Murdo, SD

Everyone should take a little time to go into the New Chamber website. It is updated and looks really good. There is a lot of information on there about the community. The link to the website it located on the right side near the bottom.

The South Dakota Department of Social Services continues with efforts to educate and inform residents on the Long-term Care Partnership Program. In February, education sessions will be held in the following comunities: Pierre,Chamberlain,Platte, Winner, Murdo, Wall, Rapid City Sturgis, Hot Springs, Custer and Spearfish.
If you, a family member, friend or co-worker would like to find out more about long-term card needs, what Medicare and Medicaid will cover and how the Long-Term Care Partnership Program can help you, now in your chance. The education sessions are free and open to the public. Below are times, date and locations for the month of February. Each Session is scheduled for one hour.

- Pierre: Monday, February 2, 2008
location: Matthew Training Center, Foss Building, 532 East Capitol Ave.
Time: Sessions will be held at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. (CT)
- Murdo: Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Location: Murdo Senior Center, Main Street
Time: Session will be held at 9 a.m. and noon. (CT)
- Wall: Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Location: Wall Community Center, 501 Main Street
Time: Sessions will be held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (MT)
- Chamberlain: Monday, February 4,2008
Location Dakota Milestones, 117 E. Beebe Ave.
Time: Sessions will be held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (CT)
-Platte: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Location: Avera Health Center, 301 East 7th Street
Time: Sessions will be hald at 9 a.m. and noon. (CT)
-Winner: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Location: Long Term Care Center Chapel, 745 East 8th Street
Time: Session will be held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (CT)
- Rapid City: Thursday, February 7, 2008
Location: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rm 102, 444 North Mount Rushmore Road
Time: Sessions will be held at 7 a.m.,9 a.m.,and 7p.m. (MT)
- Sturgis: Thursday, February 7, 2008
Location: Sturgis Chamber of Commerce, 2040 Junction Ave.
Time: Sessions will be held at noon. (MT)
-Hot Springs: Friday, February 8, 2008
Location: Mueller Civic Center, 801 South 6th Street
Time: Session will be held at 9 a.m. (MT)
- Custer: Friday, February 8, 2008
Location: Caldwell Banker Building, 549 Mt. Rushmore Road
Time: Sessions will be held at noon and 3 p.m. (MT)
- Spearfish: Friday, February 8, 2008
Location: Hudson Hall, 222 W. Hudson
Time: Session will be held at 7 p.m. (MT)

If you are unable to attend a live session, a free educational conference call is also available and will be conducted on:
Friday, February 29, 2008 at 9 a.m. and noon (CT); each call will last one hour.
To Participate in this call, dial: 1-866-809-6529 and enter the following ID number followed by the pound key: 8448656. Callers can also download and print a copy of the presentation at www.ltcpartnership.sd.gov that will be used during the call.

**Please double click on the pictures above to see a larger picture.  

Here are a few pictures that Jim M. took with our community digital camera that we earned through the Horizon program.  Ray E. also took some of these pictures with his own digital camera.  There were 57 people on the sign-up sheet, which is a good turn out since the weather that night was cold and VERY windy.  We did have several people place their names on the sign-up sheets for the goals that we presented.  Our next step is to get those people together to begin our action plans to meet the goals we have currently set. 

Above is a short video that was taken during our celebration and presentation meeting on January 15, 2008.  This is a short video of Lori discussing how we are getting ideas and comments from some of the other Horizon communities.  Michele then begins to explain the basics of the Murdo blog. 

 Ray’s birthday happened to fall on the same day as our Horizon celebration and presentation.  We enjoyed singing “Happy Birthday” to Ray but did NOT ask him how old he was!!  LOL 

Toward the end of the evening after tables, chairs and clean-up was done, I commented to Kari that we did not have a Santa lap for her to sit on like they did in Presho but that we did have a birthday boy that could use a hug and sure enough she was okay with that!! 

Below is a post that Nicole posted on Armour’s blog on January 9th, and I have gotten permission to post this to our blog.  This article was written after they had their PPT meeting. (Parents Teachers Together)  If you would like to learn more about their PPT, please go to the Armour blog and read about the success they have already experienced since starting PPT. 

Armour PTTJanuary 9th, 2008 by nicolenWOW! What a wonderful informative meeting we had tonight. I cannot believe all the information we received in such a short time. My awareness has definitely been raised about how and what our kids are doing on the computer/internet. We all have to keep a close check on what is going on with our kids especially when they have access to the computer. We have good kids in this town but it is easy to be lured into something criminal and dangerous without even knowing it. There are billions of web sites out there that anyone and everyone has access to and without knowing it your kids can be on some harmful sites. We had two wonderful speakers from the Department of Criminal Investigation, Troy Boone and Todd Rodig. They are only two of the few people in South Dakota that work on catching these computer criminals. Did you know that even though you delete something from your computer it is always still there and they can take it apart bit by bit and check everything you and your kids and their friends have been looking at or saying on the computer. If you have any questions about the sites your kids are using please get in contact with a person that can check your computer or if you can please go to the following sites to check for unsafe information: netsmartz.org, cybertipline.com, sdcybersafe.com. These are also posted on the school website under the PTT area. Many kids use the MYSpace site and once you are on there your information can go to millions of other people and this can lead to very dangerous situations. We all want our kids to be safe so lets keep track of what they are doing. We also received information on other file share programs that can be very dangerous. Even downloading music off of your computer and trading it with other people can actually be a crime. I cannot say often enough that we need to keep monitoring our children’s activities at home and away from home. Talk to your kids! Let them know that anything they see or read that is suspicious should be reported to you or a teacher or anyone they feel they can talk to. The Department of Health is looking into getting some of this information out also through different programs. One of the suggestions was the DARE program.

There was also a comment posted by MEKS that gives the address to the site that has the “Rules for the Social Web.”  Just click on this link to go read the rules:  http://tinyurl.com/3232tc  

I do hope to find some kids to post their thoughts on this issue.  My kids are all grown up now but I do have a pre-teen nephew who comes here occasionally, and I do want to stay informed on the possible internet dangers out there.

If you are a “kid”, what are your thoughts on this issue. 

If you are a parent, what are your thoughts on this issue?

Jones County just completed the 40th year of their Invitational Basketball Tournament.  If you would like to read what the Rapid City Journal wrote about our tournament please click here Rapid City Journal. 

Seminar #1 Regional Collaborations & Community Foundations
Monday, Jan 28- Mitchell Technical Institute, 1800 Spruce, Rm 111 6:30 pm - Supper; 7-9:15 program
Horizons 1 participants present their successes and challenges in their regional collaborations
RSVP Kari Fruechte by Jan. 22 for supper count

Seminar #2 Economic Development/Entrepreneurial Support
Tuesday Feb 12 - Wall Community Center
6:30 pm - supper
7:00 pm - Economic forecasts for business in your community - SDSU Econ Faculty
8:00 pm - Discussion & networking
8:30 pm - Supporting entrepreneurs in your community - Jim Mirehouse
9:15 pm - Wrap up

This workshop will be tailored to profiles of you local areas. It will focus on ideas for building your economic situations in creative ways. ANY community is invited to attend.
RSVP to Kari one week prior to the seminar you plan to attend

Seminar #3 - Affordable Housing
Monday - Feb. 25 Kadoka (location TBA)

Format will be as follows
6:30 pm - Supper
7:00 pm - Rural Learning Center Presentation
8:00 pm - Discussion & Networking
8:30 pm - Panel of SD agencies/organizations that provide housing resources.

If you would like to attend any of these seminars please contact any one of the Horizons members.

Kari Fruechte’s email address is fruechte.kari@ces.sdstate.edu

I just wanted to post this real quick before I head out the door…..IT’S PARTY TIME here in MURDO!!   YEEHAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am on my way to the community building where we are holding our Horizon celebration and presentation.  It is VERY exciting to finally get to this point of being able to present to the public all the ideas we have for the Murdo Area.  Will fill you in later on how things went. 

Opinion Polls & Market Research

To view poll results:  http://www.vizu.com/poll-results.html?n=67881