Broadcaster Press 11 February 7, 2012 www.broadcasteronline.com Honoring & Remembering: Master Chief Petty Officer Gary G. Bliss By Donna Schafer VFW Auxiliary President Clay County Post 3061 Downtown business representatives presented a $600 check to Mary Berglin of the Vermillion Food Pantry. Included in the picture are Emma Drissen, Ronnie and Jessi Wilharm, Gloria Christopherson, Mary Berglin, Laura Hollingsworth, Tabatha Odens and Pat Flanagin. Merchants raise money for Vermillion Food Pantry The Downtown Vermillion Action Team (DVAT) presented a $600 check to Mary Berglin of the Vermillion Food Pantry. The money was raise during the DVAT’s annual “Change For Change” campaign. Customers were encouraged to donate their change at 23 downtown Vermillion businesses to help make a change in the community. Downtown business Pressing Matters chose to match the funds raised in their business this year. When the Meckling Livestock 4-H Club heard about Pressing Matters’ plan they gathered donations and brought them to Pressing Matters, knowing their funds would be matched. The DVAT would like to thank the Vermillion area community for its generosity and support of the “Change For Change” project supporting the Vermillion Food Pantry. Master Chief Petty Officer Gary G. Bliss, USN Retired, was born April 11, 1936 to Herbert and Coral Bliss. They lived on a farm on Bluff Road, where he was born. During his senior year at Vermillion High School, a recruiter convinced Gar y and two of his friends to join the reserves. So, he attended drill meetings along with his friends. A while after he graduated from Vermillion High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy in Sioux City, IA on Jan. 13, 1955. He was sent to Great Lakes, IL, for Boot Camp. While there he was selected as “Honor Man” for his recruit company. There was one man chosen from each company. First duty station for Gary was on the USS Lake Champlain CVA-39, an attack aircraft carrier, whose home port was at Mayport, FL. His next duty was in Athens, GA, where he attended Navy Supply School. The USS Zellars DD-777 was where he went next and its home port was Mayport, FL. He ran the ship's office. They were part of the GARY BLISS US Navy Armada during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a near nuclear confrontation. “When our notification of deployment was given, most of our crew was on leave. We had to send telegrams to all of them to get back so we could have a crew and get underway. When we arrived in the area we had to stay out of port because of the situation the United States was in. So, fueling became a problem. We had to refuel at sea while underway,” he said. “We had an officer on board who spoke Russian, so he communicated for our ship to the Russian trawlers. We were on patrol all of the time for two months. It was touch and go the whole time. Finally the Russians took down the missiles and we went home with a terrible tragedy having been averted.” Gar y's next duty was Patrol Training Squadron Thirty VP-30 aircraft at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD. It was during this time that he advanced to Chief Personnel man. Later he relocated to San Diego, CA, and was assigned to Staff, Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet at North Island, San Diego. Again he was promoted to Senior Chief. His final duty was at Enlisted Personnel Distribution Office, U.S. Pacific Fleet at Nas North Island and promoted to Master Chief. After 20 years ser ving our country, Gary decided to retire. He and his wife, Verna, and their two children stayed in San Diego, where he eventually started his own business and is now retired from that. They keep busy with their two children's families, especially their three grandchildren. SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENTS MTI’S PRESIDENT’S LIST A total of 272 students at Mitchell Technical Institute have been placed on the Fall Semester 2011 President's List, according to MTI President Greg Von Wald. Full-time students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher receive this honor. Included on the Fall 2011 President’s List are: Brenna Sibson, Architectural Design & Building Construction, Vermillion; and Brian Hansen, Power Line Construction & Maintenance, Vermillion. BHSU FALL 2011 DEAN’S LIST The Office of Academic Affairs at Black Hills State University has released the NEW Rug SHOWROOM • Hand-woven • Machine Washable • Beautiful, unique texture • Sizes include throw rugs, rugs runners & area rugs • Custom orders welcome Bring this ad in for $75 off a 5’x8’ or larger area rug. Excludes Special Orders.Effective through Feb. 29, 2012. One Coupon per customer. BPMVS www.inweaverugs.com www.inweavefabric.com 823 Central Ave., Hawarden 1-800-646-9328 • 712-551-1523 Mon.-Fri. • 9:30-5:30; Sat.• 9:30-3 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Farm Mutual Insurance Company of Clay County The Annual Meeting of the Farm Mutual Insurance Company of Clay County will be held at the Vermillion Public Library Community Room, in Vermillion, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Hearing of reports, director elections, changes in the by-laws will be discussed, and any other business that may come properly before the assembly. By the order of the Board of Directors dated the 26th day of January, 2012. - Richard Bottolfson, President - Mark Donnelly, Secretary Lunch will be served. Door prizes given. dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester. A total of 720 students maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or above while taking at least 12 credit hours to be named to the list this semester. Students from Vermillion named to the list are Haley Bosse, Sarah Hansen and Michael Oberle. SDSU DEAN’S LIST BROOKINGS – The following students have been named to the dean's list for academic excellence during the Fall 2011 semester at South Dakota State University. To earn dean's list distinctions in SDSU's eight colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Students with an asterisk received a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Burbank: Taylor Matthew Jensen, Thomas Carson Sullivan; Irene: Elizabeth AnnNutley ; Meckling: Shannon Marie Jepsen*; Vermillion: Jason Wayne Bumsted; Rebecca Lynn Hawley*; Tyler Jordan Wagner*; Casey Dean Carlson*; Alexander Davis Schaack*; Megan Ann Bottolfson; Jennifer Michelle Bye; Danielle Leigh Meyer*; Carla Lee Sorensen*; Courtney Marie Eidem February Clearance 50% off 20%- Regular Price of EVERY PAIR of Boots and Shoes Boston Shoes• 665-9092 to Boots 312 W. 3rd • Yankton EQUESTRIAN | COMMERCIAL | AGRICULTURAL | GENERAL PURPOSE Style & Quality From Concept to Completion For over 60 years we’ve been constructing functional, attractive buildings. Our high-quality structures are created with your vision in mind and covered by one of the strongest, non-prorated warranties in the industry. For more information 605-368-2511 27087 Morton Court Sioux Falls, SD ©2010 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses.aspx. 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