Flora Jean Rice Dowson, 86, of Sheridan, WY, passed away on July 29, 2009, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

Services were held August 1, 2009, at United Methodist Church in Sheridan with Reverend Don Derryberry officiating.

Interment was at the Elks Cemetery in Sheridan.

She was born October 6, 1922, in Oosberg, WI, to Carroll VanOurkerk and Susan Van DeGuchte. She earned her high school diploma and married Kenneth Rice when she was 18.

Violet Rose Marlow, age 93 of Rapid City, formerly of Kadoka, died August 19, 2009, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held Monday, August 24, at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka, with Pastor John Mapa and Pastor Art Weitschat officiating.

Interment was in the Kadoka Cemetery.

Violet Rose Sharp was born April 5, 1916, on her parents' homestead at Norris, SD, the fourth of five children born to Charley and Minnie (Rohm) Sharp. She lived through the depression years where she learned sharing, hard work, and appreciation of people.

Evelyn Falzone, age 88 of Philip, SD, formerly of Milesville, SD, died August 22, 2009, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital.

Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday, August 26, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Ron Garry as celebrant.

Lector was Anita Peterson. Music was provided by Marianne Frein, organist, and Maureen Palecek, vocalist. Altar server was Allen Piroutek.

Ushers were Hugh Harty and Joe Gittings.

Violet Elizabeth Williams was born March 9, 1926, to Frank and Myrtle (King) Williams at Scenic, SD. She attended school in Scenic and Wall. She moved with her parents to Hermosa, SD, in 1947 where they ranched. She then left home and worked at dude ranches in Montana and later in Arizona. After receiving word that her mother was ill she returned home to care for her parents and to run the ranch.

On January 10, 1965, she married Myron Olson and to this union one daughter, Robin, was born.

Horses were Violet's true love, as were all animals.

Craig Hanrahan, age 54 of Philip, SD, died August 19, 2009, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 22, at the Philip High School, with Pastor Gary Wahl officiating.

Ushers were Glen Radway, Jim Elshere, Boyd Parsons, Paul Williams, Byron Parsons and Burjes Fitch.

Pallbearers were Brad Scho-field, Tim Elshere, Glenn O'Connell, Paul Delbridge, Bill Slovek and Kelly Blair.

Interment was at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

Craig L.

Hero status isn't reserved only for those brave men and women who rush into burning buildings to save others or step into the front lines of war.

"There's a hero in all of us," said Beth-Anne Ferley, donor recruitment director of United Blood Services. "Ordinary people are saving lives every day. They have found the hero in themselves by donating blood."

New and experienced blood donors can find the hero in themselves at the upcoming Knights of Columbus blood drive, on Tuesday, September 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Bad River Senior Citizens Center.

Beginning October 1, 2009, driver licensing services will no longer be available in Philip.

The move is part of a statewide restructuring effort to allow the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program to better use existing resources to meet service demands. The restructure reallocates resources to locations with a higher traffic volume. The driver licensing station in Philip accounts for less than .1 percent of IDs and licenses issued statewide.

People in the Philip area are encouraged to visit the Jackson County Register of Deeds Office in Kadoka for driver licensing services.

The original Marietta School District #2 was a one room school house that measured 16 feet by 20 feet and was organized during the homestead years and it consisted of grades one through 10. Grace Teepell was the first teacher at Marietta. 

In 1911, many homesteaders left the area due to the drought, but there were still enough children to keep the school open.  About 12 to 20 children occupied the grade school as well as the high school. The school used three buses to transport the children and two of the teachers in to the school.

The 33rd annual Rodeo Bible Camp was held at the Kadoka Rodeo Arena on August 3-6.

The Haakon County commissioners met Tuesday, August 4, to discuss budgets, new computers and weed control.  

The board approved the meeting minutes of last month's meeting. The board also approved the May 5, gross salary and payroll warrants. "For some reason they didn't change on the May payroll and I need to get them changed. They are very close to what they were before," said Patsy Freeman, county auditor. 

All the commissioners except Gary Snook approved Virgil Smith's request for a new computer.