Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide from sunrise until sundown on Tuesday, December 7 in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

This order is in response to a proclamation by President Joseph R. Biden, which can be found here.

The Winner City Council will meet this evening in the Winner City Council Chambers at 325 S. Monroe Street at 6:30 p.m.  One of the items of discussion will be to settle on the next Winner City Election date which will be April 12th of 2022.

The Gregory City Council will hold their regular meeting tomorrow night (Monday, December 6th) at 5:00 p.m. at Gregory City Hall, located at 120 W 6^th Street.  Please note the City of Gregory meets on the first and third Monday of each month.

Twenty 4-H youth involved in the beef project area traveled to the Cottonwood Field Station to participate in the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Cattle AI Day Camp held Nov. 6.

During the day camp, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists Olivia Amundson, Kiernan Brandt and Adele Harty, along with 4-H Youth Program Advisors Audra Scheel and Kaycee Jones, guided youth through the process of artificial insemination (AI) in beef cattle.

“Understanding how the female and male beef reproductive tracts work is critical to a successful AI program,” says Scheel, who serves as a 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Sanborn, Aurora, Jerauld and Buffalo counties.

“I learned the different stages of follicular development and the hormones that happen,” says attendee Autumn Skow.

Once they learned the basics, youth received hands-on practice in pulling, thawing and loading semen. Harty and Scheel led this station.

“This is a critical part of AI; you can have the best technician in the world inside the cow, but if the semen isn’t handled correctly outside the cow, your conception rates will show it,” Harty says.

Youth were also able to work with real, female beef cow reproductive tracts, led by Brandt. Hands-on experience with ultrasound, vaccinations and palpation, along with education on the importance of nutrition and using body condition score to determine the cow’s nutritional needs, completed the breakout sessions.

“At camp, we provided youth with knowledge and hands-on techniques of AI, but then followed that up with how to AI a real cow,” says Amundson. “This allows youth to see how successful AI is in a real-life scenario. It really brings the day full-circle for the kids.”

SDSU Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program is a partnership of federal (U.S. Department of Agriculture), state (Land Grant University), and county resources through youth outreach activities of SDSU Extension. Youth learn and experience leadership, workforce development, life and social connection through a network of professional staff and volunteers reaching more than 9,000 enrolled members with yearly programming efforts to an additional 35,000 youth participants.

On Tuesday, December 7, Governor Kristi Noem will deliver the 2021 Budget Address, updating the people of South Dakota on budget plans for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2023.

The address will take place at 1pm CT/12pm MT in the South Dakota House of Representatives. The address will be livestreamed on South Dakota Public Broadcasting, SD.net, and Facebook.com/GovNoem.

The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) will be keeping it simple this year with a new Holiday Campaign titled, “Simplify the Season with Beef”. This 2021 campaign will once again partner beef with retailers from across the state to deliver simple easy tricks and tips for creating that perfect family dining experience. Whether it is a large family gathering or a small intimate dinner with close friends, beef provides simple, easy to use options for holiday enthusiasts.

Team Beef SD and Celebrity Chef, Justin Warner, will once again be highlighting beef throughout several social media platforms. The SDBIC works alongside SD retailers in providing toolkits for consumers that highlight the versatility and simplicity associated with beef. In-store promotions include the opportunity to win $500, $300 and $200 in Beef Bucks. Consumers will also have several online chances to win as beef gives back.

SDBIC Director of Nutrition and Consumer Information, Holly Swee states “We know the holidays can be stressful and our goal is to help you plan ahead and provide simple, easy, beef recipes, tricks and tips so you can enjoy the season with what matters most…. friends and family.” Swee continues “We have a wide variety of beef recipes for in various price points and offer simple tutorials, cooking hacks and recipe ideas to simplify the season and help meet your needs.”

Join us throughout the holidays as we share simple beef tips, tricks and recipes through the “Simplify the Season with BEEF” campaign. Follow the South Dakota Beef social media pages or visit sdbeef.org to learn more information.

Find simple beef tips, tricks and recipes to Simplify the Season with Beef at https://www.sdbeef.org/programs-events/holiday-entertaining

The South Dakota Beef Industry Council works on behalf of South Dakota beef producers through the $1 Beef Checkoff program.

For more information on Beef Checkoff and statewide efforts visit www.sdbeef.org and www.MyBeefCheckoff.com or contact Suzy Geppert at sgeppert@sdbeef.org.02

The South Dakota Retailers Association (SDRA) encourages shoppers to “Look to Local” this holiday season. As we enter the “most wonderful time of the year,” retailers are gearing up to make this year’s shopping better than ever before.

“Local shops across South Dakota are opening their doors and welcoming customers,” said SDRA Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. “We encourage shoppers to look within their community for unique, memorable gifting opportunities.”

Ashley Berry of Someone’s in the Kitchen in Rapid City said customers are grateful to be able to shop, and she anticipates a good, steady holiday season. She sees customers focusing on top-quality basics such as cookware and cutlery for gifts as well as for themselves. She believes staying closer to home during the pandemic caused many people to reevaluate their surroundings.

“They are actively seeking items that will be a lifetime product rather than something that is just good enough to get them by for a while,” Berry observed. “They’re fed up with their old curtains and that carpet that they meant to replace a long time ago. They’re all wanting to make their living space something that is functional and quality and somewhere they want to be. And I think the kitchen is the heart of that.”

Caring for their customers and community is what Mom and Pop shops do best. When shoppers support their local communities, business owners, in turn, can support their cities and towns.

“Mom and Pop businesses help define the unique character of our towns,” said Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. “Let’s celebrate and look to these local establishments that genuinely know the wants and needs of shoppers and work hard to create special moments.”

Dick Murphy of Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Gifts in Sioux Falls says 2021 has been a good year.

“People took to heart messages to support their local businesses, not just on Phillips Avenue in Sioux Falls but all across the region,” he said.

He says customers are upbeat and enjoying themselves. And, like Berry, most of his customers are looking for quality gifts.

“People are seeking products that give them that sense that it’s going to last for some time. They want to give a gift that has that quality.”

Bring that same feeling of quality and support to your hometown shops this holiday season. Remember to “Look to Local” and promote the Mom and Pop shops that make our state a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension has boosted its statewide 4-H programming efforts with the latest addition of 4-H Youth Program Advisor, Lauren Sankey. Sankey, who is based in Roberts County, will be responsible for developing and delivering educational programs in the priority areas of leadership, science, agriculture, health and wellness, along with other topics identified through informal and formal needs assessments.

A native of southwest Minnesota, Sankey has a strong background in 4-H, exhibiting in baked goods, informational posters and visual arts, as well as participating in 4-H interstate exchanges with Texas and Virginia.

“We are excited to have Lauren join us in Roberts County,” says Tim Tanner, South Dakota 4-H Program Director. “Her people-centered skillset and servant leadership ethic will be real strengths as she joins our 4-H team.”

Prior to South Dakota 4-H, Sankey served as a certified nursing assistant in Edgerton, Minnesota and as a home health care provider in Britton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from SDSU.

Sankey says she has always wanted to work with people and to have a career where she could make a difference in the lives of others.

“I know that my previous work with all ages, combined with my college degree, have given me the strengths and tools I need to begin this new career path,” Sankey says. “I believe, as the Roberts County 4-H Youth Program Advisor, I have been given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and the community. I am excited to see where this opportunity takes me and to learn more about Roberts County’s community and culture.”

Christmas in the Courthouse will begin at the Chamberlain Courthouse on December 8th and run through December 23rd.  Residents are encouraged to participate in the Ornament Hunt as well as vote for their favorite Christmas Tree Display during this time.

There are only two tables remaining for the winner regional holiday festival on Saturday, December 4^th.  If you would like to be a sponsor or reserve one of the last two remaining tables, please call 842-7231.