Lakota, ND

I wish to nominate Lakota, North Dakota for the North Dakota League of Cities City of the Year.  Since the 125^th anniversary celebration of Lakota becoming a city, it’s citizens have accomplished numerous milestones to ensure Lakota will celebrate it’s 250^th birthday.

During the 125^th celebration, the city held a flag design contest and the winner received a free flag.  The design that the city council chose is now the official flag of Lakota and is on display on main Street at the city Maintenance shop.  We are currently holding a city icon contest.  Anamoose has Anna Moose, Jamestown the Buffalo, New Salem has Salem Sue, well Lakota has the…… More information coming soon. Deadline for the contest was July 15^th.

 In September 2008, Lakota was qualified and enrolled in the Northwest Area Foundations Horizons Program and the journey began for the revitalization of Lakota.  Granted the Horizons program has a regimented curriculum for cities to follow, but it is the citizens of a community that makes it work.  Lakota had just that, the citizens, who showed up in record numbers.  This was evident when Lakota set a record for participation on the Action Forum, with 145 citizens attending and participating and expressing their great ideas.

Since Lakota became a Horizons community a number of initiatives have taken place.  A community Garden has been established, in it’s second year we have citizens of Lakota reserving, planting and some are sharing their produce with the Lakota Good Samaritan Society (nursing home) and the Prairie Rose (Assisted Living) residents. 

Lakota was the first city in North Dakota to establish a Youth Council.  A number of activities have been planned by the Youth Council.  The first was a Wii tournament at the Lakota Good Samaritan Society between the youth of Lakota and the residents, a huge success that brought laughter and tons of smiles to the residents as well as the youth participants.  The second were youth activities during Lakota’s Coffee with the Council during City Government  week.  They planned and judged a coloring contest for K-2^nd grades and gave prizes to the winners.  Thirdly, they planned and had an end of school year bonfire for grades 6^th through 12 on the last day of school. Hayrides, hotdog roast, s’mores, and other games were played.  There is a teen/youth center in the works.  An aluminum recycling program will start July 1^st, the moneys raised by selling the aluminum will pay for utilities in the new teen/youth center and sponsor some events for our youth throughout the year. Family fun night is August 19^th at the Lakota City Park and will include kids games, food, and a movie in the new park shelter.  At the July meeting it was agreed and voted on,  starting  an inkjet printer cartridge recycling program also. Drop boxes will be located around the city and the empty cartridges will be recycled.

We have established the Lakota Citizen Corps Council, and are setting the rules and regs for the Lakota CERT and Teen CERT programs.  The members of the council are the Mayor, Sherriff, two ambulance EMTs and two Youth Council members.  We currently have 12 individuals signed up for the training and are seeking 3 to 4 more.  We have been promoting this as a family activity, mom and daughter, father and son type class.  Once CERT teams are established we will move to the Lakota Blockhead program, in which a CERT member is in charge of one to two blocks and each resident is given a red sheet of paper and a green sheet of paper.  In a disaster or emergency if a person requires assistance, he/she displays the red sheet in the front window, if they are OK display green.  If a blockhead sees red they will respond to that residence to assist the persons requiring help.

The Lakota Youth Council applied for a gardening grant from NDSU to build raised garden beds for the Good Samaritan Society’s residents that are restricted to walkers and wheelchairs.  We were approved for the grant and are working with the local 4H club, Lakota Youth Council and the Good Sam to maintain the gardens with the residents.  We have built three raised bed gardens and they are in full use at the Good Sam. We are hoping to also build some friendships and mentoring between the youth and the elderly.

We have seen an increase in volunteerism in our community.  Citizens of Lakota as well as our friends who live on farms in nearby areas are volunteering to be Lakota CERT members, to be advisors for the Youth Council,  to assist with the Horizons program study circles, leadership Plenty classes and Action Forum and volunteer for other committees.  This is also evident with or Economic Development committee, these people were asked by the mayor to serve and they all stepped up and agreed to a three or four year term on that committee.  We’ve also had people volunteer to head the Welcome Wagon organization committee and  Community Closet Committee.

Lakota has no theater. Movie nights began at the Lakota Good Sam on July 17^th, 2010.  Popcorn, and  iced tea were served.  Movie nights will be held every other month for now at different locations and for different age groups as well as all age groups.  We plan to hold them at the Prairie Rose as well as the Lakota Community Center.  There are a lot of great public domain movies on the internet that we may use.  Also there are free documentaries and historic films available for free.

The Economic Development Committee has begun an “I Buy Local” campaign.  Each business donates $10.00 into the “I Buy Local” pool.  When a customer makes a purchase of $10.00 or more, they receive an entry into the “I Buy Local” contest.  Currently we have 14 businesses participating in this program.  In December, at our Christmas open house we shall draw three names. First place will receive $70.00 in Lakota Bucks, second gets $40.00 in Lakota Bucks and 3^rd place will get $30.00 in Lakota Bucks.  We will run this program at six month intervals and the  summer drawing will take place at the 2011 Turkey BBQ.

We have also revised/added a new Lakota Bucks program by setting up a Lakota Bucks account at the bank.  When a business receives a Lakota Bucks certificate they take that certificate to the bank and get there money right away.  It is treated like a check.  There is a person in Lakota who is paying her sons’ allowances by Lakota Bucks, she stated she wants them to spend their allowances in Lakota and not some big chain store.

Lakota, annually, holds a turkey barbeque to show appreciation for it’s present and prior citizens.  Showing appreciation towards our current and past residents, we feel is very important to let them know that they are a part of what , and why Lakota is such a great place to live.  The Youth Council set up children’s  games during the BBQ.  We are currently working on getting an annual air show in Lakota during the BBQ starting in 2011.  We have contacted 18 Remote Control airplane clubs within 250 miles of Lakota and have had several positive responses  from the air clubs. 

The Horizons Committee is working with the new elementary principal to start a reading program in the elementary school.  Children who are having problems with reading will be bussed to the Lakota Good Sam and be able to read to some of the residents there.  This will help them read better and maybe build friendships and mentoring.  We hope to have this program in place by September or October.

Lakota  has hosted many seminars and training classes for city officials and Lakota citizens.  We hosted the Economic Development host city seminar sponsored by the League of Cities.  Thru the Horizons Committee we have also given, free of charge, to our citizens, and working with Lake Region State College, computer classes in Office 2007, Word 2007, Excel 2007, and Welcome to main Street (Customer Service) classes.  We also sponsored two classes from the Small Business Administration, Business Start up class, and a Disaster Preparation for Businesses class. City Officials, in particular, the Mayor and Auditor and Superintendent have attended numerous classes to better the cities outlook on numerous issues, from Disaster preparedness, to Economic Development, Human Relations, and safety. 

Recently volunteer guest speakers have attended information nights at the Prairie Rose Living Facility and given training and speeches on things such as prescription drugs and insurance, postal fraud, and the Horizons programs.  These volunteer speakers included the local pharmacist, Postmaster, sheriff, and the Mayor.

Lakota saw a need for a prescription drop off and disposal site.  We want to keep these dangerous drugs away from our children, pets , landfills and water supply.  Working with the Nelson County Sheriff and the State Pharmacology Board, Lakota now has a drug drop off at the Sheriff’s office, for use by all Nelson County Residents.

I have nominated Lakota, North Dakota for City of the Year, due to the hard work of the citizens of our little village.  It’s the citizens who make this community and the citizens who work hard to keep Lakota a striving, thriving and prosperous community on the prairie, that deserve this award.

Family Night in the Park sponsored by the Lakota Youth Council will be Thursday at 5pm. Supper will be served, for a small fee. A Movie will be shown afterwards. All are invited.

Games, Food and fun were had by all atending the Lakota Good Sam Community Picnic.  Stay tuned for pictures of this great event.

Publishers of Lakota Happenings

The Horizons Committee members are Phyllis Kupitz, Doris Karas, Ed Pawlikowski, Jim Aaker, and Andrea Crisman. If you have comments about this newsletter contact one of these individuals.  This newsletter is in no way connected to the Lakota City Council or city employees.

Phishing

Recently, people in and around our area have been receiving emails addressed from Polar Communications.  This email is asking for peoples passwords for their emails.  Under no circumstances should you give any one your passwords for any of your accounts.  These people are fishing (phishing) for information, such as credit card info, bank info, etc.  Once they get your email password they can get your email, and if you do any purchasing, banking, or selling items online or use credit cards online, they will have your information.  Please be careful with your information. 

Did you know?

The Century Code system contains the Constitution of North Dakota and the North Dakota Century Code. The Century Code includes all statutory changes made by the 61st (2009) Legislative Assembly, which adjourned on Monday, May 4, 2009. The Century Code is the codification of all general and permanent law enacted since statehood. In very limited instances, the Century Code contains temporary laws. The century code can be found online at http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/statutes/cent-code.htmlAccording to the Century Code:

11-23-03. Notice of meeting to act on county budget. The estimates of necessaryexpenditures and the tax levies required there for as shown by the auditor’s budget statement, together with a notice that the board of county commissioners will meet on a specified date forthe purpose of making tax levies as set forth in the estimates, naming the time and place ofholding such meeting, shall be published in at least one issue of the official newspaper of thecounty. The county auditor shall notify by mail the township and city officers in regard to the date of such meeting. 

Trivia:What color does a bride at a Chinese wedding wear?

How far does a bowling pin have to tilt to fall down?

On which country’s stamp did Eddie Murphy appear on?

Events

Men’s Club Tournament Aug 7^th, Rock Creek Golf Course,Women’s and Youth Club Tournament Aug 8^th, Rock Creek Golf Course.Aug 19^th,

Family Night, sponsored by Lakota Youth Council, Lakota City Park. If you have an event you wish advertised contact the Horizons Committee.

Funny News, Maybe?

Cash Machine - Kentucky

Two men tried to pull the front off a cash machine by running a chain from
the machine to the bumper of their pickup truck. Instead of pulling the front
panel off the machine, though, they pulled the bumper off their truck. Scared,
they left the scene and drove home.

With the chain still attached to the machine.
With their bumper still attached to the chain.
With their vehicle’s license plate still attached to the bumper.

Trivia Answers

Red

7.5 degrees

Tanzania

Missed the newsletter?

You can read every issue of the Lakota Happenings on the Community Blog at http://lakota.communityblogs.us/ .You can also leave comments about the newsletter or other articles on the blog at this site.

The second week in August is:

Elvis WeekNational

Apple WeekNational

Bargain Hunting Week

National Resurrect Romance Week

Knights of Columbus Family Week

 Technology explained:What is a Blog?

An online journal, published frequently (often daily). Readers can post comments on each journal entry. Some blogs gain a wide readership, such as this one: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/. The term blog is a shortening of weblog.This technology article is brought to you by Anything Computers of Lakota. 247-2310 or cell # 270-9865.

Have you entered yet?

The “I Buy Local” Contest?  You still have time, enter at a participating merchant.  That’s all you do is make a purchase of $10.00 or greater and you get an entry. The drawing will be at the Christmas Open House and you could win some Big, Big Lakota Bucks.

Volunteers needed

If you have ideas or would like to help on the Welcome Wagon committee please contact Deb Schueller (Chairperson).

Lakota Weather

August 6^th thru August 12^th.Areas of Darkness mixed with areas of lightness.  Severe Darkness between 9 pm and 6 am, areas of lightness from 6 am to 9 pm.

The Lakota Good Samaritan Society will hold it’s community picnic on Thursday August 5th beginning at 5 pm.  All community members are welcome.  There will be kids games there. 

We will hold blogger training if any wishes to post items on this blog.  Please leave a post if you want to attend blogger training.  If I get enough interest we will hold a class. 

Did you know?

According to Lakota City Ordinance:14.0101 Minors Forbidden to be on the Streets After Eleven O’Clock (11:00) P.M.           

1. It shall be unlawful for any child under the age of fourteen (14) years of age to be in or upon the streets, alleys, parks or public places in the city after eleven o’clock (11:00) at night, without the written consent of the parent or guardian of said child, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, or some adult authorized by such parent or guardian.

Recycling

Aluminum cans can be dropped off at the Good Sam east parking lot in the bins there or if you wish a pick up of cans, you can call 2470-2310 and let us know you have some cans.  We will run pick up the last Saturday of the month, starting at 10 am.  We are also recycling inkjet cartridges from printers, if you have empties, please help us save the environment  and recycle them by bringing them to the drop box at city hall. Monday thru Friday 8 am to 5 pm.

Events

Lakota Good Sam Community Potluck Picnic – all invited, kids games, great food and great company. Tuesday July 27^th @ 5pm.2 person, 3 event tournament at the Rock Creek Golf Course, July 31^st.If you have an event that you would like published contact Ed at 247-2310

.Trivia

What car is shown in front of the U.S. Treasury Building on the back of the $10.00 bill?

What are roller coasters classified as by the U.S. Patent Office?

What major vegetable crop was grown in Beverly Hills, California, before it became home to the rich and famous?

  Geocaching

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.The Lakota Good Sam and the Lakota Youth Council will have a geocache in two different locations in and around Lakota soon.Geocaching is the latest and greatest family activity in existence right now.  As a matter of fact, There are 1,138,124 active geocaches around the world. Ceocaching will also get treasurer hunters, visitors and other families into visit or city. If you are interested in getting you and or your family involved check out: http://www.geocaching.com/ on the web. 

Trivia answers

A 1926 Hupmobile

Scenic Railways

Lima Beans

Remember – Buy Local

Big box stores like Wal-Mart are steamrolling their way into cities and towns throughout the country, pushing down wages and forcing small, local businesses to close because they can’t compete with these mega-companies’ predatory practices. But there’s something we can do! Let’s vote with our dollars in favor of locally owned, independent businesses and against the negative impacts of chain stores and big box stores on our communities! Why buy local? Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do; Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services; Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods. Don’t forget, the I Buy Local Contest, either.  Buy $10.00 or more from a Lakota participating merchant, get an entry into the I Buy Local Contest, 1^st place $70.00, second - $40.00, 3^rd - $30.00.Just a few of the businesses participating:Lakota RVBorn Again Furniture, Lakota Drug and Gift, Buckshot Grill, Elaine’s House of Dreams, Cenex of Lakota. These are just a few, check for signs in the windows of other participating businesses

.Advertising

Anything Computers- repair, immunize against viruses, setup and more for your computer. 247-2310, EdIf you wish to advertise in this newsletter, contact Ed at 247-2310.

Funny news story

MEXICO CITY — A man with a mysterious bulge under his T-shirt was stopped, searched and detained at Mexico City’s international airport after authorities found 18 tiny endangered monkeys in a girdle he was wearing.

 Weather

Did you know?

According to Lakota City Ordinances:9.0306 Open BurningThe open burning of all garbage, rubbish, refuse and any other materials including trees, leaves, grass or papers within the city limits is hereby expressly prohibited.Open burning is defined as the burning of any matter in such a manner that the emissions created hereby do no meet State Air Pollution standards.

American Legion Golf Tourney

The American Legion Golf tournament sponsored by Post #21 of L:akota is scheduled for August 17^th, 2010.  Last year we had so many door prizes that each golfer won at least two a piece and some won three.  Come on out and support the Legion and have some fun.

Speaking of American Legion

Did you know that the Lakota American Legion has close to 75 members?  The Legion also donated money to the Lakota Good Sam van, Snuggle time reading program, The Lakota Food Pantry and other local  organizations.   They also perform ceremonies at veteran’s funerals, including firing squad, flag folding, and taps.  If you are a veteran and would like to join, please contact Albert Johnson or any other Legion member. 

 Trivia

What room in the average American home is the scene of the greatest number of arguments?

How much time–in months –does the average American motorist spend during his lifetime waiting for red lights to turn green?

Two states bill themselves as the “Sunshine State.” Can you name them?

Chairman for Welcome Wagon

We now have a chairman for the Lakota Welcome Wagon committee, Deb Schueller.  If you wish to help with setting up a Welcome Wagon basket, etc, please contact her or Ed Pawlikowski.

Movie Night

The first Movie Night will be held at the Lakota Good Sam Dining Room, Tuesday Night, July 20^th at 7 pm.  On the bill is a great western.

Lakota Youth Council

The Lakota Youth Council met on Monday night.  Items that were discussed are the recycling aluminum can program, the Youth Council will now pick up cans from residents who can not get them to the recycle bins at the Lakota Good Sam Parking lot.  Pickup will be the last Saturday of the month beginning at 10 am.  If you need them to be picked up call 247-3446. A family fun night is scheduled for August 19^th at the Lakota Park Shelter.  Food will be served from 5pm to 7pm and a movie will be shown in the shelter from 7pm to 9pm. Bring the family out for one last fling before school starts. Sponsored by the Lakota Youth Council. The LYC will also sponsor a geocache in Lakota.  Geocaching is an advanced treasure hunt using GPS.  It is catching on all over the world, and is a great pastime for the whole family. (More to come).North Dakota League of Cities is holding their annual conference in Bismarck, ND Sept 24^th thru the 26^th.  The Mayor of Lakota has been asked by the League of Cities to give a class on how Lakota has established a Youth Council, the Youth Council has also been asked to attend and answer questions about their events, and ideas, etc.The LYC will be setting up a recycling center for your old inkjet printer cartridges.  Don’t throw them in the trash, recycle them. Stay tuned for details and locations of drop bins.

“I Buy Local”

1^st place in the drawing will be $70.00 in Lakota Bucks

2^nd Place will be $40.00 in Lakota Bucks

3^rd Place will be 30.00 in Lakota Bucks

The more you buy local the better chance you have to win. See participating merchants.

Lakota Bucks

You may purchase Lakota Bucks at the Lakota City Hall.  They come in denominations of $1, 5, 10, and 20.  If you purchase more than $10.00 worth of bucks you also receive an entry into the “I Buy Local” Contest

.Trivia Answers

The kitchen

6 months

Florida and South Dakota

Events

Movie Night, Lakota Good Sam, 7 pm.

Tuesday, July 27^th is the Lakota Good Sam Community Picnic, all are invited, the LYC will hold kids games, also.

If you have an event that you wish published let us know, Ed Pawlikowski.

Lakota Weather

Have a Great Lakota Week!!!!

On Sunday July 11th Elvis was sighted in Lakota, he was singing at the Good Samaritan Society Lakota. Steve and Tommy Marcio portrayed the young and older Elvis. We had a great time with Elvis coming out in the crowd to give kisses and scarves to some of the ladies.