Iroquois will soon be getting a new electronic sign on the east end of Hwy. 14, thanks to the Iroquois City, Iroquois Area Community Club, Horizons, and area businesses. At this time, the plans are to charge a small fee to advertise on this sign. This will be a great way to show people that live here, and people traveling through our small town the activities that are taking place.
Iroquois, SD - the first town in the state of South Dakota to provide DNA lifeprint kits to the entire school, grades K-12.
Keeping our children safe and teaching them safety is our major concern. With that in mind, proactive businesses, friends, and neighbors have donated funds to provide DNA kits to all students at Iroquois School.
DNA is extremely important for medical applications and positive identifications. The DNA kit uses a non-invasive method to collect and preserve a proper DNA sample.
We are proud that every child received a free DNA lifeprint kit.
The Iroquois Area Community club is a small but active group that is always trying to think of ways to improve our community. Because we have a very active and aggressive Iroquois Housing Group that has brought several new homes to our town, we decided to welcome these new people.One of our members, Mary Wienbar, made up beautiful brochures of our town with pictures of every business. We then went to the local businesses and asked for anything they may want to put in the welcome basket. We had a fun time delivering them to the new people and getting to know those who have moved in to our community. The businesses, churches and the school got very creative in what they put in the baskets. The school put in free season passes to all of the home games. the churches put in a monthly newsletter that told of their churches activities.
The Iroquois community has held many special events prior to being a Horizons community. In the past, door prizes for these special events were purchased or donated by businesses out of town, or local businesses were asked to donate door prizes. The Iroquois Horizons group recently held its Fall Festival. For this event, our Horizons group purchased gift certificates from each Iroquois business so that the money stays in town. Our hope is that local people will utilize our local businesses.
We had 5 homes and 2 churches on the 2007 Iroquois Area Community Club Christmas Tour of Homes the first weekend of December. Over 90 people came out to tour the homes and churches all decorated for Christmas. It was fun afternoon to kickoff the holiday season. Funds raised from ticket sales will be put back into community projects.
The Christmas Tour of Lights and Soup Supper held on Dec. 9th in Iroquois was a huge success. 70 people came and enjoyed a free soup and sandwich supper. Our school bus driver, Rollie, drove and we toured the many festive Christmas Lights around our town. We had pulled out the old band shell that is on wheels and parked it on the main street. It was lit up and displayed an inflatable snowman.
A free will offering was taken to help pay for the bus expense.
Many people commented on the enjoyable evening and fellowship that took place.
The 3rd and 4th grade students at Iroquois Elementary made and filled nutcups for the senior citizens attending the Christmas dinner at the school on Thursday, December 20. The high school FACS classes baked pies for the dinner and also helped as greeters and servers. Thirty-nine senior citizens attended.
A gathering of community members, representing various local groups, recently met to make preliminary plans for the 2008 Sports Day. Dates have been set for July 12 & 13, 2008. The theme chosen for the parade is “Small Town, Big Dreams.” The class of ‘88 will hold their reunion that weekend. A variety of activities and events for the weekend were discussed. The next Sports Day planning meeting will be held February 8, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall. Anyone interested in planning and helping with this community event is invited to attend.
Small communities like our own cannot afford to lose a business. Once a business closes, it is very difficult to get it reopened and reestablished. Our community was concerned with the prospect of losing another business. Country Foods is not only a convenience store in which to purchase groceries, but also a restaurant and popular gathering place for coffee and visiting. The store had been for sale for several months and was set to close, when Tony and Kathy Haarstad, of Iroquois, decided to purchase the store. Our community wishes Tony and Kathy much success with their new business venture. Let’s show them our appreciation by supporting their efforts. We all need to make an effort to shop locally. The old saying applies: use it or lose it!