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injured by drivers who were apparently texting while driving.
• As we have said before, to ban texting while driving is common sense and might save lives. It doesn't impose on anyone's freedom - drivers can text as much, when they like, if they just pull off the road. Or they can simply wait a few minutes until

they get to a destination to send those messages or fire off replies.
• They should know that texting is dangerous without having to have the obvious spelled out for them in city law. But good sense is not enough to make good people do the right thing sometimes. A city ordinance similar to those that other cities in the state are enacting would have the effect of making those who know better stop this dangerous practice.
• ___
• The Daily Republic, Mitchell, May 15, 2013
• A missed chance at fairness in Chamberlain
• The Chamberlain school board has decided that the school's graduation ceremony will not include a traditional American Indian honor song as part of the day's events.
• That's a tough call, and one that obviously has generated plenty of interest in the Brule County town along the Missouri River.
• Chamberlain isn't on an American Indian reservation, but Indians still comprise about one-third of the district's enrollment. Geographically, the district is bordered on its northern edges by reservation land.
• The issue came to the school board after some students, including senior Chris Rodriguez, circulated a petition. Rodriguez told the school board that he isn't just trying to get an honor song for this year's graduation, but for years to come.
• That's a noble fight, and we appreciate that Rodriguez and others are taking a stand. It's not easy for kids to get up before a panel of adults and seek change.
• Should the board have decided differently? We think so.
• Part of the board's rationale behind the decision was that a separate "feathering ceremony" honoring seniors of American Indian heritage was already scheduled ahead of the graduation.
• We are glad the feathering ceremony will happen, but since it's not part of the actual graduation ceremony, we can understand why Indian students also requested the honor song. They don't want their culture relegated to a separate ceremony. They want it included as a proud part of the district's makeup.
• The board also expressed concern that other students with varying heritages will seek special treatment at graduation ceremonies.

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