Becky
FAMILY IS EVERYTHING Jenkins
“They make you feel like you are getting to see an old friend. It’s awesome!”
- Chantel J.
The Team at Orchard Meadows Family Dental & Denture Clinic would like to thank everyone for voting us the Best Dental Facility in the Black Hills for the second year in a row, and Dr. Mark Garner the Best Dentist for the third straight year! You also voted us the Best Small Company to Work For, and for that we are truly grateful. Since 2006, we have provided exceptional dental care to the families of the Black Hills. Call today and see for yourself what it’s like to be a part of our family. You’ll even get a FRESH BAKED COOKIE after your visit!
From left to right: Dr. Tyler Juhlin, Dr. Katie Whittaker, Dr. Mark Garner, Dr. Emily Hvezda, and Dr. Mason Hericks
Patty Stover 605-390-2617 | patty@michelscom.com
Teresa Nestor 605-484-0918 | teresa@michelscom.com
Ashley Carrison, Melissa Chinn
team of
Cathie Ericson,Dorothy Rosby, Elizabeth Freer, Lauren Johnson, Maggie Jean Wince, Michaela Feldmann, Michelle Loobey-Gertsch, Molly Barari
Margi Culhane 605-940-4724 | margi@michelscom.com
Cory Johnson 605-951-3567 | cory@michelscom.com
Kevin Culhane 605-661-8509 | kevin@michelscom.com
Hanna Michels 605-760-4269 | hanna@michelscom.com
We’ve always believed that dining should be a social occasion, a time when friends, family, and coworkers can enjoy great conversation over a great meal.
We believe in supporting our local artisans and staying connected to our Black Hills community. At a time when the area is growing and expanding, we’re striving to keep the flavor of the region alive.
Inspired by the history of this area, both the aesthetics of the building and the diversity of the menu are true to our local roots, something no nationwide franchise can duplicate. Certainly, there are other steakhouses out there, but none like ours.
By Molly Barari
F amily is Everything BECKY JENKINS
Growing up in a family-owned business, Becky Jenkins never imagined herself taking over but the thought of being able to continue the legacy was always in the back of her head. Becky has worked at WaterTree / The Pool and Spa Center in several capacities since she was in high school.
The business has been in her family for three generations, so she’s done everything from testing water to customer service to graphic design and marketing. Becky is proud to have been born and raised in Rapid City, and she graduated from St. Thomas More High School in 2001.
“I enjoyed going to a smaller school where everyone knew each other,” she says.
Family is special to Becky. She’s always been close to her parents, Lori and Gary, and her older sister, Stacy. She had an extra special bond with her grandparents on both sides, who she describes as her role models growing up.
Her grandparents on her dad’s side, Darrell “Robbie” and Elizabeth “Bea” Robinson, moved to Rapid City in the early 1950s and ran the family business while raising four children. (WaterTree started as Culligan Water Conditioning Inc. in 1939, with Robbie and Bea taking it over in 1954).
“My grandpa and grandma both served in the Navy during World War II, and then they worked hard to build a business,” says Becky. “I always admired how hard they worked together and raised a family.” She also admired her grandparents on her mom’s side, James—a dentist— and Karen Cunningham, who raised 6 children.
Since all her grandparents lived nearby, Becky remembers many family dinners and celebrations throughout the years. These gatherings were filled with warmth, joy and love.
“I have coffee every Tuesday with my grandma and grandpa, Mrs. and Dr. Cunningham,” says Becky. Wiping away a tear, she shared that her grandpa had been in hospice care and just passed away right before her Black Hills Lifestyle interview. “I’m going to miss him so much.”
The fact that Becky decided to do the interview anyway shows how strong she is. Everyone has a story to tell, and Becky is ready to tell hers.
“I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the influence of my family,” she says. “They are a huge part of my life, and support. I’m grateful for that.”
Though Becky is a South Dakota girl at heart, she ventured to Lincoln, Nebraska for college and graduated with a graphic design degree from Southeast Community College.
Photos left to right: Becky with her dad and sister in 1985; Becky with Grandma Robinson when she was 10 years old in 4th grade at Cleghorn Canyon School; Growing up swimmingher dad put a pool in at their house so they spent a lot of time swimming as kids
Photos by Open Spaces Photography
WATERtree, with our 35 employees, is like a big family.
“I appreciate how close we are, and all of our customers who also feel like family.”
Afterward, she worked for a design firm in Rapid City for a short time. Then her dad, Gary, made the decision to leave the corporate water company and transition into WaterTree. He needed someone to rebrand the business, and Becky was the perfect candidate considering her graphic design background.
Now, Becky runs the business with her husband Kirk and business partner Aaron Nease. In this new generation of the business, they want to continue with the family values WaterTree has grown with. “We have several employees with family members that work in the Company. Being able to create that culture in a family business with other families is very rewarding.”
Kirk started working at WaterTree in 2009, and the two had instant chemistry. “It was love at first sight. Kirk says he saw me and knew he’d marry me, and I had butterflies in my stomach,” recalls Becky with a grin. Becky says Kirk’s personality complements hers. “He’s more Type A, and I can be more off the tracks. He balances me!”
The couple honeymooned in Denver, where they went skydiving for the first time. “We wanted to do something that was fun and memorable,” she says. “Skydiving was terrifying, but it was amazing and an unexpectedly peaceful experience!” To celebrate their first wedding anniversary, Becky and Kirk went skydiving again in Sedona, Arizona.
Now, Becky and Kirk share two daughters. Ruby, 10 years old, is involved in soccer and basketball. Sloane is 7 years old and involved in soccer and gymnastics. Both girls attend school at St. Elizabeth Seton.
The family enjoys golfing together at Hart Ranch, and camping at Custer State Park. They also spend time hiking with their dog, Jupiter.
If Becky has an afternoon to herself, which is rare, she likes to bake something new, or take a walk with their dog. “So much of our time right now is focused on our children, we only get so much time with them and I wouldn’t want it any other way!” she says with a smile.
Travel has been a theme in Becky’s life. She traveled to England with her aunt when she was about 20. She also participated in an adult exchange program that took her to Japan, where she stayed with a family and immersed herself in the culture. Becky says her favorite place she’s traveled is Bora Bora, calling it incredibly beautiful.
“Right now, we’re busy running a business and raising kids, but in retirement, I’d like to travel more.” Becky says she is grateful for her life in Rapid City, where she values the simple things.
Becky and her family
Photos left to right: Husband Kirk with daughters while camping in Custer State Park; Becky and Kirk in the Dominican Republic
MORE ABOUT Becky Jenkins
She is a hot sauce collector, and likes to try new hot sauces whenever she can.
Becky calls her husband “an amazing” cook, one of the ways he won her heart.
She’s been called ‘sunshine’ because her smile can light up the room.
“Watching my kids grow into little humans and seeing them be good people out in the world” is the most rewarding part of being a mom to Becky.
Becky’s favorite breed of dog is a bassador (a Basset Hound and Labrador Retriever mix) “We have had 2 we found at rescue places, there aren’t too many around but I do know we will find another someday! Those long ears are irresistible!”
6 TIPS TO HELP YOU SAVE ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING
By Cathie Ericson
Back to school shopping is a cherished rite of passage that signals the start of new adventures. While picking out fresh notebooks, trendy clothing and the new must-have tech is exciting, it can also put a significant dent in the family budget as lists expand (and expand!). If you’re looking for savings, you’re not alone: A survey from the National Retail Federation finds that 68 percent of consumers intend to organize their shopping around big retail sales events this summer.
That’s smart—but it’s not the only way to save. Try out these tips to help you get the most bang for your buck on back to school shopping.
1. SHOP YOUR HOME FIRST
Before you put anything on your back to school shopping list, check your own closets, desk drawers and discarded backpacks—you might have more on hand than you remember. I mean, why buy scissors every year? Another potential goldmine might be extra office supplies that you accumulated while working remotely, which you can redirect to the classroom.
Then, move on to clothes. Have your children stage a fashion show with everything in their closets so you can see whether those jeans they barely wore still fit. While you don’t want to buy items you don’t need, you also don’t want to find out you need a whole new fall wardrobe just after a fantastic sale ends.
2. SCOUR OFTEN FOR DISCOUNTS
By signing up for your favorite retailers’ emails, you’ll get alerts for upcoming sales so you can plan accordingly. (To avoid inbox overload, filter them into one folder you can quickly search by brand. Or create a free email account you use solely for promotional emails.) If you’re
offered a sign-up bonus, save it for a larger purchase. Scrolling through brands’ social media accounts will also keep you updated on the latest discounts and promotions or flash sales. You also might consider signing up for text alerts that can yield onthe-spot savings. If you’re planning to shop online, consider adding a browser extension or app such as PayPal’s Honey or CouponCabin’s Sidekick that can automatically scan for coupon codes.
Even if you prefer making your purchases at a brickand-mortar location, take a second to compare the cost to what you see online. Some items might be priced differently on the brand’s various channels, and many stores will also price match.
3. GET PAID TO SHOP
If you’re going to be spending money anyway, you might as well be rewarded for it. On cash-back shopping portals such as Ibotta or Rakuten, you can choose the brands you’re interested in and shop as you normally would. You’ll automatically earn rebates
that you can redeem for cash or gift cards. Other apps like Fetch allow you to earn points you can redeem for gift cards by scanning receipts.
Many stores also offer rewards in the form of future discounts when you shop during specified time periods. Amass the dividends and set a reminder to redeem them in the future.
4. TIME YOUR PURCHASES CAREFULLY
Most retailers are pulling out all the stops to lure shoppers in, so significant savings are likely. But you need to be strategic about when you click “purchase;” sites like CamelCamelCamel track the price history of an item to identify the ideal time to buy, helping to ensure you don’t miss a big drop.
Once school starts, there are also often drastic price reductions. By then, you’ll know more clearly what you actually need, and you can make sure that your kids’ “must-buy” items are on trend among their friends.
Save all your receipts as some stores may make a price adjustment if the item you bought eventually goes on sale within a certain time limit. If you do need to make a return, watch the dates carefully: Many retailers have dramatically tightened their policies on this practice, such as reducing the eligible time frame to 30 days from the purchase date.
5. COMBINE YOUR EFFORTS
Buying in bulk can be a great way to save. But while you probably don’t need a huge quantity of glue sticks or notebooks, other families will also need a few, and you can all split the savings.
Another option is to swap gently used items that your kids no longer need, such as sports equipment from a long-abandoned activity, a class-specific graphing calculator, outgrown school uniforms, or other clothes and gear, in exchange for these extra items you’ll need. One person’s post-clarinet-playing era trash might be your new-musicloving-child’s treasure.
6. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
On that note, it’s pretty common for a kid to go all-in on an activity and then abandon it just as swiftly. So before investing in a musical instrument or hockey skates, ask if you can borrow from the school or a sponsoring facility first—or perhaps consider renting what you need for a trial period. This will also help your child figure out which equipment features they like or dislike before you purchase a personal item.
If the activity comes with accompanying fees, sign up for the minimum number of hours at first. That way, you won’t have spent too much money on your would-be ballerina—who is now set on being a star softball pitcher—before the semester of expensive dance classes is over.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
A financial advisor can be a really helpful resource as you put together a monthly budget and financial plan. A Northwestern Mutual financial advisor can help you define what’s important to you and build a plan that helps you get what you want. It all starts with a good financial plan. Your monthly budget can then help keep your financial plan on track.
Matthew A. Culhane, RICP Managing Director
909 Saint Joseph Street Suite 202 Rapid City, SD 57701
matt.culhane@nm.com mattculhane.nm.com 605.999.9367
for kids
What began nine years ago as a friendly bet between two colleagues about “doing some sort of fundraiser” has evolved into an annual event that has raised thousands to help children with cancer and their families in South Dakota. This year’s Strike Out Cancer for Kids bowling party on September 29 at Meadowood Lanes in Rapid City is again being supported by a non-profit foundation called Kamryn Kares, run by Kristy and Dustin Schumacher and their son, Devon, in honor of their late daughter, Kamryn.
“Ironically, I had met their beautiful little girl, Kamryn, at a cancer awareness fundraiser when I worked at a finance company and made that original bet with another financial adviser,” says Spencer Gossel, the event coordinator. “He said that for every $100 I raised, he’d run a mile. And he’s not a runner.” Spencer wanted him to run in a tutu, and that’s when the first event ‘Cancer Can Kiss My Tu-Tu’ 5K was born, with over 350 participants and raising over $16K. At that point Kamryn had passed, and my friend ran from Rapid City to where she was buried in Deadwood. He ran to her grave.”
Kamryn was only 22 months old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor called DIPG.
“It is a form of cancer that is only diagnosed in children, and nobody survives DIPG,” Kamryn’s mom Kristy says. “It was terminal upon diagnosis. Most kids live about nine months, and Kamryn lived for eleven.”
Kristy says Kamryn was thriving up until that point when she was diagnosed. “She was really spunky, very sassy, and she ruled the roost here. She was super smart and loved to learn everything,” Kristy says. “She knew colors and could count to 20. Mickey Mouse was her favorite character, and she loved bubbles more than anything.”
When Kamryn started vomiting at random times, or falling unexpectedly, the family didn’t put those things together at first. “Once we narrowed down her symptoms and they were happening more frequently, Kamryn’s doctor ordered an MRI. She went through radiation and chemo and kept it at bay all those months, but then Kamryn went downhill really fast.”
Kristy says when their son, Devon, was young, he was taught the ‘I love you’ hand gesture with a raised index finger and pinky and an extended thumb. “Devon taught it to Kamryn, but she could never quite grasp it,” Kristy says. “She did this cute little gesture instead that looks nothing like the ‘I love you’ sign. It was just her personal gesture that she did to everyone to say I love you. Even when she could no longer speak or even move, she could still put her fingers in that position. Visitors would peek in and tell her they loved her, and she would carefully make that gesture. Even when she felt like crap and hurt so badly, she’d let other people know that she loved them.”
After Kamryn passed away, Amy, Kristy’s best friend from kindergarten came up with the idea for the Kamryn Kares Foundation.
“It’s a foundation to share Kamryn’s love and to help little kids who are fighting big battles. We send canvas totes that are screen-printed with the little kiddo’s name and our Kamryn Kares logo, and we fill the totes with everything that means a lot to that child.
There is a bag request form on our website at kamrynkares.org that asks things like what their favorite color, hobby, character, or sports team is and anything specific to the child. We try to fill the bag with those things.”
Kamrynkares.org has been supporting kids across America for seven years now for any battle, whether trauma, illness, congenital issues, or whatever the need is. “We like to be careful and honor who the kiddos are,” Kristy says.
Join the Schumacher family at this year’s Strike Out Cancer Decades Party. After coordinating different events two times a year, in 2019 Spencer decided to retire the runs and do a bowling event every September for Child Cancer Awareness Month. “The weather cooperates better in South Dakota with bowling inside,” Spencer says. “Meadowood Lanes in Rapid City is a great partner, and they feature the names of local kids with cancer as well as our sponsors above every lane throughout September.”
Join a team and come dressed up in your favorite decade on Sunday, September 29, from 11 am to 1 pm or 2 pm to 4 pm. Company sponsorships are available for $500, and team registration is $100 for a team of four and includes shoes, two games of bowling, and chances at prizes, including best dressed, highest scoring, and lowest scoring teams. Proceeds go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a nationwide foundation dedicated to providing financial assistance to help families with travel and treatment, whether hotel stays, gas, or medical expenses.
Strike Out Cancer for Kids has helped many local families, including Asher who’s now in remission and one Spearfish boy who collects pop tabs to recycle to benefit cancer patient funding and the Ronald McDonald house. “He’s made it his mission to be known as the pop tab kid, not the cancer kid. We do a big donation at the bowling event from collecting the pop tabs.”
For information or to register, find Strike Out Cancer Decades Party on Facebook or call Spencer at 605-939-8231.
A Golden Night of HEART, PURPOSE & PASSION
By Michele Loobey-Gertsch
Black Hills Works Foundation is delighted to host our annual recognition gala on October 18, 2024!
At the 24 Karat Gold Extravaganza, we will recognize 24 very special honorees – your friends, neighbors, volunteers, and colleagues – who exemplify remarkable journeys of hope, determination, and success. Each one strives to live and embrace life to the fullest in their own unique ways.
For 40 years, the Black Hills Works Foundation has been celebrating the potential of people through our annual recognition galas by recognizing individual stories of growth and success of the people we support.
For many of our participants, being recognized at our annual gala is a lifetime goal. It is a privilege for the Foundation staff who get to share the announcements with those who will be honored. Seeing their joy and excitement is one of the best parts of preparing for this event.
“This is so cool,” exclaimed Jenny Molitor when she was told she would be honored this year. “When I was a kid, my teachers and classmates told me over and over that I couldn’t do it, and here I am, proving them wrong!”
What happens following the announcement is just as exciting. Honorees have a real sense of pride and accomplishment as they are interviewed and share their personal story. Not many of us will experience being on a billboard during our lives, but each honoree is featured on a digital billboard in Rapid City for an entire month.
Having their story shared is just the start! The joy and excitement that happens the night of the actual event is priceless. Each special guest has a seat of honor and is recognized in numerous ways throughout the evening as they celebrate this special night with friends, family, the amazing Black Hills Works staff, sponsors, and donors who are part of the evening.
It takes many hands and hearts of support to ensure that Black Hills Works continues to be a history maker in the lives of adults with disabilities. For 66 years, our local business community, faithful donors, dedicated volunteers, committed parents, and hardworking staff have generously given of their time and resources to continue our mission of “creating a community where everyone participates to achieve a life of full potential.”
“I appreciate everybody! I appreciate them doing the stuff they do for me,” Peggy Steensgaard shared when she was one of the honored guests in 2023. “And donors out there, I’m happy that you helped me out when I needed it. I fell and I needed help, and I got help.”
Black Hills Works Foundation is grateful to the generous financial support from our valued community business partners who help to make the 24 Karat Gold Extravaganza a truly golden night! In 2023, we introduced a
new level of sponsorship, and are delighted that RBC Wealth Management has chosen to be our Premier Sponsor for the second year in a row!
Black Hills Energy, Bluepeak, Scull Construction, Security First Bank, TruStage, and West River Electric are all, once again, Red-Carpet sponsors! Their financial support makes a major impact, as does the personal connection they make with the honorees. Each Red-Carpet sponsor hosts a special “Meet and Greet” event for their designated honorees in the months leading up to the event. The magic that takes place during those experiences creates a truly meaningful experience for both the sponsor and the honorees.
Joelle Simpson, Miss South Dakota, will provide music during the meal. The artists of Suzie Cappa Art Center will create a colorful backdrop for our photo booth, and our raffle will add a little glitter to the festivities. Our silent auction will feature one of a kind experiences, centered around the theme of “Experience creates memories and memories make history.”
Like all the galas before, the 24 Karat Gold Extravaganza is a golden opportunity to create a special memory as you join hands with Black Hills Works Foundation to continue writing history that is filled with promise and possibilities for adults with disabilities in 2024 and beyond.
Our annual galas also provide a wonderful opportunity to revisit Black Hills Works’ history. At the 24 Karat Gold Extravaganza, we will commemorate the milestone of 66 years that Black Hills Works has been providing services in Rapid City to adults with disabilities from across the state and beyond.
The astounding progress that has taken place began in 1958, when a group of trailblazing parents charted a course that would write a bold new chapter filled with hope and possibilities for children born with disabilities. Rather than send their children to an institution where their lives would be limited and constrained, these parents chose a different path. By keeping their beloved children at home and joining with other families in the community, they provided education and resources that allowed each child to grow to their fullest potential. These parents probably never guessed that this simple beginning would grow into Black Hills Works, a nationally-recognized nonprofit that support almost 600 adults.
What began in 1958 continues today. Legislation, advocacy, and hard work in the last several decades have made the lifechanging resources and programming available for individuals with disabilities. As one of 20 community support providers located in South Dakota, Black Hills Works continues to support and encourage individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their highest potential.
Comprehensive programming ensures that participants reach their highest level of independence. Wrap around supports offer a seamless approach to life’s activities. Numerous residential options throughout the community are available, from neighborhood homes, apartments, shared living, and more. Almost 300 participants are productive workers who contribute to our local economy. We are thankful to the 40 valued employers in the area that provide participants the dignity of work. Transportation, assistive technology, recreational activities, and nursing support are also vital elements to programming provided.
Flutter Productions, our all-ability theater program, and Suzie Cappa Art Center and Gallery in downtown Rapid City, provide arts expression and community involvement. Unique Auto Grooming provides full-service auto detailing and cleaning while employing people supported.
Participants also give back to our community through volunteering. Don’t be surprised if you see them painting fire hydrants, or at places like Feeding South Dakota, Fork Real Café, the library, Meals on Wheels, Community Action, and more. The sense of inclusion that is provided in the Rapid City community and throughout the Black Hills adds to their ability to thrive and experience a meaningful life.
Black Hills Works is an innovative industry leader. Our organization constantly aspires for growth and is not afraid to try something new for the good of the people we support. Many families have relocated to the area from around the state and country because of our reputation and strong track record. Parents are eager for their loved ones with disabilities to receive the best possible resources available. Black Hills Works has been committed to this purpose from the beginning and continues to make new possibilities a reality. In 2023, we received the highest level of accreditation available by the Council on Quality and Leadership, an external accrediting body specific to agencies such as ours.
Won’t you join us in cheering on 24 amazing individuals and reflecting on 66 years of making history together? The Black Hills Works Foundation warmly invites you to join us at the 24 Karat Gold Extravaganza. The evening will be filled with heart, purpose, and passion. You will hear stories of lives that have been changed because of the courageous families who chose to write a history built on hope 66 years ago. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at www.blackhillsworks.org/gala.
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Kadence Cruse Photography
Two family members and I were discussing our interactions with virtual receptionists, automated attendants and all manner of other nonhuman voices we have in our lives these days. One said it doesn’t matter how you speak to them. It’s not like you’re going to hurt their feelings.
The other said that wasn’t the point. He said that if you’re a respectful person, you’ll be respectful whether you’re talking to a friend, a virtual receptionist or your azaleas. It’s a matter of habit. On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person who swears at poor, defenseless recordings you probably have it in you to swear at anybody.
I’m not sure who’s right, but I decided it’s best to live by the latter theory. Nowadays artificial voices sound so real that it’s easy to get confused. I’d hate to tell what I think is a robo caller that it’s a few gigs short of a full computer and then find out it’s a real person.
Besides that, I read that even calls with automated attendants are sometimes recorded for quality assurance purposes. I don’t want any temper tantrum of mine to be the entertainment at some company Christmas party.
The discussion made me think. If we practice speaking politely to automated attendants and all the other talking devices we come across, maybe we’ll be in better shape to speak politely to real people—even if they are as dumb as dirt when it comes to politics and other issues of the day.
BE NICE TO SIRI AND SHE’LL BE NICE TO YOU
By Dorothy Rosby
All sorts of devices including fitness devices, alarm clocks, vehicles and even gas pumps talk to us these days. Think of the practice we could get. And if we did mess up and mouth off to Alexa or our meat thermometer, there’d be no harm done.
With that in mind, I picked up my phone and said, “Hi Siri! Could you please tell me what the square root of 72 is?” She said, “That would be approximately 8.4852.” Instead of just going on with my business like I normally would, I said, “Thank you so much!” And Siri said, “You’re welcome.” She’s so nice when you treat her right.
Of course, I didn’t need to know the square root of 72. So then I felt bad for all the silly questions I’ve bothered her with since we met. “Does the early bird really get the worm?” “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” “How much wood can a woodchuck chuck?” and so on.
I said, “I’m sorry Siri.” And she said, “It’s all good.” Isn’t she sweet?
By the way, she answered that last question with, “as many cookies as Cookie Monster could master if Cookie Monster could master cooking cookies.” She’s not only patient and polite, she’s funny too.
Later that day I thanked the Google maps lady in my car for not saying “recalculating” all the time like my old GPS did. She didn’t say so, but I think she appreciated that I’d noticed.
Then the next time I was at my grocery store, I went to a self-checkout register. I prefer human clerks unless I’m buying something embarrassing like a National Enquirer or the sharing size of peanut M&Ms. It’s probably just a guilty conscience, but I always feel like the clerk knows I don’t intend to share.
I wasn’t buying M&Ms but I wanted to practice being respectful to the voice. On those rare occasions I’ve used self-checkout in the past, I’ve found that the voices never judge me for my purchases and that they’re helpful for those of us who are intimidated by technology. It occurred to me I’ve never thanked any of them for reminding me to take my receipt. I decided to make sure I did this time.
I followed the voice’s step-by-step instructions including pressing the button that said, “use my own bag.” Then I placed my canvas bag in the bagging space and tried to scan my first item. The voice said politely but firmly, “There is an unknown item in the bagging area.”
I gently reminded her, “That’s my bag, dear. You remember.”
The voice said, “Please remove the item from the bagging area.”
I told her it was my bag again, this time not so gently. She still wouldn’t let me scan my first item. Every time I tried she repeated, “Please remove the item from the bagging area.”
“Now you’re just being unreasonable,” I said irritably.
Other customers were starting to stare, so I grabbed my bag and stuffed it into my purse. Finally the voice let me scan my groceries. Despite my annoyance, I thanked her when she reminded me to take my receipt. I believe what I said was, “Thanks for nothing.”
LOCAL EXPERTS IN:
RADON is invisible, odorless and tasteless. It can only be detected by testing your home and has been linked to over 20,000 lung cancer-related deaths each year.
Dorothy Rosby recently carried on a lengthy conversation with the security system in a relative’s home.
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HISTORIC COLONIAL-STYLE HOME
This historic Colonialstyle home is located in the heart of West Blvd. It exudes timeless charm and modern comfort.
The upper level features 3 ensuite bedrooms, with 2 offering direct access to a serene rooftop patio, perfect for morning coffee or evening relaxation.
The main level boasts a formal dining room and an updated kitchen, ideal for entertaining. The living room is filled with natural light from large windows, and its cozy fireplace adds warmth to the space. A large nook provides the perfect spot for a home office.
You will be right at home when you step outside to enjoy the inviting back patio.
The lower level expands your living space with 2 additional bedrooms, a family room, and a 3/4 bathroom, offering privacy and flexibility.
The home also includes a one-car garage and an additional carport.
This is a rare find in one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods all while enjoying what downtown Rapid City has to offer.
Are you considering a move to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota? Let Lori Barnett, owner/broker of Engel & Völkers Black Hills be your trusted guide in finding your perfect property.
Make Your Move with Confidence. Her deep knowledge of the local real estate landscape ensures you receive the best advice and opportunities available.
Partner with Lori Barnett at Engel & Völkers Black Hills for a seamless and informed real estate experience. Whether you’re seeking a cozy cabin, a luxurious suite, or a commercial investment, Lori’s expertise and dedication ensure you find the perfect fit in the Black Hills.
