Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 12

r- 'rafc Wiiliiiti. -Ml it pj it? Faith carries couple past grief to new love HOW YOU MET The How We Met feature runs Saturdays on the Celebrations page. If you'd like your wedding to be consid-ered for this story, contact Kim Kagarise at 575-3621 or e-mail at kkagaris argusleader.com. i ft Ai I i WEDDINGS ENGAGEMENTS Wedding and engagement notices are run free in the Celebrations section. FORMS: Forms are available at the Argus Leader, 200 S.Minnesota from 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Forms also are available at argusleader.com. A WEDDING PHOTO will be published with an announcement if we receive the photo within six months of the wedding date. We accept e-mailed photos under prior arrangement.

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS also will be accepted. ADDRESS: Argus Leader, Box 5034, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5034. QUESTIONS: For information, call Kim Kagarise at 575-3621 or 800-530-6397. Caroline Richie and Jacob Merriman were married Dec. 30, 2006, Tf First Evangelical Free Church.

them," Richie said. After Richie returned to Switzerland, Merriman visited for Christmas and then again in March 2006 to propose. While in the "treasure and keep" room in the uppermost tower of the Chateau de Chillon on Lake Geneva, Merriman, 29, asked Richie to marry him. That July, Richie transferred to Augustana College from the University of Geneva. the bag limits for lions increasing every year absent published supporting data.

An increasing number of mountain lions die each year from -causes other than hunting. I think that it is important that breeding females be protected in order to insure the resiliency of the mountain lion population. There are cumulative pressures rising with the mountain lion which do not bode well for a continued stable and healthy lion population in the Black Hills. Residential subdivisions are expanding throughout the Black Hills. They transform wildlife habitat and destroy deer winter range.

In addition to its current population research, the needs to support research on how susceptible our mountain lion population is to increased Celebrations published within the past seven days are available online at argusleader.com on the Voices page or through the Celebrations button in the main navigation bar. Lalley: Mementos spur life-time of memories BY KIM KAQARISE kkagarisargusleader.com During summer camp, at the age of 16, Caroline Richie was inspired by a reading of the text, "First Love." "I made a commitment at that time to entrust my love life to God," said Richie, who said the words ask one to allow God to bring love to you, be content with his love only and don't anxiously search for love, or you'll miss what you want Richie, a dual-national, was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. Her father is Swiss-born and her mother is the daughter of Orren and Carole Lee of Sioux Falls. After her high school graduation in 2003, Richie visited the U.S., staying often in Sioux Falls, and in January 2004, she attended a Bible study group. Seated next to her was Jacob Merriman of Beresford.

"Throughout the evening, two things stood out about him," said Richie, 23. "That was his knowledge of the Bible and his wisdom." The more she knew of Merriman, the more Richie saw the qualities she had been praying for. "I said, 'Lord this seems crazy, but I really like this guy. If it is your will, I'd like to wait for Richie said. She knew three obstacles lay before them.

First, their ages: he was 25; she was 19. Second, the Atlantic Ocean In the play, the character sorts through the possessions and mementos of a lifetime. There are photos of family, combat medals and pieces of clothing that spark memories in the old man. More than 90 minutes, these "confessions" reveal a life well-lived. "The bottom line is there is no ordinary man," Achterhoff says.

"All of us live extraordinary lives, but we don't know it because we're too busy living it" The play is a compressed version of the revelations that Achterhoff experienced with his own parents, about all they'd done, all they'd seen. He says that's a lesson for all of us. "We have history sitting across the table from us, and we don't even know it" Patrick Lalley'a column rum Tueaday and Saturday. Reach him at pUley 9argualaadar.com or 331-2291. mail must reach the Department of ance, the couple exchanged e-mails.

Still, she knew Merriman was grieving and gave control to God. Richie visited Sioux Falls in August 2004 and again in the summer of 2005. Finally, on Sept 27, 2005, Merriman revealed his feelings for her. "He knew that if he was ever to be in a relationship again, it would have to be a special person that understood that he had been in a relationship that had ended not by the choice of either of the state's first Mountain Lion Management Plan in 2005. Portions of the plan were endorsed by the Sierra Club and nearly everyone else that reviewed it Unfortunately, the plan also outlined the state's first lion season.

We initially questioned the department's original population estimate of 145-165 mountain lions in the Black Hills. If too many lions were killed, the ability of the entire population to survive could be affected in the long run. Two hunting seasons later, my concerns still exist Mountain lion research has continued, but the data that has been gathered still has not been made public. Each year, the population is estimated to be larger than the previous year. I am not comfortable seeing TO YOUR INITIAL FIT at Summer's At Avera McKennan a sparkling and full-service Center and services you're getting Fall into a new would soon be separating them.

Third, Merriman's wife of three months, Tristen (Larson), had died of cancer just the year before. A mutual friend, Dawn Gardner, shared with Richie the interviews Tristen Merriman had done for a Christian radio station. Despite the cancer, her faith in Christ left Richie overwhelmed. "I was in admiration of this amazing woman." Over the next few months, as Richie prayed for guid Con Continued from IB the status of a trophy animal; at least be on par with elk and deer. The state since has raised the fee to $15, but this continued, unspoken lack of respect still galls me.

My other reasons for opposing South Dakota's mountain lion season have to do with what I and others fear is a lack of research sufficient to support the season's bag limits. The Department of Game Fish Parks began studying mountain lions in the Black Hills before the 2005 hunting season. Wildlife biologist Dorothy Fecske's lion research provided a solid beginning, and the affirmed its commitment to continuing and broadening that research when it published "i 4 I 1 Lr4 FT' The couple was married Dec. 30. 2006.

at First Evan gelical Free Church with the Rev. Alan Wilson officiating. The words that guided Richie years earlier were read in tribute at their wedding. "I prayed for and surrendered my love life to God and that I'd wait for whatever he had for me," Richie said. Honor attendants were Kerstin Mercer and Joseph Merriman.

Flower girls were Madison Hansen and Margaret Munce; ring bearer was Oscar Hansen. The couple will live in Sioux Falls. The bride is a student at Augustana College majoring in French, German and education. She will graduate in May 2009. The groom earned a masters in divinity from North American Baptist Seminary and is an interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Sibley, Iowa.

Parents of the couple are Roland and Roxanne Richie of Geneva and Lary and Marty Merriman of Sioux Falls. interaction with humans and to disturbance and displacement from existing habitat I want the mountain lion always to be present in the wild country of western South Dakota. If South Dakota is going to allow the lion to be hunted, then I hope the state will act conservatively in establishing bag limits and will continue to fund and expand the research on this exceptional animal. I look forward to the day when we can be sure that the bag limits set for a mountain lion hunting season were established objectively, supported by good science that has been subjected to review. We owe the mountain lion that much respect.

Jim Margadantot Rapid City ht chairman of the South Dakota chapter of the Sierra Club. EXERCISE PLAN. Avera Continued from IB The character, an 86-year-old man, is sorting through the "junk room" before moving into a nursing home. He's a World War II veteran with a seventh-grade education who lost a son in Vietnam. He bounced around different jobs, was married to Esther for 60 years and is struggling with living alone following her death.

The story line is deeply informed by the life and times of Marvin and Henrietta, but there are variances. Achterhoff father was a combat engineer who invaded France on D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Marvin also dropped out of school at an early age and held several jobs during his working life. He always provided for the family and, like the character, struggled after the death of his wife. South Dakota Board of Education Department of Education Notice of Public Hearing to Adopt Rules BE WEI A public hearing will be held in Rm 111 at the MTI Technology Center located at 1800 E.

Spruce in Mitchell on September 24, 2007, at CDT to consider the adoption and amendment of proposed administrative rules numbered: 24:43:02:08, 24:43:01:01, 24:43:02:02, 24:43:09:03, 24:15:03:10, and 24:15:03:08 The effect of the rules is to allow school service specialists, ie, counselors, speech language pathologists, library media specialists, school psychologists, school social workers, special education directors, and curriculum directors, to add a teaching program to their current certificate upon completion of a full degree, to require that non-public and tribal schools follow the same standards for accreditation, and that all schools submit a "plan of intent" for staff that are not over. Time to get back on track! Fitness Center you get back on track in style -with clean, state-of-the-art environment and equipment locker rooms with spa facilities. Most important our aretruly medically integrated so you know advice from people who know best. routine right here at Avera McKennan Fitness Center If I properly certified or qualified to teach in all content areas. The reason for adopting the proposed amended rules is the current rules restrict school service specialists from adding teaching preparations on their certificates and many schools need staff to be adaptable in their duties.

The current requirements for accreditation are unclear as to the standards required for nonpublic schools these rules will set the same standard of rigor to give accreditation more credibility. Additionally, schools are required to submit plans for staff that only in core content areas as defined by NCLB and this will require that ALL content areas be viewed as important to have qualified staff. Persons interested in presenting data, opinions, and arguments for or against the proposed rules may do so by appearing in person at the hearing or by sending them to the South Dakota Department of Education, 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, Join today and receive $60 OFF South Dakota, 57501. Material sent by )- i START PERSONALIZED Offer expires September 15,2007. Education by September 20, 2007 in order to be considered.

After the hearing, the board will consider all written and oral comments it receives on the proposed rules. The board may modify or amend a proposed rule at that time to include or exclude matters that are described in this notice. Notice is further given to individuals with disabilities that this hearing is being held in a physically accessible place. Please notify the Department of Education at least 48 hours before the public hearing if you have special needs for which special arrangements must be made. The telephone number for making special arrangements is (605)773-3426.

Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained without charge from the Internet For more information call 322-5300. McKennan Fitness Center at http:doe.sd.govsecretarvboardschedule.asp or from the Department of Education, South Dakota Board of Education, 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2291..