shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com November 28, 2017 • Page 3 138 Thanksgivings Ago By Gov. Dennis Daugaard Linda and I are thankful for many things this year. We are thankful for our children and grandchildren, for the friends old and new we’ve made across the state, and for the opportunity to serve as governor and first lady. I am also thankful for a Yankton dinner table conversation that took place 138 Thanksgivings ago. John Andrews recounted the story in a South Dakota Magazine article released prior to South Dakota’s 125th anniversary of statehood. A few of Dakota Territory’s most prominent leaders gathered around the dinner table that Thanksgiving Day in 1879 to do more than break bread. The home belonged to a local Congregational minister, Rev. Stewart Sheldon, and among his guests were territorial Gov. William Howard, U.S. Attorney Hugh Campbell, General William H.H. Beadle, Edward P. Wilcox and his brother-in-law Rev. Joseph Ward. The conversation began around a school lands question. The men present wanted to ensure school lands would be valued and sold at a high enough price, at no less than $10 per acre. Some residents thought the land should be sold for $2.25 per acre to a large syndicate. This was of particular concern to General Beadle who was the superintendent of public instruction. As they discussed the issue, the idea arose to divide Dakota Territory into northern and southern portions to protect the value of the lands, and to make the southern part of Dakota its own state. It is believed this was the conversation that sparked serious statehood efforts, as these men spent the next few years leading the movement. Nearly 10 more years passed before South Dakota became its own state. It took three bills passed by the territorial legislature, two constitutional conventions, two votes from the people and two congressional bills. Finally, a newly-elected president with Republican majorities in Congress signed South Dakota into statehood. As Andrews noted in his article, the dinner discussion served as a catalyst of the statehood movement. As he put it, “We owe a debt of gratitude to the men who shared ideas around the Thanksgiving table and committed themselves to creating a new and better home.” Considering where our state is today, I think that’s true. There’s no better place to live, work and raise a family. In fact, Site Selection named South Dakota as the number one state for achieving the American dream. With our low tax burden and reasonable regulatory environment, you can make a good living in South Dakota and you can rest assured that your tax dollars are being well managed. We have balanced the budget every year since statehood and our sound financial practices are affirmed by all three credit rating agencies, which have awarded us with AAA status. We also have a high quality of life: an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, safe communities, good schools and post-secondary opportunities, and clean air and water. More than anything though, our state is made up of good people. South Dakotans are friendly, humble and hardworking. Here, we still hold open doors, say hello to passing strangers and shovel our neighbors’ driveways. For these things and for the individuals who made South Dakota what it is today, we have reason to be very, very thankful. Happy Thanksgiving, South Dakota. Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons and Leadership South Dakota Announce New Partnership Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons (GSDH) and Leadership South Dakota have announced a new statewide partnership in the areas of brand advocacy, volunteerism and community-based projects. The two organizations will host receptions in various South Dakota cities with community leaders and speakers, along with Leadership South Dakota current and former members, as well as speakers from GSDH, including Girl Scouts. "Leadership South Dakota is excited about our partnership with Girls Scouts-Dakota Horizons," said Rick Melmer, Leadership South Dakota Director. "We believe that we want the same thing-to create a strong pool of leaders for our state. We expect that this partnership will help both organizations do just that." "We look forward to highlighting our position as the premiere leadership program for girls," said Marla Meyer, GSDH CEO. "There is a tremendous amount of data and research to back up how Girl Scout experiences help girls develop leadership skills versus non-Girl Scouts, and by working with another like-minded organization like Leadership South Dakota, we'll communicate and show how real leadership can make a difference in every community." Get Your Ad In! Minnesota-Based, Great Plains Processing, Expanding To Yankton YANKTON, S.D. – Great Plains Processing (GPP), a custom spray drying and animal feed ingredient manufacturer based in Luverne, Minnesota, announced that it is expanding its operations to Yankton, South Dakota. 319 Walnut St. The Board of Economic Development approved GPP for Yankton, SD 57078 a $1.15 million REDI (Revolving Economic Development 605-665-5884 and Initiative) Fund loan in October. The approved monies helped GPP purchase a “spec building” and almost 20 acres of land. “Great Plains Processing made the right decision to expand to South Dakota. With a presence in more than 40 countries, a commitment to a quality product and MOTOR service, and its Midwest values and work ethic, it’s no NIOBRARA, NE wonder GPP fits so well into our business environment,” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. atrick awk According to GPP, for almost 20 years, it has manufac251 Spruce Ave • Box 260 Niobrara, NE 68760 tured custom spray-dried products. It is a FAMI-QS and www.moodymotor.com GMP+ (Good Manufacturing pjhawk@hotmail.com Practices) certified facility (402) 857-3711 (800) 745-5650 in Luverne. FAMI-QS certifiFax (402) 857-3713 cation is recognized by the European Commission to address safety, quality and AUTO regulatory compliance of specialty feed ingredients. GPP products can be found in feeds for many species, We Supply including bovine, equine, & Install swine and domesticated pets. Its new 40,000 square• Auto foot facility in Yankton will increase production and • Home create 20 full-time jobs immediately upon opening, December •nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th, 16th & 17th • 1-3:00PM 2 Commercial with the potential of douBring Your Cameras! bling employment in three 650-665-9841 301 E. 3rd Street, Yankton, SD to five years. www.ronsautoglass.com 665-3588 “We’re pleased with the way everything came together,” said Quintin Honerman, president, GPP. “Working with everyone •Busch & Busch Light 30 pks 1499 from the local to the state •Old Milwaukee & Light 30 pks 1499 level has made this expansion as seamless as possi•Miller High Life & Light 30 pks 1399 ble. There are a lot of peoBring Your Cameras! December 3rd, 10th, & 17th • 1-3:00PM ple who helped make this 109 W. 3rd St. • 605-665-7865 * Yankton Meridian District * www.yanktonrexall.com Bring Your Cameras! expansion a reality. We’re proud to manufacture a product with the highest quality standards around and excited to bring our process and company to South Dakota.” “Yankton Area ProgresSUNLIGHT WARMTH – radiant heat penetrates evenly and directly into surfaces sive Growth (YAPG), its just like sunlight. investors and the City of BEST CHOICE FOR OUTDOORS – is not Yankton are excited Great affected by wind, unlike forced air heaters that suffer from heat loss in the ambient air. Plains Processing chose to HEAT TRANSFER – infrared heat locate its new manufacturdirected toward the object without any air ing plant in Yankton,” said movement creating a dust-free comfortable Brian Steward, interim environment. perfect system executive director, YAPG. Do you have a garage, shop, calving ODORLESS –odor andcombustionwhile produces no no smoke “Quintin and the rest of the facility, working chute or other uses running. GPP team have been great ENERGY SAVINGS – state of the art indoor or outdoor? This heater can combustion chamber enables virtually 100% to work with and we are fuel to energy conversion. thrilled to welcome them save your operation cost! PORTABLE – Take it where you need heat. to Yankton. GPP is a proven leader in their respective SPEEDWING™ communities and we look forward to their contribuA Model of Efficiency tions in making Yankton an The SPEEDWING is engineered for efficiency, even better place to live.” allowing you to shift the plow blade from For more information scoop mode to an optimum windrowing about GPP, go to gpp-co. position with the simple push of a button. com. For more information Scoop mode can carry up to 30% more snow about GOED’s REDI prothan a straight blade, while a windrowing angle helps complete the job in fewer passes. gram and other financing programs, go to sdreadytowork.com/finance. of Tyndall on Hwy. 50 Corner of Hwys. 50 and 5 miles West www.schuurmansfarmsupply.com 37 MOODY P RON’S GLASS H Sunday Hours in December! December 3 | December 10 | December 17 OPEN boston shoes to boots footwear experts since 1915 12 - 4PM Located in the Meridian District 312 W 3rd Street | Yankton, SD | 605.665.9092 Congratulations LARGE Selection of Heaters & Snow Blowers RIVERCITY Treasures & Pawn Always LOW Liquor Prices! Santa Is Here!! Ph. (605) 5 89 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 -3909 or Cell (605) 464-111 3 Horizon Health The Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors hosted a Ribbon Cutting for Horizon Health Care LLC, formerly known as ALLPoints. They are located in the Avera Sacred Heart Pavilion at 409 Summit Avenue, Suite 300. They offer medical and dental services in one centralized location. For your health and dental needs, give Horizon Health Care LLC a call 605-260-0310. Early Bird Discount Did you have summer damage that you didn’t have time to deal with before winter... 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