Category Archives: News

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Rep. Kristi Noem spoke to Winner High School government classes Monday morning as she explained her role as South Dakota’s representative in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Noem also talked about her campaign for governor.

She is in a Republic primary with attorney general Marty Jackley.

Noem has served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress she serves on the ways and means committee. She was one of five representatives from the 435-member House to negotiate the final tax reform deal.

She served six years under the Obama Administration and is now serving under the Trump administration. Now, with a Republican president, Noem says she is at the White House about every week.

In Washington, Noem has a staff of nine and with her offices in South Dakota her staff numbers around 16.

Every weekend she flys back home to South Dakota and attends as many of her children’s school functions as time allows.

Noem and her family operate a ranch in Hamlin County.

Noem says she is running for governor because it was time for her to come home. When first elected in 2010 she said she would not stay in Washington, D.C, for 10 years.

When she is not in Washington, Noem is back in South Dakota campaigning for the primary election on June 5.

As she listens to South Dakotans, Noem hears concerns that there are not enough new opportunities in the state. “Wages are not growing, businesses are not able to expand. They want someone who is going to be aggressive in economic development,” she said.

Noem has a plan to kickstart South Dakota’s economy. She wants to create a foundation upon which businesses can prosper in South Dakota.

“South Dakota does a lot of things right but our economy is falling behind,” she said.

The Republican candidate for governor wants to create new opportunities for South Dakotans to prosper.

A lot of the work will be in workforce development. “The biggest challenges businesses have is they cannot get workers,” Noem explained.

When asked, if elected, what kind of governor would she be, Noem said she would be an interactive governor. “I am used to working face to face with people every day and listening to their concerns. I will be a very hands on governor.”

Noem added that her experience in Washington will help her serve South Dakota as governor. She added that she understands how the federal dollars come to South Dakota.

By Sydney Brown

What is the four way test? How can I apply the four way test in my life? How can I use the four way test in my life? If someone is gossiping or spreading rumors that I can use the four way test. There are four questions you need to ask yourself. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Is if beneficial for all?

Now let’s get into the problem. Some of my friends are spreading rumors by gossiping and ask me if I want to hear. They are gossiping about the new kid and say that they heard that she got kicked out of her old school for hitting her teacher in the face. Well I don’t know if that is true I need to use the four way test. I asked myself is that true. There was no way to find out but ask, So that’s what I did. The new girl said no that her dad got a job here that’s why they moved. Then I have to ask is fair for all concerned. This once was not either it was not fair that the new girls had to sit alone at lunch every day because of that rumor.

Now we need to think about the other two questions. Will it build good will and better friendships? Well for them spreading those rumors if the new girl were to find out then that would most likely not build better friendships. Is it beneficial for all? No it is not so I should not listen to these rumors before I spread them to. I am glad that I know how to use those four steps or there would have been more people to spread those rumors.

Now that you know how I use the four way test you can to. If I did not know about that test I would have been spreading rumors to. Those four questions can help you in a situation, and they really do help you. It is time for you to use the four way test.

Two Tripp County high school seniors have been awarded Coyote commitment scholarships at the University of South Dakota.

Kaylee Bolton, a senior at Colome, has earned a $6,000 Coyote commitment achievement scholarship and Madyson Morehart, a senior at Winner High School, has earned a $7,000 Coyote commitment distinction scholarship.

These awards are based on strong standardized test scores and cumulative grade point averages.

Sixty-two percent of the new students on the Vermillion campus received awards from the USD Foundation, other USD accounts and from other private sources outside the university.

A lot of public opinion was expressed at a meeting Thursday night to discuss plans for a new middle/school high school in Colome.

The Colome Consolidated School Board held the meeting with about 120 people attending.

In addition to school board members, speaking at the meeting were Jeff Nelson of Falls Architecture Studio, Sioux Falls and Adam Houdeshell and Jason Brown of Summit Construction of Platte.

The estimated cost of a new school is $2.5 million. The school board has discussed using capital outlay money and some financing to pay for the school. There will be no tax increase or bond to build the school.

Some community members asked if it was possible to have a bond issue and use a smaller percentage of the capital outlay funds.

“A lot of great ideas came out of this meeting,” said Vince Thieman, chairman of the school board. “The board felt very happy with the community input and are excited to move forward with this project.”

Thieman added that he felt coming out of this meeting the community wants this taken to a public vote. Thieman says he plans to recommend this process at the April 9 school board meeting.

“The school board wants to thank the community for being involved,” said Thieman. “It was a very positive meeting.”

The board chairman said a recommendation was made that two community members be named to the school board building committee. The community members were named at Monday’s meeting. The school board building committee is made up of Thieman, Justin Heath and Brent Gill.

The current high school is 100 years old and is in need of lot of repair.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Winner School Board considered several items at its Monday night meeting.

The board discussed the roof repair to the elementary, high school and Armory buildings. The roofs were damaged in last summer’s two hail storms.

On April 10, Upper Deck of Rapid City and the insurance company will meet with school officials.

Austin Calhoon was hired as a 7^th to 12th grade math teacher. Board chairman Mike Calhoon abstained from voting.

Keith McCarty was offered employment as elementary school custodian.

Linda Bertelsen resigned as middle school volleyball assistant supervisor.

Schramm Furniture of Winner was awarded the bid for carpet in the elementary school. The bid was $33,958.52. Also bidding was Country Carpet, Pierre, $39,479.

The board will advertise for a special education aid.

The May meeting of the school board has been moved to May 17 at 7 p.m. The meeting was moved due to a pops concert on May 14, the regular school board meeting date.

Membership in the South Dakota High School Activities Association for 2018-2019 was approved.

The request from Winner Education Association to begin negotiations was approved.

Approval was given to the ASBSD health insurance and workman’s comp renewal for the 2018-2019 school year.

Reports were heard from school principals.

Supt. Keven Morehart reported he attended a school law seminar.

Several Winner High School speech students attended the meeting.

The board met in executive session.