BrandonInfo.com

Do you have any friends or relatives in Hawaii, the Pacific rim or a Pacific island state right now? If so, have you been in contact with them? How are they preparing for possible tsunami damage in the wake of a Chilean earthquake?

The Argus Leader and neighboring community papers are looking for local people who have connections with Haiti. Do you have a friend or relative who lives there or was visiting there? Are they ok? Were you scheduled to visit there? Have you ever been there before?

Do you have connections with a mission group that will help after yesterday’s earthqueake, the largest to hit Haiti in more than 200 years?

If you have any information of local connections, would you please post here or e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com?

Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

It looks like the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department got to put its newest fire truck to work the night it was unveiled.

The fire truck was to be unveiled at last night’s city council meeting, which began at 6 p.m.

By 9 p.m., several fire departments were at a home on S. Splitrock Avenue, where a detached garage burned.

As I write this, details of the fire aren’t available. Stay tuned to brandoninfo.com and argusleader.com to learn more. Or post here anything you might know, or questions about the fire.

The recent shootings at Fort Hood in Texas are a tragedy. Are you following the story?

We are looking for anyone who has ties to Fort Hood or ties to anyone who was killed or injured in the recent shootings. If you do, would you please post here or e-mail apthiele@argusleader.com. Or call the Brandon Valley Challenger office at 582-6025.
Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

We are looking for an idea for a good story with a Thanksgiving theme to put in the Brandon Valley Challenger. Do you know of someone in the Brandon/Valley Springs/Garretson area who raises their own Thanksgiving turkey, or who spends every Thanksgiving serving food to the needy, or who has something significant and special to be thankful for this year? If so, we would like to meet them and write about them.

Please post your ideas here or send them to me at apthiele@argusleader.com.

Thanks very much.

Alica P. Thiele

Brandon Valley Challenger

The Minnehaha County Historical Society is trying to find out the origin of the name of Six Mile Road. Was it named that because it was six miles from Sioux Falls? A quick Mapquest search reveals that it is six miles east of Western Avenue, so that theory seems unlikely.

Do you have any knowledge or guess why Six Mile Road was named that? Is it six miles long? Six miles from something?

The historical society would appreciate any leads at all. You can post them here or e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com.

Thanks.

I am gathering comments for a story about the national Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s decision to allow homosexuals who are openly in a relationship to be ordained.

Would you be willing to be included in the story? I would have to be able to use your name.

What do you think about the church making a policy like that? Do you say “it’s about time” or do you say “this is a step on the slippery slope” or do you say “doesn’t matter to me” or … something else?

Feel free to post comments here for blog discussion, or contact me by Friday afternoon at apthiele@argusleader.com if you are interested in commenting for the story, to be published in the Brandon Valley Challenger next week.
Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

Brandon Valley Challenger reporter

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

I am writing a story on a plan the city council will consider for a park in The Bluffs. I need to talk to a resident or two for my story.

If you live in The Bluffs, do you like the idea of a park? What would you like to see in it? Do you think it would be a good idea to put it off Heritage Road? Or maybe you don’t like the idea of a park. If not, why not?

Whatever your thoughts, would you contact me please so I can include your comments in my story?

Please call 331-2376 or e-mail apthiele@argusleader.com.

Thank you a lot.

Alica

I am writing a story about a new mailbox ordinance the city council will consider at their first January meeting.

I need to talk to someone, anyone, about their mailbox. Do you have mailboxes on both sides of your street? Are all the mailboxes on your street clustered in one spot? Are they in front of your house, perhaps? Do you mind that? Whether you do or not, I’d like to talk to you on Friday.

Please call 331-2376 or e-mail apthiele@argusleader.com.

Thank you a lot.

Alica

I am working on a story for the Brandon Valley Challenger about traffic problems getting in and out of The Bluffs and Eagle Creek. If you live in either of these neighborhoods and have had any trouble making turns onto or off from Holly Boulevard, will you contact me please?

There have been several comments about this topic in another thread on this blog, but I can’t use any of those comments. I need to be able to use the person’s name along with the comment.

If you are willing to talk to me for my story, and let me use your name in the paper, please contact me at apthiele@argusleader.com or 941-0216. I would need to hear from you by end of day Thursday at the latest in order to meet my deadline.

Thanks very much.

Alica P. Thiele, Brandon Valley Challenger reporter

Have you or anyone in your family received harassing or threatening text messages? I’m working on a story about this for the Brandon Valley Challenger and am looking for someone who would be willing to be quoted, using their name, in the paper.

If you are someone like that, would you please e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com or phone me at 331-2376?

Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

Challenger reporter

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.

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

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.

If you have ever been to a Lorie Line concert, I’d like to talk to you.

Please call me at 331-2376 or e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com by Friday (March 28) noon.

Thanks.

If you have ever gotten food from a food bank or food pantry in any city, and if you are willing to talk about it for a story for the Brandon Valley Challenger, will you please contact me at apthiele@argusleader.com or 331-2376?

Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

One Argus Leader and Brandon Valley Challenger policy is to include “regular person”-type comment in every story. Oddly enough, that often is the most difficult source to find.

For example, right now I’m working on a story about housing sales in Brandon. Of course I’ll talk to one or more realtors, and probably a lender, and maybe a developer. But I really would like to talk to someone who recently bought a home in Brandon. But I don’t know anyone like that, personally. Do you?

I’m going to make a standing blog category called “seeking sources.” From time to time, you may find a request there asking for people who, say, own a cat, or work in Minnesota, or who play backgammon, to contact me for a possible comment in a story.
I can’t use comments in stories unless I can use the person’s name too. That means I can’t quote anonymous blog comments in stories. But if you fit the request, or know someone who does, please let me know at apthiele@argusleader.com and I’ll get in touch with you.

I hope to hear shortly from anyone who recently has bought a house in Brandon. I have until tomorrow afternoon to find someone.

Thank you in advance for participating in community dialogue through the blog and the Brandon Valley Challenger.

Alica P. Thiele