Broadcaster Press 5 January 29, 2019 www.broadcasteronline.com Hanson Elected To Lead PUC Stretch Your SNAP Funds With These SDSU Extension Tips BROOKINGS, S.D. - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Purdue, authorized the early release of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. January 20, 2019, more than 93,250 South Dakotans who depend upon SNAP to help feed themselves and their families will receive their February SNAP funds. This is not an additional benefit. The early release is due to the partial government shutdown. We do not know how long the shutdown will last, even if it ends in February, individuals still won’t receive their benefits until March 10. Receiving food assistance early could create a challenge, explained Kimberly Wilson, Family & Community Health Field Specialist, who works with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) & SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed). Typically, SNAP recipients would receive these funds February 10. “South Dakotans need to make these dollars last, because this is their February payment,” said Wilson, of the funds designed to supplement a grocery budget by about $4 per-person-per-day. “Because these funds are only designed to provide a percentage of the money necessary to feed a family, sadly, for many families, when they receive SNAP benefits January 20, their accounts may already beempty.” Wilson is among a team of SDSU Extension staff who are working with South Dakotans to help them stretch their SNAP funds. The SDSU Extension nutrition team is available in locations across South Dakota to meet over the phone or one-on-one with individuals and help them create low-cost, healthy meal plans. SNAP funds don’t expire – plan to make them last Once SNAP funds are issued, they are good for 12 months. They do not expire for a year and do not have to be used the same month they are issued. To help stretch the grocery budget, Prairey Walkling, SDSU Extension Family & Community Health Field Specialist, said to begin by meal planning. “Meal planning allows you to take advantage of sales offered at grocery stores, it reduces the number of trips you make to the grocery store and, it allows you to plan healthy, low-cost meals,” said Walkling, who meal plans for her family of four a week at a time. “I encourage making a plan for five, low-cost main dishes. If you have ingredients you need for five main dishes, then you can re-purpose left-overs for the PIERRE, S.D. – Commissioner Gary Hanson was elected chairman of the other two days in a week.” South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Evidence-based tips to stretch SNAP at the commission’s regular meeting on funds Jan. 8, 2019, in Pierre, South Dakota. This Below, Walkling and Wilson provide will be Hanson’s sixth time serving as the evidence-based tips to meal planning and commission’s chair, having previously more. held the position in 2014, 2013, 2011, When meal planning be sure to: 2008 and 2005. Commissioner Chris Nel•Know how many people will be at son was elected vice chairman. The third every meal. member of the panel is Commissioner •Plan menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner Kristie Fiegen. and snacks, writing down all ingredients “I enjoy serving the public in this role needed to prepare each item. very much. It’s extremely interesting and •Check your cupboards, refrigerator rewarding,” said Hanson. “I am very, very and freezer for items you already have. If proud of the work my fellow commisyou do not need it, do not buy it. sioners and I have done in the last year. •Organize your list by the layout of the I appreciate their confidence in me,” he store - this will keep you from backtracking stated. and possibly buying items not on your list. Hanson, currently serving his third, •Buy canned or frozen fruits and vegeta- six-year term on the commission, was bles rather than fresh. Canned and frozen first elected to the PUC in 2002 and was often cost less and will last longer. re-elected in 2008 and 2014. He rep•Plan the use of leftovers. When safely resents South Dakota on the National handled, leftovers can be used in casseAssociation of Regulatory Utility Commisroles, soups, for snacks and in lunch boxes. sioners' Committee on Electricity, is vice When meal planning try to avoid: president of the Mid-America Regulatory •Pre-packaged (convenience) foods like Conference and has held many additional bagged salads and individually wrapped leadership positions with other utility slices of cheese. These items are usually organizations. more expensive. Nelson was appointed to the PUC in •Frozen or boxed meals. These usually 2011 by Gov. Dennis Daugaard. South contain a lot of fat, sugar and sodium and Dakota voters elected him to continue can cost up to twice as much more as mak- his service for the remaining four years ing it at home. of his term in 2012 and elected him to a •Fruits and vegetables that are already full, six-year term in 2016. Nelson served cut - they are usually a lot more expensive as the commission’s chairman in 2012, •Junk food (candy, sodas, chips…) 2015 and 2016. He is on the Board of Also: Look at serving sizes of each pack- Directors for the National Association of age to determine how much food you will Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the get from that item. Remember, prepared foods cost more than unprepared foods. Lettuce will cost less than bagged salad, just as a chunk of cheese will cost less than grated cheese. Buying fresh potatoes and preparing them yourself is usually cheaper than instant mashed potatoes. To learn more about how to stretch your grocery budget or SNAP funds, PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota contact one of the eight SDSU Extension Regional Centers. Find contact information Senior Health Information and Insurance for SDSU Extension Regional Centers online Education (SHIINE) program is currently seeking volunteers for all aspects of the or below: SHIINE program. Aberdeen: 605.626.7120 Volunteer counselors are vital to the Lemmon: 605.374.4177 success of the program, as they provide Mitchell: 605.995.7378 opportunities for seniors to discuss their Pierre: 605.773.8120 Medicare questions and concerns in Rapid City: 605.394.2236 person. Watertown: 605.882.6300 SHIINE volunteers receive training on Winner: 605.842.1267 all parts of Medicare and learn how to Sioux Falls: 605.782.3290 provide one-on-one Medicare counseling. National Regulatory Research Institute and was appointed to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service by the Federal Communications Commission. “I’m looking forward to continuing to serve South Dakotans alongside Commissioners Hanson and Fiegen. I’m excited about the opportunity for us to do good work for the people of our state,” said Nelson. Fiegen was also appointed to the commission in 2011 by Gov. Dennis Daugaard. She was elected to her first, full term in 2012 and was re-elected in 2018. Fiegen, who was the commission chair in 2017 and 2018, currently serves as secretary/ treasurer of the Southwest Power Pool's Regional State Committee and serves on several committees relating to natural gas and public safety. Fiegen reflected on Hanson’s experience and contributions to the commission. “Not only does he bring a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to the commission, but he has earned the respect of South Dakotans by being re-elected over and over,” Fiegen stated. “It is a delight to work with this team,” she concluded. Prior to joining the PUC, all three commissioners had a long history of public service. Hanson served as the mayor of Sioux Falls from 1994 to 2002 and served as a South Dakota state senator for three terms. Nelson was South Dakota’s secretary of state from 2003 to 2011 and Fiegen was president of Junior Achievement of South Dakota for 17 years and served four terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives. SHIINE Program Seeking Volunteers All services are unbiased and confidential. To learn more about becoming a SHIINE volunteer, please visit www.shiine.net or call 605-394-2276. SHIINE is a federal program designed to help individuals with questions about Medicare and protecting their benefits. SHIINE is funded through the Administration for Community Living and administered by the South Dakota Department of Human Services Division of Long Term Services and Supports. Highway Patrol Accepting Trooper Applications Now PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s Highway Patrol is looking for as many new troopers as it can hire. Applications are now being accepted for the Patrol’s next hiring period. Deadline to apply is Feb. 28. “We are planning to hire a large class so we are encouraging all those men and women who are thinking about pursuing a career with the Highway Patrol to apply,” says Department of Public Safety Secretary Craig Price. “Due to retirements and other departures, we have positions to fill throughout the state.” The Highway Patrol’s hiring and training process takes about a year to complete. The hiring period includes written and physical tests, interviews and other examinations. Once the recruits are hired, those who are not currently certified as law enforcement officers in South Dakota or another state must first attend the 13-week South Dakota Law Enforcement Training Academy. That is followed by the South Dakota Highway Patrol Recruit Academy which lasts 10 weeks and is followed by another 10 weeks training in the field. “This is a lengthy and detailed process, but it is designed to be that way,” says Secretary Price. “We want to find the most talented people we can find.” Recruiting seminars for women in- terested in joining the Highway Patrol will be held later this month in Aberdeen, Rapid City, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Watertown. Additional details on those seminars will be announced at a later date. Those hired in this next period will begin training later this fall. A current nine-member Highway Patrol recruit class, which started last year, will graduate in April. People with questions about the hiring process can call the Highway Patrol Training Division at 605-7732231. The Highway Patrol is part of the Department of Public Safety. 1-year 2-year 3-year 2.50 2.65 2.90 Minimum deposit $5,000 Minimum deposit $5,000 Minimum deposit $5,000 * Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 01/24/2019. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can 3.5” x decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can loseprincipal value. 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximumdoes not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be FDIC insurance Font Size: 30 pt permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC). Have 403(b) Have 403(b) Financial strategies. Financial strategies. questions? Let’s talk. questions? Let’s talk. One-on-one advice. One-on-one advice. CurtCurt Robinson Robinson Financial Curt Financial Curt Robinson Advisor CurtRobinson Advisor . Robinson . Financial Advisor Financial 23 Market Street Street Advisor Financial 23 Market Advisor Call Today! 624-4429 Vermillion, SD 5706957069 Vermillion, SD 23 Market Street 23 Market Street Street 605-624-2028 23 Market 605-624-2028 Vermillion, SD 57069 Vermillion, SD 57069 www.edwardjones.com Vermillion, SD 57069 www.edwardjones.com 605-624-2028 605-624-2028 605-624-2028 www.edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com A story about the need for applicants to occupy the first Habitat for Humanity house in Vermillion. The three-bedroom home under construction at 310 Washington Street should be ready to live in later this year, although work is being halted on the project until a family is in place. Coverage of the flu season in South Dakota this year – the good news is it’s not as bad as last year, at least so far. News that the results of a community center feasibility study will be announced in Vermillion at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Vermillion Public Library. Place an ad. Make money. It works! Stories you missed this week because you’re not a Plain Talk subscriber And if you want to see: A report from Monday’s meeting of the Vermillion School Board. News of the recent success of members of Robotics of Vermillion (ROV), Vermillion’s newest robotics club operating out of downtown Vermillion. A report about a financial pledge made by the Vermillion City Council to the National Music Museum to help fund the building expansion project of the museum. Pick up this Friday’s Plain Talk! Local news since 1884! Here for you yesterday, today and tomorrow. Patrick M Higgins Patrick M Higgins Financial AdvisorAdvisor Financial 7 W. Cherry Street Street 7 W. Cherry Vermillion, SD 57069 57069 Vermillion, SD 605-658-0205 605-658-0205 www.edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion, SD 57069 605-624-2695 Member SIPC Member SIPC Home of Great Results since 1934 201 W Cherry St. • Vermillion, SD • Phone: 624-4429 Fax: 624-2696 • BroadcasterOnline.com