Category Archives: Local

Occupation: Carpenter

Family: Wife: DeAnn Sons: Tim, Brody, and Jacob Daughter: Sadie

Why I’m running: Government, in our country, is supposed to be “Of the People, By the People, and For the People.” I believe the current administration has lost sight of these basic tenants and if I have learned anything in my 10 years of military service; it was that you can LEAD, FOLLOW, or GET OUT OF THE WAY!

I’m PRO LEADERSHIP!

Greatest Challenges: I believe our biggest challenges lie in the area of budget and finance. Just like you or I, if you don’f forecast and adhere to a strict budgeting process difficulties aren’t far behind. I feel the current administration is far too reliant on the “cash cow” utilities department and we owe it to the residents of Winner to work under a balanced budget and be better stewards of their tax dollars!
Infrastructure is good; road, water and sewer improvements are under contract. Weak utility poles are being identified and replaced.
I believe we need to explore more ways of retaining our young adults and give them more reasons to return to Winner and raise their families. I believe that this can be accomplished in part by fostering working relationships with our area business owners and major employers so that community and business are working together to accomplish common goals.

Kind of Councilman: I have only survived 25 years of business ownership because of supportive family, the Grace of God, and some common core values: honesty, integrity, and the will to persevere.

If elected to be your Councilman, I will only be there because of the people of Ward 1 who exercised their right to vote….(OF & BY the People). I will then be responsible to the residents to ensure my actions represent their WILL….(FOR the People)!

Thank you for your time and support,
Clint Woods, candidate for Winner City Council – Ward 1

Occupation: Part owner of Rob Curtis Landscaping and Design

Family: Wife, Kelli and Daughter Hallie, we are also expecting our 2nd child in November 2016  Parents: Rob and Laurie Curtis Brothers: Nathan and Josh Curtis and Ben Curtis (deceased)

Why are you running for a seat on the Winner City Council? I view running for Winner City Council as an opportunity that will serve not only as a learning experience, but also enable me to be a voice for our younger generations.

What do you see as the biggest challenges or the biggest issues facing the city of Winner? I truly believe the biggest challenges for our City of Winner revolve around the low number of young adults attracted to moving to Winner or returning to Winner after college to plant their roots, build a successful career, raise their families, and be positive contributors to our town.

What kind of city councilman would you be? A young, ambitious conservative.

Occupation: State Trooper, SD Highway Patrol

Family: Wife-Kristi; Daughter-Bailey; and son-Dalton

Why are your running for a seat on the Winner City Council? I’ve been fortunate to have served as the Ward 1 City Councilman for the last four years. During this period of time the City of Winner has continued to experience improvements to its infrastructure and recreational facilities, while maintaining financial stability. During the last four years, I have also increased my knowledge regarding the inner-workings of city government and the details involved in day-to-day operations, as well as the foresight required to set future goals for maintenance/improvements, and growth/development. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to serve on several committees, expanding my knowledge of various departments within our city.

What do you see as the biggest challenges or the biggest issues facing the city of Winner? Our city continues to face numerous challenges, to include continuation of improvements in our aging infrastructure and developing growth in our businesses and recreational facilities, all while maintaining a strong financial status. Although situations can often become quite complex and have opposing views, I believe personnel issues are an on-going process that involves prudent review, in-depth discussion, and at times, difficult decisions.

What kind our city councilman would you be? If re-elected to continue serving as your Ward 1 City Councilman, I offer my continued commitment to listen to the concerns of our citizens and maintain open communication, working for the people, with the Mayor and other elected officials, to maintain the positive direction of our city government.

Occupation: Retired School Administrator

Family: Jeriann wife of 57 years, 3 sons, Jeff, John and Joel

Why are you running for Mayor of Winner? I am running for the office of mayor because it is very important that the mayor and city council have a good working relationship. For the past 13 years I have been involved in city government. As a councilman, I serve on six different committees. This has been a learning experience while working with some very capable people. At this time we have a very knowledgeable council and I can provide the proper atmosphere for the mayor and council to work together.

The job of mayor requires a lot of time to meet with the staff and various committees that serve the public. This takes the time that I am willing to provide. I believe that the office of mayor is an important job that deserves the experience of a trained leader in staff and finance management.

What do you see as the biggest challenges or the biggest issues facing the City of Winner? The biggest challenges and issues are one and the same. Finding and spending the funding to run our city is the biggest challenge that the mayor and council must deal with on a day-to-day basis. Developing and managing the yearly budget is the responsibility of the mayor and council. All the department heads have a part in this process. The two departments that help support the rest of the city are the light department and the combined law enforcement center. They generate income that is used to support the police, parks, streets, sewer, and water department.

The city of Winner is over one hundred years old. Its streets, plumbing, and water lines are old and in need of constant repair and replacement. There are miles of old cast iron water lines and red clay sewer lines in the older part of town. Every year a different street is scheduled to be replaced. The water and sewer ones under that street must be replaced at the same time. New equipment and modern technology have enabled the city to reduce staff and still provide the services that make Winner a great place where people enjoy living and raising their families. Taking care of our city is a task that is on going and will never end.

What experience and qualities do you bring to the table to serve as mayor of Winner? My years as a school administrator and business manager, plus 13 yard in local city government, have given me the necessary experience in staff management and finance to help guide the council and staff to make the best use of the resources that are available to the city. The ability to listen and learn from your co-workers is what makes a good leader. It is important to be available at public events that take place in the community. I have spent many years working with parents, teachers, members of the planning committee, council members, and various other committees in the task of solving common problems. We must be willing to meet and work with the schools, county government, and the public in order to make our city and community a better place to live and work.

Occupation: Sales/After Market Consultant at Frontier Motors

Family: Wife, Mary; Daughter, Andrea, Son-In-Law Cliff, Granddaughter Bailey, Son, Jamie

Why are you running for Mayor of Winner? As a life-long resident, I would love to see Winner grow. I would relish the opportunity to work with our city council and concerned citizens to address current issues and develop a strategy for growth and development.

What do you see as the biggest challenges or the biggest issues facing the City of Winner? There are many challenges facing the community currently. Our city infrastructure is aging and is in need of repair. This is easy to talk about but difficult to address as there are checks that must be written. We must work together to develop a plan and budget to upgrade our systems. Economic growth is another challenge. We must find ways to promote new business as well as to protect the businesses that have made our community great for so long. We must find ways to keep our youth in the area, and economic growth and opportunity is an avenue we should pursue as a community. these are not easy fixes, but they are issues that must be prioritized moving forward.

What experience and qualities do you bring to the table to serve as mayor of Winner? I have been fortunate to have served Winner as council member for 17 years. I have experience both success and failure, and while things haven’t always been perfect, I have always kept the best interests of our community in mind. I have learned that working together is our only option to move Winner forward, and I am prepared to do everything necessary to bring together to meet our objectives. I would appreciate your vote on April 12th.

The Yellow Brick Road leads to the Winner Community Playhouse this weekend for the 2016 All School Play as the WHS Drama Department presents an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. The play will run three evenings, Thursday-Saturday April 7, 8 & 9.  Doors will open each night at 7:30 p.m. and the curtain rises at 8 p.m. Admission to the play will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. Reservations are not necessary, but tickets for each night can be reserved by calling the high school at 842-8125 between 8 AM and 4 PM.

This is the largest play cast in several years for an all school play and the talents of many kids will be on the stage and behind the scenes.  The cast includes Winner High School students Molly Connot, Kenzie Irick, John Kludt, Matthew Hartley, Sydnie Peters, Molly Sperlich, Hayley Halverson, Duncan English, Grant Winter, Jacob Woods, Brielle Bachmann, Nick Blare, Mason Schuyler, Ty Bolton, Isaac Naasz, Hunter Shopene, Luke Engel, Jonas Brill, Emily Moser, Shannon Duffy, Sadie Woods, Gracie Littau, Mary Calhoon, Liz Jankauskas, Katy Lantz, Alex Meiners, Jace Voegeli, Bethany Cable, Andrew Taylor, Angel Shaw, Taylor Headrick, Arista Kaiser and Shelby Scott.
Rona Klein is the stage manager with Shea Connot, Elijah Blare, Trey Welch, Tyson Westendorf and Kayleb Brozik as stagehands.
Sid Durrin and Lauren Norrid are in charge of the lights and sound.  Calah Covey will be helping with makeup.
The play is directed by Kara Connot and Kelly Assman, Dan Patmore is the technical director, and Ruth Novotny is the artistic director.

Just like the popular screen version, there are some intense scenes, but this should be a wonderful family night of entertainment.  Following the performances, the cast will be on stage to meet and greet those in attendance. There will be ample time each night and we encourage kids who would like to get pictures taken with cast members to take advantage of this opportunity.

Winner Elementary School kindergarten screening will take place on April 22.

The screening is for any child who will be of school age for the school year 2016-2017 that will attend school in the Winner School District. The student must be 5 years of age by Sept. 1, 2016.

Interested individuals need to call the elementary school office (842-8170) and schedule a time for their child to be screened.

Parents/guardians are asked to bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate that was courthouse issued and a copy of the child’s immunization records.

Persons who have questions feel free to call the Winner Elementary School office at 842-8170.

The Hanpa Tec’unpi Warriors (hand game warriors) competed at the 2016 He’Sapa Hand games championship tourney in Rapid City on April 2.
There were six teams in the competition.
The local team won two games and lost one and then went on a four game winning streak (coming off the losers bracket) to beat out the undefeated Little Wound twice for first place.
Joslyn Felix was awarded the prize for best guessor and Tianna Lopez was awarded the best hider.
The Hanpa Tec’unpi Warriors also competed at the Sinte Gleska Founders Day handgame tourney in January for a second place win.

Superior (All A’s)
Seniors – Reed Harter, Kaleb Waters
Juniors – Wiely Heath, Isaac Kortan, Adrianna Larson, Jordan Shippy
Sophmores – Zane Rohde
Freshman – Jaclyn Laprath, Alexa McKenzie
Eight Graders – Haley Krumpas
Seventh Graders – Abby Kortan
Excellent (All A’s and B’s no C’s)
Seniors – Isaac Baker, Morgan Hofeldt, Taylor Hrabanek, Mariah Kinzer, Rachel Lovejoy, Destannie Noteboom
Juniors – Will Cahoy, Callie Heath, Nate Krumpus, Darcy Maier, Holden Thieman
Sophmores – Kaylee Bolton, Maggie McCarty, Caleb Vandenbark, Jeremiah Yeaman
Freshman – Grace Campbell, Abby Pechota, Hanna Rowe, Riggin Shippy
Eighth Graders – Jacob Beckers, Megan Charles, Eli Kortan, Julianna Larson, Sara O’Bryan
Seventh Graders – Rhett Bertram, Saydee Heath, Hailey Old Lodge, Makayla Shippy
“B” average – No D’s
Seniors – McCallie Bettcher, Melissa Bettcher, Avery Davis, Jesse Heese, Lauren Week
Juniors – Matt Campbell, Noah Hermsen, Tristin Munroe, Chastity Paulson, Megan Seegers
Sophmores – Elisabeth Duffy, Andrew Laprath
Freshman – Beau Bertram, Christian Clairmont, Rayne Hermsen, Jackson Kinzer, Lay Thieman
Eighth Graders – Aidan Brown, Jordyn Seegers
Seventh Graders – Lanie Bolton, Luke Bolton, Nathaniel Hansen
Perfect Attendance
Sophmores – Rebecca Marso, Jeremiah Yeaman
Freshman – Alexa McKenzie
Seventh Graders – Rhet Bertram

Avery Davis of Millboro is a new junior member of the American Angus Association.

Junior members are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in association sponsored shows and other national and regional events.