Gene Hetland

Anyone driving in Sioux Falls during the New Year's Eve celebrations is likely to notice more police officers on the street.

Police officials say eighteen additional officers will be working the late-night-to-early-morning shift, and they'll be watching for drunk drivers

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We're hearing about them, even thinking about a few ourselves: New Year's resolutions.

You know, lose weight, get fit, get the checkbook in order, that sort of thing.

But I'm never among those who make New Year's resolutions, and I'm not likely to be

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You may have heard about it, and maybe you've experienced it: Post-Christmas letdown.

There are probably several, more clinical names for it, but you know what it is.

The excitement, anticipation or apprehension over Christmas has been building up for most folks since around Thanksgiving, and since September for a lot of retailers

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Once again, tragedy has struck at Christmastime.

Three children die in a house fire in Sioux Falls' North End, when their home of just a few weeks catches fire.

As fire investigators try to determine the cause, parents grieve the loss of their children in an almost-unspeakable tragedy

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If you've been around long enough, you might remember some of the Christmas "novelty" songs that I'm thinking don't get played much around this time of year anymore.

Many have moved in to take their place, like "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer," which my wife absolutely detests, and of course there are others

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By now, you may have heard more Christmas music than you care to.

After all, some stores have had their displays up and Christmas music on the PA since October or earlier. No point in waiting until the last minute, after all

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Sioux Falls residents will vote on snow gates, but not right away.

That gives you, me and everyone else time to get educated.

The city has been studying the gates, testing them in a few neighborhoods, although some residents want them in use RIGHT NOW

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Some news outlets, including ABC News, are reporting that the siblings of the children killed in the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut could face what's known as "survivor's guilt."

Talk about adding tragedy to tragedy, when the innocent brothers and sisters of the innocent children who were killed find themselves feeling guilty

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OK, parents, you might want to shield your kids from this one.

But I never believed in Santa Claus, not even at the youngest possible age.

You could probably put this on on my parents, because they never encouraged me to somehow think Santa Claus brought our Christmas presents

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It's the latest in a string of far too many killings in schools. By mid-day Friday, one count at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut had 27 dead, 18 of them school children.

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