June 20, 2017 • Page 8 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com First WNV Case Of Year Reported In Davison County PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Health reminds South Dakotans to get in the habit of using mosquito repellent as the state’s first human West Nile virus (WNV) case of the year has been detected in Davison County in the 60-69 age group. “Most people who contract West Nile virus, about 70-80 percent, don’t get sick but those who do can be severely ill,” said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, state epidemiologist for the department. “While typical symptoms include fever, headache, body aches and rash, in severe cases WNV can invade the brain and spinal cord leading to stiff neck, confusion, paralysis, coma and even death.” Kightlinger said South Dakota has a disproportionately high number of WNV cases and he encouraged residents to reduce their risk with the following precautions: • Apply mosquito repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535) to clothes and exposed skin. Limit exposure by wearing pants and long sleeves in the evening. • Limit time outdoors from dusk to dawn when Culex mosquitoes, the primary carrier of WNV in South Dakota, are most active. • Get rid of standing water that gives mosquitoes a place to breed. Regularly change water in bird baths, outside pet dishes, and drain water from flower pots and garden containers. • Support local mosquito control efforts. These precautions are especially important for people at high risk for WNV – those over 50, pregnant women, transplant patients, individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure, and those with a history of alcohol abuse. People with severe or unusual headaches should see their physicians. Since its first human WNV case in 2002, the state has reported 2,359 human cases, including 745 hospitalizations and 38 deaths. Every county has reported cases. Visit the department’s website at westnile.sd.gov for more information about WNV. Preventing and controlling infectious disease is one objective of the Department of Health’s 2015-2020 strategic plan, Being A Dad Means You’re Part Of A Team By Sen. John Thune No one ever said that being a dad was easy. I don’t think it’s supposed to be either. From my perspective, being a father to Brittany and Larissa is probably both the toughest and most rewarding job I’ve ever had. And it’s been worth every single minute, which now looking back, they all seem to have flown past me and Kimberley over the years. The only thing more important to me than being a father is that I’m the best one I can be – that I show up, listen, and love my kids unconditionally. I learned a lot about what it takes to be great dad by watching my own father. In fact, it’s safe to say that I wouldn’t be the man and father I am today without his wisdom, strength, and tenacity to always put his family Find it here! first. He was a busy guy, just like everyone else in Murdo who worked hard to raise a family and make ends meet. But he was never too busy to spend time with us kids. He was always up for throwing a ball back and forth in our yard, taking us fishing, and attending our afterschool sporting events. He even put a basketball hoop up in the backyard. Sure, it was a dirt court, but there was a light above the hoop, which meant we could shoot baskets well after the sun went down. Sports was kind of a metaphor for how we lived our lives. Dad and mom were the coaches, and my siblings and I were all on the team. My parents instilled in us the importance of being a part of that team and that you should always have your teammates’ backs. I remember my dad, in particular, was always willing to have those tough down-by-five, get-yourhead-in-the-game-type chats with us, but no matter the outcome, he was always proud of what we’d achieved. He still is today. When I became a “coach” to Brittany and Larissa and my dad took a seat in the bleachers, I relied on many of his parenting techniques. Throughout our journey, Kimberly, Brittany, Larissa, and I have had a lot of good days together – and a few tough ones every now and then. But looking back, I only hope that I’ve made my girls half as proud of me as I am of the women they’ve become. Now that Brittany and Larissa are both mothers, I’ve retired myself to the bleachers with my dad. We’re still part of the game, don’t get me wrong. But rather than holding a clipboard and whistle, we’ll be snacking on popcorn as we cheer and support our team, which with God’s blessing has continued to grow over the years. With Father’s Day right around the corner, I want to wish the happiest of Father’s Days to my dad Harold, my sons-in-law Luke and Scott, and all of the other dads across South Dakota who, as President Reagan once said, “serve as models and guides for their sons and daughters and help to pass on to the next generation the heritage of our civilization Auctions, Entertainment, Baby Goods, Furniture, Toys, Antiques, Electronics, Cars, Homes For Sale/Rent and MORE!!! MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y If you read this you know... AUCTIONS advertising pays! Call the Missouri Valley Shopper at 665-5884 or stop by to place your ad today! 319 Walnut St. • Yankton MV Shopper Temporary Grant Program Offers MV Shopper $1,500 M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y Registered Angus Bulls For Sale Bred for calving ease & growth. Performance tested, guaranteed. Out of top bloodlines in the Angus breed. Call: Hauger’s Stock Farms IRENE, SOUTH DAKOTA Steven: 605.263.3774 M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y to First-Time Buyers South Dakota Housing and Development Authority has released a new but temporary grant program that offers $1,500 towards first-time buyers’ closing costs. Qualifying buyers need to make less than 80% of the Area Median Income for their county and be using an SDHDA conventional mortgage as a part of their first-time buyer program. These new grant funds may be used in addition to SDHDA’s Fixed Rate Plus gift program. Participating loans must be closed on or before December 31st, 2017.. “This is a great program for new buyers,” says Sylvia Selgestad, counselor with the Center for Financial Resources (CFR). “These funds could, in effect, reduce out of pocket closing costs, increase down payment, or even be used to buy down the interest rate on the mortgage, saving the buyers money in the long run. And as a grant, it’s free money.” In addition to the above requirements, buyers must also complete free home buyer education and receive the HERO Certificate. As a HERO partner, CFR offers monthly classes in person and by video conference or one-on-one classes with CFR counselors. Class schedules and registration information are available on their website at www.LssSD.org. Lutheran Social Services is a private non-profit social service agency. Last year, 52,001 lives were touched through a variety of services offered through LSS statewide. Core services offered by LSS include adoption, pregnancy counseling, foster care, kinship services, childcare & education, disaster response, mental health counseling, Fatherhood & Re-entry Services, Center for Financial Resources, residential services for children & youth, alternatives to detention, independent living services for young adults, mentoring, Better Together and Center for New LOCATED: 821 8th Street (Main Street), Spring?eld, SD Americans. LSS serves people of all ages, races, faiths and Look back at last week’s issue for complete information economic levels with profeson the Real Estate as well as the personal property items sional, confidential and affordable services. LSS services are licensed by the State of South Peterson Auctioneers Dakota and accredited by the Terms: Cash or check accompanied by photo ID Glen Peterson, RE #234 Council on Accreditation. LSS www.petersonauctioneers.com Not Responsible for Accidents Lee Wittmeier - Tyndall, SD is a United Way agency. Cody Peterson - Avon, SD Spring?eld Hardware Going out of Business AUCTION Thursday, June 22 -- 10 a.m. Jared Jelsma, Owner