Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

The Association of Mature American Citizens magazine has listed Winner as one of three places to retire.

Choosing the best place to retire is the top priority of many older Americans who seek to live well and use their money wisely.

In an informal survey of AMAC members, eight points were identified as important to retirement: affordability/ lower cost of living (housing and expenses), lower taxes, health care access, safety/low crime rates, favorable year round weather, abundance of activities, conservative government, proximity to family and friends.

In addition to Winner, the other cities chosen were Brandon, Miss and San Antonio, Texas.

The report in the magazine says the town of Winner is picturesque with the town sign boasting “Winner the beginning of the real west.”

This is a great town for people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life.

Most residents own their own homes.

Winner has experienced a job market increase over the last year and it is predicted to rise in the future but not as fast as the U.S. average. There are several reasons why Winner may be good fit for some retirees. Winner regional hospital is headquartered in the town and handles trauma, cardiology, vascular surgery and care of the critically ill as part of its service.

Winner is in the 66^th percentile for safety, meaning that 66 percent of the cities are more dangerous. The small town experiences 226 days of sunshine with 46.2 inches of snow per year as compared with 28 inches as the U.S. average.

Thus, it is ideal for retirees who enjoy snow. The summer high averages 88 degrees in July and the winter low in January is about 12 degrees

For activities, there is a drive-in theater, a community playhouse, a historical museum, library, park, pool, rodeo, gun club and a veterans memorial. There are also recreational trails and an abundance of nature.

The magazine says choosing a retirement location is a deeply personal experience.

Mike Scott, executive director of the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce, says his office has had several inquires since this article was published.

During the annual conference of the South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association (SDEMSA) last Friday-Sunday, Oct. 29-31 in Pierre, Brian Ring was promoted to the office of state president.

Ring is originally from Colome. He graduated from Colome High School in 1985. He is the son of Don Ring of Colome and Jolene Ring of Spearfish.

As president, Ring will preside over SDEMSA meetings, work closely with the South Dakota Department of Health on EMS related legislative affairs, act as a spokesperson on EMS, encourage association membership, coordinate association activities, and make committee appointments.

A Lifetime Member of the SDEMSA since 2018, Ring has served as SDEMSA Vice President for the past four years. He has also served numerous years as District V Secretary.

Ring received his EMT training thirty years ago. He says that he felt like the knowledge would be beneficial to him as he was growing his family. He worked for ambulance services in Chamberlain and Milbank, and joined the Onida Fire Department soon after arriving here in 1995.

During his tenure with the OFD, Ring has undergone training to become an EMT Intermediate I-85, responsible for providing basic emergency treatment for respiratory, trauma and cardiac emergencies, as well as obstructed airways, and trained to administer some medications, as well as intravenous fluids. He also became a firefighter instructor and has conducted firefighter courses. He currently serves the OFD as department secretary, and has held other offices including serving as training officer for ten years and as chief for five.

Ring has worked for the USDA for more than 31 years. This summer, the USDA announced his selection as the new Community Programs Director for the Rural Development agency in South Dakota.

Ring makes his home in Onida with his wife Sheila. They have two grown children, Lyndsey who lives in Denver, CO, and Cordell who recently moved to Mobridge.