Monthly Archives: July 2018

Winner/Colome Downs Corsica/Stickney

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The Winner/Colome Pheasants picked up a Sunshine League amateur baseball game victory over Corsica/Stickney Sunday in Winner.

The Winner/Colome team won 6-0.

For Winner/Colome Austin Richey had 3 hits and drove in a run, Derek Graesser and Zach Harter each had two hits.

Graesser drove in two runs while Harter had an RBI. Kelly O’Bryan, Reed Harter, Dillon Lambley, Drew DeMers and Geno Katz each had a hit. Lambley drove in two runs while Austin Calhoon knocked in a run.

Connor Hopkins earned the win, striking out seven batters, giving up two hits.

Winner/Colome finished the regular season with a 17-2 record overall and 13-2 in the Sunshine League.

Winner Legion Splits a Pair

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Twelve runs in the 7th inning propelled the Winner/Colome Legion baseball team to a 24-14 victory over Valentine, Neb., on July 11.

Four hits from Jackson Kinzer helped lead the way for the Royals. Kinzer singled in the first, homered in the third, doubled in the sixth and doubled in the seventh.

Both offenses were strong at the plate as Winner/Colome collected 21 hits and Valnetine 12 in the high scoring game.

The Royals took an early 4-1 lead but Valentine captured the lead in the second inning. Valentine scored four runs when Turner Tinant homered.

Winner/Colome took the lead for good in the fourth inning with three runs.

“I was happy with the way we bounced back against Valentine after blowing a late lead against Platte-Geddes,” said coach Drew Weber.

The Royals had lot of good hitters in the Valentine game. Riley Cahoon had 3 singles, 2 runs; Carter Brickman, 3 singles, 3 runs; Andrew Laprath, 2 doubles and 4 RBIs; Shea Connot, 2 singles and 2 RBIs; Ty Bolton, 2 singles and 2 runs and Chase Dufek, 2 singles, 2 runs and 2 RBIs

In pitching, Cale Meiners pitched four innings allowed 8 runs, 7 hits, 8 walks and 5 strickouts.

Levi McClanahan pitched two innings with 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts and Shea Connot pitched 1 inning with 4 runs, 2 hits, 3 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Winner/Colome fell to Platte-Geddes 10-9 on the final play of the game on July 10.

The game was tied at 9 with Platte batting in the bottom of the seventh when Seth Kirsch singled on the first pitch scoring one run.

The Royals had 6 hits and Platte 10.

Batting, Kinzer had 2 singles and 3 RBIs; Bolton, 2 singles and 2 runs scored and Calvin Ringing Shield an RBI double.

Brickman pitched five innings allowing 6 runs on 8 hits, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.

Dufek pitched an 1 1/3 inning with 4 runs on 2 hits, 2 walks.

“We really struggled making tough plans for our pitchers against Platte and that doomed us as they had 9 in field hits,” said Weber. “I am really pleased with the way we have been hitting the ball lately, but we need to back that up with more consistent pitching and defense,” added the coach.

Winner Jr. Legion Plays Four Games in Sioux Falls

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Winner Junior Legion baseball team played four games in Sioux Falls over the weekend.

In the first game on Saturday, Winner fell just short of the Renner Dukes 7-6.

Despite a six run deficit in the fourth inning, Winner almost came all the way back, getting nipped by just one point.

Winner scored five runs in the comeback on runs by Oscar Pravecek, Kameron Meiners, Tyler Olson and a double by Pravecek in the sixth.

Joren Bruun led things off on the hill for Winner. Phillip Jorgensen, Jacob Beckers and Bosten Morehart all contributed in relief.

Saturday afternoon, Winner shut out Brandon Valley 12-0.

Winner scores four runs each in the second, third and fourth innings.

Joren Bruun led Winner with two hits in three at bats. Other leading hitters were Colby Kaiser, 1-3, Phillip Jorgensen, 1-2, Oscar Pravecek, 1-3, Fred Whiting, 1-3, Jacob Beckers, 1-1.

Evan Farner was the winning pitcher.

Sunday morning Detroit Lakes, Minn., defeated Winner 5-3.

The Winner Junior Legion scored 2 runs in the third and one in the fifth.

Meiners led things off on the mound for Winner as he surrendered five runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Bruun and Whiting each had 2 hits for Winner.

In the last game of the tournament for Winner, they were defeated by Harrisburg 9-0.

The local junior legion team fell behind early and could not come back.

Whiting led the team at the plate as he was 3-3 with a double.

Pitching for Winner were Aaron Gilchrist, Bruun and Whiting.

The junior Legion will host Platte on Wednesday, July 18, with game starting at 6 p.m.

Sharon Senkel, 73

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Sharon Senkel is healthy, whole, and celebrating in the presence of Jesus. Sharon began her life April 7, 1945, in Winner, SD. She learned at an early age to love Jesus and never doubted His love for her. She had one brother, Garry, and several cousins who were more like siblings that she loved dearly.

She enjoyed making coffee and cookies for visitors, embroidering beautiful linens, listening to music, and church. Sharon left Winner in 1988 to move with her dad to Morrill Manor in Morrill, NE. There she enjoyed many special friendships while living on her own. She began attending Mitchell Berean Church and grew to love the church and the many kind people who made her a part of the family.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ariel Senkel.

She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Garry and Barbara Senkel; nephew Bill (Alicia) Senkel and children Lexi, Belle, and Elijah; nephew Heath (Kinsey) Senkel and sons Justin and Andrew; and special friends Pam and Ron Ward.

Funeral services were held Friday, July 13, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Home with the graveside at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill.

Francis Mason, 89

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Francis Mason, 89, of Ideal, SD passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at the Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket, South Dakota.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at the Ideal First Presbyterian Church in Ideal at 2 p.m. A private burial will be held at a later date.

Francis Henry “Buzz” Mason was born on Sept. 29, 1928, in Tripp County South Dakota and he passed away at the Prairie View Assisted Living Care Facility in Woonsocket SD on July 12 2018. He was the son of William Henry “Hank” Mason and Ival (Lenker) Mason. Hank and Ival Mason had seven children, they were Lyle, Francis, Bill, Ted, Wanda, Clarice, and Shirley. He graduated from Colome High School. In 1946 right after high school, Buzz joined the U.S. Army. He served in the Panama Canal Zone until he separated from the Army in 1949. Buzz was immensely proud of his honorable military service.

He met Janice McMacken, his first wife at a box lunch fund raising contest when he bought one of Jan’s box lunches. Jan and Buzz were married in Tripp County in 1952. Buzz and Jan had two sons, Danny and Francis A. Mason.

During the first years of Buzz and Jan’s marriage, Buzz farmed and worked as a hired hand for Pat and Dave Lenker of Ideal SD. While living in Ideal, Buzz was very active in the Ideal Presbyterian Church and the Ideal School. In 1963 Buzz and Jan purchased and moved to a small farm west of Mitchell SD. Over the years Buzz worked as a farmer, mechanic, feed salesman, master plumber, and manager of the Davison County Rural Water System. Buzz was very proud of his days managing the Davison Rural Water System.

Buzz loved the outdoors and at an early age learned to hunt and trap. He shared this joy hunting with his sons and his friends. Over the years he developed a large collection of rifles and shotguns. He was passionate about pheasant hunting and gun collecting. Buzz as also involved in the VFW, American Legion and the Shriners.

He is survived by his current wife Ellen Ann, sons Danny and Al Mason, 11 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. The grandchildren are Aaron Mason, Jordan Jones, Hilary Mason, Patrick Mason, Sydney Mason, Natasha Mason, Madeline Mason, Timothy Mason, Evangeline Mason, Phillip Mason, and Dorothea Mason. Buzz’s great grand children are Ayden, Austyn, and Adasyn Mason

Buzz was preceded in death by his parents Hank and Ival Mason and his brothers Bill and Ted and his sisters Wanda and Clarice. Buzz was also preceded in death by his first wife Janice and his second wife Phyllis.

Josephine Cecilia Brockhoft, 89

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Josephine Cecilia Brockhoft, wife and mother, passed away at the age of 89 on July 12, 2018. Jo was born to Alice Schintgen Jungen and Otto Jungen on Jan. 13, 1929 at Valley Springs, SD and was the 3rd born of 12 children. As a young girl the family moved to rural Watertown, S.D. where Otto farmed and worked as a blacksmith to survive the depression years of the 1930’s. These were the days when school kids really did walk several miles to school and obesity was almost non-existent due to the physical hardships faced by the working class. Jo attended the Immaculate Conception Catholic School and graduated from the eighth grade, which was the highest level of formal education that she attained.

Josephine’s adult life began at an early age as she labored in the fields picking potatoes by hand, planting trees, processing poultry, and working as a waitress; all difficult work but always honest labor.

She was united in marriage to Ray Brockhoft on June 19, 1951 at Webster, S.D. They spent their early married years on their farm in the Crocker Hills near Crocker, S.D. where their two sons were born, Rodney in 1953 and Michael in 1955. The family raised cattle, sheep, and chickens and Jo milked cows by hand and sold milk and cream locally.

In 1963 the family moved to Watertown. Daughter Sheila was born in Watertown in 1964 and brought the new joy to Josephine’s life that a daughter can bring.

Josephine was a wife and mother that endured two of the men in her life having served in military service in wartime settings. Jo comforted her husband, Ray, as he endured nightmares from World War II during their early years, and later in her life, she cried for an entire month as she came to grips with her young son Rodney’s tour of duty in Vietnam.

Josephine was proud of the three children that she raised with her husband Ray. Josephine was also very proud that all of her grandchildren graduated from college or vocational school. Jo sang in the church choir for many years in Watertown and enjoyed singing while playing her guitar and organ in later years.

In 1990, Ray and Jo moved to Sioux Falls.

Josephine is survived by children, Rodney (Julie), Mike (Kris), and Sheila (Ralph) Belding; eight grandchildren, Sara (Brent) Jamison, Dr. Nichole Brockhoft (Nick) Shada, Jonathan Brockhoft, Dr. Thomas Brockhoft, Christopher Brockhoft, Lindsey (Paul) Panitzke, Amanda Belding, Valerie Belding; and six great grandchildren, Henry Jamison, Alaina, Mia, and Nicholas Shada, Anthony and Elliot Belding, and Lydia Jo Panitzke; brothers, Leo (Julie) Jungen, Clem Jungen, and Otto (Margaret) Jungen; sisters-in-law, Vivian and Della Jungen and many nieces and nephews.

Josephine was preceded in death by her husband Ray, sisters, Catherine Fisher, Pauline Briggs, Rose Hanks, Mary Hudelson, Margaret Halvorson; and brothers, Nick, John and Roger Jungen.

Goodbye and thank you Mom, Grandma, and G.G. until we meet again and walk together in fields of green clover

South Dakota Receives Highest Ratings Under IDEA

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South Dakota has received the highest rating possible under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, or IDEA, for both Parts B and C for the most recent reporting year of federal fiscal year 2016. The state is one of only 14 across the country to meet the requirements and purposes of IDEA under both Parts B and C, according to information released recently from the U.S. Department of Education.

IDEA Part B measures and reports the effectiveness of special education services at the preschool and K-12 levels, while Part C refers to the state’s Birth to Three program, which provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers ages birth to three years with developmental delays.

Under Part B, federal fiscal year 2016 marks the third year in a row that South Dakota “meets requirements,” which is the highest rating a state can receive. Under Part B growth was demonstrated in both the compliance and results measures.

Under Part C, South Dakota had been determined to “need assistance” for the past three years. States could receive a rating of 80 percent or higher to receive the “meets requirements” determination. In federal fiscal year 2016, South Dakota not only met this threshold under Part C, but exceeded it, receiving full points available in results and compliance for a 100 percent rating.

“This achievement reflects the hard work of families, service providers and school districts in providing high quality services to infants, toddlers and students with disabilities to improve results for these youth,” said Interim Secretary of Education Mary Stadick Smith.

IDEA requires each state to develop a State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report that evaluates the state’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of the IDEA and describes how the state will improve its implementation.

The Part B and Part C SPP/APRs include indicators that measure child and family results and other indicators that measure compliance with the requirements of the IDEA. Since 2015, Part B and Part C SPP/APRs have included a State Systemic Improvement Plan through which each state focuses its efforts on improving a state-selected child or family outcome through implementation of an evidence-based practice.

 

Nick Ciaramitaro Working for SDSU Extension

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By Dan Bechtold, Editor

When Nick Ciaramitaro graduated from college he wanted to do some public service before heading to law school

Nick joined AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program.

He is working on the Pine Ridge Reservation and works out of the SDSU Regional Extension office in Winner. Nick will be spending a year with the VISTA program.

Nick is from St. Louis, Mo., and graduated in May from the University of Missouri with a degree in biology. He has a minor in environmental studies and a cultural studies certificate. He took a few classes focused on Native American culture while in college.

“I always wanted to serve with AmeriCorps and I was looking for an opportunity that was environment based,” he said.

Nick looked on line at the VISTA openings and thought the site on the Pine Ridge Reservation would be ideal for what he was seeking.

Nick filled out an application and within a week was accepted.

He started work June 25 and will be living in Winner for the year and commuting to Pine Ridge as needed.

Nick will be working with the Beginning Farmer and Rancher program. His supervisors are field specialists from SDSU Extension.

He estimates he will spend part of the time in the office in Winner and the rest doing field work to connect with the community on Pine Ridge.

One of his main jobs is looking for grants and developing a guide for small-acreage farmers that will give them resources they can use to be successful.

Nick noted on the reservation, a lot of people do not have access to large ag land so they have small plots. “They need some way to access resources that will help them improve their land,” said Nick.

The short term goal is to create a way to provide fresh food for families and the community and long term goal is to turn this production into a profit for increased income on the reservation.

The main focus is creating training spaces where tribal members can come to learn gardening, cooking, and other technical ag skills.

As a VISTA volunteer, Nick is learning the values of the Lakota people. “That interests me because environmental justice is my passion,” he said. Nick noted that minority groups are disproportionately affected by environmental issues.

“I want to learn what kind of problems they are struggling with policy-wise plus socially and use that knowledge to further serve them in the future.”

Nick added: “My goal is to understand more of the issues that Native Americans face when it comes to environmental problems.”

Nick likes the small town atmosphere of Winner and breakfast at Shirley’s Diner.

Nick’s long term goal is to go to law school and study environmental justice.

Some of the law schools he is looking at are the University of Colorado in Boulder and Tulane in New Orleans.

After this year is finished with VISTA, Nick might want to serve another year, it just depends on if it all fits into his long range goals for law school.

Now he is enjoying life in Winner and working side by side helping people make a living with sustainable agriculture.

The AmeriCorps VISTA mission is to strengthen organizations that alleviate poverty through volunteering and the mobilization of resources.

Since 1965, over 220,000 VISTA members have served in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

AmeriCorps VISTA members are in tribal, rural, suburban and urban communities. Poverty can take many forms, which is why VISTA’s model is driven directly by communities in need.

AmeriCorps VISTA members help others while gaining valuable skills for their career.

For Nick, he feels his work with VISTA will be invaluable to his career as a lawyer.

Lorrin Naasz Chosen for Leadership Program

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The tenth leadership class has been selected for the South Dakota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program.

Lorrin (Anderson) Naasz of Pierre, formerly of Winner, is one of 28 individuals from across the state that have been selected.

The program develops the skills, knowledge and character of leaders for rural communities and the state’s most essential industry.

The class members will begin their 18-month leadership development program in November. There are 12 seminars in the SDARL leadership series including one seminar in Washington, D.C. and one international study seminar.

“In addition to diversity across the agricultural landscape, this class is geographically diverse,” said SDARL executive director Lori Cope. “Class members are from Buffalo, Sioux Falls, Peever, New Underwood and other cities and towns representing a broad expanse of agriculture and the rural nature of our state.”

“Class X continues the tradition of excellence that is the hallmark of the SDARL program,” said Don Norton CEO.
“When this class graduates in 2020 it will bring our list of graduates to 299. These are influential and impactful leaders in South Dakota agriculture.”

Selection to the program is competitive and requires a formal application and interview.

Winner Regional Starts Pediatric Teleaudiology Pilot Program

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Winner Regional Healthcare Center has been chosen as one of two sites for a pilot program to conduct pediatric teleaudiology diagnostic testing. A HRSA (Health Resources & Service Administration) grant delivered to the South Dakota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Collaborative (EHDI), a partnership of the South Dakota Department of Health, the University of South Dakota’s (USD) nursing department and the department of communication sciences & disorders, and the South Dakota School for the Deaf, is being utilized to conduct this pilot program.

Initial screening to identify hearing loss is routinely conducted before babies leave the hospital, after being born. If a baby does not pass this screening, an in-depth diagnostic evaluation should occur before the baby is three months of age, allowing for an intervention, if necessary, to be in place by six months of age. Early intervention is desired to prevent further impact of the hearing deficits. This is referred to as the 1-3-6 guideline.

As this is a teleaudiology program, patients utilizing this new technology at Winner Regional Healthcare Center are connected via a video conference camera with Dr. Jessica Messersmith of USD. Winner Regional nurses assist in conducting testing, utilizing equipment which Dr. Messersmith is able to control and monitor in real-time on her computer. The first test is a direct visualization of the ear canal and the second is auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, which tests the brain’s response to different sounds. The appointment takes about two hours, as it takes a while to get the infant to sleep, which is necessary for testing. Amazingly, Dr. Messersmith and parents are able to identify the degree of an infant’s hearing immediately.

It is the hope of Winner Regional Healthcare Center, USD and other EHDI partners that this pilot program will become long-term and permanent. In the meantime, it is an especially valuable and exciting program to offer new parents in the region. Referrals for the pediatric teleaudiology diagnostic testing can be made through a primary provider.