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National Emergency Medical Services Week is always celebrated the third full week of May. This year the week-long event falls on May 19th through May 25th. This year marks the 50th anniversary of EMS week and this year’s theme being “Honoring Our Past”. National EMS Week is a time to celebrate and recognize those that serve the community while educating the public about EMS and the services that they provide.
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National Hospital Week was celebrated May 13-17. In recognition of this week, approximately 64 Wagner Community School first graders toured the Wagner Community Memorial Hospital-Avera on May 16th. The students toured different departments, including Physical Therapy; Clinic; Laboratory; Radiology and the Emergency Room. Students were able to see how these departments can help patients and were able communicate with medical staff in Sioux Falls through E-Emergency services. At the completion of the tour, students were given a treat bag. The tour was conducted by Connie Kaufman with the assistance of hospital staff, along with hospital auxiliary members Joann Winckler, Pearl Weber, Jeanette Fuchs and Jeanette Doom
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The Fort Randall Casino hosted the Indigenous Fashion Show on Saturday, May 18th. The Indigenous Fashion Show was a hugely successful event that will hopefully become an annual event. The fashion show had over 370 attendees in the audience not counting the people watching the livestreams. Organizers of the Indigenous Fashion Show were Taira Little and Cecily Rose Engelhart. Cecily was inspired to create this event because she wanted to be able to experience firsthand a fashion show that featured Native American created fashion. Taira’s desire to create this event was that indigenous artistry comes in many different forms and she wanted to be able to showcase that. Cecily’s only incoming experience with fashion was watching Project Runway until sewing her daughter’s jingle dress this past January. This first garment snowballed Cecily into starting her own collection. The Indigenous Fashion Show showcased designers of a wide variety of items including ready to wear clothing, haute couture collections, large scale jewelry sets, beaded hats and much more. Both Cecily and Taira wanted this fashion show to inspire and uplift young people in the community and show them that there are so many possibilities out there. The fashion show was meant to honor those affected by, while also bringing attention to, MMIW. They honor, respect and remember MMIW and their loved ones. Designers were: Beth Drapeau, Taino Suerte by Kirstie Mattos, Jamie Saunsoci, Jordan Marie Drapeau, Miye by Alysha Crazy Thunder, Taira Little, Wicked Illusions by Christian Garcia, HarmoneyStar Straub, Rosie Matho by Cecily Engelhart with jewelry by Tara Rouillard, Sno Inc by Snowy Pretends Eagle. Photos by Barb Pechous.
Read moreMary Rae Carda taught at Andes Central from 1972-2003, and touched many lives in her time here. As a dedication to her career and altruistic nature, her children started a scholarship in her name in 2014 in the amount of $500, which was increased to $1000 in 2015. It is awarded to a graduating Andes Central senior who will be attending a post-secondary institution the year following graduation. This year it is being awarded to 2 seniors. The winners of the 2024 Mary Rae Carda Memorial Scholarships are Nevaeh Morgan and Hannah Tronvold.
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Come one, Come all! Everyone is invited to the 2024 Fish Days “Circus” celebration May 31, June 1 & 2! Bring your family and friends for three days of fun, rides & attractions! One of Fish Day’s biggest events is the Mr. Carp & Ms. Bullhead contest and ready to compete for the 2024 titles are this year’s candidates. In order for them to achieve this honor, they need your help! Vote for your favorite candidate by tossing some money in their bucket. They will be seen at various events during Fish Days and may have buckets at local businesses. The candidates who raise the most money will be crowned Mr. Carp & Ms. Bullhead Saturday night during the street dance! Your contribution helps pay for the Fish Days events we all love to attend, so please participate in the tradition!
Read moreMemorial Day and Veterans Day each honor the military, though the two holidays are not the same. Memorial Day, which is celebrated annually on the last Monday in May, honors the brave men and women who lost their lives while serving in the Americanmilitary.Manycommunities host memorial ceremonies honoring their fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, ensuring such soldiers’ bravery and sacrifices are never forgotten. While many people now view Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer, the weekend should not becelebratedwithoutalsopausing to reflect on and recognize the military personnel who lost their livesindefenseof freedomandthe American way of life.
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As unique is our loss is as unique is our grief. What do we do when one day we can smile, laugh, and look back at memories with fondness and thankfulness for the life we shared with our loved one; the next day we feel paralyzed by our pain and sadness? We feel broken and feel as though we may never be our “old self” again? We may not like the answer…we feel what we feel. There is no twelve steps, timeline or prescription for our grief. New research supports that as unique as we are as humans, as unique as our relationships are, as unique as our brains, is as unique as how we will process our grief.
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