Focusing on the Wins

By Rep. Dusty Johnson

The world has had a rough few months. It’s easy to harp on the negatives, especially as infections and job losses continue to rise. Our country still needs to make substantial improvements in our response to this crisis, but we also should take time to focus on the positives — what we’ve gotten right.

First, I need to begin by saying thanks to South Dakotans. It didn’t take a forced stay at home order, you all took personal responsibility, stayed home, and flattened our curve.

You’ve heard the phrase “South Dakota commonsense” a lot lately, but it rings true.

We have to remember; we are doing what we’ve never done before. In the last seven days, testing in the United States has increased by 28%. Moderna Therapeutics Clinical Trial announced this week that a vaccine candidate showed participants in the trial received antibodies to COVID-19. Moderna will begin Phase 3 of this trial in July for a potential vaccine. That’s the hope and the news we need.

More than 11.5 million tests for COVID-19 have been performed in the United States. Just yesterday, more than 400,000 tests were performed. This week, we saw the most tests ever reported in a single day – our response hasn’t been perfect, but we are making big progress.

As of May 15th, the federal government has coordinated the delivery of 83.3 million N95 respirators, 133.7 million surgical masks, 10.6 million face shields, 23.1 million surgical gowns, and 989 million gloves.

More than 20,000 South Dakota businesses utilized the Paycheck Protection Program – keeping thousands on payroll. States throughout the country are beginning to enter opening phases.

This is welcome news. I don’t want to sound tone deaf though, I know thousands of South Dakotans have lost jobs and are struggling to make ends meet, but there’s hope on the horizon.

Like I said, our efforts as a nation and as a government haven’t been perfect. But as we strive daily to improve our response, we should occasionally recognize the progress we’ve made so far.

The efforts of so many researchers, health care workers, public health experts, and frontline employees have made a real difference in the lives of millions.

Colome Graduation Set

Julie Rohde Photo
Colome High School graduation will be held June 2 at 6 p.m. at the football field. Jacob Beckers is the student council president and Madison Gill is the senior class president.

Sixteen students will graduate from Colome High School on June 2. The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at the football field.

The Colome Consolidated School Board voted to open up the graduation but social distancing rules will still apply due to COVID-19.

The family of graduates will be able to sit in bleachers at the football stadium. Others can sit in the bleachers if there is room or in their vehicles and watch the ceremony.

Persons in vehicles can tune their radio to 105.5 to hear the program.

Dr. Debbie O’Doan, Colome principal, says there will be some modifications to what a typical graduation would look like.

O’Doan will give the welcome.

Six seniors will graduate with honor. They include: Julianna Larson, Haley Krumpus, Megan Charles, Jacob Beckers, James Brumbaugh and Madison Gill.

Scholarships will be awarded along with the presentation of diplomas. The diplomas will be handed out by Matt Bolie, president of the Colome Consolidated School District.

The graduates will be seated six feet apart from each other to follow CDC guidelines.

There will also be an 8th grade graduation with 18 candidates to be honored.

Following the graduation ceremony there will be no receiving line.

The class flower is the rose and the class colors are royal blue and sunflower yellow.The motto is: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.”

The class song is “Even Thought I am Leaving” by Luke Combs.

Tia Meyer named hygienist of year

Tia Meyer, formerly of Winner, is the SDDHA Hygienist of the Year and current Past President of the state association.

Meyer is a registered dental hygienist in South Dakota with over 12 years of dental experience. She began her career in dental by obtaining her dental assisting degree at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls.

As her passion began to grow, so did her desire to further herself in her career. She went on to complete her bachelor’s of science in dental hygiene at the University of South Dakota.

After working clinically as a hygienist for a couple years, she was offered the opportunity become the Dental Hygiene Coordinator for the Neighborhood Dental locations.

Shortly after, she received another opportunity to become the clinical director for the companies nine locations.

Tia has developed clinical protocols, training philosophies, and standard of care processes for these teams. In addition, she has developed a continuing education program that each team participates in biweekly as well as mostly recently a new CE platform that is open to dental professionals nationwide.

She could not be more proud of the patient service specialists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, managers, and doctors who are among the companies teams. They are the reason she does what she does each and everyday.

For the rest of the story, pick up this week’s edition of the Winner Advocate or call (605) 842-1481!!

Winner/ Colome Pheasants take on Colome Chaos

Dan Bechtold/ Winner Advocate Photo
It was a beautiful afternoon for baseball at Leahy Bowl as Winner/Colome Pheasants took on the Colome Chaos. This was the first game of the season at the Winner field and persons enjoyed getting outside to watch some baseball action. Social distancing rules were in place for players and fans due to COVID-19. At the end of the game, there were no handshakes just a tip of the hat by players.

Zane Goitia, 16


Funeral services for Zane Goitia will be held May 29 at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Burke.

Zane Christian Goitia was born Dec. 12, 2003 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Christel Harbo and Brandon Schumann.

Zane grew up and attended elementary school in Lennox, South Dakota and Amboy, Ill. He moved to Burke, South Dakota and was in the 10th grade at Burke High School.

Zane was a very well liked, kind and caring young man. He always had a smile on his face. He loved video games, vacations with grandma and grandpa, fishing and was so proud to play football and golf with the Burke Cougars.

He enjoyed working at Green’s Grocery Store and people always commented how helpful and polite he was. He always talked of joining the military after high school.

A tragic car accident on May 22, 2020 took Zane’s life far too soon.

He will be eternally missed by his parents, Christel Harbo (Jordon Wickersham) and Brandon (Stacie) Schumann; his sisters: Arianna Goitia, Chloe Harbo, and Ashley and Amaeya Schumann; his grandparents: Robyn and Bob Waterbury, Margaro and Miriam Goitia-Cruz, Wayne Schumann and Dolores Markowski; his aunts, uncles and cousins: Carmelo Rodriguez, Chela (Nick) Bolte, Brenna and Braxton , Charles Goitia and Martha Waterbury and Bentley.

He is also survived by a host of other family members.

May you find peace Zane.

Norma Nielsen, 91


Norma Nielsen, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, May 22, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

A private family service will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. A public visitation was held on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from 6-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.

Burial will be held at the Winner City Cemetery following the services on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Friends of the Library.

Norma Mae (Grossenburg) Nielsen was born Sept. 8, 1928 in Winner, SD to Charles (CJ) and Blanche (DeBolt) Grossenburg and passed away on May 22, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care.

Norma married Wilber (Bill) Nielsen on Sept. 20, 1950 and they raised eight children on a dairy farm north of Winner.

Mom was a very loving, generous, and teaching person with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. We celebrated her life and all of us will miss her.

Mom was active on the farm raising chickens, gardening, and helping Dad. She would take the eggs and cream to town to sell to help support the farm and her family.

Mom loved to sew, knit, and crochet, which she taught us girls. She taught all her children how to help in the house with cooking, cleaning, laundry and gardening.

Once the youngest Jon was in school, she worked at Grossenburg Implement until her retirement in 1999.

She had a wonderful retirement. She enjoyed playing cards, drinking coffee with her friends and family whether it was her house or at McDonald’s.

Norma’s door was always open especially on Sunday’s for coffee at 4 p.m.. She loved her Sunday coffee time with whoever would come to her house. Many stories were told and a lot of laughter went on, what a special time.

Mom was on the Tripp County Library Board and a member of United Methodist Church. She received South Dakota State Library Trustee of the Year award in 2005.

Norma and Bill had 8 children, 19 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren. She is survived by sons, Robert D (Karen Hauff) Nielsen, Steve (Kathy Woods) Nielsen, William Scott (Deb Steinfadt) Nielsen, Bruce (Dennise Engel) Nielsen, Jon Nielsen and daughters Annette (Dale) Storhaug, Marrianne Skelton (Frank Dorman), Dianne (Duane) Anderson, her brother and sister-in-law, Gene (Pat Scholz) Grossenburg, numerous nephews and nieces, great nephews and great nieces and many loving friends.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents and husband.