Monthly Archives: May 2017

In the early 1960s in a small rural community of Winner, an idea came to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4674 Commander.  His idea was to line the “streets” of the Winner Cemetery with flags on Memorial Day.  His idea became a reality when 16 casket flags flew on the streets of the cemetery.  The reason 16 flags were flown was to honor the memory of those from the community who had paid the ultimate price in combat.  For an unknown reason, the number was much higher than 16, but that was all they were aware of at that time. This number of flags continued to be flown for several years on Memorial Day.

In the 1990s the three veteran’s organizations in town met and decided they would form an organization called “The Avenue of Flags Foundation”.  Members from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans, all from the Winner community, met and laid out the bylaws and purpose of the organization. About 430 flags were being flown by 1996.

The need for more man power was readily identified, followed by more flag poles, wagons to hold the poles, cement holes, bigger cedar lined chests to hold the flags and funds to purchase the needed items.  The call went out to the community along with the needs list.  Many hours were donated during the weeks before Memorial Day to perform those tasks that make up such a huge project. The people responded; men, women and children all came at 5 am to help put the flags up and again a 5 pm to take them down.   The sight is breath-taking with the flags flying so majestically in the morning breeze.  Each flag pole has the name of a veteran on a plaque.  By 1999, a metal building was built to house the materials used for Memorial Day.

This year, over 850 flags will fly on Memorial Day at the Winner cemetery in a visual honor of those who bravely served. The cemetery, which is kept well-manicured by the city workers throughout the year, is the final resting place for so many who have served with pride and have now gone to their heavenly home.  See these beautiful flags wave with pride as you join fellow community members in remembering these men and women, at the annual Memorial Day service which begins at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Marian Burtz never attended a prom in high school.  The resident of the Winner Regional Longterm Care Center attended her first prom on May 18.  The staff came up with the idea of hosting prom for the residents.  Burtz was dressed in formal and was all smiles when she was introduced at the grand march.  Burtz could not sleep the night before the prom because she was so excited.

DeeAnn Woods, activities coordinator at Winner Regional, said the event was phenomenal.  The activities room was decorated in pastel colors to go with the spring prom theme. There were lots of lights. The dining room and chapel were also decorated.

Ryan Kindt, a CNA at Winner Regional, mentioned to Woods that it would be nice for all the residents to get dressed up. Kindt made the comment shortly after the Winner High School prom.  Woods said it just clicked and she went into a planning mode and had lots of help from the staff.

Prom dresses were donated by Once Upon a Story boutique of Sheridan, Wyo. The sister of a Winner regional employee owns the business.  So, 50 prom dresses were given to the center and Woods was surprised to learn they did not have to be returned.

The men wore button down shirts and ties. Each man had a boutinar and the women had a corsage.  For the women, staff went room to room with makeup. Woods explained she fixed a lot of hair that day.

Bob Vrbsky provided the music for the dance.

There was a king and queen chosen. Bob Hansen was the king and Emma McKee was the queen.  Woods noted the special care unit had its own king and queen with Bill Brodrecht as the king and Mae Arcoren as the queen.

Woods said there was excitement all week leading up to prom.  “The best thing was the smiles,” said Wood. “You could see how happy they were,” she added.  Woods said the prom was so successful that it will be done next year.

WHS 4th quarter Honor Roll

Seniors
Honor – Chloe Bartels, Sidney Bohnet, Drew DeMers, Shannon Duffy, Luke Engel, Wyatt Ewing, Brea Heth, Sydney Hollenbeck, Mackenzie Irick, Skyler Jermolenko, Chase Kingsbury, John Kludt, Krockett Krolikowski, Cameron Kuil, Abigail Leyden, Kyran Meek, Isaac Naasz, Sam Schuyler, Molly Sperlich, Jacob Woods
Merit – Trevor Bertram, Nick Blare, Kayleb Brozik, Nathan Erickson, Avery Gilchrist, Bailey Harter, Liz Jankauskas, Kaycee Konvalin, Trace Larson, Alex Meiners, Rhys Middlesworth, Hannah Peterson, Jayden Schroeder, Rachel Sherman, Ryan Sherman, Jordan Turgeon, Jace Voegeli, Tristan Watzel
Juniors
Honor – Meredith Calhoon, Riley Calhoon, Madyson Frazier, Madelyn Hanson, Ronae Klein, Zachary Lapsley, Samantha Marts, Levi McClanahan, Brekkyn Nagel, Lauren Norrid, Charles Novak, Macy Olson, Ian Tunnissen
Merit – Aidan Bachamann, Michaela Bachmann, Dalton Baker, Carter Brickman, Elisabeth Duffy, Macie Ferwerda, Justus Gregg, Hannah Hanson, Matthew Hartley, Daesha Klein, Hanna LaCompte, Nick Lantz, Lexie Nedved, Destiny Ruden, Alex Schaeffer, Mason Schuyler, Matthew Smither, Nathan Smither, Riley Sund, Savannah Vogel
Sophomores
Honor – Bayli Beehler, Sierra Hansen, Gabriel Kocer, Sophia Lewis, Gracie Littau, Abigail Marts, Makenna Petersen, Alexis Richey, Casey Stickland, Andrew Taylor, Madison Thieman, Logan Tunnissen, Brandon Volmer, Tyson Westendorf, Sadie Woods
Merit – Taylor Audiss, Brielle Bachmann, Elijah Blare, Shea Connot, Jeanette Cook, Kassandra Cox, Jeslyn Felix, Liliann Jelinek, George Kraft, Katy Lantz, Tyler Olson, Nolan Sachtjen, Hunter Shopene, Wyatt Turnquist, Tedra Vrbka
Freshman
Honor – Austin Bicek, Jacob Clay, Kiersten Durrin, Kara Ewing, Morgan Hammerbeck, Emmarie Kaiser, Isabelle Leyden, Ryder Mortenson, Ethan Niehus, Jayce Palmer, Trevor Peters, Addy Root, Heather Rowe, Saige Schuyler, Charlotte Shopene, Alicia Stands, Kenndal Turnquist
Merit – Joren Bruun, Jaynee Gregg, Phillip Jorgensen, RaeLynn Kemp, Zane Mandl, Riley McClanahan, Kameron Meiners, Loren Moeller, Nathan Monk, Austin Olson, Abigail Pajl, Shaelyn Peneaux, Marlee Schaeffer, Isaac Schramm, Ethan Vesely, Gage Watson
Eighth Grade
Honor – Meagan Blare, Bailey Brown, Megan Brozik, Shannon Calhoon, Evan Farner, Brady Fritz, Hayley Hanson, Katherine Jankauskas, Maggie LaCompte, Mackenzie Levi, Steven Lin, Delanie Nelson, Preston Norrid, Landon Thieman
Merit – Brennan Bachmann, Zach Bohnet, Taya Burleson, Kady Cable, Jesse Colson, Owen Duffy, Jackson Hansen, Taylor Headrick, Dawsyn Kahler, Arista Kaiser, Mercedes Klein, Allie Lapsley, Aissa Long Crow, Aryn Meiners, Kayla Natoli, Gennefier Schuppan, Marlie Schuyler, Shelby Scott
Seventh Grade
Honor – Finn Bartels, Ellie Brozik, Jenna Hammerbeck, Hattie Hespe, Emma Jorgensen, Kaden Keiser, Adrienne Lewis, Elvis Lin, Marissa Meiners, Michael Olson, Kaleb Osborn, Kolbie Osborn, Elijah Peterson, Charley Pravecek, Kelsey Sachtjen, Keyleigh Stands, Bella Swedlund
Merit – Parker Baker, Shayla Bice, Adam Bohnet, Alex Bohnet, Torre Buus, Joey Cole, Taralynn Cordier, Katie Dreyer, Shelby Guerue, Raelen Heinzman, Hailey Hollenbeck, Hannah Kaiser, Ashton Klein, Gilon Kraft, Kylar Meek, Aaron Monk, Owen Monk, Alani Old Lodge, Sidda Schuyler, Ryan Sell, Caylin Swift Eagle, Jackson Vesely, Trinity Vrbka, Madaline Watzel, Achilles Willuweit
Sixth Grade
Honor – Kendyl Bachmann, Brindy Bolander, Melanie Brozik, Faith Covey, Maggie DeMers, Justin Hausmann, Ainsley Henderson, Cam Irick, Tessa Mann, Kelbi Meiners, Aleya Miller, Pierce Nelson, Dalton Petersen, Rylee Root, Blake Volmer
Merit – Ethan Bartels, Mali Beehler, Kaden Bennett, Luke Boerner, Penelope Chasing Hawk, Silas Chasing Hawk, Illyanna Crabb, Shayne Day, Kiley Felix, Joselin Kludt, Tayden Mathis, Rowdy Moore, Riley Orel, Hunter Osborn, Jack Peters, Sutton Schweigert, Clay Sell, Mallory Thayer, Leah Wiechelman

Austin Richey of Winner graduated from the University of Sioux Falls on Sunday, May 21.

Richey was one of the student athletes honored at graduation. Richey played baseball for USF.

Richey graduated with a degree in business administration/sports management.

USD Deans List

Area students have been named to the spring semester dean’s list at the University of South Dakota.

Named to the list are: Josey Blare, Carter; Mariah Kinzer and Sarah Shippy, both of Colome; Michelle Novak, Tracy Routh, Cohl Turnquist, Colby Curtis, Bailey Volmer, all of Winner and Dacey Kocer, Wood.

Two students were named to the academic honors list. This is for students who are part-time with fewer than 12 hours. The Winner students on the list are Becky Brown and Sissy Orel.

SDSU Deans List

Winner area students have been named to the spring semester dean’s list at South Dakota State University, Brookings.

Named to the list are: Kamber Hossle, Nick Hossle, Eleanor Moleterno, 4.0 GPA, all of Hamill; Jayce Assman, Colton Best, Nathan Farley, Hayley Halverson, 4.0, Kylie Horstman, Trace Meyer, 4.0, Sydnie Peters, 4.0, and Coleton Schuyler, all of Winner.

Wood residents named to the dean’s list are Allie Kingsbury and Haley Sherwood.

Lake Area Presidents List

Two Winner students have been named to the president’s list at Lake Area Technical Institute.
Named to the list are Cameron Biggins and Michael Massa.

Mitchell Tech President List

Area students have been named to the spring president’s list at Mitchell Technical Institute.
Included on the list are Forrest Cerv, Cody Heath, Chase Hrabanek, Taylor Hrabanek.