Vol. 19, No. 31; Thursday, April 12, 2018

Apr 12, 2018 | Parker's Midweek Update | 0 comments

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.
— Virgil A. Kraft

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Track: Tuesday, @ Charger Invitational, Onida, 1 p.m.
Boys tennis: Thursday, home vs. Aberdeen Central and Rapid City Stevens, 11 a.m.; Monday, @ Brandon Valley (with Sioux Falls Washington).
Girls golf: Thursday, @ Harrisburg Invitational.

Girls basketball: Lady Govs junior Emily Mikkelsen was named to the Class “AA” All-State team’s first team. She averaged 15.34 points per game and had a 30% three-point field-goal shooting average.

Boys basketball: Governor senior Peyton Zabel was named Class “AA” Player of the Year. Zabel averaged 19.8 points, 11 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He had 39 blocks and 48 steals this past season. He scored 34 three-point field goals. Another postseason honor came to Peyton when he was named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader’s Second Five (players 6-10 among the 10 best in the state, regardless of classification). Last weekend at the Sanford Health all-star games in Sioux Falls, Peyton had 13 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and four blocks as his Team Navy beat Team White, 96-92.

Argus Leader First Five/Second Five: In the early years the Argus Leader selected only a First Five—the five best boys basketball players statewide regardless of class. Local players honored in those years were: 1978, Joe Ashley, Pierre, and Dan Duffy, Stanley County; 1982, Troy Schaefer, Pierre; 1983, Troy Schaefer again; 1998, Brady Hyde, Sully Buttes. Since the Argus Leader added a Second Five to its postseason honors, these have been the local athletes recognized: 2004, Blake Yackley, Sully Buttes, Second Five; 2005, Blake Yackley again, First Five, and Michael Tveidt, Pierre, Second Five; 2006, Michael Tveidt again, First Five; 2007, Sam Willard, Pierre, Second Five; 2012, Zach Hanson, Pierre, First Five; 2013, Lane Severyn, Pierre, and Zach Hanson again, both First Five; 2016, Brevin Kaiser, Pierre, Second Five; 2017, Brad Dean, Pierre, Second Five; 2018, Peyton Zabel, Pierre, Second Five.

Wrestling: The state champion Governor wrestling team held its postseason awards event recently. Honored with previously announced awards were Will Turman, SDWCA Class “A” Wrestler of the Year and Class “A” tournament Outstanding Wrestler; Jace Bench-Bresher, Lincoln Turman, Will Turman, Michael Lusk, Austin Senger, Gage Gehring, all-ESD Conference; Austin Senger, Will Turman, Lincoln Turman, Academic All-State. Winners of statistical categories from this past season were: Cade Hinkle, most escapes (43, a school record); Gage Gehring, most reversals (16); Maguire Raske, most near falls (37); Michael Lusk, most takedowns (80); Maguire Raske, most technical falls (4); Pryce Dyk, most pins (26); Austin Senger, most wins (36); Michael Lusk, best win percentage (95% with a 35-2 record). Special awards presented that night were: Broer Hustler Award, Lincoln Turman; Obenauer Memorial Leadership Award, Michael Lusk; Most Improved, Gage Gehring; Most Outstanding JV Wrestler, Tyson Johnson and Will Van Camp; Future Governor, Hayden Shaffer; Most Outstanding Varsity Wrestler, Will Turman and Michael Lusk; Brooks Monfore Heart of a Champion Award, Jace Bench-Bresher.

Boys tennis: The April 3 triangular with Mitchell and Rapid City Central was postponed. The Huron quadrangular on April 7 was cancelled. A triangular April 9 against Harrisburg and Sioux Falls Christian was cancelled. The Govs finally got to play tennis on Tuesday in a quadrangular at Spearfish. Pierre defeated Rapid City Central, 8-1; beat Spearfish, 9-0, and lost to Rapid City Christian, 5-4.

Girls track: At the ESD indoor meet the Lady Govs placed fifth. Addy Eisenbeisz won the triple jump at 34’5″ and was second in the triple jump. Mack Rath was the shot put winner at 38’5 1/2″ and placed second in the discus. After several meets were cancelled, the Lady Govs competed Tuesday in the Bob Judson meet at home. Kayne Beck won the 200 and the 100. Kyla Keyes won the 1600, Mack Rath the shot put, Emily Mikkelsen the 400, Sophie Bullard the pole vault and Addy Eisenbeisz the triple jump and the high jump. The girls’ 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams won their events.

Boys track: At the ESD indoor meet in Brookings two weeks ago, the Pierre boys placed seventh. Erick Colman won the shot put at 50’1/2″. Caleb Lusk was second in the 600 and 1600, and Paul Adam was second in the high jump. The Pierre 4×300 relay team won their race in 2:34.90. Scheduled meets at Huron April 6 and Miller April 10 were cancelled. On Tuesday the once-postponed Bob Judson meet was held on a rare sunny, dry day in Pierre. Austin Leander won the 100, Caleb Lusk won the 1600, Frank Beck won the 400, Paul Adam won the high jump, Erick Colman won the shot put, and the Govs won the 4×400 relay.

STRANGE FACTS ABOUT THE U.S.

The total length of Idaho’s rivers could stretch across the United States about 40 times.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Track—Friday, @ Mobridge-Pollock Rotary Relays; Tuesday, @ Big Dakota Conference meet, Chamberlain.
Golf—Friday, @ Wall invitational (in Box Elder).

Boys track: The Buffaloes got to participate in a meet for a change Tuesday when they went to the Harry Weller Invitational run at the School of Mines track. Cale Meiners won the 800-meter run in 2:08.58. The Buffs’ 4×800 relay team won their race in 8:50.87.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Boys basketball: The Class “B” All-State team included two members of the Chargers’ state championship club—Lincoln Jordre on the first team and Jacob Howard on the second team. Jordre averaged 20 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and 3 blocks per game as he anchored the Chargers in the middle. Howard averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game, and his field-goal shooting average was 48%.

Girls basketball: Rachel Guthmiller, who earlier was named to the Class “B” All-State first team, was selected as one of the Argus Leader’s Second Five—the top 10 players in the state regardless of class. Midco Sports Network selected Rachel as Player of the Year statewide in Class “B” girls basketball along with Paiton Burckhard of Aberdeen Central in Class “AA” and Morgan Koepsell of McCook Central-Montrose in Class “A.”

This week’s schedules:
Track—Friday, @ Mobridge-Pollock Rotary Relays; Saturday, @ Potter County invitational, Gettysburg; Tuesday, home for Charger Invitational.
Golf—Next meet April 19 @ Bowdle earlybird meet.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: pina colada.
Friday-Sunday: strawberry cheesecake.
Monday-Tuesday: kiwi.
Wednesday-Thursday: lime.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Riggs High Evening for the Arts (April 13).
2 days: Stanley County High prom (April 14).
4 days: Riggs High musical “Bye, Bye, Birdie” (April 16-17, 19).
8 days: Pierre Legion Relays (April 20).
15 days: Pierre Players’ “Cookin’ with Gus” (April 27-29, May 3-5).
16 days: All-State Jazz Band concert, Aberdeen (April 28).
21 days: Pierre Educational Foundation’s Evening of Excellence (May 3).
22 days: South Dakota State Arts Conference, Sioux Falls (May 4-5).
35 days: State boys tennis tournament, Rapid City (May 17-19).
37 days: HIgh school baseball regional tournament (May 19).
39 days: Voter registration deadline for June 5 primary and local elections (May 21).
42 days: NCAA Division II men’s/women’s track and field championships, Sioux Falls (May 24-26).
43 days: State track meets, Rapid City (May 25-26).
44 days: Pierre Trappers home opener (May 26).
45 days: High school baseball state tournament, Sioux Falls (May 27).
52 days: State ‘B’ boys/girls golf tournaments, Watertown (June 4-5).
52 days: State girls golf tournaments, ‘A’ Dell Rapids, ‘AA’ Aberdeen (June 4-5).
53 days: Primary and local elections (June 5).
55 days: South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Vermillion (June 7-10).
58 days: Tony Awards, CBS-TV (June 10).

WORTHLESS FACTS

The first toy advertised on TV was Mr. Potato Head.

HOCKEY UPDATE

Hockeyville USA: Brandon, S.D., is one of the four finalists in Kraft’s search for “America’s most passionate hockey community.” Voting begins Friday, April 13, at KraftHockeyville.com, and the winning community gets $150,000 for upgrades to its hockey rink and facilities as well as the right to host a National Hockey League preseason game this fall. So vote to help the Brandon hockey folks!

Rapid City Rush: The Rush ended the season by winning four out of five games. Rapid City beat Quad City in overtime, 4-3; lost to Quad City, 5-4; beat Quad City, 4-1; and beat Tulsa twice, 3-2 in a shootout and 9-6. The final record was 25-41-3-3 as the Rush accumulated 56 points.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Stampede beat Waterloo, 3-2 in overtime, and topped Tri-City, 4-2, but now they have lost three straight—5-3 and 9-1 to Waterloo and 6-0 to Sioux City last night. Sioux Falls ends the regular season at home vs. Fargo Friday and at Fargo Saturday. With one win the Stampede will get home ice advantage in their first playoff series starting next week. Lincoln will be the Stampede’s opponent.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild went 3-3 in their last six regular games, enough to clinch a playoff spot four games ago. Minnesota finished at 45-26-11 with 101 points, tying for fourth place in the Western Conference. In the first round of the playoffs Minnesota is playing Winnipeg, the second-best team in the NHL. Winnipeg won the opener last night, 3-2, on home ice. Game 2 is Friday at Winnipeg at 6:30 (FSN and USA). Game 3 in St. Paul is Sunday at 6:00 (FSN and USA). Game 4 will be Tuesday in St. Paul at 7:00 (FSN and CNBC). A fifth game would be April 20.

PONDER THIS

No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.
— Caramel

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Toyama Grouses (Sam Willard): The Grouses split a pair against Yokohama. In a 97-88 loss Sam was 3-of-5 in two-pointers and 2-of-5 in threes for 12 points with seven rebounds, one block and two assists. In an 84-82 win he was 3-of-3 and 1-of-3 in field goals and 2-of-2 at the stripe for 11 points with 13 boards, three assists and a pair of steals. Last weekend Toyama split with Sanen. In a 74-73 loss Sam was 3-of-6 in twos and 1-of-1 in threes for nine points with six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. In an 81-72 victory he was 2-of-4 and 1-of-5 in field goals for seven points with 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Now 22-29 for the season, the Grouses this weekend play two vs. Tochigi Brex (29-23).

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves won five of their last seven regular-season games, and they needed every single one of them. Minnesota and Denver were tied for the final playoff spot going into last night’s game in Minneapolis, and the Wolves prevailed in O.T., 112-106. Minnesota has to play the West’s #1 seed, Houston, in the first round of the playoffs beginning Saturday and Sunday. That series winner will play the Portland-New Orleans winner next. The other matchups in the West are Golden State-San Antonio and Utah-Oklahoma City on the other side of the bracket. NBA playoff games will be on the various ESPN networks and ABC.

FOR LANGUAGE LOVERS ONLY

Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They converse. They depart.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Sioux Falls Storm: The Storm defeated Nebraska, 45-37, to improve to a 4-1 record. The team is home Saturday against Arizona, the team which dealt Sioux Falls a season-opening loss last month. Kickoff is at 7:05.

NORTHERN STATE
Aug. 30: @ Bemidji State
Sept. 6: Minot State
Sept. 15: @ MSU-Moorhead
Sept. 22: St. Cloud State
Sept. 29: Winona State (Gypsy Day)
Oct. 6: @ Concordia-St. Paul
Oct. 13: Augustana
Oct. 20: @ Southwest Minnesota State
Oct. 27: @ Mary
Nov. 3: Minnesota-Crookston
Nov. 10: @ Minnesota-Duluth

THIS WEEK’S UPDATE CROSSWORD

Directions: On a piece of paper draw a row of four square boxes, then another row of four boxes directly below, then another row of four boxes directly below the others. Number the boxes on the top row 1, 2, 3 and 4 starting at the left. Put a 5 in the farthest-left box of the second row, and put a 6 on the farthest-left box of the bottom row.

Clues:
1 across: Winner of the Masters.
1 down: Edge.
2 down: How we measure a pitcher’s effectiveness.
3 down: That body part with which we hear.
4 down: Abbreviation of deoxyribonucleic acid.
5 across: Troublesome country in the Middle East.
6 across: Zoe Barnes in “House of Cards.”

(Solution at the end of this Update below.)

SOCCER UPDATE

Sioux Falls Thunder: Preseason drills are underway for the Thunder, who will play preseason friendlies April 28 vs. Bugentus and May 1 vs. the American Outlaws. Both games will be at the USF sports complex.

Minnesota United FC: The Loons lost to Atlanta, 1-0, March 31, and were idle last weekend. The next game is at Portland at 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports North.

TOM SWIFTS

“You call this a musical?” asked Les Miserably.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Pierre Trappers: The latest addition to the Trappers’ roster is Pierre native Landon Badger, sophomore outfielder from South Dakota State. He is the second former Post 8 player to join the Trappers’ first season; Northern State catcher Spencer Sarringar will also be playing when the Expedition League begins its first season next month.

Pierre Trappers: The Expedition League has divided its eight teams into two divisions for its inaugural season, which begins at the end of May. The Pierre Trappers, the Hub City Hotshots (Aberdeen), the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (Minot) and the Badlands Big Sticks (Dickinson) will be in the Lewis Division. The Clark Division will include the Casper Horseheads, the Hastings Sodbusters, the Western Nebraska Pioneers (Scottsbluff-Gering) and the Spearfish Sasquatch. The Trappers’ first six games will all be against Hub City, starting with a road game May 25. Pierre will be at home May 26-27, away May 29 and home May 30-31, all against the Aberdeen club.

Pierre high school baseball schedule: Thursday, home vs. Huron, 3:30/5:30. Pierre’s scheduled season openers against Douglas, Rapid City Central and Sturgis last weekend were all weathered out, and this Saturday’s home games against O’Gorman have already been called off due to the impending blizzard.

Colorado Rockies (times MDT):
Thursday: @ Washington, 5:05 (MLBN).
Friday: @ Washington, 5:05 (MLBN).
Saturday: @ Washington, 11:05.
Sunday: @ Washington, 11:35.
Monday: @ Pittsburgh, 5:05.
Tuesday: @ Pittsburgh, 5:05.
Wednesday: @ Pittsburgh, 10:35.

Chicago Cubs:
Thursday: Pittsburgh, 1:20 (MLBN).
Friday: Atlanta, 1:20 (MLBN).
Saturday: Atlanta, 1:20.
Sunday: Atlanta, 1:20.
Monday: St. Louis, 6:05 (ESPN).
Tuesday: St. Louis, 7:05.
Wednesday: St. Louis, 1:20 (MLBN).

Minnesota Twins:
Thursday: Chicago White Sox, 7:10 (FSN).
Friday: Chicago White Sox, 7:10 (FSN).
Saturday: Chicago White Sox, 1:10 (FSN).
Sunday: Chicago White Sox, 1:10 (FSN).
Tuesday: Cleveland (in San Juan), 6:10 (FS1).
Wednesday: Cleveland (in San Juan), 6:10 (ESPN).

WEDDING DAYS

April 14: Kai Hanson/Kayla Saxe.
April 14: Greg Peters/Lavonn Voita.
April 28: Chris Pope/Morgan Peterson.
April 28: Connor McKittrick/Amanda Deiss.
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.
Aug. 19: Derek Berman/Danea Duxbury.
Aug. 25: Steven Gordon/Katelynn Engh.
Sept. 29: Tyler Arbach/Rachel Hartmann.
Oct. 6: Rodd Bauck/Megan Vockrodt.
Oct. 6: Cale Pell/Sarah Lihs.

LIFE IN GENERAL

Growing old is hard work. The mind says “Yes,” but the body says “What in the world are you thinking!”

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour: Tom Byrum and the other Champions Tour golfers are in Duluth, Ga., where the Mitsubishi Electric Classic is underway. Tom’s earnings for the year so far total $81,890.

THOUGHTS ON GETTING OLDER

Aging surely has slowed me down, but it hasn’t shut me up.

COLLEGE BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Northern (Spencer Sarringar): The Wolves lost twice to St. Cloud State, 7-1 and 20-8, and took two of three from Northwest Missouri State, winning 6-0 and 12-3 and losing 9-2. Two games against Bemidji State and three with Upper Iowa were all cancelled by weather. Now 9-11 overall and 2-6 in the NSIC, Northern played Minot State yesterday and plays four at Wayne State this weekend.

South Dakota State (Landon Badger, Quinn Reimers): The Jackrabbits won once and lost twice against Omaha. Neither Pierre man played in a 5-3 loss. In an 8-5 loss, Landon went 1-for-4 at the plate and scored once, and Quinn pitched an inning, giving up one hit, one earned run and one walk. In a 6-2 win Landon was 1-for-5 as a hitter. SDSU swept Fort Wayne in three games last weekend, though the series was moved to Joplin, Mo., of all places to find a field and weather conditions that were suitable. In a 10-0 seven-inning win Landon was 2-for-2 and walked twice. In a 7-2 victory Landon went 2-for-4, scored once and drove in a pair. His single tied the game 1-1 in the second inning, and his other single in the eighth gave the Jacks a 4-2 lead. In a 13-9 win Landon was 2-for-5, walking once and scoring once. On Tuesday SDSU lost at Creighton, 9-4. Landon was 1-for-2 and walked twice. Quinn pitched an inning, giving up two walks but no hits and striking out one. SDSU is scheduled to play NDSU twice Thursday and once Friday in Sioux Falls, then goes to Minnesota next Tuesday.

Minnesota (Nolan Burchill): Nolan still has not pitched in a game this season. The Gophers took two of three from St. John’s, winning 9-8 and 6-3 and losing 11-5. A series vs. St. Louis was cancelled. Minnesota swept three from Penn State, 7-6, 17-2 and 8-2. Tuesday’s game vs. NDSU was postponed. Minnesota plays three this weekend at Purdue, then hosts SDSU Tuesday.

COLLEGE WRESTLING ROUNDUP

South Dakota State: Replacing Chris Bono as head coach will be Damion Hahn, who has coached the Cornell team for the past decade. He was assistant coach there since 2006 and associate head coach since 2013. In college he was a four-time All-American at Minnesota.

THE BLONDES ARE BACK

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting. Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his wndow, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, “Pull over!”

“No!” the blonde yelled back. “It’s a scarf.”

COLLEGE TRACK ROUNDUP

Black Hills State (Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Allan McDonnell): At Northern Colorado’s meet in Greeley, Allan won the high jump at 6’8″, besting 10 other jumpers, five of them from Division I schools. He also placed seventh in the long jump at 20’9 1/4″. Last weekend at the CU Invitational in Boulder, Allan placed third in the high jump at 6’7″. BHSU competes Saturday at the Al Bauer Invitational at the School of Mines in Rapid City.

South Dakota Mines (Theron Singleton): Theron did not run when the Hardrockers went to the Northern Colorado meet. Mines is home Saturday for its own Al Bauer Invitational.

Mary track (Jack Wollman): The Marauders were weathered out of a meet at Southwest Minnesota State and their home meet last weekend. Mary is scheduled this weekend at NDSU’s Hokanson Classic.

Liberty track (Cortney Dowling): At the Texas Relays Cortney and her mates on the 4×400 relay team placed 14th of 39 teams in the preliminaries, running their season-best time so far of 3:44.57. At South Carolina’s Gamecock Invitational Cortney placed 12th of 60 runners in the 400 in :56.42. Liberty is home for its Wildcat Invitational Friday and Saturday.

South Dakota State (Rachel Propst, Riley Sears, Max Reinke): At the San Francisco State distance carnival Rachel finished 14th in the 1500 in 5:04.64. She ran the 5000 meters for the first time as a Jackrabbit and placed seventh in 18:56.31. SDSU competes this weekend at the Hokanson Classic at NDSU.

LIFE LESSONS

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.
— Michelangelo

COLLEGE GOLF ROUNDUP

South Dakota women (Katie Bartlett): AT the Kansas City Intercollegiate Tournament Monday and Tuesday, the USD women placed seventh of seven teams with a 632 score. Katie had a card of 80-81=161 for a tie for 34th place. The first-place team was NDSU. Next up for the USD golfers will be the Summit League championships at Nebraska City, Neb., April 22-24.

Northern Michigan women (Karissa Guthrie): In a tournament at Blacklick, Ohio, that finished Tuesday, the NMU women had four women in the top 20 and placed second of 16 schools, five strokes behind champion Grand Valley State. Karissa placed third individually out of 91 golfers. She carded a 78 in the first round but in the second round shot a 1-under-par 71 for a 149 total. That was part of a school-record round of 297 in the second round. Karissa was named to the all-tournament team. The Wildcats’ next tournament will be the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet at Nashport, Ohio, April 20.

RED SKELTON’S RECIPES FOR THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, April 12:
Brandt Becker, Frank Turner, Mike Eaton, Colton Carter, Amanda (Stewart) Shindle, Nathan Bishop, April (Thompson) Schroeder, Darby (Warne) Boyd, Austin Neilan, Trent Withers, Cheri Bartlett, Lee Fosheim, McKenna Yach, Meleta DeJong, David Volk, Brian Grunewaldt.
— 15th anniversary, Aaron/Laura Scheibe.

Friday, April 13:
Tanner Pruess, Wynne (Nafus) Sayer, Austin Van Houten, Derek Schiefelbein, Josh Hove, Clara Miller, Michala Huse, Brenna Mikkelsen, Emily (Bloomberg) Meier, Sarah (Adam) Axtman, Rita Linn, Carol Garry, Sara (Sperry) Thomas, Raina Christenson, Maggie Brindza.
— 6th anniversary, Justin/Theresa (Frick) Jones.

Saturday, April 14:
Matt Bump, Mark Menning, Sadie (Fitzke) Goodman, Evan Zuercher, Carolyn Elwood, Lola Schreiber, Dee Lundeen (#80).
— 6th anniversary, Eric/Niki (Cowan) Jaworski.

Sunday, April 15:
Rachel (LeBeau) Hachem, Spencer Safe, Brian Deal, Matt Christie, Kassi (Schuetzle) Wilson, Dusty Beringer, Shannon (Dykstra) Herbert, Kelly Gerber, Nevaeh Hight, Jason Wulf, RyLee Fischer, Jacob Wagner.

Monday, April 16:
Nina Jordre, Geoff Simon, Tyler Bonnett, Sherri Zeller, Brett Wheelhouse.
— 2nd anniversary, Kevin/Kaitlyn (Forman) Stiles.
— 30th anniversary, Pat/Laura Snow.

Tuesday, April 17:
Pat Weeldreyer, Bernie Christenson, Nancy Woster, Adam Molseed, Anita (Shoup) Spitzer, Vinnie Olson, Brandon Tedford, Beckett Merriam, Ellen (Meyer) Walker, Ann (Schaack) Humphery, Ami Jo Welch, Aidan Stoeser.
— 36th anniversary, Tim/Kara Brandlee.
— 7th anniversary, Nick/Mallori (Barnett) Johnson.

Wednesday, April 18:
Doug Jennewein, Carly Myers, Harper Pool, Leo Mortenson, Darcy Unruh, Josia Fuerst, Jackie Haggin, Scott Raue, Nathaniel Gough, Blake Yackley, Darrel Curtis.
— Anniversary, Reid/Tiffany Alt.

Thursday, April 19:
Kerry (Leuning) Rosane, Erin (Nielsen) Nielsen, Shane Prunty, Brooks Garrett, Amanda Nielsen, Rhonda (Massey) Watson, Sawyer Garrett, Olivia Perli, Sandii Bartels, Robert Sautner, Cheri (Olinger) Raymond, Joe Mauer.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Failure is inevitable, and it’s the people who keep trying who become successful. — Mirai Nagasu

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

Hopefully something will change so this awful “one-and-done” system goes by the wayside, and the young teen-agers (and their parents) who want to become instant millionaires can go ahead and play basketball right out of high school (and then do what after age 30 for the rest of their lives?). Now these elite players flood college teams for a year and disappear. Our Duke program unfortunately has had to join the one-and-done idea in order to keep pace, so this year’s outstanding freshmen are probably already off the campus and gone somewhere to await the NBA draft. But they say a new crop—probably the best group of recruits in the country—are headed to Duke, so there will be another great Blue Devil team next year. But only for one year. One of the newcomers will be Tre Jones (brother of Tyus Jones of the 2015 national champions), who last week was named Mr. Basketball in Minnesota. He led his Apple Valley team to four state tournaments during high school, and they won the state title twice. This year they lost the championship game to Cretin-Derham Hall, 79-78.
The Firehouse Brewing Company Theatre in Rapid City has announced its 2018-19 season of plays, which includes “Bat Boy: The Musical,” Oct. 5-Nov. 10; “American Buffalo,” Nov. 23-Dec. 15; “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” Dec. 28-Jan. 19; “Ordinary Days,” a musical, Feb. 1-March 9; “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” March 22-April 13.

FACTS OF LIFE

The only family member you get to choose is the dog.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

At the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association state tournament three local wrestlers won state championships—Gable Uhrig, Bantam 53 division; Elijah Boutchee, Novice 150 division; Case Kolda, Midgets 113 division.

Jim Frazee, 92, died March 26 at the Pierre Care and Rehabilitation Center. Graveside services took place April 4. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 during World War II, then attended South Dakota State College. He worked for the state Department of Transportation for more than 37 years. He is survived by his siblings, Joan Trautner, Dick Frazee, Mark Frazee and Linda Jorgensen.

The Harvard Din & Tonics, the a capella group of which Pierre’s Austin Lentsch is a member, will join forces with the Harvard Fallen Angels for an a capella serenade, “Fallen Din Love,” at 8 p.m. this Saturday at Sanders Theater on the Harvard campus in Cambridge. All of our Massachusetts readers, take note! Admission is only $15. Austin’s group will also be going on a 10-week world tour this summer.

Recently named Athlete of the Week by the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association were Mackenzie Rath and Erick Colman of the track teams.

Members of the 2018-19 executive board of Jacks for Life at South Dakota State University include treasurer Josh Weinheimer and social media coordinator Jenni Jones, both of whom are Sully Buttes alumni. Jacks for Life is a pro-life organization on the campus.

Jay Seaman, a native of Onida, died March 28 at Grannis, Ark., at the age of 61. A memorial service was held April 6 at Cove, Ark. Mr. Seaman, the son of Ed and Lois Seaman, grew up in Onida. He worked as a truck driver and mechanic. He is survived by his wife Linda; his daughter, Tina Kesterson and her husband Travis of Grannis; three grandchildren; and seven siblings, Jolene Depew of Navarre, Fla., Jerry Seaman of Huron, Jim Seaman of Pierre, Judson Seaman of Rapid City, Jarvis Seaman of Valley Center, Kan., Janel Frye of Black Hawk and Julian Seaman of Emporia, Kan.

District 24 of the Legislature, which includes Hughes, Stanley and Sully counties, will have a primary election on the Republican ticket to narrow the field of incumbents Mary Duvall and Tim Rounds and challenger Roxanne Weber to two candidates for the general election. There the two Republicans will fave Democrats Brian Watterson and Terry Keller. On the Senate side there is no primary contest in either party, but there will be a general election contest between incumbent Jeff Monroe and challenger Amanda Bachmann.

The Republican Party will have two major primary contests in the June 5 election. Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives seat are Dusty Johnson, secretary of state Shantel Krebs and state senator Neal Tapio. The Republicans have a primary contest for governor between U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem and state attorney general Marty Jackley. The House primary winner will face Democrat Tim Bjorkman in November, and the Noem-Jackley survivor will face state senator Billie Sutton in the general election.

The Riggs High musical, “Bye, Bye, Birdie,” will be performed in the theater at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Activity passes will be honored.

Funeral services for Bonnie Korkow, 74, are being held this (Thursday) morning at the Isburg Funeral Chapel at 10 a.m. She passed away April 8 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. A native of Gordon, Neb., she earned degrees from South Dakota State and Creighton. Bonnie and her husband, Don, lived in Mobridge, Pierre, Washington, D.C., and Silver City, Iowa, until returning to Pierre. She worked as a guidance counselor. Besides her husband, she is survived by their daughter, Kayla Hiller; their son, Craig Korkow, and her brother, Fay Faulk.

Jerry and Ally Bollinger of Westfield, Ind., became parents for the first time on April 2. They have a daughter named Aria Mae. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 21 inches.

Sgt. Bryan Walz of the Pierre Police Department is being reassigned from the ranks of detective and appointed captain and commander of the PPD’s administrative division. He has been with the department since 1999. (News courtesy of “Today’s KCCR News.”)

Adam and Susie (Gloe) Hanson are the parents of another son. Levi Steven Hanson was born April 5, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces. He joins a brother, Lucas, in their family.

To help raise funds for the Dozark family as Mary battles cancer, a Smackdown wrestling dual has been scheduled at Parkview Auditorium on May 5. Mary was a long-time teacher and wrestling cheerleader adviser at Stanley County High while her husband, Glenn, was teacher and wrestling coach. The organizers of the May 5 event are looking for wrestlers and cheerleaders. Contact Tate Gabriel for details. Those who wish to donate to the fund to help the Dozarks should know there is an account for that purpose established at First National Bank in Fort Pierre.

Allison Mickelson is appearing in the Tony Award-winning “Fun Home” at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre at Colorado College through April 22. Allison appeared in the show’s lead role last year in Portland, Ore.

Our sympathy to the Plooster family. Tom Plooster’s sister, Mary Parsons of Custer, died April 5 at the hospital in Custer at the age of 62. Services were held Wednesday at White River.

This Saturday morning (April 14) the annual Miles for Murphy 5K walk/run will be held in Hartford, starting at the city hall at 9 a.m. A freewill donation is the entry fee, and all proceeds go to the Kier Murphy Scholarship Fund. The late Kier Murphy, son of former Pierre residents Dick and Sandy Murphy of Sioux Falls, was a teacher at West Central High in Hartford until his death from a sudden illness. At Saturday’s walk and run, prizes will go to the first male and first female 5K winner and to the best-dressed participant. Walkers and runners are encouraged to wear their “best green workout outfit.” The first 50 finishers will receive a pair of running socks. After the 5K fun and snacks will be available at the Hartford Health Fair, which runs from 8:30 to 11:30 at the Gage House on Main Street in Hartford.

Bob Cross, 83, Fort Pierre, died April 6 at Avera-Maryhouse Long-Term Care. Services were held April 12 at St. John’s Catholic Church. He worked as a heavy equipment operator during the construction of Oahe Dam. He was a police officer in his home areas of Letcher and Mitchell. He and his wife, Monica, started K-Bar-C Western Wear in Pierre in 1986. He is survived by four sons, Kim Cross of Mitchell, Kent Cross of Eagle Butte, Kelly Cross of Fort Pierre and Kent Cross of Pierre; a brother, three sisters, 10 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Mike and Chelsea (Neuhauser) Hoy of Midland have a new daughter in their family. Mikaela Lee Hoy was born April 5, weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and measuring 20 1/2 inches. She joins a sister, Maddie, 3, in their family.

Honored as Students of the Month in the Stanley County middle school and high school for March were: senior, T.J. Drageset; junior, Joseph Fischer; sophomore, Reid Wieczorek; freshman, Nathan Cook; eighth grader, Calvin Christensen; seventh grader, Jackson Robbennolt; sixth grader, Racheal Runge.

At the South Dakota Student Council Association convention in Rapid City recently, four Stanley County High students were elected to officers on the Capitol Region board: Tracy Nielson, sergeant-at-arms/parliamentarian; Austin Hand, school representative; J.D. Carter, treasurer; Jayden Face, secretary.

Rodger Hartley has been getting great reviews for his performance as the lead character in the musical “Sweeney Todd.” The show is currently playing at the Firehouse Brewing Company Theatre in Rapid City on Friday and Saturday nights through May 5. Tickets have been selling well, and the first two shows were sellouts, so calls for reservations are advised.

On the evening of Monday, April 2, winter weather conditions struck the Rapid City area quickly, starting with freezing rain and then snow on top of it. Sara (Schneider) Odden told her tale of “adventure” on Facebook. She was driving her children home from swimming lessons along Sheridan Lake Road in the southwest part of the city when cars ahead of her stopped. So she had to stop, her car slid, and suddenly she was stuck. Sara called for a tow truck. While she waited, her husband Matt came by with his truck and thought he could pull Sara’s car free, but he too became stuck. Then a car came from the opposite direction—one of those slow-motion accidents you see coming but can do nothing about. That vehicle hit Sara’s car, pushing it against a guardrail. Then a pickup hit that car, sandwiching them. Nobody was hurt in any of the vehicles, but Sara said her kids were scared. It was fortunate Matt’s pickup was there, so the kids could be put in a somewhat safer vehicle during the wait for sheriff, tow trucks and snowplows. The trip home from swim lessons took 3 1/2 hours.

Former Pierre resident and day care provider Dee Lundeen of Sioux Falls will celebrate her 80th birthday on Saturday, April 14. Greetings can be sent to 6606 Bellwood, Sioux Falls SD 57108. If it is too late to mail a card to Dee, send her greetings via e-mail to ldlundeen@msn.com. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate with Dee at the Marriott Springhill Suites in Sioux Falls from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday evening. No gifts, please!

The Riggs High School Student Council was one of those which earned the Outstanding Student Council Award at the recent convention of the South Dakota Student Council Association held in Rapid City.

Brett Oakland rolled a perfect 300 game as part of an 805 series in league bowling at Eastway Bowl in Sioux Falls last week.

Marian Gunderson, 90, Sioux Falls, died on Feb. 18, but a memorial service will be held this Saturday at 4 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Yankton. She and her husband, Dexter Gunderson, a former legislator, lived in Pierre for a time in he 1970s. She managed Sen. James Abdnor’s PIerre constituents office and worked for the House of Representatives. She served on the South Dakota Water Board for 26 years.

It wasn’t heaven, but to a golfer it’s as close as it comes. Tom Tipton, who is a golf course superintendent in Maryland, was able to go to the Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga., last week. One of the photos posted on Facebook showed him sitting in a chair in the Butler Cabin, the historic location where the Masters winner receives his green jacket each year.

Weather permitting (and it probably won’t permit!), Evening for the Arts, a fund-raiser for the Riggs High band, oral interpretation program and Art Club, will take place Friday night at the gym. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. The evening includes an art show and silent auction from 6 to 10 p.m., dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. served by the oral interp students, live music from 6 to 8 p.m., and a big-band dance from 8 to 10, featuring the Riggs High and Georgia Morse Middle School jazz bands.

Steve Maciejewski, a native of Blunt and a 1988 graduate of Sully Buttes High School, died unexpectedly at the age of 48 when he collapsed at work in the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department in Sioux Falls on April 3. Services were held April 78 at Community Reformed Church in Sioux Falls after which a long procession of law enforcement vehicles escorted the hearse to his final resting place. After high school Steve attended USD where he met his wife, Rhonda. He began his law enforcement career with the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office in 1995 as a correctional officer in the jail. He was promoted to deputy in the jail, later moving to the patrol division. After several years on patrol, he was assigned to the town of Hartford. At the time of his death he was assigned to the 24/7 sobriety program. Steve was a driving force behind the Sheriff’s Office’s Explorer Scout program and served Scouting for many years. Besides his wife, he is survived by their two children, Grace and Joseph; his parents, John and Karen (Stulken) Maciejewski of Blunt; his brother, Dennis Maciejewski of Blunt, and his sisters, Rita Muskell of Alpena, Mich., and Emily Ciccone of Sioux Falls.

Frank Turner began work last week as a park ranger at Sully Creek State Park near Medora, N.D. Meanwhile, his fiancee, Jasmine Fosheim, has been at Hettinger, N.D., for several months as executive director of the Hettinger Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation. Frank and Jasmine have also added acquired Luna, a Pyrador puppy.

Riggs High alumnus Dan Johnson recently became engaged to Lacy Vannorsdel while they were on a trip to South Africa. Dan is owner of Foothills Home Inspections in Fort Collins, Colo. Lacy, a native of Viborg who attended USD, lives in Fort Collins and works as a speech language pathologist at the Greeley-Evans School District nearby.

Three actors with Pierre backgrounds as are among the 67 performers who will be onstage at Black Hills Community Theatre tonight (Thursday) when a reading of “The Laramie Project” is staged at 7:30 p.m. Rodger Hartley, Jason Knox and Holly (Knox) Perli are among those involved.

Jason Young’s daughter Natalie, a freshman at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, has been playing great golf this spring season. Last weekend the Rapid City Stevens alumna placed third of 26 golfers at the Chandler-Gilbert CC Invitational shooting a 12-over 154 with rounds of 79 and 75. Earlier this season she was second at the Scottsdale CC Invitational, third at the Pima Invitational, third at the Estrella Mountain Invitational and fourth at the Paradise Valley Invitational. The South Mountain golfers’ next outing will be April 23-24 at the Mesa CC Invitational.

Ten-year-old Macy Bryant, daughter of Tyler and Megan Bryant of Sioux Falls, was featured in a news segment on KELO-TV recently. She is the first girl among 165 players playing in the Sioux Falls Little League in baseball this summer. “She just goes out there to play. That makes me extremely happy, and we’re extremely proud of her,” said her dad.

Long-time Pierre residents Gordon and Lois Van Ash celebrated their 65th anniversary on Monday, April 9. They were married in Canton in 1953. They have five surviving children (two have passed away), 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Friends can still send them greetings to 217 E. Missouri Ave., Pierre SD 57501.

You’ve heard the term “Minnesota nice”? Eileen Bertsch was made aware of it first-hand this week. In Rochester with her brother Kevin while he goes through four days of appointments and procedures connected with his Parkinson’s disease, Eileen left her purse (containing cash, credit cards, etc.) at a Toppers Pizza shop a block from St. Mary’s Hospital Monday night. She discovered what she had done the next morning. In two hours the pizza shop manager and staff had found her purse with all contents intact. What’s more, they had included a pizza gift certificate.

Former Pierre resident Sandy Spencer of Rapid City lost her sister, Verda Flannery of Wessington Springs, recently. Her funeral service will be held later on June 23 in Wessington Springs when more relatives from a distance can attend.

Darlene “Deezie” Smith, 86, Agar, died April 4 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Services were held April 9 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Onida. The daughter of the late Vern and Agnes Allison, Darlene went all of her school years in Onida. She married Kenny Smith of Agar in 1949. She is survived by their children, Connie Mikkelsen and her husband Jay of Agar and Terry Smith of Agar; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a sister, Margaret Nahrstadt in Pennsylvania.