Frederick, SD

Trying to plan for a community dinner is difficult when you don’t know how many will be coming! We planned for 3 big roasters of soup and it was well received at the event on Sunday. We had about 85 attend but were also able to share some of the goodness with those who were not able to join us for the dinner. Donna took some to the elevator; we scooped up several containers to share with others in town. Extra pie was sent to the Community Store to go with the Monday morning coffee. Thanks to all who helped make it possible.

It’s always amazing to see how good planning makes an event like this happen. Food was very tasty; the Northern Lights building was gaily decorated and the local Horizons speakers stepped up to explain different parts of the our strategic plan. Being part of the group that explained what our plans are helped making everything concrete. I helped explain that in our community study of poverty, the definition looks at a lack of resources. We’re concerned that our senior citizens need help with some of their daily living tasks and want to do a survey to find out how the community can help. We also want to prepare welcome baskets to extend hospitality to people new to our area. This will help them understand what businesses and services are available. Anyone wanting to help with these areas is asked to contact me at 329-2176 or Krysti Mikkonen at 329-2027.

Wow!! Yesterday was a beautiful day. Only in SD can you think 30 degrees is a beautiful day. But after 3-10 below zero for highs for several days it IS a heat wave.

Not only was the weather gorgeous, We had a fantastic turnout for our Strategic Planning Event. We had a Soup & Pie lunch before the meeting. We serve about 80 people and I think everyone of them stayed for the meeting!!!!! We had 3 kinds of homemade soups and many homemade pies that were soooo!!delicious that lots of people had to try all of them. We really do have a lot of good chefs in our community. We had babysitting available for those with young children, WII games and just good old fellowship time. We also had door prizes that we purchased from own local business and some donated door prizes. Our grand prize was a $100 beef gift certificate.

The presentation of our strategic plan went smoothly and from the comments I heard, we generated alot of talk about our vision for our town. Most of them were pleased with the ideas, some comments were “they are very reasonable goals and doable”
“lets get started” “I just hope the excitment continues so that when we need the extra hands we don’t have to go begging”

A big thanks to all that helped in anyway to make this a big success.

Days like these when it’s so cold out, it’s hard to get much done other than huddle inside. Here is a liink to photos that were taken on our “Day of Champions” when we worked to clean up Frederick’s park. Go to this address to see photos:

http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n21/mikmanage/Park%20Project/?action=view¤t=8bcc2f60.pbr

Though the actions of the community, we’re giving people an inexpensive place to go for entertainment and relaxation, right here in Frederick. With all of the people helping, we reminded people what a great park we have and the ways in which it can be used. So on these cold days, we need to think of ways that we can make use of our park next summer and ways to make things even better.
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This article was in todays Aberdeen American News
Our topic in Horizons has been about poverty, So what do we do about it? Well first we have to define it, see who it is affecting in our community and then take action. With the help and support of the the Horizons II staff they have given our community and several others around the state the tools and training to take that action. So we as community members need to step up and get involved so our town isn’t on this “Top 10 List”.

State poverty level rising
In 2005, rate reached highest level since 1997
By Dennis Gale, Associated Press Writer
Published on Thursday, January 10, 2008
SIOUX FALLS - According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, South Dakota’s overall poverty rate in 2005 rose to 13.6 percent - the highest level since 1997.

The statewide poverty rate in 2004 was 12.9 percent.

The 2005 figures indicate 100,765 people in the state lived below the poverty level in 2005.

In 1997, the rate was 14 percent, with 100,537 people below the poverty line. That and 2005 were the only years in the past 10 to surpass the 100,000 figure.

The percentage has been higher. In 1989, 14.8 percent of South Dakotans were at or below the poverty level.

According to the 2007 federal guidelines, the poverty level for a family of four was $20,650 a year.

Some better, some worse: Most of the counties with the highest poverty rates include Indian reservation land. Ziebach County, in north-central South Dakota, had the highest percentage of people living in poverty: 51 percent.

The rest of the 10 counties with the highest rates were Todd, 46.7 percent; Corson, 41.9 percent; Shannon, 41.8 percent; Buffalo, 39.3 percent; Bennett, 34.2 percent; Mellette, 33.4 percent: Jackson, 32.8 percent; Charles Mix, 30.2 percent; and Dewey, 28.3 percent.

Lincoln County had the lowest percentage of people in poverty in 2005: 4.7 percent.

The Census figures also listed children living in poverty. For those under age 5, the 2005 figure for South Dakota was 24 percent, up from 22.2 percent in 2004. The highest rate in the 10 prior years was 26.6 percent in 1995.

Overall, 18.3 percent of South Dakotans under age 18 were living below the poverty level, the Census bureau figures show. Todd County had the highest percentage: 58.7 percent.

Statewide: The statewide median household income in 2005 was $39,265, the Census Bureau reported. The figure has risen almost every year during the past 10 years. The median in 1995 was $29,426.

The measurement means half of the households in a given geographic area had higher incomes and the other half had lower incomes. Some statisticians feel it’s a better indicator than average household income because it is not dramatically affected by unusually high or low values.

Buffalo County’s $16,868 was the lowest median household income among the state’s 66 counties. The $59,583 level in Lincoln County was the highest.

Food is always a great way to get people together. On Sunday, Jan. 27 at the Northern Lights Building on Main Street, we are inviting everyone in the community of Frederick for soup and pie. Starting at 11:30 a.m., people will have three choices: a gumbo-type soup, knoeffla soup and sensational chili along with Finn bread. A variety of pies will be available for dessert. At 1 p.m., the Frederick Horizons group will share the strategic plans that have been put together through community input.
Those attending will be able to try out the Wii games. Free babysitting will be provided. If you have any questions, call Connie at 329-2176 or Krysti at 329-2029.

Getting together to plan the January event to unveil Frederick’s community plan was fun plus educational. As we threw out ideas about what we should do on Sunday, Jan. 27, we started planning who would get what. Some said that they’d pick this up or that up but pretty soon someone said, “Why aren’t we buying all of this at the Community Store?” Everyone shook their heads in agreement – it sometimes takes a whack alongside the head to realize that’s what we all have to do — think locally. We have lost a café and a gas station which leaves us in need. That’s part of the definition of poverty. For us to get our community to grow, we have to support what we have.
So in looking for places to go to get door prizes, we’re looking to provide opportunities for people to use products from Frederick. Changing that mindset has to be part of the strategy what we develop. Can you think of any ways to encourage businesses in Frederick?