News Archives - Page 43 of 105 - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Resolution for New Street Tabled

March 27, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

A decision to approve Resolution 2017-04 for street improvements to Garfield Ave from Centennial Pl to Quartzite St and then south of Quartzite St 800′ was tabled during the Dell Rapids City Council’s regular meeting on Monday, March 20th. Several affected property owners spoke out on the resolution during the meeting. The common theme among the affected property owners was that the assessed value of the project was too high without an increased value to their properties.

The total estimated cost of this project is $399,400, but the project could be broken up into two parts. The estimated cost of street improvements of Garfield Ave from Centennial Pl to Quartzite St is $247,000. The estimated cost of the street improvements from Quartzite St south an additional 800′ is $152,400. The discussions on the resolution between the council and property owners lasted nearly two hours and two amended motions failed votes before the decision to table the item until next meeting was passed.

Councilman James Borchert made a motion to remove the 800′ portion of the project from the resolution and to exclude two property owners from assessment, but the amended motion failed by a vote of 2-4. Councilman Mike Geraets made a motion to remove the 800′ portion of the project from the resolution, but to included all impacted property owners of the remaining portion of the project in the assessment, but Geraets’ amended motion also failed by a 2-4 vote.

The council ultimately decided to table the discussions until the next meeting, which will be held on Monday, April 3rd.

Dell Rapids St Mary Students Sing at Gift of Hope Concert

March 25, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Five Dell Rapids St Mary students joined other students from the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls to sin in the Gift of Hope Concert.

Avery Carder, Paige Bunkers, Ella Swift, Lucy Swift, and Danika Deuter sang in the concert which was held on Sunday, March 19th, at Sioux Falls O’Gorman High School. The students also had the opportunity to sing with Christian artist Mark Schultz on stage for the last two songs of the concert.

Proceeds from the concert went to the Catholic Family Services’ Gift of Hope Fund to help enhance the work of CFS. Through this fund, people of all faiths, ages, and walks of life receive help, hope, and healing with services such as grief counseling, adoption, and many others.

Community Blood Drive on April 6th

March 24, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids, SD- Avera Dells Area Health Center will host a community blood drive on Thursday, April 6 from 7:00 am to 11:00 am and 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. All blood donations will directly benefit the local blood supply and patients in need at Avera Dells Area Health Center.

“Donating blood on the Community Blood Bank’s bloodmobile directly impacts the Dell Rapids community’s blood supply,” states Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank. “With one blood donation, on the bloodmobile, you can save up to three patients. Consider keeping your donation local and impact patients in need when we come to Avera Dells Area Health Center.”

Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good general health the day of the donation. Please bring an ID with you. It is recommended that you eat and drink plenty of fluids before donating blood. It only takes 30 to 35 minutes to donate with Community Blood Bank.

Community Blood Bank is the sole provider of blood and blood products to 34 local area hospitals, including Avera Dells Area Health Center. To make an appointment or questions please contact Avera Dells Area Health Center at 428-5431. Walk-ins are always welcome.

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.

Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Screening at DRHS

March 23, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids High School will be holding a Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Screening on Thursday, March 30th. The screening is open to anyone between the ages of 12-34. The screening includes limited echocardiogram, 12-lead EKG, health history, and blood pressure check. All of this is reviewed by a local Board Certified Cardiologist.

Screenings must be scheduled in advance therefore paperwork must be returned to LuAnn in the District office by Friday, March 24. Registration packets are available at all three schools.

PLEASE have your child / grandchild screened! As adults we are told to have mammograms, colonoscopies, etc – please do not forget about our kids! Adam Thompson had no signs or symptoms and often there are none. Do not let this opportunity slip away-get on the schedule today!
Thank you – The Family of Adam Thompson, Baltic, SD

Dell Rapids School Board March 2017 Update

March 19, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids School Board held their last regular meeting on Monday, March 13th, at the Dell Rapids High School library. The school board made decisions on the following items, among others:

The school board approved unanimously to approved the amended girls’ soccer cooperative agreement with the Garretson School District. The proposed cooperative will now go to the South Dakota High School Activities Association for final approval in hopes of being in place for the fall 2017 season.

A slightly amended 2016-2017 school calendar was approved unanimously. With only one day of school that has been cancelled due to weather, which happened in November, the approved proposal was to not make that day up for students, and to have staff make the day up at the end of the year. Barring any more snow days, the last day of school will remain as scheduled on May 23rd. Teachers and staff will make the day up as part of an in-service day on May 25th.

The fee for summer drivers’ education will remain the same for this year. Students inside the school district will be charged $160.00. Students outside of the district will be charged $200.00. Instructors will receive $20.00 per hour for instructional time up to 35 hours, and $90.00 per hour for instructional driving time.

The school board also accepted a request for early retirement from Dale Solberg. Resignations were also accepted from Mary Trumbo (effective Feb 28th), Mara Wilde (effective Mar 31st), Erin Turner (effective at end of 2016-2017 school year), and Kimberly Kludt (effective Jun 15th). The hiring of Drew Bunkers as high school principal was accepted effective August 1st.

The full minutes of the meeting can be found by clicking here.

2017 SD Legislative Sessions – Dan Ahlers Week 9 Update

March 12, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Greetings from Pierre. The legislature has wrapped up the 2017 session. While there have been some disappointments, I would like to focus on the accomplishments.

The repeal of IM-22 was a controversial issue in Pierre this session. However, with help from the voters, we passed HB1076. This bill creates the Government Accountability Board. The legislature will also study campaign finance reform over the summer.

This session, the legislature increased funding for the Intensive Meth Treatment Program. Across the board cuts in 2011 have had a devastating impact on our fight against meth addiction. Instead of a reduction in meth use, we have seen an increase in cases. This money will enable our providers increase the number of people receiving treatment for meth addiction.

The legislature also appropriated money for the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab addition and renovation at SDSU. This facility is our line of defense against animal disease and protecting our food supply. This lab also handles the quarantine process when an outbreak occurs. This lab serves our farmers as well as food processors like the turkey plant in Huron and Morrells in Sioux Falls.

During the governor’s budget address, he advocated for a 1% increase for education, Medicaid providers and state employees. When revenues came in lower than expected, these recommendations were eliminated by the governor. By statute, the legislature was still obligated to give education a three-tenths of a percent increase. Republican leadership advocated not giving an increase to education and voted to eliminate language that dedicated the ½ percent sales tax to education.

Through a bi-partisan effort with the Senate, we were able to get a .3% increase for education, .3% for most Medicaid providers and reduce insurance costs for state employees. Many in Republicans in the House were unhappy with this plan. Ultimately, most voted for the increases. We were able to get the increase without increasing the budget or making cuts that would hurt ongoing programs.

We did not attempt to put language back into statute that dedicated the ½ percent sales tax to education. The way the previous language was written, the legislature would have cut $5.9 million from education. Even with the .3% increase in the funding formula, education would have taken a $3 million cut. The ½ percent sales tax will most likely be an issue in the 2018 session.

Thank you to everyone that called, emailed or stopped by to talk about issues and share concerns. Please continue to contact me with issues or concerns at 940-3071 or dan.ahlers@sdlegislature.gov.

St Mary Students Participate in Elementary Festival Choir

March 8, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

By Joni Smith

On Monday, March 6th students across the state South Dakota met in five different locations to celebrate their love of music. In conjunction with Music in our Schools Month, celebrated every March, the South Dakota Music Educators sponsored the 2017 Elementary Festival Choir.

Twelve students from Dell Rapids St. Mary Elementary School participated in the choir hosted at Harrisburg North Middle School. Before March 6th, students met two times a week for several weeks practicing their music in advance, and then Monday, Dell Rapids St. Mary students combined with over 100 other students from other schools in our region. Choir members worked from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. practicing their concert songs with guest conductor Dr. Shirley Neugebaur-Luebke from the Sioux City Community Youth Choir in Sioux City, Iowa. The day concluded at 3:30 with a wonderful concert in the Performing Arts Center.

Students participating in the choir were: Aston Carder (4th grade), Addison Libis (4th grade), Danika Deuter (4th grade), Megan Geraets (4th Grade), Jaycee Tebay (5th Grade), Makenzy Barbee (5th Grade), Lucy Swift (5th Grade), Wyatt Geraets (5th Grade), Briar Hansen (6th Grade), Ella Swift (6th Grade), Brandon Weiland (6th Grade) and CJ Smith (6th Grade).

Dell Rapids City Council Now at Full Strength

March 7, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

After about three and a half months of having a vacant seat for Ward 4, the Dell Rapids City Council is now back to a full council with all seats filled. The Ward 4 seat had been left vacant since November 21st when Mary Klockman resigned from the position. Robert Mier was sworn in as the replacement in Ward 4 as no other petitions were filed for the open spot.

It was also determined that no election will be needed for any of the appointed seats that were filled over the last year. Petitions for City of Dell Rapids Mayor and seats in Ward 1, Ward 2, and Ward 4 were received at the city office, and only one person submitted a petition for each open spot.

Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley submitted the only petition for the mayor position. Earley will continue to serve as the city’s mayor until 2021. Bill Schmidt submitted the only petition for Ward 1, and Schmidt will continue to serve as Alderman for Ward 1 until 2018. Barry Berg submitted the only petition for Ward 2, and Berg will continue to serve as Alderman for Ward 2 until 2018. Mier will also serve until 2018.

Current Dell Rapids City Council:

Mayor – Tom Earley (2021)
Ward 1 – Gary Haak (2019); Bill Schmidt (2018)
Ward 2 – Mark Crisp (2019); Barry Berg (2018)
Ward 3 – Mike Geraets (2019); Mike Sterud (2018)
Ward 4 – James Borchert (2019); Robert Mier (2018)

Seventeen Students Attend Music Festival

March 6, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

A total of seventeen students from Dell Rapids and Dell Rapids St Mary junior high schools participated in the 2017 Celebration of Music Festival. The festival was held on Wednesday, March 1st at Brandon Valley High School. The festival had both an honor band and an honor choir consisting of 7th and 8th graders.

Dell Rapids St Mary participants included Maggie Klein for band. Julie Saude, Rebecca Geraets, April Hof, Hunter Griffen, and Jon Bares participated in the choir portion.

Dell Rapids public participants included Desirae Horton, Katy Pulscher, Taylor Hansen, Nychole Steineke, Winston Strauss, and Peyton Gleason for choir. Kat Fletcher, Cara Rice, Michaela Witte, Eli Griebel, and Andrew Weiland participated for band.

Serving During Spring Break

March 6, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

ORANGE CITY, Iowa—Jordan Stone, a student at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, is among 171 students who will travel across the United States and overseas for the college’s annual Spring Service Projects (SSP) March 4–13.

This year’s teams will serve at 12 sites. International destinations include Ireland, the Netherlands and Nicaragua. In Ireland, students will partner with Dublin Christian Mission, a ministry that works with people who are homeless. In Amsterdam, students will live and work at two Christian youth hostels, sharing their faith with guests from around the world, while those in Nicaragua will do construction work, distribute food and help lead a vacation Bible school in the impoverished area of Bluefields.

Teams in the U.S. will travel to Minnesota, California and throughout the South. A new U.S. partner for Northwestern College is Youthfront in Kansas City, Kan. Students on that SSP team will provide manual labor for Youthfront’s summer camp outside the city, do after-school tutoring, and participate in a feeding ministry at a local park.

In Minnesota, students will help plan and implement a snow camp as part of a youth ministry outreach on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and across the border in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In California, Northwestern’s SSP team will partner with Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount to paint homes, provide manual labor and build relationships in the community of Compton.
Additional U.S. service opportunities include construction, home repair and painting in Annville, Ky.; after-school programs and construction projects in New Orleans; and construction, tutoring and community cleanup in Opelousas, La.

Still other Northwestern students will assist with after-school programs, home visits and a thrift store in Cary, Miss.; volunteer in local schools and after-school programs in Jacksonville, Fla.; and serve with a ministry to ex-prisoners in Lindale, Texas.

Stone is a junior and humanities major at Northwestern College. She is serving with Shelter Youth Hostels in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Stone is the daughter of Dane and Jody Stone of Dell Rapids.

Spring Service Project members raise their own travel funds through their individual families, friends and churches and also through fundraisers on campus and in the community.
Northwestern College is a Christian college of more than 1,250 students in Orange City, Iowa. Rated a top-10 Midwestern college by U.S. News & World Report magazine, Northwestern provides an education committed to academic rigor and a Christ-centered worldview.

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by Anita Cirulis, acirulis@nwciowa.edu, 712-707-7369

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