A look at news from around the region, as reported by weekly newspapers:
Avon, White Lake, Oacoma area
SHORTER POST OFFICE HOURS START SOON FOR AREA TOWNS: Effective Jan. 10, the Avon and White Lake post offices will have six hours of service each weekday and three Oacoma area post offices will move down to four hours per day, the U.S. Postal Service has announced.
In Avon, the post office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. during weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
White Lake will have similar hours, to be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and open from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The post office previously had the service window open eight hours per day.
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For residents of Oacoma, Gann Valley and Lower Brule, their post offices will be open four hours per weekday and varying hours on Saturdays.
The cutback decisions were made following survey responses and input from a community meeting as part of the postal service's POST plan to reduce hours at low use facilities.
A U.S. Postal Service spokesman told the Chamberlain/Oacoma Sun that the hour cutbacks could save the organization $500 million annually, a much-needed change because the U.S. Postal Service has recorded a loss in 21 of the last 23 fiscal quarters.
-- The Avon Clarion, Aurora County Standard, The Chamberlain/Oacoma Sun
Plankinton
ELEMENTARY PLANS PRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL: During the Dec. 8 school board meeting, Plankinton Elementary School Principal LeeAnn Nussbaum presented a preliminary plan for expansion of the school to include more classrooms and a multi-purpose room.
Nussbaum said the school is in need of more space because of an influx of students at the elementary grade levels. Her plans include opening the walls of the school's preschool room and adding a large multipurpose room to relieve conflicts when the school gym is already in use.
A committee consisting of school officials and school board members looked at what the elementary school would need in the future.
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Board Chair Diana Spinar said the committee was also looking at a middle school model and examining other schools that have middle schools, such as McCook Central and Wagner. She said the elementary plan from Nussbaum was like "getting the cart before the horse" but appreciated the work to get ideas moving.
-- The South Dakota Mail
Freeman
COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD DISSOLVES: The city of Freeman has agreed to dissolve the Freeman Community Center board, which has directed the building for the last three years, now that the city council will take over full oversight of the building.
The building located on Wipf Street was converted from a school gym and music/lunch room to a multi-use community facility after Freeman Public School gifted it to the city in 2010. In 2012, the board was created to oversee operation of the building with six members and drew up policies and procedures and helped with upgrades to the building. Those included a remodeled kitchen, installing Wi-Fi, replacing windows and purchasing new equipment for the building.
Board Chair John Koch said the building now runs pretty smoothly, meaning the board is no longer needed and the City Council can handle the duties.
"It's served its basic needs," said City Councilor Charly Waltner, who also been on the board from the start.
-- Freeman Courier
