Latest news with #Platte
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Platte takes center stage for annual Energize conference
May 9—PLATTE, S.D. — More than 150 people from across South Dakota walked the streets of Platte this week, not just for the scenery, but to share and exchange ideas at the seventh annual Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities conference. This two-day event, held from May 6-7, brought together entrepreneurs, community leaders and visionaries to explore ways to stimulate economic growth and foster creativity in small towns. The conference featured a keynote address, 13 breakout sessions held across local businesses and a panel discussion with young entrepreneurs who shared their experiences of launching businesses in rural America. Hosted by SDSU Extension, Energize rotates annually between East and West River communities of 5,000 or fewer residents. In 2024, the event was held in Hot Springs, and next year it will return to a West River town. One of the unique aspects of the event is its "walking conference" model. Breakout sessions took place in 13 different local businesses, giving attendees a chance to discover the host community while learning directly from local business owners. According to SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist Kellie Kolb, this format creates opportunities for networking and informal conversations, allowing visitors to connect with the community on a personal level. Brooke Meyerink, owner of Platte Floral and Rentals, opened her business to a group of visitors, sharing her story and the challenges and rewards of running a small-town business. "Why not? I'm very proud of my business, so to let others see it is an accomplishment for me," Meyerink said. Donna Travis, president of the Melcher Museum board, welcomed visitors to explore Platte's history while connecting the past to the community's future. "We are proud of our Historical Museum. It focuses on the history of Platte since it became a town in 1900. In addition to supporting the Chamber of Commerce with this event, we hope that attendees — and local residents — will learn something about our town's history and feel encouraged to tour the museum and support it with financial donations," Travis said. Ashley Vargas, executive director for the Platte Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the tangible benefits of hosting the event. "It's a positive for the whole community. Not only does it bring attention to Platte, but it also gives local businesses an opportunity to showcase what they offer," Vargas said. Beyond the conference sessions, local food, arts and entertainment were showcased during catered refreshment breaks and an evening social, offering attendees a chance to immerse themselves in the community's culture. This focus on local spending has proven beneficial for host towns: in 2024, the conference generated an estimated $34,000 to $40,000 in economic activity in Hot Springs, with similar benefits expected in Platte this year. A central theme of the conference was the increasing role of emerging business leaders in rural areas. The final session of the conference featured a panel discussion with three young women who have already made their mark on small-town business. Trinity Kimball, 16, is the owner of Platte Creek Grooming, a dog grooming business she started with mentorship from local professionals and funding from bake sales. Despite the challenges of starting a business at a young age, Kimball has gained valuable skills in time management, animal care and business operations. "Starting a business so young means learning a lot on the fly," she said. "But it's about asking questions and learning from those around you." Samantha Ford, 21, from Mount Vernon, has a unique mix of business ventures that reflect her diverse passions. By day, she's a farm bookkeeper, helping local farmers manage their finances, but by night, she's a silversmith, crafting jewelry in her spare time. Ford enjoys moving from one project to the next and thrives on the variety her work offers. "I can't handle a typical 9-to-5 job. I need something different every day," Ford explained. Ford spoke about the importance of persistence in entrepreneurship, noting that success comes from showing up and putting in the work, day after day. "You can have a million ideas, but if you don't follow through, nothing will happen," she said. Erica Ingerson, 21, from Eureka, runs Red Fox CNC, a custom machining business she launched with help from her father and mentorship at Mitchell Technical College. Despite working in a male-dominated industry, Ingerson has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship. "Small towns are all about reputation," she said. "If you wouldn't buy it, don't sell it." Ingerson has big plans to grow her business, including adding a CNC mill and a laser machine to expand her services. She's also aiming to enter the manufacturing of gun parts, something that aligns with her love of hunting. Ryan VanZee, an instructor at Mitchell Technical College, emphasized the role of young entrepreneurs in shaping the future of rural communities. "These young entrepreneurs are redefining what it means to do business in rural America," VanZee said. "They're creative, resilient, and driven by a desire to contribute to their communities. They're the future of rural development." One of the new additions to the conference this year was a breakout session dedicated to rural tourism, something that SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Director Peggy Schlechter said is easily overlooked. "People forget, if they have a sporting event, a festival, hunting or even a family reunion — that's tourism," Schlechter said. "All communities in South Dakota have tourism." As applications open for the 2026 Energize conference, organizers are looking for West River communities with populations under 5,000 to host the event. Forms for interested towns are due by July 31, 2025. SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist Kara Harders hopes attendees left this year's conference with new ideas and a renewed sense of energy for their work back home. "One of the coolest things about Energize is that it's by a small community, for a small community," she said. "If they only take one thing away from the conference, as long as they leave energized and can implement that now for forever, the time return, money return and enjoyment return on it can be incredible."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Licking County governments in legal fight over proposal to address growth
GRANVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Licking County municipalities are at odds over control of resources as development shakes up small Ohio communities. Johnstown, Alexandria and Granville united under the Municipal Utility Coalition of Licking County, a water and wastewater treatment coalition intended to give the local governments more control amid rapid development. On May 1, the coalition announced a services plan and submitted it to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for review. The same day, Jersey Township sued the coalition for allegedly developing the plan out of the public eye, and some residents worry the plan will raise taxes. The coalition proposed short- and long-term solutions for centralized wastewater treatment in west and northwest Licking County. The plan accounts for the significant growth the area is projected to see and expands water treatment system capacity. If approved by the Ohio EPA, it would cost $108.3 million over the next five years, and $327.5 million over the next 20 years. East Columbus development sparks resident concerns Jersey Township and Township Administrator Rob Platte sued the coalition governments, alleging the utility proposal was discussed in violation of the Open Meetings Act by discussing the plan in executive sessions without public input. Jersey Township and Platte are asking for $500 per violation and for all decisions made in those meetings to be declared invalid. According to the complaint, the governments discussed the utility plan without reflecting those discussions in official meeting minutes. Platte and Jersey Township allege the other governments entered executive session for 'imminent court action' but instead discussed the utilities plan, violating public meeting law. Granville, Johnstown and Alexandria mayors 'vigorously' denied the lawsuit's allegations. The mayors also said a Jersey Township trustee threatened litigation against the city of Johnstown in July 2024, which city leaders said contradicted claims made in the lawsuit. 'If Mr. Platte and Jersey Township are serious about a sustainable future they could be part of the solution. Our door remains open,' Johnstown Mayor Donny Barnard said. Major tech developments from companies like Google, Intel and Amazon are helping spur rapid growth in western Licking County. In November, Granville Village Manager Herb Koehler said the Coalition was formed to give local municipalities a seat at the table amid development. Koehler said the utility coalition prioritizes community needs in important discussions about growth. Moreno on immigration, Trump, stocks Jersey Township is not covered by the Municipal Utility Coalition and instead gets its water services from the Licking Regional Water District. This year, the Licking Regional Water District expanded its board of trustees, including a new representative from Jersey Township. Jersey Township is not the only Licking County organization concerned with the utility expansion proposal. The Licking County Conservatives spoke out against the plan on Facebook, fearing it could invite even more development or drive municipalities to bankruptcy. The group also condemned the Coalition's delay in presenting the plan to the public. The Coalition disagrees, saying the plan will allow affordable, locally controlled resources amid development. Koehler said the new water plan was based on the Licking County FRAMEWORK report, which was developed by local residents, businesses and governments to balance growth while maintaining local character. 'We want to encourage thoughtful, organic growth while ensuring that our local schools and other critical community needs are not neglected,' Koehler said. 'Our 'inside-out' approach will allow us to increase treatment capacity and construct centralized sewers as the need arises, allowing us to keep sewer rates affordable.' The lawsuit is pending in Licking County Common Pleas Court. The Coalition's plan awaits feedback from the Ohio EPA, after which the Coalition will submit a final plan the the agency. Once the final version is submitted, the Ohio EPA will make a recommendation to the Governor's office, which will then request approval from the national EPA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Voices of Veterans: Captain Claude Platte shares his story of service in the US Army Air Corps during WWII
Apr. 4—AUSTIN — Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dr. Dawn Buckingham on April 4 introduced the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. This week, they highlight the service of Tuskegee Airman Captain Claude Platte, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Platte grew up in a time of segregation and recalled as a child what that was like and what went through his curious young mind. "One of the main things I remember that encouraged me was in a situation where there were colored signs and white signs and black fountains and white fountains and I had been taught that when I saw a colored sign that is where I was supposed to be or drink water," he explained. "One day I saw a little white boy drinking out of the colored fountain-the black fountain, his father scolded him, but doing so, I became curious. Why couldn't I drink out of the white fountain? And what was wrong? When no one was looking, I decided that I would drink out of the white fountain. And when I did, my biggest shock and surprise was — the water was the same, there was no difference." Platte said he decided he wanted to learn how to fly when he was young and never forgot the moment that influenced him the most, standing out front of his boyhood home as an aircraft flew by. "I saw an airplane hovering very low and I could see the pilot flying over and it dawned on me that I could go and see the other side of the area, outside the segregated area, or even go all over the world if I wanted to see what it looked like so I decided this is what I wanted to do, is fly," he explained. It was the moment that changed the course of Platte's life, sending him in a direction that allowed him to be a teacher of men, to pilots that too had that dream of flying for their country. After graduating from I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth, Platte left Texas for Tuskegee, Alabama. "When I arrived at Tuskegee my biggest shock when I got there was, Tuskegee had the only VA hospital for Negroes in the country; they were all manned by black doctors and white nurses and so forth. The other thing that was very interesting was Dr. George Washington Carver was there. Because of George Washington Carver and the peanut, I got an opportunity to see people like President Roosevelt, Lena Horn, Joe Lewis and all these VIP people that come through Tuskegee on tour so to speak," he recalled, adding meeting those people encouraged him to go farther than he had ever imagined. Platte said even though he was still interested in flying he enrolled in, what was known at the time, as Mechanical Industries because he wanted to be an engineer. It wasn't until about 1939 when President Roosevelt enlisted the Army Air Corps and the War Department to organize better security for the United States. "They in return got six black colleges to take part in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) and Tuskegee was one of them," Platte recalled. "In that program that's where I was able to earn my private license, a commercial license, and a flight instructor's license." Platte would, as an instructor, go on to train more than 300 black pilots. When asked why he would decide to train others than live out his boyhood dream of flying, he said he didn't look at it as a decision, rather a chance to do something incredible. "It wasn't a decision. I felt that I had an opportunity to be an instructor. But the same thing may happen to me, I might decide to be a cadet and I may not make I better take what I got and enjoy that while I could," Platte said. Platte also formed the DFW Tuskegee Airmen Chapter in May 2005 to help educate people at home. In 2007, he, along with his fellow surviving airmen, received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush. Click here to listen to Captain Platte tell his story.
