10 Broadcaster Press March 17, 2020 www.broadcasteronline.com 6 Great Birthday Gift Ideas for Kids Under $25 (StatePoint) A happy birthday doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Here are six cool gift ideas for infants and preschoolers intended to make learning fun, all which cost under $25: • Trip to the Movies: A trip to the movies can offer little ones the thrill of a lifetime, especially if it’s their first theater experience. Movies may seem like pure entertainment, but they often offer storylines that build empathy and help kids learn right from wrong. • Dump Truck Fun: Great for children ages 6-36 months, the interactive VTech Drop & Go Dump Truck encourages motor skill development, plays melodies and phrases, and teaches numbers and colors. Kids can drop a colorful ball into the top of the dump truck and watch it tumble into the bucket, then push or pull the truck along to see the balls rumble inside. • Little Scribes: Give kids ages 3-6 years a head start on mastering their writing skills with the Write & Learn Creative Center, which provides animated demonstrations to help preschoolers learn proper stroke order for uppercase and lowercase letters, and can be customized so that children can learn to write their names step-by-step. This is a great gift option for little artists, too. Kids can choose activities that help them learn to draw, progressing from simple lines and shapes to 26 different objects or explore their creativity by drawing their own pictures with the included stencils and stamps. SDHDA Hosting Public Meeting On Housing And Community Development Plans The public meeting is an opportunity for the public to provide their comments, suggestions and changes to the draft plans. Final plans will be available by Apr. 2020. The public meeting on Mar. 17, 2020, will be available via Skype for Business. Be sure to download the application onto your device in plenty of time prior to joining the meeting. Join by Phone: 844.773.7615 Conference ID: 52561 And Join by desktop or tablet: https://meet.sdhda.org/ lorraine/y69wf57z Persons interested in making comments may do so by appearing at the public meeting on Mar. 17, 2020, or by sending written comments to SDHDA, attention Lorraine Polak, PO Box 1237, Pierre, SD 57501, by fax (605) 7735154 or emailing to Lorraine@sdhda.org. All comments on the 2019 Consolidated Plan Annual Performance Report are due by Mar. 20, 2020, at 5 p.m. Central Time. All comments on the draft of the 2020 Annual Action Plan and the 2020-2021 allocation plans are due by Apr. 8, 2020, at 5 p.m. Central Time. Copies of the draft plans may be obtained without charge from SDHDA at PO Box 1237, Pierre, SD 575011237, by calling (605) 773-3181 or by visiting SDHDA’s website at www.sdhda.org. Stories you missed this week because you’re not a Plain Talk subscriber Breaking news about the first detection of coronavirus in South Dakota. The first of a series about a lengthy report compiled by former Board of Regents President Harvey Jewett and former USD President James Abbott that states universities need more state funding. Full coverage of the University of South Dakota’s women’s basketball team claiming the Summit League Basketball Tournament Championship in Sioux Falls on March 10. And if you want to see: Updates on the number of coronavirus cases in South Dakota and steps the Vermillion community is taking to prepare for the illness. A report on candidates for local elections that are coming up this spring. As spring approaches, we’ll have a story about the condition of county roads and steps that are being taken such as load minutes or planned maintenance where needed. • Play Time: Take a trip to a local play center offering ball pits, slides, obstacles and more. Such facilities offer a fun way for kids to build strength and motor skills, and many offer monthly memberships as well as one-time entry options, giving families an affordable way to celebrate. • Pets On-the-Go: Packed with learning fun, the Care for Me Learning Carrier is an interactive pet carrier that lets little ones take their plush pet on-the-go, encouraging nurturing while learning letters, colors, shapes, pet care and more. With sliding and spinning parts, the carrier promotes motor skill development and comes with four pet care accessories so that toddlers ages 9-36 months can groom, feed and play with the puppy. • Lay a Beat: Your child can rock out and learn to keep a beat with the KidiBeats Drum Set. This drum set for kids ages 2-5 years comes with a pair of drumsticks that can be used to tap the four different electronic learning drums. Kids can drum freestyle or play along to nine pre-set melodies in a variety of musical styles including rock, dance and pop. For more structured play, toddlers can follow the lights on the drums as they learn about letters and numbers. With four ways to play and a variety of sounds, making music is fun with this educational toy. With a little imagination, you can make the next birthday special, educational, fun and affordable. 3 Things to Know About 401(k)s in 2020 (StatePoint) Workplace retirement plans, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s and 457 plans, provide an important long-term savings tool for many Americans. About 55 percent of U.S. workers across public and private sectors participated in workplace retirement plans in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Internal Revenue Service annually updates contribution limits and rules for 401(k)s and other workplace retirement plans, and its 2020 revision included several important changes. Here is what to know: • As of January 1, 2020, employees can make elective, pre-tax or Roth contributions up to $19,500 to their own workplace retirement accounts (up from $19,000 in 2019). • Individuals who are at least age 50 in 2020 may set aside an extra $6,500 in the form of pre-tax or Roth contributions (up from $6,000 in 2019) within their workplace retirement accounts. This is often referred to as a “catch-up contribution.” • The total amount (both employee and employer contributions) that can be contributed to a workplace retirement plan in 2020 cannot exceed $57,000. For employees who are eligible to make catch-up contributions, the limit is adjusted up to $63,500. Rollovers, if permitted by a workplace retirement plan, are not subject to these contribution limits. In conjunction with these new rules, financial experts say there are some distinctive opportunities for 401(k) participants to make the most of their savings plan this year. Here are three strategies to consider: 1. Do not leave money on the table. According to a Financial Engines report, nearly one out of four American workers miss out on their full 401(k) matching opportunity -- an average of $1,336 per person -- each year because they do not contribute enough to the plan. 2. Get extra credit for your plan contributions. The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (also known as the Saver’s Credit) is a tax break for individuals with modest incomes who contribute to a retirement account. In 2020, the credit will be worth up to 50 percent of the first $2,000 saved for retirement. 3. Know your own number. While it is a good ruleof-thumb to replace 60 to 80 percent of your work pay in retirement, what is the real amount that will meet your specific needs? To what extent will your plan contributions in 2020 support your personal retirement goal? Having a defined retirement goal helps shape your overall plan. A Certified Financial Planner can help you learn more about the new 401(k) contribution limits and understand how they fit into your own financial plan. You can find a CFP professional near you by visiting www. letsmakeaplan.org. Your workplace benefits specialist or retirement plan provider can also provide more information about the contribution and investment options available to help you maximize your plan. Staying on top of the year-to-year rule changes related to retirement plan contribution limits can help you to ensure you maximize your savings and meet your retirement goals. The first of a three-session camera workshop hosted by the Friends of the W. H. Over Museum for children ages 10-12 has been held. The second and third sessions will be scheduled sometime soon. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling 659-6151. There is no cost for this workshop. During the second and third sessions, participants will learn how to build a camera and a take a pin hole photograph. Again, there is no charge for this class and parents are welcome to attend. Class three will be held in late April or early May and participants will be lent a Kodak Brownie camera dating from the 1960s. After instruction on photography techniques, participants will take their camera home for a week and be provided a roll of film which will hold 12 photographs. The photographers, after using their roll of film will be responsible for having it developed; they will then decide which is their BEST print and it will be entered into a photo contest which will be judged by the museum staff. The winner will be awarded the camera they used to take their award-winning photograph plus a new roll of film. These workshops will be conducted under the direction of Lynn Muller. There are several other workshops that will be scheduled and presented after the new year starts. Please call soon, as space is limited, in order to provide adequate assistance and instruction for the participating camera buffs. Learn About Travel Counseling At Free, Weekly Class What is a travel counselor? What does a travel counselor do? What does a travel counselor need to know? Do travel counselors get paid? How do you apply to be a travel counselor? How many hours does a travel counselor work? Learn more about South Dakota travel and travel counseling with this free, weekly class at the Vermillion Public Library. The classes will be held on Thursdays from 10 to 11a.m. in the Small Conference Room. This is an excellent opportunity for seniors and other folks of retirement age. Refreshments will be served. The Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library is located at 18 Church Street, Vermillion SD. Seasonal Odd-Even Parking Impacts Portions Of Vermillion Odd-Even Parking seasonally impacts the following areas: East/West streets between Dakota and Plum (Cedar & National); North/South streets between Clark and Main (Harvard, Yale, University, Willow & Pine). This protocol allows for the streets to be plowed from curb-to-curb. Plowing curb-to-curb is crucial, because when snow is allowed to accumulate in the street, the freeze-thaw cycle can be very damaging to the pavement. Drainage problems also occur when the gutter area is clogged by snow and ice. The most important factor is safety. Many streets are bordered by parking spaces. Allowing snow to pile up in these areas can create a hazard by forcing parked cars closer and closer to traffic as subsequent storms deposit more snow. Be mindful of months that have 31 days. This results in two consecutive days of no parking. Free Exercise Class Weekly At Vermillion Public Library Folks are invited to a free exercise class at the Vermillion Public Library! Every week, USD Health Care Students and volunteers are in the Kozak Room leading healthy movement classes that emphasize reducing fall risk. While these exercises are especially helpful for senior citizens, participants of all ages are welcome. They are held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 to 9:30 am. The Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library is located at 18 Church Street, Vermillion SD. For more information please email Robert at robertceckman@gmail.com. City Will Be Pruning Trees In Public Rights Of Way City of Vermillion staff will be pruning trees in public rights of way in upcoming months, as weather permits. Properly pruned trees ensure large vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances and garbage trucks can safely navigate city streets with a clear view of traffic safety devices. All May Take Part In Dances Of Universal Peace The Dances of Universal Peace are spiritual practice in motion. Drawing on the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of many spiritual traditions of the earth, the dances blend chant, music, and movement into a living experience of unity, peace, integration and healing. All are invited to join us at the Vermillion Public Library on the second Sunday of the month, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Learn more on the Vermillion Dances of Universal Peace Facebook page! The Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library is located at 18 Church Street, Vermillion. Winter Hours Underway At Vermillion Landfill Winter hours began at the Vermillion landfill on Friday, Nov. 1, and the landfill will be closed on Saturdays. Saturday hours will resume in April 2020. Get your ad in the.. Classifieds BULL SALES SELLING 50 ANGUS BULLS Friday • 4:00PM Pick up this Friday’s Plain Talk! Local news since 1884! Here for you yesterday, today and tomorrow. ANGUS RANCH At the Ranch, Freeman, SD MARCH 27, 2020 RothAngusRanch.com Stop by & view the bulls anytime! 818 Cottage Avenue, Vermillion, SD 57069 605-624-2695 Camera Workshop For Children Planned At W.H. Over Museum Free 250 Mile Delivery/Hauling Discount • Volume Discount 42879 277th St., Freeman, SD 57029 • 605-925-4650 Cell 605-359-9220 • crangus@gwtc.net • Cody 605-999-8670 Today! CALL 624-4429 ••• FAX 624-2696 ••• EMAIL classifieds@plaintalk.net ••• ONLINE BroadcasterOnline.com ••• DROP BY 818 Cottage Ave., Vermillion 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion