Category Archives: News

Turnquist wins award

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Wyatt Turnquist, Winner, a freshman wrestler at Northern State University, received the Curtis LeMair most dedicated award given each year to a member of the Northern wrestling team.

The award goes to the person that exemplifies consistent work ethic and commitment to the team and his craft.

For the rest of the story pick up a copy of the Winner Advocate or subscribe by calling (605) 842-1481!

Business is up for a grant

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Taryn Pike, formerly of Winner, is pictured with her two sons Wylie and Weston. She is the daughter of Phil and Cyndy DeMers of Winner. Her business has the opportunity to receive a $15,000 loan from a program that helps veterans.

A Rapid City business with Winner connections has a chance to receive a $15,000 grant from a program that helps veteran-owned businesses.

Outside In, a children’s indoor playground, is owned by Taryn Pike and Kelsey Baird, both daughters of Phil and Cyndy DeMers of Winner. They have owned the business since 2018.

Since Pike is a veteran she qualified for this special loan from Street Shares Foundation, a nonprofit organization that exists to inspire, educate and support military entrepreneurial community.

Persons in the Winner community can help Pike by voting. They can go the website at: https://streetssharefoundation.org/vote

The deadline for voting is May 3.

For the rest of the story pick up a copy of the Winner Advocate or subscribe by calling (605) 842-1481!

Karen Ward, 76

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Karen Jean Hauck Upchurch Ward, age 76, Gainesville, GA, formerly of Winner, SD, died peacefully in her sleep on April 19, 2020 at her home.

She was born to the late Emil Alfred Hauck and Doris Esther Vetter on Sept. 13, 1943. Ward was raised in Winner and graduated from Winner High School.

After graduating from high school she moved to New York City to be a personal assistant. She then moved to Georgia and worked for the state of Georgia as a secretary.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Frank Ray Upchurch; and son, Kelly Shawn Upchurch.

A loving mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, Karen was an amazing cook, and an avid lover of all things crochet. She could be found often crocheting blankets, hats and squares to send to Africa.

Karen also had a passion for books and all things music. She was always reading something new and has a vast library of over 10,000 books she has collected throughout the years.

Her musical love started in high school where she sang in the local choir and church choir as a 3rd soprano. A member of the gospel group the Regeneration, she also sang the National Anthem for the Atlanta Braves each Mother’s Day for nearly 10 years.

Karen is survived by her daughter Shannon Jean Upchurch, of Newnan, GA; two precious grandsons whom she adored, Maxwell Todd Prochnow and Mitchell Reid Prochnow; her sister Laurel Renee Daniel, a sister in law Lores Hauck, and 4 nephews.

A private burial was performed at Roselawn Memory Garden in Lagrange, GA on Friday, April 24, 2020, where she was laid to rest beside her son and first husband.

A celebration of life will be held later in the year after the threat of COVID-19 has passed. She will be dearly missed.

Robert Bahm, 86

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Robert George Bahm was born March 28, 1934 on a farm near Lucas, South Dakota to Henry and Effie (Hedlund) Bahm. He joined his sister Alice and his brothers Bill, Lawrence and Lester.

He attended the Lucas School through the eighth grade. At the age of fourteen, he began working for area farmers.

In 1957 Robert moved to Pierre, South Dakota and worked at the Oahe Dam. While in Pierre he met Lavina Faatz, they were married Nov. 12, 1957 and to this union two sons were born: Randy and Rodney.

Robert had health issues which began in 1994. He passed away on April 22, 2020 at the Gregory Healthcare Center in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 86 years.

Robert is survived by his wife Lavina of 62 ½ years; his son Randy and wife Rochelle and their daughter Sydney (Josh); his son Rodney and his children: daughter Mandy with her kids Jason and Neveah, son Kelly (Monque) and daughter Kobe; and his brother, Raymond Bahm.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Alice; his brothers: Bill, Lester and Lawrence and his sister Joyce.

As per Robert’s wishes, no services will be held.

Clarification on ordinance

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Pursuant to the resolution approved by Winner City Council on Monday, April 20 all enclosed retail businesses that promote social gatherings such as bars, restaurants, video lottery, gyms, and city-owned walking paths and ball fields are open to ten (10) people or less with social distancing pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order and recommended CDC guidelines. Individual and family unit only pertains to social distancing.

The following are points of clarification on the resolution:

• The picnic shelters and all playground equipment remain closed in all city owned parks due to the inability to efficiently sanitize for the public’s safety

• An enclosed retail business is defined as the legal premises. For the purpose of a bar, it’s the legal description of their liquor license. The premise includes both the inside and outside.

• A family unit is defined as residents of the same house. They must live together. Relationship is NOT a factor, job is NOT a factor, and team affiliation is NOT a factor.

o For example, if a family of five goes out to eat, that group still counts as 5 people toward the overall number of 10 but we do not have to be 6 feet apart. If parents and grandparents joined, the total go to 9 for the overall count and the parents and grandparents would need to be socially distanced from the other two groups.

o People with the same employer still must be socially distanced and count toward the overall total count of 10

o Applicable to teams if it arises in the future. Each individual will have to be socially distanced from each other in compliance with CDC guidelines as room permits (ie baseball field, park, etc.)

• Bars: No more than 10 total people (excluding staff) inside and outside and MUST practice SOCIAL DISTANCING (6 feet apart) unless a family unit (Each member is still counted as an individual and towards the total of 10)

• Restaurant: No more than 10 total people (excluding staff) inside and outside and MUST practice SOCIAL DISTANCING unless a family unit (Each member is still counted as an individual and towards the total of 10)

• Video Lottery: No more than 10 where SOCIAL DISTANCING standards allow. If 6 foot apart (as per CDC guidelines) is not attainable then the number of individuals allowed shall be decreased to attain a 6-foot minimum of space. Unless Family Unit applies

• Parks and Fields: SOCIAL DISTANCING must be practiced unless family unit applies and must comply with CDC guidelines.

Further, any business that is open to the public in the City of Winner must follow Governor Kristi Noem’s executive order and are encouraged to follow all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The city asks residents to practice all recommended CDC guidelines everywhere, including their necessary trips to businesses, outside in public open spaces, at home, etc. These recommendations include:

• Avoid groups of 10 or more people;

• Practice social distancing, keeping at least 6 feet away from others;

• Avoid non-essential travel;

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others in public.

More Relief on its way

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By U.S. Sen Mike Rounds (R-SD)

We’re now in the end of April and COVID-19 is continuing to impact our daily lives. Around two thousand cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in South Dakota, and social distancing continues throughout the state.

While we hope the end of this period of uncertainty is coming soon, Congress continues to pass legislation to address the crisis and provide much-needed relief.

Recently, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law a $480 billion dollar package that provides more funding for hospitals, nationwide testing, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) so more small businesses can now participate.

The PPP is a loan program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for businesses with 500 employees or fewer, as well as self-employed individuals. As of Friday, April 24, casinos with 500 or fewer employees are now eligible for PPP loans.

I’ve been urging the SBA to make sure tribally-owned casinos and gaming operations in Deadwood are able to receive financial assistance during these times, so I’m glad the administration has now modified their rules.

The PPP provides up to $10 million in loans to businesses to help cover payroll costs for employees, as well as pay for rent, interest on mortgages and utilities. Businesses who use PPP loans to keep employees on the payroll can have most of the loan forgiven.

The PPP was originally allocated $350 billion in the CARES Act, but that money ran out in less than two weeks. This is a sign that the program is working, and businesses are able to keep their staff on the payroll for the time being.

However, because of the high demand for the program, our recent legislation provided an additional $320 billion for the PPP so even more businesses can receive these partially-forgivable loans. The Small Business Administration estimates that more than 80 percent of our small businesses in South Dakota have utilized the PPP so far.

If you’re interested in participating in the program, your local lender will be able to assist you in applying for a loan.

The bill we passed also clarifies that agricultural enterprises are eligible for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), a program that got a funding boost in our legislation.

These loans will provide up to $10,000 of economic grants to businesses hurting because of COVID-19. Our ag community has been struggling for years due to low commodity prices, ongoing trade negotiations and, now, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is finalizing a proposal to provide a relief package to farmers and ranchers whose businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. As a vital component of our nation’s food supply chain, we must do everything we can to make sure they can continue to put food on the tables of America’s families.

The proposal isn’t final yet and needs to go through the official approval process in the federal government, but USDA’s goal is to begin taking applications in May and for farmers and ranchers to begin receiving their relief packages in June.

What we’ve learned about the proposal so far is that USDA will issue a single payment determined using two calculations: for price losses that occurred between January 1 and April 15, 2020, producers will be compensated for 85 percent of the price lost during that period.

The second part of the payment will help to cover 30 percent of expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters. USDA’s proposal sets the payment limit at $125,000 per commodity with an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity.

We will continue reviewing the proposal to assess its impact on South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers. We’d also welcome input from the ag community in our state so we can share it with USDA.

We know businesses and families are struggling right now, and we hope that we’ll be able to safely reopen the country in the near future. In the meantime, we’re working to provide aid for those who need it during this crisis. Stay safe, and don’t hesitate to contact my office if there’s anything we can do to help.