BrandonInfo.com

The city is asking Brandon residents to voluntarily restrict their lawn watering this season. The city is asking people who live at even-numbered addresses to water only on even-numbered days, and likewise with odd-numbered addresses.

This policy is more liberal than the policy in Sioux Falls, where water restrictions will be enforced year-round.

At my house, we don’t water our lawn at all. Our reasoning is that the more lush the lawn is, the more work it creates. And we prefer leisure time over yard work. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. It seems like there is always a long list of household chores to do, and making a point of adding one more chore to the list, especially a self-perpetuating one, seems counterproductive.

Do you water your lawn? If so, will you follow the odd-even system?

There is an article in today’s Argus Leader (page 7A) that says Congress is trying to bring back the steel-made pennis of World War II and may be using steel for nickels too.

Why? Because it costs more than a penny – 1.26 cents – to make a penny. And it costs 7.5 cents to make a nickel. Every time the government makes these coins, it loses money.

Yet, I know many people who have a jar of pennies in their house.

Get those pennies back in circulation. Use them when you make purchases. Or just take them to the bank and have them replaced with folding money. If everyone kept pennies in circulation, the government would not have to consider making them out of steel. If everyone kept pennis in circulation, the government even might not have to make any more pennies.

Do you keep pennies or other coins in a jar, box, bowl, etc.?

Monday night, the city council went against a planning and zoning commission recommendation and granted a variance for a garage on property where there is not yet a house.

On several occasions in recent months, the council has gone against planning and zoning recommendations. We expect our elected officials, and our appointed ones as well, to do proper research before they make decisions that affect the future of our community. But when two city panels disagree with one another, how can citizens be confident the city is looking out for their best interests? Who is correct on these issues? The commission? Or the council?

We can’t just assume that the panel that gives the applicant what he wants is the right one. Certainly there are exceptions to every rule, and that’s why variances and conditional use permits exist. But city law has specific criteria for granting these exceptions. How can both panels follow the law and come up with opposite conclusions?

What are your thoughts?

The deadline for filing petitions for school board is Friday. But so far, no one has turned in a petition.

Three people have taken out petitions, though. They are Todd Egge, Holly Hauck and Paul VanDeBerg.

Which of these possible candidates would you support, if any? And why?

Apparently a tornado touched down last night east of Valley Springs.

It was a short outburst, but powerful. Did the storm damage anything where you live? Shingles gone? Trees down? Budding tulips wiped out?

I was at a church function yesterday evening and heard the storm sirens. We all had to go downstairs twice when the sirens blew.

Our Brandon Valley transportation director is retiring. Was Marlet Graue ever your bus driver? Were you on the trip to the USD medical school to see the cadavers? Maybe you were one of the naughty children who was suspended from the bus.

I know her as a self-assured, capable person.
What are your stories of Marlet?

Do you plan to attend the Loyalty Day Parade this Sunday? Have you attended in the past?

I marched in the parade in junior high and all through high school, because I was a band kid. Later, I photographed the parade for quite a few years, for the Brandon Valley Challenger. I even announced the parade for a year or two.

I remember marching band. I really enjoyed that. In fact, to this day, if I’m walking and there’s music, I find myself stepping in time to the music.

What are your Loyalty Day Parade memories?

Have you ridden in a MED-Star ambulance because of a medical emergency? How was your experience? Good, bad, or indifferent? Would you be willing to talk to me a few minutes for a story I am writing for the Brandon Valley Challenger?

Sorry, I can’t use blog posts in the story. Only comments with names.

If you are willing to be in the story, please e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com today. I need to finish the story by tonight.

Thank you.

What do you do with all the nature garbage on your lawn in the spring? I’m talking about fallen twigs, the dead grass left from last fall, and stuff like that.

I talked to one man who pays his garbage service more than $100 extra each year to haul it away.

I saw a neighbor yesterday raking her lawn. I know a lot of people do that each spring.

Should the city offer a spring brush day, similar to the fall leaf day, where people can bring their scrub and brush to a dumpster at a designated site? Would it be worth the cost to the city of doing that?

My father never raked in the spring. He said last year’s dead grass was a good insulator of this spring’s new grass as it broke through through the ground. Later, as the grass grew, you couldn’t see the old grass anyway, he said. He also didn’t like messing with leaves and twigs and branches, so he didn’t plant any trees on the property. He did think fir trees were ok. But not leafy trees that shed.

My husband has a mulch mower, so he never does any raking either. All the grass clippings get ground up and scattered on the lawn.

How do you handle things, though?

The first quarter ambulance report is on the agenda of tonight’s City Council meeting. Are you interested in knowing what’s in it?

The council meets at 6 p.m. at the city council chambers, 308 S. Main Ave.

Thursday night, school teachers, administrators and staff paired up with students for a dance competition. It was well attended and the proceeds went to a worthy cause.

What do you think of teachers and students having a social relationship? Do you think it could affect their school relationship?

We are counting down the weeks until the South Dakota Democratic primary. A column in Monday’s Argus Leader said that no matter who wins, Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama, the state will still vote mostly Republican in the general election in November.

That may be true. The republican presidential candidate generally carries South Dakota. But still, the people registered Democrat in this state must make their choice for the Democratic ticket.

Who do you favor? Clinton or Obama? What does each have in their favor? What are the disadvantages of either?

I remember going to my prom in my junior year with a group of girlfriends. We went to Ming Wah for dinner, and then we went to the dance. I don’t recall dancing. We girls had a good time. In my senior year, I stopped in at the prom dance briefly — 15 minutes maybe. Other than that, I don’t have any big prom memories.

However, the kids these days make the day very special. They get fancy clothes, rent limos and basically go all out. There is even an overnight trip to Worlds Of Fun amusement park in Kansas City.

How do you think today’s proms compare to the ones you had when you were in high school? Do you think the event is worth all the expense kids go to? If you were to plan prom, how would you do it differently?

Or do you think prom is a perfect blend of fun and frill, and you wouldn’t change a thing?

Nearly one-third of Brandon Valley students at Brandon Elementary, Robert Bennis Elementary and Brandon Valley Middle School are considered overweight or obese. Yet, that’s a lower percentage than the state as a whole.

Does that mean the parents and schools in Brandon are doing a good job of feeding the kids balanced diets and making sure they get exercise? Or is there still a lot of room for improvement?

Brandon Valley requires one semester of physical education for graduation. That is the minimum required by state law. Sioux Falls School District recently reduced their requirement from three semesters down to one. Is one enough? If you don’t think so, take into consideration all the extracurricular opportunities Brandon Valley students have to keep fit. There are school and league sports, open gyms, recess and other programs. Even with all these opportunities, is it enough?

Who should have the main responsibility for keeping our children fit? The school system? The parents? The children themselves?

What have you done at your house to ensure healthy eating for your family. At our house, we make sure every meal includes a vegetable. One problem is that we don’t eat many meals at home. My husband and I both take vitamin supplements. I know it would be better to get our nutrients through food, though, instead of vitamin pills. At our house, we are making some effort, but there is room for improvement.

What are your thoughts?

I’m looking for one or more people to comment for a story I’m writing about water quality in Brandon. If you are willing to provide comment (I must be able to use your name), would you please e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com or call me at 582-6898?

How’s the water at your house? Do you think it’s good? Bad? Indifferent?

Noon Friday is the deadline to reach me.

Thanks.

Alica P. Thiele

Brandon Valley Challenger reporter

What do you think of yesterday’s election results? What do you think of voter turnout? Ward I had a 10.4 percent turnout. Ward III had a 15.7 percent turnout.

In Ward 1 voters elected Blaine Jones to the council, 108-76 over incumbent John Saarloos. In Ward III, voters elected Roger Brooks, 172-62 over incumbent Steve Rubin. Thank you to Saarloos and Rubin for the time you put in serving the city. Congratulations to Jones and Brooks.

How do you think these new aldermen will change the complexion of the council? Do you see any issues on the horizon the council should study? What advice do you have for the new councilmen?

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the council chambers, 208 Main Ave., next to City Hall.

If you live in Ward I or Ward III, go vote today. If you live in Ward II, don’t worry about it. You’ll vote next year. If you don’t know what ward you’re in, you can find out on the city’s Web site, www.brandonsd.com. Or call City Hall at 582-6515.

Ward I residents will decide between (listed alphabetically) Blaine Jones and John Saarloos. Ward III residents will decide between Roger Brooks and Steve Rubin.

Any last minute thoughts on the candidates? Who is your choice, and why (or why not)? Once you’ve been down to the polls, post your thoughts here. How did the turnout look to you? Did you see or hear anything about which you think others here should know?

Take a look under the category “seeking sources” occasionally. You might just be in a situation to comment for a story I’m working on for the Brandon Valley Challenger.

For example, right now I am looking for people whose children watch the animated show “Backyardigans” on Nickelodeon. I had never heard about it, but I’m looking for people — kids especially — who are fans of the show. Are you?

If so, would you please e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com, or call me at 582-6898 before Monday noon? I’d love to talk to you.

Thanks very much.

Is bullying a problem in our schools? Has your little one every come home crying and complaining about another child grabbing their belongings or hitting them or worse?

Do you think bullying these days is worse than the “give me your lunch money”-type of bullying an older generation experienced?

If your child has been bullied, how did you handle it?

How should “problem” children be handled?

Did you watch the city council candidate forum last night on local cable channel 18? If not, it will broadcast again tonight (Tuesday) at 8 p.m.

If you saw the forum last night, or attended it last week, how do you think the candidates did? Did any of their answers help you make up your mind about who to (or not) vote for? Did their answers ring true for you, or were you skeptical about anything they said?

On April 8, Ward I voters will choose between Roger Brooks and Steve Rubin. Ward III voters will choose between Blaine Jones and John Saarloos. Which candidates do you think will win, and why?