Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant and inquired if he was heading home.

"No," he responded.

"Heading out?" I asked.

"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."

"Going to pick him up?"

"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family."

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me. It was an honor for him.

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant and inquired if he was heading home.

"No," he responded.

"Heading out?" I asked.

"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."

"Going to pick him up?"

"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family."

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me. It was an honor for him.

I applied for this deer season's hunting license on January 1. I have cleaned and buffed my rifle until it shines. I have all my gear and it is in perfect condition. My water jug is already full. I have even washed my eye glasses. I am ready.

Yeah right, no way, only in my wildest dreams, are-you-joking?

The tags were originally mis-mailed and now "they are in the mail" is what the Game, Fish and Parks guy told me (actually a very pleasant gentleman). I have not shot my rifle since last year. I can't find any of my gear. My job is busy right now.

"Coffee Shop Marketing" was developed in 2005 to provide a foundation for South Dakota producers to build and implement their own marketing plans. It was launched from a grant awarded from the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) to a SDSU economics team.

Follow-up meetings are scheduled at 1:00 p.m. on the following dates: November 16 in Gettysburg at the VFW; November 30 in Watertown at the Codington County Extension Center; and December 7 in Philip at the Philip Fire Hall.

"Last year, we held three meetings in each of these locations.

SDSU Extension began working with community development in 2004 that emphasized developing local leaders to deal with challenges such as poverty. Communities involved in this new round of the program must have fewer than 5,000 residents and a poverty rate of greater than 10 percent as of the 2000 census, according to Kari Fruechte, Horizons Project director for the SDSU Cooperative Extension Service.

A public Spotlight session was held in Philip on September 13.

Since Jennifer's birth, her family has primarily used a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, to help with her condition. The family makes regular trips several times a year for what they term as a "tune-up" for Jennifer and, on average, are there for a week to ten days for these treatments. Last year, Jennifer spent a great deal of time in Omaha due to several severe lung infections. In fact, she spent most of last summer in the Omaha hospital or traveling back and forth for treatments.

Jennifer is the daughter of Wes and Nikki Nelson of Midland.

In loving memory of Eugene Charles Reynick who passed away unexpectedly on November 2nd.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elma Reynick, of Philip, SD.

Gene was born August 22, 1933, on the family ranch 18 miles northwest of Philip. He attended Philip High School, and was an athletic standout in several sports. His school track record for the 440 set in 1951 stood for several decades.

He attended the University of South Dakota on an athletic scholarship graduating in 1958. His time at USD was interrupted by two years of service in the U.S.

Edward Carr Wilkinson, passed away on October 30th, 2006, surrounded by his family.

Edward was born August 29, 1929 in Milesville, SD. He lived a full life with his cherished family and friends.

Those family left to honor his memory are his wife, Sarah "Sally" J. Wilkinson, his children, Paula Wilkinson Smith and her husband, Steven, of Rapid City, Craig and his wife, Alix, of Boulder City, NV, Cathy Swaney of Rapid City, Laura Edwards and her husband, Derek, of Scotrun, PA, Shaun and his wife, Amy, of Seattle, WA.

Philip took advantage of five Wall turnovers to shut out the Eagles, 52-0, in the last game of the regular season play on Thursday, October 19.

Philip 6 24 22 - = 52

Wall 0 0 0 - = 0

The win boosted Philip, the third-ranked team in Class 9A, to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in Western Conference play. Wall was pushed back to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in conference games. Philip will move on to a play-off game against Campbell County.

At 6:29 in the first quarter, the Scotties took an early 6-0 lead on a Zane Fees 4-yard run.

Philip's three qualifying varsity boy runners for the State Cross Country Meet in Huron on Saturday, October 21, came in 62nd, 63rd and 101st. Philip's qualifying varsity girl came in 72nd out of a field of 119 runners.

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Saturday, October 21, 3:00 a.m. - it's time to get our team loaded up and head east to Huron to the State Cross Country Meet.