Letter to the Editor,

First of all, I would like to express our sympathy to those people along the Missouri River who are being affected by this year's flooding, and to say thank you to all of the countless volunteers who have come together to help with the flood relief efforts. The amount of work that has been completed is nothing short of amazing, and truly shows the spirit of the people of our great state.

With all of the news coverage on the flood affected areas, it is easy for people to forget there are areas of the Missouri River that are usable.

Dear Editor,

I am a former resident of Haakon County and read with interest the article of "Little House on the Prairie" told by Steve Clements.

I ... was born and raised at Topbar, S.D., where my uncle, Gilbert Durston, homesteaded in 1906 or 1907. His parents, my grandparents, Paul and Caroline Durston. and my Uncle Curtis, who was blind, and my parents, Herbert and Jane Durston, with my brother, Fred, and sisters, Dorothy and Emily, came in 1908.

I was born September 3, 1918, delivered by a midwife by the name of Stella Wells, a local neighbor.

The Haakon County Commission approved to try for another opt-out, half of the original amount, but still for a three year time period.

Commission Chairman Gary Snook said when he spoke with some of the opponents of the original opt-out they stated they would be more in favor of a $250,000 opt-out that was designated just for the highway department. Commissioner Ed Briggs likened that figure to a band-aid with Commiss- ioner Steve Clements in agreement.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has dispatched an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to southeast South Dakota to help local entities coordinate their response to recent flooding on the Missouri River.

The 10-member team has been sent to Dakota Dunes to assist officials in Union, Clay and Yankton counties.

Berta Aasby, age 92 of Philip, S.D., died Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Berta A. Tucker was born August 28, 1918, in Summerville, Ga., the daughter of Thomas C. and Berta (Foster) Tucker. Throughout her childhood, Berta's family lived in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

After graduating high school in Georgia, she went to college in Atlanta, to become a registered nurse.

Arlyss Reutter, age 85 of Kadoka, died Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the home of her daughter, Roxanne, in Fayetteville, N.C.

Arlyss Leone Gustafson was born January 18, 1926, in Bigfork, Minn., to Charles and Esther (Erickson) Gustafson.

Arlyss was baptized March 28, 1926, and was confirmed October 4, 1940, at Spruce Park Lutheran Brethren Church located in Bigfork.

She attended school for 11 years in Bigfork, after which she transferred to Lutheran Brethren Academy in Fergus Falls, Minn., for her senior year.

Agnes Schmidt, age 89 of Draper, S.D., died Friday, June 10, 2011, at the Kadoka Nursing Home.

Agnes Sorensen was born May 10, 1922, in Murdo, S.D., the daughter of Arthur and Frances (Farris) Sorensen. She attended elementary and high school in Murdo.

Agnes married Bennie Schmidt on February 17, 1940, in Sundance, Wyo. They worked together and enjoyed life on their farm east of Draper. She moved to Evergreen Manor in Pierre in 2003 and Kadoka Nursing Home in June 2010.