The Letcher Volunteer Fire Department will be holding their 1st annual Texas Hold ‘Em tournament. This will be their annual fund raising event and will take place on April 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Letcher Community Center. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. If you have any questions contact Clay Amick at 248-2278.
A wellness workshop will be held Saturday, April 5th from 9:00 am to noon at the Plankinton School. You’ll leave fired up and focused with a 90-day wellness plan to increase your energy and create balance in your life! Presented by Tonya Schoenfelder, MS, a nationally respected expert on wellness. Tonya brings a unique and innovative approach to enhancing life balance and improving one’s health. See the following link for a handout with all the details: Wellness Workshop Handout
Congratulations to Eddie Hoffman for being named Letcher’s Volunteer Fireman of the Year by the Letcher American Legion Post #93. The Letcher Volunteer Fire Department is one of the community’s greatest assets!
Jessica Van Overschelde was named “Scholar of the Week” for the week of Feb. 10th through Feb. 16th. Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and KSFY have joined together to recognize the achievements of high school seniors throughout the region. This program was founded on the four pillars of Touchstone Energy: Integrity, Accountability, Innovation and a Commitment to Community. For details click on the following link: Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week
As part of the Cooperative Principles, Santel Communications supports area communities, always striving to give back to the members who support their cooperative.
Exchange communities have the opportunity to apply for a $500 annual Santel donation for an approved community project.
Forestburg, Artesian and Letcher were all awarded community donations. Forestburg’s was requested by the Community Development Corporation to be used for the street repair project. Artesian will put the money towards the placement of new street signs. The Letcher Community Development Foundation requested the donation to construct a grill and fire pit at the Letcher Park.
All three of the projects listed above are part of the goals that were set in the Sanborn Central Horizons Strategic Plan.
Here are the monthly questions we need to address to meet the minimum requirements of the community blogging. Feel free to add your comments in answer to any of the questions in either category.
Category #4 - Sustaining action and creating structural change around poverty.
What structures have been changed that will enable your community to address poverty in the long-term?
Committees have been formed to address the different kinds of poverty in our communities.
Will you monitor and evaluate your community’s progress in reducing poverty?
We will communicate with the recipients of the programs to see how beneficial they are. Committees will then meet to determine the value of the program and discuss what improvements can be made.
What community resources will be needed to sustain the community plan to reduce poverty?
New and existing community groups will need to work together and pool their resources to provide continued support and assistance to each other.
What additional resources would make a difference in your community’s work to reduce poverty?
New partnerships and additional funding resources will make a big difference as our communities continue to work to reduce poverty.
Category #11 - Taking action on community.
In what ways is your community operating or working differently?
Community members are working together as a region for the betterment of all three communities.
In what new or expanded ways are people contributing to your community?
The Community Resources Data Survey has helped to showcase local people’s skills, talents, and knowledge in certain areas.
How are low income involved?
Everyone is invited to participate in the Horizons program and surveys have been completed to determine specific needs in the communities.
What structures have been created or changed that will help your community?
The Horizons II program has provided us with the opportunity to work together as a group and make decisions as a region.
What new partnerships have been created and what difference have they made for your community?
Horizons has partnered with other community organizations (the school, 4-H clubs, etc.), which has definitely helped with the success of the projects.
Have you learned anything about how nearby communities like yours are taking action to reduce poverty?
Yes…there are some great ideas for community projects on the Horizons II blog sites.
Do you see any opportunities to exchange information or combine efforts in this work?
Through the blogs we have been able to communicate with other Horizons II communities to ask questions and get advice for community projects.
Hamburger Helper® is helping fund projects in hometowns all across America. Check out Letcher’s request to help fund a community project.
Sponsored by Hamburger Helper®, MyHometownHelper.com is giving away up to $100,000 to help fund projects.
Grants will be awarded based on the merit of the project, including its impact and support within the community. You can show your support by simply adding your comments. Thanks!! 
“Marketing Your Area” Seminar
to be held on Tuesday, March 25th
at the Blue Moon Lounge in Armour, SD
5:30 p.m. - Supper (note earlier start)
7:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. - Seminar
The Heartland Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, will help local leaders respond to current and future challenges in their communities by bringing people together to learn how to become better decision makers.
Presenter: Milan Wall, Co-Director of the Heartland Center for Leadership Development, is a management and communications expert with more than 30 years experience in dealing with the critical issues facing American society and culture. Milan works with South Dakota communities to discover strategies useful for marketing their areas to future residents and businesses.
RSVP to Martha by March 18th if you are attending.
The Artesian CIA will hold an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 22nd at the Artesian Community Center. A Bake Sale sponsored by the First Lutheran Church will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Easter Egg Hunt will start at 10:00 a.m. and the Easter bunny will be making an appearance!
Following is a list of “20 Clues to Community Survival” that I saw in the “Visions from the Heartland” newsletter (Fall 2007/Winter 2008 issue) which is a publication of the Heartland Center for Leadership Development:
1. Evidence of Community Pride: Successful communities are often showplaces of care, attention, history and heritage.
2. Emphasis on Quality in Business and Community Life: People believe that something worth doing is worth doing right.
3. Willingness to Invest in the Future: In addition to the brick-and-mortar investments, all decisions are made with an outlook on the future.
4. Participatory Approach to Community Decision Making: Even the most powerful of opinion leaders seem to work toward building consensus.
5. Cooperative Community Spirit: The stress is on working together toward a common goal and the focus is on positive results.
6. Realistic Appraisal of Future Opportunities: Successful communities have learned how to build on strengths and minimize weaknesses.
7. Awareness of Competitive Positioning: Local loyalty is emphasized, but thriving communities know who their competitors are and position themselves accordingly.
8. Knowledge of the Physical Environment: Relative location and available natural resources underscore decision-making.
9. Active Economic Development Program: There is an organized, public/private approach to economic development.
10. Deliberate Transition of Power to a Younger Generation of Leaders: People under 40 regularly hold key positions in civic and business affairs.
11. Celebration of Diversity in Leadership: Women, young people, and newcomers are elected officials, plant managers, and entrepreneurial developers.
12. Strong Belief in and Support for Education: Good schools are the norm and centers of community activity.
13. Problem-Solving Approach to Providing Health Care: Health care is considered essential, and smart strategies are in place for diverse methods of delivery.
14. Strong Multi-Generational Family Orientation: The definition of family is broad, and activities include younger as well as older generations.
15. Strong Presence of Traditional Institutions that are Integral to Community Life: Churches, schools, and service clubs are strong influences on community development and social activities.
16. Sound and Well-Maintained Infrastructure: Leaders work hard to maintain and improve streets, sidewalks, water systems, and sewage facilities.
17. Careful Use of Fiscal Resources: Frugality is a way of life and expenditures are considered investments in the future.
18. Sophisticated Use of Technology Resources: Leaders access information that is beyond the knowledge base available in the community.
19. Willingness to Seek Help from the Outside: People seek outside help for community needs, and many compete for government grants and contracts for economic and social programs.
20. Conviction that, in the Long Run, You Have to Do It Yourself: Thriving rural communities believe their destiny is in their own hands. Making their communities good places is a pro-active assignment, and they willingly accept it.
