Approximately 90 men and women bicyclists of the Cycle America tours stayed at the Philip High School the night of Friday, July 16.

The troup's members ranged from 18 to 81 years of age. Though 40 people are pedaling the entire journey, the rest of the group varies in size depending on the section or week of the coast-to-coast trip.

The Monday, July 19, Haakon School Board meeting began with Business Manager Britni Ross swearing in elected Mark Nelson and appointed Bill Slovek and Vonda Hamill.

Slovek was voted in to continue as the board president and Anita Peterson is the new vice president.

Next, the consent calendar was gone over and discussed. First National Bank in Philip was declared as the official depository for school district funds.

Combining has begun in earnest in the region. It will continue for approximately three to four more weeks.

Harlan Moos, local combiner, is running two machines almost non-stop. His crew uses two combines, which unload on the move into a tractor-pulled grain cart, which is unloaded into a semi-truck hopper. Moos said that doing so on-the-move is equivalent to having a third combine.

"Our pits have been pretty much non-stop," said Jay Baxter, site manager for the Philip Cenex Harvest States elevator.

Keith and Lucille Emerson are residents of the Philip community and have been for many years. Keith and Lucille have been married for 62 years.

The couple raised four children. Greg and his wife, Kathy, live in Powell, WY. Ann passed away in 2004 from cancer; her husband Hank and family currently live in Flower Mound, TX. Debbie and her husband, Duane Fitzgerald, and Mark and his wife, Terry, all live in Pierre. Keith and Lucille have 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. One more great-grandchild is on the way.

Keith was born at home on a ranch outside of Philip.

Keith and Lucille Emerson are residents of the Philip community and have been for many years. Keith and Lucille have been married for 62 years.

The couple raised four children. Greg and his wife, Kathy, live in Powell, WY. Ann passed away in 2004 from cancer; her husband Hank and family currently live in Flower Mound, TX. Debbie and her husband, Duane Fitzgerald, and Mark and his wife, Terry, all live in Pierre. Keith and Lucille have 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. One more great-grandchild is on the way.

Keith was born at home on a ranch outside of Philip.

The Monday, July 12, meeting of the Philip Chamber of Commerce began with a quick overview of the success of Philip Festival Days.

Much of the rest of the meeting was a discussion of how to continue to improve not only Festival Days, but also other activities supported by the chamber. Discussion will continue on whether or not to combine some celebrations, and which ones, to draw even larger crowds.

The Haakon County Board of Commissioners met at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, in the Haakon County Courthouse.

Commission chairman Nick Konst called the meeting to order. Minutes for the regular June meeting, and the special canvass vote meeting were looked over. A correction was made to the June minutes stating that the grasshopper resolution was for 2010, not 2009. The minutes were then approved.

Jerry Roseth got his plat map approved by the commissioners. Next, Kenny Neville, superintendent of the Haakon County Highway Department, gave the monthly report.

Due to the July 4th holiday, the July city council meeting was held Tuesday, July 6.

The payment of current bills was approved, except for $500 of a $2,500 claim for advertisement for the matched bronc ride. The city will be looking for documentation that its yearly bill was to diminish by $500 each year, with the up-and-coming matched bronc ride organization to gradually assume all responsibility for advertising. The council did approve to pre-pay Philip Health Services, Inc.

More than 6,100 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members, advisers, alumni and guests from across the country gathered in Chicago, Ill., July 4-8, for FCCLA's 2010 National Leadership Conference.

Over 3,200 students took part in FCCLA's competitive STAR events which give students recognition for their individual, team and chapter activities. Representing South Dakota and the Philip FCCLA chapter in the STAR event chapter showcase display were Abby Carley, Emma Slovek and Colby Smith.

Kayleigh AnnMarie Ptak, 16 months, of Yankton, S.D., passed away in her sleep on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at her home.

Services were held Saturday, July 3, 2010, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with Reverend Jason Larson officiating. Pallbearers were Jason Sampson, Eric Heltzel, Kelly Ptak and Rory Hamilton.

Kayleigh was born February 19, 2009, to Nick Ptak and Andrea Brown in Yankton. She was a wonderful little girl who was always able to light up the room. She loved anything that was too big for her to ride and anything with wheels.