Craig Hanrahan, a rancher northwest of Philip, has announced that he will seek the state Senate seat in the newly formed District 27, which includes Haakon, Jackson, Bennett and Shannon counties.

A Republican and a lifelong resident of Haakon County, Hanrahan said he looks forward to traveling the district and hearing the concerns of his neighbors.

“I believe that good decisions create good opportunities,” he said.

Matters of smaller concerns were reviewed by the Haakon County Commissioners during their Tuesday, May 2, meeting.

Up first was Roger Porch. He needed county official’s signatures on a plat for land he recently purchased from Gaye Odom. The commissioners applied their signatures and approved the plat. County Highway Superintendent Kenny Neville requested an approval of a waterline crossing through a gravel road for Gary Snook. The commissioners approved the request unanimously.

Acquiring clinical experience during a rural family medicine preceptorship at Philip Health Services, Jonathan Swisher is following a career choice that runs in the family.

“I’ve seen many patients here whom my grandfather used to see when in practice. People recognize the name and ask if I’m related,” said Swisher. His grandfather, Dr. Lowell P. Swisher, had a family practice in Kadoka from around 1960 to 2000, and is now retired in Rapid City.”

Jonathan is a third-year medical student at the University of South Dakota. He has been under the tutelage of Dr.

Funeral Mass for Alice J. (Brown) Bush, 92, of St. Louis, MO, was celebrated on Monday, March 27, at Our Lady of the Snows at the Apartment Community in Belleville, IL.

Interment was in chapel Hill Cemetery in Cedar Hill, MO.

She was born October 11, 1913 at Cottonwood, SD, the daughter of Fred and Ruth Brown. She graduated from Cottonwood High School and trained as a registered nurse at St.

Edward H. "Eddie" Arthur, age 78, of Philip, died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m., all at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 4, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Ron Garry as celebrant. Reader will be Rita O’Connell. Music will be provided by Judy Elshere, pianist, Barb Bowen and Cory Elshere, vocalists.

Yes, it is the start of the political season. Yes, many of us work for bosses. Yes, most of us are married. Add all that to the fact that this is South Dakota, and yes, the wind must blow.

The sun may be shining or snow might be falling, but the wind is always present. We’ve grown accustomed to it. A tourist might yell as the tumble weeds knock him over, “Wow, feel that wind!” and the local farmer could casually reply, “What wind?”

We know what ‘horizontal rain’ is. We know that trees growing on the prairie are never straight.

Etta Mae Crouch, age 96, of Rapid City, formerly of Wall, died Thursday, April 13, 2006, in Rapid City.

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 15, at the Evangelical Free Bible Church in Wall.

Music for the service was provided by Rose Barber, pianist, with congregational hymns. Ushers were Gerald Julson and Jim Barber. Pallbearers were Dave Hahn, Dean Parsons, Lawrence Schreiber, Rod Renner, Dean and Gene Patterson.

Interment was in the Wall Cemetery.

The Quad County Relay for Life, which annually raises funds for the American Cancer Society, will be held in Philip this year. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening and go to around 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning, September 16-17.

A planning meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, in the lobby of the Senechal building in Philip. Part of the agenda is to finalize committee chairs and to distribute team packets. This year’s theme has yet to be finalized; one possibility is “Gift of Hope” with the Relay using Christmas lights and decorations.

There were two local elections on Tuesday, April 11.

Three candidates ran for the two three-year positions on the Haakon School District 27-1 School Board. Official results are: Matt Reedy with 162 votes, Kelly Blair with 123 votes, and Joe Carley with 89 votes. The turn-out was a little over 10 percent of the registered voters.

For the three-year trustee position for the town of Midland, Bill Manke won over Melody Songer.

There is no need for an election of Philip City Council members, because only incumbents are running to retain their current seats.

The Haakon School Board has approved the contracts for certified and extra-curricular employees for next school year. All teaching positions are filled for the 2006-07 year except for one – the high school science position. Four extra-curricular spots are still open – oral interp advisor, sponsor for the annual, head volleyball coach, and coach for junior high boys’ basketball.

The board voted to condemn a proposed lawsuit by the South Dakota Coalition of Schools. The Coalition is planning to sue the State of South Dakota, trying to prove that there is an inadequacy of funding.