Betty "Jean" Schoniger, age 74, has fought her gallant fight with cancer and now, March 9, 2006, has triumphantly, earned her rest with God. She faced terminal illness with the verse and gaiety that she brought to all challenges in life.

Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the American Legion Hall in Philip, with Pastor Ann Schlossnagle and Pastor Tim Solberg officiating.

Private family interment was in the Masonic Cemetery.

Music was provided by Marilyn Millage, pianist, and Maureen Palecek, vocalist, with congregational hymns.

One of the hardest decisions I have to make at this point in my life is when to start middle age. When I do decide, old age will always be fifteen years older than I am, because I fear the adage that the four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence and obsolescence.

I discovered a shocking thing just this morning. I am going bald. I do not feel comfort in knowing that God created only a few perfect heads and the rest he covered up with hair.

The Philip Economic Development Committee used its Revolving Loan Funds capability for the first time in granting an application for a $100,000 loan to the Philip Ambulance Service for purchase and remodeling of the Kennedy Implement building.

Director Don Weller represented the Philip Ambulance Service at the Thursday, March 16, meeting of the Economic Development Committee. As the first and main order of business, the committee approved the application.

The Midland School Board met in a special session at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15. Before a standing-room-only audience, the board unanimously decided to contract with the Kadoka School District for the teaching of the Midland High School students for the 2006-2007 school year.

The board also unanimously voted to develop a plan for reorganization with the Kadoka School District.

Girl Scouting is alive and well in the Philip area, thanks to dedicated past and present leaders. Girl Scouting has been here for 40 years.

To accommodate the smaller community of Philip, the Daisies (kindergardeners) and Brownies (first through third graders) have been combined for the last few years. This group is currently led by Amy Pinela, Emily Kroetch and Kay Ainslie.

The Philip Juniors (fourth and fifth graders) and Cadets (seventh through ninth graders) are led by Marlene Scheesselle and Kay Ainslie.

Kadoka’s Main Street is short a couple of buildings after an early morning fire on Thursday.

Kadoka Fire Chief Rich Bendt said he arrived at the scene about 12:45 a.m. and he could see flames coming from between the two buildings.

There was a narrow walkway between the buildings where steps were attached to the two-story corner building.

by Del Bartels

The new lodge should be completed by next fall’s hunting season, but the guided hunting for clients-turned-friends has been evolving for years.

Bart and Marcy Ramsey have operated the South Fork Ranch as a ranch for years. As a matter of fact, Bart is the third generation owner/operator of the spread, and has been joined by his son, Chad, as the fourth generation. Also, his family has always enjoyed hunting.

Dear Editor,

On the news it was reported that the legislature, in their infinite wisdom, has seen fit to cut the budget for Public Broadcasting by a mere $500,000. This sizable cut in funding will turn off transmitters for Public Television in all of northwestern South Dakota and a good share of northcentral South Dakota.

’Tis the day for wearin’ ‘o’ the green. A day in which there is no discrimination. Black, red, yellow, white; at the bottom of four or five pitchers of green beer, everybody turns green.

St. Patrick’s Day is meant for fun. Sometimes too much fun. Take me, for instance; I have been know to go a wee bit too Irish. My reputation for jokes, tricks and mischief would challenge a leprechaun. My idea of the gold at the end of a rainbow is the look of “I’ll get even someday” on the face of a friend who has just fallen for a practical joke.

In their final game of this year’s boys’ basketball season, the Philip Scotties were defeated by the #1-seeded White River in District 13B play in Philip. The Tuesday evening game, which was played in front of a crowd of almost 1,200 spectators, ended with a score of 66-84.

The Scotties end their season with a record of 13 wins and eight losses.

Philip 14 31 44 66

White River 26 46 62 84

Philip scorers: Dana Kerns - 23, Nick Heeb - 17, Justin Livermont - 12, Casey Elshere - 6, Allen Hauk and Bo Slovek - 3 each.