Category Archives: News

Sand County Foundation, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition announce the finalists for the 2015 Leopold Conservation Award^®, which honors South Dakota landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Among the finalists is Jorgensen Land and Cattle Partnership of Ideal. This is a fourth generation farm, including diversified crops, livestock and hunting. It is owned by Bryan and Brenda Jorgensen, Cody and Abby Jorgensen, Greg and Deb Jorgensen, Martin and Mary Jorgensen and Nicholas Jorgensen. Their farm has been no-till since 1991 and contains 10,000 acres of non-irrigated crops, 850 registered Angus females and a 22 room hunting lodge.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

Award applicants are judged based on their demonstration of improved resource conditions, innovation, long-term commitment to stewardship, sustained economic viability, community and civic leadership, outreach and multiple use benefits.

“Our South Dakota finalists work to enhance the landscape through their commitment to stewardship of natural resources and to sharing what they’ve learned with the broader community,” said Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President.

The 2015 award recipient, who will receive $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold, will be announced later this month and recognized at the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Convention in December.

Blizzards, tornadoes and floods are a few of the natural hazards that strike this part of the country. Events like this have the potential of causing thousands of dollars annually in damage to property. To lessen the impact of these disasters in the future, Tripp County is beginning the process of updating its current disaster mitigation plan.

A series of public meetings will be held this year to obtain input as the plan is developed. These meetings are open to everyone.

“If you have an idea about what can be done to prepare for future disaster events occurring in Tripp County, you are urged to attend the meetings,” said Jon Burdette, Tripp County emergency manager.

The first meeting will be held April 29 at noon in the courthouse community room. Agenda items for the initial meeting include why the plan is being updated and identifying and profiling the hazards that impact the county. Burdette said there will be a review the county’s current disaster mitigation plan.

Additional information about the meeting can be obtained by contacting Burdette at the Tripp County Emergency Office at 842-1890. Persons can also call John Clem at 800-952-3562 or email him at john.   clem@districtiii.org.

“This is an excellent opportunity for your voice to be heard,” said Burdette.

South Dakota State University student Carson Covey, a music education major from Winner, will present his senior recital project April 19 at 7 p.m. in the Peterson Recital Hall.

A pianist, Covey will perform pieces written by Brahms, Chopin, Mozart and Schubert. Piano instructor Mary Ermel Walker will assist Covey on a set of duets by Claude Debussy.

While at State, Covey has accompanied both instrumental and vocal students, as well as ensembles such as the Statesmen, Women’s Choir and the annual opera workshop. Covey has also studied voice and is a member of the concert choir. He is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association and Music Teachers National Association.

Swier Law Firm, Prof. LLC  announces the expansion of its nationally recognized legal practice with the addition of Bill Blewett.

Bill will be a key member of the law firm’s Business & Corporate Law Practice Group. Bill focuses his practice on assisting clients in contract negotiations for the sale of their businesses and acquiring new businesses. He also assists clients in setting up corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. Bill is also involved in contract preparation and review, as well as business planning, for the law firm’s clients.

Bill grew up in Rapid City and graduated from Black Hills State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He received his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law.  Following law school, Bill joined a Sioux Falls law firm where he practiced for several years.

“Bill Blewett brings experience and strength to our law firm’s Business & Corporate Law Practice Group,” said Scott Swier. “His joining our law firm is a reflection of our commitment to broadening our strong business presence throughout South Dakota. He is a great fit for our team.”

Swier Law Firm has an office in Winner.

By Dan Merritt, Advocate reporter

She still recalls vividly the days when night took over.

“It was terrible” says Margaret “Marg” Vavra of Colome who was speaking of the 1930s Depression era. The Dirty ’30s when giant windstorms of dust shut-out the light of the sun.

She ought to remember. She turned age 20 in 1935. She was married to Ben Vavra at age 27 in 1942.

Her first and only child arrived in 1955 when she was age 40.

His name is Marvin Vavra and he turns 60 this year. Marg Vavra is now 100.

That century mark in age is being celebrated Sat., April 18, at the American Legion building in Colome from 2 to 5 p.m. The general public is invited.

Though she said she would have been content with a card shower. But son Marvin and wife Debra of O’Neill, Neb. said there needed to be more, Marg Vavra reported.

“They said I’m the only one in my family on either said, my mother or my father, or my husband’s side — none others have ever reached 100!”

And so there will be celebration at the Legion in Colome. It will be a time for some “ice cream and cake with me,” Vavra explained.

She and husband Ben ran Vavra’s Store or Gambles in Colome for 50 years. In her lifetime in this area. she’s had contact with many, many people.

Hopefully on the 18th, there will be many on hand to take part in the celebration.

“I hope so,” Vavra said. “I would be happy if there are.”

She actually reached age 100 on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. But two of her favorite people weren’t available to attend a celebration with her until this month, Vavra said.

Grandson Mark Vavra now of California is scheduled to be back from Japan where he was part of a U.S. troupe of singers and dancers who were performing there.

And a niece, Karen Ripperda of Sioux Falls, was due back from Florida where she spends the winters with husband Daniel.

Also expected at Colome on the 18th is Mark’s sister, Lisa Vavra, another grandchild, Vavra stated.

Now a centenarian, Vavra was born before World War I. She married in the early years of World War II.

She was in her late 40s when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.

She was almost age 60 when President Nixon resigned from office in 1974.

She had reached 86 when the Twin Towers were demolished in 2001. She was 93 when President Obama was first elected.

Though arthritic, Vavra said she maintains good health generally.

She lives on her own at her home in Colome. She still operates an automobile. She traveled to a funeral in Hamill on April 7 and had people amazed that she had driven there herself, she said.

“They thought I was only 90,” she added.

But they were wrong. She’s reached the triple digits in age.

How? “I just did it. I don’t know why,” she admitted. “I must of done something right. I don’t know what.”

The horrific dust/sand storms of the 1930s may have had something to do with it, she speculated.

“I think I got sand in my craw. The sand that I ate . . . kept me going,” she added.

“And hard work, I guess. That’s all I’ve done is work. I like to keep busy.”

Busy for the next five years, for sure, Vavra indicated.

“Now I’m going to try to be 105. I don’t know if I’ll make it or not. But I’m going to try it.

“You just got to keep pushing if you want to get anywhere. You can’t just sit down.”

She didn’t sit much when she and husband Ben ran Vavra’s Store (Gambles) from spring 1949 to fall 1998. Just a smidgen shy of 50 years.

“We had a lot, a lot of customers. I enjoyed it. They were nice people. All of them were nice.”

And they’re still around, too, one way or another, Vavra pointed out.

“Some of them are up on the hill. And some of them are still farmers. And some are in the nursing home.”

Gambles was already a going business when the Vavras bought it. They had been farming but Ben Vavra was asthmatic.

“He couldn’t be around the cattle and the hogs. So we sold-out and we come to town.”

Farming and Gambles weren’t Marg Vavra’s only work experiences.

“I taught school for a little while. I was a waitress. I worked out on the farms for people who needed help in their houses.

“I didn’t get very much when I first started. But then there was no money around. I was just glad to have a job.”

A job during an era of economic and environmental troubles.

Especially troubling were the scary dust storms which she experienced at her home four miles south of Colome, she said.

“I tell you, the windstorms were so bad it was just dark. Just like nighttime in the daytime.”

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Val Sherman, a member of the Winner City Council and police chief Paul Schueth spoke to the government classes at Winner High School last Wednesday morning.

This is a part of an ongoing series where state and local officials come into the school to speak to the students.

Sherman has been on the city council for 16 years and has decided not to run for re-election.

Sherman asked the seniors if they knew what ward they lived in and also presented them with forms used when a person is seeking office.

The member of the council passed out copies of  April 6 city council agenda and a map of the city wards.

Students had a chance to look at the official minute book and a book that contains all the codes and ordinances.

During her 16 years, Sherman has worked with four mayors and five finance officers.

During her tenure, some of the big projects she has worked on are airport runway extension, jail, fire hall, walking trail, South County Road, new swimming pool and bass pond.

Sherman told the student’s the city budget is over $11 million.

She explained the important work council committees do.

Sherman noted she ran for office to serve the people.

Schueth explained the workings of the jail and the 911 center. He said on an average day there will be between 80 to 90 inmates in jail in addition to U.S. marshal personnel.

The police chief said 21 jailers work at the law enforcement center which holds prisoners for nine different counties.

The police chief explained the 24/7 program and noted that Winner was one of the pilot cities when it started in 2005.

“I have seen how this program can change lives,” said Schueth.
In South Dakota, since the program started there have been 7.6 million tests done. Persons on the 24/7 program are required to report twice a day.

In South Dakota, there have been 36,790 persons on the program.

Due to the program, law enforcement officials have seen a decrease in DWI arrests and deaths due to a drunk driver.

Schueth explained it is not just older people who are required to be on this program. He noted it also includes  lot of young persons.

With prom and graduation coming up, the police chief said law enforcement wants to make sure young people stay safe. “You are important to us and we want to make sure you are safe,” he said.

By Dan Merritt, Advocate reporter

Battling bullet, knife, and other types of violent wounds to get victims stabilized and out of danger could be Tiffany Weidner’s full-time job someday.

“It’s exciting,” she said of surgical efforts in trauma operating rooms.

“It’s never the same operation over and over. Every operation is different because every knife or bullet enters in a little bit different spot (doing damage differently).

“That’s the thing that I love about it the most, is that it’s always something new.”

Though mortality can be close to half of the patients being worked with. “But, you’re doing what you can to try to save a life. You can’t always.”

That’s why trauma surgery has a high burn-out rate of those who do it, Weidner added. Plus, “it’s always bad hours and it’s hard work.

“But if that’s what you love, that’s what you have to do.”

Or heart transplant surgery could be her occupation, eventually. She’ll be deciding about surgical fellowships for further trauma or heart transplant training as the year 2020 approaches.

That will be when her general surgical residency is over at the Mayo Clinic Hospital of Scottsdale, Ariz. (One of three Mayo Clinic facilities in the nation, including the original in Rochester, Minn.)

Weidner goes there after graduating next month (May 16) as a medical doctor from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Ark.

Her pre-med undergrad years, majoring in psychology, took place at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. She graduated from there in 2011.

She’s a 2007 Colome High School graduate; her parents, Fred and Deena Weidner, somewhat semi-retired now, ranch and farm in the Clearfield area.