Category Archives: News

Name: Whitney Tuttle

Birthplace: Phoenix, AZ, but grew up in Winner, SD.

Family: Parents: Don and Rhonda; Sister: Ashleigh; Daughter: Kendall (5).

Currently reside where: I’m stationed in England, but currently am deployed to an undisclosed location.

Occupation: United States Air Force

The best thing about my job is: The camaraderie, the people, the mission: “These things we do…That Others May Live.”

My favorite childhood memory: Too many to count!

When growing up, I wanted to be: A veterinarian

Favorite sports team(s): Minnesota Twins, Green Bay Packers, Vancouver Canucks.

Favorite current television show: NCIS, NCIS: LA, Once Upon A Time.

Favorite movie:Pitch Perfect

Favorite actor(s): Mark Harmon, Gerard Butler.

Favorite actress(es): Jennifer Lawrence, Daniela Ruah.

Favorite musician/band: Avenged Sevenfold

Favorite book(s)/author(s): I like anything military, history, and/or mystery!

Favorite publication(s) (newspapers, magazines): The Winner Advocate. I even get it here in England!

Favorite holiday and why: July 4th, because ‘Merica!

Favorite Bible verse: “Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.”  Psalm 27:3

Hobbies: Reading

Three things that can always be found in my refrigerator: Ranch dressing, cheese, and milk.

My favorite snack: Dipping carrots and tomatoes in ranch dressing.

Pet peeve: Bad spelling

Three words that best describe me: Adventurous, loud, funny.

When nobody is looking, I: Try to wiggle my ears.

I’m better than most at: Multi-tasking.

I’d like to have a dollar for: Every time I tripped.

If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d go to: New Zealand

The best thing about where I live: It is cheap to travel anywhere in Europe.

If I’ve learned one thing in my life, it’s: To never take anything for granted.  If you love someone, tell them.  There will come a time in your life when you won’t have another chance.

The City of Mission began the summer baseball season by drawing the winner of the signed Tony Oliva print. The Minnesota Twins donated the print to the City of Mission Baseball Fund in support of fundraising efforts to refurbish the playing fields.

The winner from Winner was Sandi Hausmann. The picture details the print presented to Sandi by COKATA, LLC Chairperson Peter Brokenleg on behalf of the City of Mission. COKATA, LLC will submit the Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant on behalf of the City of Mission. The grant funds will be used refurbish and update the current playing fields in Mission.

The  Grand Slam contributors were Brad Folkers, Jim Poignee and Rev. Lauren Stanley. Many individuals have contributed time and effort in support of the Mission Mayhem teams.

The Cowboy Fast Draw Association Triple Crown started on Sunday June 14 at the Powderhorn Ranch Regulators home range in Mitchell, with a cowboy welcome including a free cowboy supper.  Old friends were greeted, hugged and caught up with. New friends were welcomed into the CFDA fold and told stories of the shooting in the past and future.

After the registration of the shooters, guns & bags checked for safety and no live ammunition, the South Dakota State CFDA Shoot started at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 15.  Over a hundred shooters gathered at the Cabela’s grounds and the competition ran fierce through the afternoon.  Miss B Haven from Idaho took top honors in the Ladies Division and Caleb from Oregon outshot all the men. An awards ceremony rounded out the day taking home their belt buckles and winnings. Local shooter, Nancy Storms AKA Mother Nature came in 7^th in this contest in the Ladies Division. Being the highest placing shooter from South Dakota she also won an entry into the Fastest Gun Alive World Shoot in Fallon, NV in October.

It seemed like a short night with Tuesday June 16 starting again at 8:30.  This time it was the High Plains Territorial CFDA Shoot.  This shoot garners more points for the TOP GUN points for the year than a state shoot does.  There were 98 shooters this time and it took two days to get down to a winner.  On Wednesday June 17 after the main match finals, the Second Chance Shoot began.  This is for all the shooters who had lost out on the last two days.  The entry fees from this shoot always go to a charity of the host club’s choice. Also held was the Boothill Challenge.  This is for the top shooters and some randomly drawn shooters who did not win anything in the main territorial match. The top man and woman each won a .22 rifle.

Thursday June 18^th had no shooting as a range officer class and a computer scoring class was well attended by the participants.  That evening was the Casino Night with snacks, silent auction, door prizes and best dress contest for “girls of the night” and “gambling gents”. This was a fun event and all money raised went to several charities.

On Friday June 19 the US National CFDA Shoot started.  Again over 100 participants gathered at the Cabela’s grounds to see if they will be the lucky one to take the top honors.  Friday evening a banquet held at the Moose Lodge had the presentation of the awards from the High Plains Territorial and Best 1880’s Dress Contest was held along with a fun game with proceeds going to the Shoot for the Stars CFDA Scholarship Program. Local shooters Nancy Storms AKA Mother Nature came in 6^th; Dean Storms AKA Beaver Creek Kid came in 4^th  giving him the entry into the Fastest Gun Alive Contest; Sandi McCoy AKA Prairie Star came in 17^th; Mike McCoy AKA Real McCoy came in 36^th.

Saturday June 20 had the main match of the nationals continuing until the last seven shooters were counted for the next day’s Magnificent Seven Finals. Second Chance was again held for shooters who were out of the main contest and the Boothill Challenge gave another man and woman a gun to take home. All awards were given out to the shooters who were not lucky enough to get in the Magnificent Seven. Prairie Star came in 8^th place, just one out of the Magnificent Seven with Mother Nature taking 9^th place honors.  Beaver Creek Kid came in 19th place and Real McCoy also was a participant in the US Nationals.

On Sunday June 21^st Age Category Brackets began their shoot-offs with the top 5 out of each bracket going against each other for honors.  Mother Nature came out 2^nd in the 49’er category and Beaver Creek coming in 3^rd.  The Magnificent Seven had their competition right after the categories were finished, with returning champions, Marshall Cooper and Lefty Lipscomb both taking the US Nationals title home with them to California and also the high title of Triple Crown overall winners.  Mother Nature and Dean Storms were honored with the Top Couple for the entire Triple Crown event.  After a week of shooting, visiting and catching up with everyone it was hard to say goodbye to everyone.  The Powderhorn Ranch Regulators from Mitchell put on three great contests.

Earlier this month, on the first weekend of June the McCoys and Storms had gone south to Phillipsburg, KS to their state shoot.  Dean and Nancy both took first in their divisions, with Dean being the 3 time champion out of 4 for the annual event.  Each one took 40 points for the TOP GUN points for the year.

Becky Jensen, formerly of Winner and former teacher and coach in the Chamberlain School District for 28 years, recently attended the national high school coaches association conference in Rochester, Minn.

She was a  national finalist for assistant girls coach of the year. Jensen was one of eight finalists up for this award. She won the state assistant girls coach of the year in 2012.

Jensen is the daughter of Mabel Schmit of Winner.

Brittney Schlaikjer, Dell Rapids, has spent the month of June working at the Animal Clinic in Winner.

She will be a senior at South Dakota State University majoring in animal science and pre-vet.

Schlaikjer is the daughter of Alan and Sheba Schlaikjer, formerly of Winner. Grandparents are Patsy Schlaikjer of Winner and the late Art Schlaikjer and Bonnie Robinson and Kence Robinson, both of Winner.

Schlaikjer said she has been shadowing the veterinarians at the Winner clinic. She has had a chance to work in the clinic and also make farm visits.

“I have really enjoyed it and it has been a great experience,” she said.

Friday, June 26, was her last day of work at the clinic for the summer.

Schlaikjer says she is in the process of applying for veterinary school. Her goal is to be a large animal veterinarian.

The 2012 graduate of Dell Rapids High School grew up with horses which sparked her interest in veterinary medicine.