Colome art students submitted work in an art show in Springview, Neb.
The students brought home several awards. They include: Jaclyn Laprath, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places; Maggie McCarty, two second place awards; Aaliyah Fisher, two second place awards; Megan Seegers, second place; Anette Flores, one second and three thirds; Allia Swallow, third and Koty Dougherty, fourth.
Isaac Naasz, a senior at Winner High School, has earned a $4,000 Coyote commitment promise scholarship from the University of South Dakota.
Naasz, son of Brian and Sharon Naasz, intends on majoring in biology.
USD awards Coyote commitment scholarships to academically talented high school seniors based on strong standardized test scores and cumulative grade point average.
Jordyn Heinle of Hamill was among more than 1,900 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students honored during individual college celebrations and all-university honors convocation on April 23.
Heinle, a junior in the College of Education and Human Sciences, was recognized as a high scholar.
The Hanipa Tec’unpi Akic’ita (Hand game warriors) competed in the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Handgame tournament on April 15 in Agency Village.
The Handgame Warriors defeated Flandreau in the first round, Tiospa Zina in the second round, Enemy Swim in the third round to go undefeated.
They played Enemy Swim again in the championship to come out on top for a first place win.
There were seven teams in the competition but the other three teams were beat out in early games.
Members from the Winner FCCLA Chapter joined over 1,500 members, advisors, and guests who attended the South Dakota FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) Leadership Conference held on April 2-4 at the Denny Sanford Convention Center/Sheraton Hotel in Sioux Falls. The “Unlimited Possibilities – It’s Up to You” themed event was a big success.
A team of ten officers (including Shannon Duffy of Winner) from across the state ran the meeting as a conclusion to their term in their respective state officer position. Members attended workshops, competed in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events, and ran for leadership positions. Jessie Funk, who is an award winning singer and author of six books, was the keynote speaker on Sunday night during the opening general session.
On Sunday and Monday students had the opportunity to attend workshops presented by leadership team members, FCCLA members and officers, and other groups and organizations.
On Monday evening during the second general session, awards and recognition were announced.
On Tuesday morning results of the conference’s STAR Events participants were announced. Local results from the Winner Chapter were Shannon Duffy, Top Superior Gold, Life Event Planning; Katy Lantz and Sadie Woods, Gold, Illustrated Talk; Megan Brozik, Silver, Career Investigation; Marlee Schaeffer, Silver, Illustrated Talk; Raelynn Kemp, Silver, Illustrated Talk; Alex Meiners, Bronze, Career Investigation. The National Leadership Conference will be help in Nashville, Tennessee on July 2-6.
FCCLA is the only youth-led organization with family as its central focus. Members learn how to be active community leaders, become caring family members, and prepare for life beyond high school.
Five members of Winner Boy Scout Troop 100 will receive their Eagle Scout badge in a ceremony to be held April 30 at 3 p.m. at the Winner American Legion.
The five to be honored include: Jace Voegeli, John Kludt, Kayleb Brozik, Rhys Middlesworth and Riley Calhoon.
All of the scouts had to complete a project in order to receive this scouting honor.
Calhoon constructed a new batting cage at Leahy Bowl.
Kludt made a directory at the Hamill Cemetery.
Brozik made a case for Future Farmers of America awards.
Middlesworth made a wheel chair ramp at the Dallas Historical Society.
Voegeli organized and provided the feeling of a county Christmas for less fortunate children living in the residential facility of Children’s Home Society in Sioux Falls.
He arranged for McCrossen Boys Ranch to provide an afternoon of horse-drawn wagon rides. The youths were then treated to hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes and each was presented a new book.
This article is on behalf of the South Central Development Corporation. This is an ongoing series of community members’ stories introducing us to the people and the possibilities that reside in the Winner area. If you have a suggestion of someone that you think should be featured, contact Karla Brozik at 842-1551.
The journey of life has led Jake & Dr. Laura Handcock many directions in life. They have come together to make their home in Winner.
Dr. Laura went to high school in Geraldton, Western Australia, which is in a county of about 35,000 people. She then went to Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia and she graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Laura then worked part-time for a small animal clinic and a beef cattle clinic, so she could experience both aspects. After 3-1/2 years at the beef practice in Australia, Dr. Laura accepted an internship at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. The main reason she accepted the internship was to obtain her Visa. She was an instructor at Virginia Tech where students in their last year of veterinary school would ride along with her for veterinary experience and instruction. After this job, she realized she didn’t like being an instructor and didn’t like living in the mountains! In the Blacksburg, VA area, the average rancher had 33 head of cattle and she was doing veterinary work that most ranchers do themselves around here.
After her internship year and obtaining her Visa, Dr. Laura knew she wanted to go back to private practice and remain in the United States. She then began looking for jobs in the Midwest where she knew the best cow-calf area would be. She interviewed for jobs in Winner, SD; Glen Ullin, ND; Scobey, MT; and Foley, MN. She interviewed in Winner first and states, “I knew right away I was going to take the job here. This clinic (Animal Clinic) is state of the art. I have been to many vet schools in the United States. The only better veterinary facility I have seen is at a veterinary school at Texas A&M. The Animal Clinic’s private practice here is unheard of; to have such a lovely, well-built, well-set out, completely serviced facility like that. I could tell it was just going to be a good place to work. The guys (Dr. John, Dr. Owen, Dr. Heath, Dr. Covey) had a good relationship with their clients and a good relationship with each other.”
Before starting her new job in Winner, Dr. Laura received a letter in the mail informing her she had to return to her home country of Australia and re-apply for her Visa transfer. Her Visa transfer took about 6 weeks and then she was able to begin working at the Animal Clinic in Winner. Dr. Laura currently has a green card, but hopes to someday obtain dual citizenship.
Jake Handcock went to high school in Kadoka, SD. He grew up on a farm near Long Valley, SD. Jake studied at South Dakota School of Mines for a few years before deciding to join the military. Jake joined the Marines in 2004. He started as an ammunition technician for 2 years in Japan. He then worked in explosive ordinance disposal for 7 years with being stationed in Japan for 2 of those years and also deployed to Afghanistan for 2 tours.
After getting out of the Marines, Jake didn’t have a plan. His brother was in the process of taking over the family farm, so Jake decided to go back to the family farm in Long Valley to help his brother with that transition. Jake then moved to Rapid City and attended Western Dakota Tech and obtained his CDL license. He states, “I did not want to be the single guy living out in the middle of nowhere by myself forever.”
Jake and Dr. Laura met on an online dating website. They joke about meeting on farmersonly.com, but unfortunately it was not that website! They started talking online and dating in late 2014. Jake thought Laura’s online profile was fake – an Australian veterinarian living in Winner, SD! Apparently, he found it was a true romance! Jake gave up pursuing jobs in Maryland and Texas to live in Winner with Dr. Laura.
Dr. Laura states, “Living in a big city, you have so much access to everything. There is always something open and endless entertainment options, but you tend to do less with closer friends. I think when you live in the city you have more acquaintances than friends. There might be a lot of people you hang out with, but you wouldn’t call on them if you needed something.” She also misses the entertainment and food options while living in a rural community, but “I wouldn’t trade that for the fact that I have closer friends and better relationships with people here. If something happens, I could easily rattle off 12 people that I could call if I needed help immediately; whereas, when I lived in Perth, I would have struggled to list 3.”
Both Jake & Dr. Laura say when they do visit a big city, it is more fun because it is a treat. Jake states, “Winner is a cost-effective place to live. Neither one of us have to drive a whole lot. Housing is cost-effective and utilities aren’t bad. So when you do go someplace big, it is really nice that you’ve got the opportunity to save up money if you take the time and effort to plan ahead.” The couple enjoys their annual trip to Minneapolis to watch a hockey game and enjoy the big city life.
Dr. Laura enjoys Winner in the fact that it is very similar geographically to where she grew up other than there is no beach in Winner. She remembers going to the Holiday House the first night she was in Winner and states “everyone was super nice and everyone seemed to be very courteous towards each other. People were so willing to help you. I quite liked Winner from the very first moment I got here.”
Jake remembers coming to Winner as a kid. “I like South Dakota attitude. Everybody’s a little more calm and a little more laid back.” He refers to Japan where everybody was in a hurry all the time. Jake is very thankful to Engel Trucking for his first job here in Winner. He states, “I literally walked in and Dean and Lance (Engel) didn’t know me from Adam. I said I have got a CDL and drove for 2 years for the family farm and Dean literally looked at me and he goes ‘well if you swing by the hospital and get your drug test, we can get you on insurance, and you can drive tomorrow’. It was that fast! We have been here for over 2 years now and I have yet to meet anybody in this town that I really don’t like.”
Dr. Laura loves that she gets to work with ranchers every day. “You sit at their tables and you are part of their family and the way they think about their business. You are not just an expense that they have to utilize. That’s why I think this clinic (Animal Clinic) is as successful as it is and a happy place to work because we are not just giving medical advice, we are actually participating in the community.”
Jake works at Gary’s Gun Shop and really likes the customers. He states, “Maybe it is because of where I work, nobody comes into a gun store because they are having a personal emergency. I probably have a dozen people that come through at least twice a week, whether they buy anything or not, just to say hi. I like the people that come in and I like talking to them.”
Pheasant hunting season blows Jake’s mind. “I can’t believe how this town comes to life.” Dr. Laura’s states pheasant hunting in Winner is “a good little population explosion”. She states, “It’s great for the town’s atmosphere, economy, and a good thing to look forward to every year. On the large, we get good people that come here.” Jake states a lot of their regular customers during pheasant hunting season used to go into Gene Hansen’s store and just continue to come in even though it’s Gary’s Gun Shop now.
Dr. Laura states they try to be involved in the community. She helps out with 4H and tries to attend most FFA events. Jake is becoming more involved with the Gun Club. Dr. Laura expresses, “Go to all these little activities that are out there. They aren’t going to be there forever if you don’t support them. That’s how people then recognize you.” Dr. Laura says most people know her, but didn’t know the vet’s husband. Jake jokes, “I have been called Mr. Laura on more than one occasion!” They both want to be involved in the Winner community and meet new people.
Stop by Gary’s Gun Shop and meet Jake Handcock and if you are lucky, you can catch Dr. Laura Handcock at the Animal Clinic.
A Winner band has been chosen to be inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame.
The Fabulous Unknowns of Winner will be inducted on April 22 at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall in Sioux Falls.
Originally called the Fabulous Unknown, this Winner band began rehearsing in the summer of 1972 and the initial band members were: Dave Hosek on trumpet, keyboards and vocals; Curt Hoffer on keyboards, guitar and vocals; Jim Nelson on bass guitar and vocals; Rob Taylor on guitar, trumpet, tenor sax and vocals; Tim Obert on trap set, guitar and vocals; Terry Pospisil replaced Nelson in the autumn of 1972.
Taylor and Obert were from Colorado Springs, Colo., and the rest were from Winner.
Many of their fans called them the Unknowns, so they soon added the “s” to their name. They played a variety of music styles from pop songs of the 1940s through the Tijuana Brass, Everly Brothers, Chicago and the Doobie Brothers.
They learned songs their parents liked.
The Fabulous Unknowns were managed by S. P. O’Malley, who had moved to Winner from Yankton. He crafted their clean image, never allowing them any smoking or drinking from the stage. They always tuned their instruments before going on stage. This was more of a show band than a dance band.
The band members wore tailored suits and were known for their colorful clothes. Their first gig was in the summer of 1972 in Dallas. That is Dallas, S.D., not Dallas, Texas. At their second stop at the Purple Turtle in Sioux Falls they were billed as “direct from Dallas.”
The Fabulous Unknowns performed outside of South Dakota but the Holiday Inns of Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Pierre and Spearfish were their repeat venues.
The Kochi Inn in Yankton was also a favorite spot for the band.
In April of 1974 their finals shows were at the Crest Show Lounge in Spencer, Iowa.
Fun always was their priority and it showed through their appearances. Many of the members still are active musicians.
The awarding of both the Frank Yaggie Award and the Cornerstone Award by the Yankton Chamber of Commerce have become highlights of the annual Chamber banquet.
However, this year, it earned even more significance as the two awards were combined and presented to Dr. Wayne Kindle, superintendent of the Yankton School District, formerly of Winner.
Kindle is a graduate of Winner High School and his wife, Marge (Olson) is also from the Tripp County area.
“The first thing that came to mind when I was standing up there and hearing some of the things they announced that I had done, is that this is really a shared award in my mind,” Kindle said. “There are lots of great people in this school district and in this community that do so many great things, and I have just been lucky to be a part of those things — not by myself, but working side by side with people. While I am honored, I am humbled and I recognize that when an individual gets an award like this, it isn’t about me. It is really about all the other people who have involved in making a really great thing happen not only in Yankton but in the school district.”
According to the Chamber, the award winner must make significant contributions to the community by selfless acts of time and contributions throughout his or her life in Yankton. That vision and dedication to the betterment of the community must be evident through their daily lives, civic involvement and professional service. The individual must also contribute to the growth and success of Yankton.
“I was more than surprised getting the award,” Kindle said. “That I was chosen for something as meaningful as the Frank Yaggie/Cornerstone Award, particularly given that they had combined the two for the first time, I am honored. I finally had an opportunity to sit down and see what the two awards represent and the names that are on those lists, and I am really honored to be on both of those lists.”
Kindle has received several awards including: 2015 Ivan Dixon Administrator Award for the State of South Dakota Student Council, 2006 Mental Wellness Diversity Award, 2004 Human and Civil Rights Award from SDEA, and Minority Leaders Fellowship Award.
His professional and community involvement has included Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Board Member and Chair, Yankton Area Progressive Growth, Heartland Psychological Board of Directors, School Administrators of South Dakota, Association for School Curriculum and Development and Yankton Elks Lodge.
Kindle has also served on several boards and organizations including the Citizens Task Force for Yankton County Courts and Public Safety, Yankton Area Foundation Committee, Mount Marty College Executive Committee, Mount Marty Student Affairs Committee, Mount Marty Trusteeship Committee, United Way Advisory Board, War Memorial Committee, SHOW Cap Committee, Yankton Morning Optimist, Yankton Child Protection Team and Native America Day Wacipi organizer.
“Just that large opportunity to get out there and be part of many things that are not only going to help the community, but also our kids, is very important to me,” Kindle said. “(It’s about) what kind of legacy we are going to not only leave for our kids, but also build for their future — and I have some ideas.”
He said walking in the path of past and current Yankton leaders is also a challenge to do more.
“If you go back to Marian Gunderson, who is on that list of winners, when I first moved to town, it didn’t take me long to figure out that a person like her does things and gets things done. They are all very good things for the community and our kids. So, when I think of her and all of the (past winners) of those two awards, the one common thing that I believe they all share is they all really believe in Yankton. They are advocates for kids and they want to see us do some remarkable things moving forward. They are thinkers and planners — forward thinking people.”
He said they also had another quality in common, they need to share any recognition received with others.
“For them, it wasn’t about themselves, rather it was about what they could do for others,” Kindle said.
That is a lesson he said he learned at a young age.
“Growing up in my personal life, I didn’t have a lot,” Kindle said. “I am not embarrassed to say that. In fact, I learned a lot about making the most of what you do have. I will probably not have the resources that I would like to have to give to others and to give to causes. But, I know two things for sure: That my wife, Marge, and I give what we can and from our heart. I also know I am going to continue to give my time, which I encourage everyone to do. We are all blessed with time and the ability to help others with our time.”
Two Tripp County men were arrested for allegedly taking thousands of dollars worth of milo from an area grain elevator.
Rodney Farley, 55 and William Whitaker, 54, both of Witten, were arrested in March and charged with taking $9,000 of grain from the Witten Elevator.
On Feb. 19, Whitaker allegedly loaded up to four loads of milo onto a semi truck operated by Farley who delivered the milo to Dakota Mill and Grain in Presho under the name Advanced Grain Pricing.
Whitaker was arrested on March 1 and allegedly told law enforcement he expected to receive “a couple thousand dollars” from Farley after the deliveries were made, court documents state. Whitaker said he did not receive payment and he regretted the decision.
A warrant was issued for Farley and he was arrested a couple of weeks later.
Farley is charge with grand theft by receiving stolen property and Whitaker is charged with grand theft by embezzlement. Valued between $5,000 and $100,000, charges are Class 4 felonies, punishable upon conviction by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Farley also faces an alternate count of grand theft.
Bond for both men was set at $500 and both have been released.
Farley and Whitaker are scheduled to appear in court in May.
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