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.
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.
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.
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.
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.