Iroquois, SD

Hello, I am a student at Iroquois High School and I would like to talk about Martin Luther King Day.  Let me begin by saying that I am all for this holiday and any other holiday that gets me out of school but I do have a problem.  The reason I’m picking on Martin Luther King and his day is because it will be here soon.  This could also work for any other holiday, not just Martin Luther King Day.  Now back to the topic at hand, my problem is that we get this day off but we don’t get Veteran’s Day.  I can see why we would get a day off to honor  a man who changed America but why can’t we get a day off for all the people who helped build it and keep it safe.  In my opinion we should honor the people who sacrificed their lives for us before we honor a man who did great things for us.  Thank you for letting me speak my mind and I really don’t mean to offend anybody.

In what ways has this community’s knowledge about poverty changed? What evidence do you have of this?

Living in poverty?  I had never thought much about it until I attended the Horizons project.  Horizons helped me to understand that poverty is not just limited to a lack of income, but it also includes a lack of resources in our community.  Many small Dakota communities are experiencing the same effects of poverty as businesses and schools begin to close.  Now is the time to step forward, to make an effort to reverse the trend.  I have witnessed our community come together, to plan and work on projects, activites, and gatherings.  The people of Iroquois are showing their support by participating in community sponsored events, such as our recent soup supper and tour of lights.  People are talking, coming forward with ideas, and more willing to help achieve our community goals.  Our community members are more committed to one another and to our town.  Together we can make a striving community, a thriving community.

The Ronald McDonald Delta Dental Care Mobile is here at Iroquois School. It is a fully equipped dental office on wheels. Children can receive quality oral health services, including cleanings, preventive services, fillings, and oral health education. Children ages 0-21 who do not have a dental home will be treated. They accept Medicaid/SCHIP, sliding fee scale payments, and donations. No child will be turned away for inability to pay.

Jesse Fast, an Iroquois School graduate, a dental student at the University of Nebraska, is here working in the RMCM.

Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Iroquois sponsored the mobile unit.

My mom and stepdad love decorating for the holidays - Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and whatever else they can come up with. I can remember growing up on our farm outside of Carthage, Mom always put up a lot of Christmas lights. You could see our house for miles. And since we have moved to Iroquois, she puts more and more up each year. The whole west side of town is lit up!

People drive from other towns to see their lighted displays. Their house is always a favorite on our Tour of Lights. You have to make a few trips around the block to see it all!

I am due to have my first child at the end of March. And I know that he or she will grow up thinking that grandma lives at the North Pole!

The third grade class took a walking field trip around our community to identify current businesses, recreational areas, and buildings of opportunity.  After taking photos, the children were asked to generate ideas to make our community a better place to live.  They created a poster with their photos and ideas which was displayed at one of our Horizon gatherings.  Here are some of their ideas:

1. More trees and flowers would make Iroquois a nicer place to live.  Each home and business could work harder to look nicer and cleaner.  Maybe we could become known as the “nicest little town on the prairie.” 
2. We think crossing lights at each rail road intersection would be safer.
3. Everyone likes to go to a lake.  We could go fishing, boating, tubing, or ride on jet skis at Iroquois Lake.
4. The grass should be cut and some trees cut down to make space for campers at the Iroquois Camp Ground.  We could put nice picnic tables, grills, and restrooms there.  Maybe there could be some cabins built there.  It would be fun to have a minature golf course, swimming pool, and park.  There could be a wildlife resort, with a wildlife path along the way. 
5. The Old Bank building could be fixed up to have businesses and offices inside.  Or it could be a bed and breakfast business.
6. We should have new sidewalks in town.  Then we wouldn’t have to walk in the street or through the grass.  People wouldn’t trip on the old cracked cement.
7. A new sign on highway 14 would let more people know we have a museum.  After visiting the museum, we think the stairs should be fixed.  It would nice to have workers to help clean the museum and greet the visitor.
8. We think the old blacksmith shop should be fixed up and made into a museum.  Maybe somebody could show us how a blacksmith did his work.
9. The old beauty shop building could be fixed up and turned into a gift shop or dollar store.

Q: In what ways has your communities knowledge about leadership changed? how do you know?

A: Prior to my involvement in the Horizons project, I did not view myself as a community leader. Now, I understand that we are all leaders and our community needs each one of us to become involved. Each community member has unique ideas and talents to contribute to the development and improvement of our town.
I can see evidence of this by the things that are getting done, that never happened before. Although we would like to see more people in the community take an active role, they are still aware of things that are happening. An example of this would be when the city council recently decided to purchase an electronic sign for the city, they came to our Horizons group for ideas and help in their plan.

Iroquois is proud to say that we have a new day care provider in town. Megan Cameron and her husband, Faron,have bought her grandmother’s house on the south side of town, and has started a day care in town.
Megan had an open house on Saturday, Jan. 5th to give the people in the area to meet her and see home, or to ask questions they may have.
After the first week, Megan has 7 children in her day care already.
This proves that this was a very needed service in Iroquois, and allows area moms to leave their children in the capable hands of Megan, while they work.