Monthly Archives: June 2017

A former worker in the city of Winner’s parks and cemetery department claims he was passed over for a job in the street department because he was too old.

Vern Olson also claims to have been forced to resign after he complained about not getting the job. Olson has filed a lawsuit against the city.

In 2014, Olson approached the former street department supervisor about transferring and was told the city needs to hire younger people, according to the complaint.

In the summer of 2015 when a new supervisor had taken over the department, Olson had applied for a opening in the department.

At that time, Olson was 54. He held a commercial driver’s license and had 30 years of experience operating heavy equipment. Despite meeting the qualifications, Olson and two older applicants were not interviewed.

The city subsequently re-advertised the position, hiring a 31-year-old who had no CDL and less experience operating heavy equipment, according to Olson’s complaint.

The new employee also made more than Olson who had been with the city since 2010.

Olson complained and according to his complaint, was approached by city officials after he returned from a vacation and told that he had to submit a letter of resignation by the end of the day or he would lose his accrued vacation and sick time.

The lawsuit claims that the city “subjected Olson to arbitrary age discrimination in employment.”

New Winner VFW officers will assume office following the state convention in Pierre on June 22-25.

The current state commander Dennis Sharp of Pierre will conduct the convention meetings.   Sr. vice commander Rick Williamson of Canton will be sworn in as the new state commander on June 25.

Jerry Heggestad, state chaplain, will preside at the memorial service on June 23 at the 9 a.m. service at the Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre.

Sarah Husher of Winner was inducted into honor society Phi Kappa Phi. She was initiated at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell.

Membership is by invitation only.

From Mitchell Daily Republic

BURKE — A Hamill man accused of killing his former girlfriend will await a jury trial after pleading not guilty on June 13 to murder.

During a court hearing in Burke, Chance Harruff denied killing 38-year-old Kristi Olson. Nearly two weeks ago, law enforcement officers allegedly found Olson unresponsive in her Dallas home with markings and possible bruising on her neck.

Clad in an orange jumpsuit and shackles, Harruff did not speak to the judge or court during the proceedings, aside from answering direct “yes” or “no” questions from Judge Bobbi Rank and entering his plea of “not guilty” to charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Initially, Harruff was charged with second-degree murder. If convicted of first-degree murder, Harruff could face the death penalty.

The charges stem from an incident in the early morning hours of June 1, at which time an argument escalated and Harruff, 46, struck Olson with a ” ‘mule’ strength punch” to her chest, knocking her to the floor, according to court documents. Harruff then allegedly left the scene, not knowing if Olson needed medical assistance. He was later located by police.
According to court documents, family members and law enforcement officers told South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation officers the couple had a volatile and violent relationship that led to several previous incidents of domestic violence, but Olson always refused to notify authorities of the incidents. The couple had lived together, but Harruff recently moved out of Olson’s residence.

A scheduling hearing was set for August, at which time a jury trial will be scheduled. During the hearing, the prosecution will indicate whether it will seek the death penalty in the case. During last Tuesday’s proceedings, Defense Attorney Clint Sargent indicated the earliest he would be available for a trial would be in early 2018.

The difference between the first- and second-degree murder charges, according to South Dakota Codified Law, is that second-degree murder occurs “without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular person, including any unborn child.” Unlike first-degree murder, second-degree murder is a Class B felony and does not carry the death penalty.

Tawny Barry of Carter won the goat tying at the national collegiate rodeo finals in Casper, Wyo on Saturday.

Barry is a member of the Eastern New Mexico University rodeo team.

Austin Richey has joined the staff of First Fidelity Bank of Winner as an ag loan officer.

The son of Randy and Nicole Richey of Winner, Austin graduated from Winner High School in 2012. He went to the University of Nebraska at Kearney for one year and sent four years at the University of Sioux Falls. He graduated May 21 with a double major in business administration and sports management and a minor in finance.

While at USF, Richey played baseball for four years. He also played baseball at Kearney.

Last summer, Richey did a month long internship at First Fidelity Bank. He did a lot of observation learning the general process of making both consumer and ag loans.

In October, Winner branch manager Kelly Meiners called Richey and asked if he would be willing to come back to the area if a position opened up. Richey said he would be willing to come back here.

Shortly after graduating from college, he was working at the bank. He started at the bank on June 1.

Right now, he is in the training phase and getting use to the computer system.  “I am glad I can be home and can still help dad on the farm,” he said.

The Richeys have a farm near Wewela.  All along it has been Richey’s goal to come back to the family farm.  “I liked the area where I grew up and it was not a place I wanted to leave. Even if I had become a college athletic director first, I still had plans to come back to this area. “I am glad I was able to do that right away,” he said.

Richey is looking forward to his new job and is ready to be done with school.  “I am looking forward to seeing what this new job has to offer me.”

When he first started college, Richey was leaning toward athletic management. The collegiate level was of interest to him.
“As I kept going in school I realized that was not something I wanted to do. I wanted to do something so I could come back to the area and I was ready to come home.”

Richey still plays baseball as he is member of the Winner/Colome amateur baseball team.