New Winner mayor elected

There will be a new mayor in Winner. Brad Schramm defeated Mayor Jody Brozik in the city election on April 9.

Schramm, a city councilman in Ward 3, received 280 votes and Brozik, 218. 

There will also be a new councilmember in the Second Ward as Felicia Hughes defeated incumbent Joe Hockett 105-94.

In the Third Ward, Austin Klundt retains his seat on the council as he defeated Matt Soles 98-44.

In Ward One, two candidates were unopposed. Dick Shaheen has the one year term and incumbent Justin Schuyler, the two year term.

There were 501 votes cast and a 26 percent voter turnout.

Brozik has served as mayor for six years and prior to that was on the council for three years.

The mayor-elect and councilmen will take office at the May 6 meeting.

Colome approves reorganization plan

Voters in the Colome Consolidated School District approved a district reorganization plan that will see the communities ofWood and Witten split from the district.

Voters approved the plan 188 to 178 with a 39.2 percent voter turnout. A simple majority was needed to pass the ballot measure which was combined with the school board election.

This is the second time the school district has voted on this issue with the measure failing 52.2 percent to 47.8 percent in June 2023.

The plan is to split off the Wood and Witten areas between Mellette County and Tripp County to the White River and Winner school districts.

Voters in Witten and Wood strongly supported the reorganization plan with Witten voters approving it 38 to 5 and Wood voters 111-4.

Colome voters leaned the opposite way with 169 against the plan and 39 for it.

With approval of the plan, Colome district is expected to loose about half of its geographic size and about 33 percent of its assessed taxable value.

Betsy Rohde, CEO of the Colome Consolidated School District, said there were many factors going into the vote. Enrollment dropped at Wood enough that the district was financially unable to keep it open. The Witten school had closed years earlier.

Rohde said she will be working with S.D. Department of Education to make sure everything is switched over. Before they can do that, Colome has to wait for the official canvass of the vote which was at the April 15 school board meeting.   

Until the time the switch is made the district will remain called the Colome Consolidated School District. Rohde did not know how long the process will take.

Wood and Witten joined the Colome district in 2010. At that time, Wood and Witten had schools that were open. 

Sara O’Bryan Bradford, 22

Sara O’Bryan Bradford, 22, of Colome, SD passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. 

Funeral service was held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the Colome Vets Hall in Colome, SD.  Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery.  A visitation was held on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the Colome Vets Hall from 6-7 p.m. with a prayer service  at 7 p.m.

Sara Marie O’Bryan Bradford was born at 1lb 12 oz on Sept. 15, 2001 in Sioux Falls, SD. She passed away at her home on April 9, 2024. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome. Sara continued to love the Lord and read her bible and devotions faithfully.

Growing up, Sara spent time on the farm with her Uncle Ferman and Aunt Sally Harter. Those were special times for her. Sara received a horse from Julie Ann Farley which she named Star. They developed a very special relationship as she nursed Star to health and broke him to ride. During her high school years she developed physical limitations so she took an interest in photography. Sara especially loved taking pictures of rodeos, landscapes, and sunsets.  When relaxing at home Sara enjoyed reading books and writing poems.

Some of Sara’s fondest memories were working with Lisa Forgey at the Feed Mill. During high school she also worked at the family business, Dan’s Last Shot. She graduated from Colome High School in 2020. After graduating she went to farrier school in Nebraska. She later worked in Mitchell, SD cleaning apartments, detailing cars, and helping operate a clothing and candy store. Sara left Mitchell, moving to Gettysburg, SD where she lived when she met the love of her life, Dylan.

Dylan and Sara were married in Colome on Sept. 2, 2023. They lived for a time in New Evarts as Dylan worked for Bradford Construction with his dad. Later they moved to Colome where they both worked at Dan’s Last Shot. Dylan started Diamond B Construction in Colome, while Sara was employed at the Winner Stockman’s Café at the time of her death. They enjoyed watching movies together, going on drives through the countryside to the river, going to rodeos, grabbing ice cream treats and fishing at the river.

Sara battled mental health for many years but was loved and surrounded faithfully by her family and God.

She is survived by her husband Dylan Bradford, her parents Dan and Heidi O’Bryan (Colome SD), brother Kelly O’Bryan (Ellendale ND), parents-in-law Clayton and Roxana Bradford (Selby SD),  brothers-in-law Nathan Bradford and Cooper Bradford (Selby SD), sister-in-law Tomi and Thomas (Bridger and Peyton) Dryer (Selby SD), grandmothers Marty Bliese (Gettysburg, SD) and Eileen Tobin (Parkston SD), grandparents-in-law Donald and Kathleen Hauck (Mobridge SD), Robert and Betsy Bradford (Belen, NM), Yvonne Kohn (Selby SD), special aunt and uncle Sally and Ferman Harter (Colome SD) along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by grandparents Ralph Tobin, Mick Bliese, Dick and Mavis O’Bryan, and grandfather-in-law William Kohn.

Loretta Diez, 60

Loretta Diez, 60, of Apple Valley MN, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 in St. Paul MN. 

Graveside service will be held on Saturday April 20, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Winner City Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow at St. Mary’s Hall.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved sister, aunt and friend, Loretta Diez.  Loretta was born in Winner, South Dakota on April 8, 1963 to Rose and Carl Diez.  She was the youngest of six children.  She grew up on the family farm near Clearfield, SD and spent her first years of school attending Star Prairie country school one mile from their home.  She graduated from Winner High School in 1981.  She then attended the University of South Dakota where she made lifelong friends.

She enjoyed participating in pageants and was crowned Miss Winner, Miss USD and Miss State Fair.  Sadly, she was paralyzed in a car accident in May of 1985.  Even after her accident she went on to crown the next Miss State Fair.

In 1985, at the age of 22, Loretta furthered her education pursing a master’s degree in counseling psychology.  She had a successful career, culminating in building her own leadership coaching business.  She made such a positive impact on the many who had the honor of knowing her and she leaves behind a meaningful legacy.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends.  She enjoyed the Diez family reunions in the Black Hills and loved to spoil her nieces and nephews and cuddle with her great nieces and nephews. 

Plays and concerts were among her favorite experiences.  Her trips to Rome, Barcelona, Paris, London, Venice and Florence were special highlights for her.

She left this world appropriately on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2024 in the loving home and in the loving arms of her sister Margo in Saint Paul, Minn.  Even while her body succumbed to the cancer that ravaged her physically, she remained mentally strong and fought hard to stay with us.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Rose Diez, and her brother Michael. 

She is survived by sister Monica (Bob) Muth, sister-in-law June Diez, sister Margo (Dan) Osadchuk, brother Jack (Starla) Diez, sister Merna (Randy) Greer and 14 nieces and nephews, 27 great nieces and nephews and her many friends.