Referendum Petition Approved

Pierre, SD – Referendum petitions for Senate Bill 177, “An Act to establish a youth minimum wage.” have been validated and filed with the SD Secretary of State’s office. The referral process required that Senate Bill 177 needed 13,871 signatures in order to be referred to the vote of the citizens of South Dakota in the November 2016 general election.

According to state statute 2-1-16 the Secretary of State’s office is required to perform a 5% random sampling of the signatures submitted. The random sampling process was overseen and reviewed by Secretary of State staff to check the signatures for completeness and to ensure the signatures were registered voters in the county they stated on the petition.  Following the sampling, it was determined that 17,077 signatures were valid.

This referendum petition will be Referred Law 20.

Freedom to gay-marry; what of freedom to oppose it?

dan merritt

By Dan Merritt, Advocate Reporter

Fireworks went on sale this past weekend, each one, whether exploded on land or in air, proclaiming the freedom we enjoy here in the good ol’ USofA.

Late last week, our nation’s Supreme Court said that same-sex couples have the freedom to marry.

But what of us who disagree with the Court on religious grounds? Will we enjoy the freedom, because of our religious views, to choose to not recognize such marriages?

After all, the first amendment to the constitution guarantees freedom of religion which includes the right to exercise that religion without state interference.

That is, can a pastor or a priest refuse to conduct a marriage ceremony in a church for a same-sex couple? Or decline to do so because of their religious beliefs to conduct such a marriage in a secular setting?

Or what of a member of that pastor’s or that priest’s flock. Particularly a business owner providing a service. Can that person, because of his/her religious conviction, refuse to provide that service for a gay couple’s wedding?

We’ve already seen in some instances in our “free” country how that exercising of one’s religious conviction has played-out: punitive fines on the “offending” believer.

Or what about priests or pastors proclaiming from the pulpit scriptural commentary on homosexuality, much less homosexual marriage.

Will they be allowed in light of this ruling to expound for their flocks what the scriptures teach?

And the scriptures teach plenty. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1, starting at verse 18 states (New Living translation):

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness … So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.

“They traded the truth about God for a lie … God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

“And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done …”

It was pointed-out in media commentaries last week that the Supreme Court ruling pertains only to the government. That religious institutions can still choose whether or not to marry same-sex couples.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, who disagreed with the Court’s 5-4 decision, said there will be legal confusion galore in this whole thing.

“ ‘Hard questions arise when people of faith exercise religion in ways that may be seen to conflict with the new right to same-sex marriage,’ ” he said, as quoted by the Reuters news agency.

“Roberts gave as an example a religious college that provides married student housing only for opposite-sex couples.”

Fellow dissenting Justice Anthony Scalia echoed Roberts and his concerns, but painted a darker view of the Court’s decision as being one that is a “threat to American democracy.”

A full-scale governmental “bullying” of citizens who do not agree, he seems to suggest.

“Today’s decree (Friday, June 26) says that my Ruler,” Scalia writes, “and the Ruler of 320 million American’s coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court.

“This practice,” he continues, “of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves.”

He goes on to point-out that this unelected Court —which answers to nobody, not even God evidently — is “hardly a cross-section of America.”

Instead they are all graduates of either Harvard or Yale law schools, eight of them having grown-up on the coasts of the US and not one of them being an evangelical Christian or a protestant.

These are “religions that make up significant chunks of the American population,” according to Scalia as quoted the “The Hill” on-line publication.

Scalia wrote of the Declaration of Independence, which our nation’s upcoming July 4 Independence Day celebrates. Fireworks bursting commemorate the American Revolution and all subsequent wars and battles by this country to maintain freedom.

But how far does freedom go? When does it become license and turn from glorious to glaringly ugly? Awfully out-of-bounds?

Rev. Franklin Graham, son of world evangelist Billy Graham, said last week that the Court was very much out-of-bounds with it’s ruling.

“ … the court … did not define marriage” in the first place, he notes.

“And therefore (the Court) is not entitled to re-define it.”

He continues: “Long before our government came into existence, marriage was created by he One who created man and woman — Almighty God — and His decisions are not subject to review or revision by any manmade court.”

As mentioned earlier, Justice Roberts predicts tremendous legal confusion in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. Graham predicts persecution.

“It sets the stage for persecution of believers committed to living by the truth of God’s Holy Word.”

A Look at You… Serviceperson Whitney Tuttle

Name: Whitney Tuttle

Birthplace: Phoenix, AZ, but grew up in Winner, SD.

Family: Parents: Don and Rhonda; Sister: Ashleigh; Daughter: Kendall (5).

Currently reside where: I’m stationed in England, but currently am deployed to an undisclosed location.

Occupation: United States Air Force

The best thing about my job is: The camaraderie, the people, the mission: “These things we do…That Others May Live.”

My favorite childhood memory: Too many to count!

When growing up, I wanted to be: A veterinarian

Favorite sports team(s): Minnesota Twins, Green Bay Packers, Vancouver Canucks.

Favorite current television show: NCIS, NCIS: LA, Once Upon A Time.

Favorite movie:Pitch Perfect

Favorite actor(s): Mark Harmon, Gerard Butler.

Favorite actress(es): Jennifer Lawrence, Daniela Ruah.

Favorite musician/band: Avenged Sevenfold

Favorite book(s)/author(s): I like anything military, history, and/or mystery!

Favorite publication(s) (newspapers, magazines): The Winner Advocate. I even get it here in England!

Favorite holiday and why: July 4th, because ‘Merica!

Favorite Bible verse: “Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.”  Psalm 27:3

Hobbies: Reading

Three things that can always be found in my refrigerator: Ranch dressing, cheese, and milk.

My favorite snack: Dipping carrots and tomatoes in ranch dressing.

Pet peeve: Bad spelling

Three words that best describe me: Adventurous, loud, funny.

When nobody is looking, I: Try to wiggle my ears.

I’m better than most at: Multi-tasking.

I’d like to have a dollar for: Every time I tripped.

If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d go to: New Zealand

The best thing about where I live: It is cheap to travel anywhere in Europe.

If I’ve learned one thing in my life, it’s: To never take anything for granted.  If you love someone, tell them.  There will come a time in your life when you won’t have another chance.

Hausmann Wins Print

 

The City of Mission began the summer baseball season by drawing the winner of the signed Tony Oliva print. The Minnesota Twins donated the print to the City of Mission Baseball Fund in support of fundraising efforts to refurbish the playing fields.

 

The winner from Winner was Sandi Hausmann. The picture details the print presented to Sandi by COKATA, LLC Chairperson Peter Brokenleg on behalf of the City of Mission. COKATA, LLC will submit the Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant on behalf of the City of Mission. The grant funds will be used refurbish and update the current playing fields in Mission.

 

The  Grand Slam contributors were Brad Folkers, Jim Poignee and Rev. Lauren Stanley. Many individuals have contributed time and effort in support of the Mission Mayhem teams.

 

Storms Named Top Couple

dean and nancy storms

 

The Cowboy Fast Draw Association Triple Crown started on Sunday June 14 at the Powderhorn Ranch Regulators home range in Mitchell, with a cowboy welcome including a free cowboy supper.  Old friends were greeted, hugged and caught up with. New friends were welcomed into the CFDA fold and told stories of the shooting in the past and future.

After the registration of the shooters, guns & bags checked for safety and no live ammunition, the South Dakota State CFDA Shoot started at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 15.  Over a hundred shooters gathered at the Cabela’s grounds and the competition ran fierce through the afternoon.  Miss B Haven from Idaho took top honors in the Ladies Division and Caleb from Oregon outshot all the men. An awards ceremony rounded out the day taking home their belt buckles and winnings. Local shooter, Nancy Storms AKA Mother Nature came in 7th in this contest in the Ladies Division. Being the highest placing shooter from South Dakota she also won an entry into the Fastest Gun Alive World Shoot in Fallon, NV in October.

It seemed like a short night with Tuesday June 16 starting again at 8:30.  This time it was the High Plains Territorial CFDA Shoot.  This shoot garners more points for the TOP GUN points for the year than a state shoot does.  There were 98 shooters this time and it took two days to get down to a winner.  On Wednesday June 17 after the main match finals, the Second Chance Shoot began.  This is for all the shooters who had lost out on the last two days.  The entry fees from this shoot always go to a charity of the host club’s choice. Also held was the Boothill Challenge.  This is for the top shooters and some randomly drawn shooters who did not win anything in the main territorial match. The top man and woman each won a .22 rifle.

Thursday June 18th had no shooting as a range officer class and a computer scoring class was well attended by the participants.  That evening was the Casino Night with snacks, silent auction, door prizes and best dress contest for “girls of the night” and “gambling gents”. This was a fun event and all money raised went to several charities.

On Friday June 19 the US National CFDA Shoot started.  Again over 100 participants gathered at the Cabela’s grounds to see if they will be the lucky one to take the top honors.  Friday evening a banquet held at the Moose Lodge had the presentation of the awards from the High Plains Territorial and Best 1880’s Dress Contest was held along with a fun game with proceeds going to the Shoot for the Stars CFDA Scholarship Program. Local shooters Nancy Storms AKA Mother Nature came in 6th; Dean Storms AKA Beaver Creek Kid came in 4th  giving him the entry into the Fastest Gun Alive Contest; Sandi McCoy AKA Prairie Star came in 17th; Mike McCoy AKA Real McCoy came in 36th.

Saturday June 20 had the main match of the nationals continuing until the last seven shooters were counted for the next day’s Magnificent Seven Finals. Second Chance was again held for shooters who were out of the main contest and the Boothill Challenge gave another man and woman a gun to take home. All awards were given out to the shooters who were not lucky enough to get in the Magnificent Seven. Prairie Star came in 8th place, just one out of the Magnificent Seven with Mother Nature taking 9th place honors.  Beaver Creek Kid came in 19th place and Real McCoy also was a participant in the US Nationals.

On Sunday June 21st Age Category Brackets began their shoot-offs with the top 5 out of each bracket going against each other for honors.  Mother Nature came out 2nd in the 49’er category and Beaver Creek coming in 3rd.  The Magnificent Seven had their competition right after the categories were finished, with returning champions, Marshall Cooper and Lefty Lipscomb both taking the US Nationals title home with them to California and also the high title of Triple Crown overall winners.  Mother Nature and Dean Storms were honored with the Top Couple for the entire Triple Crown event.  After a week of shooting, visiting and catching up with everyone it was hard to say goodbye to everyone.  The Powderhorn Ranch Regulators from Mitchell put on three great contests.

Earlier this month, on the first weekend of June the McCoys and Storms had gone south to Phillipsburg, KS to their state shoot.  Dean and Nancy both took first in their divisions, with Dean being the 3 time champion out of 4 for the annual event.  Each one took 40 points for the TOP GUN points for the year.

Jensen Finalist for National Award

becky jensen

 

Becky Jensen, formerly of Winner and former teacher and coach in the Chamberlain School District for 28 years, recently attended the national high school coaches association conference in Rochester, Minn.

She was a  national finalist for assistant girls coach of the year. Jensen was one of eight finalists up for this award. She won the state assistant girls coach of the year in 2012.

Jensen is the daughter of Mabel Schmit of Winner.

College Student Spends Month at Animal Clinic

brittney schlaikjer

 

Brittney Schlaikjer, Dell Rapids, has spent the month of June working at the Animal Clinic in Winner.

She will be a senior at South Dakota State University majoring in animal science and pre-vet.

Schlaikjer is the daughter of Alan and Sheba Schlaikjer, formerly of Winner. Grandparents are Patsy Schlaikjer of Winner and the late Art Schlaikjer and Bonnie Robinson and Kence Robinson, both of Winner.

Schlaikjer said she has been shadowing the veterinarians at the Winner clinic. She has had a chance to work in the clinic and also make farm visits.

“I have really enjoyed it and it has been a great experience,” she said.

Friday, June 26, was her last day of work at the clinic for the summer.

Schlaikjer says she is in the process of applying for veterinary school. Her goal is to be a large animal veterinarian.

The 2012 graduate of Dell Rapids High School grew up with horses which sparked her interest in veterinary medicine.

Pheasants Split with Parkston

 

 

The Winner Pheasants split a pair of games played Sunday with Parkston at Leahy Bowl.

The second game was a marathon 15 inning game with Parkston coming away with the a 3-2 win. The game was scoreless in the 13th inning when Winner/Colome’s Tarrell Bauld hit a two run double and the Pheasants were up 2-0. However the Mudcats responded right away with two runs and the score was tied. Parkston scored the winning run in the 15th inning.

In the first game Sunday afternoon, Winner/Colome won 2/0.

J.J. Farner was the winning pitcher and threw all seven innings.

Legion Picks Up Two Wins

legion game reed harter

 

Winner/Colome American Legion baseball team picked up two victories June 24 in Winner.

In the first game, the Royals defeated Ainsworth, Neb., 10-7.

Ainsworth got on the scoreboard first but Winner/Colome tied the game 2-2 on a scoring run by Brandon Bicek.

Ainsworth took a 7-2 lead before the Royals started inching their way back into the scoring column. In the sixth inning, a run by Ty Bolton tied the game at 7-7 followed by three consecutive runs for Winner/Colome to seal the victory.

In the second game, Winner/Colome defeated Martin 12-2.

legion reed harter and landon engel

Cross Gountry Girls to Run Longer Distances

South Dakota high school girls competing in cross country will have to run a longer distance when the fall season begins.

From now on the races will be 5,000 meters—replacing the 4K standard. That will equal the boys distance.

The change became official at the annual June meeting of the South Dakota High School Activities Association board of directors meeting.

According to the activities association, support for the change was overwhelming among Class AA and Class A schools while Class B schools voted in favor by a 29-25 margin.

South Dakota no longer can count itself among the states where boys and girls run different differences. Only North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas lack the 5K standard.

Some coaches say this will be a unique transition for the kids in South Dakota.