Monthly Archives: March 2022

Winner attracts hunters at Pheasant Fest

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The local chapter of Pheasants Forever held a drawing for a pheasant print at Pheasant Fest held in Omaha, Neb. Pictured are Tom Mathis and Dione Rowe with a gentleman holding the print.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

The Winner Area Chamber of Commerce and the local chapter of Pheasants Forever were well represented at this year’s Pheasant Fest held Oct. 11-13 in Omaha, Neb.

Attending were Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber, Jeremy Clay, James Mathis, Tom Mathis, Marty Mortenson, John Halverson Dione Rowe.

The Chamber and Pheasants Forever shared a booth.

It is estimated there were 21,939 persons in attendance.

Scott said they gave out 300 Hunt SD t-shirts and various trinkets.

Scott noted the t-shirts were a big hit along with the game of Plinko.

Persons who visited the booth had a chance to register to win a Pheasants Forever print.

“It is a good way to continue to build relationships with people who have hunted in Winner in the past,” explained Scott. “They enjoyed coming to the Winner area and  told us where they hunted and how long they have hunted in this area.”

Scott noted Pheasant Fest is two different things. It is trying to build relationships and make people aware they can come here for future hunts. The second connection is meeting those people who have been here before and reaffirming that friendship and letting them know they are welcome to come back to Tripp County to hunt.

Scott appreciated all the persons who worked the booth and also the help of Pheasants Forever.

Next year Pheasant Fest will be held in Minneapolis, Minn.

Alva Chasing Hawk, 58

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Alva Chasing Hawk, 58, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 12 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Wake services were  held on Sunday, March 20 & Monday, March 21, at 7 p.m.,  all at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD.

Alva Rose Chasing Hawk, “Wicozani Win” was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, and friend.  She passed away on March 16, 2022, due to health problems.

Alva was born to Alvin and Freida (Andrews) Blacksmith on Oct. 22, 1963.  She lived with her many sisters, brother, and parents in many different areas near Winner including Hamill, where she met her soulmate Norman “Levi” Chasing Hawk Jr on July 16, 1978 and married on July 16, 1983.  Together they had 6 children.

Alva enjoyed traveling and playing softball in many different tournaments.  She met many people and made many friends along the way.  She always helped people in any way possible whether she could afford it or not.  Alva was a mother figure to anyone who needed her.  She helped to raise many of her family members.  They all looked up to her and called her mom.  Alva loved hunting, fishing, and gardening as well.  She always out fished her brother-in-law, Fidel Mendoza!  She was very spiritual and enjoyed encouraging her family by dancing and cooking during the family’s Sundance.  Alva spent the last of her years helping to raise and care for her 34 grandchildren.  They were the center of her life and the reason she fought so hard to live longer, regardless of her many health problems.  She always talked about hoping to live long enough to watch some of them graduate high school.

Alva was survived by:  her husband Norman “Levi” Chasing Hawk Jr, her children Norman Chasing Hawk III (Jess Jensen), John Chasing Hawk, Bruce Chasing Hawk, Thomas Chasing Hawk, Martha (Brandon) Two Bulls, Marcie Chasing Hawk, all of her grandchildren, her sisters Marylin (Diz) Herman, Dorothy Heth, Alice Blacksmith, Dawn Blacksmith (Tim Sharkey), Martha Drapeau (Larry Titus), her brother Alvin Blacksmith Jr, her sisters-in-law Rose (Fidel) Mendoza, Gloria Chasing Hawk (Bob Beauchman), brothers-in-law Nelson Chasing Hawk Sr, and Michael Chasing Hawk Sr.

Alva was preceded in death by:  her parents Alvin and Freida Blacksmith, her sisters Veneda Eagle Hawk, Elizabeth Blacksmith, Mary Chasing Hawk, her father and mother-in-law Norman and Clarice Chasing Hawk, and her sister-in-law Monica Chasing Hawk.

Winner places sixth at state

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By Dan Bechtold

Editor

For any athlete playing in a state tournament is a highlight of their season and something they will always remember.

This season the Winner boys took a 22-1 record into the state tournament which was played in Rapid City.

Not only were they playing on a bigger stage before huge crows, they were also part of history. This Winner boys team will always be remembered for playing in the first state meet at the new Summit Arena at The Monument. 

The Warriors opened tournament play playing Sioux Valley.

After trailing by as many as 14 points Winner roared back and came close to defeating Sioux Valley. The Warriors lost the game 58-54.

Winner outscored the opposition 16-8 in the fourth quarter and cut its deficit to 54-52 on a pair of free throws by Blake Volmer with 11.6 seconds to play.
Winner cut the score to 56-54 with 5.3 seconds left on a Volmer layup but another foul send Sioux Valley to the line to put the game on ice.

The Warriors shot 41 percent from the field and were 7 of 18 from the free throw line.

Volmer was the leading scorer with 22 points. Ethan Bartels and Jackson Vesely each added 8 and Aiden Barfuss, 7.

Volmer pulled down 9 rebounds. Shawn Hammerbeck had 7, Bartels, 4 and Slade Cournoyer, 3.

Bartels and Cournoyer each had 3 assists.

Barfuss had 3 steals.

Volmer and Vesely each had a man maker.

Coach Brett Gardner said the state tournament  is such a fun and exciting experience.
“Our guys battled till the very end. We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole but never gave up. We had the ball down to one possession with less than 10 seconds to go after being down 14 in the fourth quarter,” said the coach.

“We are so proud of our guys for not giving up and continuing to give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter.”

The loss put the Warriors in the afternoon session.

Friday Winner played strong and defeated Lakota Tech 60-53.

Volmer scored 14 points and Barfuss, 13. Also scoring were Bartels, 9; Hammerbeck, Elijah Peterson, Cournoyer and Vesely all had 6.

Big on the boards, Volmer pulled down 15 rebounds. Cournoyer and Hammerbeck each had 6, Bartels, 5 and Barfuss, 3.

Peterson had 3 assists.

   “We were able to pull out a nice victory. We always say losing the first round is so hard on the student-athletes and that round  2 is all about character. Our guys were able to show pride and come out on top against a good Lakota Tech team.”
In the consolation finals on Saturday, Winner fell to Sioux Falls Christian 67-52.

Winner shot 35 percent from the field and 41 percent from the free throw line.

Volmer scored 19 points, Cournoyer, 13 and Bartels, 7.

Volmer had 9 rebounds, Cournoyer, Bartels and Barfuss, 4 each.

Coming in with two assists were Volmer, Cournoyer and Hammerbeck.

Bartels had 3 steals.

Vesely had 1 manmaker.

“We came up short in the consolation championship but it wasn’t for lack of effort. Our guys put up maximum effort. We are so proud of the way we represented the program, the team and the community. We played with heart and pride all three games,” said Gardner.

Blake Volmer was named  to the all tournament team.

James A Gebhardt, 76

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James A Gebhardt, 76, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2022. 

(Jim) grew up in California, moved to the Midwest as an adult and embraced what the ‘country’ had to offer.  Jim’s easy going personality, smile and quick wit was infectious for those around him.  Jim loved to play catch with his son and cheer him on at the many hockey games and load his grandchildren up on strawberry milk and donuts and take them to the park.

Jim is preceded in death by his grandparents John & Helen Gebhardt, CA., his parents Kenneth & Margaret Gebhardt, CA., and his sister, Patricia Lovell, CA. 

Jim’s survivors are wife, Lori, son Daniel, MI., grandchildren Nova Giernet & Hudson Gebhardt, Ill and his brother Jack (Nancy) Gebhardt, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

Trent Turnquist, 47

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Trent Turnquist, 47, died peacefully on Monday, March 14 at Ava’s house in Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD with Pastor Windsperger officiating on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation prior at 9:30am. Burial will follow in the Colome Cemetery in Colome, SD. Luncheon will follow the burial at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD.

Trent Jon Turnquist was born on Aug. 13, 1974 in Valentine, NE to Ron and Lavaun (Dreyer) Turnquist. He was baptized in Witten, SD and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Burton, NE.

Trent grew up in the Wewela, SD area and attended school in Springfield, SD, Pratt, KS and Springview, NE. He graduated in 1993 from Colome High School where he was named homecoming Colome Cowboy and attended Lake Area Technical College.

He began working with his dad Ron at Assman Implement near Mission, SD gaining skills as a mechanic. Later, he owned and operated Turnquist Tractor Repair in Winner, SD. and also worked at Titan Equipment in Miller, SD; eventually coming back to the Winner area. During his career he became very talented in this field and was sought after to fix equipment for area farmers and ranchers.

Trent was a fan of anything with a motor and wheels, including his own 24 race car which he enjoyed racing at the Winner Speedway. He enjoyed cheering on area sport teams, NASCAR, Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Dallas Cowboys. Sports were always a big part of Trent’s life, he loved helping coach a variety of his kids’ sports teams. He also had a love for hunting and fishing.

Despite his struggles, he always greeted you with a smile and a hug and was ready to lend a helping hand. He always had a loving heart and a strong faith. He is finally at peace with his Savior.

He is survived by his parents Ron Turnquist, Gregory, SD; Lavaun Turnquist, Rochester MN; brother Travis (Sue)Turnquist, Rome, GA; sister Abby (Greg) Schramm, Byron, MN; children Aspen Reeder, Fort Collins, CO, Baleigh (Forrest) Cerv, Winner, SD, Cohl (fiancée Dacey), Flandreau, SD, Wyatt, Aberdeen, SD and Kenndal, Mitchell, SD; grandchildren Silas Larremore and Wakely Cerv; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncle, cousins and friends.

Trent is prededed in death by his grandparents, Donald and Imogene Turnquist, Howard and Bonnie Dreyer, uncles Roger Turnquist, Larry Turnquist and Larry Grim.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are appreciated and will be used for funeral and medical expenses.

SDSU Extension Welcomes New South Dakota 4-H Program Manager

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BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota 4-H recently welcomed Oakley G. Perry as the new Program Manager for 4-H County Operations and Professional Development.

“We are excited to welcome Oakley to the South Dakota 4-H Team!” said Tim Tanner, State 4-H Program Director. “His experiences in both 4-H and as a county administrator will prove vital as he trains 4-H professionals and relates to county government leaders across the state.”

Coming to South Dakota from Jeff Davis County in Georgia, Perry obtained his master’s degree in agriculture extension and education from Utah State University and completed his undergraduate program from the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Involved in the 4-H program since the fifth grade, Perry knew he wanted to continue to work in 4-H and Extension in his professional career. Previously, Perry was a county administrator in Georgia and a 4-H agent in western Tennessee.

Perry is excited to use his experiences to bring a fresh perspective to South Dakota 4-H. His goal, first and foremost, is to develop a stronger 4-H program for the counties of South Dakota.

To achieve his goal, Perry will work with local governments to invest in local 4-H programs and provide education and resources regarding how 4-H can better serve their communities and counties. Through this role, he will also provide trainings for county extension personnel and county operations teams on professional development.

“I have lived in the south, out west, but not in the Midwest, so that is what drove me to look for opportunities here in South Dakota,” said Perry. “I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone in my new profession.”

Perry grew up on his family’s farm in southern Georgia, where they produced commodities like cotton, tobacco and peanuts. Through his involvement in 4-H, Perry transitioned his interest in agronomy and rural agriculture crops to horticulture and ornamental crops and became a Master 4-H’er for ornamental crops, like fruits, vegetables and nuts. Perry also previously served as the Georgia State 4-H President.

Perry is excited to work with a new group of people and be a part of the journey to continue developing 4-H programs in South Dakota. He can be contacted at Oakley.Perry@sdstate.edu or (605) 688-5614.