The VERB - Fall 2019

Special edition

Verb The

noun

1. A word that expresses an action, state, or a relation between two things.

2. Your quarterly update on the action, events, and state of the Vermillion community, your Chamber of Commerce, Visitor Bureau, and Economic Development Company, and the relationship between you and all these things.

Fall 2019

E V E N T S

November

December

USD Women’s Basketball v. Missouri 7 p.m.

USD Theater’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame

USD Opera’s Many Moons

USD Women’s Basketball v. Creighton 7 p.m.

4th Quarter Business Luncheon Standstill Parade of Lights 6 - 7 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day

USD Choir’s Holiday Concert

Annual Christmas Festival at the W.H. Over Museum

Silent Night at the Vineyard Holiday Stroll

Christmas Day

Cameron Stalheim: As Above, So Below Art Showcase

NMM LIVE! Marvin Gargarin & Friends

USD Theater’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame

February

Matthew D. Krell MD, FAAP

Catherine Mitchel MD

Charles C. Yelverton MD

Michelle Chaussee MPAS, PA-C

Amy Fluit MPAS, PA-C

Jason R. Howe MS, FAAA, CCC-A

James W. Young DO, FAOCD

Jesse L. Kampsho MD

Byron S. Nielson MD

Curtis M. Adams MD

Jill F. Sternquist MD,

Note from Nate

PRESIDENT

& CEO,

VERMILLION AREA CHAMBER & DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

As the Vermillion NOW! 3 campaign is wrapping up and we celebrate the impressive amount of engagement that we’ve seen over these last few months, I can’t help but be blown away by the number of businesses and community members that have pledged time, funds, or both, to make it such a great success. Would I say I am surprised by these numbers? I wouldn’t. The individuals that this community is made of have again proven that they are going to show up for Vermillion, and this campaign emanates that.

Before we began the campaign, we discussed what goals we had and how we were going to reach them. The feasibility study that was conducted for the campaign estimated that we could probably reach $1.725 million. We decided to forgo hiring an outside consultant and instead harnessed key community members and their passion for our town. We were elated to not only surpass our goal, but to break the $2 million barrier. This is truly something very special and appreciation-worthy of Vermillion: we always seem to land further than where we look to leap.

Let’s take a moment to celebrate an impressive campaign season. Let’s thank the leadership team, the campaigners, and all of those that have invested, because at the heart of it all, that is an investment into the growth and success of Vermillion itself.

We asked you to put in some dollars, and now we are asking you to stay connected and involved. Pick up a copy of the VERB each quarter. Come to McVicker Plaza and enjoy a cup of coffee each Wednesday morning at UpNEXT Coffee Hour. Visit our soon-to-be-launched revitalized website LiveVermillion.com. Attend the investor’s annual luncheon. Join us in the spring for the annual banquet.

If you’d like to further your involvement even more, join one of our VCDC committees. From the chamber, ambassadors, and special event committees to governmental affairs, tourism & marketing, VermillionNEXT and economic development committees, there is a committee for every interest and a way to stay involved around every corner. The list of ways to be involved in your community is endless.Be sure to check out page 10 for our special Vermillion NOW! 3 feature.

Now the real work can begin.

Verbatim Chamber Happenings

Vermillion area Farmer’s market

Vermillion Area Farmer’s Market (VAFM) enjoyed a lively growing season, meeting the weather challenges with humor and adaptability. Market Managers, Allison Benson and Krista Scholten, made vendors and the public feel welcome, creating an enjoyable community environment. The Market is a place for all ages and incomes and is a wonderful place to network.

The summer season also featured exciting programming and partnerships. The Summer Craft Camp developed by Katrina Heles offered upcycled crafts for youth. Local Fare at the Fair offered tastes of summer to Clay County Fair-goers with the help of the Vermillion High School National Honor Society students. Clay County Veterinary assisted with the Dog Days of Summer event, along with the 4H Dog Club. Other highlights were music and local foods during the Thursday Market, with R Pizza purchasing seasonal produce, producing pizzas and bringing them directly back to the market for a unique, delicious eating experience! Humbletown Band often played at Thursday markets, helping to create a festive mood.

An exciting opportunity came when the VAFM received a South Dakota Community Foundation grant to look at creating a permanent market spot in Vermillion. Currently, an architect is drawing a schematic for a possible pavilion for the northwest corner of Barstow Park. VAFM hopes to get community feedback on this idea in January 2020.

Clay county historical society - austin-whittemore house

In 1969 a group of go-getters stepped in and saved a beautiful 1882 house, located at 15 Austin Street from total destruction. They felt that it was important to hold on to a beautiful piece of Clay County history and that passion continues through the members of the Clay County Historical Society. To say that the Austin-Whittemore House has a life of its own would be an understatement. Through the years the house has become a receptacle for family histories, old county plat books, volumes of newspapers, cemetery records, old photos plus other items that have Clay County roots. This beautiful house has been restored to its original beauty and within the last two years, a spectacular handicap ramp has been added along with an accessible bathroom on the ground floor.

As a non-profit organization they host the holiday Tour of Homes in December, Ice Cream Social in June, Spoken History Cemetery Tour in October plus other events set up through the year. They have provided space for bridal and baby showers, family reunions, graduation receptions, card parties, organizational meetings not to mention weddings in the gazebo. This house has always been a place for people to gather. The house has regular hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The phone number is 605-624-8266 if you’d like to set up an appointment and email address is claycohistory@yahoo.com. Search for them on Facebook under the Clay County Historical Society.

Keep this in mind. What happens today will be part of tomorrow’s history. Be a part of it!!

national music museum

stringed-instrument masterpieces on exhibit in Cremona, italy

Cremona, Italy, is the hometown of violin making-giant Antonio Stradivari and the birthplace of classical stringed instruments. It is a destination for musical-instrument lovers. So, it is fitting that the National Music Museum (NMM), of Vermillion, South Dakota—itself home to five Stradivari instruments, as well as other Cremonese masterpieces—has been invited to exhibit at the Italian city’s Museo del Violino (MdV).

Nine priceless Renaissance and Baroque stringed instruments from the National Music Museum’s collections are now at the Museo del Violino as part of a yearlong “Reunion in Cremona” show through October 18, 2020.

National Music Museum Director Matt Collinsworth says that the timing was right for this reunion, “The NMM is currently undergoing a historic time of its own in South Dakota, closed to the public since October 2018 for the architectural metamorphosis. Underway is a 16,000 square-foot expansion with increased gallery, concert, and administration space, as well as a reimagining of the overall exhibit design and the visitor experience.”

The National Music Museum is slated to reopen after construction and renovation ends in 2021. www.museodelviolino.org

Stay and enjoy Vermillion this Holiday season

Best Western

701 W Cherry St, Vermillion, SD 57069

Studio 13 Motel

1313 W Cherry St, Vermillion, SD 57069

(605) 624-2601

(605) 624-8333 Buffalo

1208 E Cherry St, Vermillion, SD 57069

(605) 624-8005

Prairie Inn

916 N Dakota St, Vermillion, SD 57069

(605) 624-2824

1500 W Main St, Vermillion, SD 57069

(605) 624-4500

Vermillion now! 3

What an exciting and successful Vermillion NOW! 3 campaign it has been! We cannot say thank you enough to all of the businesses and individuals that have invested time and money into this community via this campaign. In celebration of that success, let’s look back at the campaign itself and remember those proud moments that have shaped, highlighted, and celebrated the third instalment of the campaign.

Vermillion NOW! 3 launched on May 14th with a kick-off event at RED Steakhouse. It is there that Farron Pratt, President of First Dakota National Bank and Co-Chair of the V-NOW! 3 leadership committee announced that the campaign had officially begun and had already collected $1,043,065 in investments. By this point in the campaign, there had been 100% participation from all of those closest to the campaign, including the Campaign Leadership Committee, the VCDC Board of Directors and the Staff of the VCDC.

This campaign was bolstered by the successes of the preceding Vermillion NOW campaigns, and we are again witnessing the support of a community that continues to show up. The momentum and support, coupled with strong strategic partnerships, has provided an amazing opportunity for Vermillion to capitalize on the growth that has been seen since the first campaign launched.

“This community is in sync when it comes to a shared vision of working together to make Vermillion better than it has ever been. It’s exciting to be part of this,” says Nate Welch, President and CEO of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company. “The continued support of the community through donations to this campaign will turn dreams for Vermillion into a reality.”

The original goal for the Vermillion NOW! 3 capital campaign was to raise $1.725 million, but thanks to the generous donations of Vermillion businesses and community members, that goal was surpassed. The celebration of the closure of the campaign was highlighted by co-chairs announcing that over $2.01 million was raised to a crowd of investors at RED Steakhouse.

“I’m proud of how far we have come and the direction we are moving in as a community,” says Jack Powell, Mayor of Vermillion. “I have seen many changes happen these past ten years since the inception of Vermillion NOW, and I am excited for the future of Vermillion, thanks to the dedication of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company and anyone who has contributed to the Vermillion NOW! 3 campaign.”

Vermillion NOW! 3 will help fund changes and improvements in the amenities and infrastructure of Vermillion, create jobs and improve workforce retention, and help facilitate strategic, collaborative leadership. This is in line with the three key campaign goals of shifting the commuter-to-resident ratio from 41% down to 35%; increase the number of young professionals residing in the area; and increasing the total population of the Vermillion Area by 4%.

* At time of print, the total funds raised is $2,068,552.

I CHOOSE VERMILLION fund allocations

Focus Area #1:

Amenities and Infrastructure $310,000

• Community Enhancements

• Front Door Pride

• 2 E Main Entrepreneurial Center

Focus Area #2:

Job Creation $680,000

• Growth Opportunities for Existing Businesses

• Retain Young Professionals

• Attract New Business

Focus Area #3:

Strategic, Collaborative Leadership $735,000

• Engage partners in quality housing solutions

• Continue providing bold, creative economic

• development leadership

• Promote Vermillion on behalf of its businesses and residents

Total $1,725,000

Vermillion Now! 3

Ways to Stay Involved (2019-2024)

Quarter 1

- Vermillion Now! 3 Impact report

-Open to Community Circle, Champions, and Leaders Circle

Quarter 2

-vermillion Now! 3 Impact Report

-Open to Community Circle, Champions, and Leaders Circle

Quarter 3

-Vermillion Now! 3 Investors Annual Meeting

-Open to all Donors

Quarter 4

-Vermillion Now! 3 Annual Budget Review

-Open to leaders Circle

Join a committee on the vcdc

- Chamber - ambassadors - special events - Governmental Affairs

- tourism & marketing - vermillion next - economic development

Ways to keep updated

-www.liveVermillion.com

-Grab a copy of the verb - issued 4 times a year (SPring, summer, fall, and winter)

-Attend the investor’s annual luncheon

-attend the annual banquet

-attend upnext coffee hour - every wednesday

v e s t e d connect to your chamber benefits

One of the many benefits to being a Chamber Member is that you are eligible to purchase Vermillion Bucks at a discounted price, yearround.

Members (one offer per business, annually) can purchase up to $300 per year of Vermillion Bucks at a 15% discount in $100 increments only. For example, to max out on your benefit, you’ll pay $255 to receive a $300 sum, which means you are receiving $45 of Vermillion Bucks for free!

Great as a gift for a loved one, your colleagues, or that one friend that you struggle to buy presents for every year. No matter what that occasion may be, it is important to support local businesses year round, and you can do that thanks to your Chamber Member benefit.

Questions? Reach out to Chamber Director, Katie Heine: Katherine@VermillionChamber.com

Many thanks are to be given as we near the end of the campaign for Vermillion NOW! 3. We received over $2 million dollars from community members, local businesses and groups, and others who may not live in Vermillion, but want to support a community that exudes excellence and the potential to elevate the quality of life even higher than what we are seeing now.

As Chair of the Board, I want to personally thank the campaign leaders and campaigners for volunteering their time and energy because without all of you, this success would never have come to fruition. I want to thank the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company for organizing our efforts in this third campaign and being that strategic and collaborative source of leadership that we will continue to invest in.

I am thrilled that we will be investing in amenities and infrastructure, job creation, and leadership in Vermillion. My work as a realtor gives me an appreciation for wanting those community enhancements and front-door pride because that is how we attract and retain new people into our community. It comes as no surprise that people want to live in safe, clean, well-kept neighborhoods and those investments are going to help us create and maintain that experience.

Funds allocated to job creation will help create good, sustainable jobs in Vermillion, which can be a timely process. It takes diligence and leadership to choose the right company to help support the growth and sustainability of our community. It takes confidence in the economic development process to successfully bring in a company that will create and support new jobs.

We want to put investments toward the strategic, collaborative leadership in Vermillion. We have a very special resource in the VCDC, who works to engage partners in quality housing solutions, provide bold, creative economic development leadership, promote Vermillion on behalf of its businesses and residents and markets our community to visitors. The Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company is invaluable to this community and will continue to be as we tackle the goals set for this campaign moving forwards. I have no doubt that these improvements will result in a lower commuter to resident ratio, an increase in Vermillion’s population, and higher retention of the young professionals that come out of our excellent university, the University of South Dakota.

f r o m t h e c h a i r

Q&A with some of Vermillion’s faces

why vermillion?

Where are you from?

Scott is from Grinnell IA and Amy is from Johnston IA.

What inspired you to move to Vermillion?

The first or second time, no joke, we made the decision twice to join this community so consider us all-in. In both cases, we came for a role that Scott had with USD, but the first time we had just gotten married so let’s just say we wanted a new and interesting place to start our lives together. The second time we made a really tough decision to move away from being close to our families we love dearly. However, Scott’s job had a lot of travel so we knew that a move to Vermillion would be great for our work-life balance. Hard to argue that Vermillion is a great place for a family,but we also had some really great friends that we missed and since moving back have met even more great people. So quality family time, great friends, and two jobs that have long been goals for both of us.

How are you wanting to get more involved in the unique community of Vermillion?

Honestly with three kids under 7 and two demanding jobs that require us to be as active as possible in Vermillion, we feel very fulfilled with our current involvement in this great community. So, while we

could always do more, we also moved back to be the best parents we could be to what we describe as the Pohlson Circus.

What are some of the aspects you really enjoy about the community and how have you grown here?

First off, the Miami of South Dakota is full of great people who literally help us raise our young family. As most working parents understand, life is crazy, although that is what is awesome about Vermillion as we can work hard and still get our little circus to all their activities while still having time for each other.

This town has grown a ton since we first arrived in 2009. Our restaurant options are amazing for the size of community we live in. Plus, the renovation of the theatre is so nice as we enjoy taking our family to movies. We also love being in a community with a university like USD. Going to games at USD or taking our daughter to Cinderella on campus and not having to fight traffic like we used to do in Iowa City and Des Moines is something we don’t take for granted.

Not only have we grown spiritually here, but we have also grown as a couple who loves Vermillion, even if we aren’t locals by local definition. So not only have we literally and figuratively grown in Vermillion, but we also think that Vermillion is going to get even better in the future and for that reason the Pohlson Circus continues to #LOVermillion.

It’s always a clean, comfortable and affordable stay — with more amenities than you would ever expect from an economy hotel.

If you haven’t been to Red Roof Inn Vermillion-U of South Dakota lately, you’ll discover more than you’d ever expect from an economy hotel:

Features

• #1 in Online Guest Reviews – 9 years running

• Microwave, mini-fridge, in-room coffee, hair dryer and iron/ironing board available in select rooms

• Indoor pool

• Free expanded cable including HBO®, CNN®, ESPN® and more

• Free Red Roof Coffee Bar featuring freshly brewed gourmet coffee and tea

• Children 17 and under and pets stay free

Red Roof Inn is a proud supporter and a preferred hotel of the University of South Dakota!

Red Roof Inn Vermillion-U of South Dakota – #492 1208 East Cherry Street • Vermillion, SD 57069 • phone: 605.624.8005 redroofvermillion.com

For reservations, visit redroof.com or call 800.RED.ROOF (800.733.7663)

f a c e s featured member news

Maloney real estate

Lori Whitman was named “Rising Star” for the Meridian Board of Realtors. Rising Star is given to one member who shows dedication to the profession and the community in which they do business. Lori has worked at Maloney Real Estate since 2017.

Michelle Maloney was named “Realtor of the Year” for the Meridian Board of Realtors. One Realtor is chosen each year to represent the Board at the State Convention. Michelle started Maloney Real Estate in 2013. Congratulations to both!

whimp’s steakhouse

Whimps Steakhouse in Burbank has been a Vermillion area favorite for over 50 years. Dan Radigan and his family continued the Radigan ownership when they took over the restaurant in January 2010. Whimps is known for its casual atmosphere, great steaks and a full menu to please all ages. All-you-can-eat spaghetti night on Thursdays has been along-standing tradition.

Steve Muilenberg

The Clay Rural Water System Board of Directors has named Steve Muilenburg as the new water system manager, replacing Greg Merrigan, who retired at the end of August. Muilenburg comes to Clay RWS after a six-year stint as the Wastewater Treatment Manager for Jack Links, Inc. in Alpena, SD. Prior to that he was an Operations Specialist for MidDakota Rural Water, based out of Miller, SD, for eight years. He holds several water and wastewater certifications from the state of South Dakota. Steve is a native of Platte, SD. He and his wife Carmen have three grown children.

Vermillion Light & Power

The City of Vermillion is pleased to present the new Vermillion Light & Power logo and express gratitude for all they do. In cooperation with other departments, Vermillion Light & Power has and will continue to accomplish a great many things from LED streetlight conversion to the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). AMI is a multiyear project to install upgraded meter equipment that will allow for remote reading of electric and water meters. Most recently, Vermillion Light & Power installed South Dakota’s first municipally owned electric vehicle charging station conveniently located in downtown Vermillion in the City Hall parking lot. Vermillion Light & Power staff continue to prove again and again the value of #PUBLICPOWER.

mark willadsen, Corinsurance

CorInsurance recently welcomed Mark Willadsen to the team in Vermillion. Mark brings an extensive amount of experience, 37 years to be exact, and prides himself on offering customers great rates and just the right amount of coverage. Contact Mark to help cover your insurance needs.

Jimmy John’s

Celebrate the holidays with Jimmy John’s catering! Your locally owned and operated Jimmy John’s of Vermillion has a variety of tasty options, perfect for any party. They bake fresh bread all day, so it’s always served less than 4 hours out of the oven. They slice high-quality meats to perfection, and they slice fresh veggies daily. Because sandwich. Order from Jimmy John’s located at 853 E Cherry St. Give ‘em a call at 605-658-1111.

Exhale wellness spa

Exhale Wellness Spa is opening December 2019 at 402 Bower Street and offers a wide range of wellness experiences including hydromassage, full spectrum infrared sauna, halotherapy salt cabin, oxygen bar, massage therapy and a tranquility space. There is also a line of Exhale Wellness Spa aromatherapy blend roll-ons available for sale. Chelsey Green has been hired on as the Director of Spa Experiences and the owners are very excited to bring these wellness offerings to Vermillion. We hope to serve Southeastern South Dakota as well. Making these services and wellness options available locally and affordably adds value to our community. We are proud to open a new business and Vermillion is the best place to do it! exhalewellnessspa.com will offer online booking and gift card sales options. Follow us on social media for up-to-date information on our progress!

dr kirstin, triumph chiropractic

Dr. Kirstin is an Elk Point native, born and raised. After high school she attended SDSU studying Nutritional Sciences until transferring to Northwestern Health Sciences University where she received her Doctorate of Chiropractic. Dr. Kirstin is certified in a neurologically based technique called Torque Release Technique (TRT). Along with her extra nutritional training, Dr. Kirstin is excited to bring whole health and wellness to the area. Her greatest passion is teaching people about taking charge and taking care of their health naturally. As a wife and mother of two boys, she strives to educate herself as much as she can to keep her family healthy. With that information, Dr. Kirstin wants to educate all those around her so they too can keep their family healthy.

BLACK

v i t a l

New Members

Teri’s Tupperware Treasures

Teri Schneider – Consultant

1021 Allison St. Vermillion, SD 57069

605-659-4658

Marketing and distributing Tupperware brand products.

Triumph Chiropractic

101 W. Main St. Elk Point, SD 57025 605-356-2688

Triumph Chiropractic strives to provide the best services needed to achieve whole health while still maintaining a homey, small town charm. With their team and community partners, they are grateful to be able to provide the following services: Specific, neurologically based adjustments that are non-invasive but bring relaxation and release of tension that may be hindering your nervous system’s performance. Whole health education will be provided through health talks, individual recommendations or by attending small groups at your church, business or wherever needed.

Triumph Chiropractic strives to provide an environment of healing with the best natural care. They are positive that with your commitment and their help, you can achieve the impossible with your health goals, no matter what they are.

Backyard DJs

833 E. Duke St. Vermillion, SD 57069 402-649-0605

Backyard DJs have accommodated events with crowds of 10 to 400, working within your budget to make the event everything you could hope for. They’ve done graduations, Christmas parties, birthdays, proms, anniversaries, reunions for families of all sizes, company gatherings, amongst other occasions. They play all kinds of music, and if the internet allows, music can be searched and downloaded to fill your needs. They have bubbles, a fog machine, cotton candy and a gumball machine. They also have a variety of lighting options, from strobes and disco to spotlight, laser lights, and regular dance lights. They are willing and ready to cater for your needs. All they ask is for a table and people who are ready to listen to some music.

Individual Members

Barbara Campbell

Mike & Julia Chaney

Don & Jeanne Dahlin

Joe and Mary Edelen

Sue French

Robert & Karon Fuller

Sarah Chadima & Dick Hammond

Kirk Hogen

Fern Kaufman

Dan & Lori Kenton

Pat Kozak

Dennis & Brenda Martens

Ted Muenster

Dr. Alvin & Pat Pravecek, Gary Rasmussen

Arthur Rusch

Zibeon Samudzi

Donna Schafer

Jim Wilson

David Lorenz

Mick Breske

Gayle Bliss

Kelsey Collier-Wise

Anthony Nelson

Dr. William & Cyndi Dendinger

Tom and Mary Sorenson

Chuck Lubbers

Monica Miller

Will Pratt

The Vermilion NEXT Young Professionals Network Leadership Board recently revised their mission statement:

“to connect, engage, and develop young professionals in the vermillion community”

The Board similarly updated their values statement to:

“included, invested, involved”.

The Vermillion NEXT group is responsible for organizing the weekly UpNEXT Coffee Hour, Thursdays On The Platz and Leadership Vermillion. Additionally, NEXT members gather for monthly Third Thursdays for social networking. For more information on getting involved, visit LiveVermillion.com, and click on the Vermillion NEXT tab.

What is your name, and where can folks find you most days?

My name is Josh Scherrer and you can just about always find me at Dakota Brick House on Main St. in Vermillion, SD.

NEXT member spotlight velocity

How did you first begin participating in VermillionNEXT?

My first interaction with Vermillion NEXT was when Nate Welch asked if he could host a Third Thursday at Dakota Brick House. I didn’t know what it was at the time but I knew who Nate was and assumed it could benefit Brick House and myself.

What do you think people should know about VermillionNEXT?

Vermillion NEXT is so much more than just a group. Vermillion NEXT is truly a family that welcomes anyone that has the drive to keep up. Within this family lies this overwhelming feeling that I had not been privy to. The best way for me to describe this feeling is by having you listen to Ballade in C#: Coronation. I can list all of the things that Vermillion NEXT is to me but that’s not the reason you should join our family. Becoming part of the Vermillion NEXT community is deciding that you want more from yourself and your community. It is an organization for any young professional to find a like-minded group of people who are all trying to move in a forward motion.

What do you wish to accomplish in the community, and how do you see Vermillion evolving?

I moved to Vermillion 10 years ago. During that time, five of them were spent trying to attempt my hand at “college.” I did better than I had ever expected and I attributed that to a handful of people who showed me the things that I needed to achieve success. Vermillion NEXT is my place to give something back to the community that has given me so much over those past 10 years. I am from Aurora, Colorado, and one can get lost in a city like that. What I found is that even in a community this size, young professionals can still get lost. My personal goal for this community is to increase the reach into the Vermillion community to make sure those like myself, who have always felt that there was something more inside of them just waiting to come out, be found. There are a lot of bold claims on what success looks like these days. At the end of the day, the resources you have at your disposal directly affect the success you find.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Twenty years?

I see myself working with a great group of people towards a goal that satisfies me. I have so many plans currently that are in motion that I am not sure where the final destination will be. I want to create my own family in my own business. I enjoy helping other businesses succeed in areas that they previously struggle and my current business plan will do just that. Twenty years from now, I want to be a part of a community that helps struggling teenagers to young adults find their inspiration. I grew up in an area where getting lost in the mundane was all too easy, and honestly, welcomed. I want to expel this notion from anyone that I come across. Reach for your potential until your potential has been reached.

Event Oktoberfest

Recap

September 28th, 2019 marked Vermillion’s 5th annual Oktoberfest. The festivities were signaled to begin with the tapping of the keg, done so by 2018’s Queen of Oktoberfest, Kelsey Collier-Wise. The crown for this year went to Maxine Johnson, well-revered and endowed in the Vermillion community.

The night at Ratingen Platz was highlighted by the German-influenced musical talents of the USD Low Brass Band. The Vermillion High School German club spoke to those in attendance about their exchange program, where VHS students are given the opportunity to go to Germany and German students are offered the opportunity to stay in Vermillion for a school year, while also providing authentic German food.

Empyrean Brewing Company served Oktoberfest brew and Valiant Vineyards served mulled wine for guests to enjoy. Hy-Vee also served German food to those attending the festival. As the night progressed, Leo Lonnie Orchestra took to the stage and their music had people dancing. The weather couldn’t stifle the fun of the night, and emcees Katie Heine and Jeff Kleeman kept the night flowing with jokes, games, and singing.

German-inspired games like the brat toss and the stein hold had attendees roaring as they threw brats into the keg or endured arm pain while attempting to hold their stein out in front of them. Bystanders cheered for their favorite contestant and the competition was quite impressive.

This year’s Oktoberfest was a great success and all of those in attendance were given the opportunity to enjoy German food and music right in our backyard.

Ribbon Cuttings 2019

April

- Pizza Ranch at UpNEXT Coffee Hour

- Robotics of Vermillion

MAY - Ameriprise Financial

July - Athletico PT - Vermillion Dental Health

August - The Heights

September

- Larry’s Heating & Cooling - Community Connections Center

October

- Louie’s Cleaning & Disaster Restoration - The Quarters

OPen House

-Marketplace Vermillion -Masaba Career Fair

Business After Hours

- Sanford Vermillion/Dakota Hospital Foundation

- CorTrust Bank

- Vermillion Medical Clinic Mixer

-SD Biotech

#LOVermillionDay

February 13th

Third Thursday Social

December 19th

January 16th

February 20th

Cracker Barrels

February 1st February 15th

UpNEXT Coffee Every Wednesday starting January 8th.