Category Archives: News

Mary Jorgensen, 91

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Mary Jorgensen, 91, of Ideal, SD passed away on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial will followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation was held on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 from 6-7 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with a rosary beginning at 7 p.m.

Mary was born on July 22nd, 1927 in the family home of her parents, Leonard and Mabel Storms. She was named after the Catholic Daughters Court Mary Imelda. She was the youngest of eight children. Her mother died when Mary was only six years old. Mary was raised by her siblings and always said that she was “loved but spoiled”. She attended elementary school at the Clearview School in Clearfield and graduated from Winner High School in 1945.

After high school, she worked at the Tripp County Auditor’s Office until July of 1946. On July 27, 1946, she married Martin Jorgensen Jr. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. For 72 years, she and Martin worked side by side to raise a thriving family and grow a successful business. While neither would ever claim to have a perfect marriage, the unending loyalty and love they had for each other was obvious to anyone who was blessed to spend time around them. They moved to the family farm in Ideal after they were married. Recognized as a pillar of the Ideal community, she was actively involved as a leader in 4-H, the South Dakota Cattle Women’s Association and the Ideal school. From their home on the family farm, where they lived almost the entirety of their marriage, they raised four children: Judy, Jean, Greg, and Bryan.

From that same home, the two fed many employees their daily lunches and hosted many business colleagues who traveled from near and far to discuss the cattle business. Mary was always a gracious host to all who entered her home. She enjoyed gardening, canning, playing cards, and embroidery. Never one to turn down a good party, she always made time to raise a glass for a good toast. She had a sense of humor that was quick and witty, and always appreciated a colorful joke. Mary also had a deep appreciation for family history, and one of the great gifts she left with us is her family albums. These albums were given to many family members, and they went into to great detail about both the Storms and Jorgensen families. The task of researching and compiling these substantial genealogies required great patience, which Mary most certainly had.

Mary was known to many in both the family and the greater community as a bright, caring, loving, and kind woman. She handled any situation placed in front of her with grace and dignity. She was also known for her strong faith in Christ and involvement in the Catholic Church, including being a 71-year member of the Catholic Daughters Court Mary Imelda. It was with this unshakeable faith, and practically unshakable patience, that she was able to guide Martin as they built their lives and continued to guide many members of her family through theirs as well. Often referred to as “the rock” of our family, her ability to handle great adversity came from her strong relationship with Christ, which was one to be admired. While she will be greatly missed by all who knew her, Mary would want to remind us all that this need not be a sorrowful time. Now is a time for celebration, because while her journey here may have reached its end, she has entered another journey in the embrace of Christ.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Martin Jorgensen Jr. Four children, Judy (Tom) Peschio, Jean (Gary) Davis, Greg (Deb) Jorgensen, and Bryan (Brenda) Jorgensen. Sisters-in-law Ruth O’Keefe and Leona Storms. Seventeen grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren, and numerous relatives.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Clara Frank, Mamie Crane, Gen Fast, Leo Storms, Donald Storms, Emerald Diez, and Cecilia (Johnny) Kartak.

A Beardless Hobo and Other Homecoming Traditions

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I cannot grow a beard. Whenever I try, it looks like those photos we all have of our children the first time they grab a pair of scissors and give themselves, or their favorite doll, a haircut: bald spot here, 3 inches of scraggly growth there.

That’s why I sadly never took part in one of my alma mater’s most time-honored homecoming traditions. The One Month Club at South Dakota State University is for students who want to look their hobo-est by the time Hobo Day arrives. Exactly a month before the homecoming game, men stop shaving their faces and women do the same with their legs. It’s all in good fun and a fine way to show school spirit, but I could never compete with my classmates who looked like the guys in ZZ Top after 30 days.

It’s homecoming season at colleges and universities around South Dakota, and when I thought of the One Month Club I wondered what unique traditions students observe at other schools. So I asked around.

One that warms my Scandinavian heart happens at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, where the students nominated for Viking Days king and queen don Norwegian sweaters. It seems appropriate for a school founded by Lutheran Scandinavians, and practical, too. I bet those sweaters take the chill off the cool October morning air on parade day. Incidentally, to celebrate Augustana’s 100th year in Sioux Falls, the school unveiled its version of the popular Monopoly board game, called Augieopoly. One of the game tokens is a Norwegian sweater modeled after one owned by the late Dr. Lynwood Oyos, a longtime history professor.

Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell crowns not one king and queen, but two. In addition to the royal pair that reigns over Blue & White Days, two members of the freshman class are chosen Beanie King and Beanie Queen. They perform many of the same duties as the homecoming court, but wear blue and white beanies, festooned with optional decorations. The tradition began in 1926 and included all members of the freshman class, but over the years has been whittled down to just two.

Students at Dakota State University in Madison enjoy a citywide scavenger hunt. The Student Services department hides a small statue called the Traveling Trojan somewhere on the DSU campus or around Madison. Clues are given on local radio and on the school’s Facebook page. Whoever finds the statue receives a prize package.

West River students incorporate the Black Hills in their homecoming traditions. During Swarm Week at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, students make an annual pilgrimage to a giant letter H that sits on a mountainside near campus. Visitors to Rapid City may have noticed a similar M on a hillside above the city. Students at the School of Mines make a homecoming trek to whitewash the M, a tradition that dates back to the very first M-Day on Oct. 5, 1912.

Alumni of other colleges and universities surely have their own favorite homecoming traditions. Hobo Day will always hold a special place for me. I’m pretty easy to spot watching the parade along Main Avenue or at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium for the football game. I’m the clean-shaven one.

Thousands Brave Weather for Annual Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park

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PIERRE, S.D. – Over 15,700 visitors attended the 53rd Annual Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park on Friday morning, enduring the cold weather and the season’s first snowfall in the Black Hills.

Custer State Park also hosted its three-day arts festival in conjunction with the Buffalo Roundup. Crowds assembled throughout the celebration to enjoy a variety of entertainment under the big top, educational programs and vendors from all over the country.

“We weren’t sure what to expect Friday morning with the weather,” said park superintendent Matt Snyder. “Despite the cold conditions, we still had thousands and thousands of people come out and enjoy themselves over the weekend. I heard nothing but compliments from how well the park looked, to the variety of vendors at the Arts Festival. It was a successful event for us.”

The annual Roundup serves as a tool to help manage the park’s buffalo herd. About 250 buffalo will be sold at the park’s annual auction on Saturday, Nov. 17. For information on the auction, contact the park at 605.255.4515 or email CusterStatePark@state.sd.us.

Upcoming Buffalo Roundups will be held on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, and Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.

 

Fifth Anniversary of Western South Dakota Blizzard

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Written collaboratively by Laura Edwards and David Ollila.

As we remember the fifth anniversary of the winter storm and blizzard that occurred on Oct. 3–5, 2013 (which some call Winter Storm Atlas), the event provides a reminder that it is time to begin preparation and planning for winter weather events that can occur from now through May.

Fall Season 2018

By the end of September this year, freezing temperatures and snow had already occurred in the Black Hills. Many northwestern and north central areas have also reported sub-freezing temperatures. Large, rapid temperature fluctuations can occur in October and throughout the winter season. Rain can turn to snow and quickly begin accumulating, particularly in the fall and spring seasons as temperatures straddle the freezing mark. Climatological studies since the 2013 blizzard have shown that snow can often occur in October, but that year was a truly unusual exteme event, and there is no long-term trend towards earlier large snowstorms in western South Dakota.

This year, much of October will likely be marked with unusually cold temperatures and wetter conditions than we typically experience. Although no one is anticipating a blizzard like 2013, placing focused thought and developing winter storm plans that will ensure safety and security for both livestock and humans will reduce risk of injury or loss. At the same time, a winter storm plan can lessen anxiety and increase producer confidence that the storms will be weathered successfully.

Preparing for Winter Weather

What to consider when making weather preparedness plans:

Time of year. Fall and spring weather events tend to have more moisture in the snow along with ground surfaces that are not frozen. This combination can make areas where livestock concentrate “sloppy” and unsanitary, in addition to impassable roads to access livestock.

Consideration should be given to placement of supplemental feedstuffs which are in close proximity to where livestock are grazing or confined, as well as identified locations to provide natural and/or fabricated protection from weather elements. The ability to provide rumen contentment and wind protection will reduce livestock anxiety and stress. Feed placed nearby that can be made accessible without the need of large equipment will provide an immediate solution until roads and trails become more accessible for larger equipment.

As with all winter storms, in the event of impassable roads, loss of electrical power, necessary supplies should be obtained and stored for a potential extreme weather event that could endure for several days.
Suggested supplies and preparation considerations:

Plenty of diesel fuel, gasoline and propane stored to operate tractors, generators, heaters and vehicles.

Make certain to have alternative heat sources to maintain temperatures above freezing in your home, shop, and lambing/calving warming/tack rooms.

Generators can at the very least provide lighting and communication availability, but planning for refrigeration, heating and power to outbuildings, heated livestock waterers and feed handling equipment especially during calving and lambing become high priorities.

Animal health supplies should be adequately stocked during lambing and calving. Extreme weather can place great stress on young animals resulting in more animals experiencing life threatening infections.

Extreme weather preparation includes making pre-storm plans with your neighbors to insure that both human and livestock needs will be met before, during and following a storm.

Having an extreme weather preparedness plan active and in place will lessen the storm’s impact on livestock and infrastructure, while providing personal safety and financial security to the producer and their family during these unpredictable periods. For general winter weather safety information relating to snowstorms, blizzards, extreme cold and so on, visit the National Weather Service’s Winter Weather Safety website.

 

Totes Being Delivered to Residential Customers

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Heartland Waste is in the process of delivering totes to the residential area in Winner.

Once all the totes have been delivered there will only be curbside garbage pickup. This means that there will be no more pickup of garbage in the alleys.

The totes are 96 gallon and are made to be rolled to the curb.

Marti Kingsley, manager of Heartland Waste in Winner, says if persons do not want a tote that is fine; however, they still must put their garbage curbside.

Kingsley says there will be no change in the pickup dates.

If persons need an additional tote or an apartment complex needs an additional tote, they can call Kingsley at Heartland Waste Management at (605) 842-3692.

Commercial customers have had their totes for about two months and service is going well with the Winner businesses.

Heartland Waste is the company that has the contract with the city of Winner to pick up both commercial and residential garbage.

The garbage service is working in various sections of Winner to deliver the totes to residential customers.

There are an estimated 1,150 residential garbage customers.

Persons who have questions or a resident who did not receive a tote can call Kingsley.

The business just started delivering to residential so many people do not have their totes yet.

 

Developer of Pipeline to Start Work in 2019

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The developer of the Keystone XL oil pipeline plans to start construction next year, after a U.S. State Department review ordered by a federal judge concluded that major environmental damage from a leak is unlikely and could quickly be mitigated, a company spokesman said.

TransCanada spokesman Matthew John said the company remains committed to moving ahead with the project following years of reviews from federal and state regulators.

A portion of the pipeline will pass through Tripp County.

The company has already started preparing pipe yards, transporting pipe and mowing parts of the project’s right of way in Montana and South Dakota. TransCanada said in court documents it does not plan to start construction in Nebraska in the first half of 2019.

The report issued on Sept. 21 from the Trump administration’s State Department drew criticism from environmental groups who say they’ll continue to fight the project they view as an environmental threat.

The updated, 338 page report was released a little more than a month after a federal judge in Montana ordered the U.S. State Department to conduct a more thorough review of the pipeline’s proposed pathway after Nebraska state regulators changed the route.

The original environmental impact study was issued in 2014, before Nebraska regulators approved a longer “mainline alternative” route that veered away from the company’s preferred pathway.

President Trump approved a federal permit for the project in March 2017, reversing former President Barack Obama’s decision to reject it amid concerns over greenhouse admissions.

The report said the $8 billion, 1,184 mile pipeline would have a “negligible to moderate” environmental impact under its normal operations and continuous monitoring and automatic shut off valves would help company officials quickly identify a leak or rupture.

Additionally, the report said TransCanada has a response plan in place that should mitigate the effects if it’s implemented quickly.

Critics of the project have raised concerns about spills that could contaminate groundwater and the property rights of affected landowners.

In court documents from the Montana lawsuit, TransCanada’s attorneys said they believe all the pending lawsuits will be resolved before construction begins.

The pipeline would carry up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Canada through Montana, South Dakota to Steele City, Neb., where it would connect with the original Keystone pipeline that runs down to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. The State Department has noted that TransCanada has a lower overall spill rate than average in the pipeline industry.

Coach Reflects on Shooting Incident before Football Game

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By Dan Bechtold, Editor

In his years of coaching football, Dan Aaker of Winner has never had to worry about a shooter at game.

But that all changed Friday night when the Warriors played the Cubs in Chamberlain.

A suicidal man fired a shot at the practice football field right before the start of the football game.

Chamberlain police chief Joe Hutmacher said the incident began around 4 p.m. when authorities were notified of a man writing a suicidal post on Facebook. The man led police on a chase which ended at the practice football field.

“You could hear the sirens coming and I am in focus mode for the game. I do not think the sirens are coming to the field,” said Aaker in an interview Sunday afternoon.

The head coach explained he looked off to the side and saw a car coming onto the practice football field. “Our assistant coaches did a tremendous job of getting our players off the field and back behind the grand stand. At that point we did not know if the car was going to continue onto the playing field.”

An announcement was made that all fans had to clear the grandstand. Chamberlain had officials helping to get people to safe place behind the grandstand. There were a lot of people at the game as it was Chamberlain’s homecoming and a lot of Winner fans were in attendance to follow the Warriors.

Aaker noted here was a law enforcement vehicle right behind he car and he was not going to let that car come onto the football field.

“I saw everything. I saw the person in the car fire a shot. He fired the shot while in the vehicle. Then, three to four more law enforcement vehicles arrive.”

An all clear was given over the public address system but they had to take it back as the police had not given the all clear yet.

When the man was taken away the players were allowed back on the field and the game started at around 7:30 p.m., about a half an hour late.

“I was glad the individual involved was not seriously hurt and no else was hurt,” said Aaker. “I hope he gets some help that he needs and gets some peace in his life. It could have been a lot worse,” said the coach.

Aaker believes the individual was not out to hurt people. But he noted it sure makes you think if there was a true active shooter.

Aaker said this week the Winner administration will take a look at how well the Winner School District is prepared.

“We have emergency action plans at all our facilities but how detailed are they for a shooter,” he said.

Aaker said he did not notice any difference in the team as they went on to play a wild game that ended with the Warriors on top 42-40.

Naasz, Haley Candidates for Homecoming King at DWU

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Sam Naasz and Tyrel Haley, both of Winner, are candidates for homecoming king at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell.

Haley is majoring in biology and psychology and is a member of the DWU football team. Haley is a graduate of Winner High School and is the son of Jim and Tracie Haley.

Naasz is majoring in athletic training. He is a member of the DWU football team and athletic training club and serves as the athletic training club president and the South Dakota student representative to MAATA. Naasz is a graduate of Winner High School and the son of Brian and Sharon Naasz.

Blue and White Days is Oct. 8-14. Coronation is at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Community Playhouse Production is Witching Good

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By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Winner Community Playhouse has brewed up a delightful comedy just in time in Halloween.

“Two Witches, No Waiting” is a fun-fill play which combines some veteran actors on the Winner stage and some newcomers.

The play opened this weekend. It will be presented Oct. 4, 5 and 6 with curtain time at 7:30 p.m. For reservations persons can call 842-1958.

In this play Arlene Marcus, played by Tami Comp and Elzbeth, played by Barb DeSersa, are known far and wide in South Texas as friendly, charitable and a little eccentric. This is understandable because they are also known as witches. At least that’s the story, especially the one spread by their housekeeper Opal Dunn (played by Emily Moser), just before she vanishes without a trace.

Sheriff Jed Abercrombie (played by Tim Meldrum) seems a little shy about investigating for some reason which bothers Elzbeth who has a crush on the lawman.

Arlene’s son Jeremy (played by Andrew Taylor) tries to keep a lid on things by trying to get the sisters to see their house. And who wants desperately to buy the property? Eunice Sternwood (played by Mary Marso), his fiancés mother. Of course, Sternwood did not reckon on dealing with people who read bumps on her head, a “recipe book” full of spells and potions and getting lost in Elzbeth’s mystery room.

Jeremy already has his hands full so what happens when he seems to be falling in love with the Bonnie (played by Brandy Biggins), the new housekeeper.

Hanna Rowe plays the Catherine Sternwood, the fiancé of Jeremy. She is a feisty spoiled socialite.

The cast all do a wonderful job.

This play is a heady brew of twists and turns where barn owls spy on people through windows, closets fly open and the house itself seems to be alive as declared by Arlene.

The play is directed by Sandra York who does a wonderful job of getting the most out of her characters.

Dan Patmore is the technical director and designed a set that fits the play.

So if want to spend an enjoyable evening at the play, come to the Winner Community Playhouse Oct. 4, 5 and 6.