Broadcaster Press 03 July 17, 2012 www.broadcasteronline.com One in a VerMillion Meet Buffie Main By David Lias david.lias@plaintalk.net Buffie Main sat in the dimly lit seating area of the Vermillion High School Performing Arts Center Thursday evening, July 5, watching 11-yearold Briseis Schnack perfect her lines and her singing as Annie for the upcoming production of the Broadway musical of the same name. The memories came flooding back, Buffie said. “I’m trying not to mouth the lines as they are being spoken,” she said, as the actors took a short break. Twenty-nine years ago this summer, as a 10-yearold, Buffie herself appeared on stage in a Vermillion community production of “Annie.” The 1983 performance was held in the Warren M. Lee Fine Arts Center on the University of South Dakota campus. “I am back in town visiting, and my mom mentioned that the VCT is doing “Annie,” and Jen (Dickenson) is directing, and I used to direct Jen a bit,” Buffie said. “I thought it would be fun to come enjoy a rehearsal.” Buffie, daughter of Frank and Mary Main, is a Vermillion native, and a 1991 graduate of Vermillion High School. She left the community after high school to continue her education. She returned to Vermillion in 2001 to work on her master’s degree at the University of South Dakota. “When I was here, I directed Jen in some community theatre,” she said. “I directed ‘Christmas Carol’ and ‘Godspell,’ and I think Jen was in both of those.” Today, Buffie is putting her graduate degree in public administration to good use, serving as a health care administrator in Boise, ID. She also serves as an artistic director for a theatre company in Boise. Buffie believes she was 4 or 5 years old when she received her first taste of Vermillion community theatre, appearing in “The King and I.” “The first play that I ever saw was ‘Oliver,’ which was presented by that same (local) group,” she said. “There was a big cast … really intergenerational. After my mom and dad took me to ‘Oliver,’ they would not have been able to keep me away (from participating). I was drawn to it, and have been my entire life. I’ve been mesmerized by the theatre. “I joke with people that I was raised in a church basement, and backstage,” Buffie said. “The arts are so important, because they gave me the facilitation skills that I have today. And back in the day, I don’t know how they (the Vermillion theatre participants) did it, but it was really an intergenerational group of people. They had a ball; they had so much fun, and so they modeled that. “They modeled how to have fun in a really healthy way. It was such an amazing learning environment, and I found myself totally immersed in this cultural experience as a 10-year-old, and I didn’t even know it,” she said. Buffie said that even today, when she returns home to Vermillion, she is still referred to by some community members as “Annie.” “I think that playing that role certainly defined my path,” she said. “Believe me, it completely shaped everything.” Most valuable to Buffie was how community theatre in Vermillion brought people of all ages together. “That blend of generations – it teaches you so much. It’s different from being in an all-kid production. It raises the level of professionalism and experience, because you’re learning from the adults around you,” Buffie said. “It teaches young people how to talk to adults and learn from adults at such a young age.” This summer’s Vermillion Community Theatre production of “Annie” will be held Friday, July 20, Saturday, July 21 and Monday, July 23 at 7 p.m. along with a matinee on Sunday, July 22 at 2:30 p.m. All performances will be at the Vermillion High School Performing Arts Center. Crime in South Dakota publication released Attorney General Marty Jackley released the Crime in South Dakota 2011 report Monday. This report is compiled by the Attorney General’s Criminal Statistical Analysis Center (SAC). The SAC Unit is the primary clearinghouse for criminal justice statistical data for South Dakota. “The Criminal Statistical Analysis Center and the participating law enforcement agencies continue to provide important crime reporting information for identifying trends in criminal activity to assist in crime prevention and enforcement efforts across South Dakota,” said Jackley. “Our criminal statistics reflect that South Dakota remains a relatively safe place to live as a result of law enforcement efforts, strong community involvement, and a supportive legislature.” South Dakota law enforcement agencies reported a total of 33,340 arrests involving 56,272 offenses in 2011. The heat has made us crazy... Everything’s On Sale! Sandals, Boots, Shoes, Belts, Wallets, Socks & More! Boston Shoes• 665-9092 to Boots 312 W. 3rd • Yankton The more serious offenses included a total of 14,570 arrests and include the following: Homicide/negligent manslaughter – 16, sex offenses – 132, assault – 4,306, larceny/theft – 3104, fraud – 321, drug/narcotic – 3,908, gambling – 5, prostitution – 13, kidnapping – 20, robbery – 38, arson – 30, burglary – 391, motor vehicle theft – 146, counterfeiting – 127, embezzlement – 29, stolen property – 47, destruction of property – 724, pornography/obscene material – 40 and weapon law violations – 158. Less serious offenses totaled 18,770 arrestees, include the following, but not limited to DUI – 5,775 (5,776 for 2010), liquor law violations – 5,338 and disorderly conduct – 2,149. Some examples of the South Dakota numbers included an increase in drug arrests of 18 percent, and more than $17 million worth of property loss reported. 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