Submitted Photo The White River Bridge on S.D. Highway 183, south of Presho, was recently dedicated to U.S. Marine Corporal John Hutchison. On Aug 19, 1968, Hutchison, a aerial gunner of a CH-46 helicopter, was killed while participating in a troop extraction mission in South Vietnam, Quang Tri province. Bob Carrico, lead highway maintenance worker from Pierre, second from right, carried the state flag of South Dakota for the American Legion Post 20 presentation of colors at the bridge naming ceremony for Corporal Hutchison.
Michael DiGrazia recently was elected to
the Winner Regional Health and Wellness Foundation Board of Directors.
DiGrazia currently serves as a physical
therapist assistant at Winner Regional Health. He grew up in Shreveport, La.,
which is in the northwest portion of the
state that is referred to as the Ark-La-Tex region, where Arkansas, Louisiana,
and Texas border each other.
DiGrazia started his career in physical
therapy in 2007 at Louisiana State University Medical
Center (LSUMC) as a physical therapist
technician. He received his associate’s degree as a physical therapy assistant
(PTA) from Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) in 2012. Upon completion of
his degree, he returned to work at LSUMC as
a PTA. While working as a PTA, DiGrazia attended Louisiana State University
Shreveport (LSUS), where he went onto graduate in 2014 with his bachelor’s
degree in community health. His area of professional interest is with neuro,
ortho and geriatrics.
In 2015, he made the decision to start
travel therapy, as it provided him with more financial opportunities and the
ability to travel abroad between his assignments. DiGrazia traveled to many countries and
continents, including Europe, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Aside
from his joy for traveling; he enjoys camping, hiking, golfing, fishing,
boating, and exercising. In 2018, his travel assignment brought him to Winner
where he stayed a year
before becoming a full-time employee of
Winner Regional Health in May of 2019. He has a strong commitment to the
critical access system, as it is a
multi-setting design that allows him to get to know the patient better than any
other
hospital he had worked at.
In 2022,
DiGrazia was invited to attend one of the board meetings to gain a
better understanding of what the
foundation does and the mission it serves.
Following the meeting, he felt he could have a positive impact in the
foundation and knew he needed to be a part of that. DiGrazia strongly believes and supports the
work of the foundation, as it is dedicated to support Winner Regional Health in
providing high quality healthcare for the ever-evolving needs of a rural
community. His application was met with great support and was unanimously
elected to the Winner Regional Foundation Board of Directors.
Currently the foundation meets every other
month for one hour. The board generally meets on the
first or second Wednesday of the month.
“As we expand our presence in each of the
counties we
serve, we invite you to consider applying
to the board of directors,” said Brady Kerkman, director of marketing &
philanthropy. “As we understand and respect
that everyone leads busy lives, we can
accommodate virtual meetings for those who may reside
outside of Winner. If you’re looking to
give back to your community that truly impacts thousands
of individuals each year, we invite you to
contact Brady Kerkman at Winner Regional Health at (605)
842-7231. The foundation is forward
thinking, takes an out-of-the box approach, and is driven to bring strategic
goals and plans to reality,” said Kerkman.
Susan Rose Bell, 55, of Lander WY, was born
May 31, 1967 and tragically passed away on June 26, 2022. A one-night wake was
held on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in
Winner, SD. A final service will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 1 p.m.
at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD.
Susan Rose was born to Gloria “Dolly” Iron
Shooter and Edward Lonnie Bell Sr. in Lander, Wyo. She was raised in Winner, SD
where she attended grade school. In 1986 she attended Kicking Horse Job Corps
in Ronan, Mont., where she obtained her GED.
Not long after she met the love of her
life, the late great Bianca Bill. Together they had five children; Billie Jean
(Jose) Hernandez, Bobbi Jo, BoCephas Joshua, and her babies Brandee Jewel (Rey)
and Brindi Jaden, a bonus son Bill Felix Jr. “BJ”. Together they had 17
grandchildren; Isaias, Rosabella, Joseph, Rosalee, Josias, Bianca, Israel,
Skye, Sinella, Rosalena, Shiloh, Vicente, Travis, Elvira, Everleigh, Cassini,
Lacina, and one on the way. Her children and grandbabies made her world go
around, everything she did was because of them.
For the last 6 ½ years, Susan was employed
with Community Connections, she loved all her residents. Throughout her life
she has made many friends and had love for every person that she has came
across.
Susan is survived by all her children,
grandchildren, her mother Gloria Iron Shooter, two brothers; Kelly and Denny
DeNoyer, two sisters; Lindsay and Karlee Jones, her auntie Ruth DuBray and
three uncles; Darrel, Kenny, and Xavier Iron Shooter, her stepmom Sharon Bell,
and all her family in Wyoming.
She will be missed by all her family and
friends. Long Live Shushie Bell.
Bradley R.
Gish, 63, of Hastings, Neb., passed away on March 30 at Nebraska
Heart Hospital in Lincoln. He was born in Winner Jan. 26, 1959.
A
memorial service will be held at the Hamill Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Gish
was a truck driver for the Dallas/Ft. Worth Roofing Supply in Dallas,
Texas for 26 years. He moved back to Hastings in 2014. He worked for
Hastings Parks & Recreation and Booselma Travel Center. He was
recently employed by the Hastings Public Schools.
Gish
liked to spend time with his grand nephews, mother, sisters, cousins
and close friends. He liked watching NASCAR racing and movies. He
liked to play the lottery.
He
is survived by his mother, Marilyn Gish of Hastings; sisters, Lynette
Gish, Hastings, Jolene (Dave) Osborne of Monroe, Mich.; nephew
Michael (Miranda) Osborne of Virginia; nieces, Stephanie Osborne of
Monroe, Katelyn Osborne of Monroe, Lacey Gish of Hastings, grand
nephews, Matthew Buck, Jayden Gish, Cain Osborne, aunts, June
Scrivers of Imperial, Neb.; Betty Musilek, Mesa, Ariz.; uncles, Leroy
(Sheila) Varilek, Rapid City; Martin Varilek, Winner and many close
family, friends and roommates.
He
was preceded in death by his father, Lindy Gish; sister, Denise Gish,
grandparents, Leonard and Rose Gish and George and Lillian Varilek,
eight uncles and two aunts.
Micheal Rohde passed away peacefully at his
home in Winner, SD, on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at the age of 95.
A memorial service will be held on Friday,
July 8 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner,
SD. Burial will follow in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD. Visitation
will be held one hour prior to the services.
Micheal was born on the family farm south
of Colome on April 13, 1927, to Joseph and Bridget (London) Rohde. He joined
siblings Agnes, Walter, Cecilia, and Edward. He experienced the Dirty Thirties
during his childhood, and he shared stories of the difficult times that his
family endured. When he was a teenager, he almost died due to a ruptured
appendicitis. He did not return to high school because of his long
recovery.
Mike joined the Army in 1947 and was
stationed in Washington and Alaska. He came back to the family farm after his
service. To earn extra money, he traveled to Chicago to drive a vehicle back to
South Dakota for a car dealership. While there, he visited an Army buddy who
set him up on a blind date with Marilyn Smith. This was the start of a love
story that would include almost 70 years of marriage, nine children, 25
grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.
Marilyn moved to South Dakota, and they
were united in marriage on Sept. 6, 1952, at St. John’s Catholic Church in
Paxton, SD. They made their home on the family farm. Over the years, Mike and
Marilyn worked hard to expand the family farm/ranch where they raised their
family, cattle, hogs, and crops.
Mike
also worked for the Farm Service Agency as a field representative. With this
job, he traveled to many farms and knew producers all over Tripp Co. Mike never
met a stranger. He could carry on a conversation with anyone, and he always had
a story or two to share. Mike also met many people through his love of coon
hunting. He raised Blueticks, and he spent many nights chasing raccoons and
telling stories. His keen eye and steady hand made him an expert marksman with
a rifle. He also enjoyed time fishing; it didn’t matter if he was at a dam in
Tripp Co. or along the Missouri River at Ft. Thompson.
Mike’s faith and family were very important
to him. He was extremely proud of their children, and he loved to talk about
them. Mike and Marilyn’s family includes the following:
-Son Steve (Gin) of Rapid City and children
Aimee (Ray) Brinson of Slidell, LA, and children Owen and Audrey Brinson;
Regina (Aaron) Ueckert of Valley, NE, and children Greyson and Hadley Peters
and Ameri Ueckert; and Dylan Rohde of Omaha, NE.
-Son Marty (Barb) Rohde of Yankton and
children Sara (Jon) McMahon of Sioux Falls and children Cecilia and Joslyn; and
Levi Rohde of Yankton.
-Daughter Kathleen (Ron) Ernest of Winner
and children Ethan (Krystine) Ernest of Winner and children Jaya, Esmae, and
Zayden; Erin Ernest (Karl Lehman) of Lead and son Ren; Scott Ernest of Winner;
and Grace Ernest (Shane Crawford) and son Sawyer.
-Daughter Sheila (Mark) Gau of Pickstown
and children Jasmine (Jeremy) Kreeger of Wagner and children Kendra, Cord, and
Wade; Tina (Kelly) Nielson of Sioux Falls and children Miah, Colton, Connor,
and Cali; and Leo Gau of Pickstown.
-Son Joseph (Pam) Rohde of Billings, MT,
and children Brandton (Andrea) Rohde of Washington and children Cadence,
Teagan, Kenna, and Brynn; and Jessica (Matt) Henry of Missoula, MT, and
children Rowan and Asher.
-Son Ryan (Julie) Rohde of Colome and
children Michael Rohde (Brittney Evans) of Chamberlain and Zane Rohde (Thyme
Edoff) of Colome.
-Son Ross (Judy) Rohde of Rapid City and
children Amy (Ben) Pravecek of Hulett, WY, and children Payton Eagle-Pravecek
(Jeremiah Johnson) and Paxton Pravecek; Mandy and Justin Holcomb of Gillette,
WY, and children Abby Millburg and Nash Holcomb.
-Daughter Leila Wells of Winner and
children Danielle (Dane) Anderson of Plentywood, MT, and children Finn and
Ollie Anderson; Ashley Adair of Rapid City and children Andre, Neveah, and
Chancellor; and Laven Adair of Rapid City.
-Daughter Rhonda (John) Gehlsen of Black
Hawk and children Paige (Kyle Schilling), Isaac (Annika Enevoldsen), Hannah,
and Gabriel Gehlsen.
Mike and Marilyn also helped to raise two
nephews: William and Jack Holden.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents,
Joseph and Bridget Rohde, and his siblings and in-laws: Agnes and Don Maher,
Walter Rohde, Cecilia and William Musilek, and Edward and Dorothy Rohde.
Farmers
market season is just around the corner! The Burke Area Farmers Market will
kick off the year with their first Market on Thursday
July 7th from 5:30-7:00 PM at
the Burke City Park. In addition to shopping with vendors, there
will be a meal for purchase by Chubby’s food truck, a kids’ coloring contest,
and live music from our friends Jerry Squared!
You will find
many old and new friendly vendor faces at the Market this year, and you can
read all about them on the vendor page of BAFM’s website at www.burkeareafarmersmarket.com.
Shoppers can expect a food truck or vendor at every market plus fun things each
week like little free library days, free s’mores, and a veggie tattoos. There
will be plenty of fun for kids and grownups alike – and you’ll be able to beat
the heat at the new splash pad this year.
The market
will also bring you presentations on food and farming topics, live music, and recipe
samples. One way to stay connected with the market is by following their
Facebook page Burke Area Farmers Market and Instagram account @burkeareafarmersmarket.
If you have
questions about shopping or participating in the Market as a vendor, you can reach
them by phone or email at (605) 830-5039 or burkeareafarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Board Vice
President Fran Hill explained how much the market appreciates the love and
support they get from all the customers and communities that come from all over
south central South Dakota and north central Nebraska to shop and socialize.
“Without our customers, there just wouldn’t be a Market. Join us again this
year starting July 7th running through September 29th – we promise you won’t be
disappointed!”
Submitted Photo Glenn Sealey of the Colome Volunteer Fire Department, left, and Reuben Vollmer Jr. of the Midland Fire Department were awarded lifetime membership in the South Dakota Fire Fighters Association at the annual state school held in Ft. Pierre on June 11. They join 23 other members of this honor.
July
is a busy month for the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce.
First
there is Crazy Day on July 15.
That
night will be summer night in Colome sponsored by the Winner Area
Chamber of Commmerce. The event in Colome will be from 6-11 p.m.
The
band will be Country Rush.
There
will be several food vendors and multiple sponsors for the event.
There
will be games for kids plus a bouncy house.
The
main feature will be an inflatable foosball game. Mike Scott,
executive director of the Chamber, says there will be five persons on
a team. There could be some friendly grudge matches said Scott.
The
band will be Country Rush.
The
end of July will feature BBQ Pit Row and Classic Car Show on Winner’s
Main St.
The
event will be held on July 30. This will mark the 10th
anniversary of BBQ sponsored by the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce.
There
is still time for persons to enter the BBQ. They can call the Chamber
office to get registered.
The
judging of the brisket, pulled pork and ribs will begin at 5 p.m.
with the tasting beginning at 7 p.m.
Scott
said there is a need for more judges. If you would like to help judge
just call the Chamber.
A
week before the event there will be a judging class where the rules
will be explained.
New
this year will be a kids barbeque contest. The age division is 6-10
and 11-15.
Participants
will be give two pounds of hamburger ad will have an hour and a half
to cook the meat. The contest is limited to 14 kids. Each youth will
be provided a little smokie grill to use.
The
Southern Belle Cattle women purchased he hamburger for the kids and
will provide each participant with a gift bag.
The
kids grilling will be from 10:30 a.m, to noon on Main St.
Youth
who want to participate are to call the Chamber.
A
retirement ceremony for Tara Jo Mayes, formerly of Winner, was held
June 16 at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va.
Mayes
is the daughter of Don and Cathy Mayes of Winner.
Tara
Jo Mayes has served 22 years in the Navy and will serve eight years
in the reserve.
Master
chief Mayes enlisted in the Navy in July 2000 and attended recruit
training command in Great Lakes, Ill.
Upon
completion of basic training she reported to Naval Service Training
Command for information systems technician A school.
Her
first tour of duty was with Tactical support center I Sigoella,
Italy, providing technical support for P-3 Orion patrol squadrons
while deployed to Kosovao I support of operation joint guardia.
In
January 2004 she transferred to the USS Harry S. Truman deploying to
Fifth Fleet in support of operation Iraqi Freedom. She then
transferred to Center for information dominance learning site Dam
Neck, Va, as an instructor for advanced network analysis and theater
battle space management control systems.
Returning
to sea duty she was assigned to the USS Winston Churchill conducting
two deployments to Fifth Fleet where she was the selected as the
commander’s sailor of the year and being selected chief officer.
Continuing
in the expeditionary community she reported to Naval Mobile
Construction Battalion ELEVEN while deploying to Rota, Spain twice
supporting communication efforts to 25 task tailored detachments in
support of CTF’s 56, 68 ad 75 where she advanced to senior chief.
Returning
to the surface fleet, she transferred to information warfare training
group I Virginia Beach, Va., for a short tour while being promoted to
master chief. After being redistributed due to advancement she
reported to U.S. Second Fleet where she is assigned as the staff
senior enlisted leader in support of Atlantic and Artic operations to
include command and control of JFC Norfolk in support of NATO.
Her
qualifications include achievement of a master training specialist,
master training specialist mentor and holds an associates of science
in information technology and a bachelor of science in information
systems and cyber security.
Master
chief Mayes is a graduate of the senior enlisted academy Class 217
and has earned the designation as a Seabee combat warfare specialist,
expeditionary warfare specialist, surface warfare specialist, air
warfare specialist, and has earned numerous personal and unit awards.
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