Talk of the Town

Early voting now

underway

South Dakota voters can now cast ballots for the Nov. 5 general election. 

Voters in Minnehaha County can file absentee ballots with the county auditor’s office, located in the administration building at 415 N. Dakota Ave. in Sioux Falls.

Voters can also have an absentee ballot mailed to them.

Those who wish to submit absentee ballots by mail should complete a request form, which is available on the secretary of state’s website. From sdsos.gov, click on the absentee voting link. The forms must be either notarized or include a copy of the voter’s state-issued identification card or driver’s license.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 21. Details are available at county auditor offices or the secretary of state’s website. Click on the register to vote/update voter registration link.

Sample ballots are available at county auditor offices or the secretary of state’s voter portal website, vip.sdsos.gov. Sample ballots include a list of all races and ballot measures individualized for voters based on where they are registered. 

Fish Fry, gun raffle

Saturday at VFW

The Ed Polzine Wild Game Feed is serving up a fish fry from 4:30-6:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Brandon VFW. Free will offering will be accepted.

At 7 p.m. is the drawing for the “30 Guns in 30 Minutes Raffle.” Only 300 tickets are sold for this raffle, and tickets are still  available. They can be purchased at the Brandon VFW, the Brandon Valley Journal office, or from any committee member.

The Ed Polzine Wild Game Feed group raises funds to donate to local area children and adults impacted by cancer and other life-impacting events, and local causes.

Girl Scouts host STEM-focused BIG Event

Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons STEM-focused BIG Event is 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

The BIG Event is an opportunity to see how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related activities can be applied in the career field. STEM experiences help develop critical thinking skills, increase science literacy and cultivate the next generation of innovators.

Tickets are $12 for children K-12. Pre-K youth and adults are admitted free. 

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit gsdakotahorizons.org.

Oct. 26 is last outdoor Brandon Farmers’ Market

The Brandon Farmers Market, open every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 925 N. Splitrock Blvd., will have its final outdoor market on Saturday, Oct. 26. Along with all of the vendor sales that day, there will be a Trunk or Treat for the kids.  

To learn more, visit brandonsdfarmersmarket.com, email brandonsdfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call (605) 940-7516.

Eminija Mounds is next history topic

Brandon Historical Society invites the public to learn more about the Eminija mounds south of the city on Sunday, Oct. 13. The history night begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Brandon Valley High School Community Room. It is open to the public and refreshments will be provided.

Free kickboxing classes at Circuit Fitness

Circuit Fitness is offering free kickboxing classes from 8-8:45 a.m. on Saturdays during the school year.

Circuit also offers free senior try-it low impact classes. They are offered the first week of the month, Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m.-9:15 p.m.

Current needs at the Brandon Food Pantry

Current needs at the Brandon Food Pantry are laundry detergent (78 oz. bottles preferred), toothpaste and single toothbrushes, shampoo, bar soap, crackers (saltine and snack), cereal, pancake mix and syrup, jams/jellies, canned soups (Pantry has an ample supply of chicken noodle and tomato).

Donors are asked to check expiration dates on items. The Pantry is not in the practice of dispersing items that have expired.

To make appointments for pickups or donations, call 582-7001. The BAFP is open from 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Used eye glasses and hearing aids for the Brandon Lions Club may also be dropped off at the BAFP.

Leaf drop-off days scheduled

The city of Brandon is once again sponsoring a series of free leaf drop-off days. From 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 19, Nov. 2 and 16, Brandon city residents may bring bags and cans of leaves and leaf mulch to the McHardy Park parking lot. Marv’s Sanitary Service will have trucks on hand for the leaves and leaf much.

Only leaves, mulch, pumpkins, veggies and garden items will be accepted. No branches, loose leaves or tarps will be accepted.

Rake the Town on tap for Oct. 25

Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is once again leading the charge to “Rake the Town” on Friday, Oct. 25. Individuals, businesses and organizations that wish to volunteer should register online, https://forms.gle/XrubDhMo9gRysa5CA. Raking begins at 8 a.m. and continues through 5 p.m. Volunteers may take part for a few hours or the entire day.

Elderly and disabled residents in need of having their yard raked should email admin@brandonvalleychamber.com or call (605) 582-7400 to register.

Donations of bottled water or pre-packaged snacks for the volunteers are also welcomed.

Brandon PO has new phone number

The Brandon Post Office has a new phone number. The number is (605) 349-4443. 

Brandon MOPS is now MomCo of Brandon 

The MomCo of Brandon, formerly MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), now has two meetup options: 6-8 p.m. Thursdays and 9-11 a.m. Fridays. Gatherings are held twice a month at Brandon Valley Assembly of God.

MomCo of Brandon is a community of moms, from pregnancy through moms of school-aged kids, supporting each other through the seasons of motherhood. MomCo of Brandon is a non-denominational faith-based organization that believes better moms make a better world, and are committed to making sure every mom knows you are not alone.

To learn more, visit MomCo of Brandon on Facebook or email brandonmomco@gmail.com. 

Register for city’s new mass notification system

Register for mass notifications on general alerts from the city, including snow, lawn watering, etc.), pool, elections, summer rec, Core and Rushmore projects. Residents may specify which notifications they want to receive.

The system code may take a few minutes to be sent to individual’s inbox, so city advises to wait for the code before asking it to resend. 

This notification system replaces the city’s previous texting program.

To register, visit https://cityofbrandon.org/notifications

City text notification system in Valley Springs

To stay abreast of city-related notifications in Valley Springs, text “alerts” to (605) 250-3221.

Residents in Valley Springs can stay abreast of emergencies, water shut downs, snow removal, etc. by texting “alerts” to (605) 250-3221.

Current lawn watering restrictions

Timely rainfall as city of Brandon water customers in stage 1 (green) of lawn watering restrictions. The even/odd schedules allow users with even-numbered addresses to water on even-number calendar dates; users with odd-numbered address are allowed to water on odd-numbered calendar dates.

Water restriction stages and other updates are posted on the city website and Facebook pages. 

Free senior fitness classes

Circuit Fitness, 1124 E. Holly Blvd., Brandon, will offers free senior fitness 55-plus try-it classes from 7:30-8:15 a.m. the first week of August. The low-impact classes are all about gaining strength, balance and agility. Mondays and Wednesdays are dedicated to strength, conditioning, agility; Tuesdays and Thursdays are yoga classes; and Fridays alternates between fitness and yoga.

To learn more, email info@circuitSD.com. 

Brandon Senior Citizens

The Brandon Senior Citizens meet at 12:30 p.m. every Thursday at the VFW for Bingo, cards socializing and coffee. All seniors are welcome. 

Al-Anon meetings in Brandon

Al-Anon meets from 7:30-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Brandon Lutheran Church, 600 E. Holly Blvd.

Monthly meetings at the Brandon VFW

Four military service-related organizations – Three Rivers VFW Post 4726, the VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion Post 318 and its Auxiliary Unit – all meet at the Brandon VFW, 321 S. Main St.

Brandon American Legion meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. The VFW Auxiliary meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. The VFW Post meetings start at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month, and the Legion Auxiliary meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

City government and school board meetings

The Brandon City Council conducts two meetings each month in the Commission Chambers at City Hall on Main Avenue, beginning at 6 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month. They also meet at 4 p.m. the Thursday prior to the Monday meeting for their briefing meeting. 

The Valley Springs City Commission meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Valley Springs Legion Hall.

The Brandon Valley Board of Education meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the BV High School Community Room. The Board only meets once in July and December.

As required, time for public comment is made available at each of these meetings.

Valley Springs branch/leaf site open Tuesdays, Saturdays

Beginning the last half of April (weather permitting), Valley Springs residents may bring leaves, grass clippings and branches to the city brush site from 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. The site is monitored and is available to city residents only. Proof of address is required.

Users are asked to place leaves and grass in the designated area (no bags) and tree limbs and branches should be place on the brush pile. No trash or concrete is allowed by dumped at the site. 

Valley Springs Library offers craft, activity bags

The Valley Springs Library has craft and activity bags available twice a month to pick up and bring home.
The public computer is available for use during open hours of City Hall and the Library. Library Hours are 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Volunteer drivers sought to deliver meals in Brandon

Active Generations and the Meals on Wheels program is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver meals in Brandon Monday through Friday. The approximate delivery time is noo-1:15 p.m. Schedules may be flexible (i.e. weekly, bi-weekly, one time per month or substitute driver).

To learn more, call (605) 333-3305 or email slocke@activegen.org.

Brandon Transit available to all

Brandon Transit is a public transportation service that is available to all. Services are provided from approximately 7:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Brandon Transit provides rides to medical and dental appointments, therapy, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, nutrition sites, governmental offices, day care, preschool, employment, shopping areas, and grocery stores. The fee is $2 per ride or $4 round trip. 

To schedule a ride, contact Brandon Transit at least one day in advance at 582-3553 between 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

TOPS open to all

The Brandon chapter of TOPS, “Take Off Pounds Sensibly,” meets at 9 a.m. Mondays at Brandon Lutheran Church, 600 E. Holly Blvd. Participants should park in the east parking lot and use the main entrance, far right door. Once inside, turn right and follow the positive and uplifting conversation. 

TOPS is for both men and women, and the group’s purpose is to encourage, motivate and support one another.

Brandon Farmers Market 

The Brandon Farmers Market is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday through October in the Lippert parking lot at 915 N. Splitrock Blvd. To learn more, check out the Brandon Farmers Market Facebook page for vendors and other weekly events.