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Norby’s and Fabulous Moments to Host Meat Raffle

January 23, 2019 by Submitted

For years, the Meat Raffle put on by Norby’s Bar and Grill has been a standout event. On Friday, January 25th at 6pm Fabulous Moments will host a meat raffle. Providing both a charitable donation towards a specified cause and also an opportunity to literally bring home the bacon, it brings about the best of two worlds.

Fabulous Moments, one of South Dakota’s newest nonprofits, will be the beneficiary of the generous donations made in the upcoming raffle. Striving to “make memories one fabulous moment at a time,” the group creates travel opportunities for those who are facing life threatening illnesses along with their families. Fabulous Moments was launched with the intention of assisting families with a wide-variety of health ailments, the organization’s impact is only as pertinent as the funds being raised by volunteers and donors alike.

Founded by Robin Wiebenga of Dell Rapids, Fabulous Moments has coordinated the trips of two separate families dealing with life-threatening illnesses since its conception in 2017. The 501(c)3 makes the aspiration of one final memory truly a reality. To make a donation, submit an application, or learn more about the mission of Fabulous Moments, please visit their website at FabulousMoments.org.

Benefit Fundraiser to be Held for Derek Gerlach

January 16, 2019 by Submitted

A benefit fundraiser for 10 year old Derek Gerlach, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, will be held Friday, January 25th, in Flandreau. The Crystal Theater will host a performance of “Plains Speaking People, Dakota Stories For the Stage”. Music from the amazing Will Prines will begin at 7pm, and the story tellers will hit the stage at 7:30pm. A free will donation of $10 per person is suggested. All money will go directly to Derek’s family.

“Plains Speaking People” features eight individuals sharing a chapter of their life. The tales can range from heartbreaking to inspirational to hilarious. Each story only takes 10 minutes. Some of the speakers you may be familiar with, and some you may not.

In addition, a raffle for a couple of homemade quilts and some other items will be held.

Derek is the son of Shane and Donelle Gerlach. They currently live in Dell Rapids. Shane is a Flandreau native.

For more information, go to plainsspeakingpeople.com. There is also a Go Fund Me page to help the family if you are unable to attend.

For more info or interviews, contact Mike Henriksen at 605-595-8487

Twelve Groups Earn Academic Achievement Awards in Dell Rapids

January 16, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Eight groups from Dell Rapids St Mary and four from Dell Rapids earned Academic Achievement Team Awards from the South Dakota High School Activities Association for the 2018-2019 fall season.

The team awards are given to varsity athletic teams and fine arts groups for their academic excellence. To receive the award, the group much have a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

The Football team, All-State Chorus group, Oral Interpretation group, Boys Cross Country team, Girls Cross Country team, Football Cheerleaders, Competitive Cheer team, and the Volleyball team all earned the honor from Dell Rapids St Mary High School.

The Girls Cross Country team, Boys Golf team, Football team, and Boys Cross Country team earned the honor from Dell Rapids High School.

Four Council Seats up for Election in 2019

January 13, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Four seats on the Dell Rapids City Council will be up for election in 2019. There will be open seat in each of the four wards this year…the term for Gary Haak in Ward 1, the term for Mark Crisp in Ward 2, the term for Mike Geraets in Ward 3, and the term for James Borchert in Ward 4.

The term for each of those wards up for election will be three years. Petitions for the open seats can begin circulation on January 25th. All the petitions are due back to City Hall by February 22nd at 5:00 p.m. The election has been set for Tuesday, April 9th if necessary.

Is a New Four-Way Stop Needed in Dell Rapids?

January 7, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Is a new four-way stop needed in Dell Rapids? That question was raised at the last regular Dell Rapids City Council meeting of 2018. Jody Brust, owner of Jody’s Collision & Auto in Dell Rapids, raised a concern to the council about the intersection of Garfield Avenue and Centennial Place.

“I guess I just gotta concern with the truck traffic now with the truck route. There’s many occasions where there’s some trucks really moving down the road, more than 40 mph, in some cases, both ways,” said Brust. “I think it’s a huge safety issue for the city, myself, now that you own the roads. That intersection is definitely a problem.”

After Brust brought his concern to the council, Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley and City Administrator Justin Weiland responded to his concerns.

“One thing that we could do is more prominent display of the posting of the mileage on that street. In the past we have had conversations, particularly with the people at L.G. Everist, about informing the people that truck their commodity about traffic issues, speed limit issues, etc. That’s something else we could do,” said Mayor Earley.

Weiland mentioned that the city worked with L.G. Everist when making the change in the truck route to get their input and get their support. It was mentioned in those conversations that removing the stop sign at that intersection would be helpful to the truckers. However, Weiland also mentioned that after concerns about the traffic at that intersection have been brought to the city’s attention, the quarry would support whatever the council wanted to do with the intersection.

“We’re going to enforce the speed limit. The speed limit is 25 mph. It’s not 45, it’s not 35, it’s 25. That’s the speed limit, and every one should be driving that route at 25 mph, or they should get a ticket,” said Councilman Mike Geraets.

The council did not take any action on the question about making the intersection a four-way stop. Mayor Earley mentioned that the city would work to improve signage to better display the speed limit and ask the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department to monitor the area more closely. After a couple of months of monitoring the situation, he said that the council will revisit the request and make a formal decision at that time.

Event to Impact Local Blood Supply This Winter

December 30, 2018 by Submitted

Dell Rapids, SD- Avera Dells Area Health Center and Community Blood Bank are joining forces to help ward off winter blood shortages by hosting a blood drive event. The blood drive will be held on Thursday, January 10 from 7:00 am to 11:00 am and 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at Avera Dells Area Health Center in Dell Rapids, SD. All blood donations will stay local for local use.

Every three seconds someone needs blood, and the only way to ensure that those needs are met is to rely on volunteer donors to donate blood. The need for local blood donors is immense. The Community Blood Bank supplies over 550 units of blood each week to people in the region. Among those who benefit from donated blood are trauma and burn victims, cancer patients and persons undergoing surgery.

“The winter months can be a difficult time to maintain an adequate blood supply for the community,” states Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank. “With the cold and flu season upon us, less people are eligible to give blood. This fact coupled with an increase in travel accidents creates a high need for blood products, data shows a steady increase in usage as we go through the winter season.”

Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form), weigh 110 lbs or more and be in good general health. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating blood. Please bring an ID with you at the time of donation. For more information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org, call Community Blood Bank at 1-877-877-3070 or call Avera Dells Area Health Center at 605-428-2421.

Community Blood Bank is not affiliated with other blood bank organizations and takes pride in being a self-sufficient organization, thanks to the generosity of our local blood donors.

Low Prices at the Gas Pump During Holiday Season

December 24, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Residents of Dell Rapids have been treated to gas prices under $2.00 a gallon just in time for Christmas holiday travel. The price for a gallon of unleaded with ethanol has dipped below $2.00 in the past week. Prices haven’t been under the $2.00 since early December of 2016.

In the Sioux Falls area, gas prices were at a 3-year low of about $1.36 in early 2016. Prices had steadily climbed since that time, and they reached a 3-year high of near $2.85, which happened in early October this year. Prices have been dropping since that high point. Just one month ago, the average in our area was $2.34.

According to GasBuddy.com, the Sioux Falls area is currently lower than the state and national average. The average in the Sioux Falls market as of December 24th is $2.05. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in South Dakota is $2.31. The national average is also at $2.31.

Christmas for Our Kids Thanks the Dell Rapids Community

December 20, 2018 by Submitted

Photo submitted by Brenda O’Hara

Please accept our sincere “Thank You” on behalf of “OUR” kids and their families for your generous support this Christmas. Your help for families came in the form of child or family adoptions, cash donations, toys, clothing, gift cards, and homemade pillow cases – all representing your love for others in our community. We found a thankful home for each gift donated and used the financial contributions to buy toys and gift cards. You opened your hearts to spread Christmas joy to families currently experiencing difficult times. Thank you so very much!!!

Sue Horstmeyer, a long-time educator in Dell Rapids, started the project over 30 years ago by helping a single family that she saw needed some extra help. Over the years she continued to adopt more families and recruited her friends to help families as well. She named the project “Christmas for OUR Kids” because she wanted to emphasis that it is a community project helping to take care of their own. It really does take a village. In 2007, when she retired and moved to Sioux Falls, she asked our local ESA chapter to take over the project. The Dell Rapids chapter of ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha), an international women’s service organization, has been in Dell Rapids since 2004.

This is the 12^th year the local ESA chapter has spear-headed the “Christmas for OUR Kids” project. Over the years we have had tremendous community support. Three angel trees are put up after Thanksgiving for those in the community that want to buy gifts, the public schools have a weeklong donation drive, and the local quilt shop customers donate home-made pillow cases for each child.

A special thank you to the “Dells Elves”, another local group of women who make a difference in Dell Rapids. For the last 4 years, the “Dells Elves” have been holding a fundraiser at Norby’s to benefit the “Christmas for OUR Kids” project. Thanks to the Dells Elves and all of those in the community that donate to and attend the fundraiser. The monetary donation makes a world of difference to the project and these families.

In 2007 when ESA took the project over from Sue, we helped 28 families with 75 kids. This year we helped 56 families with 136 kids. Thank you on behalf of “OUR” kids and their families for your contributions to our 2018 Christmas drive. You’ve made the “Dell Rapids” difference!

Here are a few excerpts from the many thank you notes sent by the families we helped:

“Thank you so much for helping us for Christmas!! Bless you.”
“I just want to say thank you again. This is an amazing thing you guys do and once I am on my feet I will definitely be donating and giving back.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Photo submitted by Brenda O’Hara
The ESA Elves who spear-head the “Christmas for OUR Kids” project.
Back row (l to r): Glenda Siemonsma, Sandy Grismer, Elaine Hammer, Teri Zastrow, Natalie Reed, Sheba Schlaikjer, and Maria Crisp
Front row (l to r): Kim Berven, Laurie Huewe, Melissa DeNoon, Diana Jones, Brenda O’Hara
Not Pictured: Lori Morris and Jericha Phelps

Workforce Education Could Be Coming to Dell Rapids

December 14, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Workforce education, or apprenticeships, could be part of the education curriculum at Dell Rapids as early as next year. Superintendent Dr. Summer Schultz gave a brief update on the goal of the school to have workforce education to the Dell Rapids School Board during their regular meeting on Monday, December 10th.

“We have got to figure out a way to get more work-based opportunities for our high school kids. The state is telling us we have flexibility to give credit those apprenticeships, job shadowing, and things like that. The state is saying you can give these alternate pathways to kids for credit,” said Dr. Schultz.

Dr. Schultz also mentioned that it’s hard to do that right now. She is meeting with the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and city administration over the winter months to discuss specifics of the plan and will have a more formal, detailed announcement out to the public at a later time. Dr. Schultz is also currently looking for businesses around Dell Rapids that are wanting to do apprenticeships or job shadowing to try to get this goal going for next school year.

“When we figure out of every 100 kids that start college in South Dakota, 23 finish with a degree. Clearly we are missing the boat for a lot of kids, and we’re not sending them down the right path. I’m not saying we don’t want every kid to be college ready and college prepared, but if that isn’t their path and that’s not where they want to go, maybe we should provide some opportunities for them in other places also,” said Dr. Schultz. She also mentioned these opportunities would also benefit students that do want to go to college in helping them figure out a course of study.

Dr. Schultz urged the members of the board if they know of any businesses in the area that are willing to provide these opportunities to please let her know. Administration is looking to build those alliances now for the next school year.

Dell Rapids Teams Participating in Swier Law Firm’s Sportsmanship Challenge

December 8, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Swier Law Firm is sponsoring a Sportsmanship Challenge for the 2018-2019 basketball season. They have asked both the boys and girls teams of ten high schools across the state to participate in this challenge. If the varsity teams successfully complete the challenge, each team will win $200 (up to $400 per school) to use for team camps, shooting shirts, or any other reason the coaching staff sees fit.

The requirements for the challenge are very simple. The varsity basketball teams cannot receive any technical fouls during the entire 2018-2019 season, which includes the regular season and any post-season play. The challenge is also team specific. That means even if one of the teams at a school fails to meet the requirements, the other team is not disqualified from the challenge. The other team can still earn $200 if they complete the challenge.

Scott Swier, founder and managing member of Swier Law Firm, came to Dell Rapids High School to explain the challenge to both the boys and girls teams and why they are doing this challenge.

“You can really transfer being a hard worker and being a classy person, win or lose, twenty years down the line when you’re doctors, and nurses, and lawyers, or whatever you guys want to be. Sportsmanship really does transfer to real life,” Swier said.

The ten schools that are participating in this challenge are Avon, Burke, Dell Rapids, Gregory, Harrisburg, Lennox, Mount Vernon, Platte-Geddes, Wagner, and Winner.

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