Monthly Archives: April 2018

A Winner man was seriously injured when he lost control of his pickup at 1:30 p.m. on April 6 and rolled into a ditch, according to the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

Terry Mayes, 37, sustained non-life threatening injuries when the 1999 Ford F-150 pickup landed on its roof in shallow water, along state highway 53, a mile south of U.S. Highway 18.

Mayes was driving north when the pickup rolled. Unable to exit the vehicle by himself, Mayes was transported by ambulance to the Winner hospital and later flown to a Sioux Falls hospital.

The highway patrol is investigating.

Two community members will serve on the Colome Consolidated School Board building committee.

At the April 9 school board meeting, the board voted for members to serve on the committee. Elected were Brian London and Kelly Dougherty.

At the meeting, a discussion was held about the community concerns in regard to the school and the condition of the current high school. The board voted to proceed with getting quotes on how much it would cost to get more accurate renovation estimates.

A motion was made to bring a decision to a public vote once the estimates are returned. However, after a lengthy discussion, this motion was rescinded until the estimates are returned so they can determine what their options are regarding a public vote.

Members from the Winner FCCLA Chapter joined over 1,500 members, advisers, and guests who attended the South Dakota FCCLA [Family, Career and Community Leaders of America] Leadership Conference held on April 7-10 at the Denny Sanford Convention Center/Sheraton Hotel in Sioux Falls. The theme was “Be !nspired by FCCLA” and the convention was a huge success.

A team of seven officers serve on the state executive council and presided over the meeting. Their term as a state officer concluded at the closing session. Members attended workshops, competed in STAR [Students Taking Action with Recognition] Events and Knowledge Bowl, and ran for leadership positions.

Kent Julian, an author and dual business owner, was the keynote speaker on Sunday night during the opening general session. On Sunday and Monday students had the opportunity to attend workshops presented by leadership team members, FCCLA officers, and guest presenters along with being involved trying out a driving simulator, participating in service projects, and visiting the career fair.

The second general session of awards and special recognition took place Monday evening. Sadie Woods, Emmarie Kaiser, and Shelby Scott competed in the Talent Show Monday afternoon. Emmarie Kaiser was a finalist! All girls sang and Shelby Scott also played her Ukulele.

On Tuesday morning, STAR Event results were announced. Local results from the Winner Chapter include Sadie Woods and Katy Lantz, Silver, Megan Brozik, Gold, and Shelby Scott, Silver. Members who advance to the National competition will travel to Atlanta, Ga., to represent South Dakota in their respective event at the National FCCLA Leadership Conference June 28- July 2.

FCCLA stands for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and was first established in 1945. FCCLA was chartered in South Dakota in 1946. FCCLA is the only youth-led organization with the family as its central focus. This career-technical student organization prepares youth to assume adult roles in society as wage earners, community leaders, and caring family members by giving them important life skills needed to thrive in their families, careers, and communities. Members learn how to be active community leaders, caring family members, and prepare for life beyond high school.

The Winner High School Chapter of FFA participated in a contest in Groton on April 5.

Results include: vet science team, 1^st; –Savannah Vogel, 1^st; Katy Lantz, 2^nd; Heather Rowe, 3^rd; Kayla Bachmann, 4gh and Kaesha Klein, 8^th.

The floriculture team too first place with Andrew Taylor, 1^st; Madyson Morehart, 2^nd; Logan Tunnissen, 4^th; Ryder Mortenson, 10^th; Elisabeth Duffy, 15^th

The WHS Future Farmers of America competed in Lennox on April 6.

The vet science team won first place—Lantz, 2^nd; Vogel, 3^rd; Klein, 6^th; Rowe, 14^th and Bachmann, 15^th.

The biotechnology team took first—Andrew Taylor, 1^st; Casey Stickland, 3^rd; Ryan Sell, 5th

The livestock judging team took third—Justus Gregg, 9^th; Luke Hennebold, 12^th. Other team members are Brandon Volmer, Tanner Moeller and Kenzie Bachmann.

The floriculture team took 8^th—Logan Tunnissen, Ryder Mortenson and Elisabeth Duffy.

The ag business team took 11^th—Matthew Hartley, Ethan Niehus and Jalen King.

The national resources team took 11^th—Ashton Klein 2^nd in junior high; Aaron Gilchrist, 19^th and Chase Boerner as a team member.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Republican political candidates seeking the governor’s office, a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and attorney general spoke at the Tripp Country Lincoln Day Dinner on April 9 in Winner.

Kristi Noem, who is now serving in Congress, is running for governor.

She is a believer in term limits. When she was elected in 2010 she said she was not going to stay in Washington, D.C., for 10 years. “I have worked hard and it now time to come home,” she said.

Noem noted that South Dakota does a lot of things right. However, wages are not going up and businesses are not expanding. “We need to change that. I am passionate about reforms we need to make in South Dakota,” she said.

Noem wants people who are welfare programs to go back to work. “We need to set the example for the nation. We have thousands of empty jobs in this state and we need people to fill them. It will help them and their families be more successful in the future,” she explained.

The candidate noted South Dakota is making headlines for scandals, mismanagement, million dollar lawsuits. “That needs to change. We need to bring integrity into our state government and more transparency for our taxpayers,” she said.

Noem noted it is important taxpayers trust their state government.

Attorney General Marty Jackley is also a candidate for governor. He was unable to attend the banquet as he is in Washington, D.C., preparing to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Megan Assman of Winner, East River director for the Jackley campaign, spoke on behalf of the candidate. Assman gave Jackley’s background and what he has done for South Dakota as attorney general.

Three GOP candidates for attorney general spoke. John Fitzgerald is the state’s attorney in Lawrence County. He talked about solving the methamphetamine problem in the state.

“We need to increase our efforts in education, rehabilitation and law enforcement,” he said.

Jason Ravnsborg of Yankton, is a lawyer also seeking the post of attorney general. He is also a Lt. col. in the Army Reserves.
Lance Russell, a legislator, is also seeking the attorney general post. The last two years he was responsible for the attorney general bills in the legislature.

He says the state needs a much stronger conflict of interest law.

The three Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives also spoke at the dinner.

Speaking were Dusty Johnson, a former member of the PUC; Secretary of State Shantel Krebs and Neil Tapio, a state legislator from Watertown.

Gary Bowar received the ESA distinguished service award on April 12.

ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha) held its awards ceremony where they honored Bowar, presented high school scholarships and honored members of the two Winner chapter for their work in ESA.

Bowar was born and raised in Mitchell. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and went on to attend Carroll College in Helena, Mont, graduating with a B.A. degree in history. He returned to South Dakota in 1964 and enlisted in the Army National Guard for six years. Upon his discharge from active duty, he went to work for the South Dakota Department of Social Services, working in Lake Andes, Yankton and Sioux Falls.

He marred Jan Dotzauer in 1966 and they moved from Sioux Falls to Champaign-Urbana, Ill., where he completed his master’s degree in social work. Upon completion of his degree, they moved to Winner in 1971.

He worked in Winner, Lake Andes, Chamberlain, Martin, Pine Ridge and Mobridge as the district supervisor and Winner office manager of the Department of Social Services. During his employment, he was the on the Winner regional hospital board for 14 years, a social worker designee consultant for the Winner Long Term Care Center and Bennett County Nursing Home. He was a member of the S.D. state employees organization board for 9 years and president of the Winner Chapter of SDSEO for 17 years.

Then Gov. Michael Rounds declared Aug. 9, 2004, as Gary Bowar Day in South Dakota for services he provided to the state and Winner area. Bowar retired in December of 2004 having worked 40 years for the Department of Social Services.

He is currently a member of the Winner DSS permanency planning review team for children in DSS custody as the community representative. He is treasurer of the Tripp County Historical Society and has written two local histories—The history of Winner baseball and Catholic Churches of the past in Tripp County.

Bowar is a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Winner Quarterback Club and the Winner Community Playhouse. He is a regular blood donor and has donated 135 times since 1971.

He has been a member of the Winner American Legion for 45 years. As a Legion member is the the post historian, involved in the funeral honor guard for veterans, delivers the military newspapers every two weeks, involved in Labor Day activities and is in charge of the Monday Night football fundraiser.

The Bowars are the parent of two children—Chad of Charlotte, N.C. and Amy of Denver, Colo.

Crystal Hebbring of Winner won the Miss Amazing senior miss division at the Miss Amazing pageant in Sioux Falls.

Hebbring will participate in the national Miss Amazing pageant to be held in Chicago in August.

Also competing at the South Dakota pageant was Megan Kinzer.

Josi Meek, Community Connections support coordinator, said the day was busy and fun. The ladies started their day with registration and then met their buddies for the day. The buddies were college students who walked with the contestants through the day. They assured schedules were kept.

The ladies participated in an interview session with five different judges. They were questioned on areas that the ladies submitted in the registration form such as their goals, employment and where they see themselves in the future.

“Both Hebbring and Kinzer nailed it (the interview),” said Meek. “They were both so poised and confident in their answers. We could not have been more proud of them,” added Meek.

The ladies had time to practice for the talent show. The women proceeded to get their hair and makeup done before getting ready for the evening gown event.

Meek said when the judges were ready to announce the winners, everyone was nervous and very excited to hear the results.

Meek noted for Crystal to be announced the winner was an incredible moment in her life.

Miss Amazing began in 2007. It is dedicated to providing opportunities for girls and women with disabilities to reach their fullest potential.

With an expansive network of supporters, Miss Amazing has become so much more than a pageant.

Miss Amazing is a movement created by a collective desire to acknowledge the beauty and value within all people.

Miss Amazing is now in over 30 states.

South Dakota Miss Amazing became a state chapter of the national organization in 2014.

In April of 2015, South Dakota hosted its first annual program with six girls and women. Through each annual program, South Dakota has continued to gain participants, volunteers, sponsors and audience members.

This year there were 38 participants.

Persons who would like to donate to help Crystal get to Chicago can visit the website: https://donate.missamazing.org/fundraiser/1400205.

Sara Husher of Winner is one of the candidates for Miss Wesleyan at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell.

The titles of Scotchman and Miss Wesleyan are given to honor two seniors based on campus leadership, service, community leadership, academics and character.

Husher is a biology major and a member of the CHAOS (science club), Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Zeta honor societies and the DWU volleyball team. She has volunteered for new student orientation, the regional science fair and Mitchell animal rescue. Husher was an international health care intern at the Gap Medic program in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and volunteered for a medial portion of the DWU Uganda service learning trip.

She has worked as a research assistant at DWU and as a certified nursing assistant at Firesteel Healthcare for two years. She received the Hughes grant in aid award for educational experiences, the St. Joseph Hospital endowed scholarship award and the S.D. Opportunity grant award.

Husher is the daughter of Linda and Phil Husher of Winner.

After graduation, Husher will work as a post baccalaureate research fellow at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md, while working on a master in public health degree.

The winners will be announced at an honors convocation on April 27.

Sharon Hiemstra of the Winner American Legion Auxiliary has been named the District 3 Legionette of the year.

The announcement was made at the regional meeting in Chamberlain.

Hiemstra has been a member of the Winner Legion Auxiliary for 10 years and currently is the chaplain and VA&R chairman.

The honoree has prepared food for Memorial Day honor guard luncheon, assisted with the float for Labor Day parade, put crosses on veterans graves at the Winner Cemetery. In addition, she has helped the American Legion the entire day of the demolition derby during the Labor Day festivities, set up the American Legion post home for the Veterans Day dinner and cleanup.

She has helped the unit with the yearly fundraiser, has donated food at just about every event the American Legion and auxiliary hold, helped prepare food for the car show held at the historical society grounds.

Hiemstra is on the funeral committee of her church, a member of the local Centennial Quilt Guild, works part-time at the Elder Inn and also part-time at MEMS.

She has assisted the Legion with prepping, serving and cleanup of a meal for high school students and government officials for Government Day.

She has helped prepare and deliver treat bags to show the auxiliary’s appreciation for the teachers of our local schools.

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