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Trick-or-Treaters Enjoy Downtown Event

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The Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce sponsored this year’s 10th Annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat event.  This year’s trick-or-treating was held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25th.  The weather, once again, was cooperative for everyone to enjoy the event.

The trick-or-treaters were also once again treated with many activities.  Along with being able to go from business to business downtown for candy, everyone was able to enjoy train rides, Mr. Twister balloon twisting, photo areas, bouncy houses, and a cake walk.

Every year the event has grown with more and more activities and children downtown.

City of Dell Rapids Receives Healthy Hometown Award

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The City of Dell Rapids recently received word the community is being honored as a 2019 Healthy Hometown Powered by Welmark Community Award winner.  The award comes with $5,000 to continue efforts in making Dell Rapids a healthier community.

The city plans to use the award money to enhance the trail system.  One idea to enhance the trail is to install a drinking water fountain.

City staff mentioned during the Dell Rapids City Council’s regular meeting on Monday, October 21st, that the healthy hometown committee in Dell Rapids played a big part in the city receiving the award.  They thanked the committee for all of their commitment towards the goals and successes that have been achieved from this program.

Wellmark established the Healthy Hometown Initiative in 2017 to help communities learn how they could positively impact the health o f their citizens.  More information about the initiative can be found by visiting their website at https://goodandhealthysd.org/about/healthyhometown/

Dell Rapids Children Enjoy Block Kids Event

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Photo submitted and used with permission by Karen Krietlow

Photo submitted and used with permission by Karen Krietlow

Twenty-three kids from Dell Rapids took part in the 27th Annual Block Kids in Sioux Falls on Saturday, October 12th.  A total of 94 kids took part in the event sponsored by the Greater Sioux Falls chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.

Participants in the event were elementary school-aged students.  The contest operated similar to a construction project.  The kids had to register with construction managers, and then they received their materials for the contest.  Each contestant was provided with 100 blocks and had 50 minutes to build anything construction related.

Photo submitted and used with permission by Karen Krietlow

Judges made decisions based on originality and explanation of the project.  Winners from kindergarten age through fifth grade were announced.  Two of the grade winners were from Dell Rapids.  Aiden Hubers won in the kindergarten age, and Callen Roemen won in the 3rd-grade age.

Dell Rapids City Employee Wins Award

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An employee of the City of Dell Rapids was the recipient of the 2019 Excellence in Municipal Government Award.  Diane LeBrun was presented with the award during the 2019 South Dakota Municipal Government Annual Conference held October 8th – 11th in Aberdeen.

This award is presented to one person each year.  The award rotates between a municipal employee and elected officials every other year.  The award is given to those that have made outstanding contributions to the betterment of municipal government.

Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley submitted a letter of nomination for Lebrun. 

In the letter Earley says, “Diane supports the many activities and programs that enhance life in Dell Rapids.  Diane has been active in almost every aspect of the Dell Rapids community.”

Earley also said, “Diane’s knowledge and experience is sought out by her peers at many city hall in South Dakota.  Her attendance at training provided by the Municipal League has enabled Diane to know and understand the issues and problems other towns deal with on a daily basis.  Her experience has helped other communities in their search for a solution to a particular issue.  Most important, the image and credibility of local government is enhanced and strengthened by her commitment to Dell Rapids.  Over her 20 years, Diane had created and fostered a positive image of city hall, the City of Dell Rapids, and all those who get to know her.  She is always willing to go above and beyond in every aspect of her life.”

**All three photos submitted and used with permission by Claire Baartman, Dell Rapids City Finance Officer

Dell Rapids Elementary Recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School

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The Dell Rapids School District was notified at the end of September that the Dell Rapids Elementary School is recognized as a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School.

Only 362 schools in the United States were given this honor in 2019.  Of those 362 schools, only six in schools in South Dakota received the recognition. Five of the six South Dakota schools were elementary schools.

To receive this recognition, the school must be nominated.  Dell Rapids was nominated in the category of “Exemplary High Performing Schools”.   To receive the National Blue Ribbon recognition, Dell Rapids Elementary had to meet the following criteria as listed The National Blue Ribbon Schools government website:

  1. The school must be in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state when schools are ranked on
    1. the performance of all students who participated in the most recently administered state assessments in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics, or
    2. a composite index that includes these assessment results and may also include assessment results in other subject areas and/or other student performance measures, such as attendance or graduation rates.
  2. For each of the school’s subgroups meeting the State’s minimum size requirement, the school must be in the top 40 percent of all public schools in the state when schools are ranked on
    1. the performance of all students in the subgroup who participated in the most recently administered state assessments in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics, or
    2. a composite index that includes these assessment results and may also include assessment results in other subject areas and/or other student performance measures, such as attendance or graduation rates for high schools.
  3. For high schools, the school must be in the top 15 percent of all high schools in the state when high schools are ranked on the most recently available graduation rate.

Congratulations to the Dell Rapids Elementary School and the Dell Rapids School District Administration on this recognition!

Former State Legislator Dan Ahlers to Announce Candidacy for U.S Senate Seat

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September 26, 2019, Dell Rapids, SD – Former state legislator and Dell Rapids businessman Dan Ahlers will announce that he plans to challenge U.S. Senator Mike Rounds for his seat on Monday, September 30, 10 a.m. at Papa’s Pub and Eatery, 425 E 4th St, Dell Rapids, SD.

“Washington has been taken over by partisan politics. Politicians are more concerned with the next election than getting the work of the people done. South Dakota deserves representation that will listen and find solutions for today’s challenges,” said Ahlers.

Ahlers will make his announcement in front of family, friends and media in his hometown where he has been a small business owner and entrepreneur for nearly 20 years. In addition to his business experience, he is the current President of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Interim Chamber Administrator, and spent six years in the State Senate and House. Ahlers is an active community member, contributing numerous hours and leadership to local events, boards and charities.

“Dan Ahlers has a strong background in small business and economic development. He has a proven record of looking after taxpayers’ dollars in Pierre and building relationships across the aisle and with the people he representss,” said Billie Sutton.

Ahlers has served in both the South Dakota House and Senate. His leadership has been nationally recognized by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and is the recipient of the BILLD and Henry Toll Fellowship through the Council of State Governments. His accomplishments include helping balance the state’s budget, improving funding for schools, increasing Medicaid reimbursements to critical need service providers, helping fund the new State Veteran’s Cemetery and establishing an advisory council to improve the delivery of educational services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Dell Rapids Homecoming Royalty Candidates Announced

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The Dell Rapids High School announced their 2019 Homecoming Royalty candidates.  This year’s candidates are Karsen Welbig, Olivia Stelzer, Tyler Wood, Mallary Haak, Sydney Emery, Carter Rentz, Aspen Hansen, and Drew VanRegenmorter.

Homecoming week this year will be Monday, September 30th through Friday, October 4th.  Coronation will be held on the 30th at 8:00 p.m.

Photo taken and used with permission by Stacey Gleason

Dig Pink Night – Oct 15th

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The Dell Rapids Quarrier volleyball team will be honoring survivors and those who have lost their lives to all types of cancer on Tuesday, October 15th between the JV and Varsity volleyball matches against Deubrook.

Anyone who would like to be honored or has a name of someone who should be honored needs to contact head coach Erica Fersdahl via email, Erica.Fersdahl@k12.sd.us, and she’ll get their names added to the list.  The volleyball team would love for them to attend the match that night.

The volleyball team is also selling Dig Pink t-shirts for $10 each ($2 extra for XXL or XXXL).  The pre-sale orders are due on Friday, September 27th by 3:30 to Coach Fersdahl or Eve in the office.  Please make checks to DRHS Volleyball.

All money raised from the t-shirts and other activities that night will be given to the American Cancer Society and the Susan B. Komen Foundation on behalf of the Dell Rapids and Deubrook volleyball teams.  Funds raised by both programs will be combined.

The t-shirt order form can be downloaded by clicking here.

Dell Rapids Elementary Changing Christmas Program

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This year’s Christmas concert at the Dell Rapids Elementary School will have changes.  Due to elementary school seeing its greatest growth as a school this year, administration has decided to break the Christmas concert into two separate performances on different nights.

Julie Wynja, K-4 Dean of Students, sent a letter home with students detailing the changes to this year’s concert.  Grades 2, 3 and 4 will have their performance on Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m.  Grades K-Prep, K and 1 will have their performance on Friday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m.

Wynja noted in the letter, “Our rational behind the split was mainly focused on the space and safety due to the numbers of students and families we were putting into our gymnasium and still be able to keep the Christmas spirit alive for each of our 400+ students.”

Wynja also mentioned in the letter that the growing enrollment has been a challenge on space over the last few years of the performances.

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