Winner summer nights set for June 9

The first Winner Area Chamber of Commerce summer night of the season will be held June 9.

The event will be held on the first block of Main Street from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

The sponsor will be Jon Pochop Ameriprise.

There will be about 200 bicycle riders in Winner that night as the Ride Across South Dakota will be making their overnight stop in Winner.

Mike Scott, executive director of the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce, said the bike riders will be welcomed to the event.

There will be four food vendors. Scott noted there will organizations serving root beer floats, shaved ice, cotton candy.

There will be a kids zone featuring a bouncy house, obstacle course, lawn mower train, rock painting, roping plus other games.

The band will be Neo Johnson of Sioux Falls.

Persons are invited to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy the evening.

Other summer nights planned are July 15 in Colome and Aug. 12 in Winner.

Scott added the citywide garage sales are coming up June 24-25. Persons who want their sale listed need to call the Chamber office at 842-1533 by June 21. There will be flyers printed listing the garage sales.

Phase 2 HWY 44 Construction

Work on the start of Phase 2 of the Highway 44 and 18 project was set to start on May 31.

 Two-way traffic is scheduled to be installed on S.D. Highway 44 from Plum Street to Sale Barn Rd. On May 31, and will remain in place for the duration of the project. A 12-ft. wide width restriction will be in place where two-way traffic is being used.

A truck detour will also be put in place that utilizes S.D. highway 49, through Colome, and U.S. Highway 18 into Winner.

Motorist are asked to be aware of suddenly slowing traffic, changing work zone locations, reduced speeds through the work zone, and construction workers and equipment adjacent to the driving lanes.

Spring fest set for June 4

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church spring fest will be held June 4 at St. Mary’s Hall.

The doors will open at 5 p.m.

The event will feature a tailgate party theme.

The meal will include burgers, brats & hot dogs with salads.

Persons are asked to wear their favorite sports apparel.

Persons will be able to place a bid on silent or live auctions.

The live auction and raffle for a tractor and cash prizes will be held from 7-9 p.m.

There will be music and games for kids.

Tickets are available at Grossenburg Implement, Hobby Shoppe, Marty’s and the parish office.

All are welcome. Come and enjoy a good time.

Primary election is June 7

Voters in Tripp County will be going to the polls on June 7th for the state primary election.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Republican primary.
Locally there are just two county commissioner races.

In district one the two candidates are Mark Winter and Larry Wilcox. Winter is the incumbent.

In district 5, the candidates are Chip Schroeder and Cody Jorgensen. Schroeder is the incumbent.

In Colome Consolidated running for precinct committeeman are Dan Forgey and Brian Beck.

There will be a primary for governor. Governor Kristi Noem is being challenged by Steven Haugaard.

Congressman Dusty Johnson is being challenged by Taffy Howard.

U.S. Senator John Thune is being challenged by Bruce Whalen and Mark Mowry.

Also on the ballot will be Constitutional Amendment C. This requires three-fifths vote for approval of ballot measures imposing taxes or fees or obligating over $10 million. Everyone is eligible to vote on the amendment.

LifeServe Blood Drive

The LifeServe Blood Center 2-day blood drive held in Winner on Monday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 24 had a fantastic turn-out!  Total for both days, 99 donors registered and 104 units of life saving blood was donated.   There were generous donors that came out to help boost the local blood supply!  The units donated at the blood drives can help save up to 312 hospital patients!   The Southern Belle Cattlewomen and Tripp County 4-H  sponsored and hosted the blood drive.

The next blood drive in Winner is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20 and Thursday, July 21 at the Winner City Office. Please call LifeServe Blood Center at 800-287-4903 or www.lifeservebloodcenter.org to schedule your appointment.

Amendment C on June 7 ballot

In addition to voting for candidates in the June 7 primary election, voters will be asked to decide a ballot issue.

This year, all South Dakotas will be asked to weigh in on a question on the primary ballot-Constitutional Amendment C. Even if a person does not have a candidate running in the primary, they can vote on this referendum.

Amendment C would establish a 60 percent voting requirement for certain future ballot measures, specifically those that would increase taxes or cost the state more than  $10 million in the first five years.

Currently, a simple majority vote is needed to pass ballot measures in South Dakota.

Currently the constitution requires that any new tax or tax increase must be approved either by voters or by two-thirds of the members of each legislative branch. To be approved by voters, such a measure must obtain a majority of the votes cast. This constitutional amendment requires that any initiated measure, proposed constitutional amendment, or referred measure imposing or increasing taxes must obtain three-fifths of the votes cast to be approved.

This constitutional amendment also adds the requirement that any initiated measure, proposed constitutional amendment, or referred measure obligating the state to appropriate $10 million or more in any of the first five fiscal years must obtain three-fifths of the votes cast to be approved.

This constitutional amendment additionally requires any initiated measure, proposed constitutional amendment, or referred measure which imposes or increases fees to obtain three-fifths of the votes cast to be approved.

Voting yes on Amendment C supports raising the vote requirement for certain ballot measures from a simple majority to a three-fifths (60%) supermajority.

Voting no opposes raising the vote requirement for certain ballot measures from a simply majority to three-fifths supermajority.

A nearly identical ballot question was voted down by South Dakota voters in 2018.

“It’s important for all eligible South Dakotans to vote on June 7,” said Erik Gailkowski, AARP South Dakota state director.

Linc Bly “Hopper” Wilson, 63

Linc Bly  “Hopper”  Wilson passed away on Sept. 30, 2021, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Linc was born on July 6, 1958, to Chalmace (C.G.) and Dee Wilson.  He attended school in Winner, South Dakota, and graduated in 1976.

After high school, Linc attended Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota. Linc decided that a trade school would more suit his needs, so he transferred to Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minn., where he earned an Optical Technician degree. He worked in his trade for a short period and decided that he would rather be working in the field. He joined the Burlington Northern Railroad 982 Steel Gang in the summer of 1979. While with the 982 Steel Gang, Hopper worked all over Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska replacing short runs of rail with     1/4 mile-long ribbon rail.  In 1984 he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he started yet another career in the field as an apprentice glazier, eventually reaching journeyman status. He went on to have a long glazier career becoming job site foreman for many years, building many commercial high-rise properties. While working as a glazier, he acquired the contracts to hang the Tostitos banners for the Fiesta Bowl at the ASU stadium. Hopper enjoyed this job very much.

  Hopper was known by all his friends and family for his adventurist nature. He hunted and fished all over the states and Arizona dessert – pheasant, walleye, trout, deer, elk, but his favorite was rattlesnake. During the summer, you would find him driving down old railroad tracks until all hours of the night catching rattlesnakes. He would skin and tan the hides, and of course eat the meat. He truly enjoyed this pastime. Hopper was also a very proficient metal detector.  He would tell of his homeless buddies from the parks around the area that would help him, and then he would share his blessings with his detecting buddies. Hopper was also a talented artist, building very creative and unusual pieces from wood, glass, snake vertebrae, animal skins and skulls. He saw things a little differently than the rest of the world. LOL. Hopper was a true animal lover. He loved all animals, but cats were the dearest to his heart. Over the years he had and helped countless cats. Hopper was truly a very generous and kind man.

In 1994 Hopper married the love of his life, Margo Rivera-Wilson, at a destination wedding in Lake Tahoe CA. What a beautiful venue and memory.

His funeral service was held in Phoenix, Oct. 8, 2021.  A memorial service will be held for Linc in Winner on June 11, 2022, from 1-4 at the Holiday Inn Express conference room. 

He is survived by his wife Margo Rivera-Wilson of Phoenix, sister Tracee (Greg) Ford of Cody, Neb.; brother Shannon (Cindee) Wilson of Burlington, Iowa; nieces and nephews  Shae (T.J.) Schneider, Maive and Rhen, Parker, Colorado; Layne (Arielle) Ford, Ophelia, Ord, Nebraska; Reed (Mary Kay) Ford, Gunner and Bristol, Cody, Nebraska; Teeyl Ford, Cody, Nebraska; Jais Ford, Whitman, Nebraska; Greg (Tara) Schmidt, Liam and Ava, Rough and Ready, California; Sarah Schmidt, Burlington, Iowa; aunts and uncles Glee (Duane) Brooks, Mt. Shasta, California, Robin (Fran) Blakkolb, , Willowbrook, Illinois; cousins Annelle (Jason) Maygren, Grant, Marshall, Grace, Craig, Alaska; Christi (John) Munz, John Luke, Isabella, Sienna, Bellaire, Texas; Rebecca Blakkolb, Katy, Texas; Dick (Donna) Wilson, Orlando, Florida.

Linc was preceded in death by his parents Chalmace Wilson and Delores Blakkolb-Wilson; grandparents Walter and Nellie Blakkolb, Felix “Hickory” and Minnie Wilson; uncles and aunt. Dorwin and Louise Wilson, Larry Blakkolb; cousin Gary Wilson.