Well done, Belle Fourche!

When we chose to retire in the northern Black Hills four years ago, we had lots of good reasons. The cultural and sporting events at Black Hills State University, beautiful Spearfish Canyon, Black Hills National Forest, and medical facilities in Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base were among them. For us, Belle Fourche was NOT a factor in luring us here.

Then, nearly two years ago, we had an epiphany and revealed it in this old Black Hills Monitor posting.

In the two years since, we’ve grown to like Belle Fourche even more.

Last night (4/28/09) was the frosting on the cake that will keep us going back to Belle Fourche for more.

A full-house at the Belle Fourche Community Center reveled in one of the best Big Band concerts we’ve ever seen – and we’ve seen more than a few in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Pennsylvania over the past four decades.

The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, led by the talented and amiable Bill Tole from Pittsburgh, gave the crowd a toe-tapping performance that was a fitting finale to the 2008-09 Center of the Nation Concert Series. From Green Eyes and Amapola to June Night and So Rare, the 14-member orchestra – joined by vocalist Nancy Knorr – gave the audience a happy trip down memory lane. Too, it was heartwarming to see the orchestra populated not just by veterans like Nole, but several young musicians who were likely not even born by the time Jimmy Dorsey passed away in 1957.

Concerts like the one we enjoyed last night don’t just happen. They’re the product of a vision and lots of hard work by Belle Fourche citizens.

Let’s name names. All of the members of the concert association Board of Directors deserve credit. Board President Barry Pitt has served as emcee for a season of great concerts, including the Frank Vignola Quintent, Trumpet Invasion, Just Friends, Counterpoint, and – of course – Jimmy Dorsey! Good friend Bill Kunerth -- among the board members -- capably handled publicity again this year for the association!

Many sponsors like Lindstad Trout Farm & Lindstad Alignment and Brake (which was a sponsor for the Dorsey concert) are important. Black Hills Pioneer/Prospector, KBFS/KYDT Radio, Belle Fourche Post & Bee, and First Western Bank have all been strong supporters of the concerts and deserve a special “Thank You”!

A big tip of the hat to dozens of Benefactors, Patrons, Donors and Contributors, without whom this series likely couldn’t survive. Most importantly, the hundreds of people who purchase tickets that support the series. Even with the modest increase announced for next year, this is one of the best bargains in the northern Black Hills! Highway 85 between Belle Fourche and Spearfish is a busy road as northern Hills residents outside of Belle burn a path back and forth on concert evenings!

Belle Fourche can be rightfully proud of the Center of the Nation Concert Series. We hope all Yellowstone Placed residents are looking forward to the next season as much as we are!

Five refrigerators repaired in YPA

A&E Factory Service has dispatched a repairman to replace faulty components in at least five Yellowstone Place residences.

As noted in our last posting (see below), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission -- in conjunction with Maytag Corporation -- last month announced a recall of several refrigerator/freezers manufactured by Maytag and marketed under a variety of brand names. A faulty relay poses what they call "a serious fire hazard."

Dale Donat reportedly saw the announcement in a newspaper and arranged to have his unit repaired. He then shared that information with neighbors, and the A&E Factory Service representative this morning (4/27/09) told us that he has repaired five units on Yellowstone Place, so far.

If you've not yet checked to see if your refrigerator is affected by this recall, we urge you to review the information below and follow up as may be appropriate. The repair is valued at about $70, but it is performed at no charge to the owner. More importantly, it can give you a little peace of mind!

Fire hazard prompts product recall

Thanks to the diligence and thoughtfulness of good neighbor Dale Donat, we've learned that at least two -- probably more -- Maytag refrigerator/freezers owned by residents of Yellowstone Place are under recall notices.

In a product recall announcement dated March 10, 2009, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled about 1.6 million units manufactured by Maytag and marketed under the following brand names: Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley®.

An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Maytag has received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage. Both side-by-side and top freezer refrigerators are included in the recall. They were sold between January 2001 and January 2004 at a time when many of our Yellowstone Place units were being built.

Affected units were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel. They have model and serial numbers printed on a label located on the top middle or left upper side of the refrigerator liner.

The sample illustration above shows where you should be able to find this information.

Yellowstone Place residents who want to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall should contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or you can go to either the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website or to the Maytag Repair website for further information. You can even schedule a service call on the Maytag website. We understand they are making repairs free of charge.

Thanks again to Dale Donat and Lorraine Collins for sharing this information, and please let your friends and neighbors know about this recall!