This is an unnecessary expense these days and will save money. Please call the Office number for any questions: (605) 332-2051

The Grand Lodge A. F. &. A. M. of South Dakota will award several scholarships of $2,000 each year to South Dakota residents who plan to attend a public or private college, university or technical school. Preference will be given to students attending a school in South Dakota. Successful candidates will demonstrate financial need, scholastic capability, and have a family connection, either by blood or marriage, to a member of the Masonic fraternity, either living or deceased. Scholarships will be granted for one year, but may be applied for each year for a maximum of five years.

Complete Scholarship Application Forms can be downloaded from this link on our Web site.

The complete application must be received by April 15, 2021, including:

An annual tradition, the program is sponsored by Tin City Lodge #112 and is done at no cost to the kids.

“It’s...an access issue for a lot of towns we visit,” said Dr. Greg Hanson, the dentist providing services to kids. “We try to help kids that don’t have access to a dentist. It’s kind of a way to keep them healthy, keep them in school, and keep them happy.”

According to Delta Dental, 53 percent of students who are seen have tooth decay. It provides an average of $742 worth of free dental work per kid.

Each truck travels with a dentist, a hygienist, two dental assistants, and a coordinator. It costs $26,000 per week to operate each truck, according to Delta Dental, and local sponsors — such as Tin City Lodge — typically contribute around $2,500 per week.

Last year, in Hill City the mobile unit served 42 kids and provided $31,355 worth of free dental care. The mobile unit provided 119 x-rays at a cost of $4,922, three-hundred six cleanings at a cost of $14,229, seventy-six restorative procedures such as filings, crowns, and extractions, at a cost of $12,204, and placed 190 sealants, according to the lodge.

This year, the van saw 41 kids. Hanson said he’s done “a little bit of everything” for the kids who visited the van.

One of the most common procedures was installing stainless steel crowns in childredn as young as 6 or 7. Hanson said the kids will keep the caps for five or six years until they get their permanent teeth.

Hanson is trying to prevent pain and to help kids keep their teeth so they have their permanent teeth without orthodontics. “We’re trying to help maintain their overall health,” he said.

A retired dentist from Rapid City, Hanson has done the mobile program in Hill City twice prior to this.

Ron Rossknecht, a Brother from Tin City Lodge #112, said to help bring the mobile program to Hill City, the Lodge gets sponsors, including First Interstate Bank and Golden West.

“I’ve seen a lot of kids more than one time, so I’ve been able to follow up on some of the things that I’ve done, and I think that’s really the rewarding part for me “ making sure they’re being taken care of, and, hopefully, they’re having a healthy, happy life,” he said.

“Some of these kids,” he said, “have teeth problems, and when a kid has a tooth problem they really can’t focus on their academics or studies, and sometimes their folks just can’t afford it.”