Nov. 21, 2018 A-2 Pastor’S Perspective Pastor’S Perspective Is Provided by Pastor Stephen Carson, Connection Church
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BELLE FOURCHE, SD ECRWSS Belle Fourche Beacon Permit No. 23 100th Black Hills Roundup 225 DAYS to July 4th, 2019 *********ECRWSSEDDM**** Postal Customer VOL. 1 ISSUE 14 Belle Fourche, SD Wednesday November 21, 2018 $1.25 Community Despite Tragedy Belle Fourche Readies to “Light Up the Family Remains Truly Thankful Night” BEACON STAFF was anything we could do and [email protected] you could see the blood spat- Carriage rides, parade tered on the wall.” BELLE FOURCHE - Stepha- Palmer says that it was a and fireworks highlight nie Palmer will never take for sight that no one, let alone her festivities. granted the opportunity to hug children, should ever have to her children. Especially since see or experience. It was at that BEACON STAFF she nearly lost one of them to a point she knew she needed to [email protected] move away. house fire on Nov. 12th. BELLE FOURCHE - The “My sister lived in Belle Palmer’s home on Kathy Ave. city will once again be hosting Fourche, South Dakota and we in south Belle Fourche was its annual holiday celebration decided that we would make the destroyed by fire on Monday beginning this Friday night move for the safety of my kids,” morning and they lost every- November 23rd. “Light up Palmer said. thing. And yet, from her tempo- the Night” will feature fire- But even that wasn’t easy. rary home at the Super 8 motel, works, carriage rides, a parade, On the drive from California the single mother of four young shopping and more. The event to South Dakota, Palmer was children says she approaches is made through the cooperation involved in a vehicle rollover this Thanksgiving as someone of several community orga- accident. “We had to swerve who feels blessed. nizations including the Belle and the car rolled two times “I am just so overwhelmed Fourche Chamber of Com- before it stopped.” TOTAL LOSS - All that remains is the foundation after fire de- by how this community has merce, Center of the Nation Fortunately there were no troyed this home on Kathy Street in south Belle Fourche. But responded to help us,” she told Business Association, Tri-State injuries and they were able to the outpouring of community support for the displaced single the Beacon. “I can’t believe Museum and Visitor Center, Re- get a car to complete their trip mother of four has left her very grateful. The shed in the upper how this town is so giving.” vitalize Belle Fourche and the to Belle Fourche in March of left is nearly filled with donated items. -Beacon Photo For Palmer and her children, City of Belle Fourche. this year. “I just figured that we Southpark Elementary. She took close to the couch and ignited her life circumstances weren’t Events begin at 9am on Fri- were blessed by God at that mo- her 2-year old son Jordan along the upholstery. always so. day, the day after Thanksgiving, ment that nothing serious had with her leaving Stephanie’s “I grabbed a blanket and started Up until March of this year commonly known as “Black happened and we were meant to sister behind at the house to to beat down the flames,” she they lived in Bakersfield, Friday” with an opportunity for keep going.” watch Palmer’s 4-month old said. “Then I realized that I California in what she describes shoppers to select unique gifts Palmer found work as soon as daughter. wasn’t doing much good and as “a very dangerous neighbor- at the Le Belle Marche’ indoor she and her children arrived. In “As soon as Jordan and I got the fire was spreading. So I hood.” Christmas and Shop Small fact, at one point she was work- home we went to the bedroom ran down the hall to the baby’s “One afternoon, and I re- Market put on by the Chamber ing three jobs to make ends and we both laid down and fell room and grabbed my daughter member it all too well, across of Commerce. The market will meet. It was a new beginning, asleep. It wasn’t much later and said to Jordan that we had the street from our house at a feature dozens of area vendors but not quite the end of their when I woke up to the smell of to get out of the house now.” convenience store there was a displaying local handmade craft challenges. smoke and I heard wood crack- Carrying the baby Stephanie drive-by shooting,” she says. items, baked goods and pre- Eight months after moving to ling,” Palmer said. “I jumped ran out the front door and down “My oldest children were serves. The market is held at the Belle, on Monday morning the out of bed and went into the liv- the steps. She turned around to within earshot and we heard historic Roosevelt School Gym 12th, Stephanie had just taken ing and the couch was on fire.” look back toward the house and the gunshot. One man had his located at 1010 State Street and her two oldest children, a first Palmer believes that a space then discovered that Jordan had arm literally blown off. We ran will run from 9-4pm on Friday grader and a second grader, to heater was somehow moved too across the street to see if there THANKFUL A6 and Saturday. Horse-drawn carriage rides will once again return this year South Park School to Get New Playground Equipment beginning at 4:30pm on Friday. food and coffee, and had meals “We ask for a donation of two BEACON STAFF cans of food for the Compas- [email protected] prepared for them that week sion Cupboard or a simple The Parent Teacher Orga- as well as acquiring classroom supplies. Since that first year, donation for each rider or group nization (PTO) was reactivated of riders,” said Kristi Thielen. about three years ago. The PTO has continued to provide many things along the way for Ven Thompson will be pro- “sparkplugs” that got it going viding one of the carriages and inherited a bank balance of the kids including: their water bottles the first day of school, there may be another one ac- $200 and no bylaws or clear cording to Thielen. Riders will direction. Jenelle Willert took Bronc bracelets during Home- coming week and meals for board at the Tri-State Museum on the role as the first PTO parking lot for a ride through president and spent a lot of time Literacy night just to name a few. the downtown area. with Superintendent Dr. Steven On Friday from 5-6pm the Willard mapping out a clear Now active and gaining trac- tion in their endeavors the PTO Belle Fourche Cowboy Band direction that would best serve will host the Free Chili Feed at the organization. With that was asked if they would start fundraising for a playground. Community Hall on 6th Ave- accomplished they were off and nue. The band will be perform- running. The current playground has some fun things for the kids and ing on stage while guests enjoy It started with lockers. The homemade chili and the fixings. will remain, but it’s simply just LETTING THEM SLIDE - Above is an architectural rendition group kept hearing the elemen- The Tri-State Museum will not large enough to accommo- of the new playground equipment slated for installation at tary school needed lockers. The hold their Open House from date the play of 200 plus kids South park Elementary next year. research completed, project 5-7pm for anyone who would during recess. they sold close to $15,000 (with for the new playground that readied, and PTO was asked like to visit, but according to The PTO Board of Directors us making close to 50%) in they voted to order. and began fundraising. The Thielen the open house will last started the playground effort by noodles!! In addition to these Total cost of playground first two fund raisers of catalog until the final visitor has left. sending a letter to all the local fundraisers, they collect Lynn’s equipment plus freight = sales and a pizza coupon were The annual Parade of Lights businesses and the response was Dakotamart receipts and box $97,404.00, less a match- well received and they were will begin at 6pm. According overwhelming. PTO was very, tops each month from the kids ing grant of $46,689.50 = able to add a nice amount into to Hazel Maher at the Chamber very thankful and appreciative and they give a party to the $50,714.50 which is the cost the account. they have had a good number of of the approximately $10,000 classroom with the most. The to the District without the PTO The School District informed entries as of press time. The pa- that was so generously donated. proceeds of all the work adds donation. the group that the lockers would rade participants will gather at They have continued fundrais- up and current PTO President Their work and efforts have be something provided for in the Roosevelt School grounds. ing efforts for the playground Andrea Rhoads informed the just begun and they plan to have their budget, so that first year The parade will proceed down with their most recent drive School Board at their regular a third fundraiser in December funds were used to do a week State Street through downtown long teacher appreciation. being a Fun Noodles Pasta sale. board meeting Monday night and a Spring Carnival on the Efforts included stocking the Sarah Audis has an incredible that the PTO could donate a teacher’s lounges fridges with way of energizing the kids and minimum of $10,000 right now PLAYGROUND A6 LIGHT THE NIGHT A6 Bronc Golfer Signs with Wyoming Cowboys LARAMIE BOUND - Belle Fourche Golfer Payson Birke- land, the 2018 Class A State Champion is one of three golfers who has signed a National Letter of Intent to play golf at the University of Wyoming beginning next fall.