On Monday, I got my new voters registration notice in the mail. With the 2010 Census, some of the political boundaries were redone. For instance, I was in Ward 4 here in Mitchell, but now, according to the notice I am now in Ward 3. The notice also told me that I was in Davison County's District 4.

     Tuesday morning the radio news said that the County Commission was going to meet at 9 am. I thought I'd stop by and see what the hired help was up to. The Commission started the meeting with the Flag Pledge, then got right down to hearing the from the residents, providing they had something to say that wasn't on the posted agenda. The Commissioner from District 2 was noticeably absent, but the rest carried on without him. First up was a woman from Pennsylvania talking about a project to divert water from the Yukon River to the Great Plains. After she was done talking, she left to give the same presentation in Chamberlain. Someone from Mt Vernon letting the Commissioners know that some detours along the Interstate weren't properly posted.Then the Commissioners looked over their bills and heard from the sheriff and a few others. It was kind of interesting for me to see how they do it in the big city. I never got to see my Grandad in action as a County Commissioner, but I imagine it wasn't too much different.

     The Chairman (or Boss as they say down south) of The County Commission, John Claggett, called for recess until 10 am. I could have left, but some of the other spectators gave me the impression that something big was gonna go down, so after I slipped out to visit the restroom I came back and noticed that the number of spectators had gone up considerably. There was a TV camera from KDLT that had also managed to squeeze in there. But to top it all, Frank Kloucek from Scotland, the representative in District 19 showed up big as life. 

     The next session started out easy enough people came in with building permit requests and things of that nature. But the there was a request from Jackrabbit Family Farms to build a facility to hold about 5000 pigs in section 8 of Baker Township, wherever that is. First the Supporters of this facility spoke, then the opposition spoke, then the supporters got a rebuttal. The Commission was pressed for time because the Board of Equalization was scheduled for 1:15. But they allowed for the opposition to rebutt the rebuttal.

     There were a few times that the County Auditor had to leave the room get a legal opinion, and there were several times that something called Parliamentary Procedure was called into the discussion. This not being England, I wondered why that was an issue. Chairman Claggett explained to the crowd that they were governed by Robert's Rules of Order. I don't know who Robert is, but because of the fact that 4 of the Commissioners had to vote to approve of this project, and the previously mentioned absent Commissioner from District 2, the board adjourned having taken no action. They will discus this issue further at 11 am on May 1.

     The Commissioner from my District, Denny Kiner was impressive. If I heard right, he works as a realtor here in the city. He seemed fair, and knew that no matter which way he voted that statistically half of the people in the room were not going to be happy with his vote. As such, he would have to vote in a way that he himself could live with. That is the same criteria that Grandad would have used in that situation. As for whether Grandad would have voted yes or know, I can't say. I hope and pray that Mr. Kiner and the rest of the board make the right decision, even though I'm not even sure what that is myself. We'll all find out in a couple of weeks!

     Perhaps I expected too much from myself. Perhaps I expected too much. At any rate, I still try to walk that fine line. I don't want to get too high on myself, but then again, I don't want to get too low either. Of course, If I do, God will pick me up, so it's all good. In the end we are all judges of our own success or failure. On our own, we are all worthless, but God has a use for all of us, in his time. Likewise, if I get above my station, God will bring me down. So it is with all of us.  As Joyce Meyer says, "I may not be where I'm supposed to be but thank God, I'm not where I used to be".

     It took God a week (or 6 days if you want to get technical) to create heaven and earth. But since the fall of Adam and Eve, God has been recreating human life. It may be taking him a lot longer than some of us would like, but he'll get it done. As long as we keep on his plan, we'll be alright! 

     Every good show has a flawed hero and a sympathetic villain. Holstien's Joe Hardy showed some real weakness at all the right times. This fan in the stands was impressed at the tragic emotion that befell Shoeless Joe! Monty Bohrer played Applegate alternately serious and for laughs. He was very good at being bad! While he was not sympathetic at all. Brooke Warne was just that, as Lola Banana. Her character went through the complete gambit of emotions from A to Z, and back to O. Starting off as evil, Lola starts to feel sorry for our hero, and then begins to care for him. The pain she feels as she leaves Joe to his happy life was written all over her face. It was powerful stuff! Warne teamed up with Devin Carey in a song and dance number that stole the show for me.

     Dan Miller's direction was evident throughout the production. My research, and my own senses let me know that. Miller satirical wit was present in some of the lines about everything from university presidents, the Methodist Church, and even Pukwana, South Dakota. The concession stand featured all of the standard ballpark fare, except for beer and pretzels. The most subtle piece of direction that caught my eye was the upside down horseshoe over Applegate's living room door.

     So get to the Sherman Center this weekend. I also with to apologize for all of the baseball references I used and misused in this review. Actually I wish I could have thought up some more.

     Today Mr. Rogers would have been 84, but back in 2003 stomach cancer claimed the earthly life of our favorite neighbor. Back when I was a kid, I enjoyed Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. My children's instincts told me he was a good person, as he seemed genuinely compassionate, caring, and just a really nice guy. Even as an adult I can't say too much against him, except that on the show he appeared to not have a job. That is unless we are to believe that on top of being our neighbor, our parents paid to have him watch us through the TV. Come to think of it, my parents supported PBS back then, so in a way he was a paid babysitter, for a half hour everyday. Bottom line: Mr Rogers=good neighbor.

     If I could ask anything for myself, I'd only really need 2 things: to have a neighbor like Mr. Rogers, and to be a neighbor like Mr. Rogers. While difficult, it is not impossible. Clearly, I'm not there yet in either respect. Case in point, this morning, there was a knock at the door. I answered, and a very possibly intoxicated gentlemen asked me "Is Amber home?", to which I replied, "I have no idea". He then asked, "Isn't this her apartment?"  I say, "No, It is not". And then he asks if he can use my bathroom. Well, rather than run the risk of him making the hallway smell like his breath, I invite him in and direct him to privy. He asks "Why does it smell in here?" Right there I lost my patience! This panhandler comes into my home asking to use my bathroom, and then has the nerve to complain about the smell. I shot back, "Why do you think?" After he was done, he tries to strike up a conversation, but I wasn't having it. "Don't you have to find Amber?", I inquire. Then he tries to invite me to to join him and Amber to one of the local drinking establishments for the evening. "Yeah I don't think so!"

     I feel bad about how I handled that particular situation, and yet I'm not sure how I could have handled it any better. Being a good neighbor is hard work, especially when the neighbor doesn't exactly help things out. That never happens in Mr. Rogers neighborhood. Mr. Robinson's maybe, but not Mr. Rogers!

     If any of you readers have an idea of what I should do in case this sort of thing happens again, feel free to reply by comment, email, or Facebook. In the meanwhile, let's all do our best to be a good neighbor.

Happy Birthday Mr. Rogers!

     The big news from Holabird these days has been that Brittany Hinkle was named a South Dakota Music Ambassador. As such, she will be part of a band from South Dakota and Minnesota that will perform in a tour of 7 European countries in 16 days over the Summer of 2013. This is no small honor, unless of course part of her responsibility to to sell $5000 worth of candy bars in order to get on the plane. Even if that is the case, go to it Brit!
     This news comes on the heals of Brit's little sister Shelby Hinkle, qualifying for the State Geography Bee, which will be held in Brookings on March 30. Hopefully SDPB will put that online. What's next? Could Justin Hinkle win a gold medal at the Math Olympics? If there is such a thing, he could! For Now congratulations to Brittany, and Shelby. Keep up the good work!

     The latest ratings have come in and the 6 people who have made up the daily audience for this website have been joined by 2 others for a total of 8. It's nice to know that whatever I write here is read by somebody. As for whether you enjoy what you read, well, if you come back for more everyday, I guess you do.

     As I look back on the 10 years that have passed since I started blogging, I've seen many changes in myself and others. I saw this blogging trend start, then I saw it rise. Now it appears the trend has fallen, Yet the 8 of you still feel that blogging in general, and this on in particular has something to offer. Even though social media has taken over the Internet, blogs such as this one keep the tradition alive.

     As tempting as it is to shut this website down, I've never been able to bring myself to do it. The Holabird Advocate/Jerry Hinkle Program is to me a living museum. I almost didn't start this website, because I thought that, since I am no longer 25, I had nothing important to say. These last 10 years of shown me that we all have something important to say, regardless of age.

     There are a lot of people over the age of 25 out here on the world wide web. They've taken their place in Facebook,Twitter and any other social network on which they care to point and click. But for me, this is where it all started. As long as there is at least 1 Reader, it's my sworn duty to keep writing whenever possible. I write for you, just as you read for me.

     Who knows but that some of those kids of 25 and under might get curious about what we are up to and start reading these posts of more than 140 characters. Even if they never come back, I'm glad to know you're here, even if we never meet in person!

     It is still Lent, and I while I have come close a few times, I've managed not to talk about politics. This exercise in verbal restraint has taught me a few things that I might never have learned otherwise. For example, before this Lent, I never truly realized how much of what goes on in the world revolves around politics. Possibly because, the government is involved in each of our lives in some way. The media is also involving itself in all forms in the political process. In this country, it's a good thing.

     I have stayed informed on all world events, but I have not passed on much of what I have learned. I've also declined in voicing an opinion on those events, weaseling out of it whenever possible. The mess that has been made concerning a certain conservative radio commentator has been of peculiar interest, but giving into my better nature, I've kept mum. If this story keeps going, however, I have a feeling my Easter column will be a sight to behold. Whenever asked about the Presidential race, I always say "I'll guess we'll see". I've been a dull boy, I'm sure. But don't mistake my silence for something it is not. I'm not talking, but I've done a whole heap of listening to make up for it.