The next blood drive in Philip will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, at the Bad River Senior Citizens Center.

The Knights of Columbus, under the coordination of Rick Palecek, are sponsoring the event. To schedule a donation appointment, contact Miranda Huber or call United Blood Services in Rapid City at 1-800-834-8525.

Out of every 100 people needing blood, more that 50 percent will use Type-O. "That's the reason we are trying to sign up more O-positive and O-negative donors for our upcoming drive," said Palecek.

by Del Bartels

Tanner Handcock is the newest insurance agent at Crew Agency.

Handcock has passed his South Dakota testing requirements for crop insurance and started working full time for the agency on August 1. He is a 1999 graduate of Kadoka High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Black Hills State University.

"I've actually always wanted to get into the insurance business," said Handcock.

Two new road graders from Butler Machinery Co., Rapid City, will be purchased in 2009 by the Haakon County Commissioners, as decided at their September 2, 2008, meeting.

Butler Machinery was the sole bidder for the graders. Alex Kulesza, sales representative, outlined the bid for the Haakon County Commissioners. The price, as bid per advertised specifications was $216,530 per grader. The specifications included a ripper and a scarifier, a five-year/5,000 hour warranty and a buyback option.

"Put me through my paces with a question and answer session," said South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds. And that is what the citizens of the Philip area did.

The Q&A session ended the governor's speech, which ended the community banquet, which ended Philip being the South Dakota Capital For A Day on Thursday, August 28. The day officially began at 2:30, with cabinet members and top state department employees touring the town of Philip.

But, the day's activities had begun before that.