Lake Area Tech in Watertown is an incredible asset to our area. LATI is one of the top technical colleges in the United States, and with all of the national recognition they’ve been receiving lately, people around the country and the world are starting to see what an incredible facility run by dedicated professionals we have here in Northeast South Dakota. Even the President of the United States has taken notice, and has offered to give the commencement address, taking South Dakota off his list as the final of the 50 states he has yet to visit. I think it’s wonderful he’s coming. I’m so very proud of the accomplishments that everyone associated with LATI has made over the years and they deserve all the recognition they get.
The Presidential visit has seen tons of opinions so far, and I’m generally in no shortage of opinion when we talk about the President. His trip to Watertown might be the first thing he’s done as President that I agree with. Really. But he brings a lot of cameras with him and he is still the President of the United States. A Presidential visit is an honor that the graduates of LATI will carry with them for the rest of their lives, and I hope the national attention that the Watertown area receives will result in more tourism and development. I see that Vermillion and Brookings are trying to get the President to stop by while he’s in the area, and I certainly don’t blame them.
I would like to see President Obama stop by Big Stone City and see the power plant his EPA is trying to render useless. I’d like to have him stop by and see the 400 million+ dollars worth of improvements that were done to comply with Federal regulations already, and then watch the EPA change it’s operating authority from 8000 hours per year down to 2200 without a hearing or a word of public input. But that sounds political, and that’s not what this is about.
Let’s just give credit where credit is due. The students and faculty at LATI have built an incredible legacy that is receiving the big spotlight. Let’s stand back and watch them shine.
wiikfor4 