Jill's Journal: A girl on a mission ... many missions, that is

Last week, I was a girl on a mission. The day of the week, however, dictated the mission I was on.

As always, Mondays and Tuesdays are largely dedicated to production of our shopper, the Brandon Valley Trader, and Tuesdays, the Brandon Valley Journal take precedence.

That evening, I was at the local VFW helping with food prep for the Ed Polzine Wild Game Feed Fund’s 41st annual event that was held this past Saturday. 

The next morning, I rolled out of bed, packed up an overnight bag and headed to Pierre for two days. The first day was dedicated to Brandon Day at the Legislature. We met with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, followed by a meeting with Public Utilities Commission Chairman Chris Nelson.

Once the bus bound for Brandon departed the Capitol grounds, I headed to my hotel, or what I thought was my hotel.  (I’m blaming that on a bladder ready to release.)

The short explanation for my miscue was an open parking spot I spied close to the front door – saving grace for a bladder about to explode – and quickly realized (well, once we discovered this particular hotel didn’t have a room reserved in my name – I was at the wrong hotel.

That evening,  I joined forces with my South Dakota News Media colleagues for dinner with the Lt. Governor. 

 My second day in our Capitol City was News Media Day at the Legislature. While in Pierre, I was asked to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee – chaired by none other than District 2 Senator Steve Kolbeck – early Thursday morning regarding an anti-SLAPP bill (you can read about that elsewhere in this issue), followed by an SDNA board meeting, then serving up some good will in the House and Senate lobbies, and finally, back on the road to Brandon for another night of food prep at the VFW.

I confess, I hibernated at home on Friday evening, first watching the Lady Lynx defeat Rapid City Central, followed by the boys’ game, which I must admit, I fell asleep during half-time, but was happy to learn the next day, they, too, came away with a win. 

Saturday was Game Feed “go time”, and from the estmated 350 folks we fed and the funds we raised, this girl on a mission had conquered it all, and now needs a nap.