No Election April 14

SINGLE COPY $1.25 tax included he iller ress USPS 349-720T Vol. 138 No. 27 www.themillerpress.comM [email protected] Miller, Hand County,P SD 57362 Wednesday, March 4, 20202020 No election April 14 There will be no election on April 14, since there was only one petition fi led for each open position on the Miller School Board, the Miller City Council , and the St. Lawrence Board of Trustees. Three petitions were fi led with the business manager, Sara Gates, at the Miller School, as of last Friday’s deadline. According to Gates, Robert Mullaney and Rob Yost will retain their positions, while Vance Caffee will oc- cupy the seat vacated by Bryan Breitling. According to Deputy Finance Offi cer Cindy Deuter, the only three petitions fi ling for the City Submitted | The Miller Press | March 4, 2020 of Miller, were the three whose MORE THAN 30 CITIZENS met with District 23 and District 24 legislators at the Legislative Cracker Barrel sponsored by On Hand Development on Sat., March 29 at noon. Items of terms were expiring, Bob Steers, discussion included Senate Bill 157, which would revise certain provisions regarding the county zoning and appeals process; the State Budget, Redistricting; House Bill 1262, SuAnne Meyer and Anthony which revises provisions regarding electric service in annexed areas; video lottery; and House Bill 1175, an act to defi ne dyslexia for the purposes of special education and related Rangel, so they will be staying services, and immunization. Pictured (l-r) are District 24 Representative Mary Duvall, and Senator John Lake, Representative Spencer Gosch and Representative JD Wangsness, all on the board. representatives of District 23, and District 24 Representative Tim Rounds. Deuter also reported that Dean Kolda was the only one who turned in a petition for the Disaster simulation St. Lawrence position, which means he will retain his position discussed by LEPC as well. members Jan Kittelson The Hand County Local Emer- Still time to gency Planning Committee meeting was called to order by vice circulate petitions president Doug DeBoer at 12 for county, state noon on Wed., February 19. Hand County Emergency government Manager Arlen Gortmaker reported fuel tank back up reserves Vicki L. Prentice have been secured. If you are planning to run Gortmaker reported on sand- for public offi ce, here are sev- bag numbers to begin the spring eral dates and details to keep in thaw. He reported last year mind. 14,000 small sandbags and 100 County positions large sandbags were used to pro- At the county level, two four- tect properties in Hand County. year commissioner’s seats will Gortmaker discussed the prop- be open– one in District 2, cur- er fi lling of sandbags and train- rently held by Jim Jones, elected ing that will be necessary for in 2016. The other is in District those fi lling the sandbags. A 4, currently held by Jim Eschen- sandbag loader was discussed baum, who was appointed earli- but it was determined that would er this year to the Hand County not be appropriate at this time. Jan Kittelson | The Miller Press | March 4, 2020 Board of Commissioners. Road closed signs were dis- KATIE OTTESON (seated) took on the role of an unemployed dad to a pregnant teen, played by Cassie Beckett, during a poverty simu- Other Hand County positions, cussed for fl ooded roads this lation at the Miller School teacher in-service January 3. The two are talking to Doug DeBoer, posing as the administrator of the Com- which are also for four years, year. Hand County Highway Su- munity Action Agency. are: perintendent Jeff Hargens stat- Poverty Simulation Installment Four: • States Attorney, held by El- ed more signs and barricades ton Anson will need to be purchased. These • County Coroner’s, held by must be type III barricades. They Dad’s unemployment aff ects his entire family Stephan Schroeder discussed the use of hay bales as • County Treasurer, held by barricades and concluded they Vicki L. Prentice all times, because you never know exactly what Sheri Koeck were unacceptable due to liabil- This is the fourth part of a series to draw atten- others are going through, physically or mentally. Available resources • County Sheriff, held by ity issues. tion to the many struggles faced by people living in Shane Croeni Last year, several drivers in poverty, along with possible resources available to Since many available resources applicable to For candidates running with a the county drove around barri- help them. The simulated family was one of many the above scenario have been discussed in previ- party affi liation for any of these cades or took barricades down; scenarios “lived out” during the January 3 poverty ous installments, we will focus on resources for offi ces, a petition containing the this was discussed at length. simulation conducted at the Miller School as part of the pregnant teenager and younger kids skipping required number of signatures Sheriff Croeni discussed one in- their teacher in-service. school. We will also take a look at what Helping of registered voters must be fi led cident where a semi driver was Setting the scene Hands has to offer. in the offi ce of the Hand County ticketed for moving barricades. Miller educational assistant, Katie Otteson, and According to Jr./Sr. High School Principal Steve Auditor, on or before 5 p.m. on Several fi nes are applicable to Courtney Clarke, 3-8 teacher at Millerdale played Schumacher, there are options for the pregnant March 31, 2020. these situations, the least of the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Chan, during a poverty student who wishes to graduate from high school. which would be a failure to com- simulation hosted by the Miller School System, as She would be welcome to continue her schooling Public offi ce, 3 ply with road control, which is part of their teacher in-service on January 3. in the usual manner if that works for her situation. $122 fi ne. Removal of barricade The children of the simulated family were Homeschooling is an option to all students, and and then not replacing the bar- Cassie Beckett, K-2 teacher at Millerdale, who online coursework could be considered based on ricade resulting in an injury or posed as the Chan’s teenage daughter; Millerdale the individual’s unique needs. There are also high an accident with another driver educational assistant, Darcy Noack, who took on schools that are completely online, such as the Inside: could be a negligent situation. the role of a ten-year-old; and Amber Saienga, Wessington Springs cyberschool that could be an Top Stories 2 The railcar safety program who played the eight-year-old son. option. Though Mr. Chan, has a degree in computer sci- “A free appropriate public education must be Public Notices 9 was very well attended, reported Gortmaker. ence, he is currently unemployed and does not available to all children residing in the State be- Classifi eds 10-11 The planning meeting for the qualify for unemployment. As hard as he tried, Mr. tween the ages of 3 and 21, without regard to their Sports & Youth 14 simulation was held. Another Chan could not fi nd employment. parental status,” said Schumacher. mass shooting at the high school The “family” was encountering other frustra- School Counselor Courtney Van Zee said school has been planned for May 9 at tions that included car breakdowns, falling behind counseling available is brief and solution focused 9 a.m. A walk-through was dis- in paying the bills and kids skipping school to help in nature. Inserts: cussed to help all agencies in- pay the bills. “I would offer information, resources and con- As if that wasn’t enough, the teenage daughter fi dentiality to any student who wanted to discuss Kessler’s Hometown Grocer volved in the simulation to fa- miliarize themselves with the was pregnant and the youngest child was expelled a pregnancy, she said. “If the student needed long surroundings. from school. term therapy or additional resources, I would refer Extensive discussion was held Saienga said she found the simulation to be a them to the appropriate agency.” Weather on setting preset messages for very enlightening experience, and showed her how Regarding the younger children skipping school, many different scenarios, such as illness or loss of Schumacher assured the school would make every Date High Low Precip. the AlertSense, using a template. Extensive discussion was held on a job, can affect families. attempt to fi nd out the situation and circumstance Feb. 24 35 18 1” snow; who should be involved with the “Many times my patients are faced with un- of any child missing school and communicate with .02” moist. group text AlertSense, school, expected accidents or illnesses which is a fi nan- them to fi gure out how they can help. Feb. 25 27 13 city, hospital, county, etc. Dis- cial strain for their family,” said Saienga, who as “Unexcused absences are only used after all at- tempts to communicate with the student and par- Feb. 26 24 14 cussion was also held on which a physical therapist also provides therapy services radio bands to be using during to the Miller School District. “The situations pre- ent have been exhausted,” he said. Feb. 27 35 18 1” snow; Hand County Community Health (HCCH) these incidents of emergencies. sented show how children are also affected by fi - ad- .05” moist. Hand County Auditor Doug nancial stress to families, and children often times ministers the WIC (Women, Infants, and Chil- Feb. 28 41 23 DeBoer stated he would begin an have behavior problems, both at home and at dren) program, which offers assistance to preg- Feb.

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