Page 19 - June 23, 2017

Groton Daily Independent
Friday, June 23, 2017 ~ Vol. 24 - No. 344 ~ 19 of 54
recidivism, or the tendency for criminal to reoffend.
We hope this program helps the long-term ght against crime and drug abuse in Mitchell and the local
region. If of cers can give some leeway to juvenile offenders early in their life, perhaps those youths can learn from their mistakes and recognize the second chance they were given.
This is a strong approach to making Mitchell and Davison County a better place to live. And we think our law enforcement of cers and other involved agencies will take positive steps in helping guide it in the right direction.
We’re excited to see the outcome and appreciate Miskimins for the initiative.
___
American News, Aberdeen, June 22
A user-friendly Aberdeen
If you aren’t from Aberdeen, good luck in understanding the “unwritten rules” of living in South Dakota’s third-largest city.
Not everyone in Aberdeen knows “how it’s always been done.” And some of our traditions are, frankly, a little unusual.
From uncontrolled intersections to long-gone-but-still-used landmarks like “The Starlite,” a newcomer to Aberdeen might feel lost, even after spending a fair amount of time here.
Think of it this way: There is likely not one student at Northern State University or Presentation College who will understand directions if they are told to “turn by the Lumber Company.”
That is not user-friendly information.
This is a critical issue as Aberdeen tries to welcome newcomers — new students, new workforce, new residents — to our city. These people, and their positive experiences, are important to keep this a grow- ing, vibrant, relevant community.
Here’s an example. In our very newsroom, our summer intern asked “What’s with all the streets with no stop signs?” She is not from Timbuktu; in fact, she is from St. Paul, Minn., and is not unfamiliar with small, rural communities. This is exactly the kind of person Aberdeen leaders would like to recruit and retain and make into a true Aberdonian.
We can also guess she doesn’t want to be in a fender-bender in her neighborhood.
There have been some welcome steps. We are big fans of the blue-and-orange “way nding” signs get- ting visitors to key hotspots.
We also like the red (orange? camo?) carpet that is rolled out for hunters every year.
Can that warm welcome be extended beyond those special occasions?
Change is hard. Looking outside yourself is dif cult. Understanding a need, however small, can be costly.
We are not suggesting that stop signs be put at every intersection in the university neighborhood area. However, is there no signage that can help? Any handouts? How does someone driving in that area know to yield, for instance?
Aberdeen is in a ght for talent. It is already dif cult to recruit talent to this city; why add any friction to that transaction?
Here’s something we can get behind: The Edge Underground, a new networking program being launched by the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce. The rst event is Saturday, and aims to attract and retain individuals early in their careers.
The program is for those between the ages of 20 and 40, with a special emphasis on those who have lived in the Aberdeen area for ve years or fewer.
That’s a good step.
We implore all of our leaders — city, county, business, education — to reach out to the young people of this city, to nd out why they come, why they stay, and what frustrates them about living in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
We ask our friends and neighbors to look out for these newcomers, and make them feel at home. And while you’re at it, tell them to slow down at intersections, and yield to the driver on the right.