Bauer Added to Staff at Mason Funeral Home

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Blake Bauer has recently joined the staff of Mason Funeral Home.

The O’Neill, Neb., native started working in Winner on Feb. 5.

Through a mutual friend Bauer learned there was an opening in Winner. He came here for an interview in October. “I was hooked from the beginning,” he said.

Prior to moving to Winner, Bauer worked for a year at Home for Funerals in Norfolk, Neb.

In 2011, Bauer graduated from O’Neill High School. He then went to Wayne State University on a golf scholarship. After two years at Wayne State, Bauer went to North East Community College in Norfolk and majored in nursing.

Both of his parents are nurses and he felt he would give this career a shot. But after a year, Bauer decided nursing was not for him.

He went back to O’Neill for the summer and his dad asked Blake if he has ever considered being a funeral director. The family knew the funeral director in O’Neill and Blake shadowed him for a couple of months.
Bauer went to Kansas City Community College where he received his mortuary science degree in December 2016. He did half of his internship in O’Neill and half in Norfolk.

Last June Bauer received his Nebraska license and he recently passed the South Dakota state boards.

As a funeral director, Bauer likes helping families through a difficult time. “It gives me pleasure to help a family,” he said.

Moss ~ SD A.A.R.P. Grandparent of the Year

My Grandma Ellen Moss should win the A.A.R.P. Grandparent of the year award because she works hard and takes care of eight grandchildren and does a great job of it too! I think all the grandchildren could say that, especially me. She is brave, fun, and most of all kind.

My Grandma is the bravest woman I know, because she never lets anything happen to her family. She speaks up for me and everyone else. If anyone was mean to her family she won’t just stand by and let it happen, she will put a stop to it. My Grandma has stood up to multiple parents on different occasions. Most of all she never backs down from anything.

If you have ever met my Grandma, she is one of the most fun women you’ll ever meet. We love playing board games with each other and usually she always wins. My Grandma will also color with me when I’m bored. She also takes us to go get ice cream not just to spoil us but to show us we have worked hard in school and out of school to earn it. Lastly she will cook and bake all sorts of stuff with me!

My grandma has the strongest heart anyone could ever have. She attends all of my events, even if they are hours away. Secondly she comes to my house even if it’s just for a few minutes. When she’s around she does my parents a favor and brings me to any type of appointments. If you’re feeling down, once you see her bright pretty smile she will make you brighten up in just a few seconds!

You should choose my Grandma for the A.A.R.P. Grandparent of the year award. Like I said if you have never met my Grandma, I suggest you do because she is the bravest, most fun, and kindest person I have ever met. In fact this award should be called the best Grandparent of the year award because that is exactly what my Grandma is.

Winner Elementary School
Cora Moss

Osborn ~ SD A.A.R.P. Grandparent of the Year

I think my grandpa Ron Shomion should be the SD A.A.R.P. Grandparent of the Year. Here are three reasons my grandpa should be the winner this year. First one he served to defend our country. Second is he comes to our events and encourages us to do new things. The last one is the best reason he give us all of his love but doesn’t shower us with gift or other thing.

Ron served in the Vietnam War and he risked his life for our freedom. I think he was very brave to risk his life for all of ours. He was in the Army and I think it was very hard for him so I am thankful he is still alive. My grandpa didn’t like the Army he told me but he said he would rather die serving in the Army and helping America that die from old age and do nothing. That’s what I think being in the Army is actual about instead of just being in it to kill bad guys.

My grandpa comes to his grandchildren events and encourages us to do new things. Ron will come and tell what to do and how to do it the right way. He may not make it to all of our events but he will call and ask how we are doing and ask if we need help with something. Grandpa is always telling us to try new things and if we don’t like it try something else. I tried wrestling because he told me to and I really like it now.

We know he loves us and why he doesn’t shower us with gifts and other things. He will take us places and he may not buy us what we want but that’s good with me. For holidays he may not buy us big toy and get us everything we want but that’s okay. I know he will take me places when I get older. Hopefully he keeps treating us this way because I know it is the best that we don’t get spoiled by him.

There are many reasons why I think my grandpa should be the SD A.A.R.P. grandparent of the year. The three reasons that I gave to you is why I think he should win this year. He served and fought in the army, he comes to our events and encourages to do new things, and last he love us but does not shower us with gifts and other things. You should choose my grandpa to be the winner.

Konner Osborn
Winner Elementary School

Dehning ~ SD A.A.R.P. Grandparent of the Year

My Grandma Twyla Dehning should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year. She is cheerful, caring, humorous, and loving. She also believes in me. She is a great role model for me. My Grandma loves to read. She is very good at it and has aspired me to be a great reader, as well.

My Grandma is caring by always helping out around her community anytime she can. She sends a lot of good gifts to us for Christmas, birthday and anniversaries. This year I got five dollars for Christmas. She sends letters a lot to see how we’re doing, and what’s going on. Grandma makes sure she calls on everyone’s birthday, and there are a lot of us. When we go to her house, we have so much fun even though it’s almost 5 hours away. One time we surprised her on her birthday. She was so surprised and so excited that we came. When we go to her house we usually spend a few days there because we don’t like driving down there and back all in one day. When we go, we have lots of fun. We get ice cream and cookies and milk. We cook together and make all the meals with her. We go to the park and play. She also likes to show us her old school, where she grew up, and her favorite places as a kid. I can also call her 24/7 and she will answer.

Grandma Twyla is cheerful in many ways. She makes people happy when they are sad. When someone gets hurt, she will help them up and make them feel better with her funny jokes and her loving words. Even though her husband died, she is cheerful. When she is sad, she is still cheerful, even if it doesn’t look like it. She has some really funny jokes and stories. She tells us stories about her childhood. She once gave my mom and dad a family tree, and I am in it. When she comes to our house we have lots of fun, even though we have to go to school a lot. When she calls, she always asks how the “babysitter” cows are doing. That’s what she calls them. She only says that during caving season. The babysitter cows are cows that belong to other people, but we take care of them all year.

My Grandma is loving and humorous. She is loving because she calls and tells us happy birthday, or calls and tells my mom and dad happy anniversary. She also sends happy birthday cards and anniversary cards to everyone in the Dehning family. She also gives others big hugs. My Grandma is humorous because she makes everyone happy when they are sad. She says that is her specialty. She has good jokes, and they make her laugh. When she laughs her smile is as big as the moon and as bright as the sun.

If these reasons don’t convince you that my Grandma should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year, then you should meet her and spend a day with her. She is caring, loving, cheerful, and humorous and she is always willing to help anyone in need in anyway she can. She also believes in me and is a good influence for me. I inspire to be more like her.

Raylynn Dehning
Colome Consolidated School District

Cowboys Come Up with Victory

Colome boys basketball team ended the regular season Friday night with a 59-54 victory over Tripp/Delmont-Armour.

Layton Thieman led the scoring for Colome with 23 points. Jackson Kinzer added 14 and Calvin Ringing Shield, 13. Kolton Salonen had 8 points.

Salonen pulled down 12 rebounds. Ringing Shield had 8 ad Thieman, 7.  Thieman had 5 steals.

The Cowboys take an 18-2 record into the post season. They played their first regional game on Feb. 27 in Colome.

Lady Warriors Conclude 17-18 Campaign

Winner Lady Warriors raced to a 74-30 victory over St. Francis in the first round of the regional playoffs Thursday night in Winner.

Morgan Hammerbeck led the scoring for Winner with 19 points. Maggie LaCompte added 12.

Hammerbeck pulled down 8 rebounds followed by Bella Swedlund and Kelsey Sachtjen with 6 each. Madyson Frazier had 6 assists.

The Winner girls basketball season ended at the hands of Pine Ridge on Saturday.  Pine Ridge defeated Winner 69-38.

Madyson Frazier led the scoring for Winner with 7 points followed by Gracie Littau and Bella Swedlund with 6 points each. Gabby Kocer added 5 points.

Frazier pulled down 4 rebounds.

Winner ended the season with a 19-3 record.

Warriors Fall to Crow Creek

Crow Creek defeated the Winner boys basketball team 66-49 on Feb. 21. This was the final game of the regular season for the Warriors. The region playoffs started on Feb. 27.

Brady Fritz led the scoring for Winner with 17 points followed by Joren Bruun, 12; Shea Connot, 5; Justus Gregg and Brandon Volmer with 4 each.

Volmer and Gregg each pulled down 8 rebounds.

Cowgirls Season Comes to an End

The Colome Cowgirls basketball season ended with a loss in the opening round of the Region 6B playoff on Feb. 20.   Scotland defeated Colome 59-36.

Makayla Shippy was the leading scorer for Colome with 15 points. Rayne Hermsen pulled down 7 rebounds.

“With no seniors on this year’s team, we will return our core for next season and the experience the girls got this year on the court should pay dividends come next year,” said Foss.

 

Stars and Stripes Forever-Our Great Flag

By Zoe Harris

As President’s Day has just passed, most of us have thought about the flag in the past few weeks. The iconic symbol has long stood as a beacon of hope and freedom for many. Those seeking freedom from war ravaged countries, political refugees, as well as those who want to start a new life.

Our flag has stood as a symbol of prosperity and has given countless numbers the ability to dream, to believe that they can be more. But do we really know where we got our flag? In Elementary school everyone has probably learned about how Betsy Ross sewed the first flag. But there is more to the story than that.

The first documented use of the flag was in 1792, sixteen years after the 13 colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. America sought their independence, and once gained, became The United States of America. The Declaration of Independence was written on July 4, 1776 and signed by 56 delegates. George Washington was elected as the first president on February 4, 1789. In 1792, George Washington was elected once again on the same day, 3 years later.

As the story goes, in June 1776, a small committee, including George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, visited Betsy, an accomplished seamstress, and discussed the need for a new American flag. Betsy agreed to sew them one. She altered the committees design and replaced the original six pointed stars with five pointed stars. George Ross is said to have been the uncle of Betsy’s deceased husband, which may have been a reason Betsy agreed to sew the flag for them. Betsy Ross has been promoted as a patriotic role model for young girls and a symbol of women’s contributions to America’s history. The first original flag had thirteen white stars arranged in a circle on a field of blue, seven red stripes and six white stripes. Each of the colors used stand for something. The six white stripes stand for purity and innocence. The seven red stripes signify hardiness and valour, and the blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. Blue is also recognized as the color of a Chief.

Our flag has inspired songs. Perhaps the most famous of all is our national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner”. Written by John Stafford Smith, a 35 year old lawyer, and Francis Scott Mckey, an amateur poet. The idea for the poem came after witnessing bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British ships during the war of 1812. It began as a poem with four stanzas entitled: “The Defence of Fort M’Henry.” Key was inspired by the large flag flying through the battle. The poem was set to the tune of a popular song called “To Anacreon In Heaven”. It became popular as it had a range of 19 semitones and was considered hard to sing. The Star Spangled Banner was recognized for official use in 1889 by the United States Navy as well as by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. It was made the national anthem by congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 by President Herbert Hoover. Many of us think that our national anthem has been around for a long time. But in all reality, it’s only been about 87 years since it officially became our national anthem. Now for the younger ones among us, it may seem like a long time. The Star Spangled Banner has been around for roughly a third of the time that the United States Of America has been a free nation. The flag has been known by many names, including: Old Glory, The Star Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes and Red, White and Blue.

There currently are 325,960,361 people residing in our great nation, about 80 million persons have been born in places other than the US, and then have come as immigrants. The very first immigrants were the pilgrims, seeking freedom of religion. Somewhere in almost all of our families, there has been an immigrant. Whether from Europe, China, France, Mexico, the Middle East, or anywhere else, America has been accepting immigrants since before the beginning of our nation. Immigration has contributed profoundly to our population. But, regardless of our individual background, we all live in America. It is our duty to respect our flag and country, to defend it and if the need arises, give our lives for it.

On President’s Day, we honor the leaders of our great nation who have given part of their lives to insure that our country will be lead properly and uphold the laws so that we can remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

 

By Zoe Harris. February 23, 2018