Monthly Archives: March 2018

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate the community and create awareness about developmental disabilities.

A person with a developmental disability will have limitations due to mental or physical impairments. As a result of varying degrees of disabilities these individuals encounter many difficulties in language, mobility and independent living. National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month also brings to the front the incredible potential of these individuals. It’s an opportunity to share the stories of individuals with a disability to show that the goal of a successful life is within their reach. Community Connections of Winner supports and assists individuals to achieve this goal.

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month’s goal is to promote positive attitudes towards individuals with disabilities by fostering a “See Me for Me” theme. To us, this means looking beyond someone’s disability and seeing them as a person.

Community Connections supports individuals to make informed choices about their life, whether it is about their choice of housing, employment, personal goals or life style. Community Connections supports individuals by building on their strengths and capabilities which, in turn, develops independence and self-advocacy enhancing an individual’s dignity and quality of life. Community Connections fosters inclusion for these individuals within the community. They provide exposure and educate individuals on their responsibility and privilege to be a contributing member of the community. “We, at Community Connections, don’t see a disability, we see potential,” said Melony Bertram, executive director.

All people, regardless of disability, deserve the opportunity for a full and inclusive life in their community. These individuals contribute and give back to the community in a number of ways, by shopping locally, maintaining jobs at local businesses and spending their leisure time out in the community enjoying eating out, going to the movies and attending local events.

“So we are asking the members of the Winner community to join with us in celebrating March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month,” said Bertram.

Community Connections held an open house on March 23.

There has been much growth and changes within Community Connections over the years.

Shelby Scott and Presley Foudrey won the grand prize for their project at the Winner Science Fair held on March 22. There project was: What percentage of people are amusic?

The best of show at the middle school went to Joselyn Kludt with a project on “does coffee have different pH’s.”

The gold medal physical science project winners include:

Mackenzie Levi and Brennan Bachmann, “How does air pressure effect bounce?”

Preston Norrid, “What are the effects of friction?”

Jude Laude, Steven Lin, “Does yeast effect elephant paste?”

Kayla Natoli, “Does the splatter matter?”

Megan Brozik and Meagan Blare, “Does a cookie sheet effect baking?”

Teresa Taylor, “Which fabric absorbs dye the best?”

The biological gold medal winners are:

Saige Schuyler, “Does a chiropractic adjustment effect horse performance?”

Kiersten Durrin and Kara Ewing,
Does washing hands affect mold growth?

Dawson Phillips, Does plant population affect its growth?

Jacob Clay, Is water still the champ?

Phillip Jorgensen, Is a dog’s mouth cleaner?

Addy Root, What mouth wash kills oral bacteria

Zane Mandl and Jaynee Gregg, what manure is best for fertilizer?

Several special awards were presented at the science fair.

These awards include:

Best engineering—Preston Norrid, $25 sponsored by Haley’s Hiway Lumber

Best display board—Isabelle Leyden, $25 from Jorgensen Land and Cattle

Best new idea—Heather Rowe, $25 from Schramm Furniture

Best oral health—Addy Root, electric toothbrush from Winner Dental Clinic

Best ag related—Zane Mandel and Jaynee Gregg, $25 from Jorgensen Land and Cattle

Best health project—Morgan Hammerbeck, $25 from Animal Clinic

Best animal project—Saige Schuyler, $25, Animal Clinic

Best use of data—Megan Brozik, $25, Schramm Furniture

The Winner High School drama department will present the play “The Beverly Hillbillies” on April 5-7 at the Winner Community Playhouse.

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and curtain time is at 7 p.m.

The cast includes: Taylor Audiss, Shelby Scott, Cam Irick, Megan Brozik, Meagan Blare, Mason Schuyler, Jack Ducheneaux, Teresa Taylor, Justin Hausmann, Katy Lantz, Hunter Shopene, Sadie Woods, Brielle Bachmann, Gracie Littau, Matt Hartley, Finn Bartels, Andrew Taylor, Mary Calhoon, Shannon Calhoon, Ty Bolton, Heather Rowe, Kendyl Bachmann, Leah Wielchelman, Madaline Watzel, Maggie DeMers, Elijah Blare, Lauren Norrid and Ronae Klein.

The play is directed by Kara Connot and Kelly Assman. Dan Patmore is the technical director.

Persons can call the Winner High School office at 842-8125 to reserve tickets.

Zach Horstman of Winner is helping the Northern State men’s basketball team reach its full potential.

Horstman is a graduate assistant at Northern and the Wolves played March 20 in Sioux Falls in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Horstman was featured in a sports story in the Mitchell Daily Republic on March 20.

Horstman played his college ball at South Dakota State University.

Now, he is in a position to share his college experiences with the Wolves and influence their players.

This season the Wolves are reaching their potential and are having one of the best seasons in school history. They are 34-3 and have tied the school record for wins in a season.

NSU is playing in its second ever Elite Eight.

“I have never been a part of something as successful as what we are doing right now,” Horstman said. “It’s been fun to be a part of that and be around these guys all the time and just having a lot of fun being successful.”

Horstman is learning from some successful coaches. Paul Sather is the head coach at Northern.

“The basketball knowledge you gain from that guy is unbelievable,” Horstman said. “He’s super intelligent. Offensively, his stuff is really great and it shows with what we’ve done on the floor.”

As for the future, Horstman says he wants to stay in college coaching. But is not sure where he will be next year.

“I am doing all I can to help these guys be successful and that’s kind of the gig right now,” he said.

Ferris State defeated Northern State 71-69 on March 24, for the National Title.

Two Yankton residents were arrested in Winner for allegedly attempting to distribute meth.

Winner officers responded to an anonymous tip that two Yankton residents wanted on multiple warrants in Iowa were staying in a Winner motel. They arrested the two people Kristi Arbegast and Sidney Buchholtz, for the warrants and found used syringes, pipes and small baggies used to distribute illegal substances and various other items of drug paraphernalia.

Arbegast and Buchholtz were charged with possession of a controlled substance, distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Cody Amidon of Ideal has been named to the dean’s list at Southeast Community College in Nebraska.

Blake Gardner, coach of the Hill City boys basketball team, has tied as Region 8 coach of the year.

Gardner is formerly of Winner, and the brother of Winner head boys basketball coach Brett Gardner.

Blake Gardner tied with Eldon Marshall of White River for regional coach of the year.

By Jeff Smith
Hill City Prevailer

Blake Gardner, Hill City middle school principal, motto of “make today your masterpiece” is something that he puts on newsletters and one that he hopes helps motivates people.
Like a lot of people at Hill City schools he hopes to assist in creating the narrative that Hill City is a great school district.

“We have a great staff, really awesome kids, and very supportive parents,” Gardner said. “Truly, I am just a figurehead for a great system.”

Gardner was recently recognized as the Region 7 Middle School Principal of the Year.

Gardner is former of Winner and the son of Bill and Bonnie Gardner. Blake Gardner is a graduate of Winner High School.

“I’m just humbled to be recognized as one of the seven in South Dakota. It’s a great honor and it’s very telling how great our school system is,” Gardner said.

After he was nominated the state principal committee voted on the principal that will be chosen for each region. Gardner explains that the Region 7 consists of the Black Hills region schools plus schools in Wall and Philip.

A state committee will be working to choose a state principal of the year.

Over his 12 years in the Hill City school district he has been involved in teaching students and being an administrator in all three buildings. At the middle school he has been a principal for eight years.

He has been a principal at the elementary school and a social studies teacher at the high school.

Gardner said he really loved teaching because he was able to work with students one-on-one but what he likes about being the principal is that he can still help students and then work with teachers as well as parents.

“It expands your influence,” Gardner said about being a principal.

There are times that are challenging but Gardner feels like being in education is the greatest job in the world.

He has a Master’s in Education Administration and he is currently working on a degree as a specialist in education degree. This is the step before getting a doctorate.

Gardner said he had really good teachers growing up who inspired him to want to be in education.

To him, the social aspect of middle school is just as important as the academic aspect. He tries to be a positive influence on students. He said middle school is an awesome place to be because the students are at the in-between stage of needing a lot of guidance and starting to have some more freedom.

Gardner said educators at the middle school are trying to motivate them to be independent learners.There are some growing pains, too, as Gardner said the students have lockers and they are able to be on their own for some of the day.

“It’s fun to watch them grow and be comfortable in that setting,” Gardner said.

Gardner said the middle school has been innovative by offering algebra and physical science for high school credit. The school also has a period called Ranger time that is a 25-minute block where teachers introduce students to subjects not taught in a regular class.

“One teacher does business math, one does geometry games and one does reading theater,” Gardner said.

Gardner said educators at the middle school try to focus on the joy of education.

“We have a great job and there is so much that could take away from focusing on the kids,” Gardner said.

He said he loves the Hill City schools and community.

“It’s just been a blessing for me to be here,” Gardner said.

After the current school year is over Gardner will take over as the elementary school principal. Gardner has left a strong impression on the students at the middle school. He’ll see where the future takes him.

He is excited to work with the teachers and students there. Also, when he was the principal in the past he was the best all-time quarterback at recess.

“There is never a dull moment at the elementary school,” Gardner said as he laughed.