South Dakota FFA Association Hosts Legislative Breakfast and Training

ffa with legislaors

South Dakota Legislators met with District and State FFA Officers at the 2015 South Dakota FFA Legislative Breakfast and District Officer Training hosted by the South Dakota FFA Association on Wednesday, Jan. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 22 at the AmericInn in Fort Pierre.

The purpose of the event was to promote the FFA’s mission of premier leadership, personal growth and career success by bringing together South Dakota’s governmental leaders with leaders of the South Dakota FFA.

Representing the Winner High School FFA were: Calah Covey, Sydnie Peters and Kayleb Brozik.

sydnie peters dist 26 legislators

Divine Concrete Welcomes New Partner

sara nolan andy divine

Divine Concrete, Bonesteel,  announces the addition of partner, Sara Nolan. Sara is the sister of owner/general manager Andy Divine, and daughter of founders John and Kathy Divine. She brings nearly a decade of experience in the construction industry to the well diversified staff of Divine Concrete.

Sara graduated from Bonesteel/Fairfax High School in 2000 and went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Business/Spanish/German from the University of Minnesota. After the completion of her degree, she began her career in sales with the Hilti organization. Hilti produces construction tools and innovative applications for the construction industry.

She held various roles within Hilti and, over the course of 9 years, relocated with the company on several occasions. In 2009 she completed her MBA with Regis University of Denver, CO. Sara and her husband William Nolan, originally from Butte, NE, are excited to move back home to raise their family. They have an 18 month old boy, Connor, and another son due in April.

“I am extremely excited to join the Divine Concrete team. I look forward to working with a great group of colleagues and gaining a greater understanding of the business,” says Sara. “I have long admired the persistence and hard work my parents and brother have contributed to the organization to make it the success it is today.”

Andy Divine shares that excitement. “Divine Concrete is growing rapidly,” he says. “The progression and direction this company is taking, makes the addition of another owner essential.”

Divine Concrete is based in Bonesteel, with redi-mix batch plants also located in Colome, SD and Spencer, NE. “We are currently expanding our infrastructure in Colome. Dirt work began for a shop building in January and we will base a construction crew out of Colome beginning with this 2015 season,” adds Divine. It is this type of growth that made Andy realize he could use a hand. Sara had expressed interest in the past of becoming part of the family business, and given her professional experience, it was a natural decision. “Sara will do a great job,” says Andy.

Divine Concrete celebrates 40 years of business in 2015. They began in 1975 with the redi-mix plant in Bonesteel, and have since developed into a full service concrete company, offering professional concrete construction services for residential, commercial, and agricultural projects, as well as a full line of quality precast products including feed bunks, storm shelters, septic tanks, and steps. “40 years is a big deal,” says Andy, proud of this accomplishment. “We pride ourselves on delivering quality products in a timely manner, with courteous and knowledgeable employees,” he adds, “we look forward to continuing that tradition.”

Colome Students Place at Vocal Contest

colome choral at kimball

Several Colome High School students placed at the Region V vocal contest in Kimball on Feb. 11.

The solo superiors were: Halley Shippy, Destannie Noteboom, Megan Seegers, Callie Heath, Trenton Seegers and Jeremiah Yeaman.

Duet superiors were: Halley Shippy and Destannie Noteboom

Duet excellents were: Destannie Noteboom and Callie Heath; Trenton Seegers and Kylie Debus.

Girls small ensemble superior were: Callie Heath, Dacy Maier and Megan Seegers

Boys small ensemble superior were: Jeremiah Yeaman, Trenton Seegers and Holden Thieman

Large group ensemble superior were: Halley Shippy, Destannie Noteboom, Kaylea Bolton, Melissa Bettcher, MaCallie Bettcher, Trenton Seegers, Holden Thieman, Jeremiah Yeaman, Kylie Debus, Dacy Maier, Callie Heath, Megan Seegers and Elisabeth Duffy.

The small group ensemble receiving a good were Kaylea Bolton, Melissa Bettcher, MaCallie Bettcher and Elisabeth Duffy.colome chorus no. 2 pic

Mitchell Vo Tech Dean’s List

Area students have been named to Mitchell Technical Institute fall president’s list.

Winner students on the list are: Aryn Novotny, accounting; Grant Toman, Kyle Mathis, both agricultural technology; Jesse Brunmeier, electrical construction and maintenance; Brittney Hansen, precision technology specialist.

Also on the list is Trevor Shiell, Colome, welding and manufacturing technology.

Jensen Named Finalist

Becky Jensen, Beresford, formerly of Chamberlain and Winner, is one of eight South Dakota  high school coaches who have been nominated as finalists for national coach of the year.

Jensen has been nominated as girls assistant coach. She was a long time coach in Chamberlain.

Jensen is the daughter of Mabel Schmit of Winner.

Finalists will be honored June 20 at the national coaches association banquet in Rochester, Minn.

Lady Warriors Getting Hot

bertram mclaughlin game

Winner High School girls basketball team defeated Platte/Geddes 60-38 on Feb. 12.

The Lady Warriors led 13-6 at the end of the first quarter.

“First half we really struggled putting the ball through the hoop but the girls turned it around after half time and we ended up shooting 58 percent in the second half,” said coach Larry Aaker.

Kelsey Bertram scored 17 points, Bailey Volmer, 13 and Sydney Fritz, 11.

The Lady Warriors traveled to McLaughlin on Friday and came home with a 73-62 victory.

“This was a quality win for our girls,” said Aaker. “You could tell that our legs were a little tired from playing the night before but the girls battled all game long. This is the kind of determination that we wanted to see from our girls this close to the post season play.”
Bertram scored 23 points with Volmer adding 21, Fritz, 11 and Tawny Sherman, 8.

Wrestlers Place 8th at Huron

kayleb brpzol huron meet

Winner Area wrestling team placed 8th at the Huron tournament on Saturday.

Six WHS wrestles placed.

Tyrel Haley took second place as he lost in the finals to Nolan Richie of Webster. Haley was pinned in 37 seconds.

Jimmy Sharkey took third place as he pinned Dexter Gaikowski, Watertown, in 3:35.

Fifth place went to Cameron Biggins, Kayleb Brozik and Cohl Turnqusit.

Biggins won by major decision 8-0 over Jeremiah Palmer of Sturgis.

Brozik won 7-0 over Dylan Bludorn, Brandon Valley and Turnquist won by injury default over Logan Richie of Webster.

Taylor Watzel took sixth place as he lost 15-0 to Ryan Chase of Huron.

“The team came out and wrestled with a lot of energy in the first couple of rounds. We were able to get four into the semifinals in another tough tournament,” said coach Matt Chambers. “We lost some close matches in the middle that could have gone either way. Hopefully, we can take this experience of being in close matches into the regional tournament next weekend. We have been wrestling at a much higher level over the last couple of weeks and we will need to continue to improve this week for a very tough region,” said the coach.

The regional tournament will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, in Parkston starting at 10 a.m.

Wrestlers Travel to Three Tournaments

usa state wrest 3 wrest;esThree Winner AAU youth wrestlers placed at the USA state wrestling tournament Sunday in Huron.

Maxton Brozik and Kaden Keiser both took first place. Riley Orel placed fourth.

Placing Sunday in the Wall tournament were Konner Osborn, 1st and Kaleb Osborn, 2nd

Several youth placed in Chamberlain on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Chamberlain results include:

6 and under—Rouken Robbins and Legend Benedict, both 1st and Hudson Peters, 4th

7-8—Rylan Robbins and Kylah Biggins, both 3rd and Hunter Kahler, 4th

9-10—Kellen Brozik, 1st; Keegan Biggins,2nd; Payton Fisher, 3rd, Evan Bartels and Coy Assman, both 4th

11-12—Gavin Tucker, 3rd and Kamryn Meek, 4th

13-14—Trevor Peters and Cailob Week, both 1st