2 Broadcaster Press December 22, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com Dave Says Last minute shopping BY DAVE RAMSEY Courtesy of EveryDollar.com Dear Dave, I woke up this morning and realized I haven’t started Christmas shopping yet. I’ve been listening to you for a long time, and I don’t want to fall in the trap this year of paying outrageous prices for things just because I have waited until the last minute. Can you give me some tips on how to save on Christmas gifts and not overspend? Ali Dear Ali, My first piece of advice is for next year. Decide now how much you want to spend on Christmas gifts and then divide that number by 12. Set aside that amount each month starting in January, and then you won’t be in a panic when Christmas rolls around next year. Planning ahead always reduces stress when it comes to financial matters. As for this year, my advice is to be aware of last-minute shopping traps. Many stores understand that people start getting desperate as Christmas draws nearer, and their prices reflect that. Also, stay away from the malls. Some folks may think I’m un-American for saying that, but I don’t care. Our culture has become one of shoppers who run to the mall, pay 120 percent of retail for something, and think they got a bargain because there was a sign that said SALE hanging over the table. Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Dave It may not be comfortable at first, but you can find some great deals if you’re willing to do two things: pay cash and walk away. Once you get in the habit of approaching purchases this way it will become second nature— and fun! Finally, there are great websites out there like eBay and coolsavings.com. Thinking differently and changing your gift-buying behaviors may be a little tough at first, but trust me, it’s worth the effort. Merry Christmas, Ali! —Dave BUSINESS LICENSE FOR A SEASONAL JOB? RAMSEY Dear Dave, I’m starting a side business of put- Scott McKee Takes Home First Place for Record 106-Bushel Soybean Yield at Soybean Recognition Banquet SIOUX FALLS – Scott McKee, a farmer from Union County, took home Overall First Place in the South Dakota Soybean Soybean Yield Contest with his recordbreaking soybean yield of 106.6 bushels per acre, breaking his previous record of 103.7 bushels per acre from last year’s contest. McKee planted DuPont Pioneer variety 25T51R. The South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the South Dakota Soybean Association announced the awards at the annual Soybean Recognition Banquet on Wednesday. “Anywhere from expanding my fertilizer program to using different kinds of crop protection products to upping the population, the South Dakota Soybean Yield Contest has really allowed me to experiment with my management strategies,” McKee said. “In the past, we’ve seen farmers pushing hard for maximum corn yields, but the same effort wasn’t given to boosting soybean yields. That has changed in recent years, thanks in part to the South Dakota Soybean Yield Contest,” said Jon Schaeffer, farmer from Viborg and chairman of the South Dakota Soybean Yield Contest Committee. “Now that we’ve crossed the 100-bushel threshold, we continue to see record-breaking yields entered in the yield contest, and we look forward to seeing how far we push the yield envelope in the future.” Close to 350 farmers submitted Soybean Yield Contest entries in ten categories. Yields across all of the categories ranged from 22 to 106 bushels per acre. Entries for the yield contest were categorized by soybean maturity and subdivided into three groups: Irrigated, Non-irrigated and No-till. Each first-place winner received a $2,000 cash prize and up to $2,000 for a non-transferable trip for two to the 2016 Commodity Classic in New Orleans, La. The second place winner in each category received a $1,500 cash prize, and the third place winner in each category received a $1,000 cash prize. For a complete list of winners, see the “2015 Yield Contest Results.” First place winners of the annual yield contest were: Nathan Hoeft- 73.98 bushels/acre, Spink County, Group 0 Non-Irrigated Category Kent Mettler- 76.35 bushels/acre, Yankton County, Group 0 No-Till Category Kory Standy- 92.54 bushels/acre, Charles Mix County, Group 0 or 1 Irrigated Category Jacob Waldner- 84.79 bushels/acre, Clark County, Group 1 Non-Irrigated Category Kent Mettler- 88.29 bushels/acre, Yankton County, ting up Christmas lights for people. Will I need to get a business license? Jason Dear Jason, You might be getting a late start with a business of this type, but if you manage your time and work hard you can still brighten people’s lives and make a little extra cash. Most towns don’t require a formal business license for this kind of thing, but you might want to check with your local municipality to be sure. It’s just quick seasonal work where you show up for a couple of hours and hang lights for someone, right? But if you started hiring people or doing something year round, you’d probably need a formal business license. Regardless, make sure you have a separate checking account so you can keep track of the income and expenses associated with your work. Merry Christmas, Jason! —Dave EveryDollar is a simple, online budgeting tool that helps users set a monthly budget and seamlessly track expenses. For more information, go to www.everydollar.com. Anticipation For Tomorrow Anticipation For Tomorrow By Rep. Kristi Noem remain committed to the American Dream, doing everything we can so our children and grandchildren can In our family, Christmas have a better life. Nowhere morning begins with the ring else in the world are those of a bell. No one could leave beliefs so ingrained into an their rooms and see what entire country’s way of life. Santa had delivered until that When the bell rings at the bell was rung. I remember Noem house this Christmas, our kids waiting in eager anI will be saying a prayer of ticipation, hoping and trustthanks. While America’s aning that they’d been good ticipation for tomorrow may enough all year for Santa to not be the same as a child’s leave them the toys they had on Christmas morning, we Group 1 No-Till Category asked for. continue to believe there is Scott McKee- 106.61 I’ve been thinking a lot hope for a better tomorrow bushels/acre, Union County, about the excitement of those in this country. Of course not Group 2 Non-Irrigated Catmornings recently – probeverything is happening as egory Tim Hofer- 87.79 bushels/ ably because it isn’t quite the we’d like it to in this country, same now that the kids have but we fundamentally trust acre, Hutchinson County, grown up a bit. But it’s made that we are empowered to Group 2 No-Till Category me think: what would our change it. I pray we never Chandler Standy- 96.81 world be like if we all carried lose that hope. bushels/acre, Charles Mix From my entire family to County, Group 2 or 3 Irrigated the hope and anticipation of Christmas morning with us yours, I hope you have a very Category every day? blessed Christmas and I pray Scott McKee- 97.15 I admit it would be very that in all the busyness of bushels/acre, Union County, hard to do. The world so eas- this day, you take the time to Group 3 Non-Irrigated Catily weighs us down. Whether celebrate the root of all hope, egory we’re talking about a strugJesus Christ. The South Dakota gling economy, the threat of Soybean Yield Contest also terrorism, or challenges at featured a quality contest. home, it is natural to become The top two highest qualcynical, frustrated, and even ity entries in each maturity angry. I know I’ve felt that group (Groups 0, 1, 2 and 3) way a time or two. In fact, it’s received $500 cash for first why I ran for Congress in the place and $300 cash for second place. Soybean quality is first place. I was so frustratdetermined by the Estimated ed with all the administration was doing and desperately Processed Value (EPV) from the oil and protein content of wanted to change the direction of this country. I still do soybeans, and is expressed and I still believe we can. as a value of converting We live in the greatest the protein and oil in the country on earth. We believe soybean into soybean meal, that family is the cornerstone oil and hulls. View the 2015 of a society and that freedom Quality Contest Results. is not a privilege, but a right. South Dakota Soybean We believe opportunity is has scheduled a series of all that is needed to build a Soybean Success Seminars healthy economy. And we to share big bushel secrets for farmers in early February. The Soybean Success Seminars will feature one of two speakers: Al Kluis, broker, trader and owner of Kluis Commodities or Denis Todey, SDSU State Climatologist. The Soybean Success Seminars will also feature recommendations and discussions with agronomists. For complete 312 W. 3rd • Yankton • 665-9092 agenda information, visit www.sdsoybean.org. Soybean Success Seminars: Aberdeen Dakota Events Center – February 1 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Watertown Events Center Happy Holidays! – February 2 ¬– 10 a.m. to 1 you for your patronage, p.m. Jct. I-29 & Hwy. 50 Thankare looking forward to we Mitchell Highland Confer605-624-2062 serving you in 2016! ence Center – February 3 – OPEN 24 HOURS 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sioux Falls Best Western Ramkota – February 4 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Read and Recycle! Belts, Wallets, Socks & Gift Certificates Boston Shoes to Boots South Dakota’s Medicaid Expansion Panel Is Proceeding While Waiting For Federal OK The federal government pays the full amount for IHSdelivered services but shifts some of the cost to the state PIERRE – The federal agency in charge of Medicaid government for non-IHS care hasn't issued its guidance yet of American Indian patients. If the federal government that could decide whether would pay the full share in all South Dakota proceeds instances, the money saved on Medicaid expansion in exchange for full federal pay- by state government would be used to pay the state’s ment of all American Indian healthcare services in South share of the Medicaid expansion under Daugaard’s plan. Dakota, a state official told The Medicaid expansion the panel working on the iswould cover an estimated sue Wednesday. 45,000 to 55,000 adults who State Health Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon said she live just above the poverty level. doesn’t know the timeline Daugaard, a Republican, for the federal Centers for previously opposed the exMedicare and Medicaid pansion because the federal Services to release its decision. She said federal officials government because South Dakota would be required to however seem attentive and responsive to South Dakota’s pay 10 percent of the cost starting in 2020. request. Many Republicans in the “I don’t feel we’re getting Legislature and other public brushed off at all,” Malsamoffices in South Dakota are Rysdon said. steadfastly opposed to MedThe state panel, known icaid expansion for a variety as the Health Care Solutions of reasons including that it is Coalition, met for the fifth a component of the Affordtime Wednesday and will gather again Jan. 6, one week able Care Act championed by President Barack Obama, before the start of the 2016 session of the Legislature on who is a Democrat, and it Jan. 12. The legislature’s last was passed when Democrats scheduled work day is March controlled both chambers of Congress. 29. Sen. Deb Soholt, R-Sioux Malsam-Rysdon said the Falls, said she attended the coalition members would meeting the governor held stay in touch by teleconferwith legislators in Sioux Falls ence every two weeks starton Monday. She serves on the ing in mid-January. coalition, has been president The plan under developfor the South Dakota Board of ment by the group calls for Nursing and works as direcexpanding key services that aren’t available in reservation tor for women’s health at areas to American Indian pa- Avera McKennan hospital, a supporter of expansion. tients or require substantial Soholt said legislators at travel, such as mental health, the meeting Monday raised cardiology, internal medicine, questions and philosophipsychiatry and emergency cal objections remained for telemedicine. many. One of the coalition Daugaard named the coaliparticipants, Carol Diaz, a tion members, whose number contracting officer in the now exceeds 40 participants federal Indian Health Service’s Great Plains Area office depending upon the meeting, less than three months ago. at Aberdeen, said she has The first meeting was Oct. 7. started work on behavioral “I think we’ve got a lot health services and is moving of good work done in short next to stronger emergency order,” Malsam-Rysdon told medical services. the group Wednesday at the Last week Gov. Dennis end of the teleconference Daugaard announced in his meeting. budget speech to the Legislature that he would seek approval from state lawmakers only if he has the green light from the federal government and the support of tribal Classified Ads: governments regarding the Indian Health Service piece of Friday at Noon the plan. South Dakota currently Display Ads: pays nearly half of the exFriday at 11AM penses submitted by health care providers for services provided to American Indian patients outside of the IHS system. By Bob Mercer State Capitol Bureau ' 3 HDGOLQHV Vermillion Police & Clay County Sheriff will increase DWI enforcement efforts Dec. 18th Jan. 3rd Gas • Diesel From the Friendly Folks at Holiday Early Deadlines December 29th Edition Deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 23rd at 11 a.m. January 5th Edition Deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 30th at 11 a.m. 5 W Cherry St Vermillion, SD 624-4444 The Broadcaster/Plain Talk offices will be closing at noon on Thursday, December 24 and closed all day Friday, December 25 The offices will also be closing at 3:00 on Thursday, December 31 and closed all day Friday, January 1. Happy Holidays from all of us at the... bp Since 1934 Broadcaster Press