BrandonInfo.com

The annual Pigskin Classic is this Saturday as the Lynx take on the Sturgis Scoopers. What is your prediction for the game’outcome?
How do you think the Lynx will do this year? Will we have a chance at the state title this year?

Do you plan to attend the game Saturday? How about the many activities lined up during the day?

The Sioux Falls School District sells student names and contact information to companies that ask for it. Brandon Valley School District does not. What do you think about that?

Most of the companies who buy the names are places like photography studios that are targeting high school kids for senior pictures.

Feel free to blog about your opinions of this practice. Also, I am writing a story about this for the Brandon Valley Challenger. If you are willing to speak to me for my story (I would have to be able to use your name), please contact me at apthiele@argusleader.com. I have to have the story written by Thursday evening, though, so I would need to hear from you very soon.

Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

At their last meeting, city council members talked about how nice it would be to have a new or expanded swimming pool in Brandon. Would you like one? If so, would you like an indoor one or an outdoor one?

How much would you be willing to pay for it? The Brandon swimming pool loses money every year, but that’s not unusual. In fact, I have never heard of a pool that turned a profit. If you can find one, please let us know.

On the other hand, not every city amenity has to turn a profit. Parks don’t, for example. They are something the taxpayers think are important enough to just pay for every year. Is the pool as important to you?

Have you used the current city pool? What do you like about it, or don’t like? What things would you like the pool to have that it doesn’t already have?

Corson is getting enough federal money to completely redo their water lines. As part of the project, they will connect onto Brandon’s water and buy water from Brandon. Down the road, when Corson can afford it, they want to redo all their sewer lines also.

Maybe someday Corson will be part of Brandon. What do you think about that? What do you think about Corson buying water from Brandon?

Fred Assam Elementary is now open. The city of Sioux Falls helped pay for an expanded gym, plus some of the playground equipment. What do you think of the city contributing to school facilities?

Do you worry that the city will want some say over how the facilities are used? That the city might intrude on school use?

Do you worry that the school will accept the city’s help and then end up pushing the city out, trying to get exclusive use of the facilities?

Do you think that the partnership is a great idea and will serve both the school and the city?

What are your thoughts?

Two Brandon Wineries will be part of the State Fair’s Wine Pavilion Sept. 3-7 in Huron. Dakota Falls Winery and Wilde Prairie Winery will be among a bunch of South Dakota wineries that will be there. Strawbale Winery of Renner will be there too.

Have you ever tasted Brandon wines? South Dakota wines? My husband likes Red Ass Rhubarb wine from Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City, but it’s too sweet for me.

Which are your favorites?

What do you think of the Brandon Chamber’s new mascot, Sunny? Sunny made his (or her) first appearance during Hometown Days in Brandon, but the Chamber assures city residents they will see Sunny pop up during many community events.

The Chamber spent $4,000 on the mascot costume with the hopes of bringing at least that much business, if not more, into Brandon businesses. That means more sales tax money in the city coffers, which means more services available for residents, the Chamber says.

What was your first reaction to Sunny? Will you look forward to seeing the mascot around town?

I’m expecting a new grandbaby around Christmastime, and my son and his wife found out this week that it’ll be a girl.

I called my 94-year-old grandmother to tell her, and she marvelled at today’s technology that lets us know these things so early.

A co-worker had a baby a few months ago, and even though she could have learned the gender of her baby ahead of time, she chose not to. At the time, I applauded her decision because I thought it was more “natural” and was more what I am used to. (Heck, I had my kids back in the 1970s, when ultrasounds weren’t done routinely.)

Now that the grandbaby is on the way, though, I discovered something about myself. I couldn’t wait to find out if it would be a boy or a girl. It didn’t matter to me which it would be, but I just wanted to know.

How about you? Did you find out your baby’s gender before the birth? If you had a chance to find out, did you ask not to be told? What are the advantages of finding out ahead of time? What are the advantages of waiting?

The Brandon Food Pantry has outgrown its current site, less than a year after opening. The board of directors wants to move the pantry to a free-standing building, and they want the city to help pay for it.

Should the city help pay for it? Are there other places the food pantry could get the money? The Brandon Food Pantry is affiliated with the state food bank. Could some funding come from there?

How about private donors? Could the food pantry board hold a campaign to raise money from citizens?

If you think the city should chip in, how much do you think is appropriate? $10,000? More? 25 percent? 50 percent? More?

Will you go to the city council meeting tonight to learn more?