August just keeps on marching along in its hot weather pattern but regardless of the temperature the Wagner Rotary Club keeps meeting on Wednesday Noon. Thank heavens for air conditioning.

Roberta Haar Duke, former Wagner resident, was a guest of Becky Brunsing. The two ladies were classmates for 12 years in WCS and have kept their friendship through the years. Roberta is a Professor of International Relationships at Maastricht, which is in the southern area of the Netherlands. Roberta shared with the Rotary Club that when she was in high school the Wagner Rotary sent her and Meika Bich on a cultural exchange program for two months, which was a catalyst for her interest in foreign affairs. She commented that her mother keeps The Wagner Post for her to catch up on events when she comes home. She thanked the Rotary Club for sponsoring her so many years ago.

Rotarian Laurie Kidd gave a prayer of thanks for the food, fellowship, and the hands that prepared the meal. Laurie also led the group in singing The Happy Wanderer and Roll, Roll, On Rotary.

Assistant Governor Bill Frei went to the podium to give a report. The topic of interest was the Rotary District #5610 Conference that will be held in Deadwood October 14-16. There are reduced room rates to be had at Cadillac Jacks. Human Trafficking will be the topic of the Conference. Human trafficking is on the rise and getting worse all the time. It behooves Rotary members to educate themselves on this important topic.

Rotary Membership is the other important topic to appear at the conference. Membership was at its highest with 1641 members, and 42 clubs in our District. 188 memberships were terminated and only 22 memberships were gained back.

Patty Frei reminded the club that the deadline for application of a grant is coming very soon. August 30 is the deadline.

The room became noticeably quiet as SAA Jerry Weber gave the can of tickets to Jordan Weber to see if he could win. The amount is up to almost $900 but Jordan drew a 9 of Hearts. There are only four tickets left.

The attendance team totals were not quite ready as several make ups were turned in for making up online, serving Brats at Super Foods, and serving the meal at the Cancer Walk. There will be final totals next week.

Laurie Kidd gave an update on our Labor Day Float. The club will be working on the float at Linda and Tom Soukup’s residence on Wednesday evening, September 1 ^st . Laurie also asked if the club members would be interested in sponsoring and serving a Fellowship Feast which are scheduled to begin in September. The club approved taking part in this event.

Mayor of Wagner Todd Johannson was the program for the day for Becky Brunsing. He talked about City projects that were awarded and/or are ongoing: Water/Wastewater Project for 4 ^th Street, Elm Avenue, 5 ^th Street and 3 ^rd Street was started in 2020 and will be finishing soon.

An Airport Taxi Lane Design is scheduled for this year with construction to begin in 2022. Airport projects are supported by the FAA Entitlement program for airports which are shared by the State and the City.

Land Water Conservation Fund Grant through the State will build two new picnic shelters at the City Park with roofs. The old shelters were over 30 years old, and the city also did electrical improvements to the city park recently.

Transportation Alternatives Program Grant will put a new sidewalk from the school to the Boys and Girls Club and the cost will be shared by a state grant, city monies, Yankton Sioux Tribe, and community member donations with proposed construction set for 2023.

A FEMA-Hazard Grant will improve the City of Wagner’s drainage infrastructure on the south end of main street. Construction time has not been decided yet.

The City of Wagner has also applied for funds to help with ball-field improvements to the Hennies Field; and a community access Grant for SW Walnut Avenue to complete a water system to ensure adequate water pressure in the northwest part of Wagner.

Sergeant at Arms Jerry Weber had a lengthy list of fines. Again.

$2 fines were levied to Bill Frei for pushing the aluminum cans off on Pastor Herrmann

$2 to Jamie Soukup for wasting water on his corn plot as water was running down the highway

$2 to Ken Cotton for telling Bryan Slaba hello and ignoring Jerry who was sitting beside Bryan

$10 to Jeff Doom for going fishing

$2 to Jordan Weber for dressing up nicer than his Dad

$2 for the District Governor bragging about Bryan Slaba in the Governors report

$2 to Rachel Woods for using a spatula to kill the flies in the room

$2 to Becky Brunsing for forgetting the tickets at the wrong table

Happy Fines were offered by:

Amanda Bechen for being thankful that Kathe Henke is cleaning the real silverware every Wednesday

$25 from Bill Frei for having a 25-year anniversary

$5 from Patty Frei being happy that Bill is taking her to see George Strait!