Category Archives: Local

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

This summer 15 Winner High School students are getting hands on experience with animal production and plant science.  Wyatt DeJong, ag teacher at Winner High School, is teaching two classes this summer.   The classes started the last week of school and will end the second week of August.  Students will receive a half a credit for taking the class. DeJong says there are quizzes and tests just like normal class.

There is an animal science class. Last year the focus was on beef production and this year the focus is on sheep, goats and swine. Each student can choose one species. There are seven students in the animal science class.

New this year is an advanced plant science class with eight students. This class is working on a community garden plus learning about crops as well as soil science.

There is 40 hours of classroom work and 60 hours of working with plants or animals. The classes are taught in the barn just west of Frontier Motors.   Students get to pick 10 days they can meet for four hours each time. DeJong says the classes are normally held in the evening from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

“The students like the structure as it is so different from any class they would take,” said DeJong.  He noted the classes are set up like a production class on a collegiate level.
DeJong says he is able to teach a lot of concepts and show the students different aspects of both animal science and plant science.

Jack Brandis Jr., 42, Winner, was arrested by the Tripp County Sheriff’s Office on June 27 at 8 a.m.  The arrest was made on 281st St.

Retrieved from the vehicle were 14.25 grams of methamphatime, cash, scales and other drug paraphernalia.

Brandis is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A preliminary hearing was held on July 3 and an arraignment date has not been set.

Brandis is being held in custody in the Winner jail.

It is going to very hot and dry this week with temperatures climbing into the triple digits.

The Tripp County Office of Emergency Management said the weather service isn’t predicting wind but the high temperatures and low humidity are a dangerous combination for fire.

The office asks people to be careful with any ignition source. They also urged people to stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.

The temperature for Wednesday is predicted to be 104 with a 103 on Thursday and 101 on Friday.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced July 14 that he will appoint Magistrate Judge Natalie Damgaard of Sioux Falls as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s Second Circuit Court.
Damaged is formerly of Winner and the daughter of Helen Turnquist of Winner and the late Roger Turnquist.

“I thank Judge Damgaard for taking on this important position,” said Gov. Daugaard. “She is very highly regarded and will be an outstanding circuit judge.”

Damgaard will succeed Judge Patricia Riepel, who retired last month. The Second Circuit includes Lincoln and Minnehaha counties.

“I appreciate Gov. Daugaard’s confidence in me to serve this important role,” said Judge Damgaard. “I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the Second Circuit and the State of South Dakota as a circuit court judge.”

Damgaard has served as a magistrate judge in the Second Circuit since 2011. In that role, she is active in the Second Circuit Drug Court. Prior to serving as a magistrate judge, Damgaard was an associate with the Janklow Law Firm from 2008 to 2010.

Damgaard graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2002 with a degree in criminal justice, and graduated from USD School of Law in 2006, where she was a Thomas Sterling Honor Graduate. From 2006 to 2008, she was a law clerk for Justice Richard W. Sabers of the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Damgaard and her husband, Andrew, have two children.

The Winner Community Playhouse will present a children’s production July 21 and July 22 at the Playhouse.

The two plays are: “Name This American” and “Unlucky Cinderella.” There will be a puppet show titled: “The Day the Crayons Came Home.”

The curtain time on July 21 will be at 7:30 p.m. and on July 22 there will be a matinee at 3 p.m. and a show at 7:30 p.m.

The plays are directed by Molly English with help from Michele Novak and Emily Moser.

The children in the cast are: Annie Connot, Jacob Manke, Noah Manke, Elizabeth Moser, Kendyl Bachmann, Tessa Mann, Karlee Brozik, Emily Sachtjen, Arnola Duffy, Joselin Kludt, Jenna Connot and Kayleigh Stands.

The Technical Director is Dan Patmore.

Wiley Heath of Colome was named the Senior Boys All-Around at the Tripp County 4-H Rodeo.  Dylan Suhr, Canton, was the Senior Boys Runner-up All-Around.  Dawson Munger, Pukwana, was the Senior Girls All-Around and Savannah Krogman of White River was the Senior Girls Runner-up All-Around.

Petersek and Denton Good were the Junior Boys All-Around and Wyatt Olson was the Junior Boys Runner Up All-Around.  Layni Stevens, St. Lawrence was the Junior Girls All-Around and Ramee Jo Hanson was the Junior Girls Runner-Up All-Around.

Bailey Kahler of Millboro was crowned the Senior Ambassador. She also won Horsemanship and Miss Congeniality.

Bailey Hoffine, Colome, was the Junior Ambassador. The First runner-up was Arista Kaiser of Millboro with Cami Wolles, Dell Rapids was the 2nd runner-up.

Hoffine won Horsemanship and Kaiser won Miss Congeniality.

The 48th annual Tripp County 4-H Rodeo will be held Friday, July 15. The ambassador contest will start at 8 a.m. and the rodeo will begin at 10 a.m.
Over 175 contestants will be competing to earn a spot at the state 4-H finals rodeo.
Hollenbeck Rodeo Co. of Winner will be providing the stock for the rodeo. Matt Riha will be the bull fighter.
Ambassador contestants are: Bailey Kahler of Millboro, Raylee Fagerhaug of Wessington Springs; Bailey Hoffine of Colome, Arista Kaiser of Millboro and Cami Wolles of Dell Rapids.
The ambassador contest will begin with horsemanship at 8 a.m. followed by interview and extemporaneous speeches.
Horsemanship judges are: Debbie Steinke and Genna Buettner. Interview judges are Cheryl Schmitt and Lynnelle Anderson. Speech judges are Sandra York and Jack Frantz. There will be four silent judges.
Geneice Gebhart and Dodie Anderson are the ambassador contest coordinators. Accent Florals of Winner will be providing the ambassador bouquets.
No admission will be charged for the rodeo. Tripp County 4-H Clubs will have a lunch stand.

Swier Law Firm, Prof. LLC is pleased to announce the expansion of its nationally recognized legal practice with the addition of Joseph Wiltse.

Joseph will be joining the law firm’s office in Sioux Falls and will be a key member of the Business and Corporate Law Practice Group. He represents clients in activities such as entity formation, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, mergers, private securities offerings, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, and contract development and review.

“We are pleased to have Joe join Swier Law Firm,” said Scott Swier. “Adding Joe to our practice enhances the depth of our team and demonstrates the firm’s commitment to growing the Business and Corporate Law Practice Group,” added Mr. Swier.

“I am excited to join Swier Law Firm because of its focus on legal excellence,: Mr. Wiltse said. “Swimmer Law Firm is a firm that is receptive to innovation and change that provides value for our clients. it also has a sophisticated understanding of the Sioux Falls business community and a strong vision to building the Business and Corporate Law Practice Group. I look forward to being a part of the firm at this exciting time.”

Joseph is a graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Law where he graduated with high honors. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication Studies and Theatre from the University of Sioux Falls.

Winner will be hosting both the Junior Teener (14U) and varsity Teener (16U) regional tournaments at Leahy Bowl.

The Region 6A Junior Teener tournament will be a 3 team round robin beginning on Friday, July 15 with the following schedule:

3 p.m.—Chamberlain versus Winner
5:30—Wagner versus Winner
8—Chamberlain versus Wagner.

If all 3 games go 1-1 on Friday the VFW pool play tie breaker will be used to determine the top two teams who then play in a one game championship on Saturday, July 16 at 1 p.m.

The Region 6A champion will earn a berth in the VFW Junior Teener state tournament to be held in Dell Rapids July 22-24.

Winner is co-hosting the Region 7A varsity Teener tourney with Mission. They elected to use their host turn and play it at Leahy Bowl. That tournament will start on Friday, July 29 and will be a four team double elimination. There will be four games on Friday and two on Saturday and if necessary, a game on Sunday.

The Region 7A champion will earn a berth in the VFW Teener state tournament to be held in Lennox Aug. 5-7.

Shirley Daughters of Hamill won the people’s choice award for her art work at the Prairie Hills Art Show in Wessington Springs on June 18.

Daughters won first place for her graphite drawing titled “My dad.” It is a drawing of Shirley and her father the late Milt Habeger.

The Hamill artist also won several other honors at the art show.

In photography, she won first place for a group of pelicans at Ft. Thompson. She also won third place for a photo of a team of horses at the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa.

Her colored pencil drawing of Bethlehem Star won honorable mention.

Daughters will be taking part in the 7th annual art expo July 9 and 10 at the South Dakota Hall of Fame in Chamberlain.

The expo will feature wood carvings/quilts, paintings/drawings, photography and much more.
The show on Saturday will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.