Duane Wetzel is the new weed supervisor
in Tripp County.
He just started his job a week ago and
is eager to get started tackling those pesky weeds.
However, much needed moister that
ranchers need has slowed his start of spraying.
“I am new to this and I am eager to get
out there. Weather is not helping,” he said.
Prior to applying for the Tripp County
job he worked for CHS for five years on the feed side.
Wetzel is not totally new to spraying
weeds. He worked for one summer for
former weed supervisor the late Greg Womeldorf. “Greg taught me a lot,”
said Wetzel.
The new weed supervisor grew up in
Wessington Springs. Right out of high school he went work in the oil fields of
North Dakota.
After working in North Dakota, he went
to Mitchell Technical College where he got a two year degree in animal science
nutrition. He also took some agronomy classes.
Eight years ago he moved to Winner and
enjoys living in this part of South Dakota.
“I am an easy going guy. I am going to
be up front with people. I am going to be honest with them. If there is a weed
problem come to me and we will get it solved. It is best if you come to me,
don’t go and complain to your neighbor,” he said.
He encourages people to call him to
discuss weed issues. His phone number is 840-1729. He is up for phone calls or text messages.
“It is neighbor helping neighbor, that
is what we are here to do.”
Suzy Willuweit has seen a lot of
changes at Winner Regional Health in the 45 years she has worked for the
healthcare organization.
She started work in 1976 as a nurses aide and was taught by
Cecilia Ross, who was the director of
nursing at that time.
Willuweit worked for a year as a unit
clerk before joining the purchasing department in 1982. This is where Willuweit
found her niche and has been in purchasing ever since.
Willuweit explained she goes to the
different departments in the hospital and takes them their supplies. She also
places orders which is requested by the hospital departments.
She explained the ordering of major
items is made by Karen Worden.
The long time employee enjoys working
with people. “I am out on the floor all the time and I get to meet a lot of
people,” she said.
There have been many changes in
purchasing over the years from handwritten orders to now computer generated
requests.
COVID-19 has hit the purchasing
department hard. She noted there have been a lot of backorders and it has been
hard to get some supplies.
Suzy Willuweit is one of the long time and
dedicated employees at Winner Regional Health.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Meagan Blare, second from right, received the Taylor Watzel scholarship at the Winner FFA awards banquet. Pictured from left are Dean Watzel, Barb Watzel, Blare and Madaline Watzel.
Mass of Christian Burial for Melvin Reiser, 68, of Butte, Neb., was held Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Butte. Reverend Richard Reiser and Reverend Bernard Starman were the concelebrants, with burial in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Butte.
Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 51 and Army National Guard Honor Guard.
Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements. Melvin died Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Niobrara Valley Hospital in Lynch, Neb.
Melvin Michael Reiser, son of Wilbur and Agnes (Lechtenberg) Reiser, was born Aug. 5, 1952, at Lynch, Neb. He attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School until the eighth grade and graduated from Butte Public School. Melvin served in the United States Army from 1972 until 1975 and was stationed in Germany. Melvin was blessed with two adopted sons, Gary and Carl Reiser and an adopted granddaughter, Rebeka.
Melvin was a teacher and taught at Osmond Public School, Martin School in Martin, South Dakota, Anoka School. His last school was Cheyenne Eagle Butte School where he taught for 35 years.
Melvin was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, All Saints Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus.
Melvin is survived by his adopted son, Gary Reiser; granddaughter, Rebeka; and siblings, Louise Ann Reiser of Spencer, Donna (Donald) LaFerrier of Elk Point, South Dakota, twin brother, Marvin (Julie) Reiser of Butte, Richard Reiser of Omaha, David (Linda) Reiser of Spencer, and Gregory Reiser of Spencer. Many nieces and nephews and friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Agnes (Lechtenberg) Reiser; adopted son, Carl Reiser; sister-in-law, Pamela Reiser; and nephew, Jacob Reiser.
George A. Davis was born to Roy and
Florence (Linton) Davis on March 6, 1931, in Deadwood, SD. He was the youngest
in his family and joined a brother, Sam and three sisters, Nellie (Parsons);
Inez (Sharp) and Margaret (Kollmar). He grew up in Deadwood, Millboro, Igloo
and Custer, SD.
In 1966, he married the love of his life, Opal Clark. They lived in Custer and eventually bought their own place south of Argyle in Custer County. In addition to raising livestock, he worked on the railroad for many years, starting on the section crew in Custer and worked his way down the line retiring out of Edgemont, SD.
He loved animals and always had some
combination of horses, cows, chickens, pigs and lambs as well as dogs, cats,
and even a raccoon. He could often be found out walking amongst the cattle,
talking to them in his own special way. Some even answered back. He was a true
cowboy and loved riding. He had one extra special horse, Wasaka, who he raised
from a foal and had for 27 years. He liked to read the history of the country
and remembered everything. And if he loved horses, he also loved horse power.
The faster the better.
George loved people. He never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone he met. He and Opal travelled all over the country visiting family and friends and making new ones. They loved to go dancing. He was always up for an adventure and in his 70’s he hiked Black Elk Peak with his niece and her family and travelled to France with a neighbor.
Music was another passion. He learned to
play music by ear without any formal instruction.
Preceded in death by his wife, Opal; his parents, Roy and Florence Davis; his siblings, Margaret Kollmar; Inez Sharp and Nellie Parsons; his nieces, Sandra Rhoades; Joy Showalter; and a great grandson, Nicholas Farrell.
He is survived by his step daughter, Gloria Bennett of Tuscon, AZ; grandchildren, Tami Habeck of Tuscon, AZ; Robert (Micole) Miller of Newcastle, WY; Leona Farrell of Edgemont, SD; 3 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren as well as nieces, Beverly Rose; Devera Sharp; Glenda Keller; Patricia Davis; Dusty Thorstenson; nephews, Jim Sharp; Kenny Kollmar and their families that he enjoyed immensely.
Memorial services will be held 10 a.m., Monday, June 7, 2021, at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD. Committal services will follow at Custer Cemetery in Custer, SD.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Winner girls basketball team was presented a national Good Deed Award at the athletic awards night on May 18. The Winner American Legion Auxiliary submitted the entry to state which sent it on to national. After every basketball game, whether at home or away, the girls help clean the bleachers and pick up trash. Judy Wilcox of the Winner Legion Auxiliary presented the award to coach Larry Aaker. Girls in front from left are Emma Jorgensen, Karlee Brozik, Joselin Kludt, Ellie Brozik, Bella Swedlund, Katherine Jankauskas and Melanie Brozik. Team members in back from left are Ava Craven, Aryn Meiners, Maggie LaCompte, Kalla Bertram, Kelsey Sachtjen, Shannon Calhoon and Jenna Hammerbeck.
Submitted Photo Randy Donovan has waited 35 years to get his pre-school diploma. He received it at graduation on May 17. In back are Toni Donovan, left and Karissa Odenbach.
Submitted Photo The Tripp County Community Foundation-First Fidelity Bamk fund awarded a $25,000grant to the Tripp County Building Facility Committee for a new sheep and swine building at the Tripp County Fairgrounds. Construction has begun and the building along with new pens is to be complete prior to the Mid Dakota Fair, Aug. 5-7.Accepting the grant is Bonnie Rutten, chairman of the committee, center. Also pictured are Dawn Covey and Rita Neyens, chairman and vice chairman of the Tripp County Community Foundation.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo The Winner High School freshmen English class put on a mock trial after reading the book â””Of Mice and Men.â”” Coy Brickman is on the witness stand with Bailey Fairbanks as the defense lawyer.
By Dan Bechtold
Editor
Freshmen at Winner High
School really get into the classic book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.
Cyndy DeMers teaches freshmen
English and to help the students get into the book a mock trial is held.
Now, nowhere is the book is
there mention of a trial but there is a murder.
So, characters in the book
can easily be plugged into a trial setting with lawyers, witnesses and even a
jury.
So, last Tuesday afternoon,
Kendall Dice put on her best lawyer face and acted as the prosecutor in the
case. Bailey Fairbanks was the defense lawyer. Other class member served as
witnesses and were sworn in to tell the truth just like the in real trail.
There is a guest judge and on
this afternoon WHS principal Gerald Witte was the judge.
Since she has been teaching freshmen English full time, DeMers, who is retiring this year after a career of 37 years, has added a trial when the class is done reading the book. “It is a way to get the students more involved in what is going on in the book,” said DeMers.
“Of Mice and Men” narrates
the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch
workers, who move from place to place in search of new job opportunities during
the Great Depression. The book was published in 1937.
Students pick which character
they want to play and they have to dress the part to portray that character.
Now remember this book takes
place in the Great Depression so students had to dress the part.
Students are graded on their
dress and how well they get in character.
“The students have to know
their character inside out and the lawyers have to know all the characters,”
explained DeMers.
“Honestly, I think they get
more enjoyment out of this rather than writing an essay. They learn the book
better.”
The jury has to decide if the
defendant is guilty or not guilty.
DeMers noted the funny part
is that she is putting on a mock trial in a class but most the kids do not know
what happens in a trial. Most say they watch
Judge Judy but DeMers says there is no trial in that TV show.
So there is some class
discussion and instruction on what happens in a trial before the students do
their mock trial.
During their freshmen year
the students read outloud the condensed version of “Romeo and Juliet.”
Only the boys in the class do
the reading because in Shakespeare ‘s day women were outlawed from playing parts in a play.
DeMers asked the boys not just to “read” but to put so me feeling in their character.
“This is the only way I am going to get them to read Romeo and Juliet.,” said the teacher.
This then leads into Brit Lit when they are seniors and are exposed to more
British classics. As juniors the
students take American Literature.
“We have a good reading
curriculum thought the four years of high school,” said DeMers.
Why is it important for
students to read books like this?
“Reading is so important because
we want you to learn the book but to also make your think. If you can read
something and figure out what is really being said that is going to help you,”
said the teacher.
“It is proven if kids don’t
read well they don’t score well in ACT and SAT tests and will struggle in a lot
of areas,” added DeMers.
Now while the freshmen were
doing a mock trial the juniors were doing a debate on the book they just read
“A Separate Peace,” set in the era of World War II.
DeMers noted there was a lot
of good debate.
Just another example of how
Winner High School is using innovate ways to prepare students for the real
world.
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