Newell

Horizons had a nice break for the Holiday season. Now it’s time to get going again. We are having a meeting on Jan. 26th at 10:00 a.m. at TJ’s Cafe. We are asking the steering committee,strategic planning committee, and all committee members to attend. We will be getting an update of progress made, things that need done yet, resources needed and any other information that Carolyn has to share with us. Please plan to attend. Daycare is provided! Contact Amanda Keller or Julie VanDerBoom for more information.

Have you recently attended a meeting? An event?

Seen something neat happen in town? Witnessed a random act of kindness?

Do you have a brilliant idea that would benefit Newell in some way?

Have you seen leadership at work in our community recently?

Tell someone about it - POST A BLOG!

On Tuesday, January 8th Dr. Thom Flamboe will be speaking at Austin Auditoriom from 2:15-3:45pm. His program “I Am Somebody” is free and the public is invited to attend.

Horizon’s offers Regional Seminar #1 

REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS & COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Mon. Jan. 28, 2008
Mitchell Technical Institute, 6:30 pm 

Click below for more information on this event

www.southdakota.community.blogs.us

Join in the fun after the Irrigator Basketball games on January 3, 5, 8 ,10,11, 15, 17, & 18th stop at the First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall to enjoy Darts, pool, air hockey, foosball and eat some sloppy joe’s, brownies, chips, hot chocolate, lemonade and coffee.

Both Youth and Adults are welcome!

Starting on January 1st the Steve & Kay Smeenk family will take over ownership of Newell Amoco BP. More details will run in the next edition of the Valley Irrigator. Congrats and good luck with your new venture!

If you shopped out of town for Christmas gifts, or at any time in the past year - why?

One of Horizons Strategic Goals is to implement a “Gator Card”  - a type of Shop Newell incentive to encourage citizens to spent their money in our community rather than out of town or county.

It might be beneficial to explore the many reasons that folks do go out of town to shop. Are there products that Newell just doesn’t offer? Is it because you can find it out of town more affordable? Are you working out of town and it’s easier to do your shopping there also? Simply explain why you shop out of town, maybe the feedback can help Horizons and local business owners to work to serve more of our citizens.

To read more about the Gator Card idea, click on Newell Stragetic Plan on the right toolbar and read through the many goals Horizons has set for themselves! If you would like to join in to help see some of these goals through, contact Amanda Keller for more information.

Click below to see more detailed results from this poll

http://www.vizu.com/poll-results.html?n=65453

On Sunday the 16th, Vale Community Club organized a community wide potluck, santa visit and buggy rides. There was no charge to enjoy the event, as it was meant to be a fun family and community gathering.

Events like the one shown above not only show that our area is quite aware of one of our valuable assests (or strengths) which is simply; community. Our small town areas still have a strong sense of community unity and strive to keep that alive no matter how diverse our backgrounds or lives become.

Our newest restuarant in town officially opened today, hours will be 5:30am-10pm everyday, with possibly extended evening hours as the crowd dictates. Formerly known as the Royal Oak, the building sat empty for over two years before current owners Jeremiah and Tracy Heath bought, remodeled and opened the business.

During the recent Newell City Council mtg the finance officer reported that Martin Trucking had paid the city $20 per ton for the scrap metal he crushed , and compacted from the city rubble site, meaning the city received a payment of $1,795.60! Newell Horizons played a large part in getting this much scrap iron to the rubble site, they lined up volunteers, machinery, and dump trucks to help haul items out of town and the surrounding area. They took time out of their busy schedules to take calls and make numerous trips to the site.

The clean up projects have helped to gain awareness of one of the strengths Newell possesses - we are able to pull together to get things done. By recognizing that not all folks have the means, physical ability, or vehicles to bring items to the rubble site area residents worked to make sure anyone that needed help received it. The awareness of the diversity within our community helped to ensure that needs were met and projects were completed to the best of everyone abilities.

TJ’s (formerly known as the Royal Oak) opened their doors this evening for a private meeting of the SD Stockgrowers Association. For more information on the SDSGA check out their website

http://www.southdakotastockgrowers.org/

Members of Newell PTO & Horizons recently joined forces to make hundreds, YES hundreds of popcorn balls! Children enjoyed them after the recent elementary concerts, and will again receive the yummy festive treat during the Santa Claus Day on Saturday.

As if our teachers don’t give enough, they’ve gone one step futher this year - this is the letter students brought home recently:

Newell’s Lutheran Church put on a lunch, craft bazaar, bake sale, and even had entertainment provided by the Slim Butte Boys on the afternoon of December 1st. All proceeds will go towards crisis intervention in our community.

Newell 5th graders listen to guest speaker Meade Co. Deputy States Attorney Wendy Kloeppner during their graduation from the DARE program on Friday night.

!!!!CONGRADULATIONS!!!!

December 8th, 2007

4:30pm Christmas Tree Lighting at South Park shelter

5pm Christmas Caroling in City Hall

5:30pm SANTA arrives at City Hall

Register for a free bike to be given away! Chili Supper and Popcorn Balls

5:30-7pm Turkey Bingo (25 cents per card) Cake Walk (25 cents per card)

All proceeds benefit Horizons beautification projects.

6:30 Santa draws for two FREE bikes!! One lucky girl and one lucky boy will win, but they must be present to win.

This event is co-sponsored by Newell Community Club & HORIZONS.

If you’ve got a hankering for good music and holiday cheer, attend the Elementary Music Concert at 7pm on December 3rd at Austin Auditorium. Our future ranchers, rock stars and politicians will be performing!

Elks Hoop Shoot 

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

Newell Middle School Gym

Starts at 2pm

Age Groups

BOYS 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 & GIRLS 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

Age determined by age by age of the contestant on April 1, 2008.

Top TWO winnners in each age group advance on to Lodge Championship in January.

Newell PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) will be holding their last meeing of 2007 on November 26th in the Newell School Multi-Purpose Room  at 7pm.

On Saturday, December 1st stop in at the NVN Center from 9am-2pm for a craft bazaar. From 11:30-12:30 the Slim Butte Boys will be providing the entertainment, and many different food items will be available.

If you haven’t purchased today’s edition of The Valley Irrigator you’re missing out (ok, I’ll admit my opinion might be slightly biased), as the Horizons/City Clean up made front page news. Appoximately 5 tons of buried rubble, 5 tons of scrap metal, 150 refrigerator items, 130 misc white goods, 2 cars and 1 ton of branches were hauled to the City Rubble Site on Novemeber 3rd - all this in ONE DAY! All in all they estimate 100 tons of scrap iron will be crushed, compacted and hauled on outta town when everything is said and done.

If the numbers alone don’t prove there’s been some serious structural changes in many areas (leadership, community, and povery), I’m not sure what will. Many attributed the days success to Horizons, City, and other residents ALL working together towards a common goal. Who says change is a bad thing?!!!