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Opinion

Preventive health and immunizations

Community Voices

Every parent wants to do what’s best for their child, but sometimes those decisions are difficult. It’s important to look to trusted sources of information. One key topic is immunizations, which we consider to be a key component in preventive health. Your local primary care provider is a great source to answer questions about safety, side effects and benefits of vaccines at any age. Avera bases its recommendations for vaccines on research and recommendations from many reliable experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. At the end of the day, whether or not to get ...

On the Porch

Community Voices

The Lyon County Historical Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Program is Thursday, April 9 at the Lyon County Museum. Doors open at 5:30 pm. The annual meeting is at 6:00 pm, and the speaker, Dr. Anita Talsma Gaul, is at 6:30 pm. This event is open to the public and light refreshments will ...

Digging for treasure

Community Voices

My brother Les, his son Dustin, and I recently embarked on a treasure hunt. We didn’t have a map like the Count of Monte Cristo, so there was a certain amount of random digging involved. Not by hand, of course. Les and I have reached the age where “work smarter, not harder” isn’t just a good idea; our weary bones and creaky joints have made it a necessity. We weren’t searching for silver or gold: the metal we were seeking was cast iron. And we’re talking about a level of digging that required the deployment of Les and Dustin’s excavator. In lieu of a map, Les and I ...

First AI glance didn’t measure up to the art of writing

Community Voices

In the past week I had my first chance to experience AI (artificial intelligence) through my email server. Messages from my sister and friends now come with a suggested AI reply. All it takes is one click and you can reply to the message. There’s nothing wrong with the messages the computer suggests. They’re very well-rounded reactions. Still I don’t use them. I feel that I as a professional writer can do better than a machine. I can make a message more detailed and more descriptive. I can introduce new subjects that a computer can’t anticipate. Letter writing used to be a ...

Signs of spring as Easter arrives

Community Voices

Spring comes in spits and sputters. A beautiful sun-basted day is followed by howling northwest wind, followed by snow/rain, followed by south wind, leading to a beautiful sun-basted day. Winter is slow to let go its grip. March can be unsure of its season. But it is April. Spring will win out. So much is going on out our doors. A green tint slowly colors the Earth. There are chirps and calls of birds we haven’t heard for months. They are returning from winter homes. Welcome back! I lifted a stone and hundreds of ants scurried about, unsure why their dark workspace was ...

Helping their community is part of doing business

Editorials

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, eight out of 10 small businesses nationally believe in giving back to their local community. That includes donating to charities, sponsoring or donating goods/services to local events and discounts for certain groups within the community such as teachers and veterans. Often times, the charitable giving by these small businesses receive little recognition. However, inside last Tuesday’s edition of the Independent, a 44-page special section puts the spotlight on 20 small businesses for their generosity toward the communities they serve. Take ...