Voters in the Colome Consolidated School District will be going to the
polls to decide whether to keep or do away with the consolidation with Witten
and Wood.
The election will be held April 9 along with the regular school board
election. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The polling place in Colome is at the fire hall.
In Witten it is at the town hall and in Wood at the community hall.
This special election is brought by a petition to re-vote on the
reorganization plan first brought to election in June 2023. The election was
June 20 and the vote failed. There were 151 votes for the plan and 163 against.
This election on April 9 will vote for or against the reorganization plan
that was presented and approved by the South Dakota Department of Education.
The reorganization plan dissolves the consolidation between Wood, Witten and
Colome school districts. The three communities consolidated in 2010. Decreasing
student numbers and difficulties in hiring teachers forced the Witten and Wood
schools to close.
The Mellette County land area will become part of the White River School
District, the Tripp County land area around Witten would become part of the
Winner School District and the Tripp County land area around Colome will remain
in the Colome School District.
At the regional Winner coach Spencer Novotny was named the Region 3B coach
of the year. The award will be presented at the state AAU tournament.
The other placers at the regional were Roukyn Robbins, 4th; Ryken Orel,
3rd; Gus Bartels, 5th; Jude Sargent, 3rd; Legend Benendict, 6th; Kellen Brozik,
5th, Mason Curtis, 5th; Parker Mathis, 4th.
Also wrestling in Parkston was Hudson Peters.
“As a team, we did well,” said coach Spencer Novotny. “We have won the
region quite a few years in a row and I know that the older guys did not want
to be first class going out to not win it. Out of our 14 guys, everybody scored
team points to help us win the Region 3B title,” said the coach.
“What it comes down to at tournaments is that guys accomplish their
personnel goals and the team scores usually take care of themselves. Winning
regional was one of our preseason goals and it was nice to get that for the
kids,” said Novotny.
Kellen Brozik was chosen as the alternate for 175 pounds across all
regions.
In every weight class the state picks one fifth place wrestler that
weights in at the state tournament. If someone is hurt, sick or injured they
will put the alternate in the bracket instead of a forfeit.
The state tournament will be at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux
Falls. It will be held Feb. 22, 23 and 24.
Wrestling on Thursday begins at 10 a.m.
Wrestling on Friday begins at 9:30 a.m. with first round and second round
consolation.
Memorial services for Lucy Forgey age 86 of Douglas, WY, formerly of
Colome, SD, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10:30 am at the Winner
Methodist Church Winner, South Dakota. Visitation is one hour prior to the
service.
Funeral Services for Robert “Bob” Sperl JR age 70 of Burke, SD
will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 10:30 am at the Congregational Church of
Gregory, South Dakota. Burial will follow at the Czech National Cemetery in
Gregory, SD. There is a prayer service Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the church.
Visitation is one hour prior to each service.
Ronald Alvin (Ron) Parker died Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Winner
Regional Hospital in Winner, South Dakota.
Ron was a resident of Elder Inn in Winner.
Ron was born to Harlan L. Parker and Elinor E. Emley Parker on April 24,
1960, at Atkinson, NE. He spent his early childhood in Butte, NE moving to the
Millboro/Colome, SD area with his family when he was about 11 years old.
He married Diana Peabody of Dallas, SD.
They had one daughter.
Ron worked many different jobs throughout his lifetime. He was a hard worker and well respected by
his employers. All who knew Ron were
aware that he was an avid football fan.
He watched as many games as possible but was passionate about the Kansas
City Chiefs and the Nebraska Huskers (Every year he would say, “Next year will
be the year for the Huskers.”). His sister, Jane, will miss the many phone
conversations about football, being an avid fan herself.
He is survived by four brothers, three sisters and his very caring friend,
Debbie Storms of Winner, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, one
sister and his twin brother.
Burial with be in the Butte Cemetery at a later date.