Raymond Keith Tyler, age 78 of Kerrville, Texas, died May 21, 2008, at the Alpine Terrace Nursing Home in Kerrville, Texas.

Memorial services will be held Friday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church (629 Kansas City St.) in Rapid City, with Pastor Lin Jennewein officiating.

Music will be provided by Diane Ketel, organist, and Maureen Tyler and Jil Jennewein, vocalists. Ushers are Andy Wilson and David Reid.

Ray was born on June 28, 1929 to Arthur Tyler and Mildred Perkins Tyler in Sioux Falls, SD.

Marilyn Prokop, age 64 of Kadoka, SD, died July 20, 2008, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 23, at the United Methodist Church, with Pastor Sonja Wilcox officiating.

Music was provided by Pastor Wilcox. The eulogy was given by Sheri Webster. Ushers were Charlie Carlson, Luke Vander May, Bob McCormick and Clee Brakke.

The rain came down, soon followed by mud going up.

The Midland mud bog races were originally planned for Saturday, July 19. The sponsors, the Volunteer Fire Department and Midland Emergency Medical Service, decided to postpone the event until the next day, Sunday, July 20. Nine-tenths of an inch of rain made access and the audience part of the field too muddy for use. The sponsors did not want to destroy the grass on the pastures.

The track area, about five miles west of Midland, was dry enough for Sunday's 200-plus audience.

The USA Women's Olympic Softball Team played against South Dakota's Black Hills Gold team in Rapid City at Pete Lien Memorial Field on July 15 at 7:00 p.m.

The Philip girls softball team was part of the sold-out audience. Philip's 25-member team is coached by Arthur McIllravy, Jeremy Noteboom and Edna Knutson. "We felt fortunate to take along 20 of our team members and 10 others to attend this once in a lifetime opportunity," said Knutson.

The final score was seven to zero at the end of nine innings, though seven innings are standard play.

"I can see where it wouldn't be a job for everyone," said 19-year-old Jonathan Rush about starting an internship toward a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science.

"Some of the hours would be a little hard to handle. There is a lot of little stuff you don't think about that goes into a funeral. There is printing up of different items, writing the obituaries, working with the death certificate, arranging the memorial folders and the register book ...

A free ice cream social "celebration of community spirit" event is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14, at the Philip Volunteer Fire Hall and the Fire Hall Park.

This event will have three functions. It will be a graduation ceremony of Philip in the Horizons project. It will be a promotion of community organizations, there will be a free ice-cream social. Everyone is invited.

Grace Schnable was one of three area students selected for an all-expenses-paid tour of Washington, D.C.

South Dakota Rural Electric Association sponsored three local students on a six-day trip for the youth to experience the politics and sites of the nation's capital. Schnable is a senior at Philip High School and daughter of Doug and Nancy Thorson. She, Ben Stout of Kadoka, Faith Begay of Lower Brule, and 29 other South Dakota teenagers left the Sioux Falls airport on Friday, June 13.

The annual Bad River Open golf tournament at Lake Waggoner Golf Course was held on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22.

Saturday was the qualifying round of 18 holes to determine placement of players on one of the three flights. Sunday included the main 18-hole competition as well as a long drive contest.

In the championship flight, Mike Prue earned first place with a Sunday 18-hole score of 134. Philip's Dak Carley took second place with a gross score of 144. Cory Jensen shot 145 for third place and Brad Haynes earned fourth place with a 149. D.J.

by Del Bartels

The City of Philip City Council's regular meeting on Monday, July 7, had the fullest agenda in a year.

The City of Philip is being brought into a civil suit by Emily Kroetch. Originally believing her property was outside of city limits, she thought city ordinances such as mowing requirements did not apply. Extensive research showed that the land is within city limits.

Local volunteer Mary Eide, project director of the Prairie Transportation Service of Philip, will be recognized for her countless hours of service to the community.

A brat, burgers and chips fundraiser for the Prairie Transportation Service will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Fire Hall Park in Philip on Tuesday, July 22. The rising costs of fuel and the state-mandated minimum wage increases are causing financial needs for the service.

During the fundraiser, local Modern Woodmen of America members will honor Eide as a hometown hero.