Winner Regional recognized with leadership award

Winner Regional Hospital has been recognized by the Chartis Center for Rural Health as a 2023 Quality 2023 performance leadership award for being in the 75th percentile or above among rural hospitals of America in quality.

The performance leadership awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Index, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessments of rural hospital performance.

INDEX data is relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health around the country to measure and monitor performance across areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

Brian Williams, CEO of Winner Regional, says this has been awarded to Winner Regional Hospital is a recognition to all members of the Winner Regional team in every department. 

“WRH has some of the best people in healthcare working here in our community and this award recognizes the hard work and dedication of WRH staff have for our community,” said Williams.

“I want to thank each one of them for everything they do every day and for the support we receive from our community to allow us to provide healthcare services to them. As WRH would have never been recognized for this award without such a supporting community, “ said Williams.

Hey Barbie, come shop Winner

Winner Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Ladies Night Out on Dec. 6 from 5-8 p.m.

Hometown Barbie is the theme and the ladies are urged to dress up in their best Barbie outfit. There will be a prize for the best dressed Barbie.

There will be a photo booth set up at Winner True Value for women to have their picture taken with Santa.

Women can stop at the Chamber office starting at 1 p.m. on Dec. 6 to get a free cup and sign up for a drawing that will be held at the Chamber office.

It will be a fun time to shop for Christmas gifts as many stores will have specials that night.

Holiday festival set for Dec. 2

Winter Wonderland will be the theme of the Winner Regional Foundation holiday festival. The event will be  held at St. Mary’s Hall on Dec. 2.

The social hour will start at 5 p.m., program starting at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Funds raised will be allocated to renovate and revitalize Winner Regional’s long term care center.

There will be a silent auction, raffle and a live auction following the dinner.

The dinner will be catered by Tarrel Bauld with Winner High School FFA as servers. Coni Halverson will be the hostess.

“This event would not happen without without a number of community volunteers planning this event. We are so grateful for their help,” said Brian Williams, CEO of Winner Regional.

There will be a band playing from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. featuring musicians who grew up in Winner—Jamie Halverson and Lance Engel.

Persons can bring their silent or live auction items to St. Mary’s Hall on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Individual tickets are $50. A table reservation is $350 with reserved seating for eight people.

Tickets can be purchased at First Fidelity Bank of Winner, BankWest, Winner Area Chamber of Commerce and Winner Regional Health.

Serving on the board of directors of Winner Regional Foundation are: Michael DiGrazia, president; Dan Bechtold, Justin Nelson, Donna Kubik, Randy VandenHoek and Brian Williams, CEO.

“We appreciate everything the community has done for Winner Regional Health and invite them to spend a wonderful evening with us,” said Williams.

Offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday

Government offices in Winner will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Tripp County Courthouse will be closed on Thanksgiving day and on Friday. The county library will be closed the same two days.

The Winner city office will closed on Thanksgiving and on Friday.

All state offices in Winner will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Financial institutions will be closed on Thanksgiving but will be open on Friday, Nov. 24.

The Winner Post Office will be closed on Thanksgiving and there will be no mail delivery. The post office will be be open on Friday.

Winner Advocate office will be closed Thanksgiving and on Friday.

There will be no noon meal served at the senior citizens center on Thursday and Friday.

Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services will be closed Thursday and Friday.

11 Local Youth Attend Western Jr Livestock Show

On Oct. 3 –7, 11 4-H youth attended the 86th annual Western Jr Livestock Show in Rapid City.  Those attending were Avery Antelope, Bianca DeMers, Kade Fenenga, Madison Graber, Allie Littau, Evan Littau, Rustin Schroeder, Rylee Schroeder, Roper Moore, Rider Moore and Kylie VanZanbergen.  They brought home 34 Purple Ribbons, 4 Grand Champion awards and 5 Reserve Champion awards in the cattle show.  The following are the top awards brought home:

Bianca DeMers = Reserve Champion Foundation Simmental Bull & 5th Overall Beginner Livestock Judge

Kade Fenenga = Grand Champion Shorthorn Breeding Heifer & 3rd Overall Beginner in the Skill-a-Thon

Madison Graber = 5th & 8th overall Futurity Steers

Evan Littau = Grand Champion Angus Bull

Rustin Schroeder = 14th overall Futurity Steer, Grand Champion Shorthorn Plus Breeding Heifer

Rylee Schroeder = 6th overall Futurity Steer, Reserve Champion Red Angus Steer, Reserve Champion Shorthorn Steer, 7th overall Senior Livestock Judging.  Awarded a $1,000 WJLS Rasmussen Trust Scholarship and a $500 Olson Memorial Scholarship.

Kylie VanZandbergen = Grand Champion Main Steer & Overall 5th place Feeder Steer.

Kelli VanZandbergen = Reserve Champion Angus Bull (shown by Kylie)

Roper Moore = Reserve Champion Chi Steer & Overall 3rd place Feeder Steer

      Tripp County also won 4th place in the Feeder Calf Pen of 3.  Team members included Rustin, Rylee, Roper, Bianca & Kylie. 

The Beginner Livestock Judging Team of Kade Fenenga, Echo Fenenga, Bianca DeMers & Rider Moore placed 2rd overall and also (with the addition of Kylie VanZandbergen) placed 2nd overall in the Beginner Skill-a-Thon.

Oral interp places high

Winner High School oral interp competed in their final away contest Saturday in Yankton.

Coach Misti Lapsley said the team scored incredibly well.

The results include: Shannon Rank, 2nd in poetry; Addi Heenan, 2nd in storytelling; Grace Brown, 4th in serious; Brayden Woods, 4th in storytelling; Jacob Manke, 6th in storytelling; Wyatt Winfield, 8th in poetry; Jocelyn Soles, 10th in humorous; Noah Manke, 11th in humorous; Ryann Assman, 11th in humorous.

The local elimination contest will be held Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Winner Community Playhouse.

All members of the team will perform all of their pieces in an effort to reach regional competition.

Oral interp places in Brookings

Submitted photo
Winner High School oral interp team competed in Brookings on Oct. 23 and brought home several ribbons. Pictured from left are Hayden McMurtrey, Grace Brown, Jocelyn Soles, Peyton Jensen, Addi Heenan, Amanda Edwards, Shannon Rank, Wyatt Winfield and Noah Manke. Not pictured is Brayden Woods.

The Winner High School oral interp team was successful in a competition in Brookings on Oct. 23.

Amanda Edwards and Addi Heenan won superior in duet.

Edwards also earned a superior in non-original oratory.

Also placing were: Hayden McMurtrey, superior in poetry; Wyatt Winfield, excellent in poetry; Grace Brown, superior in serious; Shannon Rank, excellent in serious; Joselyn Soles, superior in humorous; Brayden Woods, excellent in storytelling; Peyton Jensen, excellent plus in humorous; Noah Manke, superior in humorous and Addi Heenan, superior in storytelling.