Big or small issues, I learn how to treat aspects of my life through the direct and indirect influences of my children.

The politicians and powers-that-be should visit with my daughter. She was given a hand-me-down skirt. It was fairly new, white, stylish, fit well, and she liked it. I saw it on her for the first time. I closed my wide-open jaw so hard that I almost lost my tongue. That mini-skirt showed off my daughter's legs almost up to her armpits. Actually, back in college, I used to date girls who wore clothes like that. But, my daughter?!

Registration for this year's academic classes at Philip High School for grades 7-12 will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 15-16, at the high school principal's office.

The three Fall sports will hold their first practices on Monday, August 14.

All athletes must have their physical forms on file in the high school office before their first practice. Forms are available at the high school office or online at www.philip.k12.sd.us.

A football parent/player meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, in the high school gym.

Haakon County is applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The CDBG will partially fund a new county library with an annex attached to the existing courthouse which will contain handicap accessible restrooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In order to be eligible for the grant, the Haakon County Friends of the Library will be conducting random telephone surveys in the evening hours during the week of August 7-11.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 3-6, offer a very full schedule of fun activities for residents and guests in the Philip area. Planning and preparations for the Haakon/Jackson County Fair and Philip Festival Days are now complete. The agenda is overflowing.

"The two events are being coordinated to make it easier for people to attend all the various activities," said Mark Ford, who is chairing the Festival Days preparations. Adele Gelvin is organizing the many 4-H livestock activities for the fair. Barb Williamson is chairing the parade.

An island civilization with over 35,300 casualties and over 12,000 orphans from the 2004 Tsunami, 75 percent of its fishing industry destroyed, and a violent group of civil-war separatists disrupting government activities; this is Sri Lanka.

Why would anyone travel half way across the world to help build an orphanage there?

An island civilization with over 35,300 casualties and over 12,000 orphans from the 2004 Tsunami, 75 percent of its fishing industry destroyed, and a violent group of civil-war separatists disrupting government activities; this is Sri Lanka.

Why would anyone travel half way across the world to help build an orphanage there?