BrandonInfo.com

Did you get a survey in the mail from the Chamber and USD? The Chamber, city and other groups hired USD to conduct the mail survey to see if people are satisfied with the city and what new stuff they’d like to see added.

I got a survey and filled it out right away. What did you think of the questions? Did they cover stuff you are interested in? I noticed there are questions in there about water rates, which is a current issue. Lots of questions about the Buy Brandon campaign. Were there any topics that were missed?

I am writing a story for the Brandon Valley Challenger about a new policy for the school food services. The new policy will affect children with nut allergies, and I’m hoping to be able to talk to a parent of one of these kids.

If your child has a nut allergy, will you please e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com? I need to talk to someone today (Friday), and I need to be able to use your name in the paper.

Thanks.

Alica P. Thiele

The Brandon Valley School Board has decided that only juniors and seniors and their dates (high school graduates up to age 19 years) can attend the prom. This past spring, nine freshmen and 45 sophomores attended prom. Principal Gregg Talcott has said he isn’t comfortable having the younger kids attending prom with the older kids.

Are you comfortable with it? It could cut down on the number of kids who attend prom, but not necessarily, as each of the juniors and seniors is allowed to bring a date anyway. They just can’t pick their dates from among the freshmen and sophomores any more.

Brandon Valley was one of the few Eastern South Dakota Conference schools that allowed underclassmen to attend prom. This new decision will bring Brandon Valley more into line with the other conference schools.
Do you think the school board made the right decision?

What Brandon issues are on your mind? Or statewide issues, for that matter. What topics would you like to see addressed on this blog? I’m happy to accept topic suggestions any time at apthiele@argusleader.com, or on the blog itself.

Do you have any questions about Brandon that I can help answer? Criticisms? General comments?

Speak now or forever hold your peace. Actually, you can speak any time.

Every Father’s Day, I used to make my dad a pan of fudge. That’s what he liked. He called it “thudge.” Dad died almost 11 years ago now, but every year, I still feel like I should make fudge.

I asked my husband what he wanted for Father’s Day, and he said, “Peace and quiet.” I guess that means I should leave him home alone while I go out.

Do you have any Father’s Day traditions? What would be your ideal Father’s Day?

Do you live near the house that had a fire on Sunday? Several pets died from smoke damage, but no people were in the house at the time.

Did any damage spread beyond the house? Do you know of any organized efforts to help the people who own the house?

Did you receive any storm damage last night? In Sioux Falls, power lines were down, tree branches blew down and at least one garage was destroyed.

At my house, the power never went out. Our rose bush looks a little worse for wear, but not too awful bad. The yards on my block look fine. How about at your house?

When I was a girl, my mother told me that I should take typing and shorthand in school so I could be a secretary. And if I worked hard, maybe someday I could be an executive secretary. I told her that I’d rather be an executive. Then she’d raise an eyebrow at me as if I were talking crazy talk.

Things are a lot different these days. Or are they? Jackie Thorson recently became the first female to graduate from the two-year HVAC program at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls.

Do you have any stories of breaking into a male-dominated career? In what direction did your parents encourage you? In what direction do you encourage your children?

The school board is considering letting high school science teachers use a Flexbook instead of a published textbook for their classes next year. A Flexbook is basically a text the teachers would create themselves, using materials from various sources. Presumably, they would use source material that is not copyrighted or else get the proper permissions to use the material.

The teachers and the high school principal say a Flexbook would allow the teachers to customize their curriculum so that it better fits Brandon Valley’s specific needs.

Do you think the school board should allow this? Right now, just the science department is asking because their class textbooks are scheduled to be replaced this year. Should other teachers be allowed to do this too when they’re texts are scheduled to be replaced?

Why or why not?

Some might say that it’s a waste of money to buy textbooks of which teachers and students can’t make full use. Others might say that it wouldn’t save the school any money anyway because the district would have to pay the teachers extra to create their own text.

What are your thoughts?

As we settle into middle age, my friends and I have had discussions about whether or not we’re where we thought we’d be at this stage in our lives.

I have a friend who used to be a big collector. Over time, he decided that having a houseful of stuff wasn’t as satisfying as he thought it would be.

My husband bought an airplane a few years ago. He spent more than three years rebuilding it, and now he’s taking lessons to hone his rusty flying skills from 20 years ago. He’s finally fulfilling a dream he’s had most of his adult life.

When I was young, I hoped for a decent house, family and job. I have all that. Someone once asked me what my goal for retirement was, and I answered, “Servants.” He thought I was kidding. I wasn’t. In a few years, ask me how that goal worked out for me.

What are your goals in life? Have you reached them? If so, were they as satisfying as you thought they would be? Are you in a place in your life now where you thought you would be?