Paul Marvin Cihak, 39, Sturgis, died Thursday, August 4, 2004, near Rochford.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, August 9, 2004, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Arnold Kari as celebrant. Father Tim Hoag was con-celebrant.

Burial followed at the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis.

A man who started his life with the name Paul Marvin Cihak was born on February 25, 1965, in Winner, SD, to Marvin and Betty Cihak. He grew up in Mission, SD, shooting and stuffing dead animals and playing pranks on people he knew.

Philip Chamber of Commerce President Glenn Parsons welcomed members and guests to the monthly general meeting held Monday, August 9, at The Steakhouse.

Positive comments were received by Parsons and other chamber members on the success and enjoyment of Festival Days, held last weekend in Philip.

Local cowboys and cowgirls have been busy with rodeo competitions recently. Below are the standings of area participants:

Ladies’ All-Around Standings

as of July 26, 2004

2. Lainee Shearer, Wall, $2,094.66

8. Whitney O'Rourke, Interior, $963.84

Men's All-Around Standings

as of July 26, 2004

2. Morris Jones, Midland, $4,102.43

4. Jeff Jones, Midland, $3,292.36

7. Arlen Hulm, Faith, $2,482.93

SDRA Rookie Standings

Unofficial as of July 26, 2004

1. Jesse Wilson, Wasta, $2,465.58

5.

So far, in region action, 4-C has played Plankinton, winning 15-12. Winning pitcher was Brad Hand and losing pitcher was Oric Earl. For 4-C, Jason Overweg went 3 for 6; Brad Hand, 3 for 5; Michael Penticoff, 2 for 5 with a home run. Highlight of the night as the fact that everyone playing had a hit!

In game two, 4-C faced the Kennebec-Chamberlain Cannons, losing 15-16 in 10 innings. Losing pitcher was Jeremy Hand; winning pitcher was Paul Stier.

Congratulations go to Philip wrestlers Brock Slovek and Kurt Flesner, who competed in the South Dakota All-Star Games in Aberdeen and came away with top honors last Tuesday.

The North defeated the South 7-2. Among the winners was Kurt Flesner, who defeated Andy Willuweit of Gregory, 3-1. Brock Slovek won his match 2-1 over Spencer Novotny of Winner.

Lisle Dewey Whisler, 93, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at the IOOF Home, Mason City, IA.

Funeral services were held July 31st at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel in Clear Lake.

Memorials may be made to the Lisle Whisler Memorial Fund.

Lisle was born June 3, 1911, at Midland, SD, the son of Eugene and Irene (Powell) Whisler. He graduated from Midland High School and then attended and graduated from Open Bible Institute in Des Moines, IA.

Lisle married Elaine Rowcliffe at South Dakota.

John Edward Bell passed away in March of 2004. He was born on July 7, 1915, in Haakon County, SD. His parents were James and Velva Bell, who were homesteading pioneers. He had two older sisters, Hazel and Lucile, and one younger sister, Boneta.

The kids were raised on a farm and, as a boy, John helped with all of the chores, tending livestock and looking after the land.

A bomb scare closed Highway 14 east of Philip for about an hour Saturday afternoon.

“We had a suspicious package,” Haakon County Sheriff Larry Hanes said. A rancher haying near the highway found the package and called law enforcement.

Traffic was blocked for approximately one hour as the Sheriff’s Department and South Dakota Highway Patrol investigated.

The Quad County Relay For Life Survivor Committee is seeking cancer survivors to be special guests at the 2nd annual Relay For Life event on September 11 & 12, 2004, at the Wall Football Field.

All survivors are invited to walk in the first lap of the event. They will be recognized and will receive a keepsake of the evening.

Philip is gearing up for an action-packed weekend, August 6-7-8, with the Philip Festival Days activities and the Haakon/ Jackson County Fair, which includes Achievement Days and Open Class exhibits.

Along with the usual events, some highlighted events are the Kiss the Cow Contest, two street dances downtown, animal shows, an ice cream social, mud bog, as well as a golf tournament and a demolition derby.

Open Class Exhibits for the county fair will be accepted at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. See all of the wonderful exhibits, from flowers and horticulture to clothing and needlework.