The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering a special initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Cover Crop Initiative is designed to help increase soil quality and provide an additional source for grazing among other benefits.

The deadline for submitting an application for Fiscal Year 2009 funding consideration is Friday, April 3, 2009.

They say you can take the farmer out of the country, but not the country out of the farmer, as 29 ag "students" of Class V South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership (SDARL) proved during a week-long seminar in Washington, D.C.

They may have been a long ways from their farms, ranches and agriculture dependent small towns, but farming and agriculture were never far from their minds as SDARL class members spent the last week of February learning how Washington works.

Two friends visit one's aunt and uncle for the weekend. Then they discover he is a mortician, a dead body is waiting burial, and somebody poisoned it. Well, that is what the dead body tells them.

The Milesville Drama Club will put on the three act mystery/comedy Finders Creepers on April 3 through 5. The Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday is at 2:00 p.m.

Directed by Linda Schofield, the play has been adapted for regional appeal, complete with a Dr. Klopper character played by Justin Freeman.

"Basically, the entire time I was there, I didn't sit down to watch a game from the stands. I was running a Public Broadcasting Service camera," said Colton Nickelson, a junior at Philip High School.

Earlier this school year, Nickelson started running cameras for the high school's television station, formally channel 15, now channel 19. He said that none of this would be possible without the help and encouragement of Mike Seager. "Actually, Duke Westerberg is the guy who got me started and interested. He asked me to help record the Philip vs. Irene-Wakonda football game.

On Sunday, March 15, the Philip Lady Scotties were honored as heroes in their return from their first ever State B Girls' Basketball Tournament.

Philip, with a before-state season record of 21-4, had earned 43.00 seeding points to rank it sixth at state.

The Haakon County Commissioners were informed Tuesday, March 17, of the amount of federal stimulus dollars they would receive.

Haakon County Highway Superintendent Kenny Neville told the board at a special commissioner's meeting that he had received word from the state that the county would receive $136,825.10 in federal stimulus dollars. He said the money would be distributed through the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

A letter from SDDOT outlined the stimulus dollars that the county would receive. The county has two options for receiving the funds.

Before the Haakon District 27-1 Board of Education meeting began on Monday, March 16, a public drawing was held to determine the order of names on the upcoming election ballot.

Also, eight election officials will be hired for election day. The five in Philip and three in Milesville will set up before 7:00 a.m. and close up after 7:00 p.m.

by Del Bartels

The Philip City Council met on March 16, first as a board of equalization, then as the city council.

The meeting was held in the Commissioner's Room on the second floor of the courthouse because of construction work being done in the community room.

Rita Merrill, Director of Equalization for Haakon County, said in her annual report, "We try to make sure property values are at 100 percent of sale values, then taxable value is set at 85 percent of that. We had a light year of growth for 2008.

Seven candidates are running for two at-large seats on the Haakon School District 27-1 Board of Education. The election will be Tuesday, April 14.

Five questions have been given to each candidate. Before the election, their answers will be printed in successive issues of the Pioneer Review.

Question #2. What do you feel is the most important issue before the board of education at this time?

Jodi Kammerer: "I think the number one issue facing the school board right now is accountability.

Albert "Sunny" Osborne, age 67, of Quinn, died Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Survivors include his daughter, Deirdra Lynn Osborne of Salt Lake City, Utah; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, George Osborne and his wife, Maureen, of Allen, Texas; one sister, Penny Baumann and her husband, Dale, of Quinn; and a host of other relatives and friends.

According to his wishes, cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements were with the Rush Funeral Chapel of Wall.

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