Category Archives: Local

Shelby Scott and Presley Foudrey won the grand prize for their project at the Winner Science Fair held on March 22. There project was: What percentage of people are amusic?

The best of show at the middle school went to Joselyn Kludt with a project on “does coffee have different pH’s.”

The gold medal physical science project winners include:

Mackenzie Levi and Brennan Bachmann, “How does air pressure effect bounce?”

Preston Norrid, “What are the effects of friction?”

Jude Laude, Steven Lin, “Does yeast effect elephant paste?”

Kayla Natoli, “Does the splatter matter?”

Megan Brozik and Meagan Blare, “Does a cookie sheet effect baking?”

Teresa Taylor, “Which fabric absorbs dye the best?”

The biological gold medal winners are:

Saige Schuyler, “Does a chiropractic adjustment effect horse performance?”

Kiersten Durrin and Kara Ewing,
Does washing hands affect mold growth?

Dawson Phillips, Does plant population affect its growth?

Jacob Clay, Is water still the champ?

Phillip Jorgensen, Is a dog’s mouth cleaner?

Addy Root, What mouth wash kills oral bacteria

Zane Mandl and Jaynee Gregg, what manure is best for fertilizer?

Several special awards were presented at the science fair.

These awards include:

Best engineering—Preston Norrid, $25 sponsored by Haley’s Hiway Lumber

Best display board—Isabelle Leyden, $25 from Jorgensen Land and Cattle

Best new idea—Heather Rowe, $25 from Schramm Furniture

Best oral health—Addy Root, electric toothbrush from Winner Dental Clinic

Best ag related—Zane Mandel and Jaynee Gregg, $25 from Jorgensen Land and Cattle

Best health project—Morgan Hammerbeck, $25 from Animal Clinic

Best animal project—Saige Schuyler, $25, Animal Clinic

Best use of data—Megan Brozik, $25, Schramm Furniture

The Winner High School drama department will present the play “The Beverly Hillbillies” on April 5-7 at the Winner Community Playhouse.

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and curtain time is at 7 p.m.

The cast includes: Taylor Audiss, Shelby Scott, Cam Irick, Megan Brozik, Meagan Blare, Mason Schuyler, Jack Ducheneaux, Teresa Taylor, Justin Hausmann, Katy Lantz, Hunter Shopene, Sadie Woods, Brielle Bachmann, Gracie Littau, Matt Hartley, Finn Bartels, Andrew Taylor, Mary Calhoon, Shannon Calhoon, Ty Bolton, Heather Rowe, Kendyl Bachmann, Leah Wielchelman, Madaline Watzel, Maggie DeMers, Elijah Blare, Lauren Norrid and Ronae Klein.

The play is directed by Kara Connot and Kelly Assman. Dan Patmore is the technical director.

Persons can call the Winner High School office at 842-8125 to reserve tickets.

Zach Horstman of Winner is helping the Northern State men’s basketball team reach its full potential.

Horstman is a graduate assistant at Northern and the Wolves played March 20 in Sioux Falls in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Horstman was featured in a sports story in the Mitchell Daily Republic on March 20.

Horstman played his college ball at South Dakota State University.

Now, he is in a position to share his college experiences with the Wolves and influence their players.

This season the Wolves are reaching their potential and are having one of the best seasons in school history. They are 34-3 and have tied the school record for wins in a season.

NSU is playing in its second ever Elite Eight.

“I have never been a part of something as successful as what we are doing right now,” Horstman said. “It’s been fun to be a part of that and be around these guys all the time and just having a lot of fun being successful.”

Horstman is learning from some successful coaches. Paul Sather is the head coach at Northern.

“The basketball knowledge you gain from that guy is unbelievable,” Horstman said. “He’s super intelligent. Offensively, his stuff is really great and it shows with what we’ve done on the floor.”

As for the future, Horstman says he wants to stay in college coaching. But is not sure where he will be next year.

“I am doing all I can to help these guys be successful and that’s kind of the gig right now,” he said.

Ferris State defeated Northern State 71-69 on March 24, for the National Title.

Two Yankton residents were arrested in Winner for allegedly attempting to distribute meth.

Winner officers responded to an anonymous tip that two Yankton residents wanted on multiple warrants in Iowa were staying in a Winner motel. They arrested the two people Kristi Arbegast and Sidney Buchholtz, for the warrants and found used syringes, pipes and small baggies used to distribute illegal substances and various other items of drug paraphernalia.

Arbegast and Buchholtz were charged with possession of a controlled substance, distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Cody Amidon of Ideal has been named to the dean’s list at Southeast Community College in Nebraska.

Blake Gardner, coach of the Hill City boys basketball team, has tied as Region 8 coach of the year.

Gardner is formerly of Winner, and the brother of Winner head boys basketball coach Brett Gardner.

Blake Gardner tied with Eldon Marshall of White River for regional coach of the year.

By Jeff Smith
Hill City Prevailer

Blake Gardner, Hill City middle school principal, motto of “make today your masterpiece” is something that he puts on newsletters and one that he hopes helps motivates people.
Like a lot of people at Hill City schools he hopes to assist in creating the narrative that Hill City is a great school district.

“We have a great staff, really awesome kids, and very supportive parents,” Gardner said. “Truly, I am just a figurehead for a great system.”

Gardner was recently recognized as the Region 7 Middle School Principal of the Year.

Gardner is former of Winner and the son of Bill and Bonnie Gardner. Blake Gardner is a graduate of Winner High School.

“I’m just humbled to be recognized as one of the seven in South Dakota. It’s a great honor and it’s very telling how great our school system is,” Gardner said.

After he was nominated the state principal committee voted on the principal that will be chosen for each region. Gardner explains that the Region 7 consists of the Black Hills region schools plus schools in Wall and Philip.

A state committee will be working to choose a state principal of the year.

Over his 12 years in the Hill City school district he has been involved in teaching students and being an administrator in all three buildings. At the middle school he has been a principal for eight years.

He has been a principal at the elementary school and a social studies teacher at the high school.

Gardner said he really loved teaching because he was able to work with students one-on-one but what he likes about being the principal is that he can still help students and then work with teachers as well as parents.

“It expands your influence,” Gardner said about being a principal.

There are times that are challenging but Gardner feels like being in education is the greatest job in the world.

He has a Master’s in Education Administration and he is currently working on a degree as a specialist in education degree. This is the step before getting a doctorate.

Gardner said he had really good teachers growing up who inspired him to want to be in education.

To him, the social aspect of middle school is just as important as the academic aspect. He tries to be a positive influence on students. He said middle school is an awesome place to be because the students are at the in-between stage of needing a lot of guidance and starting to have some more freedom.

Gardner said educators at the middle school are trying to motivate them to be independent learners.There are some growing pains, too, as Gardner said the students have lockers and they are able to be on their own for some of the day.

“It’s fun to watch them grow and be comfortable in that setting,” Gardner said.

Gardner said the middle school has been innovative by offering algebra and physical science for high school credit. The school also has a period called Ranger time that is a 25-minute block where teachers introduce students to subjects not taught in a regular class.

“One teacher does business math, one does geometry games and one does reading theater,” Gardner said.

Gardner said educators at the middle school try to focus on the joy of education.

“We have a great job and there is so much that could take away from focusing on the kids,” Gardner said.

He said he loves the Hill City schools and community.

“It’s just been a blessing for me to be here,” Gardner said.

After the current school year is over Gardner will take over as the elementary school principal. Gardner has left a strong impression on the students at the middle school. He’ll see where the future takes him.

He is excited to work with the teachers and students there. Also, when he was the principal in the past he was the best all-time quarterback at recess.

“There is never a dull moment at the elementary school,” Gardner said as he laughed.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Bids were opened for a proposed highway shop at the March 13 meeting of the Tripp County Commissioners.

Four bids were received and representatives from the companies attended the bid opening.

The base bids include: Summit Construction, Platte, $1,856,000; Puetz Inc., Mitchell, $1,799,000; Sharpe Inc., Ft. Pierre, $1,858,000 and First Dakota Enterprises, Ft. Pierre, $2,070,000.

Each company bid several add ons such as shop cooling, infloor tubing and compressors.

The commissioners tabled all the bids.

Also attending the meeting was Loren Schaeffer of Brosz Engineer.

Janiece Weber, the new director of equalization, told the commissioners she will be sending out improvement forms so persons can list additions to farms or new additions to buildings in town.

Weber received permission to attend a conference in Rapid City May 22-25.

Laura Kahler, 4-H advisor, told the board persons have been selected for the summer assistant.

Brooke Schroeder was hired at 480 hours for the summer and Sydney Peters for 80 hours. Commissioner Chip Schroeder abstained from voting as Brooke Schroeder is his daughter.

Permission was given to purchase a new gator for the Tripp County ambulance service. Paul Schueth of the ambulance service said TransCanada has given a $5,000 grant toward the purchase of a new gator.

Kathie Cole, co-ambulance director, said the new ambulance has arrived and it was on display outside the courthouse.

The next meeting of the commissioners will be March 27 at 10 a.m.

‘

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Winner City Council met Monday night and heard reports from city administrators.

Police chief Paul Schueth reported there were 89 inmates in jail on Monday.

Brent Gill, public works director, reported on cleanup efforts after the last ice and snow storm. He said there were a lot of tree branches down from ice on tree limbs.

Karla Brozik, executive director of the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce, presented her quarterly report.

She said the Taste of Winner was held on March 20 with 11 entries.

Plans are in the works to continue the Winner Summer Nights which was a success last year. She said dates selected will include June 14, July 12, Aug. 9 and Aug. 30. She asked permission to have one block of Main Street blocked off those evenings for this event.

Brozik added the barbeque pit row will be held on Aug. 4 and also requested a part of Main Street be blocked off.

A public hearing was held on the application to transfer the on sale liquor license from Wings and More to St. Mary’s Hall for a wedding reception on April 28. The council approved the application.

The city will advertise for hay land bid for the landfill for this summer only.

The city will advertise for 2018 asphalt bids.

Kaylea Littau was advanced two steps for completion of state of South Dakota training requirements for a communications officer/911 dispatcher. Her salary was set at $17.58 per hour.

Employment was offered to Hanna Peterson as a summer intern for a control desk operator in the jail and her salary was set at $14.75 per hour with no benefits.

The council accepted the resignation of full time dispatcher Cami Woodward and moved her to part-time effective April 2.

The city will advertise for a full time dispatch worker.

The council approved the cancellation of Patrick Falencik’s hangar lease agreement and approved the transfer of the lease to Howard Aviation.

Put on first reading was Ord. 899 which deals with vacant structures.

Second reading was given to Ord. 898 which is a supplement to the appropriations ordinance. This is for funds that were donated to the cemetery to purchase software for tracking purposes.

The council voted to purchase twin 48 inch culverts for drainage ditches along Pine and Plum Street in the amount of $16,000. The city received a grant of $10,000 for this project.

Approval was given for purchase of 36-inch culvert to extend the drainage from the bass pond. The cost is $13,300. The city will obtain an easement from the landowner.

A discussion was held on a water line for the airport. Gill explained this will be an extension to a 6-inch line and will include a lift pump.

The Britton addition for housing was discussed.

Approval was given to rent an excavator for four weeks to clean out some ditches.

Final closeout approval was given for the airport apron expansion phase I at the Winner airport.

Forty Winner FFA members participated in the District 4 Career Development Event in Platte on March 13.

The biotechnology team took first with Andrew Taylor, 1^st; Sam Marts, 2^nd; Casey Stickland, 3^rd; Ryan Sell, 5^th.

Also placing were: floriculture—Madyson Morehart, 1^st; livestock fourth place as a team, Luke Hennebold, 4^th; meats—Colton Schroeder, 6^th; ag mechanics—Alex Schaeffer, 11^th ; farm business management—Brandon Volmer, 6^th; vet science team first place, Savannah Vogel, 1^st; Kayla Bachmann, 2^nd; Katy Lantz, 3^rd; Daesha Klein, 4^th; Heather Rowe, 5^th; Abigail Pajl, 6^th; natural resources—Aaron Gilchrist, 9^th.