Monthly Archives: March 2017

Lindsey Calhoon of Winner has been named to the dean’s list at the University of Minnesota.   She is a junior in the college of liberal arts.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Winner 8th grade reading students joined classrooms across the county in celebrating reading and our 50 great states by participating in a Read Across America bookmark exchange. The Winner 8th grade reading class along with the advanced art class participated.

Each student was asked to make a bookmark that featured something about their state and city. On the back of the bookmark the students put their first name, a fun fact about themselves, the school, state and city.

The bookmarks were sent to a teacher in Reading, Pa. For each bookmark that was submitted a bookmark from another part of the United States was returned to the Winner School.

C. K. Storms, Winner 8th grade reading teacher, said the student sent 55 bookmarks and just last week received a package with about the same number of bookmarks.

“Each bookmark was a creativity aspect of what the students wanted to do,” she explained.

Preston Norrid said on his bookmark he drew a football and presented facts on how Winner had won several state championships.

The teacher in Pennsylvania who started the project said they received over 8,500 bookmarks from 85 schools and libraries in 24 states.

She created a Google map marking all the participating places.

The teacher said: “This small project is my way of celebrating something we all can agree on—our kids, reading and the beauty and diversity of the USA.”

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Wrestling fans and community members welcomed home the fourth place Winner Area wrestling team Sunday evening after a successful competition of the state Class B tournament in Sioux Falls.

The Warriors had six wrestlers place during the two day event. Tre Doren was the state champion. Also placing were Kaden Keiser, 6th; Wyatt Turnquist, 5th; Atlas Willuweit, 4th; Trevor Peters, 7th; Kayleb Brozik, 5th.
Avery Gilchrist and Jayden Schroeder also wrested at state which was held at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Coach Jayd Schuyler thanked fans for their support this season and for those who followed the team to Sioux Falls.  “Head coach Spencer Novotny had a solid program and made wrestling fun for the kids,” said Schuyler.

Head coach Spencer Novotny said the Winner athletes are great young men. “I knew we were going to have something special when we won the Mid Dakota Monster in Presho,” said the coach. The Warrior went on to win the regional title.

The coach talked about each athlete who wrestled at state.  Novotny noted state champion Tre Doren is a great athlete. “I have never seen someone so composed and humble after winning at state title.”’  The coach added that senior Tristan Watzel went with the team to state. “Tristan is our team. We really jelled through Tristan.”

Prior to coming to Winner, Novotny was the wrestling coach in Mobridge for six years. He said one of the hardest things is to move into a new athletic program. “I told the kids I did not want to change anything they would do, I just wanted to add to it,” he said.

Novotny noted this victory was a team effort. Novotny was named the Region 3 coach of the year and was quick to admit that was an award that also goes to assistant coaches Jady Schuyler and Daryl LaDeaux. He said when the team does good it makes the coaches look good.

The seniors on the team talked at the welcome home and thanked the fans for their support.

By Cassidy Seeking Land

My grandpa Ronnie should be the A.A.R.P. S.D. grandparent of the year. He is strong, he can build many things. He should be the grandparent of the year because he is loyal and determined. He fought in the Vietnam war. He fought because he knew that lives are worth protecting, he cared about others.

My grandpa taught me many life lessons. He never spoils us with gifts. He can only give us the best gift of all, its love. He also taught me how to speak Lakota.

Ronnie is tough, he may be old but he is determined to do something great. He always tells us that if we put our minds to it we will get it done. My grandpa may be old but he can build anything. He and his friends once built an arena, seats, stands; he built all of those things for a great pow-wow.

Ronnie teaches us many things. Ronnie taught me how to cook. He taught me how to be a better person. He was nice enough to get my family a trampoline. When we all lit fireworks, he was there to make sure we were having fun and being safe.

He will do anything to make us proud. He tries his best to be the greatest grandpa his grandchildren will ever see. Ronnie fought in the Vietnam War because everyone depended on him, they needed him. He always tries to keep us happy. He protects us, he loves us, and he cares about us. He many not seem like the best grandparent. In my heart he is, he may sound seem weird, but I love him. He will always be in my heart. That is why he should be that grandparent of the year. He is not like any other grandparent, he is different. That is what is so great about him.

By Aiden Tunnissen

My Grandma Lorna Her Many Horses is a nice person around people. She always gets chatty when she sees a friend but when it comes to family she is always asking the kids like me how is school but to the adults she asks how are they doing. We are always seeing her on holidays and we visit her sometimes. She is always positive, inspirational and never spoils us. She is a grandma of three children.

Most people look at the negative outcomes but not my grandma. She always looks at the positive outcomes. She is always looking at the bright side and might give it a chance to work, even if it looks bad. Can make it happen like my grandma. Therefore, you have to stay positive!

She never spoils any one of her grandkids or me in fact. If we ask for things, she won’t give it to us. And I mean not ever. Which is what I see in a good grandparent. That is how all grandparents should be like. Not giving kids to much but just enough.

She is also very inspirational. She sets goals for us and has us take down those goals. Which gives us motivation. When it comes to goals, she has many that is why she is the most inspirational person that I know. She always has goals for us every week.

That is why I think my grandma Lorna Her Many Horses should be the A.A.R.P. grandparent of 2017 this year. My family and I would be proud of her getting this award. All she has done thus far is great. Everyone in her life could be thinking of her as the grandparent of 2017 right now. Because of the three reasons that are, what I listed above never spoils, very positive, and super inspirational.

By Leila Balsiger

My grandmother, Kathleen Balsiger, has 12 grandchildren. When I am asked why I think my grandma should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year may reasons pile up in my head. Although I would happily list all of those reasons, I would not have the time to do so. I have decided on three reasons to give in this essay. Grandma loves to give us life lessons and she encourages us to have good education. Some grandparents show their love to their grandchildren with presents or gifts, but my grandma shows us her love with her hugs, with her kisses, and even with her snuggles. She is one of the most comforting people I have ever met. She also strives to be positive all of the time and never lets us down.

Grandma has been retired for 8 years but she still substitutes for teachers who need it. My grandma loves to teach, obviously for her students but also for her kids and her grandchildren. She even loves to teach simple life lessons even if it is just how or which way to wash the table. Her favorite thing to do is teach us what she loves to do including knitting and crocheting. Another thing she loves to do is cooking and baking, but her favorite thing to do is teach others.

When I was asked to write this essay I was super nervous because I thought that it would be hard and that I wouldn’t get it done in time but when I really thought about it lots of ideas came to my mind. One of those reasons I think my grandma should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year is that my grandma doesn’t spoil us, not with gifts or presents but there is one thing that all grandparents should spoil their kids or grandkids with and she does. That thing is love. She loves us so much that she loves us “to the moon and back a thousand times” she always says. She showers us with so many kisses! In my opinion, she is one of the most loving grandmas ever!

My grandma is always trying to be positive. At my basketball tournament in the Black Hills last year, we won two games and lost one. The whole team was very disappointed because our goal was to win every game that season. When we have to go back to our parents or grandparents, I was really bummed but as soon as we got there, my grandma congratulated me on my wins but I just said “thanks” and dropped down on the bleachers. She asked why I was sad so I told her and then she said that we played great defense and told me that it was the best game that she had ever seen which really cheered me up! My grandma can find the good in anything!

Most kids get clothes or gifts from their grandparents but we get life lessons that will last us the rest of our yeas. I am sure that my cousins and my brothers and sisters can all agree. Our grandma is very important to us and in our lives. Grandma encourages us to do the best we can do. For those reasons, I think my grandma, Kathleen Balsiger, should be the AARP Grandparent of the Year.

By Emma Vandenbark

My Grandma Trena Vadenbark should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the year. She is caring to all those around her, unique and creative in all ways, and she is also a good role model for me.

My grandma is caring. She invites one of us to spend the night at her house every Friday. She always has something fun in mind for us to do together. An example of this is she lets us pick something to bake as well as a craft to create and give to my family members. She also is a good friend to her neighbors. She visits her neighbors and friends that are in the care center. She reads them books and volunteers to help them every Tuesday at bingo. She also gives rides to people who have doctor appointments in other towns. She is as kind and caring to her friends as she is to us.

Grandmas is unique. She decorates her house with fun things like her favorite colors, orange and yellow. Her porch is a peach color. I think it looks beautiful like her smile and as bright as her laugh. She makes her own cards that she sends to far away friends. She also has been known to make her own jewelry out of dried vegetables and paint them in bright rainbow colors. She is always busy creating something; cross stitched bookmarks for friends, windsocks for each holiday and season, blankets for the grandkids, and so much more. Grandma Trena also shows that she is one of a kind by tearing our her lawn and only planting flowers. She teaches me that being unique is wonderful and special.

Grandma Trena is a good role model to my siblings and me by using her talents to create and to cheer up people who are down. She is always helping others, making new friends, and is always being cheerful and glad. She always has a smile on her face. This makes me want to be like her and to be able to help other people who need help. She teaches me to follow the golden rule by her example. She teaches me to be honest in all I do and say. She says to not say can’t because you can always fins a solution to your problem. Another thing she says is she is allergic to whining, and it hurts her ears. This makes me want to think more positively and not to complain. What a great role model she is!

If all the reasons listed above do not convince you that my Grandma Trena should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year, then you need to meet her. In fact, I think it should really be called the spectacular of phenomenal AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year because that is what my grandma is and so much more. She is caring, unique, and a great example to me and to everyone I know.

Select members of the Colome chorus traveled to Kimball Feb. 8 for the regional V vocal solo and ensemble contest.

Cheyenne Heath directed the students and Vicki Covey accompanied the soloists and groups.

Four soloists received superiors. Megan Seegers sang “Se ti m’ami” which translates to “If thoust Lovst me.” Seegers performed the song in Italian and brought home a superior.

Sophomore Grace Campbell also sang in Italian. Her selection was titled “Amarilli, mia bella.”
Campbell earned a perfect score for a superior.

Junior Jeremiah Yeaman sang the Spanish version of “Amazing grace.” Senior Callie Heath sang “Cherry Tree.” Yeaman and Heath both received a superior.

Also performing a solo was junior Rebecca Marso who sang “Kyrie” in Latin.

The girls group included Callie Heath, Kaydee Heath, Abby Pechota, Jordyn Seegers, Grace Campbell, Megan Seegers, Carleem Burger and Jaclyn Laprath. They performed the Latin song “Gloria Tibi Domine.” The judge gave the group a superior.

The mixed group also earned a superior. Participants were Callie Heath, Kaydee Heath, Abby Pechota, Jordyn Seegers, Grace Campbell, Megan Seegers, Carleen Burger, Jaclyn Laprath, Becca Marso, Jeremiah Yeaman, Wiley Heath and Holden Thieman. The trio of Wiley Heath, Holden Thieman and Jeremiah Yeaman sang “Who are the brave.