Category Archives: Local

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Ned Day, an artist at Sinte Gleska University, Mission, likes to share his art with others. That is why he is working with Winner High School art students. He demonstrated and had the students make seed pod rattles out of clay. After the students made a design on the rattle, Day took them back to Mission where he smoke fires the clay which will create a black shiny finish.

Day has been an instructor at the art institute at Sinte Gleska for three years. He came to Mission after finishing his master of fine art degree from Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kan.

Tripp County 4-H qualifiers have been named in several categories in shooting sports:
Archery—Rylee Root, CWS-R, 118.07; Clay Sell, CWS-R, 116.01; Bethany Cable, CWS-R, 121.02; Josh Musilek, CWS-R, 127.03; Dawson Phillips, CWS-R, 114; Jentry Gregg, CWOS 76
.22—Elle Harris, CMP, 226; Kayla Bachmann, CMP, 165; Luke Hennebold, CMP, 260
.22—Parker Baker, 3P, 214; Cody Amidon, 3P, 222.02
.22—Elle Harris, pistol, 107 and Luke Hennebold, pistol, 182
BB Gun—Ava Craven, 272; Faith Covey, 338.07
Air Rifle—Megan Brozik, 150; Ryan Sell, 180; Clay Sell, 163
Air Pistol—Rowdy Moore, 113

Gov. Daugaard plans to recognize a former Gregory resident, now living in Winner on his 90th birthday by proclaiming March 26 as a day in his honor. His family says their dad has lived a full life and will be elated. Born in 1926 near Erwin, SD, they say he’s always been curious about his roots after learning his father was an orphan from NYC who rode the infamous orphan train out west. According to his kids, Fr. Martin wrote the Catholic nuns at the Children’s Foundling Hospital searching for answers, but found only names on a birth certificate and the fact that he was Irish. He even traveled to the East Coast looking for relatives, but despite a life-long search, he was never able to track down any ancestors. But, anyone who knows Fr. Lyle knows he doesn’t give up easily.
After high school, Martin joined the Army and fought with forces in Europe during WWII. He served under General George Patton and remembers him telling his platoon to go out and be the best citizens they could be when they got home. He never forgot that and vowed to live his life helping others.
Martin first moved to Gregory in 1960 as manager of the local NW Bell Telephone Co. Later he went to work for Equitable Life and transferred to Watertown in 1966. From there he moved to Winner, then Sturgis and opened his own real estate company. But, he always yearned to pursue a dream, and that was going into the ministry. A late-comer to such a life-changing career, he was ordained a priest in 1990 at 62, the age when most retire. He worked as a priest in parishes at Trinity Episcopal Church in Winner, and also Mobridge, Gregory, Blair & Sidney NE. Reluctantly, he retired as a priest at age 85, but never stopped working with his “projects”.
His compassion for helping others was the force behind the beginning of five different thrift stores and food pantries across South Dakota and Nebraska, including the Community Thrift Store in Winner. His most recent endeavor involved raising funds for the Wear ‘n Wares Thrift Store and Gregory Food Bank to purchase a larger building to house both units under one roof. Thanks to the generosity of local townspeople, their goal was reached in a matter of months. Fr. Martin says he’s pleased that all five thrift stores show a profit, and all proceeds go to the poor where they’re desperately needed.
He recently moved to the Winner Long-Term Care Center, and noted he now plans to spread some cheer among residents there. In a couple weeks’ time, he’s proving to be a day brightener. According to nursing home personnel, the residents already love him.
His family will host a birthday celebration on Sat. March 26 from 2 to 4:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Express in Winner. Friends and family are invited with a request for no gifts. Cards and well wishes may be sent to 805 E. 8th St., Room 206, Winner, SD 57580.

Hoyt Nicholas of Worland, Wyo., formerly of Colome, was named the 2015-2016 Gatorade Wyoming Boys basketball player of the year.

Nicholas is the son of Dave and Kathy Nicholas of Worland, Wyo., formerly of Tripp County. Dave was the superintendent of the Winner School District and Kathy taught in Winner.

Colome grandparents of Hoyt are Larry and Sharon Bertram.

Nicholas is the first Gatorade Wyoming boys basketball player of the year to be chosen from Worland High School.

The 6-5 200 pound senior guard led his school to a 20-4 record and the Class 3A state title this past season.

A two time first team all-state selection, Nicholas averaged 25.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and shot 82 percent from the free throw line. He scored a game high 25 points to go with 11 rebounds in Worland’s 65-51 win over Douglas in the state title game.

This was Worland’s first state championship since 1921.

Nicholas has maintained a 3.44 GPA in the classroom.

Jim Drake, Winner High School boys basketball coach for 31 years, will be inducted into the basketball coaches Hall of Shrine at the Class A boys tournament in Rapid City on Friday, March 18.

Also inducted with Drake will be Frank Cutler of Platte.

The award will be presented at the halftime of the first evening game on Friday.

Drake served as a teacher, coach and activities director in the Winner School District for 31 years. Previously, he taught and coached in Sterling, Colo., for eight years.

Drake, a Huron High School graduate, earned a BA at Huron College and his MA at the University of South Dakota. He coached three sports (football, basketball and track and field)  for 30 consecutive years and was the activities director for six years.

Under Drake’s tutelage as head basketball coach, the Winner Warriors accumulated 421 wins and 257 losses and 8 conference, 12 district and 4 regional titles and four Class A state tournament appearances with two consolation championships. The Warriors, during his tenure had 26 winning seasons and produced eight first team Class A all-staters and 2 Mr. Basketballs. Seven former Warrior basketball players are four year collegiate players.

Drake is proud to have 12 former Warriors currently coaching basketball in South Dakota including five head coaches.

Air Force Tech Sgt. Toby Harter, formerly of Colome, received an unexpected STEP up award at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Harter, a 2007 graduate of Colome High School, is the 90^th missile wing airman leadership school professional military education instructor.

Harter is the son of Ferman and Sally Harter of Colome.

The program supplements existing airmen promotion programs and is designed to accommodate unique circumstances that, in the commander’s judgment, clearly warrant promotion.

The date for the Taste of Winner has been changed to March 31 at the Winner Bowling Center.

The original date was March 17 but he Winner High School boys basketball team has qualified for the state Class A tournament which starts on March 17 in Rapid City.

The Taste of Winner is sponsored by the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce.

Pheasants Forever Chapter No. 99 landowner appreciation/habitat dinner will be held on March 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Winner American Legion.

Dinner and door prizes will be provided.

Speakers will be Nolan Benzing, Pheasants Forever farm bill biologist in Winner; Matt Morlock, Pheasants Forever South Dakota state coordinator and Wyatt DeJong, Winner High School Future Farmers of America advisor.

To RSVP or if there are questions, call Nolan at 641-751-7439 or Mike at 840-9992.

Persons are to RSVP by March 18.

The Winner School District would like to invite all parents/guardians of Winner students to attend parent/teacher conferences on March 22 from 4-6:30 p.m. and March 24 from 4-6:30 p.m.

All conferences will be held in classroom settings. Persons unable to make it at the times set aside, contact the school and they will set up times so parents can meet with the teachers.

The school would like to encourage all parents/guardians to take advantage of this time set aside to meet with their child’s teachers.

The Winner High School National Honor Society will be hosting a blood drive March 23 and 24 in the Winner Armory.

The blood drive will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on March 23 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 24.

To make an appointment persons can call Kelly Assman at 842-8125.