Category Archives: Local

By Dan Merritt, Advocate Reporter

He holds his left arm up as though protecting his eyes from the sun.  Back arched, his right hand is stationary atop his Ruger Vaquero pistol.  It’s in a holster on his right hip.  His thumb’s on the hammer.  Dean Storms — the Beaver Creek Kid of southwest Tripp County — is about to draw and shoot.

Oooops! He just did, in the 0.3 second of time it took to read the last three words of the previous paragraph.

The life-time Winner/Valentine area rancher and his wife Nancy compete in Cowboy Fast Draw Association contests from local to world levels.  She can draw and shoot in a time of 0.6-seconds. Sometimes better than that, in the 0.5’s.

Dean was world champion of men in 2013.  Nancy was Nebraska women’s champ in 2012. Or, that is, Mother Nature was champ (that’s Nancy’s Fast Draw “name”).  The two were the best couple in the world Fastest Gun Alive competition in Nevada in 2011 and in 2014.

Sixteen entries sang their hearts out for the top spot and the $500 prize in the 2015 Stampede Idol Contest. Jim Halverson of Winner, topped the list of contenders and earned the chance to perform at all three rodeo performances.

Participants included: Kim Garwood of Butte, NE; Richelle Wendt of Spencer, NE; Tim Mayer of Naper, NE; Kacey Veurink of Platte, SD; Tyler Pranger of Platte, SD; Ardeth Backmann of Bonesteel, SD; Pete Mathey of White Lake, SD; Dillon Hunt of Springview, NE; Taylor Pistulka and Tori Vogt of Bonesteel, SD; Karsyn Krause of Wessington, SD; Charity Hunt of Springview, NE; Keith Mayer of Naper, NE; Catalina Knox of Butte, NE; Mindy Kerner of Burke, SD; Tanya Shoemaker of Gregory, SD and the winner, Jim Halvorson of Winner, SD.

Jim joins past winners Jacinta Opbroek (2009), Rehme Sutton (2010), Kathy Tegethoff (2011), Logan & Nolan Welker (2012), Katie Eliason (2013) and Lane Moore (2014).

Following the first round the top three performances picked by the judges, Bert Davis, Katie Opp and Tracie Haley, were asked to come to the stage for another performance and following that the audience was asked to vote on the one they thought had the best performance. Tyler Pranger, Dillon Hunt and Jim Halvorson were chosen as the three finalists and following the vote Jim was crowned the champion.

Sister Mary William Allen, PBVM, formerly of Winner, was among the ten Presentation Sisters celebrating 75, 60 and 50 years of religious life this summer. All of the Jubilarians were honored July 14 and 15 during the annual community days at Mount Loretto Presentation motherhouse, Dubuque, Iowa.

Sister Mary William Allen was honored for 75 years of religious life.

An evening social, a Mass with renewal of vows, and brunch marked the occasion. The theme for the jubilee was “Impelled by the Legacy of Nano Nagle.” [Venerable Honora “Nano” Nagle, 1718 – 1784, is the founder of the Sisters of the Presentation.].
Sister Mary William Allen, PBVM, a native of Clare, Iowa, served as a teacher at the former St. Mary’s Elementary School in Winner and in Catholic elementary schools in Charles City, Elkader, Epworth and Dubuque, as principal in Monona, Iowa; in Catholic schools in Storm Lake, Algona, Sheldon, Whittemore and Humboldt, Iowa; she also taught in the Catholic school in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Sister Mary William served as motherhouse coordinator at Mount Loretto from 1955 to 1961. She began community prayer and service at the motherhouse in 1987.

“As I celebrate these years of religious life, I am reminded of God’s goodness to me and the opportunity of 75 years of service to community and God’s people,” states Sister Mary William.

Summarizing it in a favorite saying she shares: “Happy Moments: Praise God. Difficult Moments: Seek God. Quiet Moments: Worship God. Painful Moments: Trust God. Every Moment: Thank God.”

Dusti Littau of Carter, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation’s fifth annual Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow scholarship program.

Dusti was one of 25 recipients chosen from a large group of applicants to receive the scholarship to be used for her post-secondary education in South Dakota. The scholarship program is funded by Farmers Union Insurance agents from across the state through the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. The recipients were chosen based on a combination of academic record, activities and awards, financial need, and an essay relating to how they might, “Insure a Brighter Tomorrow,” in South Dakota.

“These young people are the future leaders of our state, and we’re investing in South Dakota’s future by helping these outstanding young people pursue their dreams,” said Wayne Bartscher, Regional Manager of Farmers Union Insurance. “This group of recipients is one of the most talented and impressive groups we’ve had, and they make me more confident than ever in the future of our state.”

Littau is the daughter of Curt & Amy Littau of Carter. Dusti plans to attend Black Hills Beauty College and will major in cosmetology.

South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation supports programs and advances efforts that further economic prosperity and cultural vitality in rural South Dakota.

Winner School Board Member Steve Kubik was elected to his second term on the Associated School Boards of South Dakota’s Board of Directors.

Kubik was elected to represent the Association’s Central Region member districts in the 700-1,399 enrollment category. His four-year term begins this month as the ASBSD Board of Directors meet for their August meeting prior to the ASBSD-SASD Convention in Sioux Falls.

Kubik was previously elected to the Board of Directors in January, 2010.

More than 7,700 members, advisers, alumni, and guests of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, July 5-9 for the 2015 National FCCLA Leadership Conference. Abi Leyden and Shannon Duffy, juniors at Winner High School, attended along with their adviser, Kris Brockhoft for inspiration, training, and opportunities to make a difference.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Two EMT’s have been named the new directors of the Tripp County ambulance service at a special meeting of the Tripp County Commissioners on Monday afternoon.

Kathy Cole and Sis Orel will be the co-directors and also the welfare directors for the county. They will replace Bev Vaughn who resigned at the July 14 meeting. Vaughn, who has served as ambulance director for 4.5 years, will leave office on July 31.
The vote to approve the new directors was 3-2. Voting for approval were commissioners Dan Forgey, Curt Littau and Eric Connot. Voting no were commissioners Chip Schroeder and Mark Winter.

Cole, who is certified in advanced life support, will be paid $42,000 a year and Orel, who is certified in basic life support, will be paid $39,000 a year.

The Tripp County Disaster Mitigation Planning Team has just completed updating the County’s disaster mitigation plan. The plan includes a profile and risk assessment of the various natural hazards that affect the county, such as blizzards, tornadoes, flooding, and droughts, and presents a disaster mitigation strategy that may lessen the impacts of the hazards.

The plan is available for public review at the Tripp County Emergency Management Office, and on the Planning & Development District III website (http://www.districtiii.org/. Comments and suggestions regarding the plan can be sent to the Tripp County Emergency Management Office at “jburdette@trippcounty.us” or by calling (605) 842-3600. Comments also can be sent to John Clem at “John.Clem@districtiii.org” or by calling (800) 952-3562. It is expected that the plan will be submitted to the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management approximately one month from now.

Divine Concrete celebrated its 40th Anniversary on Saturday, July 11. An open house was held from 1-5 p.m. at their plant in Bonesteel. Many guests stopped by to share in the celebration, enjoy refreshments, win door prizes and see a live demonstration of batching redi mix concrete and the pouring of precast feed bunks.

John and Kathy Divine founded the company in 1975. What started out in a small trailer has now grown into a multi-division company with three locations. The business runs a concrete construction crew, precast division, as well as continuing to provide the area with quality redi mix concrete out of their Bonesteel, Colome, and Spencer, NE plants.

In 2009, Divine Concrete became a second generation family business when Andy Divine returned to Bonesteel to purchase the company after years of working as an aviation mechanic and salesman. Since his return, John and Kathy have retired and their daughter, Sara (Divine) Nolan, recently joined the team as well.

Divine Concrete, Inc. and the Divine family appreciate everyone who came to celebrate this accomplishment with them and sent flowers and cards. They also appreciate the communities of Bonesteel, Colome, Spencer, and surrounding areas for their support throughout the last four decades.

By Dan Merritt, Advocate Reporter

Say the word “cush” and the “soft” or “easy” comes to mind, as in “that person has a cush job.” But “cushman” changes the idea to the opposite.

Cushman company of Lincoln, Neb. built “trucksters” — a “golf cart” type of vehicle (only larger and wider) with many uses, including industrial plants and the military.

They’re darn near indestructible, according to Rich Papousek of Colome, who originally hails from Gregory.  Made of iron and steel with cast iron and then aluminum motors, “they were built too good,” Papousek said.  He called them “rock solid” vehicles. “The engines were made to run forever.  You couldn’t wear them out.”

He has two Cushmans — with open driver/passenger areas — and is looking to get three more, with cabs.