Author Archives: Colton Hall

Birthplace:  Aberdeen, SD

Family:  Husband Bob. Children Ben, 20, Molly, 17, Shea, 14, Jenna, 9, and Annie, 6.

Currently reside where:  Winner, SD

Occupation:  Paraprofessional at Winner Middle/High School

The best thing about my job is:  Watching a student “get it” after they have struggled for a long time.

My favorite childhood memory:  Spending time with my Grandma & Grandpa Leach.

When growing up, I wanted to be: Singer/Actress

My most prized possession:  Double Wedding Ring and Dresdan Plate quilts that my Grandma Leach made for me.

Favorite sports teams:  Any team that is playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Winner Rage.

Favorite current television shows:  Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS Los Angeles, Once Upon a Time, Big Brother, American Pickers, Teen Wolf … Oh my gosh, I watch too much TV.

Favorite past television shows:  Growing Pains, Friends.

Favorite movies:  16 Candles, Breakfast Club, The Cutting Edge, Steel Magnolias (Little fact about me – I was also in the play Steel Magnolias, once in college as Ouiser and also for the Winner Community Playhouse as M’Lynn)

Favorite actors:  Dennis Quaid, Ryan Reynolds

Favorite actresses:  Sandra Bullock, Julie Roberts

Favorite musician/band:  Hootie and the Blowfish

Favorite book(s)/author(s):  I love to read but I don’t have a favorite author.

Favorite publication(s) (newspapers, magazines):   HGTV, Country Living Sampler, Food Network TV

Favorite holidays and why: Thanksgiving…family and food.

Favorite Bible verse:  Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Hobbies:  Refinishing furniture, painting, scrapbooking, reading, gardening.

Three things that can always be found in my refrigerator:  Milk, eggs, and something empty that my kids just put back in the fridge instead of throwing it away.

My favorite snack:  My Mom’s chocolate chip cookies. (I sure do wish she would make me some.)

Pet peeve(s):  Loud eaters!

Someone I most admire and why: My Grandma Leach.  She was just an amazing woman.

Three words that best describe me:  Three isn’t enough.

People would be surprised to know:  I can sing and I love to sing but I don’t like to sing in front of people any more.  Freaks me out.

I’ve never been able to:  Let my hair grow.

I wish I could stop:  Wayne Hopkins from group texting.

When nobody is looking, I:  Sing and dance.

I’m better than most at:  Making cream cheese mints.

I’d like to have a dollar for:  Every time I ask Bob to spell a word for me.

If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d go to: New York City to a Broadway play.

If I won the lottery: I would have a kick-butt scrapbook room with childproof security.

My definition of a great evening is: A nice supper with my family, my favorite shows or a book, and no interruptions.

A goal I have for the future: Finish all of my kids’ scrapbooks.

The best thing about where I live:  My family and friends.

If I’ve learned one thing in my life, it’s:  If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Several public hearings were held at Monday’s meeting of the Winner City Council.

The council approved vacating a portion of Eisenhower Street and rededicating a portion to an alley for utility access. Upon the recommendation of the planning commission, the council approved the request if a curb cut and valley apron were installed and if the trees within the 20 foot area  for an alley be removed.

A variance was approved  for a  setback regulation for constructing a garage at 311 W. 5^th St. The application was filed by Larry and Lindy Harkin.

Al Ferwerda’s application for a variance of setback regulations at the southwest corner of Roosevelt and 8^th St was approved. He plans to build a two unit townhouse. Some of the neighbors who live in this area say these are two very busy streets and they were concerned about safety issues for children in the neighborhood. They said they would like to see a single house not a double unit being built. Mike Brown, the city’s zoning officer, explained the area is zoned R2 which allows for two family housing units.

The application of Ron Taggart for a variance of setback regulations at the northwest corner of 5^th and Washington St. was approved. Taggart plans to build three two unit structures.

The council approved annexation of East Addition No. 3 for six lots for the Mathis Brothers.

The council approved the transfer of the liquor license from Sargents to St. Mary’s Hall for the Kerner-Novotny wedding on Jun 13.

The date of June 1 was set for  a public hearing for the malt beverage renewals for 2015-2016.

The council approved a resolution establishing the rental rates for 2015.

The council approved cleaning out Dog Ear Creek bridge and accepting the quote of $3,500 from Northern Plains Construction of Winner.

Police chief Paul Schueth reported there were 86 inmates in jail on Monday. He said the two college interns have started work.

The council awarded a bid for hot mix. The bid of Commercial Asphalt, Mitchell, $75 per ton to be picked up at the North Star plant was accepted. The other bidder was Morris Inc., Ft. Pierre at $79 per ton and to be picked up in Ft. Pierre.

Derald Bachmann told the council the Winner Youth Fishing Day will be held May 30 at the bass pond. He asked that the deposit of $250 be waived for this event. The council agreed to waive the fee.

Bachmann explained he has been approached by some families to use memorial money to place benches at the piers of the new bass pond. Bachmann was requesting if it was OK to install the benches. He explained he has enough money for about four benches. There are eight piers at the pond.

A Boy Scout has asked Bachmann if he can build a sign for the bass pond for an Eagle scout project. The council asked that a drawing of sign and specifications be presented to the city. The council will have the parks committee look at the plan.

Also discussed was a sign to placed at the bass pond listing the donors who gave money to help build the facility.

Jim Vaughn who lives at 870 Pine Street told the council he would like to buy a portion of lot next to his and put a garage on this lot. He wants to put a bathroom in the garage but the current ordinance says he cannot do this. Vaughn explained he would like to see the ordinance changed. The council’s ordinance committee will meet this week and take a look at this ordinance.

Tom Kauer of South Central Development Corporation told the council the Tripp County Office of Development has been moved to the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce office and that Karla Brozik, executive director of the Chamber is the interim development director.

Kauer explained about a year ago he asked if a sidewalk could be placed at 316st St to the highway near McDonald’s. Mayor Jess Keesis explained the state will be redoing the highway through Winner in 2020 and some changes could be made that intersection at that time.

The council will advertise for drainage project in the alley east of Main Street.

The city will get quotes for the replacement of the sewer main in the alley between 10^th and 11^th Street.

Mayor Keesis presented a $1,000 Missouri River Energy Service scholarship to Tawny Sherman. MRES supplies electricity to the city of Winner.

The council met in executive session to discuss personnel.

By Dan Merritt, Advocate Reporter

Were tractors floating at the Kevin and Lori Wagner place northwest of Winner?  After all, the first full week of May and into the weekend brought close to three inches of rain there.

But it came gently.

“It was truly a blessing,” Kevin Wagner reported early last week when contacted in a random phone survey of farmers by the Winner Advocate.

The rain soaked into parched topsoil. “We were needing rain pretty bad,” Wagner said, “There was kind of adequate subsoil moisture but it was going to need some moisture to get things going.

“The alfalfa has been the (main) one that’s been struggling. It just hasn’t been growing a lot. But boy this should perk it up,” he said.

The amount of rainfall was no problem for thirsty ground which lapped it up.

By Dan Merritt, Advocate Reporter

U2 band sings a song about a place  “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

Well, South County Road in Winner has a name but there’s a building along the roadway without an identifying moniker.

“It’s called the No Name Baptist Church,” laughed Pastor Bruce Miller at his office in the new structure, “We have a lot of work yet to do. We haven’t got a sign up yet.”

The AWANA children and youth program is a big part of the church’s ministry held for years at the building on Lamro Street.

But there have been some AWANA activities lately held in the new building. Which has prompted some of the youth who attend, to label it the “new AWANA church,” Miller noted.

Actually, it’s the First Baptist Church of Winner.   And beyond that, it bears the name of “miracle,” Miller continued.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

The burn ban that has been in place for several months was lifted by the Tripp County Commissioners at the May 12 meeting.

Tripp County received over an inch of rain last week  and after consulting with the area fire departments the commissioners decided to lift the burn ban.

Commissioners discussed the next phase of courthouse electrical wiring.  This phase of the work will feature outlets in offices in the first and second floor for data and communication in addition to providing cooling for the building.  The commissioners looked at a room just off the commissioners room that will be used  as a data hub. A wall will be built and half of the room will be used for the data hub and the rest will be used for storage.

Sheriff Shawn Pettit requested a part-time certified officer be hired to help with  weekend calls and special events. He said the person hired would work between 20 to 30 hours a week and would be paid $13 per hour.  This part-time person would work as needed at the discretion of the sheriff.

Three members of the Winner Volunteer Fire Department discussed options for purchasing new fire trucks.  Nelson explained they would like to replace the 1980 tanker and then purchase a chasis to build a grass rig as they have done in the past.

Bids were opened for gravel crushing and dirt work.

There were 57 project in this year’s Winner Science Fair held May 13.

The projects were judged and medals awards.

Winner best of show in the freshmen division were Matthew Hartley and a project by Samantha Marts and Brekkny Nagel.

Best of show in the 10^th grade division went to a project by Liz Jankaskas and Chet Bryan and one by Sydney Hollenbeck.

Other freshmen placers were: Mason Schuyler/Ian Tunnissen, gold; Carter Brickman/Justus Gregg, silver; Meredith Calhoon sliver; Daesha Klein/Kayla Bachmann, silver; Ronae Klein/Lexie Nedved, silver; Hanna LaCompte/Madyson Frazier, silver; Riley Calhoon, silver.

The 9^th grade Bronze medal winners are: Tanner Moeller, Alex Schaeffer/Aiden Bachamnn, Taylor Watzel/Charlie Novak, Lauren Norrid/Macy Olson, Ty Bolton/Matthew Smither, Dalton Baker/Zac Lapsley, Trace Larson and Nathan Erickson.

The sophomore best of show went to Liz Jankauskas/Chet Bryan and Sydney Hollenbeck.

The sophomore gold medal winners were: Sidney Bohnet, Brea Heth/Chantelle Brill, Wyatt Ewing/Chase Kingsbury and Chloe Bartels.

Silver medal winner were: Nathan Ducheneaux/Cody Amidon, Jordon Turgeon/ Rhys Middlesworth/Krockett Krolikowski, Kayleb Brozik, Kenzie Irick/Payton Antoine, Shannon Duffy, Abi Leyden.

The sophomore bronze medal winners were: Hannah Peterson, Cameron Kuil/Luke Engel, Sam Schuyler/Kyran Meek, Jayden Schroeder, Isaac Naasz, Drew DeMers, Brickdania Ferguson, John Kludt, Ryan Sherman and Jacob Woods.