Brookings Receives Accolades From The Argus-Leader

For many people in the area, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the largest daily newspaper in South Dakota, is jokingly called The Argus Liar.  Despite what may be the paper's shortcomings, a recent edition featured Brookings, as the city "is morphing from a college town to community with explosive growth in jobs, amenities, and success."

Brookings is now the fourth largest city in the state, trailing Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen.  There are 22, 065 residents, of whom about 13,000 are students at SDSU.  What was the population and enrollment 45 years ago, 12,000 and 4,000?

A number of businesses and industries call Brookings home.  According the Argus Leader article, the top 15 employers in town are SDSU (3,359 employees) ; Daktronics (1,700); 3M (850); Larson Manufacturing (503); Hy-Vee (443); Brookings Health System (433); Wal-Mart (425); Twin City Fan (405); Brookings School District (400); City of Brookings (222); Falcon Plastics (221); Brookings Municipal Utilities (216); Advance (213); Fishback Financial Corporation (210); and United Living Community (175). Some of these  businesses were not located here when we were in school.

The latest addition promises to improve the business climate in the area.  Recently, the new Bel Brands USA plan, where Mini Babybel cheese is produced, started operations (http://www.argusleader.com/picture-gallery/news/business-journal/2014/07/30/15-photos-booming-brookings/13336997/).  This plant will become the largest producer of this product.  By the end of the year, 250 will be employed at the plant.  Presently, there are 40 salaried and 110 hourly employees.

The director of the plant, Francine Moudry, who came from the Babybel plant in Kentucky, stated "Not all of the states had to offer what South Dakota had."  She especially cited the presence of SDSU and its dairy science program, and the ability to find workers.  A number of those employees are former students who wanted to return.  "Finding them was not very difficult because they wanted to come back," she added.

A number of other businesses were also recognized by the Argus Leader.  Daktronics not only has 1,700 employees working in Brookings, but also has plants in Sioux Falls and Redwood Falls, MN.  Daktronics  has various offices throughout the world, raising its total workforce to about 2,500.  3M has expanded its physical plant a number of times since coming to town, and is planning to add production of a new product in the future.  The plant is getting $11.7 million in new equipment for these improvements, and expects to add 80 new employees.

In addition to these large-scale business, there have been some smaller businesses that call Brookings home.  One of these is Wooden Legs Brewing Company, which is located at the site of the former Pizza Pub.  The owners considered locations in Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Rapid City, but chose Brookings because there is "...some serious cash out to attract young professionals and keep them.  The labor here is highly skilled and highly motivated.  Brookings is a highly competitive market."

One reason Brookings is attractive to so many people is the abundance of family-oriented activities.  These include the bike trail; the expanding school system, especially the new elementary school in the south part of town (about a mile and one-half southwest of the old drive-in location); entertainment and activities affiliated with SDSU, and the Children's Museum (http://www.prairieplay.org/).  Those of us who attended Central Elementary have seen that structure transformed into one of the finest museums of its kind in the United States, thanks to the generosity of the Larson family.  The number of visitors since its opening four years ago is estimated at one-half million. Midwest Living named the museum one of the top  place to visit this summer.  This website, http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g54533-d2015987-Reviews-Children_s_Museum_of_South_Dakota-Brookings_South_Dakota.html contains a number of comments and reviews of the museum.  This first comment (as of July 31, 2014) is by an individual named sorensonjm2, and states

"The recent trip I made to Brookings was fantastic, The museum was busy with kids visiting
from everywhere ( Me from Texas). I was especially interested to find how they remodled
the building which included my OFFICE for ten years. I was teaching Jr. High girls and elementary physical education in Brookings (1953-64). Those were good years. My office
WAS downstairs under the big windmill now.
Thank you Mr. Larson for this great remodeling idea - to keep kids playing.
My suggestion for a better name--The Dinosaur Play House and Museum in South Dakota.

Visited June 2014"

Does anyone remember this teacher?  She would have taught up through our 7th grade year.  Judging by her name, my guess is that she was Mrs. Sorenson, who would have been the counterpart to Mr. Francis (Franny) Dolan.  In the 1956 annual, she is listed as Miss Baldwin, so she evidently was married after 1956.  Does anyone else remember her?  My memory of her is rather vague, but I do recall her from elementary school.  If she started teaching when she was 22, she would be in her mid-80's by now.  It sounds as if she is still in good health.  Good for her. I also seem to recall a Mrs. Thurston for gym class in the annex lunchroom, possibly in third grade?   Was she just a substitute teacher for a time?  Did those two (three?) rotate between the elementary and jr. hi schools?    In 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, we went to the pit with Mr. Dolan if we were unable to play outside (was PE separated into boys and girls classes at that point?).  Vern Olson and Arlan Meske could do more chin-ups and pull-ups than anyone else, if memory serves right.   For calisthentics, we would line up and count off in fours.  The ones would take one step forward, the twos two steps, etc., so that we could have room to bounce and stretch.  "Let's bounce nice and high" was one of Mr. Dolan's favorite chants.   Do any of the girls remember Mrs. Sorenson (Miss Baldwin) for a gym teacher?