I swear you could taste the chicken and tomatoes
And the noodles and the marrowbone
But it really wasnt nothing but some water and potatoes
And the wonderful, wonderful soup stone
The Wonderful Soup Stone – Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
Released in 1973 on the groups Belly Up! album, The Wonderful Soup Stone was part of the one record over an eight-year period that didnt find success for Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, which meant that none of the songs from that record found their way to charts, especially the final song of the 11-song album.
You could say that the particular albums sales went belly up. (Ill pause for your obligatory dad joke laugh.)
The song is based on a folk story about hungry travelers who come to a village in a time of great poverty for the village. In order to get food, one of the travelers convinces the town people that he has a magical soup stone. The village eventually begins to pitch in one or two items apiece until the soup is shared by everyone present.
The song references a family who was limited in funds and lived on stone soup some nights, encouraged by the matriarch of the family encouraging the children to believe in the power of a soup stone.
Now and then, there are a host of items that really should be covered but arent a full column all alone, so a good stone soup column every so often is worthwhile to cover those bases!
Stone: Dakota Avenue
Interestingly, a lot of the angry online crowd has calmed down significantly as Dakota Ave. has taken more shape and come together in time for cross traffic on 3rd St. and much of the section from Market St. to 3rd St. open both ways as pheasant season opens.
The project had numerous public meetings over a five-year period. All of those meetings influenced the eventual plans, but working within the framework of a federal grant meant certain things could and could not be done, and no project ever makes everyone happy.
Incredibly, many of the loudest on social media about the project this summer, including the removal of trees from the boulevard, were from out-of-state and dont experience Huron on a daily basis.
This is simply year one of a four-year project that will finish between 3rd St. N. and 9th St. S. next year and then in 2026, work will continue on Dakota between 9th St. and 21st St.
Hurons businesses along Dakota on the south side of town will need to be supported during that time in the same way that downtown businesses need(ed) support while the construction headed through there this year.
Meat: Elections
On July 22, I published my first column regarding ballot measures on the 2024 ballot, reviewing Initiated Measure 28.
Next weekend, I will publish a review of Referred Law 21. That will conclude seven ballot measure review pieces in this space over the fall (I will have a link to each of the pieces in the online version of next weeks article).
Many people view our election this year as being important primarily because of the very top of the ballot, with the Presidential election being the driving vote to bring many voters to the polls.
Except its not.
Nearly every South Dakotan has a handful of local and statewide offices to vote on this year and seven ballot questions to answer.
Beyond the four Presidential candidates on the South Dakota ballot, there are two running to represent the state in the U.S. House, three running for a seat on the Public Utilities Commission, and while every state legislator is up for election (though not every district has an election on the November ballot because it was either decided in the primary or there was no challenger to the incumbent).
Locally, the Senate seat for District 22 is up this year with two candidates running. Then there are the ballot measures.
Recently, the Plainsman was visited by two representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The two gentlemen, who call Norway home, were here to inquire about our local elections, election safety and security, and what is on the ballots here.
After they asked their questions, I took the opportunity to ask them some questions as well. One question I asked was whether there was anything in South Dakotas election that was unique in the country and around the world.
Oh, absolutely, the ballot measures are unique, Gunther Guggenberger stated. To have the people be able to change the laws so directly is not something that happens in all other states – and it definitely doesnt happen in other countries we work with.
Guggenberger recalled that in Austria, a voter initiative can be presented, but it first must pass the public vote, then the parliament gets to vote on the measure – along with editing the measure.
Then, once its passed the public and parliament, it is presented again to the general population for vote again, and only after its passed all three times will it become law.
We have a very unique opportunity in this state to directly put laws onto the books through the ballot measure initiative process. Whether its my coverage on each of them or other information you can utilize to inform yourself, please take the time to read up on all the ballot measures before voting so you can be an informed voter!
Absentee and early voting began a month ago in the state, and the deadline for voter registration for this years election is Monday, so make sure youre registered and cast your ballot, whether by early ballot or on November 5!
Vegetables: Support Your Newspapers!
National Newspaper Week was Oct. 6-12, and while I didnt have a column directly about that this year, in the past, Ive outlined what I do on a regular week as a reporter for a rural daily newspaper.
I had the opportunity to sit with a long-time newspaper publisher at the Spirit of Dakota award ceremony last week, and she and I discussed the trials and tribulations of our industry, from changes due to digitization and artificial intelligence, to production of a newspaper, to public distrust sewn by bad actors.
Quite frankly, your local newspaper is your source for your news. The talking heads on a news entertainment channel are only worried about Huron and the Huron area if theres a chance to drive viewers to their network or clicks to their website. We certainly know that covering the most recent city commission meeting isnt going to overwhelm our website with views, but its part of an obligation that a local paper has with the community it represents. Losing that will lose the entity that holds local officials accountable to their words and actions spoken in public meetings.
Seasoning: Life Turns
This past week I had a birthday, and my children forgot until my wife reminded them. Thats where Im at in my age, which is just fine by me.
I did have a moment last weekend when we were watching the movie IF as a family. I realized that the particular day was one year from the night I said goodbye to my grandfather last year, stopping on my way to photograph a football game. He would pass the next day. IF has a scene of a child saying goodbye at bedside, and lets just say that the room got rather dusty.
This birthday also marks five years since I celebrated my final living birthday with my birthday buddy, my grandma Shirley. She passed in January 2020.
As I encourage my children that the tough stuff of early adolescence isnt forever, life has a way of reminding you that the tough things at that age often help prepare you for the rough stuff that comes as you get into your adult years.
Family Guy has an episode where Meg becomes a very successful cookie maker when her own tears fall into cookie dough and enhance the usual recipe in a unique way. Tears of happiness, tears of joy, tears of pain, and tears of sadness – they all become the seasoning in our soup this week.
Hopefully, you enjoyed the randomness of this weeks soup!
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