2 Broadcaster Press June 21, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Being a Dad is the Best Job of My Life By Sen. John Thune I’ve worn numerous hats, held a lot of jobs, and had many titles throughout my life. And while being your U.S. senator is one of the most humbling and fulfilling of those experiences, it pales in comparison to being a dad. It’s the most amazing blessing I’ve ever received, and I thank God each day for the privilege of having had the opportunity to raise two strong and confident daughters. My dad taught me a lot of lessons in life, including that with faith and hard work, all things are possible. Personal responsibility, discipline, patience, and humility were qualities my dad modeled every day, and they are the qualities to which I aspire. My dad is a very humble guy. When we were growing up, he was “dad,” the guy who always showed up to batting practice, throwing pitch after pitch for me and my teammates. He was the guy who enjoyed the simple things in life, and so loved spending time with his kids that even though he was a teacher, coach, and the athletic director, he still drove the school bus to and from sporting events. Had it not been for my mom, my siblings and I might never have known that my dad was a fighter pilot and war hero. He flew multiple missions over the Pacific from the USS Intrepid during World War II and even earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is awarded for “heroism or extraordinary achievement.” I don’t know that he ever would have told us about his basketball career either – a hall of famer, nonetheless. In fact, the good people of Murdo were kind enough to name the Murdo City Auditorium after him. Needless to say, my dad set the bar pretty high. Being a dad to Larissa and Brittany is the most serious role I’ve undertaken, and I’ve always believed that if you don’t do your best at being a dad, nothing else really matters. My dad proved there’s no greater power than the power of example, and I’ve tried to follow his lead. Being there for the big moments in the girls’ lives has always been important to me. I can still see Brittany breaking free of my hold for that first bike ride without training wheels. I remember like yesterday pulling Larissa out of a fast-moving creek in the Black Hills, and I will always cherish tucking in the girls each night and reciting our bedtime prayers. I relish the moments – both the good times and the bad – when I could sling my arm around them and offer congratulations or provide the comfort that things will be okay. Being a dad is more than a job to me. It defines who I am, and it inspires me to be a better person for my family and also for the community I serve. There’s no other job I’d rather have. National Grasslands Celebrations This Week National Grasslands Week will be celebrated June 19-25 across the nation to spotlight the beauty and historical importance of the 20 National Grasslands in 12 western states, covering four million acres and managed by the USDA Forest Service. Historically, the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of 1937 authorized the federal government to acquire lands ravaged by the Dust Bowl. A good portion of this land forms our National Grasslands today. The National Grasslands are a proven example of successful restoration programs that feature rich habitats, abundant wildlife, grasses, and wildflowers. The unique grasslands contribute millions to local rural economies, and offer tremendous recreation and education opportunities for more than a million visitors each year. To commemorate the celebration, the National Grassland Visitor Center in Wall is offering free evening programs that highlight some of the features of the grasslands. The programs will be held at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. every day of the week. Patio talks will be given at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the living landscape and important wildlife. In addition to the 25 minute National Grasslands film, two other films will be shown at the Visitor Center: “Surviving the Dust Bowl” and “Facing the Storm: Story of the American Bison.” Everyone is invited to come and celebrate the creation of the National Grasslands. “The story of the National Grasslands is one of outstanding conservation. The grasslands were formed from dust and hardship, but now hold treasures of stunning natural landscapes, rich wildlife, recreation, sporting opportunities, and productive land for livestock” said Assis- MONDAY JULY, 4TH 2016 bp tant Center Director Luke Hittner. Park Ranger Kathleen Hanson adds, “Many folks aren’t even aware that National Grasslands exist. It’s our hope people will take this opportunity to come out, tour the National Grassland Visitor Center, attend a program, and discover what’s in their own backyard .” The Fort Pierre National Grassland in Fort Pierre is sponsoring a photo contest for the best photos taken in 2016 on the Fort Pierre NG. Digital images will be entered into one of two photographer divisions: adult or youth (17 years old or younger). Prizes will be awarded to winners in both divisions for each of the following categories: landscape, plants and animals, and recreation. Submittals must include the photographer’s name, phone number, and division (adult or youth) as well as category. Submissions should be emailed to cerickson@fs.fed.us by July 3. Submitted photos may be used by the USDA Forest Service for conservation education efforts. Local Forest Service offices also offer a variety of forest and grassland maps and interpretive sale items along with ‘America The Beautiful’ -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes. Including, the Annual Pass, Senior Pass (age 62 or older), Access Pass (permanent disability), Fourth Grade Pass (student) and Military Pass (active duty). Please contact your local Forest Service office for more information on these offerings. For more information, contact the National Grasslands Visitor Center at 605-279-2125 or visit on the web at www. fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska. The Visitor Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week. Offices will be closed on Monday, July 4th for the Independence Day Holiday. Vermillion Mother Makes Life-Saving Decision To Heed CO Detector’s Warning By David Lias a good deal,” Walker said. “Eventually, the carbon monoxide would have gotten upstairs through the A Vermillion husband night, and they probably and wife and their two young children avoided seri- would have not been here, I’m going to say. ous health consequences “When we went in the and likely death thanks to house, the readings were at carbon monoxide detectors 120 ppm upstairs already, in the residence they are and as soon as the guys renting in town. went downstairs, the readVermillion Fire/EMS ings went to 250 up to 300,” Chief Shannon Draper said he said. department personnel Walker said the main responded to a call Thursdwelling area of the home day night from a member was upstairs, and none of of the family who reported the family members had yet that their carbon monoxide begun to experience any detector was sounding and effects from the growing nothing they had tried to levels of carbon monoxide. silence it was working. Carbon monoxide is “The family that was called the “invisible killer” there called, and we went because it's a colorless, out and we found levels odorless, poisonous gas. very high – and if they More than 400 people in the hadn’t had a detector, United States die every year it would have been fatal from accidental non-fire during the night,” the chief said. “We’re glad everybody related carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the is okay. They spent the Center for Disease Control. night in a motel, and this is “If you have any gas-fired a reminder to everybody. appliances – a water heater, We don’t think of carbon a furnace, a stove that monoxide incidents in the summer, but it can happen.” utilizes gas – then you need a carbon monoxide detector “The detector started in your home,” Draper said. going off in the basement of “Carbon monoxide itself the home,” said Assistant almost has a neutral weight, Chief John Walker, who and so it’s not necessarily was among the local fire going to stay down low to department members who the ground, or up high near responded to the call. “She the ceiling, so you can put (the mother) went down the detector anywhere in there to see if it was simply the home and it will detect a case of the battery going high levels.” dead. She put new batterThe family choosing to ies in, and when it went not disregard the detector’s off again, that’s when she warning turned out to be a went upstairs, got her kids, very wise decision, he said. and then the alarm went off “They could have upstairs, too. So, she called ignored it, but they didn’t,” 911.” the chief said. The fire department’s People experiencing levequipment registered els of carbon monoxide that carbon monoxide levels of are too high will likely expebetween 280 and 300 ppm rience flu-like symptoms. (parts per million) in the “You may get a headhouse. ache, and your body will “That’s way, way high,” begin aching,” Draper Walker said. “What hapsaid, “and be very tired pened was they had just and lethargic. You’ll feel gotten done taking baths, tired when you shouldn’t and the hot water heater be tired. And usually, pets, malfunctioned, and there such as dogs or cats, will was something wrong with the furnace, too, and the gas show symptoms before people do.” was going into the house.” High level carbon monThe detector began going off between 8 and 9 p.m. oxide poisoning results in Br been progressively more severe Thursday. Had there o adc symptoms, ne no detector to alert the fam- a steronliaccording to the .c Safety Consumer Product om ily, the parents likely would have put their young kids to Commission, including mental confusion, vomiting, loss bed before turning in themof muscular coordination, selves later that night. loss of consciousness, and “It would have not been david.lias@plaintalk.net ultimately death. Symptom severity is related to both the carbon monoxide level and the duration of exposure. For slowly developing residential carbon monoxide problems, according to the commission, occupants and/or physicians can mistake mild to moderate carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms for the flu, which sometimes results in tragic deaths. For rapidly developing high level carbon monoxide exposures caused by, for example, the use of a generator in a residential space, victims can quickly become mentally confused, and can lose muscle control without having first experienced milder symptoms. They will likely die if not rescued. “Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, and very, very dangerous,” Draper said. “The detectors are not that expensive, and they are a very wise investment.” “Thank God for the detectors,” Walker said, reflecting on Thursday’s call. “I strongly recommend them. The family did the right thing – she got everybody outside and called 911 right away. I recommended that they go to a motel for the night, because the gas company did show up and they red-tagged the hot water heater and the furnace as being faulty. “The fire department shut the gas off to the place, and then the gas company locked it up,” he said. “What it does is it makes the owner get somebody (to fix the faulty items), and the gas company has to come back and make sure that everything is fixed to their standard, too, and then they’ll turn the gas back on to the house.” Thursday’s incident is a reminder that carbon monoxide poisoning can happen anywhere, at any time, Walker said. “Especially when it’s hot and humid like it’s been lately – the air is heavy, and things don’t vent like they should. We even went on the roof (of the house) to 2x1 make sure the vent wasn’t plugged by a bird’s nest or something else, and everything was fine,” he said. “The problem was in the basement.” Broadcasteronline.c om NEED TO RELIEVE TOE PRESSURE? Re-Invest in Your Operation with Broadcasteronline.c om TRY THESE! Brock Grain Bins & Lester Buildings Padders Aetrex Pain Relief Sale Drew Boston Shoes to Boots 312 W. 3rd Yankton • 665-9092 Broadcaster Press EARLY DEADLINES for July 5th Issues 3x1 4x1 Since 1934 bp Broadcaster Since 1934 Deadline: Noon Thursday, June 30 Press Deadline: 11 am Thursday, June 30 Thank you The family of Dorothy Wensel wishes to thank everyone who sent prayers, flowers, cards and words of condolences. Special thanks to the staff of Sanford Care Center for the tender and exceptional care given to Mom. To Father David and Father John for their words of comfort and peace at the prayer service and funeral and to the choir for the music. Thanks to the ladies of the Church who made and served the lunch. Finally, a Thank You to Kober Funeral Home for the respect and dignity shown to the family. 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Rebates end June 30th Free estimates and Interest Free financing $2700 . www.edwardjones.com NOTICE ANNUAL TOUR OF ROADS The Clay County Commissioners will be making their annual inspection of county roads, bridges, and drainage systems Tuesday, June 28, 2016 * Up to in Rebates & Incentives * Call Jamie for complete details *see store for details Serving Yankton, Vermillion and surrounding areas HEATING & COOLING 920 Broadway, Yankton • 605-665-9461 • www.larrysheatingandcooling.com immediately following the regular County Commission Meeting. County Highway Superintendent Rod Polley will accompany the commissioners. County residents with concerns should call the Highway Office at 677-7149 or the Auditor’s Office at 677-7120 to report their concerns, and the Commissioners will include the site on their tour. Carri R. Crum Clay County Auditor