Armour, SD

Armour’s Lorain Theatre will be showing The Final Season November 2-3-4. I think it’s worth mentioning on the blog because the movie has a small town theme and the plot contains elements that could easily play out in a community the size of Armour — specifically the prospect of a school consolidation and what effect that would have on a town.

In the small town of Norway, Iowa, everyone comes together for high school baseball. But life throws curve balls; and the passionate young players, rookie coach Kent Stock (Sean Astin), and the hometown fans find that life’s greatest challenges strike off the diamond. The Final Season is the true story of a coach who inspired his team and brought hope to a town when they needed it most.

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The next PTT meeting will be Nov 7 at the Armour Fire Hall. We will have a speaker for Teen Depression and Suicide. We will also discuss the school board and state decision on the Breakfast Program Proposal. We look forward to seeing as many parents and teachers as we can. It is very informative and it helps to get different opinions on what we can do to improve our school. We had a great success with the Spintacular and the CHIP identification programs that we sponsored in October.
Nicole Neugebauer

Armour doesn’t have a motel. Well, that’s technically not true. A small portion of our motel is still in operation, but it’s only two rooms. At various times members of the community have looked into the possibility of building a new motel, but … wow … is that ever expensive!

So, we got creative. We came up with a way to create a new form of lodging that will enhance a community asset that is already successful. Armour has a great Lions Park (located on the north end of town just east of Highway 281) with a bathhouse and campsites. It’s adjacent to Lake Alcazar, which is a scenic area on the east edge of town.

We were familiar with the success that the State of South Dakota has had using prison labor to build cabins that are placed in our state parks. If prisoners can do it, so can we. So, one of our long-term Horizons projects is to build a couple of cabins in Lions Park. This project is right up the Horizons alley because we’ll use volunteer labor and buy all our supplies from our local merchants to build a new asset for our community.

Horizons member Kevin Leonard summed up the value of working together on the cabin project at a meeting of the Armour Community Development Corporation.

“When you get people doing stuff like that together, it accomplishes more than you realize.”

Kevin’s right — strengthening our bonds as a community will make Armour a better place to live.

The Amour Community Development Corporation (ACDC) met Thursday, October 25, and discussed a variety of topics. Earlier this year the ACDC declared housing as its top priority. The group has a 96′x142′ building site that is available for new home construction. The parcel could be divided into two residential lots and a lot would be FREE to anyone willing to construct a traditional stick-built home on the site.

One of the long-term Horizons projects is to create new housing in our community. So, the oppotunity to work with the ACDC couldn’t come at a better time.

Armour has always excelled at coming together when something needs to get done. Our movie theater is a community project that has enjoyed the support of individuals and organizations for eight years now. We know the value of working together.

So, we have some land and we needs some houses … what’s next?

The Siouxland Community Blood Bank will be in Armour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Douglas County 4-H Building. 

The Mitchell (South Dakota) Area Development Corporation recently launched a Web site aimed at luring people to move to Mitchell to fill open jobs. Take a few moments to browse the site by clicking the link in the previous sentence. What do you think?

Would a similar Web site be of benefit to Armour? One of the many discussions we’ve had during our Horizons meetings has been about attracting new residents to our community. Housing is also one of our long-term Horizons projects.

If you look beneath this post there is some tiny type. Look closely and you’ll see how many comments have been posted in response to this post. Don’t be shy. Click on the comments and it will open a new link for you to post your opinions. This blog is just another place for our Horizons dialog to continue.

As you know, the Armour Community Foundation has been challenged to raise $20,000 by June 30, 2008. If that goal is met, an anonymous donor will provide $10,000 in matching funds. We have received some great donations toward this goal and want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed thus far. But to meet this challenge, we are going to need help from everyone in our community.

I have heard many people say they don’t give to things like this because they can’t afford to make a large gift–they feel like their gift won’t matter. But I am here to tell you, that’s wrong! Every gift does count! Large or small, YOUR gift will make a difference.

If each of the 700 people who live in Armour supported the Armour Community Foundation with a $20 gift this year, that would amount to $14,000!!! Think of that!

Remember, the money that is donated to the Armour Community Foundation is going to be spent to help the projects of non-profit organizations in the ARMOUR COMMUNITY. We need YOU!!! To help us meet the challenge goal, send donations to: Armour Community Foundation, PO Box 333, Armour, SD  57313.

THANK YOU for supporting Armour!!!!

The Horizons Committee for improvements at the Lions Park and Lake Alcazar will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, at the Fire Hall.

The Armour Horizons Housing Committee Meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, at D&D Bowl.

Armour’s annual Christmas Promotion has been scheduled for Saturday, December 1. Please mark your calendars and watch this blog for further updates and a schedule of events.