Broadcaster Press 3 October 23, 2018 www.broadcasteronline.com An Old Friend By Daris Howard Recently I was traveling a long, dusty road when I stopped at a place in the middle of nowhere. The road from our high school in St. Anthony to the one in Salmon where we often competed ran through a long, barren stretch of road. The trip on a school bus was about three hours and seemed to go forever. There was lots of sagebrush with a few mountains to add interest. About halfway between the two schools was a small town. It was small even by Idaho standards. In fact, it was so small that it consisted of only one house and a café. But as small as it was, it was on the map. Blue Dome, it was called. Probably the reason it was on the map was because there wasn’t anything else for miles around. It was a lone outpost in an area with interesting trails leading up into mountains with intriguing names like Diamond Peak, Copper Mountain, and Skull Canyon. But I found my greatest interest in the lives of the old couple that ran the café. I was a young teenager when I first met them. I was traveling on my first athletic trip. We had a long day of wrestling, then headed home at around 9:00 at night. It was late when we made it to Blue Dome, but the open signed still showed, so our bus pulled to a stop. As the team members spilled out of the bus and into the café, I looked at the hours that were posted and realized the café was just ready to close. But after we entered, the little old couple worked hard cooking and serving as if they planned to stay open all night. I didn’t have much money, so I sat on a stool at the counter apart from the others and ordered a water. “Nothing else?” the old man asked. “I don’t have a lot of money,” I said. After everyone else was served, he came back over and asked if there was anything else he could do for me. “Well,” I slowly said, “there is one thing. I’d love to know your story and the story of this place.” He smiled. “I sometimes get that request from adults, but I think you’re the first young person who has ever asked.” My memory has faded over the years, but I think I remember that his name was John. He told me how he met his wife and how they settled in this out-of-the-way place. He talked about his family and about running the café. When my teammates needed something, John would slip away to serve or to help his wife and then return and continue his stories. Once everyone else was heading to the bus, I put the little bit of money I had on the counter. “Water’s free,” John said. “Then take that as a tip for the stories,” I said. “I would come here just for them.” John smiled and brought his wife over and introduced her to me. She looked as old as John, but to see their eyes sparkle when they looked at each other was more beautiful than any young love. All the others were on the bus when Coach came in and called me to hurry. I joined the others, and they teased me about my “old friends.” But on the way home, I thought about the wonderful couple I had met. After that, every sports bus I traveled in on that long road stopped at Blue Dome, and I spent my time visiting with John. On the last one, as everyone hurried out, John stopped me before I left. “Have you signed our wall?” he asked. I looked at where he was pointing and saw a wall with hundreds of names. I shook my head. He handed me a marker. “You better sign it.” The team impatiently waited while I signed the wall. And I received the usual teasing, but I didn’t care. I liked my old friends. But it was only about a week later when I read the bad news in the paper. The café had burned down and John had died in the fire. And now, though it has been a long time, sometimes when I travel that road I will stop at Blue Dome. There is nothing left to see but a crumbling old cabin and the café foundation. But there are lots of memories, and I like to take the time to stop and remember an old friend. Read and Recycle 4-H Announces The 2018 State 4-H Ambassadors BROOKINGS, S.D. - Nineteen South Dakota youth from counties across the state were selected to serve as the 2018 State 4-H Ambassadors. "We are excited about the Ambassadors selected and how this program will provide them with enhanced leadership and service opportunities," said Hilary Risner, SDSU Extension Regional 4-H Youth Program Advisor who is also co-advisor of the State 4-H Ambassador program along with Amber Erickson, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Field Operations Coordinator. The youth were selected to serve as a State 4-H Ambassador based on an application and interview process. Developed to expand leadership opportunities for teens, the State 4-H Ambassador program replaces the State 4-H Youth Council, offering more opportunities to South Dakota teens because it is designed to engage youth in leadership development through all four 4-H program priority areas including: 1.Agvocacy 2.Health & Wellness 3.Leadership 4.Science "I served on the Youth Council and loved it, but the one thing I did see that could make it better, was adding diversity. The Youth Council was only focused on planning Teen Leadership Conference. I feel the new format of the State 4-H Ambassador program reaches a broader spectrum of people," explained Sanborn County 4-H member, Nathan Linke. Linke is a freshman at South Dakota State University and currently serves as President of the 2018 State 4-H Ambassador program. As an elementary student, his older siblings motivated him to get involved in 4-H and the friends he made through 4-H kept him involved. "You realize how many people you know, when you can't walk across campus without seeing at least two or three people you recognize - and most of my friends I met through 4-H," said Linke, who made friends from across South Dakota while attending 4-H camps and showing cattle in shows throughout the state. Linke explained that Ambassadors can still focus on planning Teen Leadership Conference if that is what they are excited about. But, through the new program, if the teens would rather focus on developing leadership skills through projects focused on health and wellness or advocacy they have that option. In addition to Linke, the 2018 4-H Ambassadors include: Lani Klein, Vice President, Custer County; Emily Foiles, Secretary, Clark County; Taylor McMartin, Treasurer, Turner County; Jessica Kott, Brule County; Cassie Richarz, Hamlin County; Jordan Rusche, Let Our Family Business Keep Yours In The Go With: • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals FARMLAND FOR LEASE BY SEALED BID Approximately 230 Acres of Clay County Farmland For information contact: Finance Officer City of Vermillion 25 Center Street Vermillion, SD 57069 605-677-7056 Or on the web at www.vermillion.us/bids.aspx Deadline for Sealed Bids 11:00 a.m. November 1, 2018 Pillow Cleaning will be available in this vicinity: Saturday, October 27th 9:00 - 1:00pm All Types of Bed Pillows Cleaned - Feather, Foam, Down, Fiber Fill Completely Renovated and NEW TICKING Bring in your feather beds and make into new pillows. Your pillows can be renovated and back on your bed the SAME DAY. connect with area landlords, renters, home buyers and home sellers with the Broadcaster classifieds! 201 W Cherry Vermillion 624-4429 605•665•4494 - ROOFING - Asphalt Shingle - Steel - Flat - EPDM - SIDING - LP Smart - Cement - Vinyl - Stone - GUTTERS - Heavy Duty Seamless - Gutter Guard - EXTERIOR PAINTING Sherwin-Williams Pro STORM RESTORATION - HAIL OR WIND Certified Installation Experts Call Steve or Karl New 2 You • 2719 E. SD Hwy 50 • Vermillion For more info call Kraft Pillow Service at 712.378.2918 • Email: pillows@frontiernet.net Also Available: New Feather, Down, or Allergy-Free Pillows. eneft Da B n www.KraftPillowService.com ce Suggested Donation $10 To Vermillion Area Arts Council To Support Arts Education Programming Re-Elect Cox Auto 1007 Broadway Ave Yankton, SD Mobile unit located at: Saturday, November 3rd 8 – 11 p.m. Vermillion Eagles Club Bluff Ridge Band Buying, Selling or Renting Kingsbury County; Laura Bogue, Lincoln County; Tessa Erdmann, Brown County; Kate DeVelder, Clay County; Zoe Harris, Tripp County; Kayla Fischer, Day County; Julia Ebbinga, Turner County; Sydney Hoffman, McCook County; Jayna Sanborn, McPherson County; Danika Gordon, Butte/Lawrence County; Bailey Feistner, Sanborn County; Hailie Stuck, Spink County and Alisha McMartin, Turner County. This month the State 4-H Ambassadors will share ideas for the customized action plan they will develop together with Erickson or Risner. This action plan will outline leadership milestones they hope to achieve and 4-H activities they will take a leadership role in. During the school-year, the State 4-H Ambassadors will have an opportunity to attend a leadership workshop developed specifically for them. "The 4-H Ambassador program is another example of how 4-H allows South Dakota youth to explore passions and interests," Risner said. To learn more about the State 4-H Ambassador program, contact your local SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor. A complete listing can be found at iGrow under the Field Staff icon. Art rusch State Senate Paid for by: Rusch for Senate 605-595-7809 • Vermillion, SD W.H. Over Fall Festival Sunday, October 28th, 2018 • Pumpkin carving starts at 2:00 PM in the Discovery Room • Pumpkins provided or bring your own • Soup and Pie Supper begins at 5:30 PM in Sletwold Hall • Entertainment by Bruce & Cindy Gray Free Will offering • Public Invited Sponsored by the Friends of the Museum Help Us Fight Hunger! Beta Alpha Psi Food Drive Donation pick up will be on Tuesday, October 30th from 4-7p.m. Please have food set out by 4 p.m. Items Needed Most: Cash Personal Care Items Canned Meat & Fish Canned Chili & Beans Peanut Butter & Jelly Macaroni & Cheese Rice & Rice Mixes Spaghetti Sauce Flour Noodles Canned Soup Canned Fruit Granola Bars Pancake Mix Cold Cereal Condiments Please make sure all items are non-perishable. 100% of proceeds go to the Vermillion Food Pantry. Thank you for your donation!