Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Brady Kerkman is the new director of marketing and philanthropy for Winner Regional Health.

He has over 20 years experience in marketing and fundraising.

Kerkman says he loves healthcare. “I know Winner pretty well and I have always had a passion for rural health care. I want to make sure we have a strong presence in the community,” he explained.

Kerkman added the health care center does a good of supporting local businesses and local schools.

“I want to put convenience back into healthcare,” he said. “Knowing that you do not have to travel to Sioux Falls or Rapid City for some services that are offered here is important.”

Prior to starting his new job in Winner, he was the executive director of MentoringWorks Inc., formerly Big Brother Big Sister of Hastings, Neb.

While in Hastings he got his master’s degree from Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa. His master’s is in organizational leadership.

Kerkman grew up in Clearwater, Neb.   He graduated from Mt. Marty College in 1995 with a BA degree in social science with a double emphasis on psychology and sociology and a minor in commercial art.

For 20 years he worked in South Dakota. He worked for the Department of Corrections starting out in Redfield and then worked at the state training school where he was the residential director.

For eight years he worked for S.D. Advocacy Services which is a nonprofit disability agency. He was the director of two programs with this agency.

In this capacity he traveled all over the state and Winner was one of his coverage areas  and he would come here on a monthly basis.

Kerkman was appointed by then Gov. Mike Rounds to sit on the board of South Dakota vocational rehabilitation services.

The Department of Correction then recruited him  to come back. He was the policy compliance manager for three years and in that time wrote 640 policies  and oversaw the corrections review team.

He left the DOC when his wife, Maria, got a opportunity for a job in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple lived in Salt Lake for three years. While Utah he was a program director for Utah Department of Health in the birth to three program.

After Utah, the family relocated to Grand Island, Neb., and Kerkman worked in Hastings.  He ran  various non profits including a child advocacy center and three health care clinics.

On the side, he owns a consulting business, BMD Enterprises, where he does fundraising, marketing, strategic planning and team development.

The job in Winner is a perfect fit.

He feels it is important to tailor the services of Winner Regional Health to the local community. “It is very important we customize our services to fit the culture of the community,” he said.

Kerkman also feels it is important to educate the community on the services that Winner Regional provides. “There are a number of services that people are not aware that are offered here.”

He is also impressed with the home-grown professionals who are working at Winner Regional Health. These are Winner High School graduates who have come back to the community.

The new marketing director and his wife have an 11 year old son, Dimitri.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

T. K. Lafferty has a clear voice for singing.  The 12 year old from Rosebud sang the national anthem Saturday at the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce ranch bronc and bull riding.

Lafferty will be going into the seventh grade at St. Francis School.

Recently, he has been singing the national anthem at several events. He sang at the Rosebud Fair, in Kyle and Frontier Days in White River.

The singing came about as an challenge by his father. His father said either ride in a rodeo or sing.

The 7^th grader chose singing.

He is happy with his choice.

“I like the pride I feel after singing the national anthem,” he explained.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

The Winner Community Playhouse latest production is filled with hilarious sight gags and dialogue.

“Where There’s A Will There’s A Murder” opened this weekend.

It will also be presented Sept. 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. each evening at the playhouse. Door open at 7:30 p.m. For reservations call 842-1958 or e mail wicoplay@gwtc.net

It is a  play that will keep you laughing and keep you on your toes to count all the dead bodies. Why are there so many dead bodies?   Well this is why.

Ten distant relatives learn that each of them is about to inherit a million dollars. Wheels begin turn and the plot thickens. If some were dead more money for the others. Who would create such a diabolical motive to kill off cast.

Who did it?  Well, you are not getting that out of me. You will have to go to the play to find out.

As the bodies pile up, the laughs come fast and furiously in this “whodunit.”

The action in the play takes place on an island in the middle of a terrible storm.

The cast of 11 does a great job.

Tami Comp and Tim Novotny play the maid and butler.

Vickie Barfus plays a doctor and Emily Moser plays Agatha Crispie, a spoof on the famous mystery writer Agatha Christie.

Ron High Rock and Barb DeSersa play a couple who are guest at the reading of the will.

Brandy Biggins is a wealthy socialite and Rhonda Stoecklin is a proper lady. Rhonda is new to the Winner stage. She is director of drama activities in the Todd County School District.

Linda Nelson plays one of the guests who is concerned as people start dying.

Now the price of admission along is worth it to see Doug Nelson as a punk rocker called Stark. You know like one one rock stars Sting and Madonna.

Doug with red and blue hair is a treat to see.

Randy Farley is the voice on the radio.

The cast is to be complimented on the work they put in on this play. They all did a great job.

The play is directed by Sandra York with Dan Patmore as the technical director. Both have done a great job.

If you want a fun evening, go see this play.

Bring your personal history-photos, letters, diaries, family histories, service records, and other historic or sentimental documents to the  Tripp County Library on Thursday, Sept. 23. 

The South Dakota State Library staff will scan your documents and create a digital copy to preserve it for the future.  USB flash drives with digital copies of the documents will be provided to you.  

This makes it easy for you to share family history with other members of your family.  You can email pictures, share them on Facebook, share on genealogy websites and with genealogy groups. 

Tripp County Library is booking appointments now.  Each participant is limited to 10-15 items with a time slot of 30 minutes.  You may drop off your items and pick them up later if you prefer. 

For those interested in genealogy research, the South Dakota State Library will also do a presentation from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm on the genealogy databases available. 

This is a great time to get your questions answered and learn tips from the pros.  Call Tripp County Library at (605) 842-0330 to book your appointment.