Category Archives: State

Doug Sherman, area engineer for the South Dakota Department of Transportation, spoke at the Winner Rotary meeting on Thursday.

He provided an update on the three highway projects in the Winner area.

The biggest is Highway 44 from Subway to one mile east. The main contractor is Reede Construction, Aberdeen.

Sherman said by the end of this week he hopes to have new base material on Highway 44. The process involves removal of about one foot of dirt. This dirt is then blended with crushed concrete and replaced back on the road as select subgrade topping. “The crushed concrete can really help stabilize dirt that is very wet and hard to stabilize by normal means, which is what exists in this area of Highway 44,” said Sherman.

Once the new dirt/crushed concrete is placed and is stable, a separator fabric is placed before the base material is put down. “This is done to ensure that over the years clays don’t get saturated and pump back into the good base material,” explained Sherman.

Once the new dirt is placed and stable, a separator fabric is place on it before the base material is laid.

Once the fabric is down, then six inches of good high quality base material is laid. Once that is down and compacted the next step is to place a geogrid on top of the six inches of base material and then placing another 11 inches of good high quality base material on top of the geogrid. Northern Plains Construction of Winner is doing this work.

Sherman added grading work on ditches will continue until mid-November. This includes removal of the old walk path as the new walk path is now in place. This work is also being done by Northern Plains.

Muth Electric is installing conduit for new lights.

It is hoped during the week of Sept. 13 Reede Construction will be on site to start some concrete paving. Paving will continue till late September or early October. There will be flaggers and pilot cars during the construction.

Once concrete paving is done, work will begin to create the new shoulders which mostly will consist of gravel and asphalt.

Lighting and final landscaping will also take place.

Sherman says the DOT hopes to have all work completed by early November.

Next phase of the project will be the reconstruction of Highway 18 from the bridge near Country Club Motel to First Fidelity Bank/Caseys. Most of this work will be done in 2023.

Highway 53

The next project is Highway 53 from Highway 18 south for 16 miles. The contractor is Asphalt Paving & Materials Company, Huron.

Cold milling of the existing surface started on Sept. 6. It is hope this work will be done by early next week. One inch of the existing surface was taken of and replaced it with two inches of brand new asphalt.

Plans are to begin placement of the new asphalt hot mix on Sept. 12. The work will last about three weeks and the all 16 miles will have a new surface. All work is expected to be done by mid-October.

Highway 49

The third project is Highway 49 from S.D. Highway 47 south to S.D. Highway 44.

The contractor is Knife River Construction, Sioux City, Iowa.

Sherman said the pipe work tied to this project is to be completed in the next 30 days.

He said spot grading of bump/frost heave areas is completed and the ride has been restored to those areas.

Deep excavation of bridge ends is completed as well as guardrail widening areas, so bridges are all ready for new asphalt to bed placed.

Cold milling of the entire area is completed. Sherman said the construction crew is taking one inch of the existing surface off and replace it with two inches of new asphalt.

Sherman said the replacement of new asphalt surfacing is well underway and should be completed by early October.

A youth league baseball player gives his first home run ball to his grandfather in a heartwarming video that made it all the way to ESPN.

The clip featured Bruce Carrier, former superintendent of the Winner School District and his grandson.

The story of Carrier and his grandson even made the New York Post in New York City.

In the video clip, Carrier’s grandson approaches his grandfather, who now lives in Sioux Falls, gushing about smacking two homers, one of which was a grand slam.

“I signed the ball for you,” the boy says “and it says, Papa, I love you.”

Carrier, who got emotional, asked his grandson why he did that and the boy said, “You taught me everything about baseball,” he said with tears rolling down is face.

“That’s so sweet,” said Carrier.

Moments like there are what baseball is all about.

Here are some of the responses from New Yorkers and others to the Post story:

This is so much more than baseball..love it.

He was my coach in jr and sr high school. Great man and I will never forget him.

I hope this kid goes places whether major league ball or whatever path he chooses. Kid done great for his grandpa. Young man not all heroes wear capes.

That’s the best thing ever.

Grandpa is the man

Winner Area girls golf team placed 4^th in the Class A tournament at Bakkers Crossing in Sioux Falls June 6-7.

Devan Dougherty was the team’s only medal placer as she tied for 23^rd with a score of 186.

Rylee Root placed 28^th with a 189, Gracie Root, tied for 29^th with a 190, Kelbi Meiners tied for 49^th with a 203 and Leila Balsiger tied for 54^th with a 206.

Coach Jim Halverson said the first day would have to be described as rugged as the girls hit the ball well until it was time to putt. “The greens were faster, more undulating and intimidating. We had a lot of three and four putt greens and their scores showed it,” said Halverson.

After the first day the girls were in 6^th place. The coach said the team had a two hour putting practice at the hotel.

“On Tuesday, the girls came out firing. They hit the ball well most of the time. The putting was a lot better,” said Halverson.

The coach said he was proud of the girls as they did battle.

Voters in Tripp County will be going to the polls on June 7^th 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.

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.

Allie Spellman, a student at Colome High School, has received two recognitions for her writing.

Her piece “Education” was selected as an honorable mention for the Jerome Norgren poetry contest in the high school division. She has been invited to read her work at the Norgren and Witherington Celebration Reading in May on the SDSU campus in Brookings.

Her work will also be printed in “Winning Writing” (A compilation of selected works).

Spellman, a freshman, was also selected by the National Folklife Network (NFN) for the emerging writer residency.

The NFN is a network of artists, culture bearers and folklorists who strengthen our communities through nurturing folk and traditional arts.

Spellman’s work will be featured by the National Endowment for the Arts on the National Folklife Network website.