Monthly Archives: June 2016

The public will have a chance to see the new seating at Leahy Bowl of Winner when an open house is held on Monday, June 27.  The Winner Junior Teeners and Teeners will host the Colome Junior Teeners and Teeners that night starting at 6 p.m.  There will be free admission that night.  In addition, there will be a Little League recognition.

The new grandstand replaces the old wooden bleachers which served Leahy Bowl well for many years. However, there was rot found on some of the support columns. As a safety issue, the decision was made to tear down the wooden bleachers.

Divine Concrete of Bonesteel was the contractor on the grandstand project.

The new grandstand is made out of concrete and will allow seating for decades as people come to Leahy Bowl to watch their favorite teams in action. The summer is busy at Leahy Bowl with Junior Teener, Teener, Legion and amateur baseball games. Winner also hosts post season games.  Prior to the start of the summer season, Leahy Bowl is the home of the Winner/Colome club baseball team. This year the Royals won the state championship in Sioux Falls.

The new grandstand will have two rows of open concrete space for people to bring their lawn chairs and set and enjoy the game. There will be a couple of rows of aluminum seats which will have backs and there are two rows of stadium seats which were formerly used at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md.

The seats were purchased from Archer Seating in New Jersey. This firm sells surplus stadium seats from stadiums that have been renovated or demolished.  A baseball fan saw the seats for sale from Archer Seating. He told the city of the opportunity to get the seats.  The city purchased about 80 stadium seats.

Winner has a historic connection to the Orioles due to Jim Palmer who played 19 years with the Orioles. Palmer played in the Basin League in Winner. The Basin League was home to future professional players and amateurs. Winner was one of the teams in the Basin League and saw several players who went on to the majors get their start right here at Leahy Bowl.

So it is neat that seats from Camden Yards will have a permanent home in Winner.

This is a connection to the Baltimore Orioles that will last forever and Winner is fortunate to have a part of this history in its new grandstand.  The iconic Leahy Bowl was the home of some great Basin League players who went on to play in the majors.

So as you sit in these stadium seat, close your eyes and just image Jim Palmer, Jim Lonborg who played for the Boston Red Sox and Merv Rettenmund who played with the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres and the California Angels in their college hay day playing on Leahy Bowl.

Sandra Van Kekerix, president of the Winner VFW Auxiliary 4674, was named president of the year at the VFW Auxiliary state convention held recently in Deadwood.
The auxiliary annually names a team of the top four presidents, one from each membership group based on membership. Van Kekerix serves as president of the Winner Auxiliary with a membership of 350, one of the largest in the state.
Van Kekerix has served 10 years as president and this is the first time she has received this honor. She received a cash award for her dedication and hard work this past year.
The auxiliary goal this past year was to serve the veteran and their families.

Two Buddy Poppy displays were entered into competition at the state convention by the Winner VFW Post 4674 and auxiliary.
Both displays won first place.
The small display was entered into category 2 and the wreath was entered in category 3. Both will be sent to the national convention to be entered into competition.
Both displays were created by Charlotte Deaver, auxiliary member.

Justin Nelson, of Mason Funeral Home in Winner, was elected as vice president of the South Dakota Funeral Directors Association (SDFDA) at their annual state convention held on May 11-13 at the Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. This year’s convention marked the association’s 117th anniversary.

Nelson, a funeral director for 6 years will serve on the Executive Board of the SDFDA as vice president for the 2016-2017 association year.

Justin Nelson was born and raised in Burke. Justin graduated from Burke High School in 2003 and graduated with his mortuary science degree in 2009. After graduation he joined Mason Funeral Home where he is a licensed funeral director.

Justin’s family includes his wife Katlyn and two son: Pierce and Porter.

Justin is a member of the United Methodist Church in Winner. He is a member of the Winner Rotary Club, serves on the Winner Regional Foundation Board, a Junior Achievement Volunteer and a little league baseball coach.
The South Dakota Funeral Directors Association is a professional association that represents the funeral service professional and the funeral home establishments in the state. The association provides education, legislative representation and public relations statewide.

Jordyn Heinle and Lexie Heinle of Hamill have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Jordyn is a sophomore in the college of education and human sciences and Lexie is a senior in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.