STATE BOYS VARSITY HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

Expo Center, Fort Pierre, Friday-Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10-11

Game schedule:
Friday, 9:30 a.m.: #3 Brookings vs. #6 Watertown.
Friday, noon: #2 Rushmore vs. #7 Mitchell.
Friday, 2:30 p.m.: #4 Oahe Capitals vs. #5 Huron.
Friday, 5 p.m.: #1 Sioux Falls vs. #8 Sioux Center.
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.: Consolation semifinals.
Saturday, 4:30 and 7 p.m.: Championship semifinals.
Sunday, 10 a.m.: Fifth-place game.
Sunday, 12:30 p.m.: Third-place game.
Sunday, 3 p.m.: Championship game.

Television: All four Friday games, the two championship semifinals Saturday, and the third-place and championship games Sunday will all be televised live on Midco Sports Network’s MSN2 channel. The two consolation games Saturday and the fifth-place game Sunday can be streamed live at https://oahetv.com.

Radio: KCCR (1240 AM) will broadcast all state tournament games. Online the broadcasts can be heard at www.todayskccr.com.

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

State ‘AA’ girls tournament at Sioux Falls March 15:
Upper bracket:
Aberdeen Central vs. Rapid City Central, 1 p.m. (Premier Center).
S.F. O’Gorman vs. Brandon Valley, 5 p.m. (Premier Center).
Lower bracket:
Rapid City Stevens vs. Harrisburg, 1 p.m. (Arena).
S.F. Washington vs. S.F. Lincoln, 5 p.m. (Arena).

State ‘AA’ boys tournament at Sioux Falls March 15:
Upper bracket:
R.C. Stevens vs. S.F. O’Gorman, 3 p.m. (Premier Center).
Harrisburg vs. S.F. Washington, 7 p.m. (Premier Center).
Lower bracket:
S.F. Lincoln vs. Yankton, 3 p.m. (Arena)
R.C. Central vs. Douglas, 7 p.m. (Arena).

State ‘A’ girls tournament at Watertown March 8 (TV SDPB1 or SDPB3):
Upper bracket:
Belle Fourche vs. Madison, noon.
West Central vs. Crow Creek, 1:45 p.m.
Lower bracket:
St. Thomas More vs. Vermillion, 6 p.m.
McCook Central-Montrose vs. Aberdeen Roncalli, 7:45 p.m.

State ‘B’ girls tournament at Aberdeen March 8 (TV SDPB1 or SDPB3):
Upper bracket:
Faith vs. Tripp-Delmont-Armour, noon.
Warner vs. Castlewood, 1:45 p.m.
Lower bracket:
Hanson vs. Avon, 6 p.m.
Sully Buttes vs. Ethan, 7:45 p.m.

Class ‘A’ boys and Class ‘B’ boys: All of the Round of 16 games scheduled for Tuesday were postponed due to the blizzard. While seven games were to be played last night (Wednesday), the other nine games of the Round of 16 games will be played tonight (Thursday) after which the state tournament pairings for next Thursday will be known.
— In Pierre tonight: 5:30, Sioux Valley vs. Hot Springs in ‘A’; 7:15, White River vs. Kimball-White Lake in ‘B.’
— In Fort Pierre tonight: 7:00, Herreid-Selby Area vs. Timber Lake in ‘B.’

Class ‘B’ boys: Winning Round of 16 games last night and advancing to next week’s state tourney in Aberdeen were Sully Buttes, Canistota and Langford Area. Games Thursday night: Bridgewater-Emery vs. De Smet, Clark-Willow Lake vs. Sanborn Central-Woonsocket, White River vs. Kimball-White Lake, Corsica-Stickney vs. Lower Brule, Herreid-Selby Area vs. Timber Lake.

Class ‘A’ boys: Four teams qualified for next week’s state tourney in Rapid City by winning Round of 16 games last night—Sioux Falls Christian, Crow Creek, Madison and Tea Area. Games Thursday night: Bon Homme vs. Dakota Valley, Red Cloud vs. Miller, Sioux Valley vs. Hot Springs, Dell Rapids vs. Pine Ridge.

NCAA Division II men’s Central Regional tournament at Maryville, Mo., March 10:
Upper bracket:
#3 Southern Nazarene vs. #6 St. Cloud State, noon.
#2 Northern State (S.D.) vs. #7 Washburn, 2:15 p.m.
Lower bracket:
#1 Northwest Missouri State vs. #8 Minnesota State-Mankato, 6 p.m.
#4 Southwest Minnesota State vs. #5 Missouri Southern, 8:15 p.m.
Semifinals: Sunday, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Championship game: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

NCAA Division II women’s Central Regional tournament at Sioux Falls (Elmen Center) March 9:
Upper bracket:
#3 Southwestern Oklahoma vs. #6 Fort Hays State, noon.
#2 Central Missouri vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead, 2:30 p.m.
Lower bracket:
#1 Augustana vs. #8 Lindenwood (Mo.), 5:30 p.m.
#4 Arkansas Tech vs. #5 Northern State (S.D.), 8 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Championship game: Monday, 7 p.m.

NCAA Division II women’s South Central Regional tournament at Lubbock, Texas, March 9:
Upper bracket:
#3 Colorado State-Pueblo vs. #6 Metro State (Colo.), noon.
#2 West Texas A&M vs. #7 Arkansas-Fort Smith, 2:30 p.m.
Lower bracket:
#1 Lubbock Christian vs. #8 Tarleton State, 6 p.m.
#4 Angelo State (Texas) vs. #5 Black Hills State, 8 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Championship game: Monday, 7 p. m.

NAIA Division II men’s national tournament at Sanford Pentagon:
Remainder of first round Thursday:
8:30: Indiana U.-Southeast vs. Stillman (Ala.).
10:15: Warner Pacific vs. Southeastern (Fla.).
12:00: Indiana Wesleyan vs. Antelope Valley (Calif.).
1:45: Morningside (Iowa) vs. Trinity International.
4:00: Mayville State (N.D.) vs. College of Idaho.
5:45: Dakota Wesleyan vs. Governors State (Ill.).
7:30: Indiana Tech vs. West Virginia U. Tech.
9:45: Union (Ky.) vs. Marian (Ind.).
Second round Friday:
8:30: Indiana U.-East vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan.
10:15: Briar Cliff (Iowa) vs. St. Thomas (Fla.).
12:00: St. Francis (Ind.) vs. Northwestern (Iowa).
1:45: Cornerstone (Mich.) vs. Southwestern (Kan.).
Other games involving Thursday winners at 4:00, 5:45, 7:30, 9:45.
Quarterfinals Saturday: 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00.
Semifinals Monday: 6:00, 8:00.
Championship game: Tuesday, 6:00.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If you have something to say, say it. If you have something to write, write it. If you have something to paint, paint it. If you have a cause you want to champion, speak out.
— Maria Shriver

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Girls basketball: The Lady Govs’ season ended with a 9-12 record when they lost their Round of 16 game at Sioux Falls Washington, 40-34. Mack Rath was high scorer with eight points, and Abigail Foster, Kylie Kessler and Hannah Lingle had six points each. Emily Mikkelsen grabbed eight rebounds. The only senior who will be lost to graduation is Erika Stout.

Boys basketball: The Governors stayed with #1 Rapid City Stevens for a half, trailing at the break only 28-24, but the Raiders surged in the second half and ended the Pierre season, 60-45, in the Round of 16 game in Rapid City. Peyton Zabel led the Pierre scoring with 15 points. The season ends with a 6-15 record. The Governors lose Carson Tschetter, Matt Maxfield, Zabel and Dawson Puepke to graduation.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

Boys basketball: The Buffaloes’ season ended in the final Region 6A game, one game shy of the Round of 16, when they lost at Miller, 78-49.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Girls basketball: Sully Buttes’ chase for a third straight state “B” championship was on the brink at times at the Huron Arena in the Round of 16 game against Freeman, but the Chargers prevailed in double overtime, 59-56. Rachel Guthmiller led SBHS with 23 points, Kendra Kleven had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Lauren Wittler added eight points. Freeman’s pressure created 13 steals and caused 21 turnovers, but the Chargers answered with 24 of 37 free throws. They failed to cash in at the stripe, however, when free throws could have ended the game in regulation time and in the first overtime. Brooklyn Bradford and Kleven hit crucial free throws late in the second extra period to win it and allow the Chargers to return to the state tournament.

Boys basketball: The Chargers completed regional play with a 61-43 win over Leola-Frederick to emerge from Region 2B as one of the two Round of 16 qualifiers. Leading at the half by 39-19, Sully Buttes was led by Lincoln Jordre with 21 points as he surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career. Last night in the Round of 16 game played at Faith, the Chargers won their way back to another state tournament with an easy 67-33 win over Harding County.

AND THESE WERE INTENDED TO BE JOKES!

— Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas): “I came to this city by way of the Ivy League and a few years in the military. Being the only senator still in his 30s, I arrived in Washington as a young man looking for role models. As they say in crime stories, ‘the search continues.'”
— President Trump: “I won’t rule out talks with Kim Jong-un. As far as risks with talking with a mad man, that’s his concern, not mine.”
— New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu at the Gridiron Club dinner in Washington: “I just came here from Mardi Gras, and I have to say, boy, do you guys have some weird traditions.”

COUNTDOWN

1 day: State boys hockey tournament, Fort Pierre (March 9-11).
3 days: Daylight Savings Time begins (March 11).
7 days: State “AA” boys/girls basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (March 15-17).
7 days: State boys basketball tournaments, “B” Aberdeen, “A” Rapid City (March 15-17).
7 days: State high school visual arts showcase, Rapid City (March 15-17).
7 days: NCAA Division I wrestling national tournament, Cleveland (March 15-17).
11 days: NCAA Division II women’s national basketball tournament, Sioux Falls (March 19, 21, 23).
11 days: Riggs High National Honor Society initiation ceremony (March 19).
12 days: NCAA Division II men’s national basketball tournament, Sioux Falls (March 20, 22, 24).
15 days: NCAA Division I men’s hockey West Region, Sioux Falls (March 23-24).
16 days: All-State Band concert, Rapid City (March 24).
21 days: Baseball opening day (March 29).
22 days: NCAA Division I women’s basketball Final Four, Columbus (March 30, April 1).
23 days: NCAA Division I men’s basketball Final Four, San Antonio (March 31, April 2).
24 days: Easter Sunday (April 1).
24 days: “Jesus Christ, Superstar” in concert, NBC-TV (April 1).
28 days: NCAA Division I men’s hockey Frozen Four, St. Paul (April 5-7).
29 days: Pierre high school baseball openers (April 6).

WORDS OF WISDOM

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.
— Aristotle

HOCKEY UPDATE

Gillette Wild (Coleman Varty): In a one-game weekend the Wild lost to Yellowstone, 4-2, Friday. They have a rematch this Friday in Cody to finish the regular season.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd defeated Des Moines, 2-1, but lost at Chicago, 4-2. Sioux Falls has a three-game home weekend, playing Sioux City Friday, Chicago Saturday and Lincoln Sunday.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush lost both games at Allen, 5-2 and 3-2 in overtime. They also lost last night at Tulsa, 3-1. Rapid City has a three-game homestand against Colorado Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the first two of those three at home.

Minnesota Wild: After losing to Arizona, 5-3, and to Colorado, 7-1, on the road, the Wild won at home over Detroit, 4-1, and Carolina, 6-2. Minnesota goes to Vancouver Friday (9:00 FSN) and Edmonton Saturday (9:00 FSN), then plays Colorado at home Tuesday (7:30 NBCSN).

Oahe Lady Capitals: At the state tournament in Huron the girls lost to Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals, 9-1. Amy Gilkerson scored unassisted for the only Oahe goal. Mariah Nelson had to make 61 saves. The Lady Caps were outshot 70-4. In the consolation semifinals Rushmore beat Oahe in overtime, 4-3. Kaitlyn Swenson scored unassisted, and Gilkerson converted assists by Swenson and Jessa McTighe for a 2-0 lead. Trailing 3-2, the Caps got a tying goal from Gilkerson at 13:49 of the third period, but Rushmore scored 1:01 into overtime for the game-winner. Nelson made 27 saves. In the seventh-place game the Lady Capitals defeated Omaha, 7-3., Olivia Swenson and Gilkerson scored two goals each, and Layna Tibbs, Sara Bierne and Jenna Keyser each scored once. Nelson had 23 saves.

Division I men’s hockey update:
— Bemidji State (16-14-8, 13-9-6): Lost to Michigan Tech 5-3 and 5-4; eliminated from WCHA playoffs.
— Minnesota (19-17-2): Lost to Penn State 5-3 and 6-5 in best-of-3 Big 10 quarterfinals.
— North Dakota (14-12-10, 8-10-6): Lost to St. Cloud State 4-3 and tied St. Cloud State 2-2; finished fourth in NCHC to earn home ice in playoffs; Friday-Sunday, home vs. Omaha in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Miami (11-18-5, 6-14-4): Lost to Denver 6-3, tied Denver 3-3 in overtime; Friday-Sunday, @ St. Cloud State in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Wisconsin (14-19-4): Lost to Michigan 6-5 and 7-4 in best-of-3 Big 10 quarterfinals.
— Minnesota-Duluth (19-14-3, 13-11-0): Lost to Omaha 4-1, beat Omaha 4-1; Friday-Sunday, home vs. Western Michigan in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Colorado College (14-15-5, 8-12-4): Beat Western Michigan 2-1, lost to Western Michigan 8-2; Friday-Sunday, @ Denver in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Western Michigan (15-17-2, 10-13-1): Lost to Colorado College 2-1, beat Colorado College 8-2; Friday-Sunday, @ Minnesota-Duluth in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Omaha (17-15-2, 10-13-1): Beat Minnesota-Duluth 4-1, lost to Minnesota-Duluth 4-1; Friday-Sunday, @ North Dakota in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Denver (18-8-8, 12-6-6): Beat Miami 6-3, tied Miami 3-3 in overtime; Friday-Sunday, home vs. Colorado College in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— St. Cloud State (22-6-6): Beat North Dakota 4-3 in overtime, tied North Dakota 2-2; Friday-Sunday, home vs. Miami (Ohio) in best-of-3 NCHC quarterfinals.
— Minnesota State (28-7-1): Beat Alaska 8-2 and 6-2; Friday-Sunday, home vs. Michigan Tech in best-of-3 WCHA semifinal series.

Pairwise standings (top 16 teams likely to be selected for NCAA tournament): (1) St. Cloud State, (2) Notre Dame and Cornell, (4) Ohio State, (5) Minnesota State and Denver, (7) Michigan and Clarkson, (9) Minnesota-Duluth, (10) Northeastern, (11) Penn State, (12) Providence, (13) Minnesota, (14) Omaha, (15) North Dakota, (16) Bowling Green.

WCHA playoffs:
— This weekend, best-of-3 semifinal series, Michigan Tech @ Minnesota State, Bowling Green @ Northern Michigan; championship game March 17.

NCHC playoffs:
— This weekend, best-of-3 quarterfinal series, #8 Miami @ #1 St. Cloud State, #7 Colorado College @ #2 Denver, #6 Western Michigan @ #3 Minnesota-Duluth, #5 Omaha @ #4 North Dakota; four winners are reseeded and advance to NCHC Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul March 16-17.

ISN’T IT THE TRUTH!

We never really grow up. We only learn how to act in public.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves lost both games on a western trip, 108-99 to Portland and 116-108 to Utah. Minnesota is now home for Boston tonight (7:00 TNT) and Golden State Sunday (2:30 ABC), then goes to Washington (6:00 FSN).

Toyama Grouses (Sam Willard): The Grouses lost twice to Nagoya, 84-63 and 80-68. In the first game Sam went 2-of-7 for four points with three rebounds, an assist and two steals. In the second game he was 3-of-7, including 1-of-4 in threes, for nine points with 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal. The Grouses now stand at 17-23 and in fourth place in their division, three games back of second place. This weekend they twice play Osaka Evessa (13-27).

Sioux Falls Skyforce: Sioux Falls defeated Greensboro, 121-107; lost to Texas, 125-118, and beat Santa Cruz, 119-105. A lot of people saw basketball in Sioux Falls Tuesday night—besides more than 11,000 at the Summit game down the street, the Skyforce still drew 2,312 to their game at the Pentagon. The Skyforce goes to Austin Saturday, to Salt Lake City Monday and to Memphis next Wednesday.

THOUGHTS ON GETTING OLDER

The biggest lie I tell myself is “I don’t need to write that down. I’ll remember it.”

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Sioux Falls Storm: Idle last weekend after a season-opening loss at Arizona, the Storm’s next game will be their home opener Monday against Cedar Rapids.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons lost their MLS season opener at San Jose, 3-2. This Saturday Minnesota plays at Orlando at 5:30 p.m. on FSN+.

THOUGHT FOR THESE TIMES

“A large proportion of the cruelty which decent people applaud or tolerate is applauded or tolerated by them only because they are either too stupid to put themselves imaginatively into the position of the victims or because they deliberately refrain from doing so.”
— Charlie Dunbar Broad, American philosopher

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour: At the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Tom Byrum tied for 18th place with a 7-under-par weekend of 75-67-70=212, earning $21,901.67. The champion was Steve Stricker at -14. This week’s tour stop is the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Live baseball telecasts this week:
Thursday: Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.
Thursday: San Francisco vs. Seattle, 7:40 p.m., MLBN.
Friday: Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.
Saturday: Minnesota vs. Boston, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Saturday: New York Mets vs. New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.
Saturday: Seattle vs. Cincinnati, 7:40 p.m., MLBN.
Sunday: Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Sunday: Pittsburgh vs. Toronto, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.
Monday: Washington vs. Detroit, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.
Tuesday: Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.
Tuesday: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego, 3:10 p.m., MLBN.
Wednesday: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore, 12:05 p.m., MLBN.

Minnesota Twins:
Friday: Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m.
Saturday: Boston, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Sunday: Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Monday: New York Yankees, 5:35 p.m.
Tuesday: Baltimore, 12:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Boston, 12:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs:
Thursday: San Diego, 2:05 p.m.
Friday: Los Angeles Angels, 2:05 p.m.
Saturday: Chicago White Sox, 2:05 p.m.; Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:05 p.m.
Sunday: Oakland, 3:05 p.m.
Tuesday: San Diego, 3:10 p.m., MLBN; San Francisco, 9:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kansas City, 3:05 p.m.

Colorado Rockies: (times are MST/MDT):
Thursday: Cincinnati, 1:10 p.m.
Friday: Cleveland, 1:10 p.m.
Saturday: Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.
Sunday: Los Angeles Dodgers, 2:10 p.m.
Monday: Arizona, 2:10 p.m.
Tuesday: Seattle, 2:10 p.m.
Wednesday: Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:05 p.m.

TOM SWIFTS

“I keep banging my head on things,” Tom said bashfully.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, March 8:
John Hamilton, Pat Witte, Cade Currier, Kerry Freidel, Eric Feiler, Cassie (Kinsman) Deffenbaugh, Dewayne Robbins, Brad Johnston, Stephen Nelson, Jessica (Paxton) Deal, Katie (Thompson) Rochelle.
— 15th anniversary, Sam/Nicole Molseed.

Friday, March 9:
Theresa Beastrom, Kasi Nystrom, Allison Meintsma, Alex McLain, Ted Parsons, Terry Hipple, Caleb Olson, Raeann Schlenker, Gretta Durick, Jon Schaack, Larry Kuszmaul.

Saturday, March 10:
Adeline Schutz, Tanner Prince, Anna Bondy, Carol Gengler, Jerid Jaeger, Ryan Bisbee, Lincoln Bisbee, Marty Javurek, Brian Drapeaux, Barak Tibbs, Travis Ruby, Jesse Beesley.

Sunday, March 11:
Starla (Ludwig) Luoma, Rebekah (Lawver) Boyer, Tricia Heien, Samantha Dewell, Parker Ripperger, Cheryl Stoeser, Maya Herrscher, Garrett Boe, Lee Ferguson, LiAnn (Nuttall) Currier, Zach Edman, Tad Perry, Layla Stoeser, Doug Osnes, Kelley (Bechtold) Larson, Marlin Smith, Stacie (Zastrow) Dumford, Micah Rounds, Sam Maurice.
— 3rd anniversary, Tom/Megan Lehmkuhl.
— 20th anniversary, Bob/Lynette McCarty.
— We fondly remember Shane Cronin on the fourth anniversary of the day he passed away in 2014.

Monday, March 12:
Layne Heller, Alison Kennedy, Susan Stahl, Hallie Getz, Nathan Brakke, Alan Dale, Jena Forsch, Vicki Brooks, Kyle Rausch, John Morris.

Tuesday, March 13:
Jvonne Heard-Ellingson, Brian Cazan, Myron Bryant, Bobby Oleson, Deanna Sutton, Elise Holcomb, Lexie Rausch, Vicki (Fosheim) Dant, Carole Olerud, Anne Severson, Sharla (Cass) Steever, Alicia (Hicks) Malstrom.
— 3rd anniversary, Adam/Courtney Korkow.

Wednesday, March 14:
Lucas Lindholm, Maria Melius, Kevin Huxford, Anne (Beemer) Candler, Jim Iverson, Isaiah Melius, Mary Voeltz, Dee Dee Raap, Kenley Jo Boyer, Jennifer (Lomheim) Sieveking.
— We fondly remember Jon Olinger on the sixth anniversary of the day he passed away in 2012 and on his birthday March 17.

Thursday, March 15:
Mariah Heiss, Loren Thompson, Justin Elrod, Kasey (Anderson) Cappellano, Tavis Weidenbach, Lance Spears, Cassie (Rausch) Stoeser, Allison Klucas, Ward Judson, Arlene DeVany.
— 4th anniversary, Andy/Rachel Lampy.

Friday, March 16:
Leah Ries, Ava Bauck, Avery Askew, Deb Mortenson, Patrick Burger, Jennifer (Brink) Anderson.

Saturday, March 17:
Jack Aadland, Chad Cooper, Bill Markley, Jackson Jennings, Melissa Brock, Peggy Stout, Chris Derry, Joe Gormley, Nick Burke, Jesse Krell.

Sunday, March 18:
Jamie Karber, Jamey Howard, Ryker Schumacher, Asher Yackley, Madeleine Lindberg, John Palmer, Jane Brehe, Travis Benbow, Kendall Light, Daniel Mayer, Nickolas Rabern.

Monday, March 19:
Donald Tassler, Brenda Badger, Hadley Bryant, Heather Forney, Craig Long, Mary Welsh, Layndon Dewell, Betty Garrett, Darlene Neiles, Sarah Yackley-Ploeger, Stacy (Hull) Cottrell.
— 35th anniversary, Chuck/Dawnita Forrell.

Tuesday, March 20:
Rachel Beck, Jayde Englund, Scott Jones, Beth (Cruse) Dokken, Jessica (Wood) Steele, Debby Wagner, Samantha (Lytle) Irvine, Ben Johnson, Misty Burton, Max Huber.

Wednesday, March 21:
Ben Gilmore, Loni McQuistion, Mark Hardwick, Gerald Johnson, Jacob Tschetter, Diana Vogel, River Fischer, Grant Wosick, Bentley Frost, Matthew Heintz, Wanda Meyer, Ben Brown, Kara (Knadle) Schumacher, Linda Knox.
— 3rd anniversary, Zach/Ashley Parsons.
— 20th anniversary, Dan/Lora (Den Ouden) Moore.

Thursday, March 22:
Betty Eddy, Sharla McCaskell, Eric Gednalske, Olivia Smith, Travis Fitzke, Nicole Ogan, Serena Norman, Dane Dodson, Wendy Birhanzel, Oaklie Cruse, Josephine Karim, Nellie Holsten, George Ford, Leo Schmidt.

FOR GRAMMAR LOVERS ONLY

A bar was walked into by the passive voice.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

NCAA Division I selection shows: Men, Sunday at 5 p.m. CDT on TBS (note: not CBS as in past years); women, Monday at 6 p.m. CDT on ESPN.

South Dakota State women (Sydney Palmer): SDSU is now 8-0 in Summit League championship games after a 65-50 win over USD in the title game Tuesday in Sioux Falls. SDSU jumped out 11-0 at the start, led 15-9 after a quarter, held a 33-20 halftime lead and led 49-40 after three periods. The Jacks outrebounded USD, 38-23, and shot 53.5% for the game. Macy Miller had 16 points and 11 rebounds on her way to the tournament MVP award. Ellie Thompson scored 14, Tagyn Larson 13 and Myah Selland 10. Sydney didn’t score but had two assists. The attendance on a Tuesday afternoon in a snowstorm with no travel advised in the area was 8,704. In the semifinals SDSU blew out Western Illinois, the #3 seed, 80-51, led by Madison Guebert’s 20 and Miller’s 16. Sydney was 2-of-5, including 1-of-3 in threes, for five points with four rebounds and a steal. In the quarterfinals SDSU had another blowout win, 87-62 over NDSU. Miller scored 19. Palmer had a season-high 13 points on 4-of-6 in field goals, including 3-of-5 in threes, and 2-of-2 plus five rebounds. Miller, Thompson and Guebert were named to the all-tournament team.

South Dakota women (Chloe Lamb, Ciara Duffy): None of what worked for the Coyotes in winning 20 straight games and going 14-0 in the Summit League regular season was working Tuesday as USD lost in the tournament championship game to SDSU, 65-50. Down by 17 at one point, the Coyotes got to within six at 44-38 in the third quarter but no closer. Averaging more than 70 points a game, USD scored only 50 and shot 28% for the game. USD was 6-of-30 in three-point attempts. Ciara Duffy was the only Coyote in double figures. She was 4-of-10, including 2-of-7 in threes, and 2-of-4 for 12 points with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Chloe Lamb was 2-of-4 and 2-of-2 for six points with one rebound and one assist. In the quarterfinals USD opened tghe tournament with an 83-32 shellacking of Fort Wayne. USD led 24-2 after one quarter and 43-11 at halftime. Jaycee Bradley had 27 points as USD hit 14 three-pointers and shot 48%. Chloe was 6-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-1 in threes, and 1-of-2 for her 14, with four rebounds and six assists. In the semis USD beat Oral Roberts, 65-53, led by Kate Liveringhouse with 19 and Madison McKeever with 15. Duffy had two points, an assist and a steal. Lamb kwas 5-of-10, including 1-of-2 in threes, for 11 points with five boards and four assists. As the regular-season Summit champions, USD is assured of a berth in the WNIT tournament, an event the Coyote women won three years ago. USD is 26-6, same as SDSU. Duffy and Liveringhouse were named to the all-tournament team.

South Dakota State men (Lane Severyn): SDSU won the Summit League tournament for the third year in a row. This time it was 97-87 over USD. The Jacks led at the half, 47-35. State’s two all-tourney team honorees, David Jenkins and Mike Daum, scored 29 and 25 points, respectively, but it was a stretch when Daum was on the bench that SDSU put the game out of reach with a 30-17 surge without him. SDSU shot 48% from the field, same as the women in the afternoon, including 14 of 28 in three-pointers. Lasne was 2-of-2, including 1-of-1 from downtown, for five points with three rebounds and a steal. SDSU improved to 28-6 before a record crowd of 11,114. In the semifinals SDSU outdistanced NDSU, 78-57, as Jenkins scored 24, going 10-of-15 from the field, and Daum had 19 points and 11 boards. Lane was 1-of-3, including a three-pointer, and 2-of-2 for five points with two rebounds. SDSU won its quarterfinal over Western Illinois, 66-60, though down by nine in the second half. Daum had 33 points and 19 rebounds and Tevin King eight points and 11 rebounds. Lane had one rebound.

South Dakota men: The Coyotes got 36 points from their bench in an 87-78 win over Omaha to open the Summit League tournament. Matt Mooney scored 20 and Nick Fuller 17. In the semifinals USD led Denver at the half by 47-25 and went on to win by 76-58. Mooney scored 20, Triston Simpson 11 and Tyler Hagedorn 10. In the championship game the Coyotes scored 87 but still lost by 10 to SDSU. Mooney, named to the all-tournament team, scored 30, Hagedorn 15 and Tyler Petersen 15. USD rallied to within 83-77 with 3:55 left, but SDSU pulled away answered with enough points to keep comfortably ahead. USD’s record is 26-8.

Tennessee women (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols won their opener at the SEC Tournament in Nashville over Auburn, 64-61, on a three-pointer with a half-second remaining but lost in the next round to South Carolina, 73-62. With a record of 24-7, Tennessee now awaits the NCAA Tournament selection show on Monday, and the tourney starts Friday, March 16.

Black Hills State women (Remi Wientjes, Racquel Wientjes): The Yellowjackets won their RMAC semifinal game over Metro State, 52-50, never leading in the game until just over a minute remained. Lyndzi Rich led BHSU with 13 points. Remi sparked a BHSU run scoring the first five points of the third quarter. She finished with eight points, a rebound and a steal. In the championship game BHSU lost to top-seed CSU-Pueblo, 84-69. Remi was 3-of-5 and 4-of-4 for 10 points with one rebound and three assists. With a 24-7 record, BHSU was selected as an at-large team in their NCAA regional. They will play at Lubbock, Texas, against Angelo State (Texas) in the quarterfinals Friday.

Dakota Wesleyan men: The Tigers open play in the NAIA national tournament at the Sanford Pentagon at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday) against Governors State (Ill.). If they win, the Tigers will play again at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Mayville State (N.D.) or College of Idaho.

Dakota Wesleyan women: The DWU women won their first-round game in the NAIA national tournament in Sioux City yesterday, taking out Indiana U.-East, 78-62. Amber Bray had 14 points, Kynedi Cheeseman 13, Rylie Osthus 13 and Madison Mthews 13. DWU next plays at 1:45 p.m. Friday in the second round against Southern Oregon.

SPELL CHECKER

Eye halve a spelling checker.
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marks four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write;
it shows me strait a weigh.

Eye have run this poem threw it;
I am shore your pleased two no
It’s letter perfect awl the weigh.
My spell checker tolled me sew!

COLLEGE HOCKEY ROUNDUP

Nebraska men (Derek Burke): The Husker club team play in the ACHA Division III tournament, starting with pool play against Georgia, Farmingdale State and Oakland. The pool champion advances into medal play.

COLLEGE TRACK ROUNDUP

South Dakota: This is the weekend of the national meet, and USD’s qualifiers are Chris Nilsen and Helen Falda in their respective pole vault events and Shanice Cannigan in the women’s pentathlon.

Mary (Jack Wollman): The Marauders will open their outdoor season at Black Hills State’s meet March 23-24.

South Dakota Mines (Theron Singleton): The Hardrockers are a week away from their outdoor season opener at the University of Colorado March 16-17.

Black Hills State (Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Allan McDonnell): The Yellowjackets will host their Spring Open March 23-24 to open the outdoor season.

Liberty (Cortney Dowling): At the ECAC meet in Boston, the Liberty women won their first-ever ECAC championship. Cortney and her teammates on the LIberty 4×400 relay team won their event in 3:41.09, setting a new school record and a Big South Conference record. She also placed sixth in the 400 in :55.19. Liberty opens its outdoor season March 16-17 at Charleston, S.C.

LIFE LESSON

Listen to understand, not to say something in return.
— Little Red Bird

COLLEGE BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Northern (Spencer Sarringar): The Wolves opened their season with a full week in Tucson, Ariz. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday they defeated Carthage College (Mo.), 19-5; lost to St. Cloud State, 9-7, and beat St. Cloud State, 3-2. For the rest of the week Northern is playing Northwestern (Iowa), Waldorf, Concordia-St. Paul twice and Concordia (Neb.) twice. Spencer did not play in those three games mentioned.

Minnesota (Nolan Burchill): The Gophers edged South Dakota State, 1-0; beat Arizona, 3-2 in 12 innings; lost to Washington, 6-4; lost to UCLA, 6-1, and beat Omaha, 5-3. Nolan has not played yet this season. Minnesota, now 9-4, played Wisconsin-Milwaukee last night, plays Creighton for three Friday through Sunday and plays George Washington in Dallas Tuesday.

South Dakota State (Landon Badger, Quinn Reimers): Landon went 0-for-2 at the plate in a 1-0 loss at Minnesota. The Gophers had only three hits, all by one player. SDSU lost to Southeast Missouri State, 12-8, and Landon was 1-of-2. He did not play in two wins over Southeast Missouri State, 7-4, and 6-5. On Tuesday the Jacks lost at Air Force, 8-7, after leading 7-1 in the seventh inning. Quinn did not play in any of these games. SDSU goes to Northern Colorado for three this weekend after another game at Air Force yesterday. SDSU is 2-9.

COLLEGE WRESTLING ROUNDUP

Augustana (Lane Lettau, Jebben Keyes): The Vikings’ two qualifiers, Aero Amo and Lukas Poloncic, await this weekend’s NCAA Division II national tournament at Cedar Rapids.

Northern: Blake Perryman is NSU’s qualifier for the national tournament this weekend at Cedar Rapids.

South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits finished third at the Big 12 Conference meet in Oklahoma with 94 points, just 2.5 points behind Northern Iowa. Oklahoma State had 137 points to win the team title. More importantly, six Jacks qualified for the national tournament, and another earned an at-large bid this week. At the Big 12 #1 Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) won the 133-pound class, and Nate Rotert (Spearfish) was the 197-pound champion. David Kocer was runner-up at 174 pounds, Luke Zilverberg third at 157, Martin Mueller fourth at 184 and Connor Brown fifth at 125. On Tuesday Henry Pohlmeyer, a 141-pounder, learned he had been selected to also compete at the NCAA national championships in Columbus, Ohio, March 15-17.

STRANGE FACTS ABOUT THE U.S.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office has its own quirky gift shop called Skeletons in the Closet.

COLLEGE GOLF ROUNDUP

Northern Michigan women (Karissa Guthrie): Finally the Wildcats get their spring season underway this weekend in Tampa, Fla.

South Dakota women (Katie Bartlett): Idle last week, the Coyotes play in Bradley’s tournament at Farmer Branch, Texas, Monday and Tuesday.

WEDDING DAYS

April 7: Scott Pavlisick/Tonya Reed.
April 14: Kai Hanson/Kayla Saxe.
April 28: Chris Pope/Morgan Peterson.
May 19: Prince Harry/Meghan Markle.
June 2: Ethan Fife/Heather Mangan.
June 2: Cole Cruse/Kadence Feininger.
June 16: Matt Blaseg/Taryn Wolf.
June 16: Brandon Vockrodt/Kayla Nuese.
June 29: Jack Markel/Eileen Leong.
July 7: Matt Tetzlaff/Korie Lebeda.
July 14: Shawn Hlavacek/Rebekah Hartmann.
Aug. 11: Steve Long/Cassie Amundson.
Aug. 18: Jason Noyes/Micki DeCurtins.
Sept. 29: Tyler Arbach/Rachel Hartmann.
Oct. 6: Rodd Bauck/Megan Vockrodt.
Oct. 6: Cale Pell/Sarah Lihs.

LIFE IN GENERAL

I finally realized it. People are prisoners of their phones. That’s why they are called cell phones.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: coconut.
Friday-Sunday: strawberry.
Monday-Tuesday: root beer.
Wednesday-Friday: tutti fruitti.

THE BLONDES ARE BACK

Two blondes were going to Disneyland. Driving on the interstate, they saw the sign that said, “DISNEYLAND LEFT.” They started crying and turned around and went home.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

— Now that the secretary of state’s office has ruled that not enough petitions were valid, the issue that would have allowed all of us to vote in primary elections will not be on the November ballot. In South Dakota at the present time only Democrats and independents can vote in a Democratic primary, and only Republicans can vote in a Republican primary. Thus, in a state dominated by the Republicans, they alone decide who wins the election, assuming as most of us do that the Republican candidate for anything in this state wins that office. There is one way the rest of us can have a voice in which candidate for governor and which candidate for the U.S. House advances to the general election, and that is by changing party registration to Republican before May 21 in order to vote in the June primary and then, if you wish, changing your affiliation back to where it was. If you assume the Republican candidate for any office will win in November (and in this state, that would be a natural assumption), the only way you have a voice in the decision is to vote in their primary—Jackley or Noem for governor and Johnson or Krebs or Tapio for U.S. House.

— The birthdays and anniversaries listed above cover the next two weeks, rather than just one. This is a crazy time, and with a lot going on here, I don’t know if I can get an Update done for next Thursday. So just in case, the birthdays are listed here for a two-week span. Maybe you will see an Update show up in your inbox next Thursday; maybe not. But carry on. Don’t you have some snow to shovel?

— This is the 26th year of the Colorado Rockies baseball franchise, so I don’t know why they are celebrating their 25th, but it was 25 years ago this spring when they played their very first game. It was at the Broncos’ Mile High Stadium, re-figured for baseball purposes at the time. The Rockies are asking people to tell them where they were on the day that first game was played. I can tell you where I was on that April day in 1993. My son Ryan and his best buddy, Scott Kennedy, were Riggs juniors, and that afternoon I was driving them to Rapid City to attend a concert of some sort. We listened to the Rockies-Reds game on the way out there, and the Rockies won it.

— Next week is the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of the six Rapid City Central cheerleaders and three adults as they arrived home from the state ‘A’ tournament in Sioux Falls. That was March 1968, and where has the time gone! Teaching at Blunt at that time, I was on Highway 83 driving from Onida to Blunt on that Sunday afternoon when the news came over the radio. A new memorial to those Cobbler cheerleaders has been erected just this year in front of the old Rapid City High School on Columbus Street. Swing by there next time you’re in town.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Those young Hipple twins, John and George, are celebrating their 90th birthdays this month. That calls for a party, and it will be held at the American Legion cabin from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday, March 10.

Elda Olson, 89, died March 4 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. A memorial service is being held at 10 a.m. this (Thursday) morning at First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Olson and her husband Vernon (Bud) lived south of Highmore before moving to Pierre. They ran Dakota Cafe. Later she was a bartender at Lariat Lanes for many years, then worked at the Chateau and the Moose Lodge. In recent years she lived at the ParkWood apartments. She is survived by seven of her eight children, including Verne Olson and his wife Jeanne, Larry Olson and his wife Susan, Lawrence Olson and his wife Carol, Bonnie Larson, Merrill Olson and his wife Karen, Betty Wheelhouse and her husband Mark, and Susan Olson; her daughter-in-law, ,Betty Olson; 18 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. The late Vince Olson was also her son.

The Augustana University choir will perform a concert at Lutheran Memorial Church at 6 p.m. this Saturday, March 10.

The USD Chamber Singers choir, which performed in Pierre over the weekend, made it to Lead and to Rapid City for Sunday and Monday performances just fine, but getting back to Chamberlain for a Tuesday night concert proved impossible when I-90 was closed due to the central South Dakota blizzard. The USD choir foiled the weatherman, taking a long way around the bad weather via North Platte, Neb., since they were headed to Omaha for a Wednesday night concert and a day off anyway.

The Pierre-Fort Pierre Kiwanis Club’s annual fund-raising concert this year will be be “The Spirit of the American Cowboy,” featuring the inimitable Gordy Pratt and friends, featuring Dalyce Sellers. The concert is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Riggs theater. Tickets at the door will be $15, but for $12.50 you can get an advance ticket at Prairie Pages Bookseller, American Bank & Trust and Dakota Prairie Bank or from any Kiwanian. The proceeds from this concert each year are used for scholarships and for funding other community and youth projects that the Kiwanis Club supports.

Allan McDonnell, grandson of Roger and Vicki Hanson, was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference first-team all-conference team for track and field in the high jump. He is a freshman at Black Hills State from Wall.

Pierre native Kristen Job’s Quiz Bowl team from Omaha Westside High School won first place at Bellevue University’s tournament, coming out of the losers’ bracket to beat Gretna and Norris twice each to win their championship.

Senior Will Turman has been selected as Riggs High School’s Warrior of the Month for February. This honor is bestowed monthly to a Riggs student in partnership with the South Dakota National Guard. Will won his fourth individual state wrestling championship, Pierre’s first-ever athlete to accomplish that. He is also student body president, a National Honor Society member and a participant in track and cross country.

Our sympathy to Janice and Rodney Haag and all of their family. Janice’s father, Norbert Ham, died on Feb. 26 at the age of 89. Mr. Ham lived in the Shadehill area near Lemmon for 72 years, moved to Piedmont in 1998 and recently moved to Sioux Falls. He is survived by his wife, Myrtle; three children, eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two brothers. A memorial service was scheduled for Tuesday at the PIedmont Valley Lutheran Church.

McKayla Marso became engaged last week to Seamus McDonough. They live in Denver where McKayla continues her theater work and teaches at a dance studio. She is also owner/designer at YOUdesign.

A momentous occasion in the Charlie Magedanz family occurred last week. His wife, Kamila, and their daughter Naty both became United States citizens along with 60 other people in a ceremony in Des Moines where they make their home. Charlie says he is now the “minority” in his family with only one citizenship of his own to claim while Kami and Naty are now dual citizens of the U.S. and the Czech Republic.

The Associated Press reported this week that General Mills announced a deal to create South Dakota’s largest organic crop farm as the company works to secure the organic ingredients to meet growing consumer demand worldwide. According to the A.P., Gunsmoke Farms will convert 34,000 acres—more than 53 square miles—near Fort Pierre to organic by 2020 to grow organic wheat for General Mills’ Annie’s macaroni and cheese line.

A memorial service for Cliff Jansen, 89, Pierre, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 12, at Lutheran Memorial Church. He died March 5 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. Inurnment will occur at a later time at Black Hills National Cemetery. He graduated from high school at Dallas, S.D., in 1945 and served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. After graduating from Southern State Teachers College at Springfield, he taught and coached at Sinai, White and Iroquois and was superintendent at White, Iroquois, Armour and Gregory. He joined the Department of Education in 1968 and retired in 1987. He spent winters at Lake Havasu City, Ariz. He is survived by four children, including Larry Jansen and his wife Brenda of Rapid City, Joyce Moore and her husband Tom of Mission Hill, Charles Jansen and his wife Theresa of Riverside, Calif., and Jackie Putzier and her husband Jeff of Pierre; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters. Among those preceding him in death were his wives, Orpha and Mary.

Hilary (Woodburn) Hunt, her husband James, and their three children will be moving by June to Stillwater, Okla., where he will become the new campus minister at the Wesley Foundation on the Oklahoma State University campus. The Rev. James Hunt currently is serving as the associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Yukon, Okla.

This is the final weekend of performances of “The Good Doctor” at Firehouse Brewing Company theater in Rapid City. Jason Knox is part of that cast. They will have shows Friday and Saturday nights.

Andrew Kightlinger’s latest film, “Tater Tot & Patton,” will be seen at the Fargo Film Festival during its March 20-24 run. The movie has also been selected to be shown at the Black Hills Film Festival at the Elks Theater in Rapid City on April 25.

Joel and Anne (Rounds) Harrington of Sioux Falls are the parents of a fourth son. Isaac James Harrington was born yesterday (March 7), weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces. He joins brothers Davis, 6; Brian, 4, and Ben, 2, in the Harrington family. Joel works as director of omnichannel sales at Revival Animal Health.

Students of the Month in the Stanley County middle school and high school are senior Ryan Habeck, junior Riley Hannum, sophomore Elizabeth Duffy, freshman Jayda Boxley, eighth grader Bailey Siedschlaw, seventh grader Lilly Jlien and sixth grader Levi Wagner-Erno.

PARKER’S COLUMN

Another milestone birthday for the Hipple boys

It was 40 years ago next month, the spring of 1978, that I saw an ad in the “help wanted” classifieds for an editor’s position at the Capital Journal. Right then and there, I said to myself, “I could do that!” At the same time I convinced myself that 17 years of teaching were enough. A guy can deal with administrators—especially cantankerous ones—only so long.

Making contact with the paper in Pierre, I learned that John Hipple was the twin brother in charge of the news segment of the operation, so an interview was arranged. There was nothing stuffy about our interview, either. John and his dad, the legendary Robert Hipple, and I went out the back door, up the alley and into a booth at (where else?) another old Pierre landmark, the D&E Cafe.

Old Bob never said a word although he was probably thinking a lot during my conversation with John. I don’t remember what John asked me, but either things went well or they desperately needed somebody to fill the desk. I got the job, and two months later I started showing up at 6 every weekday morning at the old place on the west side of Pierre Street, next door to what had been the State Theater and next door the other way to Milo Smith’s sports shop..

So began 25 years of affiliation with the Hipples in one capacity or another—either working for them directly or having our Onida newspaper printed at their plant—or both.

In the old building before we moved to the building on E. Sioux Ave. where the Reminder had been, I didn’t see George much. He was the superintendent of the production part of the newspaper. They were housed down below in what could exaggeratedly be called a basement. It seemed more like the interior of a coal mine far below ground. I didn’t go down there much.

John, on the other hand, had his desk right up on the main floor near mine. He concentrated on his beats—the city, the cops, the courthouse. And he let me do my thing right from the start, arranging the pages of the daily paper as I saw fit, adding features as I saw fit, writing my own column, covering the school board.

So far as editorials were concerned, Bob stayed in his own office up at the front of the building, looking out on Pierre Street from a chair in front of his roll-top desk. Every day, usually after 1:00, he would stroll toward my desk and deposit his editorial for the day on the typesetter’s spindle. Nobody messed with Bob’s editorials, and nobody dared urge him to hurry it up because a deadline was approaching. The paper waited till Bob’s editorial was done.

I well remember the day one of Bob’s cigar butts set fire to the contents of his waste basket. And there was the day ad salesman Leon Brandriet came into the office with the news that President Reagan had just been shot. We quickly rearranged the front page and had the news of the assassination attempt on the street less than an hour after it happened. And the fun times with Nancy Peck up at the front receptionist’s desk and with Sharon Metzinger and Deb Fahey and the others back in the ad composition area. And the sports guys—Mick Goodrich first, Jerry Sperry for quite a few of those early years. And Kathryn Owens, a warm, beautiful lady who was my first social editor—we eventually called her job the “people editor.” Later Twila Merkwan filled her spot as we moved over to the east side of downtown.

Always at the office when I got there was Sonny Reed. The coffee was already brewed by 6 when I showed up. He always had the Associated Press copy from overnight pulled, ready for me to select the stories we would use in that day’s paper. It was he who laid out the pages once i had diagrammed them. (This was in the good old days before everything was computerized. The actual stories were waxed and stuck to the composition sheets. Imagine that!) Sonny was a treasure, one of the most decent, loyal men I’ve ever met in my life. Our association went on at all three building locations for more than 20 years.

I left the Hipples a couple times, and they always took me back. Both John’s and George’s generation, and then the next generation of Hipples—their sons in various capacities—always had my back. Even in some dark times when our Onida paper was struggling, they saved me.

Eventually I was at the Capital Journal without having to also make a trip to Onida to the Watchman. From 1996 to 2004 I had the pleasure of keeping the “people pages” filled with stories and photos and features and took pride in the readership I knew we had in the community. The Hipples allowed that to happen and continued to let me do my thing as the people editor (and covering as much sports as I could get away with).

From the old building on Pierre Street to the Reminder building on East Sioux and then to the present paper’s location on West Dakota, there were good times. Some really great times. And marvelous people for whom to work and with whom to work, so many in fact that I don’t dare start naming names for fear of leaving out someone important.

John and George have been gone from the paper for a long time. Sadly so have all the Hipples, the paper having been sold to a chain operation a decade or so ago. But I thank them all for having my back and allowing me to help tell Pierre the news for so many years.

Old Bob is gone now, but John and George are still here. Their 90th birthdays will be celebrated this Saturday at the Legion cabin from 1 to 3 p.m. I hope many of you can stop by there to express your greetings.

Happy birthday, George! Happy birthday, John!