Elnoris Kjerstad, age 90 of Quinn, S.D., died Thursday, November 4, 2010, at his home in Rapid City.

Elnoris was born January 10, 1920, at the ranch northeast of Quinn to Emil, Sr. and Gurine (Ellingsen) Kjerstad. He grew up in the Quinn area and attended the Kruse Country School through the eighth grade and then attended high school in Quinn for six weeks. He then became employed by Knute Tennyson helping run his grocery and creamery store. He eventually purchased the creamery from Knute and also bought a freight line from Frank Gregson.

Ten miles southwest of Wanblee, on the south edge of the Badlands of South Dakota is where the 77 Ranch is located.

It is here you will find 2010 Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association Championship Finals Rodeo pick up man Shayne Porch training and developing his string of seasoned and upcoming pick up horses.

"At no time has the board ever discussed closing the Cheyenne School," said Superintendent Keven Morehart at the Monday, November 15 meeting of the Haakon School District Board of Education.

He and school board member Mark Radway had held an informal, an "almost random" meeting with parents in the Cheyenne school area. "This was just an informational meeting, a good meeting, with good community input. Cheyenne School will be open next fall," said Morehart.

The Haakon Education Association took American Education Week, the school week of November 15 through November 18, to recognize the Haakon 27-1 School District as a Distinguished School District.

"This designation was hard-earned by the students and staff in this district," said Marie Slovek, technology coordinator and K-6 computer instructor at Philip schools, "and, it is something we would like to take time to celebrate."

Distinguished districts are identified using the following criteria:

1.

"When you've been driving them for as many years as I have, there's nothing to it," said Howard Pihlaja, Philip. "I just like do it."

At 86-years-old last October 17, and having driven big machinery since he was 15, Pihlaja still drives equipment such as road graders and bulldozers for a living. He has been working for Philip Livestock Auction for approximately 30 years as a jack-of-all-trades, but he is the man when it comes to operating the heavy stuff.

"I retired at 65. Figured all I had to do was drink beer and fish.

A new business has been started, owned and operated by two brothers who graduated from Philip High School. Mark Trask, a 2008 graduate, and Mick Trask, 2009, have started the Dakota Trophy Taxidermy business.

Mark said, "I'm an avid hunter, like to fish, and am fairly artsy with drawing, carving and making things out of clay. Taxidermy involves a lot of the same skills. We were around Marty Hansen's taxidermy shop a lot when we were kids. He was a big influence on both of us."

Mick said, "It's something I've always wanted to do since I was in kindergarten.

The Philip Scotties football team had a regular season win-loss record in 9AA Region 4 of 6-2 and a power point rating of 51.250.

The first round of playoffs was Tuesday, October 26. The Scotties traveled to Eureka to face the Eureka/Bowdle Patriots, who had a season record of 7-1 and a power point rating of 53.000. Philip was ranked third, while Eureka/Bowdle was ranked second in Region 4.

Philip 2 0 8 0 = 10

EurekaBowdle 0 0 0 0 = 0

This low-scoring game's first quarter saw the Scottie defenseplayers hold the Patriot offense, which was forced to punt.

On June 3, 1950, Peggy Clark and George Hauk were married in the Wall Lutheran Church. They have spent the last 60 years living in the Grindstone area on their farm.

Peggy, the oldest of six children, was raised in Wall. Her parents were William (Bill) and Myrtle Clark. Their house was the last place on the south edge of Wall and from their on it was pasture land.

Peggy's father had moved to this country in 1910 from Iowa where he and his older sister, Anna, were born. Clark's grandparents emigrated to America from County Cork, Ireland, during the potato famine.

"I'm looking forward to the balance of working in the community that I live in and having more opportunity to be with my family," said Mary Burnett about joining the First National Agency in Philip as a licensed insurance agent.

Joe Gittings, agency manager, said," We're excited to have Mary on board. We are looking forward to working with her for many years to come."

Burnett began her position October 18. She is now licensed for life, health, accident, property and casualty insurance.

Rick and Marlis Doud, operators of a ranch 35 miles north of Midland, are being recognized for their conservation work.

The Leopold Conservation Award, which recognizes land-owner achievement in conservation, is presented to the Douds by the Sand County Foundation in cooperation with the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition.

The Sand County Foundation, a Wisconsin-based conservation group, will present the award and a $10,000 check this year to the Douds in South Dakota and to landowners in seven other states this year, California, Color