Council Reconsiders Ambulance Staffing Requirements Kids Take
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Postal Customer Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 Local News, Local Sports, Local Every Issue Volume 3 Issue 27 Council reconsiders ambulance staffi ng requirements Jill Meier ring. The amended ordinance also of those calls needing to be trans- nay vote, noting that 90 percent “is Journal editor requires that same staff, but gives ferred. a fairly standard benchmark in the leeway to 90 percent of runs the “Why would you want to change EMS industry.” Brandon’s emergency ambulance ambulance service makes. something that’s working?” he asks. The 5 percent increase resulted in service isn’t going anywhere. MED-Star has largely met those Out of the Jan. 15 work session a Jan. 23 special meeting, where the But it was in jeopardy for a few requirements since being named the between the council and Masur, 90 council reversed their action, voting days last week following the coun- city’s 911 provider 13 years ago. percent staffi ng requirement was the 5-1 to lower the staffi ng require- cil’s Jan. 20 action to amend Ordi- Owner Jay Masur said there have agreed upon fi gure. The 5-1 council ment to 90 percent. Clark cast the nance 598. The amended change been three occasions in 13 years vote on Jan. 20, however, upped the dissenting vote. essentially required the city’s 911 that a paramedic was not on the ini- requirement to 95 percent. Kull said he met with Masur fol- provider, MED-Star, in this case, to tial run, but did arrive on scene. The Alderwoman Dana Clark sug- lowing the council’s Jan. 20 action, have a paramedic on board 95 per- last four months, MED-Star has had gested the 5 percent increase, say- saying he was disappointed to learn Dave Baumeister/File photo cent of their runs. a paramedic on emergency runs 100 ing she couldn’t get behind the 90 the 95 percent staffi ng requirement Med-Star owner Jay Masur The current ordinance required percent of the time. percent fi gure, suggesting a 95 per- was implemented in the ordinance’s addresses the Minnehaha both a paramedic and EMT when Masur said his service averages cent compromise. second reading. County Commission. patient care and transport are occur- 300 calls per year, with about 210 Alderman Dave Kull cast the lone continued on page 7 Legislators take up IN SYNC transgender, budget issues at local Q&A Jamie Hult under age 16. Staff writer “The testimony in support of the bill is very compel- Transgender rights, public ling. The testimony against education funding and ad- it is anecdotal at best,” ministering of prescription said Rep. Steve Haugaard drugs were a few of the top- (R-Sioux Falls). ics taken up at the legislative “Why isn’t our medical coffee Saturday at Bethany board involved in making Meadows’ Brandon campus. this decision?” asked Nich- District 10 and 25 House ole Cauwels. “Shouldn’t this and Senate representatives be handled at the medical fi elded questions from the board level, and with the public in the 90-minute fo- physicians?” rum, which was organized “It’s not just off-the-cuff by the Brandon Valley Area response to the issue,” Hau- Chamber of Commerce. gaard said. “It’s looking at Several audience mem- the science; it’s looking at bers were curious about the individuals on a one-on-one representatives’ stances on basis as well.” a bill that would criminalize He went on to say that transgender health care for interrupting the body’s de- minors. velopment before puberty House Bill 1057 is sched- could be an irreversible mis- uled to be voted upon on take. Wednesday. All 10 and 25 “There’s always been legislators, with the excep- people, maybe men who are tion of Rep. Doug Barthel a little more effeminate and (R-Sioux Falls) said they women who are a little bit supported the bill, which more masculine,” he said. would make it illegal for “But now, we seem to have doctors to prescribe hor- this in the forefront. It’s be- Jill Meier/BV Journal mones or perform sex reas- ing affected in large part, I Taija Groenewold performs with a Dynamic Dance group during halftime of a Lynx boys’ basketball game last Thursday. signment surgery on youth continued on page 3 Kids take crack at new school blueprints Jill Meier room where students could go to simply Kim Skibsted, district STEM/tech- Journal editor relieve stress. nology integrationist, said she chose Last week, Superintendent Dr. Ja- this topic for the fi rst large-scale STEM When it comes to the design, wants rod Larson, business manager Paul project “because it’s real for them and and needs of Brandon Valley’s next el- Lundberg and curriculum director this makes it relevant to them.” ementary school, district administrators Sherri Nelson heard building plan pre- “They now get to have a say, or they turned to those that have a vested inter- sentations from teams of Fred Assam think they get to have a say in the new est in the school itself: The kids. Elementary fourth graders. The pre- school, even the fourth graders know- Without having to open the check- sentations were the culmination of an ing that they’re going to the intermedi- book, the youngsters let their imagina- approximate three-week STEM-based ate building. But we talked about future tions run wild with wants. unit that involved every grade level. buildings because this isn’t the last one Jamie Hult/BV Journal Think hot tub, indoor pool – with “It’s great stuff,” said Lundberg, who that’s going to be built. They have lots Ryan Schellpfeffer asks legislators’ opinion of a bill expand- lanes, a garden and craft room, an audi- added he was overly impressed by their of great ideas, they have imaginations ing nurses’ prescriptive privileges Saturday in Brandon. torium for performance arts, and even a ideas. continued on page 16 WHAT’S INSIDE Page 3: Who’s up for re-elec- tion in 2020; Talk of the Town Taking your best friend to the vet? Page 4: Obituaries, police report, death notices Page 5: BVSD educators con- Check two things off your list. tinue to learn City Pet Licenses are now available at Sioux Nation Pet Clinic in Sioux Falls, SD, Page 7: Brandon Valley Horizon Pet Care in Brandon, SD & Brandon Valley Veterinary Clinic in Brandon, Middle School 2nd quarter honor roll SD. Renew your Rabies Vaccination & City License at the same location. Pages 9-11: Lynx sports Pages 12-15: Public notices Brought to you by Brandon Valley the City of Brandon: Veterinary Clinic, p.c. $1.25 1404 E. Cedar St., Brandon, SD 57005 (605)582-9999 www.brandonvalleyjournal.com Wednesday, August 2, 2017 Local News, Local Sports, Local Every Issue Page 2 Page 2 Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 Brandon Valley Journal Viewpoints HB 1057 is one of most Let’s get wild this Saturday controversial topics I hope the headline grabbed your at- join us! tention. It was meant to. JILL’S Let’s face it, cancer stinks. It’s not PIERRE – Week The “wild” I refer to is the 36th An- convenient. It changes life and circum- two of our Legisla- 2020 S.D. nual Ed Polzine Wild Game Feed. It’s JOURNAL stances, oftentimes keeping moms and tive Session began this Saturday at the Brandon VFW. Jill Meier | Editor dads from working, ultimately draining Jan. 21, although LEGISLATURE The buffet line opens at 5:30 p.m. and bank accounts, making life even more we did have an Speaker of the House Steve Haugaard the auction gets underway at 7 p.m., cancer and other life-impacting illness- diffi cult to face than it already is. District 10 (R - Sioux Falls) Executive Board but come early to claim your place at es and/or events. And that’s where we come in. meeting the night Session we heard the pre- the table, scour the baubles we’ve col- I didn’t know Ed Polzine, the event’s Although we’d love nothing more before in order to discuss the sentations of the Governor, lected for the live auction, raffl es and namesake. But I surely bought into his than to be able to wave a magic wand replacement of the Director Chief Justice Gilbertson and games, and as always, enjoy the com- big heart to make a positive difference and cure cancer of all kinds, we don’t of our Legislative Research one of the Tribal Chairmen, pany that surrounds you. Chances are, for local kids battling cancer. have that power. But what we do have Council. Mr. Jason Hancock Lester Thompson. Following you might know them. Or not, and it’s While volunteering can sometimes is the will to help those who’ve been has served us very well for the Tribal Address several of likely, they’re good people who may seem like a second job, it’s surely not. dealt a bad hand, and we do it every the past fi ve years and is sim- the Legislators attended the become a new friend. Our committee does a great job of year the Saturday night before the Su- ply moving back to Idaho to Great Sioux Nation Tribal I signed on with the game feed gang turning volunteering into fun. If you per Bowl. be closer to his older family Address. That was a historic fi ve years or so ago. It’s a club I’m question that, stop by a prep night at So, pencil in “a wild Saturday night” members who need more as- event, as it appears several proud to be part of.