It was a beautiful weekend in Sanborn County with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees on Saturday, which was perfect for the first outdoor, fall vendor fair organized by the Lauras of the Flower Garage by IrmaLea Fields. In addition, the Swenson Produce Pumpkin Patch opened for the season. It will now be open on Saturdays and Sundays, and they have a lot of activities for families with kids of all ages, including three different bouncy houses, a zipline, face painting and covered wagon rides around the pumpkin patch and more. The Annual Woonsocket Craft and Vendor Fair, organized by Julie Bebout, also took place this weekend at the Woonsocket Community and Events Center, so there really was something for everyone in The Town With the Beautiful Lake. Although the weather doesn’t really feel like it at the moment, fall is here, and this weekend was a wonderful way for people to get the feeling of transitioning into the season of pumpkins, harvest and happiness.

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

On Monday, Sept. 16, members of the Santel Communications Cooperative attended the co-op’s annual meeting at the Woonsocket Community and Events Center. Attendees were treated to dinner and a small gift in appreciation for their attendance. Every member attending was also given a ticket for a drawing for many door prizes from several different sponsors consisting of partners who work with Santel on projects. One highlight of the evening was hearing from Public Utilities Commissioner Kristi Fiegen as she was given the opportunity to address the crowd and talk about what a great job Santel has done and is continuing to do in their field, especially with providing broadband connections to the communities and rural areas they serve.

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

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, South Dakota U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson joined a group of people on the Sanborn County Courthouse lawn to honor 13 veterans for serving in the military during the Vietnam War. 

To start, Rep. Johnson spoke about the purpose of the event. He talked about how the veterans from the Vietnam War were not treated with the respect they deserved when they first returned home, and the Federal government was trying to make that right with a small token of their appreciation. Johnson personally handed each of the veterans a lapel pin and coin with the seal of the United States on one side and the South Dakota State Seal on the other. 

He called the men up in groups of three to receive their pins and asked them to let everyone know a little bit about their time in the service. They then held a moment of silence for those men and women who weren’t lucky enough to make it home. 

…Read on and see pictures of the local men honored in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!