by Del Bartels

The Philip Chamber of Commerce meeting held Monday, May 12th was a parade of guest speakers on varying subjects.

Three members of the Community Marketing Action Team addressed those in attendance. This team is just one of several created through the Horizons project in order to promote the Philip community and strive to reduce poverty.

Diane Fitch, Becky Brech and Mary Burnett put forth the idea that the Philip area would benefit through a marketing program that creates a slogan-like "brand" for the community.

by Nancy Haigh

An aging courthouse, a $32,795 increase for 9-1-1 service and a switch to a new health insurance provider were three of the costly issues that the Haakon County Board of Comimssioners discussed at their Tuesday, May 5, 2008, meeting.

Haakon County and its employees will soon start saving approximatley $5,000 each month with a new health insurance provider. Brad Wilson, Sioux Falls, returned with a price quote from the South Dakota Municpal League's workmen's compensation health insurance pool.

The First National Agency has added the Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Company to their selection of insurance and financial services.

The agency has purchased the Noteboom Agency, with the official transfer date being May 15th. April Noteboom will continue employment at the office of Les' Body Shop in Philip.

"It is our hope to provide the same quality service that the clients have come to expect from April Noteboom and her predecessor, Jim Gottsleben," said First National Agency Manager Joe Gittings.

The librarian for the Haakon County Public Library, Alison Kattelmann, has resigned her position. Her last working day will be May 30th.

An open house "going away, good luck" coffee time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23rd, at the library. Kattelmann's husband, Brad, is joining the army to be a military chaplain. Their destination is still unknown. "Wherever we end up," said Kattelmann, "I'd really like to find a job working for another library. Most postings have libraries on base. I'd take shelving, whatever.

by Del Bartels

"I wanted my own business and to set my own hours," said Tiana Fitch concerning the opening of her own beauty shop in Philip.

Tiana's Hair Cottage officially opened for business on Wednes-day, May 7th. Fitch said, "I love coloring and cutting," but smiled when she said that she offers the full gamut of hair, nails and esthetics of any beauty salon. She caters to everyone, women, men and children.

Fitch is offering a five to 20 percent discount, depending on the service, for the first two weeks of business, through May 21st.

The Philip High School wrestling team has earned the 2007-08 Academic Achievement Team Award.

The South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) has sponsored the SDHSAA Academic Achievement Team Award program to recognize athletic teams and fine arts groups for their academic excellence.

The Philip Scotties track and field team traveled to Custer for its multi-class invitational meet on Friday, April 18th.

The girls' 3200 meter relay team run the course in 10:56.88 to take first place.

The Scotties boys' golf team won the Bison Invitational Golf Tournament held at Boulder Canyon in Sturgis on April 28th.

The Philip team totaled a three person score of 260. Lemmon totaled 265 to take second place. Lyman claimed third with a 293 and Jones County, with a 297, took fourth. Eight schools were represented.

Philip's Kolby Longbrake earned the medalist, first place, honors with an individual score of 84. Lemmon's Tanner Gebhard took second place with a score of 86. Philip's Allen Hauk took third place with an 87.

Athletes from Philip traveled to Kadoka to compete in the open class People's Market Invitational Track and Field Meet on Thursday, April 24th

Brandon O'Dea went a distance of 18'06" to earn first place in the long jump. Marissa Mann took second in the shot put with a throw of 31'01." The 1600 meter medley team of Josie Guptill, Kady Pinney, Lindsay Mann and Tylissa Fitch earned second place with a time of 4:53.2. Another second place was earned by the 400 meter medley team of L. Mann, Kayla O'Connell, Pinney and Guptill with a time of 4:32.5.

Oahe Speedway's 2008 season has officially begun. Test and tune sessions on Saturday, April 19th, allowed the racers to work out the bugs and shake off the cobwebs.

Racers from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming and Nebraska braved the cool, windy conditions to challenge the prepped track. Sunday proved to be just as breezy, with the running of the first races of the year.

In the No Box division, Paula Duncan of Midland in her 1996 Cougar, could not make it through the eighth finals. Her reaction time (RT) was -.014.