Wilma Mae Moore, age 85 of Sacramento, Calif., formerly of Elm Springs, S.D., died January 26, 2009, in Sacramento.

Wilma was born April 24, 1923 in Elm Springs, S.D., the daughter of William "Bill" and Cassie (Trask) Moore. She grew up in the Elm Springs community graduating from Wasta High School in 1942.

She graduated from Black Hills Teachers College in 1952. During her college years she also taught at the South King School.

At the age of 96, Allen Gee passed away January 28, 2008.

Allen was born to Orrin James Gee and Ella Mary Allen Gee on August 21, 1912, their joy and delight as their only child. He was raised to be his dad's help on their 2000 (approximate) acre cattle ranch near Philip.

In 1935, he met Opal Irene Grosvenor of Dallas, SD, at the Pactola Camp in the Black Hills. They married June 17, 1936 at Opal's folks home.

Richard Tolton, age 78 of Pierre, formerly of Midland, died February 11, 2009, at the Maryhouse in Pierre.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, February 16, at St. William Catholic Church in Midland with Father Ron Garry as celebrant.

Music was provided by Barb Petoske, pianist, and Barb Jones, vocalist. Lector was Mike Nemec. Altar server was Brody Jones.

Ushers were Jim Petoske and Terry Schofield.

Tillila Denke, age 91 of Wall, SD, died February 13, 2009, at the Philip Nursing Home.

Services are Thursday, February 19, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Wall with Pastor Duane Duley officiating.

Music will be provided by Mary Kay Wilson, organist, Dorothy Shearer, pianist, and Katrina Torkelson and Isaac Denke, vocalists.

Ushers are Roger Fortune and Dick Johnson. Pallbearers are Scott and Steve Baye, Doug Hart, Billy, Luke and Isaac Denke, Danny Fosness and Jerry Johannesen.

Interment will be at the Wall Cemetery.

The Philip Municipal Airport will receive a $50,000 federal grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airport enhancements.

This grant will provide federal funds to study potential environmental impacts of a purposed land acquisition at the Philip Municipal Airport. The environmental impact study will involve federal and state authorities, and environmental experts, including archeologists. If possible, the purchase of areas at each end of the airport will be done, not to increase the length of the runway, but to expand the clear zone.

by Tara Lynn Okeson, Community News Service

A bill that would permit government entities to forego publishing public notices in newspapers was killed by the House of Representatives' committee on local government February 5.

House Bill 1135, introduced by Rep. Roger Hunt, R-Brandon, would have allowed school boards, local and county governments and state government to post financial reports and notice of elections, bids, financial reports, meetings and minutes on the Internet instead of in newspapers.

During a banguet meeting at the Philip American Legion Hall on Monday, February 16, board members of Central Harvest States Midwest Cooperative announced that South Dakota cooperative members are sharing in a $20.7 million disbursement.

This is a result of the energy and grain-based foods company's record fiscal 2008 earnings. This marks a fifth consecutive record return to owners by CHS and is the largest ever made by a United States cooperative.

The annual meeting in Philip had over 120 attendees.

The long trailer sat toward the back of the huge quonset, the trailer's left side completely opened. The right side was a two-level runway for sheep, the upper for mostly ewes and some rams herded in for shearing, while lower chutes lead the shorn animals back out to the pasture behind the quonset.

Every minute and some seconds, one of the six men pushed a shorn sheep out and smoothly reaches for a wooly one.

The board of education for Haakon School District 27-1 will have two seats open for the April 14 election.

Kelly Blair's and Matt Reedy's at-large terms are to expire. Petitions, with at least 20 signatures of registered voters within the school district, must be filed before 5:00 p.m. on February 27. Any registered voter within the school district may run.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's Xtreme Bulls Tour presented by B&W Trailer Hitches rides into 2009 with a national schedule that will continue to bring the excitement of PRCA bull riding to millions of fans with national coverage on network television, according to Winnercomm President Marc Kidd, who made the announcement during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last December.

The 2009 tour will feature 10 events scheduled throughout the year across the United States.