Outside In move forward!

Taryn Pike, Rapid City, formerly of Winner, was one of three finalist chosen in the female founder’s veteran small business award grant program.
Pike is the daughter of Phil and Cyndy DeMers of Winner.
Pike along with her sister Kelsey Baird own a Rapid City business known as Outside In, which is a children’s indoor playground.
Since Pike is a veteran she qualified for this special award.
Pike served 10 years in the National Guard which qualified her to apply for this special grant. The public was allowed to vote for the persons they felt should be awarded the grant.
Pike, as one of the top three finalists, will have the opportunity to pitch her business at the StreetShares foundation pitch competition event.
Due to COVID-19 plans are underway to have a virtual Virginia Women Veterans Summit which will be held on line. This is where Pike will give her pitch to win the grand prize

Secretary Vanneman Announces Retirement

Secretary Kim Vanneman, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, publicly announced her retirement on May 5. Her last day as Secretary of Agriculture will be May 8.

Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden will step in as Interim Secretary of Agriculture.

“Kim and I have worked together on agriculture policy for almost twenty years, and she is a dear friend to me and to South Dakota agriculture,” said Governor Noem. “Her service has been invaluable for today’s farmers and ranchers, the next generation to follow them, and the state of South Dakota as a whole. While her title will change, she will continue to be a valuable advisor and advocate to me on behalf of South Dakota farmers and ranchers.”

Prior to her time as Secretary of Agriculture, Vanneman of Ideal, served as a director for Farm Credit Services of America, Farm Credit Council, Farm Credit Foundations, and FCC Services. She was a member of the State House of Representatives from 2007-2013, serving on the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee all six years.

“I want to thank Governor Noem for the opportunity to serve as South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture. It has been an honor to work with the producers and agricultural organizations promoting, protecting, and preserving South Dakota agriculture,” said Secretary Vanneman.

“The remote work model the past several weeks has made me aware of what I am missing out on with my family and operating our family farm. It’s spring—a time of new beginnings. It is time for me to spend more time home with family and focus on our 111 year old family farm.”

Vanneman and her husband, Clint, own and operate Vanneman Farms north of Winner. Their diversified operation includes row crops, small grains, feeder pigs, a commercial beef cow herd, and a feedlot.

Kim and Clint have three children and four grandchildren.

“I also want to thank Kim for her years of service fighting for South Dakota agriculture,” said Lieutenant Governor Rhoden.

“I realize these are big shoes to fill, but given that my life’s work has been in agriculture, I appreciate the opportunity to advocate on behalf of our state’s number one industry.

My immediate focus will be on helping our state’s agriculture industry turn the corner following this pandemic, especially the meat producers who have become all too familiar with supply chain bottlenecks.”

“Lieutenant Governor Rhoden has been instrumental in helping South Dakota’s producers handle the fallout from the Smithfield situation,” said Governor Noem. “He’s well-prepared to step into this role. I know he’ll serve as the strong leader our agriculture industry needs right now.”

Nicholas receives honor

Submitted Photo

Nicholas named superintendent of the year

David Nicholas, formerly of Winner, was recently honored by being selected as the Wyoming Superintendent of the year .

David has spent 30 years in the education field. He began his education career as a middle school principal in Winner. Two of the eight years at Winner he was a combined superintendent / middle school principal. Then the following nine years he was superintendent of the Gregory School system.

After moving to Wyoming, David is currently in his tenth year as Superintendent of Schools in Washakie County School District Number One.

David attended Dakota Wesleyan University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and religion/philosophy. He received his master of education in educational leadership from South Dakota State University. David earned his specialist degree from the University of Sioux Falls.

David has served as president of Northwest WASA and is currently president of the University Partnership.

He has attended the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs. David has led his board members to attain education opportunities from Wyoming Schools Boards Association conferences, as well as national school board conferences. He and his board of trustees developed an intervention program to increase graduation rates by improving student attendance. Nicholas has also been very involved in the PLC process, attending several conferences.

To read the rest of the story, pick up this week’s edition of the WinnerAdvocate or call (605) 842-1481!

Local daycare expresses their gratitude to Winner Law Enforcement Center

Submitted Photo
Denise Debus’ daycare recently donated Girl Scout cookies to the Winner Law Enforcement Center. Pictured from left are Skyla DeSersa, Jaya DeSersa, Bentley Moser, Hazel Moser and Madysen Dvorak. Not pictured are Denise Debus, Ben Catoe, Hudson Cernetisch, Weston Cernetish, Aria Welch, Presley DeSersa and Westin Leighton.

Triple H Hunting

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Triple H Hunting was welcomed to the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce by the Chamber ambassador team. Pictured in front from left are Austin Hamilton, Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber; Stephanie Haukaas, Hailey Klundt, Morgan Haukaas and Efrain Lopez. In back from left are Doug Long, Jamie Sachtjen and Mary Sprenkle.

Sids Lawn Care

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Sid’s Lawn Care was welcomed to the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce by the Chamber Ambassador team. The business is owned by Sid Durrin. Pictured in front from left are Austin Hamilton, Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber, Durrin and Efrain Lopez. In back from left are Doug Long, Jamie Sachtjen and Mary Sprinkle.

South Central Heating & Cooling

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador team welcomed South Central Heating and Cooling to the Chamber. Pictured in front from left are Austin Hamilton, Mike Scott, Chamber executive director, Kelly Leighton, own of South Central Heating and Cooling and Efrain Lopez. In back from left are Doug Long, Jamie Sachtjen and Mary Sprenkle.

Schramm reads to kids

Submitted photo
Sharon Schramm reads a story to students that is recorded and then posted on the Tripp County Library Facebook page.
Story Time with Sharon Schramm is posted the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at around 10:30 a.m.

By Dan Bechtold
Editor

Creative. Innovative. Helping fill a need.
During this time of COVID-19, young children still need to know the importance of reading.

Sharon Schramm, retired second grade teacher, loves to read to children and volunteered to come into the Tripp County Library and read to youths ages 4 to 8.

Her reading sessions started before the pandemic hit but have turned into a virtual reading session for children to enjoy.

The first time of a live program with kids present there as a huge snow storm and a lot of kids and parents were unable to make it into Winner.

However, there were some kids present.

Librarian Misti Burns explained the next time they had a reading there was a full house.

Plans were made for Schramm to read to the children once a month.

Then COVID-19 hit and everyone’s life was turned upside down. School was called off for the rest of the year and students were doing their learning on line. In place of face to face meetings with teachers, elementary students were having Zoom meetings with teachers.

During this pandemic, Schramm still wanted to help students. “One day Sharon called and said we need to do something for the kids. I am willing to come in and record my readings,” she said.

In the world of creative writing there are copyright laws that need to be followed.

With the help of the state library, Burns did some research on what publishers would allow. “It is not like you can pick up a book, start reading and post it on line. We had to follow the rules,” she explained.

Burns noted most the publishers were lenient so there were no copyright issues.

The librarian felt the best place to post the readings was on the library’s Facebook page.

Burns wanted to the readings in the story room since this was an area students were used to seeing.

There were a few glitches that had to worked out before they got the recording down just the way they wanted it.

Burns records on a tablet and purchased a tripod to get just the right height for recording.

The second time the women did a record the tablet showed it was full and it did not record so they women had to do it all over again.

“Sharon loves children and she loves to read to children,” said Burns.

The retired school teacher comes to the library to pick out a book. She puts a lot of thought into the reading and brings props the children will enjoy.

Burns noted there are some books that Schramm suggests that the library does not have so the books are ordered. “We use Sharon as a reference on good children’s books in the age range of 4-8,” said Burns.

When reading Schramm makes sure the children can see the pages of the book. “She talks to them just like they were sitting in front of her,” said Burns. “She does a good job.”

The readings will be posted the second and fourth Wednesday of each month by 10:30 a.m. on the library’s Facebook page.

Burns added Schramm will have a theme on some of her books like Valentine’s Day, Earth Day and next week there will be a book that talks about moms in honor of Mother’s Day.

The local librarian sees reading to children as very important. “It has been shown that reading to children is an important part of reading comprehension.”

Burns added with COVID-19 she sees the recorded readings important.
And that is where Schramm plays a vital role in reading stories that children will enjoy.

Our lives have been put into a whirlwind and there are so many virtual events happening to replace face to face meetings.

Burns noted the library could pull a famous author and have him or her read to kids but she likes the idea that it is a local person doing the reading. “These kids have connected with Sharon. They know who she is. I think it is important to have a local element as part of this program,” said Burns.

The librarian feels this is the perfect solution to reach children.
S

chramm uses the library a lot and Burns asked the retired teacher if she would be interested in reading to kids at story time. “I jumped at the chance. When I was teaching my favorite time of day was children literature and reading to kids,” she said.

Schramm taught school for over 25 years.

Once the virus hit and the there was no school for rest of the year, Schramm and Burns collaborated on how best to continue the reading without kids present. They came up with the idea to record Schramm reading.

“This is local and we wanted to make it available to kids in Tripp County,” she explained.

She said the recordings, which are on the library’s Facebook page, gets the kids excited about reading and keeps them engaged when they are not in school.

“If you read to them, they will want to read the book themselves. I always tell them this book is available at the library. I think the new curbside drive through is a wonderful opportunity for kids to read books,” she added.

Schramm does a lot of research into what book she chooses to read to the kids. She looks at several resources and reads reviews of the books. The reason she does so much research is that she does writing for children’s literature. She has had stories published in magazines and on line publications.

Schramm is a writer in addition to promoting passion for children’s literature.

Winner AAU wrestlers

Ashley Robbins Photography
Members of the Winner AAU wrestling team are in front from left Hunter Kahler, Ash Kaiser, Rylan Robbins, Mason Curtis, Oren Sargent, Legend Benedict, Kash Peterson, Jed Blare, Evan Littau and Peydin Peterson. Second row from left are Gentry Krogman, Hudson Peters, Levi Heenan, Roukyn Robins, Apollo Willuweit, Avery Antelope, Kyan Bartels, Tatum Swan, Cooper Craven, Braxtyn Olson and Easton Shippy. Third row from left are Archer Curtis, Kaysen Storms, Jace Nahnsen, Luke Heim, Addison Wingert-Hempel, Brider Stirling, Blayden Stirling, Nathan Melius, Eli Orel, Blaze Mead, Henry Mayes and Kayden Fryer. Fourth row from left are Owen Novotny, Bentley Moser, Rexton Pederson, Crawston Craven, Remmingtyn Robbins, Bentley Dougherty Hudson Kaup, Rhogan Robbins, Kaeden Flute, Milo Looking Cloud and Brayden Flute.