Broadcaster Press 03 December 2, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com Eagle Creek, USD relationship steady despite VCDC suit By Alan Dale alan.dale@plaintalk.net The lawsuit between the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) and Eagle Creek Software Services awaits a hearing date for the time being. As for the IT Academy at the University of South Dakota things continue on as planned despite the lawsuit the VCDC filed against Eagle Creek last month for a breach of contract and a failure to pay over $150,000 in missed rent and expenses. Currently, Eagle Creek is holding operations at 1215 Cherry Street following their non-move into the $4.2M building located at 1012 Princeton Street. Prior to moving to Cherry Street, Eagle Creek worked out of the Beacom School of Business on the USD campus as over 40 employees toiled away for approximately six months before nixing the move to Princeton. Whispers in the community voiced concern that the lawsuit and Eagle Creek’s alleged failure to comply to contract stipulations with the VCDC would affect relations between the company and potential labor force coming out of A currently unoccupied building at 1215 Princeton Street is a big part of the problem facing Eagle Creek Software Services who was supposed to move into the building this summer. Unpaid rent and other issues have led to the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company to file suit against the company. (Alan Dale) USD’s IT programs. Not so fast. “USD is on the sidelines with what’s going on with the city and Eagle Creek.” Tena Haraldson, director of marketing for USD said. “We are basically taking a wait-and-see attitude.” Heraldson and Jim Moran, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the university, both see a potential relationship between the school and Eagle Creek, but the academy’s wellbeing is no where married to the presence of the software company or not. “We are actively pursuing other participants in terms of IT and that was always the intention,” Moran said. “We are just moving forward and trying to get students hired out of the academy. We have other companies that are interested and by doing this we will increase the opportunity for our students to not only help the economy in Vermillion but across the state. If we can have our kids graduate and work in (Vermillion) it can only help with economic development and quality of life in the community.” Eagle Creek has offices in Pierre and expressed interest in expanding into the Eagle Creek market. “They wanted to hire trained people with software knowledge and have working experience on the job,” Haraldson said. “They came to us, and said they wanted to bring jobs to Vermillion so how could they set up additional training with people they could hire.” The IT Academy was set up through the governor’s economic development office. They facilitated the university, Eagle Creek, and Vermillion working together. “We are going ahead offering the courses and the regents said to expand the program in five of the six public universities so any one can take the courses now,” Haraldson said. “We are planning on doing it. Whether our students are committed to work at Eagle Creek or not, there is a big demand for software consultancy.” Academy graduates can be in demand with a ? BUNYANS can be a springboard for the four course workload over the summer. “It is geared toward the motivated student,” Moran said. “For dedicated students it is manageable.” Eagle Creek’s presence helped the program since they addressed issues and aided development in the software industry. “We are looking forward to working with them and others in the future,” Moran said. “Right now I have no more information of what their future is, but what we’d like to have is a place interested in our students. “If one says they aren’t hiring that loses some of the potential for our students. When Eagle Creek is more in a hiring mode we are more than happy to work with them.” What the academy is trying to do is to look into getting multiples employment businesses involved with the program so as not to be dependent on any one company. ‘I know Eagle Creek has interviewed a number of students that have gone through the academy,” Moran said. “We are working to just get our students the competencies to get ready for employment.” Esther Lounsbery will celebrate her 90th birthday From Page 01 Bunyan’s, Schoellerman had several ideas. “We were going to make it a dive bar, make it look like one,” Blaine Schoellerman said. “And then we built that beautiful bar and everyone was like, ‘wow this looks really nice’ and it ended up being a really nice bar.” The bar itself is unique furnished piece, that helps add to the appeal of the new building. “It’s all clay county wood,” Blaine Schoellerman said. “It is hand cut.” The new building also helped Bunyan’s become a more diverse business and space for the public. “When you come in here, we make it feel local,” Heidi Schoellerman said “A family can sit over there and you’re not right next to the bar.” Still situated at the same location on Main St. the menu still boasts its famous fish and burgers. “We hand bread our own fish and hand patty our own cheese burgers,” Blaine Schoellerman said. “That’s why our burgers are so good.” The old menu is the staple of dishes, but the Schoellermans have added some new items to keep it fresh for their patrons. “We added the pig wing burger and jalapeño burger,” Heidi Schoellerman said. “We also added funnel cake fries.” In regard to the menu, the Schoellerman’s still know their best source, is the local source. They listen to their customers, and try to bring items that are suggested by the people. Aside from cold drinks and delicious food, the Schoellerman’s are dedicated to using Bunyan’s as a platform to help the community. “We have a prom every year and that’s really fun,” Heidi Schoellerman said. “We raise money to go to a certain charity; we’ve done the backpack program and things like that.” Bunyan’s also contributes to the community by selling number of companies. “Our education courses are not solely dependent on Eagle Creek,” Haraldson said. Moran echoed that sentiment. “As with a lot of other programs we want to make sure our education programs are what the expectations of the industry standards are and that our students have the competencies moving into the potential employment areas,” Moran said. “Ideally as we would envision things that this is a place that builds qualified employees.” Approximately 15 students completed the academy program last summer and this spring they are trying to increase that number heading into the meat of the program. The academy provides students with a set of competencies to move out into the work force. A course is planned for the spring as a prep for the summer intensive course work. There they work on programming and toward a computer science degree. The academy also welcomes returning adults to the educational system looking for a change in career direction, according to Moran. The spring prep course on raffle tickets for the annual Pheasant Banquet. “We try to do a lot for make a wish,” Blaine Schoellerman said “And the pheasant banquet.” Community involvement goes beyond fund raisers and events for Bunyan’s. They are part of a pool league, and also help with parties and special events. “Bunyan’s birthday party is coming up, and all are welcome,” Schoellerman said. “That is Dec. 20th.” The Schoellermans are happy to serve the needs of the Vermillion area, but having a friendly place for people to gather. “Good food good service and a friendly atmosphere,” Schoellerman said. “That is what we do best.” Wanted OWNER/ December 12, 2014 Greetings may be sent to: 205 Walker #138 Vermillion, SD 57069 Sho wit Shop with Shop with hop ith “The Shep rd Roegiers” “The Shepherd Roegiers epher rd gi rs” Fo Four days only… 0AM-6P Four days only…10AM-6PM ay ys ly…10AM-6PM y A PM Come see us a Come see us at The Front Porch ee Fr n Front Porch ch & Me ry h ist as! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas s! Adult Programs for December Adult Programs for OPERATORS With Good Driving Record & 2 yrs. Experience All events held in the Kozak Community Room events Kozak Community Room Call: 877-626-4658 6th Annua Parade off Lights Annua Parade Lights Annual Parade L ght nnual arade Lights g “The Spirit of Christmas” Friday, December 5th Downtown Vermillion DECEMBER 3 5-6 13 Wednesday, December 3rd Wednesday, 3rd Artists & Authors series Author Travis Gulbrandson Author Travis Gulbrandson or ra 7 pm Friday & Saturday, December 5th & 6th Friday Saturday, Edie’s Edie’s Book Shoppe 10-4 pm 10-4 Saturday, December 13th Saturday, 13th Picture This series Self-Publishing Self-Publishing and Poetry Reading with Montana Poetry Reading o r Montana poet BJ Buckley, 2-4 pm t Buckley, ck e Holiday Hou s Holiiday Ho rs: Holiday H rs: li Hour Hours: The library will be closed on Dec. 24 25th, and Jan 1st. We will be library library 24th, 4th, Jan We open from 2-6 pm on Friday, Dec. 26 and from 10-5 on Dec. 31st. from from Friday, Dec. 26th, Friday, 6th, from 10-5 from For more information please contact the VCDC office at The library will be accepting donations for the Ve million Food library for Vermillion Food er Pantry in exchange for library fines. During the weeks of Pantry exchange for library fines. During weeks December 1st—13th, bring your donation of food items into the 1st—13th, bring your food items into library, and we will happily waive your fees (with the exception library, we happily waive your fees exception of any damage or replacement fees). The Vermillion Food any replacement fees). Vermillion Food soup/chili, tuna Pantry is particularly in need of donations of soup/chili, tuna or Pantry particularly canned meats , jam/jelly, p a sauces , and boxed meals. y, o meats, j j y pasta sauces, jam/jelly, boxed meals . Warmest wishes for a Happy Holiday season!! Warmest for Happy Holiday