Category Archives: News

Alice Bobick, 88

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bobick obit

Alice Margaret Jorgensen Bobick was born in Winner, on March 16, 1927 and passed away on July 31, 2015 under wonderful care at the Winner Nursing Home.  Alice was the youngest of 9 children of Martin Sr. and Gertrude Jorgensen.  She was baptized, had her first communion and was confirmed at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner.  Her strong faith was with her throughout her entire life.

Her three year older brother Martin was her protector and very close friend.  Alice had scarlet fever at a young age and Martin would spend much time reading to her.  This strong relationship lasted a lifetime

Alice received her education in Ideal where she completed all her education except for her senior year.  At that time the Ideal High School was closed and she then finished her remaining education at Winner.  It was there that Alice met and became friends with Mary Storms who later became her sister in law.

After high school she got a job in the Tripp Co. Auditor’s office and worked there until her older sister Helen got her a job in 1946 at Farmers Union central exchange in St. Paul, MN where she worked for 30 plus years.  She worked in what they called a man’s business but moved up the ladder in promotions and sales.

In 1972 Alice married her second husband Jack Bobick and had 27 wonderful years together.  After Jack’s death, Alice remained living in St. Paul and enjoyed her many friends in MN.  In her later years Alice moved back to Winner to be closer to family.

Farmers Union: An Advocate for Ethanol Since the Beginning

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by Lura Roti, for South Dakota Farmers Union

Although his corn has a ways to grow before harvest 2015, like most corn farmers, Orrie Swayze knows where his crop will go once it leaves his Wilmot farm.

“Most all of my corn goes into ethanol. Our local elevator supplies a local plant,” says Swayze, 71, who only farms part-time these days, entrusting most of the fieldwork to his son, Patrick.

The Swayze’s corn is among more than 361 million bushels of South Dakota corn converted to ethanol and its co-products each year; supplying an industry which contributes almost $4 billion to the state’s economy annually, according to a 2012 South Dakota State University study.

Swayze played a significant role in the grassroots efforts to welcome the budding industry to South Dakota in the mid-80s – a time when, as Swayze puts it, “The whole state’s economy was in the doldrums and our farmers and rural communities were hurting.”
Working closely with South Dakota Farmers Union, an organization he has been a member of since 1972, and a few local Legislators, Swayze was one of four farmers who dedicated themselves to advocating for the renewable fuel.
“Governor Janklow called the four of us the ‘Ethanol Missionaries,'” he says, recalling the work that he, Roland Pester, Jim Pufhal and Roland Schnable did to get a state-based cash incentive passed. Dollars were raised through a pipeline tax on all petroleum products to encourage ethanol plants to build in South Dakota. “We were always there, lobbying committee meetings and testifying.”
New to advocacy, Swayze says he was driven by the knowledge that ethanol could help reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. “I’m a Vietnam Vet.
My brother was killed over there. I knew oil was at the center of nearly every conflict and I thought, at least I can do this to end this type of war,” says Swayze, a pilot who flew 100 missions over North Vietnam.

Electric Cooperatives React to President’s Clean Power Plan

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Electric cooperatives in South Dakota are bracing for what they describe as the negative financial and reliability impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newly released Clean Power Plan regulating existing power plants.
Acting under what the EPA says is its authority given to them by Congress under the section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, the agency today released a final rule that will seek to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. South Dakota Rural Electric Association General Manager Ed Anderson says the new regulations are a clear overreach by the EPA that will dramatically reshape how America generates and uses electricity.

“This rule will have a dramatic impact on the electric bills paid by every South Dakotan,” Anderson said. “We’ve worked extremely hard to control costs and keep electricity affordable, but the EPA’s plan will simply increase the cost of electricity for every consumer.”

Anderson said his members have for years been working to lessen the impact on the environment by adding renewable generation and lower-emitting resources while saving consumers money on their electric bills through energy efficiency programs.
“Electric cooperatives have been steadily reducing the environmental impact of power generation while adding natural gas and renewable resources,” Anderson said. “And our members have been engaged in energy efficiency and demand response programs for decades to keep consumers’ electricity bills affordable. The EPA’s regulations won’t give us credit for all of the investment we’ve already made in renewable generation and punish electric consumers even more with higher bills.”
As consumer-owned utilities, electric cooperatives will be disproportionately affected by the rule by increasing electricity prices and jeopardizing reliability. By shutting down coal-fired generation, the EPA will remove a vital safety net in emergencies or times of extreme power demand. Anderson said consumers will be hit with higher electric bills while the rule impacts reliability of the power grid.

“Co-op employees and directors live in the communities they serve and they care about the members at the end of the line who will be footing the bill to comply with these overreaching regulations,” Anderson said. “The EPA admits that the rule would prematurely shut down more than one quarter of electric cooperative’s coal-fired generation capacity across the country. The burden of paying off the remaining debt on those plants and paying for electricity from other sources would fall on the backs of our consumers in South Dakota.”

During the EPA’s rulemaking process, end-consumer members of South Dakota’s electric cooperatives sent in more than 28,000 comments to the EPA calling on the agency to abandon their overreaching regulations.
“South Dakotans made their voice heard loud and clear during the public comment period, and we appreciate their efforts to tell the EPA their concerns,” said Anderson.

4-Hers Place at State Horse Show

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soles and rutten state horse show

Rylee Rutten placed third in senior reining at the state horse show in Huron.

Other state horse show results from Tripp County 4-Hers area:

Michaela Bachmann–senior team hitch driving, blue
Bailey Fairbanks–beginner stock seat equitation, blue and beginner western, blue; showmanship purple
Rylee Rutten—senior reining, blue; senior trail, blue; senior breakaway roping, white
Lesley Soles—senior trail, blue; senior reining, red; senior stock seat equitation, white

fairbanks state horse show

Tayne Bohman

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Tayne Bohman of Pierre, Grandson of Danny and Linda Brunmeier and Tom and Pam Bohman, was the recent recipient of the Tony Eldridge Bowling Award. Tony was a young man from the Pierre area who had a love for bowling that has no rival; if Tony could have lived at the Bowling Alley, he would have. He lost his life too early in a go-kart accident. Tony’s parents wanted to keep his love for bowling alive and this award was their way of doing it. Since the 1970’s they have worked with the bowling coaches to determine who they believe would best represent this award as they love bowling as much as Tony did. The parents of Tony began giving this award, in 1979 and the tradition has continued since then.

Arm up, he’s ready for some fast draw!

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stormses in it together1

 

By Dan Merritt, Advocate Reporter

He holds his left arm up as though protecting his eyes from the sun.  Back arched, his right hand is stationary atop his Ruger Vaquero pistol.  It’s in a holster on his right hip.  His thumb’s on the hammer.  Dean Storms — the Beaver Creek Kid of southwest Tripp County — is about to draw and shoot.

Oooops! He just did, in the 0.3 second of time it took to read the last three words of the previous paragraph.

The life-time Winner/Valentine area rancher and his wife Nancy compete in Cowboy Fast Draw Association contests from local to world levels.  She can draw and shoot in a time of 0.6-seconds. Sometimes better than that, in the 0.5’s.

Dean was world champion of men in 2013.  Nancy was Nebraska women’s champ in 2012. Or, that is, Mother Nature was champ (that’s Nancy’s Fast Draw “name”).  The two were the best couple in the world Fastest Gun Alive competition in Nevada in 2011 and in 2014.

Stampede Idol

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jim halverson

Sixteen entries sang their hearts out for the top spot and the $500 prize in the 2015 Stampede Idol Contest. Jim Halverson of Winner, topped the list of contenders and earned the chance to perform at all three rodeo performances.

Participants included: Kim Garwood of Butte, NE; Richelle Wendt of Spencer, NE; Tim Mayer of Naper, NE; Kacey Veurink of Platte, SD; Tyler Pranger of Platte, SD; Ardeth Backmann of Bonesteel, SD; Pete Mathey of White Lake, SD; Dillon Hunt of Springview, NE; Taylor Pistulka and Tori Vogt of Bonesteel, SD; Karsyn Krause of Wessington, SD; Charity Hunt of Springview, NE; Keith Mayer of Naper, NE; Catalina Knox of Butte, NE; Mindy Kerner of Burke, SD; Tanya Shoemaker of Gregory, SD and the winner, Jim Halvorson of Winner, SD.

Jim joins past winners Jacinta Opbroek (2009), Rehme Sutton (2010), Kathy Tegethoff (2011), Logan & Nolan Welker (2012), Katie Eliason (2013) and Lane Moore (2014).

Following the first round the top three performances picked by the judges, Bert Davis, Katie Opp and Tracie Haley, were asked to come to the stage for another performance and following that the audience was asked to vote on the one they thought had the best performance. Tyler Pranger, Dillon Hunt and Jim Halvorson were chosen as the three finalists and following the vote Jim was crowned the champion.

Sister Mary William Allen, Former Teacher at St. Mary School, Winner Observes 75-Years as a Presentation Sister of Dubuque, Iowa

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Sister Mary William Allen, PBVM, formerly of Winner, was among the ten Presentation Sisters celebrating 75, 60 and 50 years of religious life this summer. All of the Jubilarians were honored July 14 and 15 during the annual community days at Mount Loretto Presentation motherhouse, Dubuque, Iowa.

Sister Mary William Allen was honored for 75 years of religious life.

An evening social, a Mass with renewal of vows, and brunch marked the occasion. The theme for the jubilee was “Impelled by the Legacy of Nano Nagle.” [Venerable Honora “Nano” Nagle, 1718 – 1784, is the founder of the Sisters of the Presentation.].
Sister Mary William Allen, PBVM, a native of Clare, Iowa, served as a teacher at the former St. Mary’s Elementary School in Winner and in Catholic elementary schools in Charles City, Elkader, Epworth and Dubuque, as principal in Monona, Iowa; in Catholic schools in Storm Lake, Algona, Sheldon, Whittemore and Humboldt, Iowa; she also taught in the Catholic school in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Sister Mary William served as motherhouse coordinator at Mount Loretto from 1955 to 1961. She began community prayer and service at the motherhouse in 1987.

“As I celebrate these years of religious life, I am reminded of God’s goodness to me and the opportunity of 75 years of service to community and God’s people,” states Sister Mary William.

Summarizing it in a favorite saying she shares: “Happy Moments: Praise God. Difficult Moments: Seek God. Quiet Moments: Worship God. Painful Moments: Trust God. Every Moment: Thank God.”

South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Awards $1,000 Scholarship to Dusti Littau of Carter, S.D.

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dusti litau scholarshp

 

Dusti Littau of Carter, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation’s fifth annual Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow scholarship program.

Dusti was one of 25 recipients chosen from a large group of applicants to receive the scholarship to be used for her post-secondary education in South Dakota. The scholarship program is funded by Farmers Union Insurance agents from across the state through the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. The recipients were chosen based on a combination of academic record, activities and awards, financial need, and an essay relating to how they might, “Insure a Brighter Tomorrow,” in South Dakota.

“These young people are the future leaders of our state, and we’re investing in South Dakota’s future by helping these outstanding young people pursue their dreams,” said Wayne Bartscher, Regional Manager of Farmers Union Insurance. “This group of recipients is one of the most talented and impressive groups we’ve had, and they make me more confident than ever in the future of our state.”

Littau is the daughter of Curt & Amy Littau of Carter. Dusti plans to attend Black Hills Beauty College and will major in cosmetology.

South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation supports programs and advances efforts that further economic prosperity and cultural vitality in rural South Dakota.

Winner School Board Member Elected to State Association Board

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Kubik

 

Winner School Board Member Steve Kubik was elected to his second term on the Associated School Boards of South Dakota’s Board of Directors.

Kubik was elected to represent the Association’s Central Region member districts in the 700-1,399 enrollment category. His four-year term begins this month as the ASBSD Board of Directors meet for their August meeting prior to the ASBSD-SASD Convention in Sioux Falls.

Kubik was previously elected to the Board of Directors in January, 2010.