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Deuel Area Development & Deuel School will hold a Safe Routes to School exploratory meeting on Tuesday, December 8th at 10am in the school’s Administrative Conference Room. Angela Olson, coordinator of South Dakota Safe Routes to School Program will provide an introduction to the program, explain the process, and discuss the possibility for Safe Routes to School project in Clear Lake.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a federal, state and local effort to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school – and to make walking and bicycling to school safe and appealing. The program provides funding opportunities for schools and communities to undertake educational and promotional projects that encourage walking and biking options, as well as small scale infrastructure projects that fill gaps in the existing bicycle and pedestrian system. Projects are 100 percent federally funded, does not require a local match, and is a reimbursement grant program.
Any individuals interested in participating and assisting with this potential project are encouraged to attend the meeting on December 8th.
Reminder that tonight we will have a meeting to discuss the potential for a bike path in Clear Lake. Anyone interested 
in participating in bike path project should attend!
5:30pm @ Clear Lake City Building
Here’s what we will discuss:
- Interest in project
- Trail route
- Trail funding
- Application requirements & process
Buffalo Ridge in Gary just hosted its first of what will become an annual hunting and fishing championship tournament. 
And it’s not just any old fishin’ tourney… this one airs on Fox Sports North news.
The tournament, called “Fins & Feathers Outdoor Challenge” is a yearly event put on by Walleye Classics, which is sponsored by Warrior Boats. The company’s owner, Corey Bohn is originally from the Canby area, and wanted to introduce Deuel County as a new sports haven to fishers and hunters around the country.
The teams competing in the Buffalo Ridge Fins & Feathers Outdoor Challenge were the top contestants from the 2009 Alexandria Chain of Lakes Spring Walleye Classic and the Lake Minnewaska Fall Walleye Classic. Teams with the lowest cumulative point totals from these two tournaments went on to this final tournament held in Deuel County. With no pre-fishing or hunting allowed, the teams were greeted with snow as they fished at Lake Cochrane on Friday! They hunted at Dakota Ridge Hunting Preserve in Clear Lake on Saturday, and with all the sunshine, I’m sure it was a better day. Competitors compete on both individual and team levels, and the winners are indisputably top notch all-around outdoorsmen.
The show will be aired in the 1st Quarter 2010 on Fox Sports North to over 5 million viewer households, and will likely be re-aired in August or September 2010 as well. So, look out world… here comes Deuel County, SD!!
Check out the Walleye Classics website for more info.
Sponsors for the 2009 Buffalo Ridge Resort Fins & Feathers Outdoor Challenge include: Buffalo Ridge Resort, Prairie View Golf Course, Dakota Ridge Hunting Preserve, and Deuel National Bank. Associate sponsors include: South Dakota Pheasant Hunts & Gate City Lodging, Warrior Boats, LakeMaster, Excellent Multimedia, the Walleye Classic Tournament Series, and Minnkota Outdoors TV.
It was a great weekend in Gary with this year’s Cattle Drive. They came through Gary at about 11am after a delay due to separating the bulls… darn bulls. 
Click on the photos at the left of this page (DADI Photos) to connect to Flikr and view more Cattle Drive photos.
Things are really hoppin’ in Gary these days… and the annual Cattle Drive will be here before we know it. Mark your calendars for October 31st… around 10am is when the herd of cattle, cowgirls, and cowboys will be coming down Gary’s Main Street. It’s quite an awesome site to see. Warm up after the event at the Historical Association’s Soup and Bake Sale held at 12 noon at the Gary Firehall.
Well I’m very happy to report that Oktoberfest was a success, and an enjoyable afternoon / evening spent by many Deuel area residents. Even attracted Watertown’s Public Opinion writer Joe O’Sullivan to the 1st annual event, and he wrote a great article about the event which appeared in Monday’s edition of the Public Opinion.
The food was great, and the entertainment fabulous. After the Callens Family performance, the family stayed around and joined in with another musician who was also attending the event, Nick Lemme, a Minneapolis resident, who played the mandolin. Lemme is a member of the Spaghetti Western String Company, an eclectic band of very talented musicians. Together the musicians had a ‘jam session’ where they played off-the-cuff, swapping songs, impromptu. It sounded like they had played together for years. It was relaxed atmosphere and really enjoyable to hear such talented musicians do what they do best… jam 
The kids activities were another highlight of the evening. A kiddie pool full of corn was bustling with activity the whole 
afternoon as many a kid dug to find a few hidden penny treasures. Some passersby even dropped in a few quarters and nickels, which as you can imagine, brought the excitement to a whole new level. The apples on a string game was also a great hit and nearly had me enticed to give it a go, should it not have required a back bend to reach the level of the apples! Life as a kid is so good…
A fire on the Buffalo Ridge patio was blazing all afternoon, keeping people warm as they huddled together, sipped german beer, and had lots of laughs.
Thanks to all who supported our 1st Annual Gary Oktoberfest!
What did you think of the event? If you have any comments or suggestions for next year, please don’t be shy, and let us know!
News alert!… The Gary Oktoberfest will now include POLKA DANCE LESSONS!!
Gary’s 1st Annual Oktoberfest starts at 2pm this Saturday Oct 17th, and dance lessons will run from 2:00 – 2:45pm. The Callens Family will follow at 3 & 5pm. Free will donation will be accepted for both the dance lessons, and the Callens Family performance.
Dancing was part of our culture in the midwest for many years. Somehow we’ve gotten away from it… and it’s time to bring it back in style! So whether you’ve never danced before, are feeling a little rusty, want to polish your steps, or just show the rest of us your stuff, come on out!! All levels encouraged to particiapte. During our meeting series held at the Buffalo Ridge (Gary Blind School), there were many people that expressed an interested in social dance in Deuel County. So we know you’re out there! Don’t be shy… it will be a great fun!
Are you planning on coming to Oktoberfest?? Let’s see your vote!
Hey all you out there… the Harvest Moon Festival is on the horizon! Mark October 24th on your calendar and plan to enjoy the day at the Harvest Moon Festival soaking in local crafts, vendors, craft projects and demonstrations, protraits, and bake sale delectables. Consession stand items will also be available throughout the event.
So get in touch with your creative side, learn about and see the work and products of many Deuel area home based businesses, and join the community at the Harvest Moon Festival!
Click here to download the poster: Harvest Moon Festival poster
Ok everyone, get your polka boots off the shelf… cause it’s time to put ‘em to good use! Gary Community Club and Deuel Area Development would like to announce the 1st Annual Gary Oktoberfest!!
The Callens Family music will be the feature of the event, and there’s lots of fun activities for everyone. Click here to download the flyer: Oktoberfest Poster.
- DATE: Saturday, October 17th
- TIME: 2pm till ??
- LOCATION: Buffalo Ridge Resort in Gary
Even if you’re not a polka dancer, this event is for you! Here’s a list of the night’s activities.
- The Callens Family polka music (performing at 3 & 5pm, free will donation)
- German food and beer (brats, hot dogs, saurkraut, potato soup, chips, dessert, keg rootbeer, and german and regular beer)
- Carriage & hayrides
- Beer stein relays
- Kids activities (bean bags, pumpkin decorating, apples on a string, corn search)
- Bean bags
- Jack-o-lantern contest (bring your pre-carved jack-o-lantern, and the best one wins!)
Mark your calendars, and bring your friends and family because it’s going to be a great event!
Kids Activites: apples on a string
Kids Activities: pumpkin painting
Many of you remember the early meetings DADi had at the blind school. The second of these meetings was to identify specific activities and community events that could utilize the Buffalo Ridge property… and one of the many ideas that I really liked was the idea of ’seasonal fests.’ So this Gary Oktoberfest is the 1st follow through with that idea. We hope to continue enhancing quality of life in these ways… so please join us on the 17th and start thinking of some neat ideas for a ‘Winterfest’!
Here in Deuel County, we are blessed with a few very gorgeous lakes. They are spread throughout the county, but one of the most beautiful is located right in the county seat. Clear Lake is truly stunning, but most of its beauty stays unnoticed. A local organization has done something to make our lake more practical for recreation so more of our citizens in Deuel County realize what a treasure we have.
The Deuel County Lions Club has recently organized the construction of a picnic shelter at Ulven Park out at the lake. It seems as if the shelter has risen from the ground overnight, thanks to the efficient work of all those involved. The picnic shelter is truly an asset to the park, as well as the community. The project is said to be finished sometime later today! (August 4th).
Everyone may utilize the shelter. Not only will you have somewhere to have a picnic with your family on a nice evening, but campers will be even more attracted to the park, especially during the Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo. This shelter is truthfully a benefit to our lake and our community. Drive around the lake and see the progress with your own eyes!
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