John Tipps Hamilton, 75, of Ft. Pierre, died on Thursday, January 3, 2008, at his winter home in Arizona.

A prayer service will be held Monday, January 21, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre with a memorial Mass to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday, January 22, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre has been placed in care of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at ws.

John Tipps Hamilton entered eternal life on January 3, 2008.

Ralph G. "Doc" Millstead, age 83 of Philip, SD, formerly of Laguna Woods, CA , died January 6, 2008, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Ralph Gordon "Doc" Millstead was born on January 6, 1925, in Philip and died on January 6, 2008, on his 83rd birthday, in Philip.

As a small child in Philip, he was known as "Gordon" but acquired the nickname "Doc" in grade school when he helped the football coach tape up the ankles of team members.

At the Lyman County "Mid Dakota Monster" Wrestling Tournament held at Presho on Friday and Saturday, January 4th and 5th, there were 22 teams participating and over 800 matches were held.

As a team, the Philip Scotties placed second with 241.5 points, and with 12 of the Scottie varsity wrestlers placing. Philip had one champion, three 2nd places, two 3rd places, three 4th places, a 6th, a 7th and two 8th places (one of these was unattached). Winner won the tourney with 256 points.

The Philip ladys' basketball team traveled to New Underwood on Thursday, January 3rd, to go against the sixth-ranked Lady Tigers. New Underwood won 36-47.

Philip 5 11 23 36

N.U. 9 21 36 47

Philip scorers: Marissa Mann - 11, Kenzy Pinney - 7, Tylissa Fitch - 6, Sierra Hook - 5, Lindsay Mann - 4, Mariah Evans - 2, Toyeala Fortune - 1.

N.U. scorers: Candi Hall - 12, Devin Smith - 8, Jaymason Whipple - 7, Shelby Brantley - 6, Kelsie Schwartz and Rachael Huether - 4 each, Teri Heavlin and Kara Olson - 3 each.

Field goal percentages: Philip - 37, N.U.

The Philip ladys' basketball team traveled to New Underwood on Thursday, January 3rd, to go against the sixth-ranked Lady Tigers. New Underwood won 36-47.

Philip 5 11 23 36

N.U. 9 21 36 47

Philip scorers: Marissa Mann - 11, Kenzy Pinney - 7, Tylissa Fitch - 6, Sierra Hook - 5, Lindsay Mann - 4, Mariah Evans - 2, Toyeala Fortune - 1.

N.U. scorers: Candi Hall - 12, Devin Smith - 8, Jaymason Whipple - 7, Shelby Brantley - 6, Kelsie Schwartz and Rachael Huether - 4 each, Teri Heavlin and Kara Olson - 3 each.

Field goal percentages: Philip - 37, N.U.

The Philip Scotties boys' basketball team defeated the Oelrichs team 57-32 on Saturday, January 5th, at the White River Classic.

Philip 14 27 39 57

Oelrichs 7 12 16 32

Philip leading scorers: Caleb Clements - 15, Brandon O'Dea - 11, Allen Hauk and Jeb Stewart - 8 each, Rob Williamson - 7.

Oelichs leading scorers: Adrian Eagle Hawk and Chris Fast Wolf - 9 each, Ishala Belt - 7.

Field goal percentages: Philip - 32 (21 of 65), Oelrcihs - 25 (13 of 51).

Free throw percentages: Philip - (9 of 25), Oelrichs - (2 of 11).

Three point percentage

The Philip City Council's first regular meeting of 2008, on Monday, January 7th, ended in an executive session concerning employee salaries for 2008. Salaries were established with a three percent increase for employees above the median average wage and a four percent increase for those below the median.

The meeting began quickly.

Inside Philip's festively-decorated Steakhouse and Lounge Saturday night, Wall's Tara Trask accepted the crown as Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2008 from Lacey Cole, Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2007.

Trask becomes the fourth from Wall to wear the crown, the second in three years. Sorrel McKay won the crown in 2006. Previous to her, Wall's Angela Kammerer Lytle wore the crown in 1987 and Kelly Ruland Kjerstad in 1982.

A crowd of nearly 200 attended the 2008 MRSD coronation/auction, MRSD's single largest fundraiser of the year.

Lonis Wendt of the Verendrye Museum in Ft. Pierre reported that after only 30 days of being open at the end of 2007, 160 of the 300 spots have been filled for the planned Ft. Pierre to Deadwood wagon train. He stated that not enough have been filled by South Dakotans.

The train will leave Ft. Pierre on Wednesday, July 30th, and will pull into Deadwood on Friday, August 15th. Each registered participant will receive a certificate that they have ridden on the train. They will also receive a numbered button, which they can loan to someone else as a temporary substitute on the trail ride.

Lonis Wendt of the Verendrye Museum in Ft. Pierre reported that after only 30 days of being open at the end of 2007, 160 of the 300 spots have been filled for the planned Ft. Pierre to Deadwood wagon train. He stated that not enough have been filled by South Dakotans.

The train will leave Ft. Pierre on Wednesday, July 30th, and will pull into Deadwood on Friday, August 15th. Each registered participant will receive a certificate that they have ridden on the train. They will also receive a numbered button, which they can loan to someone else as a temporary substitute on the trail ride.