Article Body
Gov. Dennis Daugaard
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, S.D. 57501
605-773-3212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 19, 2014
CONTACT: Tony Venhuizen or Kelsey Pritchard at 605-773-3212
Five More Towns Create Statehood Celebration
Committees
PIERRE, S.D. – Five new local 125th statehood birthday committees have organized in Saint Onge, Freeman, Baltic, Bowdle and Waubay to promote state and local history.
The Saint Onge History Picnic will be held on June 21. People are asked to bring old photographs and artifacts, and to come share their memories for the compilation of a local history book, “St. Onge, South Dakota, History and Folklore Forgotten or Never Known.” Historical items will be returned. Organizers hope the book will be a source of pride for today’s residents and a give a sense of place to future generations.
The Freeman Celebration Committee is incorporating the 125th anniversary of statehood theme into the biannual Freeman Academy Quiltfest and annual Ribs at the Ranch on June 27 and 28. The state’s125th birthday will also be a part of the Fourth of July Celebration on July 6 and the Freeman High School homecoming in the fall. Plans are also underway for an “Old-Fashioned Saturday Night” in Freeman. Geocaching sites are being established to highlight historic locations in Freeman. Any funds raised will be used for street beautification projects such as planting flowers and trees.
The Heritage Hall Museum and Archives is also coordinating a special outreach to area schools to encourage student museum tours. More than 20,000 items on display depict the daily lives of early German-Russian immigrants.
The Baltic Statehood Celebration Committee and many local residents are creating Baltic River Park Days and hope the event will become an annual celebration. On July 18 through July 20, there will be balloon releases, kickball games, inflatables and face painting for kids. Other activities for the whole family include a picnic, free family movie, 1K and 5K runs, a parade, adult kickball, rubber duck race, tug of war competition, bean bag tournament, a street dance and many other activities. Visit www.balticclub.wix.com/riverpark for more information.
Funds raised at Baltic River Park Days will be used to buy the site of the Saint Olaf Roller Mill, erect an historical marker, build an historical information gazebo and create a walking trail.
On July 18 to July 20, the Waubay Community Funfest Celebration Committee is adding the South Dakota 125th birthday theme to their parade. The Waubay Public Library will be promoting local history and there will also be an antique car show, stained glass window unveiling, kids’ games, barrel train rides, petting zoo, kickball tournament, inflatables, 4-wheel poker run, toilet bowl races, country bingo and a tractor show. Money raised will be used for new playground equipment.
On Aug. 2, the Bowdle Community Club’s Celebration Committee is hosting “An Old Fashioned Night in Bowdle” with a patriotic parade, pioneer costumes, an ice cream social, horseshoes and other games, barber shop quartet performances, reader’s theatre and many other activities. Money raised will be used to help in the relocation of the local library and museum.
Information about creating a local committee is available at http://125.sd.gov under the “Celebration Communities” tab.
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