Monthly Archives: February 2018

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Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that SB 65, a bill to enhance penalties for persons who distribute and manufacture controlled substances when a person dies as direct result of using that substance in South Dakota has passed the full Senate on a vote of 32 to 3. The Senate Judiciary passed the bill on Feb. 8.

“Law enforcement is actively investigating and prosecuting 4 overdose deaths in South Dakota, 3 resulting from fentanyl and 1 resulting from heroin. As we continue to deal with these increasing numbers of drug overdoses, those who knowingly provide these deadly drugs need to be held accountable,” said Jackley.

Senate Bill 65
• Enhance penalties for persons who distribute and manufacture controlled substances when a person dies as direct result of using that substance
• Any person who for consideration intentionally and unlawfully distributes or manufactures a controlled substance and another person dies as a direct result of using that substance would have their sentence of the principal felony enhanced by two levels.

Trial Moved to Fort Pierre

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The trial for a man accused of killing a Gregory County mother of seven has been moved out of county due to potential bias of jurors.

The trial for Chance Harruff, scheduled for May, will be held in Fort Pierre after a pre-trial survey of potential jurors showed significant bias among jurors who believe Harruff is guilty of murder.

The trial stems from June 2017 when court documents say that Harruff and Kristi Olson got into an argument and Harruff allegedly struck Olson with a “mule strength punch” to her chest, knocking her to the floor. Harruff whose residence is listed as Hamill then allegedly left the scene not knowing if Olson needed medical assistance.
When officers arrived they found Olson with possible bruising on her neck. She was transported to a hospital in Gregory where she was pronounced dead.

The couple lived together but Harruff recently moved out of the Olson residence.

A questionnaire mailed to more than 200 Gregory County residents showed nearly half had already formed an opinion that Harruff is guilty of murder.

Additionally, prosecution and defense attorneys believe “a significant number” of potential jurors have personal relationships with witnesses, law enforcement and Olson’s family which would lead to their dismissal from the jury.

“The evidence presented establishes a reasonable apprehension that the accused will not be able to receive a fair and impartial trial in Gregory County,” Judge Bobbi Rank wrote in a letter to the attorneys. “It would be a waste of resources to dedicate multiple days and arduous jury selection in Gregory County only to determine that the venue must be changed.”

Harruff was charged with second degree murder, domestic abuse second degree murder, first degree murder and first degree manslaughter.

 

Former Harlam Globetrotter to Speak at FFA Event

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Winner Future Farmers of America is hosting a Motivational Monday on Feb. 19.

Winner has invited all surrounding schools that have FFA chapters to attend this event that will have Career Development event workshops geared to teaching members about the content for the competitive events that are offered this spring. There will be workshops on livestock judging, horse judging, dairy cattle judging, floriculture, natural resources, agronomy, biotechnology, veterinary science and food science.

There will be about 200 FFA members attending this event.

The keynote speaker will be Melvin Adams, former professional and Harlam Globetrotter basketball player. The keynote address will be given at 2:30 p.m. in Armory. Also attending the keynote address will be the entire Winner Middle School and high school student body.

Winner, Tripp County will have a presence at Pheasant Fest

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By Dan Bechtold, Editor

The Winner area will be well represented at Pheasant Fest in Sioux Falls Feb. 16, 17 and 18. The event will be held at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

This is the first time this national convention has been held in South Dakota.

The Winner Area Chamber of Commerce will have a booth with executive director Karla Brozik welcoming guests and handing out material on hunting in the Winner area.

There will be several people helping Brozik in the booth and a few of those who will be helping will be Jack Burns, Wendy Mortenson, Chandra Cudmore, Susan Cable and Barry and Betty Tideman.

The Chamber will be giving away shot glasses, cards, koozies and pheasant pins. In addition, they will be handing out the latest edition of the travelers guide.

Other Tripp County area exhibitors will be local chapter of Pheasants Forever, Lazy Z Grand Lodge, HH Game Birds, Pheasants on the Prairie.

Runnings will be one of the exhibitors and Russ Temple of the Winner store will be working in the Runnings booth.
Loretta (Meyer) Furry, formerly of Winner, will have a booth called fall feathers.

Mike Scott, president of the local chapter of Pheasants Forever, says this is the first time the local chapter has had a booth at Pheasant Fest.

“We really encourage people to come out for a day. If you like the outdoors and hunting you will enjoy it,” said Scott.

Dean’s List

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Jordyn Heinle of Hamill has been named to the fall semester dean’s list at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
She is senior hospitality, restaurant and tourism management major.

Area students have been named to the fall president’s list at Mitchell Technical Institute.
Named to the list are: Wiley Heath, Noah Hermsen, Chase Hrabanek, Taylor Hrabanek, Jordan Shippy, all of Colome.

FFA Members Complete State Degree

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Six members of the Winner High School FFA completed and had their state degree applications accepted. The students completing the state degree are: Savannah Vogel, Michaela Bachmann, Justus Gregg, Madyson Morehart, Trace Larson and Daesha Klein.

Justus Gregg won the district star farmer. Dawson Phillips was second Greenhand star farmer and Heather Rowe was fourth for Greenhand star farmer.

Gregg and Phillips advance to state competition this spring.

 

Warriors Split Pair

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Winner boys basketball team defeated St. Francis 64-58 on Feb. 6.

Scoring leaders for Winner were Brady Fritz, 17; Brandon Volmer, 16; Shea Connot, 11 and Joren Bruun, 9.  Volmer pulled down 13 rebounds, Fritz, 7 and Connot, 5.  Bruun had 5 assists, Fritz and Volmer, 3 each.

Winner boys basketball team was nipped by McLaughlin 66-60 Friday in Winner.

Brady Fritz led the scoring with 26 points followed by Brandon Volmer, 20; Shea Connot, 6 and Joren Bruun, 5.  Volmer pulled down 6 rebounds. Bruun had 5 assists.

The next action for Winner will be Friday when they travel to Mobridge.

Winner Area Sweeps Week

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Winner Area wrestling won matches over Chamberlain and McCook Central/Montrose on Feb. 6 in Chamberlain.

The Warriors defeated Chamberlain 45-24 and defeated McCook Central 46-30.

Winner area wrestling team won first place at the Huron tournament on Saturday. The Warriors scored 206.5 points with Aberdeen Central taking second and Mitchell, third.

The Warriors had three champions: Jack Kruger at 113 pounds, Atlas Willuweit at 120 and Sam Kruger at 145 pounds.

Also placing for the Winner Area team were Kaden Keiser, 3rd; Riley Orel, 3rd; Wyatt Turnquist, 2nd; Aaron Gilchrist, 4th; Trevor Peters, 4th; ; Preston Norrid, 6th; Riggin Shippy, 4th; Landon Debus, 4th; Asher Kraft, 6th; Achilles Willuweit, 5th and Elijah Blare, 4th.

Cowboys Win Another Pair

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Three Colome players scored 16 points each to lead the Cowboys to a 61-36 victory over North Central Feb. 6 in Colome.

Layton Thieman, Kolton Salonen and Jackson Kinzer led the scoring.  The Cowboys out-rebounded North Central 40-23. Thieman pulled down 12 rebounds, Calvin Ringing Shield, 9 and Salonen, 8.

Jackson Kinzer and Kolton Salonen both scored 16 points to lead the scoring for Colome as they defeated Menno 50-41 Saturday in Colome.

Layton Thieman added 11 points.  Salonen pulled down 12 rebounds. Thieman, Kinzer and Calvin Ringing Shield each had 6 rebounds.