The Philip High School boys' golf team picked up their fifth win of the season by taking first place at the Western Conference Champi-onship held Friday, May 9th, at the Elks Country Club golf course.

In individual placings, Jordan Smith won top medalist honors after winning the fourth hole of a three way sudden death playoff after a tied original 18 holes.

The Great Western Plains Junior High Track Meet was held in Kadoka on Tuesday, May 6th. The Philip Scotties boys and girls competed against eight other schools; Kadoka, Wall, Lyman, White River, Todd County, Bennett County, New Underwood and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte.

Kenneth Edwin Dietrich, age 70, of Philip, SD, died May 12, 2008, at the Rose Medical Center in Denver, CO.

Kenneth "Ken" Edwin Dietrich born November 4, 1937, in McLaughlin, SD, the son of Edwin and Helen (Gutschmidt) Dietrich.

Ken was an avid fisherman, hunter and loved to travel to visit his children and friends.

John "Paul Noteboom, 58, died May 2, 2008, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage, Sioux Falls, with his wife and daughter at his side.

John "Paul" Noteboom, was born December 24, 1949, in Philip, SD, the son of John H. and Elfrieda (Stahl) Noteboom. He was raised on a ranch 25 miles northeast of Philip and attended rural grade school in Haakon County. While attending high school, he worked at the Chevrolet dealership and Philip airport.

In 10 weeks Haakon County residents will be able to save a little money on their prescription medications that are not covered by insurance. The savings will come through a plan the Haakon County Board of Commissioners recently obtained.

Through their association with the National Association of Counties the Haakon County Commissioners have signed up for a prescription drug discount card program. The program helps county residents save money on their prescription medications when those prescriptons are not covered by their insurance.

by Del Bartels

The Philip Chamber of Commerce meeting held Monday, May 12th was a parade of guest speakers on varying subjects.

Three members of the Community Marketing Action Team addressed those in attendance. This team is just one of several created through the Horizons project in order to promote the Philip community and strive to reduce poverty.

Diane Fitch, Becky Brech and Mary Burnett put forth the idea that the Philip area would benefit through a marketing program that creates a slogan-like "brand" for the community.

by Nancy Haigh

An aging courthouse, a $32,795 increase for 9-1-1 service and a switch to a new health insurance provider were three of the costly issues that the Haakon County Board of Comimssioners discussed at their Tuesday, May 5, 2008, meeting.

Haakon County and its employees will soon start saving approximatley $5,000 each month with a new health insurance provider. Brad Wilson, Sioux Falls, returned with a price quote from the South Dakota Municpal League's workmen's compensation health insurance pool.

The First National Agency has added the Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Company to their selection of insurance and financial services.

The agency has purchased the Noteboom Agency, with the official transfer date being May 15th. April Noteboom will continue employment at the office of Les' Body Shop in Philip.

"It is our hope to provide the same quality service that the clients have come to expect from April Noteboom and her predecessor, Jim Gottsleben," said First National Agency Manager Joe Gittings.

The librarian for the Haakon County Public Library, Alison Kattelmann, has resigned her position. Her last working day will be May 30th.

An open house "going away, good luck" coffee time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23rd, at the library. Kattelmann's husband, Brad, is joining the army to be a military chaplain. Their destination is still unknown. "Wherever we end up," said Kattelmann, "I'd really like to find a job working for another library. Most postings have libraries on base. I'd take shelving, whatever.

by Del Bartels

"I wanted my own business and to set my own hours," said Tiana Fitch concerning the opening of her own beauty shop in Philip.

Tiana's Hair Cottage officially opened for business on Wednes-day, May 7th. Fitch said, "I love coloring and cutting," but smiled when she said that she offers the full gamut of hair, nails and esthetics of any beauty salon. She caters to everyone, women, men and children.

Fitch is offering a five to 20 percent discount, depending on the service, for the first two weeks of business, through May 21st.