Arriving at the Custer Courthouse Annex Pine Room Saturday evening, my anxiety level registered way over the limit.This had been a long day with a Democratic Rally at the Rocky Knolls Golf Course and a quick trip to Custer High School, for dodgeball shenanigans, home for a quick late lunch and a brief nap. Back out at six thirty and wondering what to expect from the Black Hills Story Tellers. Would the stories be long and drawn out, full of mixed metaphors and deep introspection, I really hoped not.
The stories as it turns out, were told without being overly dramatic or theatrical. There was the perfect combination of verse and motion, allowing for a fluid grace in the story lines that was captivating.
The French Creek Folk have always been a “non attitude” musical group, while appearing solemn in their presentation, the sheer pleasure of playing for an appreciative audience shines through. Granted both groups have practice sessions to develop their arts, and I know from experience this can be mind numbing and tedious. So, Thank you French Creek Folk and The Black Hills Story Tellers for a delightful evening.
This event was hosted by The Custer County Library.
Members of the French Creek Folk perform at the Custer Courthouse Annex Pine Room Saturday evening. Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press
Nancy Eldridge – Black Hills Story Tellers. Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press
Anne Rodman – Black Hills Story Tellers. Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press
Pam Burrell – Black Hills Story Tellers. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press
Liz Twomey – Black Hills Story Tellers. Herb Ryan/ Custer Free Press
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Ag in the Classroom has named Michael Burke, a fourth grade teacher at Valley View Elementary in Rapid City, South Dakota, as its 2016 Teacher of the Year.
Burke, who has been teaching for 23 years, was chosen to receive the award because of the work he does in his classroom to promote agriculture literacy amongst his students.
Burke was nominated by Rebecca Christman, outreach director for Ag United for South Dakota, for his participation in the Adopt-A-Farmer program hosted through Ag United. In her nomination, Christman explains the program, “Each month their classroom is shown a video about various topics of farm life recorded by an adopted farmer. Michael’s classes have adopted Jim Petrik, farmer and pork producer from Gayville, S.D. Each video also includes questions or problems that the students can use fourth grade math, science and reading concepts to answer or solve.”
Burke initially got started incorporating agriculture into his classroom because he was looking for a way to involve the community. His classroom started planting a garden outside the school about six years ago. Burke invites other classrooms to participate in the planting and caring for the garden over the summer. The families who help care for the garden get to take some of the items home during harvest.
South Dakota Ag in the Classroom’s mission is to be the premier educational organization in preparing individuals with tools to teach our youth the value of agriculture.
Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online athttp://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. – A large force exercise of military aircraft has been scheduled for June 7-9 in the Powder River Training Complex.
During this period, people living under the following PRTC military operations areas can expect to see multiple types of aircraft utilizing the areas simultaneously:
Powder River One
Powder River Two
Powder River Three
Powder River Four
Gaps A, B and C
There is also potential for loud noises associated with sonic booms. All B-1 supersonic activities will occur above 20,000 feet MSL and all transient fighter supersonic activity will occur above 10,000 feet AGL. People living under the following PRTC military operations areas can expect to be affected:
Powder River Two
Powder River Three
Gap B
As a reminder, non-military aircraft should thoroughly review the Federal Aviation Administration’s Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, and review flight plans to avoid these areas and altitudes where aircraft will be participating. This can be done by calling
This exercise is designed to train aircrew under realistic scenarios that support full spectrum operations against modern threats and replicate today’s contingency operations. This type of training is limited to 10 days each year, with each exercise lasting no more than three days. These events will only occur once each three-month period, as separated into January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December.
PIERRE, S.D. – Officials from the South Dakota departments of Social Services and Human Services are in the process of reviewing the results of an investigation by the US Department of Justice received today on nursing home utilization.
In response to the letter, Gov. Dennis Daugaard said he is proud of the state’s track record on serving the elderly and those with disabilities.
“In South Dakota, we have undertaken a number of initiatives to allow more individuals to live independent lives,” Gov. Daugaard said. “Just in the last few years, we have expanded health care recruitment programs for rural communities; promoted employing people with disabilities; implemented a Money Follows the Person program; and increased provider rates for community-based services. Though I recognize we still have areas to improve upon, South Dakota has been making headway.”
According to the Department of Justice, South Dakota has a higher than average percentage of individuals living in nursing homes. In the letter, the Department says South Dakota should work to prevent unnecessary use of nursing home care.
While the state evaluates its options with the Department of Justice, the Governor said the state will continue its work to improve access to community based care.
“Ideally, we want elderly residents and people with disabilities to be able to stay in their communities and receive the services they need without going to a nursing home. That can be a challenge for a state like ours which is made up of rural communities,” said Gov. Daugaard.
As a strong advocate of yoga for all, I am somewhat disturbed by the proliferation of images that portray yoga as more like gymnastics than the cultivation of a mind/body connection. Yoga was originally developed as a contemplative practice to assist with the physical demands of seated meditation. Somewhere along the line certain branches of the practice have taken a turn to the athletic. In fact there has been a movement in recent years to make yoga a competitive sport. This is fine for some. Unfortunately, however, this tends to intimidate people who think they are too old or infirm or inflexible or whatever to do yoga. That, of course, is completely untrue. One does not need to be flexible to do yoga. Although yoga will not alter genes or inherent physical attributes, it can improve flexibility and encourage greater mobility in regular practitioners. Fortunately, there is also a growing segment of the yoga community that is advancing the practice of yoga as therapy, expanding on its roots as an inner as well as outer practice.
The keys to experiencing the benefits of yoga, both physically and mentally, are letting go of expectations and maintaining a consistent practice. It is entirely possible that you will never be able to touch your toes in a forward fold. But here’s a revelation – it doesn’t matter! If you practice forward folds consistently, they will become more comfortable and you will experience their benefits. These include calming the nervous system, quieting the mind, and helping to relieve stress and anxiety. Forward bends also stretch the hamstrings and calves, notoriously tight areas for most of us that can lead to additional problems in the hips, knees and lower back. And now for another revelation: according to a Yoga Journal article by long time yoga teacherBaxter Bell “90% of people [need help] doing [forward bends] safely”. So if forward bends are a problem for you, you are certainly not alone. This is what props are for. Using props is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of self-love, self-compassion and finding the joy that accompanies true acceptance of reality. Remember also that today’s reality is transient just like everything else. So accepting and accommodating the reality of today doesn’t have to mean forever. Just for today practice they way that feels best for you. That may change tomorrow. Or it may not. But today is the most important day. It deserves your attention.
It doesn’t help that we live in a culture that does not value aging. Youth is celebrated to the extent that we are constantly bombarded with images that implore us to deny the natural – and inescapable – reality of changing physical bodies. Instead we are encouraged to follow the next great product or procedure to the impossibility of eternal youth. We find ourselves falling into the trap of denying reality and living with the false hope that we can avoid change or return to some magical time when everything was perfect. It’s amazing what hindsight allows us to believe. The fact is that just by virtue of having lived longer than younger people we have accumulated a certain amount of wisdom simply through experience. Sometimes the noise of the youth culture becomes so overwhelming that we, too, forget to value this wisdom. Here are some quotes from one of the founders of modern yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar:
“Do not look at others’ bodies with envy or with superiority. All people are born with different constitutions. Never compare with others. Each one’s capacities are a function of his or her internal strength. Know your capacities and continually improve upon them.”
“Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement. . .”
Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance recently completed a study titled2016 Yoga in America. Highlights include documentation of the increase in yoga participation throughout the U.S. even in remote and rural areas. This is not exactly big news to most of us, but some of the statistics are surprising. Among them, more men are practicing yoga. Also the number of participants aged 55 and older has increased by a whopping 10 million people in the 4 years since 2012 (from 4 million in 2012 to 14 million in 2016). The article anticipates that this population “may usher in a wave of softer and more meditative practices.” Fortunately, this is already happening. Those of you who are lumping all yoga classes into some broad category of sun salutations and arm balances would do well to take a second look. Most studios offer a variety of classes. Check out the descriptions or speak with an instructor before making assumptions about what you can and can’t do. The study also points to the increase in the number of trained yoga teachers. For every current teacher, there are 2 more who are training to be teachers. This means that there is a choice in teachers. So if you try a class and don’t like it, my first suggestion is to try again. Everyone has a bad day and your own anxiety could have been part of your judgment. If you still don’t like the class, try a different teacher. American yoga has greatly expanded on the original methods of yoga that came from India. Today there are so many styles and teachers bring many different backgrounds and interests to their classes. So don’t give up. With a little patience and persistence you will likely find a practice that works for you.
Finally, the study cites all of the benefits enjoyed by yoga practitioners. These include a more positive self-image, increased likelihood to be active in other ways, relief of stress and overall health improvement. Those who take classes also have the benefit of community. So if you are new or returning to yoga after an absence, be kind to yourself. Let the past go. Just for today, accept where you’re at right now. Don’t try to push yourself beyond your capacity. Pay attention to your own body and listen to what it is telling you. Use props and make adjustments as needed. And accept support. Ask your teacher for help with whatever accommodations you might need. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Regardless of what you think your poses look like, you are a real yogi just like all other practitioners. Relax and enjoy! You, too, deserve the benefits of yoga.
The Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program provides direct home loans from VA to eligible Native American Veterans to finance the purchase, construction, or improvement of homes on Federal Trust Land, or to refinance a prior NADL to reduce the interest rate.
Video Spotlight
Tour a new home built by a Native American Veteran on Cherokee land in North Carolina.
Interest Rate
The interest rate is 3.75%.
Interest rates are subject to change due to market fluctuations. VA evaluates these market trends and determines if interest rate reductions or increases are warranted.
NADL Benefits
No down payment; no Private Mortgage Insurance; limited closing costs
$417,000 limit in most areas; some high-cost counties have higher loan limits
Low, fixed-rate 30-year mortgage with limited closing costs
Re-usable benefit
Eligibility
To obtain a NADL, the law requires that:
The Native American Veteran is eligible for VA home loan benefits and have available entitlement (go to this link for information on how to get a Certificate of Eligibility)
The tribal government must have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The MOU spells out the conditions under which the program will operate on its trust lands (see a sample MOU here)
The loan must be to purchase, construct, or improve a home on Federally-recognized trust or allotted land.
The Veteran must occupy the property as his or her home.
The Veteran must be a satisfactory credit risk.
The income of the Veteran and spouse, if any, must be shown to be stable and sufficient to meet the mortgage payments, cover the other costs of owning a home, take care of other obligations and expenses, and have enough left over for family support.
All prospective applicants are encouraged to contact VA to determine if they are eligible for VA home loan benefits and to contact either their local housing authority or VA to find out if this program is right for them and to apply for a home loan.
Loan Fees
Native American Veterans must pay a funding fee of 1.25% to obtain VA’s direct loan to purchase a home. The funding fee to refinance a prior VA-loan is 0.50%. Borrowers have the option to finance the VA funding fee or pay it in cash, but the funding fee must be paid at the time of loan closing. You do not have to pay the funding fee if you are a:
Veteran receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability, OR
Veteran who would be entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability if you did not receive retirement or active duty pay, OR
Surviving spouse of a Veteran who died in service or from a service-connected disability.
An inflamed mob approaches the sacrificial Pine Bug effigy Saturday evening on Pageant Hill to re-enact The Third Annual Burning Beetle and Bug Crawl Event. Herb Ryan/Custer Free PressLate Saturday afternoon, Steve Baldwin (pictured) Jimmi Lee, Karl Svensson, Gary Lipp, and Kris Svensson made final adjustments to the burn pile. Herb Ryan/Custer Free PressThe Beetle developes a fiery case of indigestion, as the mob stands by waiting to torch the slash pile the despicable creature is sitting on. Herb Ryan/Custer Free PressMembers of the Custer Volunteer Fire Department add fuel to the impatient mobs torches, who await the signal to totally toast the “Bug”. Herb Ryan/Custer Free PressThe jubilant mob, urged on by the primordial rythm of members of the Custer High School Band percussion section, torch the slash pile. Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press.As the “Bug” burns, the large crowd enjoys a fireworks diplay before heading out to other events planned for the evening. Herb Ryan/Custer Free PressThe “Blues Bros.” Craig Bobzien and David Thom rock on as Hank Fridell, far right and members of the Black Hills Ukulele Orchestra look on. HerbRyan/Custer Free press.
The 2016 Legislative Session began this week. This year, I am proposing that South Dakota address the issue of teacher pay.
We all know that the key to student achievement is an effective teacher. We also know that South Dakota’s teacher salaries are lowest in the nation and have been for decades.
South Dakota competes with our surrounding states for teachers, and we are falling further behind them. Ten years ago, South Dakota’s average teacher salary was about $2,000 behind North Dakota. We were 51st and they were 49th. Montana was 47th and Nebraska was 42nd.
Today, we are still closest to North Dakota among our surrounding states. But the gap is $8,000. We still rank 51st. North Dakota moved from 49th to 36th. Montana moved from 47th to 28th. Nebraska moved from 42nd to 32nd.
If South Dakota wants to maintain high student achievement, we need a new generation of high quality teachers.
To address this need, I am proposing a one half cent increase in the state sales tax. This will fund a new school funding formula that will move South Dakota’s average teacher salary from $40,000 to a target average of $48,500. At that level, South Dakota will be competitive with surrounding states.
The new funding formula will fund schools based on a target average salary of $48,500 and on a target student-to-teacher ratio for each district. That is not a measure of class size – it is a measure of all instructional staff per student.
Here is what the state is offering schools: the state will give school districts enough funding to pay the target salary, if the district reaches the target student-to-teacher ratio.
This new formula will create a more transparent funding system, based on actual costs. State policymakers will be able to see that schools receive enough money to pay their costs. At the local level, the new formula will lead to informed conversations about how local decisions impact a school’s ability to reach the target average salary.
As we ask schools to pay teachers more, we must also give them tools to be more efficient. My plan includes several measures to allow schools to become more efficient and save money. An expansion of the Statewide Center for e-Learning at Northern State University will make more high-quality online courses available to students, at no cost to their home schools.
The state will also expand successful programs that encourage sharing of services. For example, the state already negotiates centrally for Internet broadband access, and provides that service to schools. This saves schools more than it costs the state. We can expand this approach to other areas, such as purchasing, payroll administration or software licensing.
The introduction of new funding also allows the state to correct inequities. Under our current formula, property taxes are equalized across districts, so children receive uniform education, regardless of property values in their districts. However, the formula does not equalize some revenue sources, such as wind farm taxes, bank franchise taxes, the gross receipts tax on utilities and traffic fines. My proposal will treat all of these sources like property taxes, so that all schools are treated fairly.
The one half cent will generate $40 million in new revenue beyond our needs, however, so I am also proposing that this excess be dedicated to property tax relief. My plan imposes caps on school reserves funds, and limits future growth of property taxes for capital outlay. These are positive steps that benefit taxpayers and ensure that the funds we spend benefit today’s students.
We all want what is best for our children. We want to provide them with a quality education. And we know that requires a strong workforce of great teachers. This is the year to act.
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