The Dell Rapids City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, March 4th, at 7:30 p.m. Some of the items on the agenda are discussion on an outdoor event permit, the 2012 Annual Report, and the administrative report. The full agenda can be found here.
2013 School Board Election
Two Dell Rapids school board positions were up for election on April 9, but only two residents filed for the positions: Jody Schumaker and incumbent Matthew Weiland. Since the candidates are unopposed, there will NOT be a school board election held. (Incumbent Cindy Schuch did not seek re-election).
Both Weiland and Schumaker will be sworn in for a three-year term at the July 8, 2013, annual meeting.
Dell Rapids and Garretson Communities Reach Out to Vollmer Family
On Tuesday night, cheerleaders from both Dell Rapids and Garretson high schools took a collection to help bless Brittany Vollmer, who tragically lost her family in a car accident. Fans donated over $2,400 during halftime of the District 6A boys basketball game between Dell Rapids and Garretson, which will be donated to the Brittany Vollmer Education Fund. Dell Rapids Athletic Director Jeff Dvorak sends out his “thank you” to all who so generously gave. Please keep Brittany, the family, and the entire Sioux Falls Christian community in your thoughts and prayers.
If you would still like to donate to the fund, donations can be sent to one of the following addresses:
Brittany Vollmer Fund
C/O Northwestern College
101 7th Street SW
Orange City, IA 51041
Brittany Vollmer Fund
C/O Sioux Falls Christian Schools
6120 S Charger Circle
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Dell Rapids School Board: 2/25/13
The Dell Rapids School Board will hold their regular meeting on Monday, February 25th, in the MS/HS DDN room at 7:00 p.m. Some of the items on the agenda include approval of the 2013-2014 school year calendar and the administrative report. The full agenda can be found here.
Detour Company Theatre Lets Disabled Actors Shine
Jeremiah Henriksen, son of Mike and Deb Henriksen of Dell Rapids, is the assistant director of a theater company in Arizona that allows people with disabilities the chance to shine on stage. A full write-up about the theater company can be found on the website www.azcentral.com or by clicking the link below:
City Council Meeting: 2/19/13
The Dell Rapid City Council will meet in regular session on Tuesday, February 19th, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting has been moved to Tuesday this week because of the President’s Day holiday on Monday. Items on the agenda include an outdoor event permit and the administrative report. The full agenda can be found here.
State awards $278,000 to 23 Rural Hospitals Including Dell Rapids
PIERRE, S.D. – Twenty-three rural hospitals in South Dakota will receive a total of $278,037 in federal funding for projects to improve patient access, reduce medication errors, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve operations.
The federal Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program funding comes through the South Dakota Department of Health. Over the last 12 years, rural hospitals in South Dakota have received more than $4,078,000 in direct awards through the program.
Hospitals must be Medicare-certified as critical access to be eligible for the funds. Critical access hospitals receive a higher Medicare reimbursement rate and are eligible for federal funding for improvement projects. There are currently 38 critical access hospitals in South Dakota.
The funding helps rural hospitals make direct, positive impacts on patient care and health outcomes, noted an official from the Platte Health Center – Avera, one of the facilities receiving funds.
“Without the additional supplemental financial assistance we receive from this program, we would not have been able to implement the programs and processes we currently have in place,” said Jody Sternberg, RN, and Director of Patient Care Services at Platte. “This program makes a difference for critical access hospitals.”
Sustaining essential healthcare services in rural and underserved areas is a key objective of the Department of Health’s 2020 Initiative.
Hospitals receiving Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program direct awards are listed below.
— 30 –
|
HOSPITALS RECEIVING DIRECT AWARDS THROUGH THE |
|
| Burke – Community Memorial Hospital |
$11,394 |
| Canton – Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center |
$11,199 |
| Chamberlain – Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center |
$12,586 |
| Clear Lake, Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center |
$11,400 |
| Dell Rapids, Avera Dells Area Hospital |
$6,325 |
| DeSmet, Avera DeSmet Memorial Hospital |
$6,331 |
| Flandreau, Avera Flandreau Hospital |
$7,825 |
| Vermillion, Sanford Vermillion Medical Center |
$11,400 |
| Viborg, Pioneer Memorial Hospital |
$11,400 |
| Webster, Sanford Webster Medical Center |
$11,331 |
| Wessington Springs, Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital |
$14,256 |
| Winner – Winner Regional Healthcare Center |
$11,400 |
| Britton, Marshall County Hospital |
$12,930 |
| Philip, Philip Health Services |
$13,135 |
| Wagner, Wagner Community Memorial Hospital – Avera |
$6,916 |
| Faulkton, Faulkton Area Medical Center |
$15,000 |
| Martin, Bennett County Hospital |
$15,000 |
| Platte, Platte Health Center – Avera |
$15,000 |
| Redfield – Community Memorial Hospital |
$15,000 |
| Bowdle, Bowdle Hospital |
$15,000 |
| Hot Springs, Fall River Health Services |
$15,000 |
| Mobridge, Mobridge Regional Hospital |
$13,200 |
| Parkston, Avera St. Benedict Health Center |
$15,000 |
Dell Rapids School Board: 2-11-13
The Dell Rapids School Board will still hold their regular meeting on Monday, February 11th, at 7:00 p.m. in MS/HS DDN room. Items on the agenda include a financial report, approval of Haven’s United Way application, approval of school calendar amendments for 2012-2013, and the administration report. The full agenda can be found here.
State Officials Urge No Non-Emergency Travel
PIERRE, S.D. – State Transportation and Public Safety officials are urging South Dakota citizens to avoid non-emergency travel from late Saturday night through early Monday morning as a major winter storm impacts much of the state.
The National Weather Service says heavy snow and strong wind will create blizzard-like conditions that will spread across a broad section of South Dakota during the overnight hours Saturday and through the day and night on Sunday. Conditions are forecast to gradually improve from west to east during the day on Monday.
Transportation officials say some highways will become snow packed and slippery, and bands of heavy snow pushed by winds of 20 mph to 40 mph could create conditions of near-zero visibility at times. Conditions may deteriorate rapidly, and residents should pay close attention to weather and road-condition reports. The passing storm could force temporary closures of stretches of the interstate highway system and make other highways all but impassable at times.
“While the brunt of the storm is impacting a particular area of the state, travel could be impossible,’’ said DOT Secretary Darin Bergquist. “If it isn’t an emergency, it isn’t worth the risk. Please use good sense and stay home until the storm has passed.’’
Anyone who absolutely must travel for emergency reasons should be aware of rapidly changing conditions. Officials also encourage motorists to visit http://www.safetravelusa.com/sd/ or call 511 to check the latest road conditions and travel advisories even if the worst of the storm appears to have passed their location.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day
“GIRLS IN SPORTS, AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE”
IS THEME OF
NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY
On February 6, 2013, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students, and parents across the country will show their support of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day and of this year’s theme, “Girls in Sports, An Investment in the Future.” NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.
NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to ensure equality for women’s sports. Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
NGWSD is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition. The Coalition combines the experience and resources of four premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States: Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women’s Law Center, and the Women’s Sports Foundation. Collectively, these organizations have been in existence for over 432 years and have a membership reach of 5.5 million girls and women.
To assist each South Dakota high school in their celebration of the day, the South Dakota High School Activities Association sent certificates of athletic achievement to each school. These certificates are to be presented to outstanding female athletes in the school. As the certificate indicates, these individuals exemplify the qualities of excellence in sports skills, leadership, self-discipline and perseverance. The method of selecting these individuals is up to each school, as well as the time of presentation.
Supporting NGWSD will go a long way to increase the visibility of female athletes.