Centerville Area Latest News
Upcoming Safe Routes to School & Bike Path Volunteer Committee Meeting
Posted 9/1/2010
Centerville's Safe Routes to School & Bike Path Volunteer Committee is meeting Wednesday, September 15, 7:00 pm at the First Midwest Bank. We will be discussing our mission on moving forward with these projects. Please note we are always looking for new volunteers for these wonderful projects. Please try to attend this very important meeting.
Johnson Selected as NASA Space Science Student Ambassador
Posted 8/30/2010 from the Centerville Journal
Dan Johnson has been selected as a NASA Space Science Student Ambassador. This is the second year Johnson has been an ambassador. Last year
he was selected for the International Year of Astronomy Ambassador Program.
"It went so well that I decided to apply for a new position under the National Space Science Ambassador Program," he stated.
An extensive application and selection process is required for the 50 students who receive the Ambassadorship. Applicants are required to:
• Be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old as of January 1, 2010, and in an institution of higher learning that is a member of the state Space Grant Consortium
• Full time student - graduate or undergraduate
• Participate in activities that align with the NASA Space Science goals 'to offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in the country, nurture existing partnerships, and build new connections to sustain public interested in space science' to help generate excitement
• Meet with the Space Grant Director or their designee to discuss your activities and the progress thereof.
• Complete a final report on the activities that you conducted.
• Student Ambassadors will be strongly encouraged to attend a mid-year Workshop organized by NASA, where they will be required to present their
work either in the form of a poster or orally. NASA will provide a limited travel budget to defray some of the travel cost.
Should a student meet all of the requirements they must then "develop a plan by which you will spread the excitement of NASA's Space Science
discoveries within your local community and beyond. This plan may concentrate on one of the three space science disciplines (astrophysics, planetary science and heliophysics) or be cross borders".
Evaluation of student applications is based on:
• The extent that the proposed activities are clearly aligned with and support the NASA Space Science goals. (35%)
• The extent that the student has the skills and capability to carry out the proposed effort (35%)
• Impact of activity on large and/or diverse audiences (10%)
• Academic achievement (20%)
Award recipients receive a $2,000 stipend for conducting their project activities. A reimbursement of up to $600 may also be provided for materials, supplies and travel expenses required to complete the project.
Johnson's concentration is in the Planetary Science division. He has not received the specifics of the program he will be working on as of yet. More
information about the program is available to the public at www.spacegrant.org/nssa/
Dan and his wife currently reside in Centerville. Dan graduated from CHS in 1982. Their son, David, is a fifth grader at Centerville School.
Dan currently teaches fifth grade at Journey Elementary in Harrisburg as part of the PDC (space) program. Dan is a licensed teacher in the State of
South Dakota. He has also substitute taught in Yankton, Beresford and Canton.
Johnson will graduate in May of 2011 from the University of South Dakota with a Masters of Science in Technology for Education and Training. He
plans to begin work on his doctorate following graduation as well as continuing to teach in the elementary or middle school grade levels. He hopes to continue to teach in the Harrisburg School District.
"I have done some work with my undergraduate students at Harrisburg and enjoyed it immensely," he added.
UCC Women's Fellowship Annual Fall Rummage Sale
Posted 8/25/2010
The UCC Women's Fellowship will be holding its Annual Fall Rummage Sale at the Welcome Hall, 700 Main Street.
Thursday, Sept 30: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Friday, Oct 1: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Bake Sale, pie and coffee, $2
Saturday, Oct 2: 9:00 am - Noon
South Dakota Housing Development Authority Welcomes New Board Member from Centerville
Posted 8/24/2010
Gov. Mike Rounds has appointed Bill Hansen to the South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) Board of Commissioners.
Bill grew up in Centerville, raised his family there and continues to live and work there as a grain farmer and as the Economic Development Director for the city.
Hansen began farming in 1979, and throughout his professional life he has been active in other areas of agriculture. From 1986 to 1993, he served as an agricultural lender at First Midwest Bank and from 1993 to 1998 at First
Dakota National Bank. Since 1998, Hansen has served as an agricultural loan specialist and finance counselor for First Dakota National Bank, Home Federal Bank and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
"SDHDA began working with Bill in 2006 when he applied for funds to prepare and develop needed housing in Centerville," said Mark Lauseng, Executive Director. "His experience and knowledge gained from being a developer
and his past experiences as a lender make him a great addition to our Board of Commissioners."
Besides being Economic Development Director for Centerville, Hansen is also involved in many others areas of his community and surrounding areas. He participates in the Centerville School Board, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary
Club, Foundation, South Eastern Council of Governments, Sioux Empire Housing Partnership, Interlakes Community Action Partnership and Pioneer Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Hansen joins current Commissioners Linda Barker of Sioux Falls, Brent Dykstra of Fort Pierre, Kurt Pfeifle of Miller, Bruce Rampelberg of Rapid City and Chairman Lloyd Schipper of Pierre.
SDHDA's Commissioners, who are appointed by the Governor, serve to establish policy for the organization and oversee its operations.
Bill and his wife, Jan, have been married for 30 years and have four children.
Vendors Needed for Upcoming Centerville Farmer's Market
Posted 8/5/2010
Centerville will be hosting an outdoor Farmer's Market on Saturdays from 8AM - Noon starting August 14th and running through the fall. The location will be in front of the Senior Citizens Center near the intersection of Broadway & Main.
Examples of items to be sold are fruits, vegetables, crafts, etc. Vendors are asked to supply and set up their own tables if needed or you can sell from the back of your pickup truck. There will be no charge to the vendors.
Contact Harry Smith with any questions at 605.202.1425 or email at:hfsmith@LikeADuckPublishing.com
Centerville Area Fourth of July Event Pictures
Posted 7/5/2010
Centerville played host to a number of events over the Fourth of July holidays. Click here to see some of the photos.
Safe Routes To School Program Recommended for Funding
Posted 6/25/2010
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Selection Committee at the Dept of Transportation has recommended the City of Centerville's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program for funding. Click here to see the selection letter in Word Document format.
Senior Citizen's Center Project Soliciting Work Bids
Posted 6/17/2010
Bids are being solicited for energy efficiency updates and work on the Senior Center. Bid specs and information can be obtained by stopping at the Centerville City Hall and talking to Nancy Kludt. The bid opening has been extended from the original June 21 opening date to encourage the bidding process. We realize that there are a lot of projects gong on right now, but work can be done later on in the year. If you would like a tour of the building, please contact Nancy Kludt at (605) 563-2302 or Pat Norin at 253-2580. This job is based on David Bacon wage determination and all products used in this job are to be manufactured in the United States (Buy America).
Part Two of The Peaceful Night Completed
Posted 5/18/2010
Local Centerville author Harry Smith has recently completed Part Two of 'The Peaceful Night'. This story is a thriller about a handful of people in a gated community trying to survive the aftermath of a category five hurricane that slams into Orlando, Florida.
Click here to download 'The Peaceful Night' parts 1 and 2 as a free electronic PDF file.
Click here to go to his web site www.LikeADuckPublishing.com
Click here to read excepts from another of his novels, 'The Chatroom Murders'. (Available in hard cover at Amazon.com. Also available in Kindle Edition for the Kindle Book Reader.)