http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi A blog of daily life in the community of Brandon. Fri, 16 May 2008 23:20:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Have you noticed a white car driving very slowly (30 mph) on Rice Street on your way to work lately? Do you follow slowly or do you pass the car? There aren't too many places to pass on the curvy road to Sioux Falls. Have you compensated by leaving earlier for ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/slow-moving-vehicles.html Did you see either of the Democratic presidential hopefuls during their stops in Sioux Falls recently? If so, what did you think of what they had to say? Did their stops here influence your choice for president? If you didn't go, why not? http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/clinton-and-obama.html There will be no school election this spring. Todd Egge was the only person to hand in a petition for the three-year term, so he gets the school board seat by default. He'll replace Mike Klumpp, who did not run for re-election after two terms on the board. Why only one ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/no-school-election.html Anybody need a water tower? The city has an extra one that's up for sale. The city will open bids Thursday for the water tower that's on the east side of town, near the golf course. What's a water tower worth, I wonder? What would someone do with it? What if nobody ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/water-tower-for-sale.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/lawn-watering.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/dont-save-your-pennies.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/variance-requests.html 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? http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/school-board-petitions.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/did-you-receive-storm-damage.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/marlet-graue.html 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. ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/loyalty-day-parade.html 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. ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/seeking-ambulance-riders-2.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/branches-and-twigs-and-brush-oh-my.html 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. http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/ambulance-report.html 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? http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/dancing-with-the-staff.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/democratic-primary.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/prom.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/overweight-students.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/brandon-water-2.html 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, ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/new-council.html