Area News

You may have noticed an increase in fire department activity on Saturday, April 12. For the first time ever the Town & Country Fire Department hosted a district fire school. This state sponsored event brings in fire department personnel from across the state as well as the fire marshal’s office, Department of Public Safety and South Dakota Firefighters Association. A total of 20 fire departments and two ambulance associations were in attendance adding up to about 65 first responders. Agencies from Sanborn County in attendance were Artesian Fire Department, Letcher Fire Department, Sanborn County Ambulance and Town & Country Fire Department. Classes offered included Ag Rescue, Rural Water Supply, Firefighter Rehab, Pump Operations and Wildland Fire Assessment Program. Those who attended also raised funds which were donated to Wessington Springs Fire Department in memory of Assistant Chief Michial Brodkorb.   

…See a picture in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

Woonsocket and Forestburg – Members of the Horizon Health Plankinton Dental Team provided free dental screenings and fluoride to Woonsocket and Sanborn Central schools grades Pre-K through 12 in March and April to encourage good oral hygiene habits that make healthy teeth and gums. 

As part of its community outreach, Horizon provides medical and dental screenings to schools when requested at no cost to the school. Dental Operations Manager Kim Ball and Registered Dental Hygienist Katti Paul completed the dental screenings. 

Students received oral screenings and were able to talk to dental staff about good dental hygiene during the procedure.

“It’s important to start positive dental habits early,” Michelle Scholtz, Horizon’s Chief Dental Officer said. “Each year during our Smiles for Miles program we find a significant number of children who already have dental issues. Anything we can do to get kids to care for their teeth makes a difference in lifelong dental health.” 

During the month of October, Horizon sponsors its Smiles for Miles program that provides free dental cleanings, a checkup and fluoride treatment to children 0-5 years old. Anyone is eligible for the program regardless of income. Of the 173 children seen during Smiles for Miles in 2024, 31 percent had identified tooth decay. 

Horizon encourages parents to schedule their child’s first dental visit six months after the first tooth emerges or within their first year of life. It’s important to help children become comfortable with the dentist early, promote good dental care, avoid anxiety about seeing the dentist and to detect any issues that might occur. 

To make brushing more enjoyable for young kids, use a soft-bristled brush and a child-sized amount of toothpaste. Give stickers for good dental habits, play music while they brush or use brushing apps. It’s important for children to see the dentist every six months for cleanings and exams. Along with dental check-ups and care, avoiding sugary snacks and juices helps avoid cavities. Instead, help build strong teeth by offering fruits, vegetables and cheese and encourage drinking water. 

Oral health is closely linked to overall physical health. Poor dental hygiene can lead to infections that affect behavior, sleeping, learning and if allowed to go untreated, increase the rates of heart disease or memory issues. 

Horizon has dental clinics in seven communities: Alcester, De Smet, Howard, Martin, Plankinton, Wessington Springs and Yankton. For more information on dental care at Horizon Health go to https://www.horizonhealthcare.org/dental/.

…See a picture in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

Sanborn County Sheriff Tom Fridley reported that the Sheriff’s Office is investigating two more cases where elderly residents of Sanborn County fell victim to telephone scams recently, losing significant amounts of money. Sheriff Fridley wants to inform everyone how they can protect themselves from these scams with the following information from the South Dakota Sheriff’s Association.

“We may have entered the digital age, but the telephone remains a key weapon in scammers’ arsenals. Once they get you on the line, phone scammers use false promises, aggressive sales pitches and phony threats to pry loose information they can use to steal your money or identity (or both).

Estimates show that some fifty-nine million Americans lost money to a phone scam in the previous 12 months. According to FTC data, the median loss in scams starting with a call is $1,200, higher than any other contact method.

Technology has made this illicit work easy. With auto-dialers, shady operators can blast out robocalls by the millions for just a few dollars daily. Readily available spoofing tools can trick your caller ID into displaying a genuine government or corporate number or one that appears to be local to increase your chances of answering.

Whether live or automated, scam callers often pose as representatives of government agencies or familiar tech, travel, retail or financial companies, supposedly calling with valuable information. It might be good news, such as a cash prize or discount. Or it might be bad news such as owing back taxes or a problem with your credit card. The topics used by scammers are endless.

…Read on in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

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