Whew! Driving all over Northeast South Dakota and further has given me a true sense of what hit the road means. Of course, now that Aberdeen has a Starbucks heading to Pierre, Huron, or Mobridge at 6:30am is fueled by a jolt of java and that helps.

In Aberdeen, the weather is a constant topic of conversation and I was recently able to gauge outside reaction to our numbing temps. Chasing down the big story pulled me from Northeast South Dakota to the East Coast for President Barack Obama’s inauguration. I was on a plane en route just days after Aberdeen had the record breaking -42 degree temperature. You remember. Your car, my car, and the neighbor’s wouldn’t start.

While in DC, people inquired where I was from and I would respond that I was on a reporting assignment from South Dakota. The Washingtonians, thinking their weather was frigid would ask “What’s the temperature like in South Dakota?” I would tell them what -42 felt like. Then I would get “That’s gotta be with the wind chill.” I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the inevitable look of disbelief on faces when I said “No, that was just the temperature.” I feel brave. After all, I am from Georgia originally.

In upcoming blogs look to hear from Aberdeen mover and shakers about upcoming projects, plans, and yes, how the weather is effecting everything.