Conde, SD

Saturday, April 26th a Mentoring workshop will be held in Conde at the Community Center for all adults that wish to attend. Sign up is requested and contacting Bev Wright at (605-897-6536) will get you a fun day, a meal and $25.00 for yourself or your favorite organization.

The mentoring workshop is possible through a grant awarded to our Field Education Unit. Since mentoring was one of the projects Conde Horizons is working on, our town was chosen for the workshop.

The Extension Educators will be covering the following topics: 1.Community Service as part of your Youth/Mentorship Program. 2.Civic Engagement - Encouraging Civic-Minded Youth. 3.Positive Youth Development. 4.Program/Mentorship Management. 5. Positive Guidance & Discipline. 6.Parents as Parners. 6.What if bullying issues come up.

Come join us!

The weather was a mixed bag but Mother Nature must have known that Conde really needed the seminar. We had a crowd with at least 6 new people coming from our small town.

There was wonderful information given and we sure found out that “branding” isn’t just for cows! We will have to work on our brand for Conde that will continue to boast our slogan, “Conde, a place to call home.”

It is beyond a doubt left the town in a depressed state to think that the school closing may get to a reality. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, the 16th at 7:00 at the school; all interested poeple should try to attend.

Thanks Northeast Area Foundation and Horizons II for providing Conde with the opportunity to host the ” Marketing Your Area” seminar with Milan Wall. His presentation was very enjoyable and eduacational. I think there were several of us that went home that night with a renewed sense of hope that the community can survive without our school. Thanks to the ladies who prepared and served the meal and to all those who attended. If we continue to stick together and work toward a common goal we will always be ” a place to call home.”

One of the biggest adversities we have found is that “it has always been done that way….” that has led us to a path of “getting by,” “uncertainty” and “non-progressive.” Now you throw that in with the possiblity of the school closing and the mood is very down and sullen. It is almost like we have given up! However, when one door closes, another opens. We have had such wonderful groups, young and old, probably rich but more than likely poorer than rich be continuous backers for the Horizons training and supportive for the activities. We had to forge ahead with the park project despite claims that insurance would not allow it. The insurance company has been contacted and will be with us to “fix” if necessary the old slide in the park and to help instruct for the setting up of the new slide that was purchased with Horizons and partnership of the city. What a wonderful partnership this will be as we have the Young Men’s club very willing to help and two good farmer welders that will be more than happy to help in any way they can. These are volunteers we had not thought about tapping and you don’t know until you ask!!! Now when spring comes we can go forth with renewed conviction that even old things can become new and new things can be done right with the help of the right people! Safety of the children is of utmost importance in park equipment. We solicited other information from Watertown Park and Recreation Office, met with the city council and contacted the afore mentioned people. Now, when Mother Nature lets spring “spring” we will be busy at the park!

Several members of Conde’s Horizon group met on Sunday, February 10th to test their baking skills. Approximately 8 doz. large, heart-shaped, sugar cookies were baked and beautifully decorated to be sold at the DC girls’ Valentine basketball game in Conde. The event was a success as those in attendance purchased the cookies as a treat for themselves or for their Valentine ” sweetie.” Proceeds from the cookie sale will help the Conde High School student council sponsor a spring semi-formal dance. Thanks to the gals who donated supplies, baked and decorated the cookies and sold them the night of the game. The Conde students thank you and appreciate the community’s support of their activities.

Last summer some of Conde’s streets were decorated in red. Thanks to Horizons and the Northeast Area Foundation, residents and visitors are greeted with red street banners to welcome them to town. Several of the banners were removed to hang Christmas decorations but will soon be replaced and lining main street again. Thanks to the volunteers for hanging the banners and for use of equipment. Thanks Horizons for bringing a little “color” to town.

Jessica Huber and Erin Heiman will be teaching the Conde Journalism students to blog on Tuesday, February 12th at 8 am. Horizon’s thought that this would be a great way for the young people of our community to express their feelings about change in their community! Updates and pictures to follow~!

“…Youth voice is crucial to the overall effectiveness of service- learning programs. Youth voice has a tremendous impact on program participation and program outcomes, both short term and long term.” - Education Commission of the States

Have you ever heard of a Pizza Garden? We hadn’t either, however, through Cooperative Extension we have learned that it is a wonderful tool to bring all segments of our town together. Conde has a place and now we are going to be having a sign up for those that want to be a part of it. We are poling the Sr. Citizens tomorrow as a start and will contact the school children and their parents soon. Naturally plenty of plans will need to be in place so that we are ready for gardening time this spring.
The Garden is planted in a circle; naturally you plant vegetables (herbs, onions, tomatoes, peppers) that are needed for Pizza sauce. Some wheat is planted to signify the wheat for the flour. Some corn is planted to signify the food given to animals to have meat for your pizza. Naturally, when the vegetables are ready we will host a canning class and then have a pizza party with all of those who helped with the educational project.

The Conde Horizons II team has set the last Thursday of every month to meet with Cheryl Jacobs to make sure that we are making progress, “walking the plank” so to speak to make sure our vision is coming to fruition. Our meetings will begin at 4:00 in the afternoon and will be held at the Community Center. Our first meeting with Cheryl will be held February 28th. Everyone is invited and more information will be coming as the date gets closer.

With the aid of the Conde High School students, the communities of Conde, Doland and Mellette showed their support to the Dan & Teresa Noetlich family at the BB games in Conde on Tuesday night. Those in attendance generously donated over one thousand dollars to this “DC Charger” family who lost their home and belongings in a house fire at Doland. This overwhelming support shows good will between all the neighboring small town communities and makes one proud to be a part of them. Good luck to the Noetlich family and thanks to all for your kindness and giving.