Fall’s amber and rusted red hues battle winter’s approach

I had a mammogram: this is my story


I had my first mammogram. My chances of getting breast cancer are 50 to 85 percent higher, because my mother had breast cancer. That thought alone scares me — one day I could have breast cancer. Luckily, my mother’s cancer was non-aggressive, and she is now cancer free. Since she was diagnosed earlier this year, I have spent many hours […]

3D Mammography: CR BCCEDP offers the latest technology in cancer screening

In December of last year, the Cheyenne River Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program introduced the new 3D mammogram machine. Since then, 784 women have been screened using the machine says Mammogram Technician Kelly Lawrence. Kelly explains the difference between traditional 2D mammograms and 3D mammograms and how she and the team at CR BCCEDP offer the latest in […]

A lifetime of work pays off for Guy Gilbert of Promise, SD


CRST member and elder Guy Gilbert keeps himself busy. When he sees something needs to be done or he wants to do something, he does it — alone or with the help of friends. For him, life began 81 years ago, and whatever his trials or tribulations, he said a person just has to put him or herself in “first […]

Iron Lightning honored for service at Black Hills Powwow


Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier serves as the eyapaha during Miss He Sapa Win Genevieve Iron Lightning’s womens traditional special. Chairman Frazier spoke of the wonderful job and accomplishments that Iron Lightning achieved during her reign as Miss He Sapa Win. After an honor song was performed for her, Iron Lightning sponsored a special and did a giveaway […]

Unmarked graves could be lost to time and erosion


On Saturday, Oct. 6, Guy Gilbert of Promise took me and Wendell Phillips Jr. on a tour of the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church grave yard where many families from the area have relatives buried, including the Phillips’ family. While visiting the grave sites, Gilbert pointed out that some of the graves and their markers are very old, and even those […]

Amendment W offers tougher ethics enforcement


BROOKINGS — This November, South Dakota voters will once again decide on an ethics measure. As with Initiated Measure 22 in 2016, backers of Amendment W say it is a needed safeguard to ensure ethical behavior in Pierre. Opponents say it is a dangerous overreach, giving unchecked power to a new ethics board. If approved by voters on Nov. 6, […]

Thune’s office accepting spring internship applications

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is currently seeking college students to serve as spring interns in his office in Washington, D.C., as well as in his offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls. Interns in Thune’s state offices will participate in constituent service and state outreach activities, while students in the Washington, D.C., office will have the […]

Dream it. Dance it. Do it.


I survived my first real wacipi as a traditional dancer. I say that because I mean it. You see, I didn’t grow up in the wacipi circle- for me, wacipis were something to watch and admire from the afar.  Growing up in Arizona, I came from a traditional Navajo family, one deeply rooted in Navajo traditional customs and spirituality. My […]

Newspapers need readers, advertisers to sustain what matters in your community


I recently had lunch with a college friend who was back in South Dakota for a few days when our conversation turned to newspapers and their future. My friend Gary still subscribes to his hometown newspaper, the Grant County Review in Milbank. (In favor of full disclosure, Debbie Hemmer, who along with Holli Seehafer co-publishes the Review, is president of […]