Improving accessibility and sharing information about resources is the most common point of strategy South Dakota's Horizons II communities share as they plan for the future.

Communities are also working on beautification projects and business development as top priorities in their efforts to reduce poverty and build new leadership.

Horizons II is a project delivered to 24 communities by the South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service with funding through the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul.

Darlene Baye stepped down from full-time status at Philip Health Services, Inc. as of June 9, 2006.

She is still on an on-call list if needed.

Baye started working for PHSI in December of 1970 in the kitchen.

"I'm going to catch up on what I couldn't get done before," said Baye about her retirement.

During a special ceremony held in the solarium of the Philip Nursing Home, Stanley Jacobson was recognized for his 60 years as a Mason.

Jacobson was born on May 18, 1910. Jacobson joined the Masons upon the request and insistence of friends. To use the Masonic terminology, he was "raised as a Master Mason" in the Midland Lodge on June 16, 1947.

He has held many positions and offices in the local lodges, including as the manager of the Masonic Cemetery near Philip for 16 years.

Officiating at the ceremony was Worshipful Master of Philip Lodge #153 Doug West.

The 2007 South Dakota Agricultural Rural Leadership (SDARL) latest class trip began on June 5.

Members met in Pierre, joining newly appointed South Dakota Department of Agriculture Secretary Bill Even for a discussion on agriculture. They also met with newly appointed SD Education Association Executive Director Bryce Healy.

SDARL member Bill Slovek and his wife, Pennie, gave a guided tour of area rangelands on their ranch.

"Now we raise the bar for the next step," said Dan Oedekoven, Extension Community Development Associate with the South Dakota State University Horizons Project.

Oedekoven spoke at the ninth and final session of the Leadership Plenty meetings in Philip on Thursday, June 7. The culmination of this stage put the volunteers from the community of Philip over half way through the entire two year Horizons project.

The kick-off for the next stage, Community Visioning, will be on September 17 at the Ramkota Inn in Rapid City.

Marjorie May Fenner, 83 of Flower Mound, TX, (formerly of Wall, SD) passed away Wednesday, June 20th at the Cross Timbers Care Center in Flower Mound, TX, surrounded by family.

She was born on a hot summer day, July 3, 1923, near Pedro, SD, to Frank and Nellie (Huss) Wilsey. She attended school in the Pedro area through the 8th grade then attended Rapid City High School graduating in 1941.

After graduation from high school, she worked various jobs until she met the love of her life, Dempsey Fenner. They were married April 6, 1944, in Rapid City, SD.

William F. (Ole) Steele, age 89, of Rapid City, SD, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at home surrounded by his family.

Mr. Steele was born in Tracy, MN, to Minnie and Carl Steele. He grew up in the Badlands, helping his mother operate the Conata Motel. He married Dolores Abrams on May 30, 1950. Ole and Dolores owned and operated Ole's Upholstery in Rapid City for many years. He was also employed by and retired from the Badlands National Park. He enjoyed horseback riding, dancing, and wine making.

Clara W. Solon, 95, formerly of Kadoka, died Tuesday, February 27, 2007, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Clara Schulz was born in Interior on October 5, 1911, the first child of Heine and Anna (Gulzow) Schulz. During her early childhood, the family lived either in Interior or on their homestead above the Badlands wall. Clara attended the Interior School for 11 years, but graduated from Rapid City High School in 1929 because Interior did not have a four-year high school.

District Six National Barrel Horse Association members competed at the 2006 state finals in Huron May 26 and 27, 2007, with 206 barrel racers in the open, 64 barrel in the youth and 31 senior barrel racers.

Four state championship saddles were awarded in the open division. Two were won by local area cowgirls. Stephanie O'Connell of Philip won the 3-D saddle and Chelsea Shearer of Wall won the 1-D saddle.

First go of the open

Open 1D: 1. Chelsea Shearer. 5. Jodie O'Bryan. 10. Jodie O'Bryan. 12. Lissa Papousek.

Open 2D: 4. Shannon Olson. 11. Jamie Iverson.

The Pennington County 4-H Rodeo was held on Saturday, June 16, at the Wall Rodeo Arena. Approximately 217 youth participated. The contestants are from the area towns of Philip, Wall, Quinn, Belle Fourche, Martin, Dupree, Interior, Sturgis, Hermosa, Fairburn, Spearfish, New Underwood, Rapid City, Midland, Kadoka, Edgemont and Buffalo Gap.

The Junior Junior Division ranges in age from eight to 10 and do not qualify for the state finals. The Junior Division may be from ages eight to 14 and the Senior Division is from 14 to 19.