On August 16, Philip Home Health Services will have served the surrounding community for 10 years since it gained its official certification through federal Medicare.

Director Marcy Ramsey said that her staff will probably not have any large celebration, probably have a little extra chocolate and coffee on hand for anyone dropping by.

Home Health provides short-term care through a number of services in a client’s home.

The Haakon/Jackson County Fair and Philip Festival Days were a resounding success. Individuals and groups of all ages could find something to do during all three days, Friday through Sunday.

Actually, the activities began on Thursday afternoon with the 4-H and open class exhibits and judging. Anything from photography, to food, to miniature rockets and most things in between were on display.

On Friday, the exhibits and the Pen of 3 opened before noon.

Harvey (Harv) Langager, 61, Las Vegas, passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at Nathan Adelson Hospice-East.

Graveside services will be held August 17, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in the Interior Cemetery, Interior, SD.

Harv Langager was born May 9, 1944 in Minneapolis, MN, and was a member of the Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV. He was a sales engineer with the drilling industry and served in the U.S. Army. For the past five years he has made his home in Las Vegas.

Shirley Jean Timp, 70, DeSmet, died, Saturday, July 30, 2005 at her home near DeSmet. Services were held Wednesday, August 3, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in DeSmet with Father Cathal Galagher officiating. Burial was at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery near DeSmet.

Shirley Jean Breemes was born January 7, 1935 to parents Fred and Laura Breemes in Haakon County, SD. She attended rural schools and graduated from Philip High School in 1954.

After high school she worked at the bank in Philip.

Christopher Allen Evans, 13, of Rapid City, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2005, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Chris’ life was cut short by a tragic accident.

Chris was born February 12, 1992, in Rapid City, to Stan and Cathy (Bowers) Evans. Chris attended Pinedale Elementary School in Rapid City, and was entering the eighth grade at West Middle School. “Chris was the best son any parent could ever ask for.” He was a good student, who loved math. In his younger years, Chris was involved in Boy Scouts and swimming. He also enjoyed basketball, baseball, track and cross-country.

They say that a really good politician can tell you exactly where to go, and you will thank him for the directions.

I guess it isn’t exactly what you say, but how you say it. For example: There was a car race which only had two entrants – one South Dakota driver and one North Dakota driver. The South Dakota headline read “S.D. driver places first – N.D. driver comes in last.” The North Dakota headline read “N.D. driver comes in second, while S.D. driver comes in second to last.”

A distraught mother finally intervened in a sibling fight.

The Philip City Council began their monthly meeting with the announcement that the grant application for a sidewalk project up Hillside Ave. has been denied. The handicapped-geared path from downtown Philip to the school area would have been a community improvement. The council conceded that the grant was a long shot.

The many new building permits are a positive sign for community improvement. For the most part, owners are applying for permits and using the one-call to check for buried utilities before they dig.

So far this year, anthrax has been confirmed in six herds in Sully, Brown and Marshall counties, all east of the Missouri River. Losses are approaching 200 head, including the deaths that officials suspect are anthrax-related, according to Dr. Sam Holland, state veterinarian and head of the South Dakota Animal Industry Board. State officials continue to test dead animals for anthrax.

Anthrax infection was first discovered this year in a herd in northwestern Sully County. About 40 head died. The rest of the herd, was treated with antibiotics and vaccinated.

The August 2nd Haakon County Commissioners’ meeting drew quite a few people as both plans for a new library and ambulance hall were discussed.

Ted Haeder of the Central Enhancement District in Pierre sought approval from the commissioners and feedback from members of the public gathered at the meeting. Among those present were members of the Midland ambulance crew, who were curious as to how the new ambulance hall in Philip was going to be funded and other clarifications.

Art Kroetch was born and raised on the family farm approximately 20 miles northwest of Philip. He has lived his life in the Philip area except for the years he spent in the military.

Eleanor (Johnson) Kroetch was born and raised on a farm in the Russell, Minn., area. She lived there until she married Art on June 30, 1954. The couple has seven children, 20 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Kroetches have a very strong sense of family, church and community.