At their November 1 meeting the Haakon County Board of Commissioners approved a request by the county auditor to use a collection agency to obtain outstanding monies owed to the county.

Auditor Patsy Freeman submitted a request to use the Credit Collections Bureau to collect decades of outstanding fines, court costs and attorney fees that have not been collected by Haakon County. She told the board that the agency would take 35 percent of all collections with no other charges to the county for their services. "We've tried to keep up with it and we can't," said Freeman.

The Philip Livestock Auction has expanded its livestock holding capability to approximately 2,000 head in its feedlot area, while allowing its barn area capability to still hold 8,000 head.

The construction aspect of the expansion project began around the middle of August, 2010. A gravel road running north and south was put in just north of the original cattle pens. That road was completed the middle of October. Three feed bunks were then put in, one to the west of the road and two east of the road.

After earning her way through local and district talent contests, Kianna Knutson, Philip, represented South and North Dakota when she competed in the Midwest Regional Finals at the Menominee Casino in Keshena, Wis., Saturday, November 5.

Knutson competed against seven other acts to determine who would proceed on to the national competition in Nashville. Each regional act had seven minutes on stage. Of the eight acts, two were duets, one duet being brothers, while the rest were individual performers. Three musicians were 17 years old.

by Barbara Jones

Catholic services were held Sunday morning, November 5, 1906, in Lewis Hall at Midland with Father Murphy from Fort Pierre. According to the Western Star, Midland's early newspaper, "This was the first Catholic service ever conducted here." Father Murphy, who had come from Lead to do missions work, had all of Stanley County under his charge. He stated that he hoped in the not too distant future to build a small church in Midland. Father Murphy held Mass at Lewis Hall, December 16.

Father Anthony O'Hara, here in 1907, served Midland during early homestead days.

June Roby, age 57, of Boise, Idaho, died Sunday, November 6, 2011, at her home in Boise.

June Loua Williams was born February 23, 1954, in Kadoka, S.D., the daughter of Virgil and Donna (Crowser) Williams. She grew up in Philip where she received her elementary education. She then attended Philip High School for three years, before she moved to Faith where she graduated from Faith High School in 1972.

She was united in marriage to Craig Hickenbotham at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, and to this union were born two children, Jennifer and Cody.

Richard A. Burnett, age 78 of Philip, S.D., died Friday, November 4, 2011, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Richard Burnett was born September 7, 1933, on the family farm near Huron,. Richard was the 11th of 13 children born to Roy and Alma (Katz) Burnett. He grew up and attended school in Beadle County and graduated from Huron High School in 1953. After graduation he enlisted and served in the United States Navy until 1957. He was a veteran of the Korean War.

Richard was united in marriage to Carol Potter on February 12, 1955, in San Diego, Calif.

Dale Leroy Hansen, age 79 of Frazier Park, Calif., died Sunday, October 30, 2011, in Frazier Park, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Dale Leroy Hansen was born April 12, 1932, in Philip, the son of Ralph and Alvina Hansen. Dale grew up on his parents' ranch west of Philip, attending Watson Country School and graduating from Philip High School in 1951. Dale's classmates and friends from the 1950s will remember him as an outstanding runner, specializing in the mile run for the Philip Scotties track team.

Sadie Conlee Williams, age 97 of Rapid City, formerly of Kadoka, S.D., died Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at Fountain Springs Health Care in Rapid City of congestive heart failure.

Sadie Elsie Williams was born to John and Mary (Kutilek) Washecheck on June 19, 1914, northwest of Kadoka, on the family homestead in Old Stanley County. She was the youngest of 10 children. She received her education at the Lone Star country school. She then helped her parents on the farm until she moved into Kadoka and worked at the Pearl Hotel.