Category Archives: Local

By Dan Merritt, Advocate reporter

It’s the circle of life, though we’re not talking about “The Lion King” and Simba. Well, maybe we are to some extent.

Justin Vanneman returns from college this spring to work the Clint and Kim Vanneman farm along with his parents (rural Winner-Ideal).

Actually, the younger Vanneman and his future wife, Tasha, will be working along with his parents. Justin and Tasha will get married in June.

It is similar to when Clint Vanneman returned home in 1979 after college to work full-time along with his folks, Ryal and Peggy.

Clint  married  Kim in 1980. Kim is originally from the Chamberlain area.

His arrival was the beginning of transition of owning/operating the farm.

A storm spotter class will be held in Winner on April 13. The class will start at 7 p.m. at the fire hall.

The instructor will be Susan Sanders of the National Weather Service in Rapid City.

Winner set weather records this past week.

Sunday the temperature soared to 86 degrees, a new high for March 15. The previous high on this date was 75 in 1999.

On March 12, the high was 82 degrees breaking the previous record of 72 set in 1995.

The temperature on March 9 was 73 breaking the record of 67 set n 1974.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Who thought the notion of baking a red velvet cake could be so funny.

Riotously funny is the only way to describe the wonderful production of the “Red Velvet Cake War” presented by the Winner Community Playhouse. The opening weekend was Friday and Saturday. But you still have a chance to see this  great play that showcases some wonderful talent on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. To make a reservation persons can call the playhouse at 842-1958. The  doors open at 7:30 p.m. and play starts at 8 p.m.
This southern fried comedy takes place in Sweetgum, Texas, as the three Verdeen cousins are planning a family reunion. Gaynelle, Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion. You see, it is a traumatic time for Gaynelle. Her husband has run off with his girlfriend and in retaliation Gaynelle has “accidentally” run her car into the double wide trailer home of what she calls a man-stealing woman. Gaynelle subsequently faces various legal charges as well as being observed by a court appointed psychologist who is checking on her sanity.

Now the Verdeen family reunion is usually presided over by an  overbearing aunt LaMerle. The aunt wants to cancel the reunion because of Gaynelle’s scandal but the Gaynelle and her cousins insist the reunion go forward.

Besides, Gaynelle bets her house with LaMerle that she can make a better tasting red velvet cake than her aunt who annually takes home the prize for the best cake. Let the war begin!

Cast in the roles of the Verdeen cousins are Sarah Gustafson as the suitably attired proprietress of Whatley’s Western Attire. Gustafson’s droll delivery and deadpan approach to this character are wonderful.
Tami Comp is good as Gaynelle who takes up the challenge to make the best red velvet cake.

Kara Connot has a grand time as Peaches whose trucker husband left home one night years ago and never returned.

The chemistry between the women who play the cousins is a delight to the audience.

Michele Hagenlock is matronly as the overbearing aunt.

Barb DeSersa has fun as busybody neighbor, Bitsy, who has her eyes on a recently widowed neighbor. But she has competition as one of the Verdeen cousins, Jimmy, also eyes the same man. I don’t want to go into too much detail but you have to see the fight scene between DeSersa and Sarah Gustafson.

Enter into this  wild family mix a one eyed suitor Newt Blaylock, owner of the Wig N’ Worm outlet founded by his late mother. Winner High School teacher Wyatt DeJong is wonder as Newt. This is DeJong’s second appearance in a Winner Community Playhouse Production.   DeJong has some  eye popping lines in this production.

Rounding out the cast are Tia DeSersa as a German psychologist, Kenzie Irick as Cee Cee Windham, a local TV personality; Jack Frantz as the sheriff and Chris Frantz as Purvis Verdeen. All were wonderful.

But for me, the show stoppers were Maurice Gustafson as the old uncle Aubrey and Linda Waton as Mama Doll Hargis. What a super job!!! They can shuffle along with the best of them.

Sandra York directs this funny play and used her ability to allow the characters to act their part for all its worth. York was able to bring out the best in the actors and actresses.

Dan Patmore, as technical director, designed the set of the Verdeen living room.

Though there area a lot of scenes in each act, good use is made of having some scenes played in front of a drawn curtain. It was effective and kept the play moving.

It is a must see and one of the funniest plays the Winner Community Playhouse has ever presented.

Kudos to all who made this possible.

Winner students were among 60 high school students who were awarded the highest academic scholarships at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell.

Sam Naasz received the John Wesley academic/athletic scholarship.

Tyrel Haley received the presidential academic/athletic scholarship.

By Dan Merritt, Reporter

Hopefully, Julie Manke of Winner didn’t flee to the bathroom to vomit once a Winner Advocate interviewer left her home last week, Wed., March 11.

Not that she had been grilled with tough “Watergate”-like question that left her drained and ill.

She’s pregnant and that means feeling sick, according to Manke.

Sick for 40 weeks generally. “It’s like having the flu for months on end,” she stated.

She’s gone through it four times in the past nine years.

That’s not the experience of most pregnant women, some who have told Manke they’ve had their best health while pregnant.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

It is important for persons to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.

Last Tuesday afternoon the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon as 30 people listened to advise on how to protect their identity.

Chad Vetter, Aberdeen, Wells Fargo at  Work program consultant, was the speaker.

Wells Fargo of Winner provided the speaker for the luncheon. The goals of the presentation was to raise awareness of exactly how personal information can be stolen and learn how identity thieves operate.

Vetter explained that there is a difference between identity theft and identity fraud.

In theft, thieves use stolen personal information, such as Social Security number or bank account number, to open accounts or initiate transactions in another person’s name.

Identity fraud is usually limited to an isolated attempt to steal money from an existing account, such as charging on a stolen credit card.

By Dan Merritt, Advocate reporter

He used to regularly attend football games in a stadium that could hold the population of Winner times 26.

He lived in a city of 200,000 where the noises of the surrounding town were always present. Not like in his hometown of Winner, says Zach Pahlke, 27.

“I do like the calm and quiet here,” lawyer Pahlke noted.

“And this is where I’m from. I have family here. I like the community. I’m a fan of hunting.

“I like having some open space, not being in a packed city.

“It’s way more that ‘town’ feeling here, where you know people. That feels good. In the city, you’re pretty anonymous.”

Though knowing and being known in a small town “has its pro’s and con’s,” Pahlke admitted. Still, ”for the most part, I like being able to know the people around me.”

He definitely knows his colleagues at the Pahlke Law Office of Winner, where he’s employed. They consist of  his dad Alvin and mother Susan. Both his parents are lawyers.

Zach Pahlke grew up at Winner, graduating high school in 2006. Then, it was on to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2010.

After a year in business with Dell Information Systems of Lincoln, Pahlke decided to enter law school at UNL, graduating with his juris doctorate in spring 2014.

Pahlke said he enjoyed the business world and his job in it, but he came to realize that being a lawyer was a profession he really did want to pursue.

And that was important, he commented. Growing up with his family in the lawyer business, it might have been expected he would take up that profession naturally.

But that wasn’t satisfactory to Pahlke, he said.

“I wanted to be sure that if I went into it, I went into it because I wanted to, not just following the tradition.

“But as I was working at Dell, I came to realize that it is what I wanted to do for myself.”

It was no small decision. Law school wasn’t the same as regular undergrad college at UNL, Paulke indicated.

It involved more intensive classroom and study times, requiring long hours in textbooks and in the law library.

He did an internship at the office of the U.S. Attorney in Pierre, which familiarized him with federal court and the prosecuting of federal crimes.

“Big-time” crimes such as murder or rape, methamphetamine or cocaine; felony level violations of U.S. law. The office also dealt with Indian reservation crimes.

At Winner —having passed the bar in July 2014 — Pahlke is a part-time assistant state’s attorney and has his own private practice at his parents’ business.

The criminal law he handles now and the business, estate, and family law he works with aren’t nearly the kinds of things he dealt with in Pierre. It could be compared to when he lived in Lincoln and at UNL as opposed to living now in Winner. Things are a bit different.

But no matter the kinds of cases handled, being a lawyer means helping people, helping to protect society, and arriving at a good solution, as much as possible, for all parties involved, Pahlke asserted.

“It is a noble calling.”

Yes, there are those who disparage the profession. Some jokes about lawyers these days are particularly vicious.

But Pahlke said he takes this “lawyer-bashing” in stride.

“I have a very good sense of humor when it comes to that. I think it’s quite funny.”

Some of the animosity against attorneys comes out in the circumstances in which people and lawyers interact, Pahlke explained.

“People generally aren’t dealing with lawyers during the happiest of times. They’re usually going through a very hard situation on one side or the other.”

But there are lighter circumstances in which lawyers are present, he noted.

“There are happier times, as well. Like if you’re starting a new business. That can be exciting.”

There were 28 teams that competed in the Winner Quarterback Club youth basketball tournament Sunday, March 8. There were age divisions for 4th to 7th grade. Games were played in both the Armory and the middle school auditorium.

There were over 50 volunteers from the QB Club, the school plus boys and girls Warrior and Lady Warrior basketball teams.

The Holiday House sponsored hospitality rooms for coaches and workers.

Results  of the tourney include:

4th grade girls—Burke, 1st and Pierre, 2nd

4th grade boys—Winner, 1st and Lyman, 2nd

5th grade girls—Winner, 1st and Jones County, 2nd

5th boys—Lyman, 1st; Winner, 2nd

6th girls—Winner, 1st;  Colome, 2nd

6th boys—Chamberlain, 1st and Winner, 2nd

7th girls—Lyman, 1st; Sacred Energy (Mission) 2nd

Winner will also host an outdoor 3 on 3 basketball tourney  over Labor Day weekend.

Mackenzie Levi, a 6th grader at Winner Middle School, won the Winner Rotary Club 4 way test essay contest.

Levi presented her essay at the March 5 Rotary meeting. She is the daughter of Mike and Cindy Levi.

There were 32 students who entered the contest.

Here is  Levi’s winning essay:

The four way test has helped me in some different ways. I like the four way test because it asks good questions, like the truth, is it fair, will it build better friendship and will it be beneficial. This has helped me through a lot of things because of the questions. It has helped me through friendship and some uneasy things. Just asking four easy questions and simple questions make things easier. I am going to talk about a choice I had to make one time.

One day when  I was at my house my friend called and asked me if i wanted to go to their house next weekend for a  sleep over. I said back to her, that I would ask my mom and my mom said “yes.” I was really excited to go  and knew I would have fun. The next day after school she said that she couldn’t wait to  have me over for a sleepoverr and  I said “I can’t wait.”

Later that day another friend asked me what i was doing this weekend and I said, “I’m not sure,” because i didn’t want to tell her what I was doing and hurt their feelings. She said well you come over to my house this weekend and we can hang out. I said, Ok, but I have to ask my mom first. She said ok  that if I wanted to they were going to go down to the river and go tubing for the day.

The four way test helped me to ask myself would it be fair to all concerned. I thought to myself it wouldn’t be fair if I canceled on the first persons and then they somehow found out that I canceled to go do something more fun. Will it build good will and better friendships? It would built better friendships, if I didn’t cancel on the first person. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Yes, if I do the right thing the other friend will understand that I have already made plans and can’t go. Is it the truth? It could be the truth if I just tell my other friend I can’t go.

At the end I went with my friend that asked me first. You might ask why I wouldn’t  pick more fun with my other friend. I picked the friend that asked me first because it was fair and so I didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. When the sleepover was over I was glad I did the right thing. I had a a lot of fun and felt good because of how I handled it. As you can see, the four way test is very useful in many situations and helps you do the right thing.