$ 00 Inclu1des Tax Vol. 112 | No. 24 Philip, South Dakota 57567 Thursday, February 1, 2018 www. pioneer-review.com Elementary Golden Ticket program Parsons is state agriculture agent of year Glenn Parsons, American Na - tional agent since only July of last year, has earned the 2017 Ameri - can National State Agriculture Agent of the Year Award. After almost two years of agent experience in Gettysburg and then in Philip for 16 years with a different company, Parsons began training further with American National Insurance in April. As he was taking intensive courses and studies, a new office location in downtown Philip was renovated and completed as his future office. He completed training and was set for business and clients in the middle of July. Each year American National Insurance Company issues statewide awards for sales and re - tention of business in the past cal - endar year. There are several Del Bartels categories of awards. One of those The first monthly winners of the Golden Ticket good Rieckman on the gold-decorated stage. Left to right categories is Agriculture Agent of behavior program have been announced. They get to are Zoe Staben, Emmett Schofield, Sterling Moos, the Year. It is based on a full 12 wear a golden ticket for the day, receive a special cer - Rieckman, Cannon Snyder, Jarron Fogle and Kylie months of sales and service to the tificate, and have lunch with Superintendent Jeff Reckling. farming/ranching industry each year. Though Parsons has, offi - Lacy Puhlman, a paraprofessional with the third grade students, and also addresses the fourth cially, been working as an agent Haakon School District, has spearheaded a good through sixth grade students. Throughout the with American National for only manners reward project called Golden Ticket. month, acts of good will, of showing manners and any six months, he still earned the “I go into different classrooms all day long. I also other positive attributes are noted. At the end of the award for 2017. worked as a paraprofessional at the rural school month, the winners of the Golden Tickets are chosen. “I did not accomplish this all by Del Bartels Milesville,” said Puhlman. “Throughout my days I Each classroom instructor selects at least one student myself,” said Parsons. “There are Parsons has been a South Dakota agent for American National Insurance saw many positive things happening and wanted the for that month. four of us around here who take for only six months of 2017, yet still earned the 2017 American National students to be rewarded for their actions. I wanted to “The teachers are the ones who decide who receives what we do very seriously. None of State Agriculture Agent of the Year Award. He also earned the company’s bring more positivity into the school.” the final golden ticket for the lunch, but any staff at us focus on the awards, we simply coveted Blue Vase Award for agents doing exemplary work with the com - Puhlman approached Superintendent Jeff Rieck - Philip School can let the students’ teacher know what do the best job we can for people pany during their first six months. man last December to see if he would be willing to they did so the student can fill out a ticket,” ex - and let the chips fall where they work with this program. The students’ reward would plained Puhlman. may.” include the winners getting to eat lunch with Rieck - “Each classroom has a golden box with slips of The other members of Parsons’ of the Year Award, Parsons has insurance companies offer a blue man on the gold-decorated elementary stage during paper that they can write on what they did positive. staff include his wife Dianne, Elke also earned the company’s Blue vase award, however only a small lunch time. The students would also get to wear a They place them in this box and at the end of the Baxter and Katrina Thorn. Vase Award. percentage of agents achieve it. golden ticket on reward day, and receive a certificate. month the teacher draws who will get a golden ticket. The business location is 145 S. The Blue Vase Award is a na - Parsons, and the other agents who “I also wanted to be sure that the rural school stu - They get to wear a special golden ticket, get a certifi - Center Avenue, with office hours tional recognition for agents new qualified with American National dents in Milesville would also be included in this. cate, and eat lunch on a special table that is deco - of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office to American National Life Insur - Life Insurance Company, will be Mr. Rieckman even agreed to packing a lunch and rated in gold.” telephone number is 859-3006, ance Company. It is based on life presented with a certificate of heading to the country to eat,” said Puhlman. “When I started this program I had no idea what and the cell phone is 515-0712. insurance sales and service in the achievement during the com - She then met with the teachers to see how they to even call it but I was watching Willy Wonka and On top of the 2017 American first six months of an agent’s ca - pany’s annual meeting in Galve - felt. They all agreed with the program. the Chocolate factory with my son and it seemed fit - National State Agriculture Agent reer with the company. Most life ston, Texas, in February. The program addresses the kindergarten through ting for this program,” said Puhlman. Midland Tumbers still wow audiences Pine Street lots cleared Del Bartels The house on Pine Street owned by Roger Williams Beautification of the city and its surrounding area is has been razed. All that remains on the two lots is a one goal of Philip Charities. Another goal is for emp - concrete pad and a fairly large garage behind it. Philip tied lots to be a catalyst for future construction of Charities helps with the cost of tearing down such homes, thus increasing the number of houses and non-salvageable structures. City crews do the destruc - apartments needed to accommodate new residents tion work and truck the debris to the city landfill. wishing to move to the Philip area. Knights of Columbus The local Philip Knights of Columbus Council four signs around Philip which promote life. The #2679 currently has 30 active members, with a total council also makes various donations throughout the registered membership of 66. year to charitable causes. The local council’s current Grand Knight is Toby According to its state website, www.sdkofc.org, the Kroetch. The Deputy Grand Knight is D.J. Rush, South Dakota Knights of Columbus includes over treasurer is Monte Palecek, and Rick J. Palecek is the 8,700 members. The state level puts out its own financial secretary. Official meetings are done on a newspaper, The Crusader. quarterly basis, though activities are far more nu - The Knights of Columbus were formed in 1882 in merous. Connecticut by Father Michael McGivney. Today, The Philip council belongs in South Dakota District there are currently 15,342 councils and 1.9 million 16. The other district councils include Mission, Mar - members. Councils exist in the United States, tin, Wall, and Ellsworth Air Force Base. Canada, Mexico and 13 other countries. The Knights of Columbus are Catholic men of faith Joe Gittings has been a District Deputy and also and charitable action. the SD State Deputy (the highest rank in the state). According to R. Palecek, some of the community ac - A person needs to be a practicing Catholic male 18 Courtesy Photos tivities sponsored by the local council include an an - years or older to be a member. After joining the The Midland Tumblers, under the head coaching of going since 1972, when Larry Joy started it. Our nual blood drive in September, two highway road Knights, a member may transfer their membership Nathan Nemec, performed during halftime of the coaches this year are Nathan Nemec, Jason Harry and walks per year, the Knights of Columbus free throw to a new council if they move. Officers are elected and Kadoka Area high school basketball games, Friday, myself. March 22 will be our Midland performance contest each January, fundraising breakfasts during serve a one year term. There is not an auxiliary. Jan. 26. “The 2017-2018 Midland Tumblers consists of after the education fair. We will also be performing March at the Bad River Senior Citizen’s Center, According to Palecek, to become a member a person just under 50 kids from the Midland and Kadoka Area again at Rock The Rim in Kadoka, April 7. We hope quarterly breakfasts at the Sacred Heart Catholic can either ask a Knight about joining or be invited by schools, ranging from preschool to eighth grade,” said to get a few more performances in before these events. Church, co-sponsoring of a seminarian who is study - a Knight. A candidate’s application is reviewed and Katie Sammons. “We have a lot of new youngsters Our kids love to be cheered on; it makes them jump ing for the priesthood, various members driving a bus approved by the local council and then that person this year and many return kids. It has been a pleasure even higher.” Shown at left is Makaylan Bonenberger which picks up elderly church members for Saturday must attend an initiation ceremony to become a watching them improve with each practice and we springboarding over a teammate. At right is Gracie evening Mass. The local Knights also helped sponsor Knight.