Defending Those Who Defend America


By Sen. John Thune

The Senate recently completed consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – annual legislation to authorize funding for our military and national defense. Like the last two NDAAs, this year’s bill focuses on restoring military readiness and ensuring that our nation is prepared to meet threats posed by major powers like Russia and China.

A lot of people tend to take it for granted that we have the strongest military in the world. But the truth is, years of underfunding and budgetary uncertainty, combined with heavy operational demands, left our military under-equipped, under-manned, and under-prepared to meet the threats of the 21st century.

In November 2018, the bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission released a report warning that our readiness had eroded to the point where we might struggle to win a war against a major power like Russia or China. And the commission noted that we would be especially vulnerable if we were ever called on to fight a war on two fronts. Over the past two years, we’ve made real progress on restoring military readiness. But we still have more work to do.

This year’s NDAA continues our investment in ensuring that our military is prepared to meet current and future threats – in any domain. In particular, it focuses on implementing the National Defense Strategy by building on the work we’ve done to ensure our country is prepared to counter the threat posed by great powers.

Most notably, the bill establishes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which will act as a check on Chinese aggression in the Pacific region. It will help ensure that American troops are better prepared to meet threats in that area of the world. And it will send a clear message to China that America is committed to the security of our allies in the Pacific and keeping global waterways open and free.

No matter what weapons or ships or technology we have, our greatest resource will always be the men and women of the United States military. And we have an obligation to them – and to their families – to ensure that they have all the resources they need to meet the threats we ask them to face. We also need to make sure that we are supporting a high quality of life for our military members and their families.

This year’s NDAA supports a 3 percent pay raise for our troops. It also builds on previous measures to improve military health care and housing. And it contains measures to support families in areas like child care and professional development for military spouses. Recognizing that our obligation to the men and women in uniform continues beyond their service, it also expands presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure.

The NDAA is one of the most important pieces of legislation we pass every year, a sentiment underscored by the fact that our adversaries have been making significant investments in their militaries – making their goals clear to not only challenge the United States and our allies, but intimidate their neighbors and expand their spheres of influence.

Alarmingly, we have seen such aggressive activity include attempting to steal medical data and coronavirus vaccine research, threats that necessitate the expanded investment in cyber capabilities provided in the NDAA.

This NDAA likewise continues our military modernization efforts. I’m honored to represent Ellsworth Air Force Base in the U.S. Senate, and as we look forward with great anticipation to the future B-21 bomber mission, I am committed to helping the base prepare for their arrival. This will not only include investments in base infrastructure, but also working to optimize the Powder River Training Complex airspace to ensure adequate space for realistic combat training.

While the Senate has passed its bill, we have more work ahead of us, and I look forward to working with my colleagues of both parties to advance this NDAA and get our military men and women the resources they need to defend our nation.

Winner Summer Nights for Aug. 1

A car show will be featured at the Winner Summer Nights on Aug. 1.

Frontier Motors is sponsoring Winner Summer Nights on the second block of Main Street. The car show registration is from 3-5 p.m. with the show from 5-7 p.m. and there is no entry fee.

Two trophies will be awarded per class and one for best of show.

This car show does not replace the Prairie Cruisers car show set for Labor Day weekend at the historical society museum.

Frontier Motors will have an ice cream sundae bar with a free will donation and proceeds going to the Wesson Littau Foundation.

The Tripp County building committee will have a dunk tank from 5-9 p.m.

The band for the night will be West Bound.

Summer nights runs from 5-9 p.m. and this year is combined with the popular Pit Row Barbeque.

Another special event will be a Winner Hot Wing competition. The two contestants will be Chris Doski and Mick Tisone from the radio station.

There will be several rounds featuring eating wings and answering trivia questions. With each new round, the wings will get hotter and the questions will be harder.

Frontier Motors will hold its drawing for the red hot summer promotion it has been running.

Come out and look over the cars, enjoy the music then head over to the BBQ pit row.

Fair opens July 29 with a different look

Fair opens July 29 with a different look

The first day of the Mid Dakota Fair in Winner will be held July 29.

The theme for the fair is Mid Dakota Fair—Focusing on the Future.

While many counties have canceled a fair and some state’s have canceled their state fair, Tripp County will still have a fair but it will look a lot different due to COVID-19.

Persons attending the fair must follow SDSU social distancing protocol. Everyone must maintain six feet of distance between those outside of their household.

At first SDSU mandated that every one has to wear a mask at the fair but they have relaxed their rule where masks are not mandatory but highly encouraged.

The July 29 event will be the judging of 4-H exhibits. This year there will be no face to face interview with judges.

Families have been given a set time to drop off their exhibits. Only a certain number of people will be allowed in the 4-H center. This judging will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The same schedule will be followed on July 30 as 4-He4s will drop off their projecs and then leave,

This year there will be no display of 4H projects for he general public to view.

A schedule as been set for Aug. 3 for 4-Hers to come and pick up their projects.

The fair will run through Aug. 8. 4-Hers will show their animals on set days but there will be no public viewing of the show.
The animal shows will be live streamed on Facebook at Tripp County 4-H Animal Shows livestream.
T

he Tripp County Leaders Association received a grant to purchase eight pens to house the swine for the swine show on Aug. 8.

The grant is from the Tripp County Foundation and the South Dakota Community Foundation.

Trailers that bring animals to the fair can park across from the rodeo arena or in the north lot across from the 4-H Center.
4-Hers can sign up for text alerts to keep track of what class is being judged and the time they need to bring their animal into the arena. For example for the beef show persons can text beef show to 31996. When the show is over they can type “stop” to 31996.

There will be no breakfast or no meals served this year. There will be an outdoor concession stand but no concession stand inside the 4-H Center.

The public speaking finals will be in the afternoon of Aug. 4. Again, each 4-Her is giving a time to give their presentation and there will be no public viewing.

“We realize this is not the ideal fair event, but we appreciate your cooperation so w are allowed to still have this opportunity for our members,” said Laura Kahler, Tripp County 4-H advisor.

Clovervale 4-H Club

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Clovervale 4-H Club won the Keith Lentz family traveling trophy at the Tripp County 4-H horse show. The 4-Hers are spread out to follow social distancing regulations. In front from left are Abe Kaiser, Roper Moore and Ash Kaiser. In back from left are Bailey Fairbanks, Maggie DeMers, Kyla Mammen and Arista Kaiser.

Phyllis Lucille Leach, 92

Phyllis Lucille Leach was born on July 3, 1928 in Winner, SD to Joyce E. Taylor (Goodsell) and Ned D. Taylor. Phyllis died on July 14, 2020 at her residence in Austin, TX, at the age of 92 years.

Phyllis grew up and attended school in Winner, SD. After high school, she attended Northwestern University where she graduated with honors.

One of the highlights of her college years was being part of the debate team that won the Big 10 Debate tournament and she was then named to the all-Big 10 debate team.

She married her husband and best friend for life, Robert (Rusty) Leach on December 27, 1951. Their first son, John was born in 1955. Phyllis and Rusty moved to Pierre, SD in the late 1950’s. Mark, their second son, was born in 1959. Phyllis worked as a teacher (Spanish, English and Drama) in Ft. Pierre for several years before joining the Pierre school system as a Spanish teacher.

After retiring from teaching she joined a travel agency (AAA Travel) which helped her share her love of travel with scores of clients. When Phyllis retired from the travel agency, she joined the South Dakota History Center as a volunteer and enjoyed meeting people and sharing a love of SD history.

In 2009, Rusty and Phyllis moved to Austin, TX to be closet to their sons’ families and their grandchildren. They embraced the challenge of starting a new life in their early 80’s and greatly enriched the lives of their extended family in the process.

They made many new friends in Austin and that continued, when after Rusty passed in 2017, Phyllis moved to the Brookdale Senior Living facilities.

Phyllis loved to read and travel and learn about other cultures. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was very proud of her 65+ year marriage to Rusty and loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and brother and her husband Rusty. She is survived by her sons John and Mark, and her numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, sister in law Jean (Gary) Stickland, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

While current circumstances present challenges to having a gathering or memorial service, plans are being made to honor her life at the appropriate time in the future.

Terry Jorgensen, 74

Terry Jorgensen passed away Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, SC.

Because his mother, Marian Jorgensen, passed away on May 17, 2020, a joint “Celebration of Life” funeral service will be held for them at First Christian Church in Winner, SD, at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2020.

Terry was born May 18, 1946 in Winner, SD to Fred Schwenkner and Marian (Applegate) Jorgensen. Fred passed away July 4, 1953.

Terry graduated Winner High School in 1964 and joined the US Navy in 1967. He married Donna (Kingsbury) Lucas and had their daughter Teresa (Jorgensen) Gross on Aug. 21, 1969.

After divorcing, he joined the Navy again and when discharged moved to Omaha, NE, where he worked for IBM.

He overcame his battle with alcohol, became a drug and alcohol counselor and moved to Baton Rouge, LA. He had a passion to help people with addictions by sharing his journey with others.

He married Diane Jorgensen in 1983 and moved to Oklahoma City, OK. On September 29, 1984, they welcomed their daughter Alexis (Jorgensen) Sprogis. In 1987 they moved to Charleston, SC. He loved South Carolina and called it home.

Even after two divorces, a liver transplant and other health conditions, Terry didn’t stop living. He continued his education and by the time he was 60, he had two degrees in business and accounting, including his Master’s in Business Administration. He was also a Certified Public Accountant.

Due to his failing health, he retired from his job at MSU. He moved to Taylors, SC to be near Alexis, her husband Brandon, and his granddaughters Bailey (11) and Avery (7).

He loved his family, and especially his mother, daughters, and grandchildren.

Besides his mother, Terry is preceded in death by his father Fred Schwenkner, his adoptive father Harry Jorgensen, and his grandparents.

He is survived by his daughter Teresa (Scott) Gross, daughter Alexis (Brandon) Sprogis, sister Nancy Jorgensen (Dennis Barnhardt), sister Mary Ann Schroeder, brother Tony (Jane) Jorgensen, and his grandkids Hannah, Ramsey and Harrison Gross; Bailey and Avery Sprogis (and baby Ezra due October 30).