The Philip Chamber of Commerce addressed a full agenda on Monday, November 13.

Philip has been selected to participate in a Horizons program aimed at building community leadership while addressing area poverty. Britni Ross and Jennifer Henrie updated the chamber.

"We are embarking on a phase called Study Circles which call on six community members to be facilitators of discussions concerning poverty," said Henrie. A steering committee will meet on Thursday, November 16, to begin organizing the logistics of future meetings.

Successfully riding saddle broncs in rodeos across the nation, and not only in the Badlands Circuit Rodeo region, has placed J.J. Elshere in the top 15 money winners in the event. He will be competing in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV, from Thursday, November 30, through Saturday, December 9.

"I've been doing rodeo pretty much my whole life," said Elshere, who was a 1998 graduate from Philip High School and now lives near Quinn. "I started out in sixth or seventh grade in 4-H rodeo. My older brother, Ryan, got into riding the pros. That's how I got started professionally.

The first rounds of the district volleyball action ended with Philip competing against Jones County for the District 13B Championship.

The Tuesday, October 31, matches began with #4-seeded Kadoka team warming up by defeating #5-seeded Crazy Horse 25-7, 25-7, 25-8.

Next, the #3-seeded Jones County came back from two lost games to then sweep #2-seeded White River 21-25, 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 15-6.

The Lady Kougars faced the Philip Lady Scotties in a four-point-total-difference match that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

Philip 6 0 12 8 = 26

Kimball 6 16 6 20 = 48

Temperatures below 20 degrees and a biting wind out of the north had some bearing on the game. Passing was limited, though sometimes still effective. At least one kick was blown backward a bit from where it would normally have come down. The audience disappeared out of the wind during halftime, but cheered enthusiastically - if not only for school spirit, then to also keep warm.

The first quarter was the same, yet different for each team. A Kimball fumble was recovered by Philip.

The Philip Scotties recovered from not making the game's first touchdown, to eventually decimating the Campbell County Express during the first play-off game on Tuesday, October 24. The final score for the Class 9A Region 4 game was 52-12. Philip is rated number three and now has an 8-1 season record.

Philip 16 24 6 6 = 52

Campbell 6 0 0 6 = 12

The Express received the first kick-off. They then surprised the Scotties with firing into a passing game.

Edmund "Eddie" Baye, Sr., 93, remembers when he was six years old and rode to church in Philip in a horse-drawn buggy. He now drives himself to Mass everyday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Mr. Baye had the John Deere implement business here for 40 years. Before that, he worked for Dorothy Brothers Chevrolet dealer.

He decided a couple years ago that it's no fun being lonely, so he got married. His second wife is Lila Maxine (maiden name Keyser).

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.