Our Voice: Local ladies put away their gray

It is sad that the Brown County chapter of the Red Cross Gray Ladies has disbanded.

Understandable, but sad nevertheless.

The group has faced the same problems — dwindling membership chief among them — as several other long-standing organizations who take on worthy causes in this community and elsewhere. Some believe their Aberdeen group was the final chapter of the Gray Ladies still in operation.

Since 1959, the Gray Ladies have helped thousands of people. Its main focus was to help people in hospitals and nursing homes.

They served us well for decades, and we will miss them. Thank you, Gray Ladies, for your service.

Here are some other observations:

Worthy organization II: More than 300 high school seniors-to-be are on the Northern State University campus this week learning how to become better citizens and the inner workings of government in the United States and South Dakota.

It is a great Aberdeen tradition. Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion, was founded in South Dakota in 1940 in Aberdeen.

It is pretty cool that this week of teaching is quietly taking place within our community. Most of these young men will never forget the lessons they learn, nor where they learned them.

Teaching: With school out for the summer, now would be a good time to thank all of our area teachers.

Each year, students from numerous Aberdeen and area schools earn major awards or summertime educational trips. For example, recent Aberdeen Central High School graduate Andre Bieber earned one of the 1,000 Gates Millennium Scholars nationwide.

Fewer than 2 percent of applicants for the Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship are selected. Bieber will study at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology beginning this fall.

Granted, Bieber’s accomplishments are a product of his own hard work.

But teachers help elevate most students. Behind every successful student stands a stable of teachers.

We have many successful students, thanks to our champion teachers.

Champions: For one, it was a repeat from last year. For two others, it was a first in school history.

The dominating and young Ipswich girls set a State B Track and Field Meet record — they shattered the one they set in 2012 — for points in winning the title again. The Tigers scored an amazing 116 points. Second-place Parker scored 37.

Meanwhile, the Aberdeen Central girls won the State AA title. It was the first time the Golden Eagles had accomplished the feat in the 45-year history of the state meet for girls.

South Dakota has had a state track meet for boys since 1906. Neither Herreid nor Selby had ever won a boys’ track title until this year when the Herreid-Selby Area Wolverines won the State B title.

There were six state titles up for grabs last weekend in Sioux Falls. Area teams won three of them. Nice.

Congratulations to all.

— American News editorial board