Summer night set for Aug. 12

The final Winner Area Chamber of Commerce summer nights for the season will be held Aug. 12.

It will be held on the third block of Main St. and will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Frontier Motors is the sponsor and they have a lot of fun things planned.

Kids will be entertained by Special K’s the clown and her bubble show, Felix the clown is a balloon tier. Sweet pea is a clown and does face painting.

There will be magic tricks with Jerry Snyder. Snyder plans to do two shows—one at around 6 p.m. and the second one at 7 p.m.

There will be other games for persons of all ages.

The band will be Westbound.

There will be food vendors available.

This will be a great event to close out the summer.

Jump Start

On Monday, Aug. 8th through Thursday, Aug. 11, the Winner Elementary School will be conducting its 4th year of Jump Start.  Jump Start is for Begindergarten/Kindergarten students NEW to the Winner Elementary School.  This is a time to get the new students aquatinted with the building and the routines in school. 

Jump Start begins at 8 am and runs until 11:30 am.  A breakfast snack and lunch will be provided at no cost.  On the first day, we ask that parents/guardians accompany their students to the office, and school secretary, Lorna Phillips will direct them to their classroom. 

The Winner School District will provide transportation for the Ideal and Winner Housing communities.  If you need transportation call the elementary school office at 842-8170 by noon on Aug. 5.

If you have any questions feel free to stop at the elementary school office or call.

Schlomers open new business

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting July 26 at the new Accent Florals at JNS Cornerstore. The business is owned by Jon and Nelle Schlomer. Pictured in front from left are Dee Foster, Keasha Bauer, Kathy Nielsen, Nelle Schlomer and Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber. Second row from left are Rick Shippy, Steve Nielsen, Justin Zeigler, Jon Schlomer, Kathy Calhoon, Dennis Calhoon, Lexy Mach and Vicki Shippy. Not pictured are Deb Kindt and Kody Assman.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

A new business has opened in Winner which preserves a Main Street building and continues the tradition of a flower shop.

Accent Florals at JNS Cornerstore is owned by Jon and Nelle Schlomer. The business is located in the former Winner Gas & Electric building.

The Scholmers purchased the building in March from Steve and Kathy Nielsen who owned Winner Gas & Electric for 35 years.

When the Scholmers purchased Winner Gas & Electric they were approached by Dennis and Kathy Calhoon to buy the flower shop.

“We did not want to see another business close on Main Street. It was close to our home ad we just wanted to see Main Street thrive,” said Jon.

The Scholmers bought the flower shop and Nelle said it was a perfect combination with the Main Street store front to add a floral shop.

Dennis and Kathy Calhoon owned Accent Florals for many years.

The design team from Accent Florals has moved into the former Winner Gas & Electric building. Kathy Calhoon is the lead designer. Deb Kindt and Kody Assman are designers. Lexy Mach and Nelle are learning to be designers.

Also working at the store are Dee Foster and Vicki Shippy.

Nelle says the new business has expanded the gift line including more baby gifts, birthday, anniversary gifts. The couple have brought back the Jelly Bellies which are really popular and are offering a line of specialty coffees.

New to the gift line will be Christian memorabilia.

Nelle says they have fabulous glass blown pheasants that will make nice gifts or decorations.

The business will offer same day delivery on flowers and gifts.

In addition to expanding the gift line, the business has a beer and wine license.

The business is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday. It is closed on Saturday.

Nelle says the business still has a lot of electrical and hardware parts from the former Winner Gas & Electric. There are furnace filters that are still for sale.

“We are still trying to sell through the Winner Gas & Electric items,” said Nelle.

To order flowers or gifts persons can call 605 842-2346. Persons can also order flowers from the website at accentfloralswinner.com

Winner Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at the new business on July 26.

June Janette Lester, 74

June Lester, 74, of Rapid City, SD, formerly of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD.

June Janette Lester left this world on July 24, 2022 at the age of 74. She died fighting the battle with cancer and was surrounded by her family at her time.

She was born in Winner, SD to Duane and Vera Patton and lived and attended school in Colome, SD. She eventually moved to Rapid City where she became a beautician and a very good one and loved what she did for over 40 years. She met the love of her life Gary Lester shortly after moving to Rapid City and they had one daughter, Jami Jo Lester. June had a huge heart and always thought of others. Some of her greatest joys were her grandchildren, Richard, Terrance, Shawntessa, and Christian. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and daughter.

She was preceded in death by her mother, her father, and 2 brothers.

She is survived by her daughter, her grandchildren, 7 sisters, 2 brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tallan Smith, 27

Tallan Smith, from Yankton, SD, passed away on June 4, 2022 at the age of 27. Tallan was hospitalized on June 2 after being resuscitated from drowning. She spent the following days surrounded by family and friends.

Tallan has chosen to be an organ donor and was able to provide others a better quality of lift through her generosity. A celebration of life will be held at Colome City Cemetery, Colome, SD at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022 followed by a luncheon at the Colome American Legion Club at 1:00 p.m.


Tallan was born in 1994 in Rapid City, SD to Roxie Harter then from Colome, SD and Brady Knight from Winner, SD. Roxie and Tallan moved to St. John, WA in 1998. In 1999, Tallan gained a beautiful additional family when Roxie and Steve Smith were married. Tallan completed grades K-12 in St. John. Tallan went to South Dakota State University the following year then lived in Washington, Colorado, and California before moving back to South Dakota. Within each community, Tallan made life-long friends because of her fun, accepting, and loving personality.

Tallan was working at Rock Bottom Grillhouse at the time of her passing, and was blessed with an amazing work family there.

Many simple pleasures in life brought joy to Tallan. She especially loved scary movies, caring for any and all animals, collecting tattoos, and spending time with her friends and family. Tallan enjoyed the art of makeup and hair; she especially loved Halloween.

As a kid, she entertained her family with the many plays she wrote and directed using her younger sister and cousins as the cast. Tallan continued to love writing into adulthood. Tallan’s beautiful smile and belly laugh were infectious and she loved to talk your ear off from the time she was a toddler.


Tallan will hold a special place in all of our hearts. We will always remember her as the kind, funny, adorable, ridiculously photogenic, big hearted, Sunny-in-Philly quoting, Buffy the Vampire watching, Harry Potter obsessed, animal lover she was. She was uniquely fearless like a lion and scared of her own shadow at the same time. Most importantly, Tallan loved big…always.

Tallan is survived by her parents, Steve and Roxie Smith and sister Maggie of St. John, WA; her father Brady Knight of Vermillion, SD; her brothers Griffin Knight of Omaha, NE and Jacob Knight of Avon, SD; her grandmothers, Lisa Knight and Willa Kindt of Avon, SD; her grandfather and grandmother, Don and LaVonne Ring of Colome, SD; her grandmother Kay Smith of St. John, WA; her grandfather and grandmother, Bud and Gina Knight of Wright, Wy; her boyfriend Steve Koster of Yankton, SD; as well as many additional loving family members and more friends than one can imagine.

We miss you so very much dear Tal. We will keep your love, your kindness, and your compassion for others alive. You left your mark on all those who knew you. We are your new legacy of love.

Bernard (Barney) Ross, 86

Bernard (Barney) Ross, 86, of rural Millboro, SD passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Ascension Chapel Cemetery in Millboro, SD.

Bernard Ross was born on Aug. 12, 1935 at home in Todd County to William & Irene Ross. He was the youngest of 11 children. Bernard attended St. Francis Indian Mission School in South Dakota through the 9th grade. He served in the Navy from Jan. 28, 1955 – Sept. 18, 1957. He was stationed in Newfoundland. 

He married Shirley Bauch on Aug. 15th, 1960. Together they raised 3 sons, 3 adopted boys, and several foster kids. Barney enjoyed visits from his grandchildren, watching old westerns, and doing braiding’s and leatherwork.

Survivors include Wes Ross family; Shane and Kathy Ross family from Winner, SD; Travis Ross and 2 adopted boys, 9 grandchildren, and 15 great grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, wife Shirley Ross, 7 brothers, 3 sisters, 1 granddaughter, and an adopted son.

BBQ winners

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Mardi Pederson serves up some food at the pit row BBQ on Saturday.

BS BBQ Rebels was the overall grand prize winner in the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce BBQ pit row on Saturday.

The results include:

Ribs—1. Checkered BBQ, 2. Guys and Grills, 3. BS BBQ Rebels

Pork Butt—1. Guys and Grills, 2. Packin Heat, 3. BS BBQ Rebels

Brisket—1. Roll N Smoke, 2. Porkwana BBQ, 3. BS BBQ Rebels

Side dish—Roll N Smoke

There was a kids contest. The winner of the 6 to 9 year old division was Braxton Olson and 10 to 15 was Owen Paul.

Winner summer help were honored by the Winner City Council

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
City of Winner summer help were honored by the Winner City Council. Pictured in front from left are Lila Balsiger, Katherine Jankauskas, Rylee Root, Gracie Root, Cora Moss and Shayne Day. Middle row from left are Sidda Schuyler, Josey Kludt, Melanie Brozik, Brindy Bolander, Rachelle Stephens. In back from left are Daisy McIntyre, Ellie Brozik, Tessa Sieh, Jenna Hammerbeck, Lilly Barfuss, Kelby Meiners, Karlee Brozik, James Gregg, Caleb Boerner and William Boner.
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Winner City Council recently honored public works employees

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner City Council recently honored public works employees. In front from left are Rich Stevens, Billy Siems, Mark Leibrich, Ray Bryant and Kelly Duffy. In back from left are Braden Walton, Curtis Haakinson, Ty Bennett, Dennis Fiala, Ricky Hespe, Matt Schroeder, Trevor Mead, Jerrel Tyburec, Justin Brunmeier.
summer help honored

Winner Masonic Lodge and Roseland Chapter Order of Eastern Star presented $500 scholarships

Submitted Photo
The Winner Masonic Lodge and Roseland Chapter Order of Eastern Star presented $500 scholarships to Madaline Watzel and Adrienne Lewis. Watzel will attend Black Hills State University and Lewis will attend Augustana University this fall. Pictured from left are Jack Frantz, past master; Watzel, Lewis and Coleen Patmore, worthy matron.