shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com February 6, 2018 • Page 3 Celebrate Engineers Week & Inspire Wonder In Youth When Steve and Dud got up to go get a paper, it left just Doc and Bert sitting at the philosophy counter of the Mule Barn truck stop. Bert turned his head and smirked a little, being careful not to let Doc see him. Doc also didn’t see Dud outside, punching in a number on his cell phone while Steve stood by as a cheerleader. “Doc,” said Loretta, filling the coffee cups, “phone call for you, Hon.” “Here? Okay…” Doc walked over to the cash register and picked up the phone. “This here Doc?” said the caller. “The Doc what lost his squirrel?” “Uh …” Doc looked around for help. There was none. “Yes. Yes it is.” “Found your dang squirrel here, Doc. That reward thing still good?” “Well … yes.” “Five dollars and a quarter, right? Now is that cash or check? I don’t take no checks.” Doc is looking all around and looks wilderness-type lost. “Cash I guess.” “Only thing is, Doc. Need to be sure this is your squirrel, right? So can you describe him for me?” “He’s … gray.” “All gray squirrels are gray, now, ain’t that right? How about any distinguishing marks? Tattoos?” “No tattoos.” “So far so good. Now you said in the ad his name is Chipper. Well, I called him Chipper and the son of a gun bit me.” “He did?” “What I mean to ask here, Doc, is … did you and your squirrel get along? No squirrel problems? He looks like he needs a square meal to me. You feed him good?” “What?” “You know … like Squirrel Chow free choice, or did you put him on a nut ration? I mean, he ate like there was no tomorrow. Dang near ate up the whole five dollars and a quarter reward money in squirrel food.” Steve and Dud walked back into the café, then, with the cell phone still at Dud’s ear, and the laughing began. “You were right all along, Doc,” said Bert. “In winter, everyone can use a good hoax.” Doc bought the coffee. BROOKINGS, S.D. - Encourage your youth to explore and inspire wonder through activities during Engineers Week, February 18-24, 2018. "Take advantage of this week's focus on engineering and use it as an opportunity to inspire wonder in our youth," said Christine Wood, SDSU Extension 4-H Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Field Specialist. "Our world is ever- evolving as new technologies and processes are developed to resolve issues and simplify tasks." These new developments and inventions are often credited to engineers, but what is an engineer? "Answering this question is a great place to begin with younger children," Wood explained. By pure definition an engineer is 'the maker of an engine.' The word engine comes from the Latin word ingenium meaning 'clever invention.' Thus an engineer is the maker of a clever invention. "While there are numerous types of engineers, they all creatively apply what they know about mathematics, science, and technology to develop new ideas, processes, and products," she said. "Additionally, they utilize critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and teamwork in the process." While young children may not be able to wrap their minds around all of the scientific and technical knowledge needed to pursue a career as an engineer, Wood said it is never too early to introduce them to engineering concepts and practices. "Children have an innate sense of wonder making them natural engineers," Wood said. "As parents and educators, we can nurture this awe and curiosity to fuel learning through investigation and design. By providing youth opportunities to explore engineering, we enhance their creativity and boost their confidence." Engineer activities to boost creativity Through engineering activities, Wood said we have the opportunity to develop a variety of soft skills that are used in engineering as well as a variety of other fields. "Engineering activities foster problem solving, teamwork, and communication skills," Wood said. Wood lists the following websites for ideas: • Connect2Engineering • Design and Discovery • Design Squad Nation • Discover e • Engineering is Elementary • Engineer Your Life • TechXcite Gov. Daugaard Signs First Bill Of The Session PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard this afternoon signed the first bill of the 2018 Legislative Session into law. The piece of legislation, House Bill 1057, authorizes the Board of Regents to contract for the construction of the Madison Cyber Labs (MadLabs) and the demolition of Lowry Hall at Dakota State University. The bill passed unanimously through the Joint Committee on Appropriations, the House of Representatives and the Senate. “The MadLabs project is possible thanks to the generous support of Miles and Lisa Beacom and T. Denny Sanford,” said Governor Daugaard. “This new facility is an important aspect of DSU’s plan to keep the Beacom By Gov. Dennis Daugaard “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second- College on the cutting edge.” MadLabs, an applied research facility, will allow stubest time is now.” This old saying is a good description of how we have approached managing state government in the last dents and faculty to work upon confidential and propriseven years. ety information without leaving campus,rd this a part ofth and th th December 2nd & 3 , 9 Sciences. Before us come so many issues – deferred maintenance, DSU’s Beacom College of Computer and Cyber& 10 , 16 & 17 • 1-3:00PM highways, criminal justice, teacher pay – that can’t be solved In Print and Online! Bring Your Cameras! DSU already holds four prestigious Center of Excellence in one year. But a start must be made. We could kick the can designations from the National Security Agency and the down the road, but the problem would only worsen. And so, Call 665-5884 we must do what we can, with patience, persistence and atten- Department of Homeland tion to small details, to be a good steward of the state and its Security, including the assets. most technical (for Cyber When I was running for governor, I promised to analyze Operations) and the most state-owned property and right-size or sell unneeded assets. prestigious (as a Cyber DeIn the 1800s, when South Dakota became a state, we housed •Busch & Busch Light 30 pks ........... $14.99 people with mental or physical problems in large, state-owned fense Consultative Regional institutions, often for life. We built big state hospital campuses Resource Center). 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We must properly maintain them, so future governors and legislatures aren’t left with more rundown buildings. We have set a goal of appropriating two percent of value in maintenance and repair Did you have summer damage that of state buildings, including you didn’t have time to deal with before university buildings. This year I’m proposing to add statewinter... Call to get on our owned technical institute SPRING 2018 List NOW buildings as well. with an Early Bird Discount! On our farm, when I was a boy, we always had a big garden, and we ordered plants and seeds by mail from Gurney’s in Yankton. With every order, Gurney’s would always enclose a “bonus” item, as a gift. One year, our bonus was a hackberry bare-root seedling, only a foot long. My dad and I planted that seedling, and now, 50 years later, it’s strong and tall. 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Early Bird Discount 605-857-1472 407 Ruth Street, Yankton, SD We will be featuring our annual “Beautiful Baby Contest” in print and online on Wednesday, February 28th To enter, simply submit your photo and entry form with a $10 submission fee by Friday, February 16th ou eone y or som et we If you ld or p s a chi ude them a know h ve to incl ! uld lo wo feature in our : Entr y To Submit ss & Dakotan e Daily Pr t St. ankton Y lnu 319 Wa 57078 , SD Yankton 1) 2) 3) 4) First place winners in the following categories will receive a framed winners print and prize. newborn-6 months 5) Multiple Births 7-12 Months 6) “Fur Babies” 13-24 Months (Pets of any species/age) 25 Months-4 years line: tr y Dead, En Friday th 16 Februar y Category#___________ Beautiful Baby Contest Age:____________ Date of Birth_________________ Contestant’s Name___________________________________________________ Submitted by____________________________________________ Relation to Contestant___________________ Phone #_______________________ Winners will be selected by the staff of Yankton Media Inc. Employees and family members of Yankton Media Inc. are ineligible to win. *Submission of this form authorizes the publication of photo in this contest in print and online at www.yankton.net. Submission fee ($10) must accompany entry form to be valid. Only contestant’s name and name(s) of person submitting will be printed in paper. (Example: Jon Doe, submitted by parents Bob & Beth Doe)