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Good News Stories from America

By
Dylan Yoder
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The Presidential Election has been concluded and with it came a whole host of happy, sad, and “meh” reactions. Whether you feel one way or another, ultimately, it’s important to remember that we will continue living regardless of who takes office. There are so many news outlets, social media sources, and people focused on dividing us over this matter, and for what? So we can be more upset with one another? How about we focus on lifting each other up instead? There are so many uplifting stories from across our great nation that we can all enjoy with one another for the benefit of mutual understanding, despite who your neighbor happened to vote for.

In a world where there is so much mistrust of media sources and misinformation, the US Government has started to take a step in fixing it. The Federal Trade Commission made rulings earlier this Fall to combat fake reviews and testimonials across the nation. It specifically seeks to target the recent rise of AI-generated reviews. By trying to limit the amount of false or misleading information, we can focus more on what is real. While we may not see the direct effects of this ruling, it’s good to know they make such efforts.

Over the last couple of years, many companies have looked into what it would take to use more environmentally friendly methods of transportation across our oceans. Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly), the answer was found in the past. Cargo ships of the modern era are now being outfitted with massive sails for their trans-Atlantic / trans-Pacific adventures. 65 ft sails, able to move 5000-tonne cargo carriers. I don’t know about you, but that seems incredible and improbable to me. These new riggings are estimated to cut global climate emissions by a third overall.

10 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean every year. Now, I know what you’re thinking. How is that good news? It’s not, but it did prompt BioLogiQ, a research lab based in Idaho Falls to create a plant-based, degradable plastic. Which plant you may ask? The only one Idaho is known for, of course, the potato. By using plant-based sources, the plastic is easier for microorganisms to break down, which severely limits the time that this plastic waste would be around after we throw it out.

Another story comes to us from Massachusetts, where a good samaritan returned some lost money. We’ve all been there, walking down the street when we find a five dollar bill on the ground and we think: “Well, that’s 5 extra dollars for me!”. Now picture that but with 12’000 dollars. Such was the case in the local grocery store with a gentleman who found the cash lying in an envelope. Instead of pocketing it, he realized just how important it was to return that money to the proper owner. In fact, the woman who lost it came speeding back to the grocery store, frantically asking the cashier if they had seen anything. Luckily for them, there are still good, honorable people in this world, and all of the money was returned to her happily.

Whew! That was a rather random, extensive list of stories, wasn’t it? It just goes to show how many good news stories there truly are out there in the world. The extent of human goodness is often overlooked in our society, but it’s ever so important to recognize it. Just remember, above all else, no matter who your neighbor voted for, be kind to one another.

Packin’ out a Deer Kansas Style

By
Steve Gilliland
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Our raised deer blind sits on family land just a stone’s throw away from the property line, and each year as I sit and stare over into the neighboring property, I’m reminded of this deer harvest several years back.

The glowing full moon that had bathed the land in orange for two nights in a row was quickly fading and the pink light of morning was struggling to emerge from behind a bank of clouds when the deer began to appear. Like tawny ghosts they silently slipped, one at a time from the tall grass and weeds of the neighbor’s overgrown pasture that concealed them so well. The first two deer to show themselves were mature does, then tagging along were 3 little does we had seen often and figured to be this year’s fawns and maybe even siblings. They were all a little nervous that morning and headed quickly away from our blind toward a nearby open wheat field. Out of the corner of my eye I saw antlers appear from the same spot at the edge of the grassy pasture and a young 6-point buck stepped into view. I should have let him come out a bit farther into the open, but I was afraid he too would be spooky and run, so I put the scope crosshairs just behind his shoulder and shot. He spun and disappeared across the corner of the pasture.

I’ve never put much stock in hunting deer according to moon phases, but I remember that both that day and the day before were rated by the moon phase hunting calendar as “Best” and the previous morning Joyce and I had seen more deer in 5 minutes than in the last 7 days combined; one young buck had even found his way into our freezer via my wife’s invitation, so my interest in the subject was piqued. I still had my tag to fill, so that morning, there I was in the blind, bright and early, awaiting to see what a second day in a row rated as “Best” by the moon sign hunting calendar would offer.

It took only a short while to find my buck, the problem was that the dead deer was completely landlocked because of a deep creek that snaked its way like a tangled garden hose all through the pasture. He had managed to cross the steep-sided creek bed and wound up on the other side. It would be impossible to drag him back across the creek, and going the other direction would mean dragging his carcass a couple hundred yards to a fence I couldn’t get him across when I got there. The landowner has been clearing the trees from the pasture, so stacks of brush and piles of thorny trees and limbs were everywhere. No vehicle of any sort with rubber tires would stand a chance among all the thorny brush. I cleaned the deer, walked out to my truck and drove around the corner to the landowner’s house in search of options.

Turns out, to help clear the brush, the landowner used a Bobcat skid loader on hard rubber tracks, the perfect tool for “packing-out” my deer. Deer had been playing havoc with his electric fences, so he was glad to help me remove one of his “trouble-makers.” Because of a steep hill and downed tree limbs and brush, it took the farmer awhile to figure a way back to where the deer lay. Once we were past those obstacles, I walked ahead and guided him as he maneuvered the skid loader around stacks of cut trees and limbs, occasionally having to stop long enough to push brush and overhanging limbs from his path. Finally, with the deer laid across the pallet he’d carried in on the forks, we retraced our winding path back and deposited the deer in the back of my truck.

If not for the help of the landowner and his skid loader on tracks, I might still be wondering that overgrown pasture dragging that deer carcass and looking for a way out. A Bobcat skid loader, forks and a pallet; that’s what I call packin’ out a deer Kansas style! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Shrimp Creole

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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Well readers last week was another busy one as we prepare for the winter months at our home. Last weekend found Ervin, Phillip and I cleaning in the garage and getting ready for a big load coming from my parents home, back in Lewistown, Missouri. We are thankful for the 20 foot enclosed trailer that Phillip uses for his race car. It was ideal as we brought home miscellaneous items from my parents’ home.

I’ve been busy washing jars, and organizing family things, at our home, until I can have more time to sort things thoroughly. We didn’t bring much furniture back; when you’re my age you pretty much have everything that you need! I have the great job of sorting the family pictures. I haven’t even done my own, now here I am going back a couple of generations.

I am hoping the market in Edina, Missouri will still have apples for sale. I’d really like to go up to Cantrell, Iowa, but I’m not sure where I’ll find the time. For those who haven’t made this road trip, it can be a lot of fun. You can find things in this store that you won’t find anywhere else. (Not to mention the prices.)

While I was in the garage last weekend, I cleaned and sorted and cleaned some more. The last chore is to clean the deep freeze and start the freezer board showing what is in the freezer! It was rather amusing how much fun the cleaning was when the entire family was doing it together.

As we begin to approach a super busy time of the year I’d like to bring to the table a super simple, healthy recipe for Shrimp Creole. Do remember I said ‘simple’. You will want to play around with this recipe from beginning to end. What I like the most is the ability to make the sauce and then freeze it. Set it in the refrigerator a couple of days before you want to serve it and all you have to do is make rice and add the shrimp. I could eat this with other seafood stirred in too. Here in the Ozarks it might be crappie or something like Tilapia ,for those of you purchasing something from the store. I have some scallops in the freezer which may make their way into my next batch of Creole.

You know we touched upon rice & making it just before the meal.

If needed you can always cook rice and then freeze it for home or for lunchboxes.

It’s about time for me to prepare my rice, bean and vegetable dish that I enjoy served on the side of a grilled or baked piece of meat. I prepare wild rice, white and/or brown rice, black beans, chopped peppers and onions, herbs galore, possibly canned diced

tomatoes, and my favorite, cilantro. I mix this up, sampling as I go, Oh yes, I forgot the quinoa, I usually add that and/or barley. Freeze this up and serve it with more ‘fresh’ cilantro on top. Sauces like soy and teri yaki are good additions. If you really want to turn it into a full meal deal the rice ‘mess’ could have strips of beef or steak cooked right into it. Box it up and you’ll have lots of lunches and pre-made sides.

Right back with the Creole, same idea base, you pretty much get the picture here.

I’m already thinking about making a good batch to have this coming week, and then a batch of creole for the freezer for one big meal or several small. Friends just called, next week when they come over we may be having creole!

Enjoy the uplifting November weather, Simply Yours, The Covered Dish.

Easy Shrimp Creole

1 Tablespoon olive oil

½ green bell pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

½ cup chopped celery (about 2 ribs)

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cans (14 ½ oz.) stewed tomatoes, undrained

2 teaspoons hot sauce

1 teaspoon creole seasoning

1 lb. peeled large fresh/frozen shrimp

Saute pepper, onion and celery in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet about 8 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and saute one minute. Stir in chopped tomatoes, hot sauce and creole seasoning. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered about 20 minutes. Stir in shrimp, cover and simmer about 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Serve hot over cooked rice. Serves about 4 persons.

Our son, Phillip, likes me to saute the shrimp and then stir them into the sauce. This works good too, he enjoys the saute with herbs, garlic and butter!

Election Reflection

By
Milo Yield
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Thayne Cozart
Milo Yield

A few weeks ago, I wrote the following words about the upcoming election: “[I want the] vote to re-establish the kind of Constitutional Republic, not a pure democracy, our Founding Fathers strived to create and warned us pointedly about losing. That is a nation based on freedom, limited government and wide spread distribution of wealth, property and power.”

Well, now the election is over. Only time will tell if my wishful outcome will happen. We will learn a lot from changes made in the next two years before the next off-year election.

However, a look at the recent election results — beyond and behind the actual vote count — reveals several important happenings that stand out.

1. “The political legitimacy of The Fly Over States that mostly feed and fuel our nation was reaffirmed. Long ignored or belittled by the bi-coastal and political elites, the Fly Over States — and the “deplorables” who live in them — re-established their importance to the nation. Those states are too important for political dismissal or ghosting. Why? It’s within those states where common sense politics is buttressed.

2. Members of the biased media, both mass media and social media, who have forsaken honest journalism tenets in pursuit of personal preferences, got well-deserved, virtual, embarrassing, big, fat, juicy banana cream pies smashed into their smug faces.

3. Biased political pollsters got the same treatment with a coconut cream pie.

4. The shrill rantings of the entertainment and celebrity ego-elites, who are mostly immune to the costs and difficulties of every-day American life, got their embarrassing come-uppens, too. They learned that their political beliefs don’t carry much weight and do little to persuade voters.

5. The election restores faith in the American electorate. Voters proved they are a discerning public, willing and able to sort through the persistent hyperbole and disinformation, sort the grain from the chaff, discern fact from fiction and come to their own logical, common sense conclusions.

6. The election winners gain control of the presidency, the Senate, and, perhaps, the House of Representatives. They have absolutely no excuse not to perform up to the high standards and expectations of the voters who elected them — and to do so

with integrity and no malice. If they don’t, the voters will again rap their knuckles and yank the mandate away.

***

Okay, I’ll get off my political high horse and get back to the main reason I write this column — to hopefully make you smile or chuckle.

***

A rural grandmother assumed the task of taking her grandson to his elementary school basketball gam.

Just before halftime of the game, the coach called her 9-year-old grandson aside and asked him, “Do you understand what co-operation is? What a team is?”

“Yes, coach”, replied the little boy. ”

“Do you understand how important it is that we win or lose together as a team?” the coach continued.

The little boy nodded in the affirmative.

“So,” the coach continued, “I’m sure you know, when traveling or a foul is called, you shouldn’t argue, curse, attack the referee, or call him a jerk. Do you understand all that?”

Again, the little boy nodded in the affirmative.

The coach continued, “And when I take you out of the game so that another boy gets a chance to play, it’s not a stupid decision or that I’m a nincompoop, is it?”

“No, coach,” the lad affirmed

“Good,” said the coach. “Now during halftime, please go over there and explain all that to your grandmother.”

***

A rancher wuz taking a load of feeder cattle to the auction barn when he wuz pulled over by a deputy sheriff for running a stop sign.

The deputy asked the rancher, “Didn’t you see the stop sign back there?”

The wiseacre rancher replied, “Yeah, but I don’t believe everything I read.”

He got a ticket for his impertinence,

The next week, the same rancher was taking another load of cattle to the sale barn when the same deputy sheriff pulled him over for speeding.

The deputy asked the rancher testily, “Don’t you know the speed limit is 55 miles per hour along this stretch of highway?”

The impertinent rancher replied, “Yeah. But I wasn’t planning on driving that long.”

He got a second, more expensive, ticket

***

Well, the Kansas pheasant hunting season begins in two days. Sadly, I recall that back in my avid bird hunting days, I’d be getting ready for a trip to western Kansas for opening day. I’d be packing all my hunting gear, getting my dog trailer ready for the trip, getting the water and feed packed for my six Brittany bird dogs. Today, the closest I got to pheasant hunting wuz wearing an orange cap with a flushing pheasant decal on the front.

***

My words of wisdom for the week: “It may be a coincidence, but have you noticed that man’s best friend can’t talk?” Have a good ‘un.

 

“Protecting Children from Online Harms”

By
Guest Columnist
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0

With the rapid rise in internet use among children, the dangers of online exploitation have grown alarmingly. Children’s access to the internet has become nearly ubiquitous, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote learning, online gaming, and social media are now integral to daily life, meaning more children, even preschool-age children, are regularly online, often unsupervised and unprotected. This new reality demands that we consider not only physical safety for our children, but also the dangers they are facing online.

The Scope of the Issue

In 2022, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received almost 32 million reports of suspected child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), representing 88.3 million files. In 2023, more than 100 million such files were reported. There has also been an increase in “self-generated” content (children taking pictures of themselves and sharing it with others online), involving children as young as seven, shows how manipulation and grooming by online predators are impacting younger children.

Another concern is how easily children can access harmful content—often unintentionally. One study found that 15% of children encounter pornographic material before age 10, often due to algorithms or suggested content. This early exposure to harmful content can initiate a cycle of curiosity and risky behavior online. Over time, children can become desensitized and seek more extreme material, a phenomenon known as “content escalation.” This can distort their understanding of healthy relationships and boundaries which could lead to long-term psychological and social risks that complicate their ability to form safe, meaningful connections.

Understanding Risk Factors

Every time a child accesses the internet, they face potential risks. Children with low self-esteem, developmental challenges, or mental health struggles are particularly vulnerable to manipulation. Sensation-seeking behaviors and inadequate supervision heighten this risk, as children venture into digital spaces that leave them exposed to harm.

How Technology Compounds the Problem

Artificial intelligence (AI) and social media are significant drivers of online exploitation. AI enables the creation of “deep fakes,” complicating victim identification and creating new avenues for child exploitation. Meanwhile, social media algorithms frequently push harmful content to young users, and data privacy concerns remain largely unaddressed. Platforms designed for engagement can lead to addictive behaviors, making children even more vulnerable.

The Path Forward: What We Can Do

We have a shared responsibility to protect children. Here are essential steps we can take:

1. Legislative Advocacy: State and federal laws should require parental consent and enforce stricter age restrictions on content. Contacting legislators and advocating for child-centered online safety laws is vital.

2. Community Education: Parents, professionals, and policymakers must recognize the gravity of online risks. Education on privacy settings, content controls, and open dialogue with children can empower families to create safer online spaces.

3. Utilize Available Resources: Many organizations provide resources and reporting mechanisms. Platforms like the South Dakota Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment offer information on preventing online child abuse.

Protecting our children requires proactive steps from every part of our community. By remaining vigilant and informed, we can build a safer online environment and help our children navigate the digital world with resilience and security. For more information on protecting children from online harms, visit the South Dakota Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment’s website. Together, we can make a difference.

Christina Young has been an influential figure in the child welfare field for over a decade, dedicating her career to the well-being of children and families. She directed an in-home family services program covering 30 western counties in Iowa, demonstrating her commitment to community-based support. Christina has also served with a Single-Family Office and as COO of a mid-sized, midwestern law firm. Christina has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in human services administration. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Threads. Prairie Doc Programming includes On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show (most Thursdays at 7pm on streaming on Facebook), 2 podcasts, and a Radio program (on SDPB), providing health information based on science, built on trust.

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