Both Philip fifth and sixth grade teams won their divisions at the first Kadoka Shootout Basketball Tournament held Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, at the Kadoka Auditorium.

In this last tournament of the season, the Philip fifth graders first defeated Crazy Horse 33 to 13. Jacob Kammerer earned 16 points, Blake Hackerott - 15 and Joseph One Skunk - two. The Scotties then beat the Kadoka Kougars 41 to 21, with Hackerott leading with 13. Garrett Snook and Kammerer each earned eight, One Skunk - four, Brock Hanson - two and Ben Stangle dropped in six.

Philip atheletes competed at the Newell Invitational Golf Tournament on Friday, May 1.

In the boys' division, Philip took top honors with a total score of 288. Wall was three strokes behind with a 291. Lemmon totalled 306 to claim third and Newell shot 322 for fourth place.

Individually, Philip's Devon Ehlers earned third place with 45 on the front nine and 45 on the back nine for a total of 90. Teammate Caleb Clemets was right behind in fourth place with 47 and 46 for 93.

The Black Hills Invitational Golf Tournament was held at Hart Ranch on Monday, May 4.

"Conditions were a little windy, but the nicest weather we have had to golf in all spring," said Philip coach Doug Hauk. "The golf pro at Hart Ranch said the greens were the fastest that they have had at Hart Ranch. Greens on the 15th and 16th holes were really a challenge for kids Monday."

Of the 10 teams at the meet, the boys' division was championed by Philip with a total score of 292.

A renovation update and gravel crushing were two items of good news discussed at the Haakon County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, May 5.

Haakon County Auditor Patricia Freeman reported that the restrooms renovations are more than 70 percent complete. So far less than $26,000 of the $45,000 allocated has been spent. The first floor restroom has the new flooring, stalls and sink in with the toilets awaiting hook-up. The flooring in the second floor women's restroom was finished Tuesday morning.

"Let the choices you make today, be choices you can live with tomorrow" was Zane Fees' opening line at the fourth annual Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program on Wednesday, April 29, in Kadoka.

Fees spoke to freshmen students from Philip, Kadoka and Wall regarding a poor choice he made while in high school. Fees, who at the time, was a junior at Philip High School, said he disrespected his parents and went to a party. He had intentions not to drink, but ... when he left the party he was the driver of the vehicle which rolled and killed his best friend, Dalles Brucklacher.

"Let the choices you make today, be choices you can live with tomorrow" was Zane Fees' opening line at the fourth annual Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program on Wednesday, April 29, in Kadoka.

Fees spoke to freshmen students from Philip, Kadoka and Wall regarding a poor choice he made while in high school. Fees, who at the time, was a junior at Philip High School, said he disrespected his parents and went to a party. He had intentions not to drink, but ... when he left the party he was the driver of the vehicle which rolled and killed his best friend, Dalles Brucklacher.

The Philip City Council on Monday, May 4, began its new business with the swearing in of three councilmen beginning new terms, Greg Arthur, Monte Palecek and Tom Struble. Mike Vetter has been elected by fellow council members as council president and Palecek is the council vice president.

The council will invite back Seth Hyberger with the Central South Dakota Enhancement District to give more time and effort to a comprehensive plan. He had asked the council to supply a list of goals and objectives for the future use of city and adjacent land.

The Rafter Cross Ranch, a ranch steeped in history, has been a fixture in West River for more than a century, but it soon will go on the auction block as the Ferguson family ends its 100 year ownership.

Three brothers, Messer Alexander (Cap), Walt and Edward (Ed), from Arkansas arrived in western South Dakota in the late 1890s. Cap came up from Texas in 1895, where he had been working on ranches. He worked for a short time as a miner in the Black Hills. In 1897 or 1898, Cap decided to venture eastward to look for range.

Richard Edward Burrus was born August 1, 1934, in Ft. Pierre, SD, to Verdie (Anderson) and Edward Burrus of Hayes. He passed away on February 15, 2009, at the age of 74 at the Bellingham, WA, hospital after a brave struggle with lung cancer.

He was raised on a ranch west of Hayes and attended the Hayes School until his parents moved to Bothell, WA, in 1945.

Shirley Willert, age 81 of Kadoka, SD, died May 3, 2009, at the Kadoka Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 8, at the Kadoka City Auditorium, with Larry Dolezal officiating.

Music will be provided by Boyd Porch, John Kaiser and Carl Bauman. Ushers are Keith Bonenberger and Bob Eckert. Pallbearers are Ryan, Jamie, Nick and Jeff Willert, John and Eric Addison.

Interment will be held 2:30 p.m. Friday, at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.