to be Christian.

DAVID J. BAER

Whitewood

Breast cancer softball tourney a success

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person that made the Second Annual Scheel's All Sport "Bat"ling Against Breast Cancer Women's Slow Pitch Softball Tournament a success. We raised over $2,500 to benefit the S.D. Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Tim Callahan and all of the staff at the Rapid City Softball Association for all of their hard work getting the fields ready and helping out overall with the tournament, Ken Stahlken and the Rapid City Umpire's Association who volunteered their time for the second year in a row, they are amazing. Dona Ocshner and the staff at Scheel's All Sport, Laura Whitney and The Firehouse Brewing Co., Deb Knutson and the staff at the concession stand, of course, the women that play in the tournament. It wouldn't be a tournament without them and the friends that volunteer their time.

More than the money that we raise at this event is the awareness that early detection of breast cancer can mean survival. Every person was there because breast cancer has touched their life in some way. Thank you to everyone who helped. There isn't enough room here for a list of names that size.

SHANNON CAPERTON

Rapid City

Hanks has lived through city's growth

During the 27 years I have known Alan Hanks, he has proven to be a very hard-working, honest man. Never afraid of a challenge, he has been a successful businessman, a caring city councilman and a hard-working state legislator

Living in Rapid City all his life, Alan lived through events like the 1972 flood. That's why while serving on the planning commission and later on the city council, he has stood firm in opposition to those who want to build in the floodway.

Alan remembers the excitement of when the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center first opened in the late '70s, playing one of its first big sporting events, a Raider/Cobbler basketball game that filled the arena.

Alan's hard work can be seen in civic projects like the improvements at Canyon Lake and Sioux Park, the construction of Catron Boulevard and Fifth Street, the building of the Roosevelt Park Ice and Indoor Pool, the expansion of the public library and the new City/School Gyms at South and West Middle Schools.

A dedicated husband of 25 years, a proud father of a 12-year-old, Alan will make a great mayor of Rapid City. How do I know so much about Alan? He's my son-in-law.

DOROTHY BOYCE

Rapid City

Kooiker has the outlook to be next mayor

After all is said and done, Sam topped all eight participants in the mayoral race. The June 5th final results verify that Kooiker is the man. His straight forward outlook qualifies him to lead Rapid City for the next two years as mayor.

WILLIAM H. COWAN

Rapid City

Now is a good time to raise minimum wage

At long last, Congress, in its infinite wisdom, decided to raise the minimum wage. After 10 years of procrastination, they devised legislation to incrementally raise the wage level of our blue-collar workers. In consideration of employers, the increase was ameliorated over several years.

Already, there have been protests from some employers who cite high gas prices and drought as reasons for leaving the minimum wage as it is. But one wonders as to what would be the "right time" for them?

Despite the minimum wage boost, the beneficiaries will not make the Fortune 500 list and many will continue to hold two jobs. Neither will they be able to buy insurance, attend Twins games or enjoy the luxuries of the middle class.

Those of us reared in the Dirty '30s appreciate the benefits of a livable wage, and we can readily identify with those who are now encouraged by the prospect of being able to better provide for their families.

ROBERT W. EDISON

Sturgis