Sanborn Central Horizons would like to thank Tony Armagno from Montrose for making the trip to Forestburg to talk to our group about the Hometown Competitiveness Conference he attended in Lincoln, Nebraska. Tony has some really good ideas for Montrose and will be a great mayor! 
At the marketing seminar in Armour, one of the questions we were asked was, “What do we want to be known for?” Milan Wall told us to find something special and unique about our communities and develop a slogan that people could associate with each of our towns. With a lot of help from Martha (thanks, Martha!) these are the slogans we came up with for each town:
The auction for the Building Trades house will be held May 4th at 1:30 p.m. at the Sanborn Central School. Click on this link to view the floor plan. For more information about the house auction click here. To view photos of the Building Trades class at work on the house go to: Building Trades Photos.
Due to the weather forecast for this weekend, the Town Clean Up in Artesian has been rescheduled to May 18th at 1:00 p.m. Contact Karen Lambert at 527-2265 for more information.
Have you started your spring cleaning? A community rummage sale will be held on Saturday, May 31st so keep that in mind if you have any items you would like to donate. If you have donations or if you are willing to help with the rummage sale contact Margo Edwards at 495-4366, Tiffany Hoffman at 248-2235, Dawna Van Overschelde at 248-2419 or Velma Kneen at 495-4391.
The George McGovern Library, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell SD was the site of Launch 2008 on February 28.
The conference had two tracks: one for educators and one for students. Dotty Zoss, Harry Everhart, and Marci Farmer were attendees. (The picture earlier in the blog of the three attendees shows the luggage carrier prototype built from cardboard, craft sticks, masking tape, glue, small wheels, and pipe cleaners.)
The first session was on The Art of Starting to cultivate your ideas into success. (more…)
The following is from the KELOLAND web site:
“An annual poll for a nonprofit organization that works to reduce poverty shows that 83 percent of South Dakota adults will vote in November, and their top priorities are good-paying jobs and medical costs and services.
The survey for the Northwest Area Foundation found that 58 percent of state residents worry that their local economies will get worse in the coming year.
Although the federal poverty threshold is $21,000 for a family of four, 57 percent of South Dakotans say it takes at least $40,000 a year for such a family to make ends meet.
The survey of 400 South Dakotans had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus five points.”
At the last meeting, Martha asked us to answer the following question: “Using your community strategic plan, identify at least three pieces of the plan that specifically address poverty reduction in your community and explain how taking action on that goal or objective will change your community.” Here are the goals and objectives that were chosen and how they will change our communities:
Goal 1 - Objective 1: The Clean Up Committee will offer physical help cleaning up and free removal and disposal of discarded heavy items. If a person’s house/yard is clean, they feel good. It restores community pride, increases property values and economic development.
Goal 1 - Objective 3: The Park Committee will obtain playground equipment, trees and other park items for all three communities. The parks provide free outdoor, healthy activities for families. Families who don’t have a yard or grill can utilize it. This also promotes community involvement.
Goal 3 - Objective 1: The Good Stuff Committee will directly help families and individuals in need of assistance by giving them tangible goods, which frees up personal funds for essential living and provides hope for a better life.
What other goals address poverty reduction?
The monthly Horizons II meeting was held on April 16th and the following committee reports were given:
Clean Up Committee - Dates have been scheduled for town clean ups in both Artesian and Letcher. Artesian’s clean up will be held on May 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Letcher will hold their clean up on May 17th at 8:00 a.m.
Paint SD Committee - An application has been submitted to paint a house in Letcher. (Paint SD Poster)
Park Committee - The committee conducting the antique photo fundraiser for the Letcher Park has sold a total of 140 coupons!
Repaving Forestburg’s Main Street - An estimate was received to repave Forestburg’s Main Street. Discussion was held regarding environmental dust control as a less costly alternative.
Promotions Committee - More welcome baskets are being made. Sanborn Central Horizons will have a float in the parade for Artesian’s 125th celebration. (125th Schedule)
Economic/Residential Development Committee - Discussed advertising properties that are available with yard signs.
Good Stuff Committee - A community rummage sale will be held on May 31st at the 4-H Bldg. in Forestburg as a fundraiser for families and individuals in need of assistance.
Activities Committee - An art project is being planned. Artwork from community members will be uploaded to an online store as a fundraiser for future community activities.
Community Education Committee - A Conference Review will be held on April 30th at the 4-H Bldg. in Forestburg with supper at 6:30 p.m.
Horizons II has provided our communities with an abundance of resource materials dealing with community development, leadership training, entrepreneurship, economic development, etc. These materials are being housed in the Letcher Library so that the public can have access to them. If you are interested in checking out any of these resource materials just email Mary Ackman at letchertown@santel.net or give her a call at 248-2242.
