Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Sen. Erin Tobin spoke at the Winner High School government class on Sept. 14. Tobin talked about the committees she serves on and what bills she plans to introduce in the next legislative session.
By Dan Bechtold
Editor
Government students get good lessons on the state legislature from a text
book. But that knowledge becomes real when a legislature speaks to a class.
Sen. Erin Tobin, Winner, of Dist. 21 spoke to the Winner High School
government class on Sept. 14.
Tobin is in her second term in the South Dakota Legislature.
She explained the committees she serves on. She serves on ag & natural
resources, health & human services and state affairs.
In addition, Tobin serves on the
executive board and is chairman of the medical marijuana over sight committee.
The senator also serves on the long term care summer study. This group is
trying to figure out how they can keep nursing homes open as many of them in
the state are closing.
She said in a summer study legislators take up issues that are really
important to the state and research them.
Tobin tends to be in Pierre once a month when the legislature is not in
session.
Another topic Tobin explained was re-districing. She said Dist. 21 was a
lot different when she first started compared to what it is today. “We did not
have Douglas and Aurora Counties when I
first started,” she explained.
Since she has been in the legislature Tobin said there have been some
unique things happen. One was a special session to impeach the former attorney
general. “We had to create the rules for the impeachment session and then
proceed,” she said.
Bill brought forward by a constitute are a priority. “So I want my
constituent bills to be a the top of the list,” she said.
Last session three of her four constituent bills were signed by the
governor.
Tobin also gave a plug to students
to serve as a page during the legislative session.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo The Winner hand game team provided the entertainment as the Winner Rotary Club hosted a group study exchange from Australia on Sept. 13. The young professionals on the team are visiting South Dakota Indian reservations and learning about Native American culture. Pictured in front from left are Lynette Bullen of Australia, the Rotary team leader, Jeslyn Felix, Alice Wilson, Natalie Joseph, Timarie Swift Eagle, Malin Eagle Elk, Siersha Willis, Camille Herman and DeAnne Felix, the hand game coach. In back from left are Jaxson Chasing Hawk, Adrianna Joseph, Haileigh White Horse, Carissa Blacksmith, Julie Turney, Faylene Chasing Hawk and Terrel Chasing Hawk. The Winner students make up the Hanpatecunpi (handgame) Warriors and Hanpatecunpi Warriors II.
Dan Bechtold/Winnere Advocate Photo Persons listen to speakers at a suicide prevention program held Friday at the bass pond. Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services sponsored the event which included the release of butterflies.
Devota Hutchinson, 93
of Kearney, NE formerly of White River, SD passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 12,
2023 at the Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Kearney, NE.
Funeral service was
held on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the White River Methodist Church
in White River, SD. Burial followed in
the White River Cemetery.
Devota Majel Bechtold
Hutchinson was born on Oct. 27, 1929 in Murdo, South Dakota to Julius and
(Elsie) Grace Peterson Bechtold. She passed away on Sept. 12, 2023 in Kearney,
Nebraska. She grew up in and near White River, SD and lived there all her life until
moving to Kearney, NE to be near her daughter Rhonda.
Devota was an avid
reader and student and graduated as valedictorian of her class from White River
High School in 1947. Shortly after becoming 18 years of age, she married Glen
(Buddy) Hutchinson, a loving relationship that lasted for 53 years until his death
in 2000.
She loved her
community and was a passionate public servant in whatever role arose. This led
her to serve the Music Parents and PTA when her children were in school, the
White River City Council and White River School Board, as adult advisor for
Job’s Daughters, on the White River High School Alumni board and whatever else
needed to be done in and for the community. She was especially active in
Eastern Star, serving several times as Worthy Matron for her chapter and
filling several stations in the state organization.
Devota and Buddy
raised four children, all of whom graduated from White River High School.
Devota sat through and enjoyed many band concerts, plays, track meets, football
and basketball games, rodeos and horse shows in support of her children and
other White River School students.
Preceding her in death
are her parents, her brothers Dwight and Clellan (Buzzy), her husband Buddy,
her son Keith Hutchinson, a grandson Rev. Daniel Ofstehage, and several
brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
She is survived by
daughters Glenda (Bernard) Ofstehage, Rhonda (Rodney) Week, and Barb (Keith)
Bailey; grandsons Steven (Stacey), James (Heather), Peter (Dawna) and Dr.
Andrew (Amanda Johnson) Ofstehage, and Quincy (Darcy) Week;
granddaughter-in-law Sarah Ofstehage; granddaughters Dallas (Jade) Lain, Hannah
(Jeff) Baker, and Ellen Ofstehage; great-grandsons Rison, Nolan, Augustin, and
Bishopp Lain, Hayden and Zane Baker, and Arlo and Henry Ofstehage;
great-granddaughters Payton, Keira, Emma and Chloe Ofstehage and Riley and
Ansley Week; and brother-in-law Roger Hutchinson. Also mourning her death are
many nieces, nephews and friends.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Winner Mayor Jody Brozik recently issued proclamation honoring direct support staff at Community Connections Inc. The mayor read the proclamation at the Sept. 5 city council meeting. Pictured in front from left are Roberta White Feather, Brad, Toree Ringing Shield, Keisha Brandis and Jaisa Synder. In back from left are Ashley Foy, Dom Stands On Top, David, Roger, Keenan Knutelski, executive director of CCI, Jordan LaPointe, Mayor Brozik, Brittany Running Bear, George Cook and Kelly Kolbe.
This week there will be a big concrete pour on the Highway 18 project in
Winner.
At the weekly construction update on Sept. 5, Doug Sherman of the South
Dakota Department of Transportation office in Winner explained starting Sept.
12 concrete will be poured from South County Road to Taft Street. This is on
the south side of the highway.
While this work is going on all side streets in this area will be closed
with the exception of Taft St. and South County Road.
Once the concrete is in place the center turn lane concrete will begin.
Sherman said Northern Plains Construction is focusing on dirt work and
base course placement from Taft St. to the end of the project at Casey’s.
Sherman estimated the underground storm sewer and all base work will be in by
Sept. 15.
“We are getting to the home stretch on this project,”said Sherman.
“We will have a great highway for everyone to enjoy,” he said.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Colome High School homecoming royalty include in front from left Klayton Heath, Tianna Larson, Kalene Preslicka and Jordyn Harter. In back from left are Shaleena Kingsley, Jordan Musser, Cowgirl Emma Vandenbark, Cowboy Jack Anderson, Lilly Nelson and Joseph Laprath. The Colome homecoming coronation was Sept. 7.
Ty Scott Dimond was
born on Nov. 29, 1990, in Winner, SD and was welcomed into this world by his
parents Scott and Julie (Hall) Dimond and big sister, Ashley. He lived on a
ranch north of Wood, SD. He would help with feeding bottle calves and lambs and
started riding horses at a very young age. He would be joined by brother Tate
in 1996 and would grow up in Wood, SD. Ty and his siblings enjoyed the freedom
of small-town life, playing in the Wood park and would play cops and robbers
with the Larson, Ryno and Tucker kids.
Ty and his siblings
loved riding horse and would help their dad with raising cattle. Ty loved
riding dirt bikes and enjoyed many adventures riding with his friends. Ty loved
his coon dogs and enjoyed hunting with them along with all of his friends and
his siblings.
Ty attended Wood Grade
School and then attended White River Middle School where he would start playing
football. He loved playing football in high school and although he only weighed
about 140 lbs., he was one of the hardest hitting players on the team. Ty was
very close with all his teammates. Ty graduated from White River High School in
2009 and he had a close circle of friends, many of them being his classmates.
They would hunt and fish together and often grill up some of their catch in his
mother’s shop. He and his friends were also part of a branding crew during
their high school years helping all the local ranchers. Ty was a very hard
worker and spent his high school summer months working for Harvey Bierema and
Dan Valburg.
Ty attended Western
Dakota Tech in Rapid City to become an electrician. He received his Associates
of Applied Science degree in 2011 and began his career with Kucera Electric in
Winner, SD. Ty worked the required hours; studied, tested for, and passed the
exam to obtain his South Dakota Electrical Contractors license. One of Ty’s
dreams was owning his own business and after working diligently to achieve it
he would start Dimond Electric, in Wood SD. Ty also held a North Dakota
Master’s Electrical license and worked for Muth Electric in ND. Ty was
currently working for H&O Electric in Winner, SD under the supervision of
Red Osborne, whom he admired greatly.
Ty was married to
Valerie (Vandermay) Dimond and together they welcomed three daughters into the
world. The greatest loves and joys of his life were his three girls Jentry,
born November of 2013, Paisley, born May of 2015, and Tierney, born on February
of 2018. He loved to fish and taught his girls to fish at a young age. Ty also
enjoyed playing guitar and bought Jentry a guitar for them to begin playing
together. He also bought Jentry and Paisley BB guns and was teaching them to
shoot and took them rabbit hunting in the winter. He was also teaching his
girls to ride horses. Ty was an incredible uncle and would often be joined by
Tate and his kids on these adventures.
Ty met the love of his
life, Nichole Lee in June of 2020. Although the time they had together was
brief, it was filled with love, laughter, pranks, and slow dancing in the
kitchen while they cooked together. Ty cherished his time with not only Nichole
but with his three daughters, Jentry, Paisley, and Tierney; and Nichole’s
children Braxtyn and Miah. He spent countless hours pitching baseballs, bike
riding, and playing with the kids in his pool. Ty proposed to Nichole on Dec.
15 2022, and was so excited about wedding planning often sending Nichole ideas
for their ceremony and was looking forward to spending their lives together.
Ty is survived by his
loving family including his three daughters, Jentry, Paisley and Tierney. His
fiancée, Nichole Lee & her children, Braxtyn and Miah. His mother, Julie
Hall. His sister Ashley Dimond & Courtney Krogman, his brother Tate Dimond
& Tierra Axdahl and their children, Braedynn and Scott Dimond. His
grandparents, Twila Edwards, Scott & Mary Hall and Mark & Delores
Edwards. His aunts and uncles: Kim & Sandy Hall, Clayton, Lori, Duane &
Karey Hall, Laurie McCabe & Rodger Drake, Vava Dimond & John Vesco. His
cousins: Scott, Lane, Chandra, Sheena, Thomas, Peyton, Brandon, and Traye. And
the mother of his children Valerie (Vandermay) Dimond.
Ty was preceded in
death by his father, Scott Dimond, his grandparents Larry Dimond and Joyce Hall
and his uncle Kevin McCabe.
Visitation was held on
Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Wood Community Hall.
Funeral services were
held 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at the Wood
Community Hall.
Burial followed at the
Evergreen Cemetery in Wood.
Memorial moneys
received will go to a college fund for Ty’s daughters. Cards and memorials may
be sent to P.O. Box 383 Wood, SD 57585.
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