Category Archives: News

Tree from Huron Selected as State Capitol Tree

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A 28-foot tall Colorado blue spruce from Huron has been chosen to serve as the featured tree in the South Dakota State Capitol Christmas tree display.

“This tree was donated by Bob and Cheryl Krutzfeldt and has a unique tie to the state department of agriculture,” says Rachel Ormseth, urban forestry coordinator for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Resource Conservation and Forestry Division. “In 1986, the tree was given to the Krutzfeldt’s daughter Linda by department forester John Hinners, who was giving an Arbor Day Presentation at Linda’s school. She planted the tree outside her window so she could see the tree every day. Now, that tree is inside our state capitol building as the featured tree in this year’s display.” (***Download Ormseth audio here.***)

The South Dakota State Capitol Christmas tree display will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from Nov. 23 through Dec. 26.

Two Winner Men Sentenced for Criminal Trespass

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Two Winner men convicted of criminal trespass were sentenced on Nov. 10 by U.S. Magistrate judge Mark Moreno.

Jeremy Schroeder and Kirby Kartak, both 37, were sentenced to jointly and severly pay the Rosebud Sioux Tribe $600 in restitution, to each pay $300 fine, to write letters of apology to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and to pay a special assessment to the federal crime victims fund in the amount of $5.

Schroeder and Kartak were indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13. Both pled guilty to a joint plea and sentence

The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on Dec. 2, 2014. Schroeder and Kartak, drove heavy equipment into the Oyate Whacanku spirit camp near Rosebud and removed approximately 30 large hay bales which were being utilized to form a windbreak at the camp. Schroeder claimed to have an ownership interest in the hay, which was harvested on a separate tract of land owned by the tribe. Schroeder had previously leased the land on which the hay was harvested.

The spirit camp was designed as a cultural and spiritual camp for activities associated with tribal opposition to the construction of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline. Several tipis and a sweat lodge were erected at the camp and the camp was blessed by tribal spiritual leaders.

Winter is Here: Use Caution When Driving

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With the first snow of the season, city residents are reminded to slow down when driving and be careful when driving on ice.

The Winner Police Department reminds drivers to clear the winds before hitting the road in winter weather. Also clear snow from headlights and back brake lights.

After a snow fall, the city will issue a snow alert and persons are reminded to listen to the radio or watch for notices on TV. During a snow alert, vehicles need to be removed from the street until the street is plowed curb to curb.

Persons can also sign up at the city office to get notices of alerts on their smart phones.

Persons are also reminded when a storm is approaching to get campers and trailers off the street so roads can be plowed.

Daughters Wins Two Awards in Art Show

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Shirley Daughters Hamill won two awards at the SDHCA Dakota Masterworks art show Nov. 3-4 in Sioux Falls.

The show features art created by artists age 60 and older who are South Dakota residents.

This year’s show included more than 190 entries, making it one of the largest Dakota MasterWorks ever.

Daughters won third place for her drawing of an old stone house and she received an honorable mention for a drawing of her mother and her brother, Larry. The title of the honorable mention piece was “An apple shared.”

The Hamill artist has won numerous awards at this art show. In past years, she has also been the people’s choice winner at this show.

“The SDHCA Dakota MasterWorks art show is about highlighting the remarkable artistic accomplishments by older South Dakotans,” said LuAnn Severson, art show coordinator.

“Aging does not mean giving up our creativity, inspiration and talent.”

Categories included watercolor painting, oil painting, acrylic painting, drawing/pastels, photography, sculpture and wood carving.
First, second and third, best of show and people’s choice will be on exhibit at the Ramkota Hotel in Pierre during the SDHCA legislative reception on Jan. 24, 2017.

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DSU Makes Student Teaching Assignments

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Dakota State University student Sharee Galbraith is student teaching during the fall semester in Harrisburg. Galbraith is an elementary education/special education major from Winner.

To be accepted into the teacher education program, students must maintain a 2.6 cumulative grade point average and a 2.7 in their major. They must successfully pass the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test and the Praxis content exam in their area of preparation, and successfully complete all coursework and field experiences.  Candidates work in multi-cultural settings, special education classrooms, regular education classrooms, and volunteer settings with K-12 children prior to acceptance into student teaching.

The majority of student teachers are placed in districts within a 60-mile radius of Madison.

FFA Teams Advance to State

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Winner High School FFA took 27 students to the district leadership development event with 16 advancing to the state contest which will be held in Pierre Dec. 4-5.

The district event was held in Mitchell on Nov. 14.

In individual events, the district sends the top 3 and in team events the district sends the top 2 teams to state.

Winner individuals advancing to state are:
Ag broadcasing—John Kludt, 1st
Creed speaking—Abigail Pajl, 2nd
Extemporaneous speaking—Matthew Hartley, 2nd
Prepared public speaking—Katy Lantz, 3rd

Teams advancing to state are: Senior parliamentary procedure, 2nd, Alex Schaeffer, Matt Hartley, Luke Hennebold, Kayleb Brozik, Nick Blare Casey Stickland and Elijah Blare

Ag issues, 2nd, Daesha Klein Ronae Klein, Kayla Bachmann, Luke Hennebold, Sam Marts, Avery Gilchrist and Payton Antoine.

The alternate team was the junior parli procedure team made up of Abigail Pajl, Ryder Mortenson, Heather Rowe, Dawson Phillips, Phillip Jorgensen, Joren Bruun and Loren Moeller.

Elected District IV treasurer was Luke Hennebold.

Orval Graber, 72

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Orval Graber, age 72, of Winner, passed away on Nov. 16, 2016 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Orval Dean Graber, 72, peacefully went to his heavenly home on Nov. 16, 2016, with his family by his side.

Orval was born on Dec. 7, 1943, to Elmer J. and Clara C. Graber. He was the youngest of four children. Orval accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized on May 17, 1959, at Salem Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman, SD. He attended country school, graduated from Freeman Academy, and went on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from SDSU.

On Aug. 10, 1969, Orval was united in marriage to Diane Tschetter. One week later, they moved to Winner, SD, where he had accepted a teaching position as the vocational agriculture and FFA instructor. After 25 years, he retired from teaching and worked for the city of Winner.

During their 47 years of marriage, Orval and Diane were blessed with three children: Cherie Annette, Carla Ann, and Cory Dean. Their church memberships were transferred to the First Baptist Church of Winner where he remained active serving in many capacities until his death. He was also a member of the Gideons.

In his free time, Orval enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing with the A’Cafellas Chorus, and spending time with his five grandchildren.

Berniece Burtz, 90

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Berniece Burtz formerly of Winner, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016,at the Elms Nursing Home in Macomb, IL where she has resided for the past 5 years. She was 90 years old. She was born Opal Berniece Ruf, daughter of John and Mae Ruf, on the family homestead in Greenwood Township, Tripp County on Aug. 26, 1926. She joined two older sisters, Ariel, born in 1914, and Doris, 1918. In 1932 the family moved to Millboro where John Ruf became pastor of the local church. Four years later in 1936 the Ruf family moved to Rockerville, and the next year to Lake City. In 1939 they settled in Dannebrog, NE where in 1944 Berniece graduated from Dannebrog High School. Following high school Berniece attended Omaha Bible Institute for 3 years graduating in 1948.

Berniece was married to Raymond Burtz of Winner, on June 20, 1948 in St. Paul, NE, and the couple made their home on the Burtz Brothers Ranch in northern Tripp County. The couple’s first son, Durwin Keith was born on March 19, 1951. He was joined by sister Koreen Kay on October 4, 1954, Wendell Ray on July 26, 1956, and Ronald Gene was born April 4, 1960. Through the years Berniece was active not only as a wife and mother, but as pianist for the Witten Baptist Church and the Presho Community Bible Church, as a Sunday school and Vacation Bible School teacher, piano teacher, club member, Women’s Bible Study leader, and church treasurer. She was active in the Gideons Auxiliary, and loved to read and teach the Bible, play the piano, garden, embroider, and sew. Beginning in 1976 Berneice worked alongside her husband Ray and their children to move and remodel a former one-room schoolhouse into a cabin the family enjoyed with friends and neighbors on their farm along the White River for many years. Raymond preceded her in death in August of 1999, and several years later she moved from the farm to Winner where she enjoyed playing with the local Kitchen Band, and continued as pianist for the Witten Baptist Church as long as she was able.