A bill to prohibit smoking in all public places passed through the House State Affairs Committee February 18, 11-2.

House Bill 1240 would prohibit smoking in most places, with the exception for cigar bars, smoke shops and hotel rooms.

Rep. Bob Faehn, R-Watertown, the main sponsor of the bill, said there is a clear hazard with secondhand smoke. When some people's rights infringe on other people's rights, he said, it is time for the government to intervene.

The meeting on Monday, February 23, of the local AARP/RTA began a series of guest speakers representing government and how members' taxes are being spent.

Mike West is the president of the local chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons and the Retired Teachers Association. He put numbers on how much economic influence senior citizens have in the area. According to his research, social security recipients in Haakon County received a total of over $816,000 last year.

The 2009 Quad-County Relay for Life will be held in Philip this year on June 13.

The booths, speakers and entertainers will be at the south end of Center Ave., in the bank parking lot, in Fire Hall Park and in the Philip Fire Hall. The luminaries and walking path will be on both sides of the two blocks of Center Ave.

"I've never done anything that has been so easy to get people involved," said this year's organizing chairman Marlis Doud. "Everybody volunteers!

A petition was filed on February 1, 2009, calling for an initiated measure to be put on the ballot of the city election to be held April 14.

Signatures on the petition represented at least five percent of the registered voters within the City of Philip. The initiated measure is to change the current ordinance prohibiting private structures located in the public rights-of-way.

The Philip Area team not only won the District 7B Wrestling Tournament, but will be sending 13 members on to the Region 4B Wrestling Tournament in Ft. Pierre on Saturday, February 21.

Out of six competing teams, Philip earned 255 points, more than double the second place team of Bennett County (BC) with 112 points. Third was Custer (Cu) with 106, 4th - Red Cloud (RC) with 89, 5th - St. Thomas More (STM) with 65, and 6th - Hill City (HC) with 57 points.

Philip Area members earned first place berths in 12 of the 14 weight classes. The Scotties also took one second place.

The Philip Scottie boys hosted the Lyman Raiders on Friday, February 13.

Both teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the first quarter. The Scotties lost the initiative and stumbled for the remainder of the quarter, falling back by 21 points. For the rest of the game, Philip kept Lyman from gaining any more than a 20 point lead. The Scotties rallied in the second quarter, and again in the third, but each time just could not continue taking advantage of turnovers from the Raiders.

The Philip Scottie boys hosted the Dupree Tigers on Saturday, February 14.

The first quarter ended with Philip down by only two field goals. At half-time, the Scotties more than tripled their score, but were still one field goal behind.

The third quarter saw a spreading of the lead to an 11 point advantage by Dupree. Though Philip did not let the Tigers expand that lead at all in the fourth quarter, the Scotties just couldn't reduce it either. The final score was 46-57.

The Philip Lady Scotties traveled to Murdo to challenge the Jones County Coyotes on Tuesday, February 10. They brought back the win with a final score of 43-37.

Philip claimed the lead at the end of the first quarter, though the Coyotes enjoyed the lead at half-time. The Scotties regained the lead by six by the end of the third quarter.

The Philip Scotties hosted the New Underwood Tigers basketball team on Tuesday, February 10.

Coach Mike Baer frequently implemented a five-man change out throughout the game. Baer used this coaching tactic several seasons ago.

Zane Zieman, 85, of Martin, S.D., lost his battle with cancer and passed away Monday night, January 26, 2009, at the Bennett County Hospital and is now with his Lord.

Zane, the oldest son of four children, was born to Charles and Winifred Zieman September 22, 1923, at Done Movin', the Zieman ranch 40 miles north of Hayes, S.D. He was baptized at age 10 into the Methodist faith at the "Little Brown Church" in Hayes.

Zane received his early education at home, taught by his mother, and later at the Hayes Grade School. Like his mother, he became an avid reader of books.