Midwest Assistance Program, Inc., offers communities and tribal nations a wealth of skills and approaches to help them creatively solve their problems, including:

Capacity building, Compliance, Disaster management, Management & finance, Operations & maintenance, Planning & development, And much more…

Studies, publications, identification of opportunities and alternatives, proposal development, funding agency navigation support, overseeing of construction, review of plans, preparation of cost estimates.

more information

For skateboard park fundraiser on Sunday June 29th. Contact Patty Karas or Deb Olson at April’s Place. They are having a bake sale Sunday afternoon to benefit the skateboard park and they need bake sale items to sell.

Whitewood Days   28 - 29 June 2008

  A WALK in the cool morning breeze can start your day off right.

            WALK to the Whitewood ball field for some evening entertainment.  

                        WALK on your own or with your family or friends  all around town.        

Step towards the Whitewood Walking Challenge.  Walking logs and pedometers are available at the Whitewood Public Library. 

Join the community walks on 13 July and 23 August

 Horizons communities around the state have identified actions to address poverty in their community. Many have identified our cultural reliance upon personal vehicles as an impediment to thriving communities. There is little public transport in rural areas and safe-bike ways are forgotten.  Take the pledge to support the effort to reduce our reliance upon oil and to build healthier communities where people are at the center.

Disney Minnie Grants

Agency: Youth Service America and Disney       Deadline: 08/30/2008

Description:Youth Service America and Disney are pleased to launch a second round of Disney Minnie Grants to engage children and youth, ages5-14 as community volunteers. The selected applications will receive $500 to support their youth-led service projects. The deadline is August 30 and projects must take place October 15-November 15, 2008.

The recent down pours certaintly don’t lend to the thought of conserving water  but the hot summer months are upon us.  Water consumption for our yards, gardens, & everyday summer activities can take a  toll on our water supply.  Installing a rain barrel can help with the cost of higher water usage and  help with conservation of our most precious resource. 

• Rain barrels conserve water and help lower costs (a rain barrel can save approximately 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months).
• Rain barrels reduce water pollution by reducing stormwater runoff, which can contain pollutants like sediment, oil, grease, bacteria and nutrients.
• Rain barrels are inexpensive and easy to build and install

 You can search for rain barrels on the internet or find them at your local garden supply and hardware stores.  A rain barrel can simply be a garbage can that sits under a downspout or heavy runoff point from your roof.  It does not have to be expensive or fancy.  Here are some websites with good information on them: 

http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/rainbarrels.htm

http://www.harvesth2o.com/faq.shtml

SARE Provides Grants and Information to Improve Profitability, Stewardship and Quality of Life

SARE is a competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States.

Research and Education Grants: Ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 or more, these grants fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers, and others in an interdisciplinary approach.

Professional Development Grants: To spread the knowledge about sustainable concepts and practices, these projects educate Cooperative Extension Service staff and other ag professionals.

Producer Grants: Producers apply for grants that typically run between $1,000 and $15,000 to conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers.

On Farm Research/Partnership: Supports on-farm research by Extension, NRCS, and/or nonprofit organizations. Northeast, Southern and Western regions.

Sustainable Community Innovation: Forges connections between sustainable agriculture and rural community development. Northeast and Southern regions.

Sample Farmer/Rancher Projects  

June  is Dairy Month

Are you getting your 3-A-Day of Dairy? On the average, Americans eat only half the daily recommended servings of dairy. 3-A-Day of Dairy was created as a reminder to get 3 daily servings of milk, cheese, or yogurt for stronger bones and better health.

Make sure to get your 3-A-Day! 

Just a reminder that the Whitewood Genie Meet is tomorrow - Wed 18 June 2008 at 1:30 - hope to see you there …   jean

Wed 18 June 2008 at 1:30 Add to Calendar

There are currently 2 city positions open with the public works department. See below for the descriptions of both of the jobs.

Job 1:

Position Available: The City of Whitewood is accepting resumes or applications for Public Works Director.  Minimum qualifications for Public Works Director include High School diploma/GED certificate, possession of valid driver’s license with a CDL-B recommended.  Knowledge of methods, equipment, and materials used in water/wastewater distribution and collections.  Considerable knowledge and experience in the practices and principles of civil engineering, construction, public works operations and public works maintenance.  Must possess or be able to obtain certificates required by State for Water Treatment I, Wastewater Treatment II, Collections I, and Distribution I. Salary DOE.  Send resume or application to City of Whitewood, 1025 Meade Street, Whitewood, SD  57793 with a  June 30, 2008 closing date.

Job 2:

IMMEDIATE OPENING:

The City of Whitewood has an immediate opening with the Public Works Department for a temporary position.  Duties will include light maintenance and lawn cutting.  Must be 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license.  Position pay $9.00 per hour.  Applications being accepted at City Hall.

On Saturday June 14th Whitewood had it’s first walking challenge with approximately a dozen people in attendance. The walking challenge is to encourage our citizens to walk 100,000 steps between now and August 23rd the last day of our challenge. We want to encourage people to get up and get moving!! Our next walking challenge will be held on July 13th at 1:30. Walking packets can be picked up for the library along with FREE pedometers. Go and check it out and please get walking. We want more people to attend our next walking challenge!! If you have any questions about this stop in at the library and talk to Rea as I’m sure she will be happy to give information about this.

On Saturday June 14th the 5th and 6th grade students of Whitewood Elementary went on their DARE fishing trip. The event was organized by our police chief Jerry Davidson as well as others. This fishing trip has been a tradition for the past several years and was delayed a bit due to the rains. Some students were unable to attend the event due to baseball and other obligations. However, the 25 or so students that were able to attend the event had a wonderful time. The event took place at Orman Dam and there was a lot of fishes caught!! Below are some pictures that were taken prior to the event!! I’m glad everyone had a great time!!

Five Whitewood, SD youth attended a Babysitting Beginnings Training sponsored by the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service of Lawrence County.  Deb Rombough, Family and Consumer Science Educator, was the presenter.  The youth gained information and hands-on experience covering basic safety and first aid, how to make healthy snacks, important facts about ages and stages of children, babysitting responsibilities and the business facts, age appropriate activities and much more!  Each participant received a babysitter’s kit and a wallet card certificate of completion.  This program is a part of the Whitewood Babysitter Club project, a result of the Horizons project. 

Follow-up workshops will be available in the future.  Currently topics scheduled at the Whitewood Public Library include:

June 19 – First Aid Follow-up / Choking Safety – Ellen Jenter, County Health Nurse (10-11 am)

June 24– Developmentally appropriate activities for children / rainy day activities (2-3 pm)

July 10 – Basic Financial Education / Savings for Youth (10-11 am)

Please pre-register by calling Deb Rombough at the Lawrence County Extension Office @ 642-6200 or Rea W. at the Whitewood Library @ 269-2616.

2nd All-American Wrestling Camp     

July 11-12         at Hale Hall

Brother’s Justin and Stanton Schlecht, former Whitewood AAU Members, are the clinicians for the camp.  Both brothers went on to wrestle for Sturgis Brown High School then continued to Dickinson (ND) State University. 

Justin, head instructor, is a three-time national champion and four-time All-American .  He was named NAIA Wrestler of the Year for 2007-08.  Justin was selected to appear in a Sports Magazine.

Stanton, assistant instructor, has earned All-American honors twice.  He finished second at the 2008 national tournament and eighth in the 2007. 

11 July  12 - under  12:00 - 3:00 pm                        13 - over  4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

12 July  12 - under 9:00 am to 12:00 pm                13 - over 1:00pm -4:00pm

Session sizes are limited.  A t-shirt is included with the $45 registration fee.  An AAU card is required.  Call Trevor Papenfuss at 722-2071 for more info.

on June 28th & 29th. Many events are planned so mark your calendar and plan on attending.

Here is the tentative schedule:

Saturday June 28

10:30am – noon – Poker Run registration at Bullwacker’s

Noon – approx 4pm – Poker Run

Noon – approx 4pm – Horseshoe tournament

1pm – Pool & Dart Tournaments at the Hub’s Pub (sign up early, teams wills be drawn)

2pm – 5pm – kids games on Meade Street (bouncing castle & slide, cupcake walk, tractor pull)

4pm – 5pm – Poker Run participants back in Whitewood for prizes and food.

                      (free hot dogs, chips, and soda)

5pm – Parade (4:30 line-up near Lutheran Church/Howdy’s restaurant)

6pm – Karaoke contest on Meade Street stage - sign up at The Hub prior to contest

8pm – 12am – ‘Bonefish’ plays for street dance on Meade Street

Sunday June 29

11am – Community Church Service in Oak Park

Noon – Community Potluck to follow service in the park

Sunday afternoon –Skate Park Benefit:

            Bake Sale at The Hub
            Pool and Dart Tournament downstairs

            Auction

            Bonefish Plays 7pm – 11pm at the Hub’s Pub (families welcome)

last night at 6pm at the Whitewood libary.

Discussion items were:

• Updates to the strategic plan were discussed. Information was given to Carolyn our community leader on fundraising efforts of both the skateboard park committee and the scholarship committee. The efforts from these groups has definetely not gone unnoticed. Thanks everyone for their hard work!!
• Horizons II will soon be coming to an end. We will have our graduation event on July 13th at Oak Park at 2pm. We are inviting our entire community to attend this event as our community is being awarded with a laptop computer and a printer which will be stored at the library. We are also being awarded with a grant which will be given in September. There will also be cake served to celebrate this event!
• Carolyn advised us at the meeting that the book we made of our successes since beginning Horizons was a big hit! Thanks Mary for all of your hard work and dedication on this fabulous book!!
• Although, Horizons is ending we don’t want our committees to end! We want to keep the momentum going! We will always need people to be involved and work on plans to improve our community!!

From Jean Sneesby

Sorry to be late getting in the May meeting of the Whitewood Genie Meet….we met on Wednesday May 21st at the Whitewood Library and was thrilled with two batches of photos and history and stories about Whitewood.  One lady is allowing us to copy her collection and another lady just gave it all to us !!!  Thank you so much !!! The June meeting will be Wednesday June 18th - 1:30 at the Whitewood Library.  Anyone interested in family history or history of Whitewood is invited to join us.  If anyone who like help in getting started on your genealogy but you can’t make the afternoon meetings, please contact Rea at the Library and we can arrange to help you some evening.  Genealogy Humor:  My family coat of arms ties at the back - is that normal?  Hope to see you June 18th !!

This sounds like an excellent opportunity to win a bit of cash for a community project.  Check out the SDRE website at www.sdrei.org

And go to “Community Success Stories.”  There is a quick application to fill out and winners will have their stories posted on the site.

In our continued efforts of championing rural economic and community development, South

Dakota Rural Enterprise is compiling and sharing Community Success Stories. The success

stories that we receive will be posted to our website, and in doing so will become a celebration

and inspiration for other communities throughout the State. Each quarter we will choose one

success story from those submitted, and that program/project will receive a cash award of $250.

Please fill out all the following questions that may apply to your program/project.

Well here is recent information on it…

Many of your communities have also talked about the Governor’s House Program.  Here is current information:

Governor’s House Program—Income Guidelines Change

            The Governor’s House Program has been in existence since 1995.

Do you know someone who:

ü     IS having trouble finding a place to live where they work?

ü     IS renting an apartment that doesn’t fit their family’s needs anymore?

ü     IS having trouble finding a quality home at an affordable price?

ü     WOULD like to stay in their hometown and be able to purchase a new house?

A GOVERNOR’S HOUSE MAY BE THE HOME FOR THEM!

This 2 bedroom, 1 bath home is 1,008 square feet energy efficient homes comes complete with  kitchen cupboards, bathroom fixtures, a furnace, hot water heater, and washer and dryer hook-ups. The house does not come with appliances or floor coverings.

PURCHASE PRICE IS CURRENTLY $33,000, plus taxes which includes delivery to your lot and placement on the basement or foundation.

Household income and net worth guidelines remain as follows.

Ø     Households of 2 or less must have an income less than $33,900

Ø     Households of 3 or more must have an income less than $39,550

Ø     Households under 62 years of age must have a net worth less than $90,000, of which no more than $70,000 is liquid assets.

Ø     Households over 62 years of age must have a net worth less than

            $175,000, of which no more than $100,000 is liquid assets

Another change involves the siding color—the colors are now sage and clay. Sand is no longer available.

Purchaser is responsible for financing the house like any other house you might purchase.  Purchase is responsible for purchase of home, lot/land costs, foundation/basement, floor coverings, appliances, entrance steps, utility connections and hook-up fees, building permits, plus, sidewalks, driveway, curb and gutter as applicable.

Small Business Workshop Scheduled Individuals who are self-employed, business owners, office managers, bookkeepers, etc., may be interested in attending the South Dakota Small Business Workshops.  Workshop topics include SD Unemployment Insurance, tax and benefits, wage and hour laws, youth employment regulations, SD sales and use tax regulations, as well as contractor’s excise tax requirements. The workshop is scheduled for June 11 in Mitchell and will be repeated July 16 in Pierre and October 8 in Rapid City .  For more information contact the SD Dept. of Revenue and Regulations at 1-800-829-9188.  Workshop sponsors include the SD Dept. of Labor, Small Business Development Center , SD Dept. of Revenue & Regulations, and the Small Business Administration.

The Whitewood Challenge

A group of walkers is issuing a challenge to all Whitewood residents to walk 100,000 steps this summer.   On June 14 at 8:30 am the first short walk will take at place the Whitewood library to the flag pole to celebrate Flag Day.     Each walker will receive a free pedometer so they can determine their own walking gait.    A recording sheet and five walking tour brochures will be available at the end of the walk.     “This idea came out of the Whitewood Health Fair in April,” said Tammy Bourne.   “We talked to people about forming a group that would walk for heathy living and decided to put this together this summer.”     On July 13 there will be another full group walk from city hall to Oak Park where each participant will receive a free Whitewood t-shirt.   On August 23 the final group walk will take place with awards given to those who reach their 100,000 steps goal.    

“If you wear your pedometer all the time you can count the steps you take at work, shopping, gardening, just any place you walk”, said Rea Weyrich, one of the Challenge organizers.  ”100,000 steps sound like a lot but, depending on your stride, it works out to be less than 1500 steps a day between June 14 and August 23.”   A rough guide is there about  2,500 steps make a mile but each individual’s stride is different so the first group walk this Saturday will help determine what your stride is.

There is no formal registration for this Walking challenge just show up and be part of the fun.

As everyone knows we had some torrential rains on Wednesday evening into Thursday morning of last week which caused some major flooding in our town. Below are some pictures of the flooding. Any additional pictures you may have would be greatly appreciated. We are keeping pictures of our history at the Whitewood Library. If you have more to add you can email the pictures to the blog address or take some down to the library to Rea. I wanted to thank everyone who helped out during the storm especially our Volunteer Firemen!!

Tom Cornwell from “Bug Songs” sang at the Whitewood Public Library. See below for more pictures from this event!

Hello everyone!

We had a meeting June 1st… Here are our thoughts  

The committee met with the following discussions:  Discussion on laminate poster board versus banner, they (the sign making people)cannot do laminate poster board but will make two banners for $50.  Discussion was also held on the Loaded Trunk basket and how to have the steering committee pay for trunk before the next phase of Horizon is done. Another dilemma is where do we store money; is there an account for horizons?

 Amy will go to next steering committee meeting and discuss issues with them.

 The committee is looking for more support from adults and children to help out. They can either serve on committee or just sell raffle tickets at various events in the area. We went over the list off names that have at one time or another worked with Horizons.  Please expect phone calls soon J

Discussion held on how to possibly get help selling raffle tickets; Amy will create a letter and propose it to the Whitewood Chamber by letter seeking local businesses to sell raffle tickets at their businesses

Next meeting is June 20th at Bullwhackers at 5:30 pm please bring your ideas and your appetite

If you haven’t done so yet make sure you vote today at City Hall. As citizens it is our duty to vote and have our voices heard. It only takes a few minutes of your time and is well worth it.

SOUTH DAKOTANS WORRY ABOUT INCOME AND ECONOMY

Findings from a survey commissioned by the Northwest Area Foundation

IN THIS SURVEY, South Dakotans say they are worried about theirpinched wallets, overworked neighbors and struggling local economies.83%say they’ll vote this November, and most say their choices will be

influenced by what local elected officials are doing to help those struggling to

make ends meet:

• 3 in 10 worry all or most of the time that their income

won’t pay the bills this year.

• 1/2 say their local economies are “only fair” at best.

• Most believe their local elected officials should take

specific action on poverty.

At the same time, the survey results point to South Dakotans’ characteristic

“American grit” and hope. And most say they personally want to do more to help.

Click here to read more about this report

Whitewood’s Mary Livingston attended the Northwest Area Foundation’s Grassroots and Groundwork conference in Minneapolis this past week.   Here are more details

Victims of Violence Intervention Program/Artemis House is now collecting used ink cartridges from printers and copiers as well as used cell phones.  We are able to recycle these items to bring in a little more cash to be used for victims of domestic violence in our area.  Please drop off any used ink cartridges and cell phones at the Artemis Boutique, 344 Colorado Blvd in Spearfish.  Thanks, Mary Koens.

page has been updated. See the right hand side under pages and you can find the upcoming events page. If you have an event to post either comment here on the blog or send an email to the blog address and we’d be happy to get it on the blog for you.

       Summer activities  to write on your calendar

• June 5 - Baby sitting Class/Club starts 
• June 14 - 1st Whitewood Walking Challenge
• June 28-29 -  Whitewood Days
• June 28 - Poker Run
• July 1-31  - “Catch the Reading Bug” @ the Whitewood Public Library 
• July 7-10 - First Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School
• July 13 -2nd Whitewood Walking Challenge
•  July 13 -  Whitewood Horizons Graduation
• July 28 -1 Aug - Immanuel Lutheran Church VBS Day Camp
• August 12 - 16 -  Butte/Lawrence County Fair
• August 18-22 - Black Hills Baptist Church Vacation Bible School
• August   - 3rd Whitewood Walking Challenge

Did we miss anything?  Is your event listed?  Send in your additions to the Blog address on the right hand side of the screen.