Broadcaster Press 11 December 25, 2012 www.broadcasteronline.com Guest Commentary: Take time to help others this holiday By Rep. Kristi Noem It’s hard to believe Christmas is already around the corner. While kids are more concerned with laying out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, parents are busy trying to get that lastminute gift for a friend or relative. So as stores fill with last-minute shoppers and Christmas tree farms begin to seem picked over, it’s also a good time to remember the spirit of the holiday season. Every Christmas morning, I ring a bell to signal the start of our Christmas morning celebration. Even if Kassidy, Kennedy and Booker are awake before the bell rings, they have to wait in anticipation until they hear the bell. It’s traditions like this that make the holidays so special to me. Bells, whether attached to a sleigh or an ornament, are a universal sound of the holidays. Across South Dakota, the Salvation Army has bell-ringers outside shopping and grocery stores to raise money for their Red Kettle Campaign. This year, money raised goes directly to those impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, and I was glad to help raise money by ringing the bell in Brookings recently. I am so thankful that I have a home to return to, but many will be without this holiday season. I hope we all take the time to remember and offer a helping hand to those who may need a pick-me-up. I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior with my family, but there are many South Dakotans who are apart from their family and friends this holiday season. I think of our brave men and women currently serving in our armed forces who spend every day on the job. Recently, I had the opportunity to write cards to our troops overseas and to thank them for their tireless commitment to defend the values our country holds so dear. I would encourage South Dakotans to take the time to do something this holiday season to share love with our courageous service men and women abroad. From our family to yours, we wish you a very, merry (and hopefully white) Christmas and hope you have the opportunity to create lasting memories with friends and family. TODD’S ELECTRIC SERVICE “The Line To Power” Design/Build • Fiber Cabling • Commercial • Residential Service Calls • Boom Truck with Auger • Trenching Serving the Beresford and Vermillion Areas “ WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET. BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE.” 1-800-560-2518 1221 Cornell St., Vermillion, SD • 605-624-5642 201 NW 13th St., Ste. 3, Beresford, SD • 800-560-2518 PROFESSIONAL CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING & DISASTER RESTORATION SERVICE Satisfying customers for 43 years! Plan ahead! Call today for your appointment. ~ Winston Churchill 877-Louies3 (568-4373) • 624-2485 3 ???3???????3  3 ????????? 6 3???????3???????3?3 ????3????? 4 3 ??????????3?3??????3??????????3??3????????3 ? 3??????3???????3???????3??3????3?????? 3 883848?8984344458 9 20 E MAIN STREET V E R M I LLI O N 624.2608 W W W . B A N K EA SY . C O M W arm W i at C hri m as shes st 3 ?3???3?Ž?????3????Ž?3????Ž??????3Ž??3??????3???3??????3 4 3 ?3??Ž?????3Ž?3???3????3?ŽŽ?3??Ž???3?????3???3???3 ? Ž 3 ??Ž???????3?Ž3?????3????3?????3zŽ????3?????????3??????????3 3 ??3?????3d????3?Ž?3?Ž?3?Ž??3????Ž??3???3?Ž?????? Ž 3 ?3?ŽŽ?3?Ž?????3?Ž3??????3?Ž?3??3???3???3????? t from all of us at t . he.. Broadcaster Press ? 3 ???????????3?3&??3???????????? ? 3 ??3t?3?????3^???3s???????Ž??3^33?3??????Ž????????Ž???????Ž? ? 3 ???????????