Category Archives: State

A small group of the 147th South Dakota Army National Guard band stationed out of Mitchell will perform in Winner on Feb. 8. They will perform in the Armory from 2:45 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. 

Winner is one of their stops on a tour of schools.

Mission Essential Brass is a nine member ensemble. The band plays a variety of music and has a high energy show.

The band is based in Mitchell and has seen overseas deployment to Guatemala in 1991, Panama in 1996 Nicaeragua in 2002 and Suriname in 2018.

The band performs for military and civilian functions throughout the region and is made up of musicians aged 17 to 60.

In addition to the concert and ceremonial bands, the 147th Band is comprised of four unique music performance teams: Sgt. Rock, FTX, Drive On and Mission Essential Brass.

Winner Regional Hospital has been recognized by the Chartis Center for Rural Health as a 2023 Quality 2023 performance leadership award for being in the 75th percentile or above among rural hospitals of America in quality.

The performance leadership awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Index, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessments of rural hospital performance.

INDEX data is relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health around the country to measure and monitor performance across areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

Brian Williams, CEO of Winner Regional, says this has been awarded to Winner Regional Hospital is a recognition to all members of the Winner Regional team in every department. 

“WRH has some of the best people in healthcare working here in our community and this award recognizes the hard work and dedication of WRH staff have for our community,” said Williams.

“I want to thank each one of them for everything they do every day and for the support we receive from our community to allow us to provide healthcare services to them. As WRH would have never been recognized for this award without such a supporting community, “ said Williams.

Joseph Laprath of the Winner Area cross country team placed 21st at the state meet Saturday in Sioux Falls.

The senior placed 21st in 16:44.98 and was on the medal stand as he placed in the  top 25.

Coach Jayd Schuyler said Laprath ran well at state held at Yankton Trails park. “He put himself in a position to be one of the top 25,” said Schuyler.

“It was great to see Joseph end his cross country career on the podium at the state meet,” added the coach.

Schuyler said Laprath is the third boy cross country runner to place at state since he started coaching in  2011. The other two are Coleton Schuyler (2014) and Kade Watson (2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021).

It has been a goal of Laprath to place at state and he accomplished his dream his senior year. It was a happy day for the outstanding cross country runner. 

Winner High School oral interp team competed at Sioux Falls Washington on Oct. 20.

Hayden McMurtrey competed in varsity poetry, Grace Brown in varsity dramatic, Wyatt Winfield in novice poetry, Shannon Rank in novice dramatic, Brayden Woods in novice storytelling and Payton Jensen in novice humorous.

The team competed against 25 other schools.

The team traveled to Brookings on Oct. 23 for a competition.

Winner is one of 23 South Dakota communities that will have extra money to promote pheasant hunting in their area thanks to Travel South Dakota’s Rooster Rush campaign.

“Rooster Rush is designed to put a spotlight on South Dakota’s pheasant hunting—the best hunting in the world,” said Jim Hagen, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. “We are proud to work with these communities and help them develop their own Rooster Rush promotions that will attract and welcome hunters.” 

The Winner Area Chamber of Commerce is using the money to welcome hunters to Tripp County and Winner.

Community organizations were given the opportunity to apply for up to $500 in funding for Rooster Rush promotional materials or advertising.

Travel South Dakota provides the Rooster Rush logo and ad templates for communities to customize with localized information.

Winner and other communities chosen will have the opportunity to enter their Rooster Rush marketing efforts for a chance to win the Cacklin’ Community Award. The award is announced at the annual governor’s conference on tourism in January.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Carrying an American flag a 14 year old Florida boy crosses the highway at McDonalds for a one mile run to honor fallen heroes in South Dakota.

Zechariah Cartledge, Orlando, Fla., is part of the Running 4 Heroes organization.

This organization started with a kid, an appreciation for first responders and a mission to raise awareness and funds for those fallen in the line of duty.

Cartledge was born with a gift of running. He was raised with an appreciation for first responders and all they do for the community. As he grew older, Cartledge decided to help the families of fallen first responders in a meaningful way.

In 2019, Runner 4 Heroes officially became a non-profit. Cartledge runs one mile for every first responder who makes the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He wants to honor those who gave up their life so we may live in a better world.

He was on his way to honor a Valentine, Neb., police officer who was injured. He wanted to do a South Dakota run to honor fallen first responders in this state and chose a mile run in Winner. He ran from McDonalds to the Winner Drive-In Theater on July 18.  

He was going to Valentine to deliver a $10,000 grant to injured police officer Jasmine Hoefs.

On Dec. 16, 2022, officer Hoefs was assisting EMS getting to a patient that was having a medical episode following a four day snow storm when she was accidently run over by a front end loader. The impact caused injuries to her head and left arm.

Since the incident, Hoefs has undergone three surgeries to her face and shoulder as well as reconstructive surgery to her left arm. More surgeries are to come.

Each month the young runner gives a $10,000 donation to a first responder.

The high school freshman has been doing this run for about four years.
When explaining how he got started he said: “I have always had a great connection with first responders after learning more about what they do for our community. I wanted to help my local community.

He does the run all year long. When in school he will leave on a Friday and come back on Sunday that way he does not have to miss school.

When asked what he enjoys about the event he said he enjoys meeting new families in new communities, getting to learn their stories. These are stories I would never learn before.  And getting to run in places like Winner that I thought I would never be able to run in,” he said.

The student notes the organization has given a total of over $800,000 back to local communities.

“First responders do so much for us. I want to let them know they are appreciated,” he said.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Updates on the progress of two highway projects in Winner were provided by Doug Sherman, area engineer of the South Dakota Department of Transportation, on May 2.

On the Highway 18 project in Winner, most of the dirt work and base preparation is done from the bridge by the Country Club Motel to Iowa Street. Close behind will be work on Iowa Street to South County Road intersection.

Sherman says it is anticipated Reede Construction will start paving the north lanes around the middle of May.

Water line work will continue from South County Road east to First Fidelity Bank.

“We will see a lot more work in Phase 2 which is the area from South County Road to First Fidelity Bank.

Sherman added the overwidth detour is in place and the signage is in place. This is for local truck traffic only. Other trucks or larger vehicles are asked to work with the port authority to find an alternate route.

Sherman is stressing that people drive slow in the work zone and observe the 25 mile a your speed limit which starts at First Fidelity Bank. “If people don’t follow the speed limit and signs it will really create problems on the project,” Sherman said.

There is a large drop off due to the profile change from the old road and the new road and that is why the speed has been reduced to 25 miles per hour. “There is no room for a margin of error.  Drive slow,” said Sherman.

He also talked about the progress on the project on Highway 18 from Winner to Colome.

He said the surface repair is 100 percent complete and work has moved to stage 2 which is the diamond grinding of the surface. Sherman explained this will restore a great ride.

“Persons should see a vast improvement to the ride,” he said.

Detour signs and overwidth signs on this section will be removed. The drive from Winner to Colome is basically back to normal except in work zone areas where diamond grinding is being done. This area will be controlled by a flagger and a pilot car.

On May 2, persons noticed work being done on Highway 44. Last year as part of the three year highway project in Winner temporary highway markings were placed. Now, new durable pavement markings have been laid. Sherman noted the durable markings should erase any confusion persons had driving in this area.

Construction meetings are held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the city council chambers.

Persons who have questions on the project can call the DOT office in Winner.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

South Central Development Corporation has an office building for sale.

The development corporation acquired Covey Law Office from Vicki Covey. The building has been remodeled with new windows, doors, heating, cooling, new roof, new sewer and bathroom.

Mike Scott of the development corporation says this will be a nice office for someone. The building at 409 S. Main St. is for sale. Those interested in the building are to call Scott at the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce office.

Scott says the development corporation is trying to revitalize Main Street one building at a time.

Looking for new opportunities on Main Street, an architectural firm is looking at a possibility for a green space on Main Street. This would include a sitting area, maybe a stage. This is an area where there could be a farmers market, Santa visit to Winner and just a nice visual piece to Main Street.

Scott says the goal is when someone new drives through Winner and Main Street they say, “Wow, this looks neat.”

The development corporation has funding available persons who want to upgrade their buildings through a façade grant.

SCDC is involved in a lot of aspects of the community as far as having loans available and recruitment of employees. The pressing goal is the revitalization of Main Street.

Persons interested in buying this building are asked to call Mike Scott.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Sales tax reduction, foreign ownership of ag land were among the topics discussed by Dist. 21 legislators at a crackerbarrel in Winner Saturday afternoon at the Winner Legion.

Lawmakers attending were Rep. Rocky Blare of Ideal and Rep. Marty Overweg of New Holland.

Sen. Erin Tobin of Winner was unable to attend.

The crackerbarrel was sponsored by Winner Area Chamber of Commerce with Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber introducing the lawmakers. Winner American Legion Auxiliary provided coffee, cookies and bars.

Blare said the biggest issue this past week in the House was passing HB1137 which will reduce the state sales tax rates in South Dakota from 4.5 percent to 4.2 percent. This will reduce the tax burden for citizens by $100 million, the largest tax decrease in S.D. history.

There were two bills regarding the foreign ownership of agriculture land.

The governor’s farmland protection bill, SB185 was defeated in the senate explained Overweg.

If enacted, it would create a seven member board modeled after the federal agency tasked to reviewing foreign purchases that could impact national security.

The committee would review any transfer of agricultural land involving a foreign entity, offering a recommendation to the governor.

Overweg said all ag groups were opposed to SB185 and Overweg said he was also against it.

Blare explained an ag bill that has survived is HB1189 which would be a ban of foreign ownership of over 160 acres. The bill will help close a loophole by requiring disclosure by a foreign owned corporation as to whether they hold any interest in South Dakota ag land.

Pam Haukaas of the Colome Consolidated School Board asked the legislators to consider an increase of 8 percent for school districts. She said students are leaving the state for higher paying jobs in neighboring states. Haukaas said the average teacher pay in South Dakota is $49,547. She said the closest regional competitor, Montana, is more than $3,500 ahead of South Dakota.
Haukaas said the state has the money for an 8 percent increase. She said the current proposed increase of 5 percent costs the state $24 million and if the total increase was raised to 8 percent it would require only about $14 million more for a total increase in new funding for public schools.

Robert Tate asked several questions about voting machines and told the legislators he cannot find out who owns the voting machines.

Blare explained there are several bills in the legislature this year dealing with election integrity. In his column this week in the Winner Advocate Blare lists the election bills.

A question was asked about the brand board. Blare said the House passed a brand board bill that would change the make up of the board from appointed to elected members from seven districts.

A discussion was held on what the legislators will do to regulate medical marijuana.

A bill dealing with pop up medical marijuana clinics died in the Senate.

Prior to meeting in Winner, the lawmakers held a crackerbarrel in Burke.