Category Archives: News

Cowgirls, cowboys named all arounds

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment
Submitted Photo
Saydee Heath of Colome, left, was crowned the senior girls all around at the
Central South Dakota 4-H rodeo in Ft. Pierre on Aug. 1. Seth Heath was named the
junior boys all around around on Aug. 1 at the rodeo.

Saydee Heath of Colome put together multiple first place finishes at the Central South Dakota 4-H Rodeo in Ft. Pierre. She won the senior girls all-around on Aug. 1. She won the senior girl breakaway roping in 2.99 and also won the senior girl ribbon roping in 8.35. Heath teamed up with Weston Vander Pol for a championship in senior team roping in 8.01. Colome’s Seth Heath won the junior boys all around on Aug. 1. Heath was fourth in junior boys breakaway in 4.02. He placed third in goat tying in 11.19 and Roper Moore took second in goat tying in 10.87.Heath took third in junior boys flag race in 9.6.

In the rodeo on Aug. 2, Heath was second in junior boys flag race in 8.633. First place in flag race went to Moore in 8.44. Linkyn Petersek won the senior boys calf roping in 9.36.On Aug. 2, Petersek was named the senior boys all around. He won the senior boys calf roping in 9.67. In steer wrestling, Petersek placed third in 7.48. Denton Good and Petersek teamed up in team roping and took second place. Other Tripp County 4-Hers placed in the rodeo in Ft. Pierre. Athena Willuweit took fourth in junior girls flag race in 10.167. Saige Schuyler was fourth in senior girls pole bending in 21.368.

New superintendent, principal to greet Colome students

  By | | ,
Leave a comment

By Dan Bechtold/ Editor

When students return to classes in the Colome Consolidated School District they will be greeted by a new superintendent and a new principal.Dr. Debbie O’Doan is the new superintendent. She served as the Colome principal last year.Joining the staff as the new K-12 principal is Dustin Christensen. Classes in the Colome district will start on Aug. 18 with in class face to face instruction.

O’Doan says she wants students and parents to know that the staff can’t wait to see the students. “We are excited to have them back and we are going to do everything we can to keep them safe.” The students are returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school has a reopen plan in place. O’Doan says the plan is to open the school in the best way possible, keeping everyone as safe as possible.“We will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 and pay attention to changes in local cases,” said the superintendent. O’Doan has 21 years in education. She has taught at every grade level. She has taught, trained teachers including graduate courses.She received her bachelor’s degree from Black Hills State University in K-8 elementary/middle school education in 1998.

In 2002, O’Doan received her master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in technology. She received her doctorate in adult and higher education administration from USD. In 2018, she received a master’s in K-12 principalship from Chadron State. The following year O’Doan received an education specialist degree in K12 superintendency from Wayne State College.In addition to teaching, O’Doan worked at the TIE office Rapid City. In this job she did a lot of training of teachers. For a couple years O’Doan was the gifted and talented coordinator for the Meade School District. Then, she moved to Gillette,Wyo., where she taught for five years prior to coming to Colome. In Wyoming, she was training teachers in technology and helped to open the new Thunder Basic High School. O’Doan loves the small school and loves the great community of Colome.

The superintendent says it is an exciting time in education. “I am excited to make sure we have a good school here,” said noted.

Christensen grew up in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 2009. He went to Black Hills State University where he received his degree in K-12 special education graduating in 2013. In 2019, he received his master’s degree in educational administration from Fort Hayes State University. Christensen started teaching special education in Rapid City then moved to Cowley, Wyo., where he taught middle school special education and was the middle school and high school basketball coach. He was in Wyoming from 2014 to 2017 and then took a special education job in Edgemont for two years. Christensen was the head football coach in Edgemont.

This past year he taught high school special education in Custer and was the 8th grade girls basketball coach.He and his wife Samantha, have a 2 year olddaughter, Desirae. Samantha will be the high school English teacher at Colome. Christensen followed in the footsteps of his parents into the education field. His father is a math professor at South Dakota State University and his mother works in the Arlington School District. “I enjoy the whole education field and just being able to work with kids. I like working not only with kids but also the staff.”The inspiration for teaching special education came from his mother who was a Special Olympics swimming coach for many years. “I remember going to meets with my mom. I felt like I wanted to do this some day.”Christensen has ties to the Winner area as he is related to the Gregg family.

When asked what he wants kids to know coming back to school. He said: “I want them to know we have their best interest at heart and we have been thinking about them.We are in a good spot to have the kids come back to school,” he said. “If COVID comes, we have a plan.”

The young education leader is looking forward to his first year as a school administrator. “I am excited to come in and work with the staff and students to create a good learning atmosphere.”

Marion “Big Mike” Dreyer, 87

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Marion “Big Mike” Dreyer, 87, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, SD. Funeral service was held on Friday, Aug.7,2020 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Marion Delano “Mike” Dreyer was born on Feb. 28, 1933 in the northeast bedroom of the family farmhouse to Edward and Marie Dreyer of Carter South Dakota. He was the new baby brother to Harold, Howard, Lorraine and Milton. Life was never dull with four boys and only one girl to keep them in line. Mike followed his siblings and graduated from Witten High School in 1950.

In the fall of 1951, he married Dola Tucker and they were married for 67 years. Clifford, Julie Ann and Lonnie Lee were born to this union. After a few years of working and living on the farm Mike and Dola purchased the farm from his parents and added a trucking business. In 1971 Mike rented out the farm, moved the family to Winner and began his construction business, trenching and backhoe work was also added to the business.

In the mid 90’s they moved back to the farm where they lived for the rest of their lives. Building up a cattle heard and putting up hay kept Mike busy. He loved the haying season “just how big can you make a bale?”

Mike loved pheasant hunting season with his Tennessee hunters, playing cards with the couples card club which they had belonged to for many years, bowling, fishing and of course dancing.

He would dance every dance until the party was over. Yes, he out danced all of us.

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Dola would travel to all the activities and sporting events of their children and grandchildren. Mike was a member of the UCC Church ofWood, SD.

He was a 32-Degree Master Mason for 52 years, Naja Shriner for 50 years, Mason for 63 and an Eastern Star member for 61 years.

Mike is survived by sons Clifford and Lonnie (Pam) Dreyer, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Darci (Matt) Dailey and Jack, Maggie and Mick; Michael Dreyer; Stacy and Elena Dreyer; Sid (Amanda) Dreyer and Isaac, Emily and Ian; Sara (RJ) Petersek and Linkyn, Libbie, and Preslie; Kristin and Victoria Dreyer; Jake Dreyer and many nieces and nephews.

Mike is preceded in death by his wife Dola, daughter Julie, parents Edward and Marie Dreyer, brothers Harold (Kay), Howard (Bonnie), Milton (Clarice) and sister Lorraine (Paul) Kauer.

Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87, died at BethanyLutheran Home in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Rosary will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 10 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in LakeAndes, SD with visitation following.

Memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 11 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Pickstown, SD following the visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cathlic Cemetery in Spencer, NE at a later date. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Lake Andes.

Bev Engelmeyer, 66

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Bev Engelmeyer passed away at the age of 66 years on Friday, Aug.7, 2020, after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. Funeral services were held Aug. 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery in Burke.

Bev was born Sept. 28, 1953 in Valentine, Neb., to Lester ‘Gus’ and Evelyn (Schipporeit) Bain. Bev’s family lived and worked on various ranches and farmsteads until they purchased their land north of Burke, South Dakota in 1963.

Bev graduated from Burke High School in May 1971 and went on to obtain atwo year degree in accounting and medical transcription at National College. She returned to Burke and worked for Dr. Nemer, as well as Wilhelmsen Feed Service, utilizing her college degrees.

She was united in marriage to Dave Engelmeyer on June 21, 1974. Dave and Bev spent the majority of their marriage as owners and partners of Jungle of Flowers, along-standing small town business established in 1978, from which they fully retired on May 31, 2020. Through her affiliation with the floral industry, Bev servedas the South Dakota FTD Board Treasurer and a South Dakota Florist Association Board Member.

Bev endured raising three daughters who share her same qualities of tenacity, strong-will and hospitality. All three girls excelled in academics and were heavily involved in extracurricular activities. Their house was a gathering place both before and after activities. Her girls and their roommates were regularly shipped college care packages full of homemade goodies.

Bev was raised with 4-H, both rodeoand livestock, and enjoyed anything with her horses. Bev served as the girls’ Willing Workers 4-H Club Leader and shared her expertise with their cooking, speeches, sewing and countless craft projects. An annual trip to the South Dakota State Fair was the pinnacle of everyone’s hard work.

Bev was blessed with seven grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She delighted in hearing about their activities, even better was when she could attend in person and take them for treats afterward.

She is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a past president of the Altar Society.

Bev is survived by her husband, Dave, and three daughters: Michelle (Bill) Schenkel, Colette (Matt) Dick and Tasha (Shaun) Rausch, and seven grandchildren: Dillon and Allie Schenkel, Madison and Cooper Dick, Brooklyn, Addelyn and Hudson Rausch; along with her brother, Don (Deb) Bain.

Winner/Colome Legion team falls in district tournament

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment
Submitted photo
Winner/Colome Legion baseball team was defeated by Alexandria 6-4 in the Region
3B tournament in Alexandria on July 29. Pictured in front from left are Colby
Kaiser, Landon Thieman, Jesse Colson, Aiden Barfuss, Phillip Jorgensen,
Charley Pravecek, Bosten Morehart, Joren Bruun, Aaron Gilchrist and bat boy
Sawyer Foss. In back from left are coach Kory Foss, Fred Whiting, Zach Bohnet,
Oscar Pravecek, Ashton Klein, Joey Cole, Evan Farner, Kameron Meiners, Jacob
Beckers and assistant coach Dalton Baker.

Legion team falls in district tournament Winner/Colome Legion belted three home runs on its way to a 13-7 victory over Parkston in the Region 3B tournament in Alexandria on July 28. Hitting home runs were Aaron Gilchrist, Oscar Pravecek and Fred Whiting. Whiting fired up the Royals offense in the first inning when he homered scoring two runs.

Winner/Colome added six runs in the fourth inning. This was a big inning driven by home runs by Gilchrist and Pravecek.In addition to a home run, Gilchrist had a double and Charley Pravecek added two doubles.

Joren Bruun was strong at the plate as he went 2-3. Aiden Barfuss, Kameron Meiners and Evan Farner were all 1-3. Meiners was on the mound for Winner as hepitched four innings. He surrendered four runs on five hits. Jacob Beckers pitched one inning and Farner two innings. On July 29, Winner/Colome Legion played two games in the tournament.In the first game, the Royals won 3-2 over McCook Winner/Colome took the lead late in the game after it was tied 2-2. In the top of the 7th inning Joren Bruun hit a sacrifice fly which scored one run for Winner/Colome. Joey Cole hit a triple and Aiden Barfuss had a double. Among the leading hitters in this game were Aaron Gilchrist, 3-3; Charley Pravecek, 2-3;Phillip Jorgensen, 2-4.

Bruun pitched six innings with six strikeouts. Jacob Beckers pitched one inning. Winner/Colome had nine hits in the game.In the second game, the Royals were defeated 6-4 by Alexandria and lost the change to advance to the state tournament. Alexandria fired up the offense in the second inning when they scored one run and added one more in the next inning. Winner/Colome had runs in the 5th, 6th and two in the 7th inning. However, Alexandria had three runs in the seventh inning for the victory.Winner/Colome came up with 10 hits in the game. Bruun and Jorgensen had doubles and Barfuss and Bruun each had a triple.At the plate, Bruun was 3-4, Jorgensen, 2-4; Oscar Pravecek, 1-4; Aiden Barfuss, 3-4; Charley Pravecek, 1-3.Beckers was on the mound for Winner/Colome. He went two 2/3 innings allowing two runs on five hits and striking out two.

Evan Farner threw four and a third innings in relief.

Colome Chaos

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment
Submitted Photo
Colome Chaos baseball team has finished the season. Pictured in front from left
are Jerrel Tyburec, Jake Hrabanek, Jeff Ohlmann, Jackson Kinzer, Matt Vobr,
Turner Tinant, Shea Connot and Jason Frasch. In back from left are assistant
manager Jake Luse, Dave Baker, Dalton Baker, Jamin Dougherty, Calvin Ringing
Shield, Braden Gardner, Willie Beckers, Holden Thieman, Layton Thieman, Carter
Brickman, Joey Cole, Jacob Beckers and manager Ethan Vobr.

After losing its first game in the district tournament, Colome Chaos rebounded and defeated Miller 9-5 on July 27 in Chamberlain. Miller took an early lead but Colome came back strong in the fifth inning when they scored seven runs. Ethan Vobr singled on a 2-2 count scoring two runs, Turner Tinant doubled on a 3-2 count scoring three runs and Braden Gardner doubled on a 1-0 count scoring one run.Colome racked up 11 hits in this game. Gardner and Tinant both had doubles. Those with hits were Jackson Kinzer, 2-4; Vobr, 1-3; Jake Luse, 1-2; Tinant, 2-3; Layton Thieman, 2-3 and Carter Brickman, 2-4.

Jackson Kinzer was on the mound for Colome as he pitched all nine innings. He struck out 12 batters. Colome Chaos vs. South Central Storm Colome Chaos was eliminated from its chances to make the state tournament when they were defeated by South Central Storm 4-1 on July 29. Colome scored its only run of the game in the fourth inning. Willie Beckers, Layton Thieman, Shea Connot, Turner Tinant and Braden Gardner all had one hit. Carter Brickman took the loss for Colome as he surrendered four runs on six hits over six and two-thirds innings. Brickman struck out five batters. Turner Tinant pitched one and a third innings in relief.With the loss Colome ended its season with a 7-9 record.

Joan Marie (Welsh) Rudnick, 82

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Joan Marie (Welsh) Rudnick, age 82 of Appleton, was born February 9, 1938 to James and Marie (Storms) Welsh in Wood, SD. She attended school in Wood, graduating in 1955 and then attended Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield, SD earning her teaching certificate.

Her first job was at a local school, then she moved to Ortonville and taught for three years. She met Ronald Rudnick in the fall of 1962 and they were married June 27, 1964 at the town hall in Wood, SD. They made their life in rural Appleton working side by side to run the family dairy farm and raise five children. They were members of St. Joseph church in Holloway until it closed in 1991 and then St. Johns of Appleton where she was an active member of the church lecturing, distributing communion, and teaching religious classes.

Later in life Joan was a home health aide where she developed close relationships with those she cared for, retiring at the age of 70. In her free time, Joan enjoyed tending to her flowers, which she won many blue ribbons for at the county fair, reading, spending time at the lake, riding horses in Saddle Club, volunteering with the MCCL, and the thing she enjoyed most of all talking to her many friends and family on the phone.

Joan is survived by her husband Ron, of 56 years; children: David (Tracy) Rudnick of Blackhawk, SD, Ronda (Dave) Maas or Ortonville; Renee (Dan) Kojetin of East Bethel; Jim (Lisa) Rudnick of Willmar, and Sara (Mike) Edelman of Graceville; her grandchildren Brian (Amy) Knutson, Roxy Knutson, Lisa and Scott Kojetin, Greg (Ashley) Maas, Brittany (Kole) Mastel, Megan and Taylor Rudnick, Zak, Luke, Sam, Jake and Noah Adelman; six great grandchildren; and her brother,Don (Jeanne) Welsh.She was preceded in death by her parents James and Marie; brothers, George and Bob and sister, Kathy.