Margaret L. "Maggie" Wittmer, age 58, of Wall, SD, died Friday December 17, 2004 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, December 20, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with Father Leo Hausmann as celebrant.

Music was provided by Rita and Gene Patterson. Ushers were Jim Bloom, Donny Kelly and Donny Schone. Pallbearers were Dennis and Doug Schone, Lynn Culver, Terrell Ramsey, Tommy Velez, Alan Waldschmidt, Alan Born and Leroy Stortenbecker.

Interment was at the Quinn Cemetery.

Kyan Chance Grezik-Hodge, 5-1/2 months, passed away Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Kyan was affectionately known by family and friends as “Little Man”. He was a very happy little boy, who made everyone smile. He was so full of love and gave it freely to everyone who was blessed to be around him. He loved his sister very much and always made her laugh. Little Man was just learning to sit up and enjoy the world around him. He will be missed by every life he touched.

Grateful for having shared his life are his parents, Casey Grezik and J.

Where does Santa Claus get his capital outlay and cash flow? This is an important question for a skin-flint, penny-pinching, cheap-skate like myself. I don’t buy gifts at Tiffany's; or even at super-chain department stores; or even at box-it-yourself outlet warehouses. I go to rummage sales and forgotten attics. (Don’t tell my family.) I have been tempted to “forget” putting the gift in the pretty box and “remember” it for the recipient after the after-Christmas sales. Besides, I’ve always been told that it’s the thought that counts.

The Philip Scotties had their first wrestling meet of the season at the Stanley County Tournament in Ft. Pierre on December 3-4. The results are as follows:

Varsity

Jordan Smith, 103, 2nd place:

•pinned Bradececht, LYM, 1:58

•pinned Stevens, MK, 2:28

•pinned Schremp, CEB, 1:20

•pinned by Welch, PRK, 4:30

Andrew Breck, 125:

•pinned Sinclair, UNA-BK/GR, :36

•pinned by Huether, W, :43

•dec. by Halvorson, LYM, 1-5

Alex Brech, 145, 5th place:

•pinned Caffee, WS/W, :54

•dec.

Members of the Philip Scotties boys’ basketball team are un-learning some things in order to learn controlled basketball.

Head Coach Pat Guptill said, “I think we’re going to have a fun team this year – fun to watch. We’re going to be fast.” This is Guptill’s second year as head coach in Philip, though he had coached boys’ basketball for three years in Wall a number of years ago. Something must be going right because there are 19 players so far; more players than last year.

Guptill and assistant coach Shawn Kerns are working on molding the individual players into a team.

“The Philip Scotties girls’ basketball seniors are out to make a statement, and the rest of the team is ready to support them,” according to the team’s head coach Bobbie Jo Hix.

The 20 players, four student managers, and assistant coach are working hard on creating a solid team. Hix said of assistant coach Mike Albrecht, “This is his first time being an assistant basketball coach, but he’s been a referee, so he knows the game. We work very well together. All the girls respect and look up to him.”

The players also have already earned praise from Hix.

Orlando Drageset, age 82, of Philip, died Saturday evening, December 4, 2004, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Visitation was held from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Thursday.

Services were held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 9, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Philip, with Pastor Robert Oettel officiating.

Music was provided by Lyndy Ireland and Joyce Wheeler. Ushers were Dean and Dave Fitzgerald.

Three resignations hit the Haakon County Commissioners at their December 7 meeting.

Librarian Rose Bly, Emergency Management Director Marty Hansen, and Deputy Sheriff Dusty Pelle all tendered their resignations, effective the latter part of December.

Bly will leave her post of five and one-half years on December 23. Her husband Pastor Paul Bly has accepted a position in Pierre.

The commissioners gave the library board approval to advertise for a new librarian.

A follow-up meeting for the Community Assessment will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, at the Philip High School Fine Arts Building. There will be sessions on “narrowing top priorities” and on “how to move forward in these priorities.”

The Community Assessment ended its first stage at a town meeting on October 14. This follow-up meeting will be the beginning of the next stage. The Philip Chamber of Commerce is spearheading this community improvement project.

The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

The calendar year is quickly coming to a close, and the Philip City Council is concluding as much business as possible before the December 29th meeting.

Building permits are free, but the $100.00 penalty for not filing a permit may have to be implemented. Overhanging electrical wires can be a danger while putting up a building or if ice lowers the line. Buried water and sewer lines, buried communication cables, and water run-off can become problems if concrete is poured over an area without prior investigation. Easements and ordinances may exist.