ENTERTAINMENT AT THE CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREES

Saturday: noon, Northern State University clarinet choir and horn ensembles, Aberdeen; 6:30 p.m., Nordic Nimble Feet, Brookings.
Sunday: 1 p.m., Karen Huebner piano students, Pierre.
Monday: 6:30 p.m., PEO Chapter CS saxophonists, Pierre.
Tuesday: noon, Sioux Falls Washington women’s choir and chamber orchestra.
Wednesday: 7 p.m., pianist Ginny Lors, Pierre.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Saturday, at Watertown invitational, 10 a.m.
Gymnastics—Thursday, home quadrangular (with Stanley County, Chamberlain and Huron), 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, at Sioux Falls Washington invitational, 11 a.m.
Girls basketball—opener Dec. 8 at Sturgis.
Boys basketball—opener Dec. 14 at Douglas.

Football: Garrett Stout and Jack Maher from the Governors’ 11AA state championship team were accorded recognition on the Sioux Falls Argus Leader’s Elite 45 (the top 45 players in the state regardless of classification).

Volleyball: The following postseason awards were presented to Lady Govs players—coaches award, Abbi Kitts; most valuable player, Kenzie Kuxhaus; most improved, Hanna Jerome; most inspirational player, Emry Heiss; Miss Lady Gov, Halle Gronlund; JV most improved, Natalie Mohr; JV hustler and coaches award, Hanna Jerome.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, at Lyman triangular, 6 p.m.; Saturday, home for Stanley County invitational, 10 a.m.
Gymnastics—Thursday, at Pierre quadrangular (with Huron and Chamberlain), 5:30 p.m.
Girls basketball—opener Dec. 8 home vs. White River.
Boys basketball—opener Dec. 7 at Bennett County.

Volleyball: Senior Ally McQuistion and junior Karley Leafgreen were named to the honorable mention list on the Big Dakota Conference all-conference team.

Football: Brady Hoftiezer, SCHS senior, was named to the Class 11B All-State team as long snapper on special teams.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Saturday, at Stanley County invitational, 10 a.m.
Girls basketball—opener Dec. 7 at Eureka-Bowdle.
Boys basketball—opener Dec. 11 at Lyman.

Football: Five members of the Chargers’ state 9B runners-up were named to the 9B All-State football team—junior quarterback Nick Wittler, senior running back Morris Hofer, junior wide receiver Grant Johnson, senior tight end Cam Ogle and junior guard Jett Lamb. Named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader’s Elite 45 (the top 45 players in the state regardless of classification) were Ogle and Wittler among the Elite 45 and Lamb on the honorable mention list.

WEDDING DAYS

June 8: Joseph Rezac/Brittanie Blaseg.
Aug. 31: Devin Maki/Karlie Warne.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Northern football: Alex Gray was voted as one of four football team captains at the end of the season. Alex started all 11 games and finished second in total tackles with 72 (47 solo tackles, and 6 1/2 tackles for loss for a total loss of 12 yards). He also had two pass interceptions, one of them returned 82 yards for a touchdown.

Northern football: The Wolves football team announced their Scout Team Players of the Year as voted on by members of the team for overall effort, attitude and performance. Onida freshman Jacob Howard, a 6’3″, 240-pound defensive lineman, was selected as Defensive Player of the Year.

North Dakota football: The Hawks ended with a 6-5 record after a 31-16 defeat at Northern Arizona.

South Dakota football: The Coyotes finished a 4-7 season (3-5 in the Valley) with a 49-27 loss at South Dakota State. Austin Simmons completed 34 of 58 passes for 295 yards with one touchdown and one pick. He carried 17 times for a net 79 yards.

North Dakota State football: The Bison rolled Southern Illinois, 65-17, to end the regular season at 11-0 overall and 8-0 in the Missouri Valley. They earned the No. 1 seed in the FCS playoffs, meaning a first-round bye. They will play at home in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Saturday.

South Dakota State football: In the regular-season windup SDSU won at home over USD, 49-27, leading 28-7 after the first quarter. Taryn Christion completed 12 of 22 passes for 172 yards and three scores. Pierre Strong carried 17 times for 260 yards and three TDs. SDSU was granted the No. 5 national seed, which goes with it a first-round bye in the FCS playoffs and a second-round home game. Duquesne beat Towson, 31-10, in the same bracket last Saturday, so Duquesne (9-3) will travel from Pittsburgh to Brookings for a Saturday game at 2 p.m. In the same bracket No. 4 seed Kennesaw State (Ga.) will be home against Wofford. That winner will play the SDSU-Duquesne winner Dec. 7 or 8 in the quarterfinals, and barring an upset somewhere, that winner will have to go to NDSU in the semifinals Dec. 14 or 15.

Missouri Valley Football Conference final standings: NDSU 8-0, SDSU 6-2, Indiana State 5-3, Northern Iowa 5-3, Western Illnois 4-4, USD 3-5, Illinois State 3-5, Youngstown State 3-5, Missouri State 2-6, Southern Illinois 1-7.

South Dakota State swimming (Wyatt Rumrill, Ashley Theobald): The Jacks finished seventh of nine teams at the Iowa Invitational. Wyatt swam a season-best :58.52 in the 100-meter breast stroke event, and the 200-meter medley team on which he swims had a season-best clocking of 1:34.28. The team left Iowa City before the finals were completed due to threatening travel conditions. SDSU swims Thursday through Saturday at the University of Minnesota invitational.

Dakota Wesleyan wrestling: At the Augsburg Open in Minneapolis the Tigers got a championship at 157 pounds from Cole Halouska, freshman from Worthing. In a dual against Briar Cliff, the Tigers forfeited all but five weights and lost 56-0. DWU wrestles Saturday at the Simpson Open in Indianola, Iowa.

Northern wrestling: At the Finn Grinaker Open in Moorhead, the Wolves had three champions—Caden Moore at 149 pounds, Kaden Campbell at 184 and Harrison Townsend at 285. Northern wrestles Friday in a dual at MSU-Moorhead and Saturday at MSU-M’s Dragon Open.

Augustana wrestling (Jebben Keyes): At the Finn Grinaker Open in Moorhead, Augie placed 16 of its 18 wrestlers and had four champions—Colin Ayers at 187, Kolby Kost at 174, Jack Huffman at 133 and Steven Hajas at 285. Jebben won three of his four matches in placing third at 141 pounds. Jebben had a first-round bye; won by pin in 6:55 over a St. Cloud State wrestler in the quarterfinals; lost by technical fall, 15-0, to a NDSU man in the semis and won an 8-3 over another NDSU wrestler for third place. Augustana wrestles Saturday at the Jim Koch Wisconsin Open in Kenosha.

South Dakota State wrestling: The Jackrabbits lost to #4 Oklahoma State, 45-6, as the Cowboys earned four pins and two technical falls. The only SDSU points came on an injury default win for Henry Pohlmeyer at 149. The loss broke a string of 12 straight Big 12 wins for the Jacks. Seth Gross, defending national champion, was held out of the Oklahoma State dual due to injury and also did not wrestle Sunday in a 35-6 loss at Minnesota. The Jacks’ wins were decisions by Colten Carlson at 157 and Zach Carlson at 184. SDSU wrestles at Oklahoma Dec. 7 in its next match.

Augustana men’s basketball: The Vikings take a 3-2 record into a conference home game vs. Wayne State at 5:30 Saturday. Augie defeated South Dakota Mines, 70-51 as A.J. Plitzuweit scored 15. In a 65-62 loss to Black Hills State, Augie was led by Matt Cartwright’s 24 and Plitzuweit’s 14.

Augustana women’s basketball (Katie Bourk, Aislinn Duffy): After a 87-41 win over Dakota State, Augustana went 2-1 in three games in Puerto Rico, winning 77-37 over Puerto Rico-Piedras and 81-61 over Puerto Rico-Bayamon while losing to Central Oklahoma, 59-56. On Tuesday Augie defeated Waldorf, 71-63, led by Shelby Selland’s 17 points. Now 7-1, Augustana is home vs. Wayne State in NSIC play Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball: The Tigers are 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the GPAC after a pair of two-point losses. DWU lost to Dordt, 87-85, as Ty Hoglund scored 21. In a 79-77 loss to Hastings Hoglund led DWU with 31. DWU beat Jamestown, 86-80, led by Nick Harden’s 21. DWU after hosting Briar Cliff last night goes to Mount Marty next Wednesday.

Dakota Wesleyan women’s basketball: The Lady Tigers continue to roll and now stand at 9-0. DWU beat Dordt, 72-68; Hastings, 81-63; Jamestown, 62-40, and Presentation, 106-54. Kynedi Cheeseman had 24 vs. Hastings, 23 vs. Jamestown and 31 vs. Presentation. DWU hosted Briar Cliff last night and plays at Mount Marty next Wednesday.

University of Sioux Falls men’s basketball: USF defeated Waldorf, 64-47, led by Trevon Evans’ 19 points. USF won in overtime over Central Missouri, 73-70, and 78-70 over Chadron State. In the latter win Drew Guebert scored 24 and Evans 22. USF lost to Truman State, 70-67. Now 5-1, the Cougars go to Southwest Minnesota State Saturday.

University of Sioux Falls women’s basketball: The Cougar women are 4-1 after three recent wins. In a 64-49 win over the School of Mines, Myriah Szymanski scored 13. Kaely Hummel led the Cougars with 14 in a 90-44 win over Chadron State and 18 in a 98-46 win over Presentation. USF goes to Southwest Minnesota State Saturday.

Tennessee women’s basketball (Caleb Currier): Serving as one of the Lady Vols’ managers again this season, Caleb has seen UT go to a 5-0 record. Their latest wins were 78-66 over Clemson and 73-69 over Alabama-Birmingham. The Vols play at Oklahoma State Sunday and home vs. Stetson next Wednesday.

South Dakota men’s basketball: The Coyotes are 3-3. Trey Burch-Manning has been leading scorer in the last four games with 20 points in a 60-56 loss to High Point, 25 in a 65-62 loss to Air Force, and 20 in a 58-52 win over Maryland-Baltimore County, all played in the Bahamas, and 17 points in a 63-57 loss at Baylor Tuesday. USD is home vs. Cal State-Bakersfield at 3:30 Saturday and on the road to Colorado Tuesday.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb, Ciara Duffy):The Coyote women’s only loss so far was to Drake, 76-64. Chloe went 4-of-10 and 1-1 for nine points with three rebounds, one assist and a steal. Ciara was 2-of-11, including 1-of-2 from long range, for five points with six rebounds, two steals and nine assists. USD overwhelmed St. Mary, 112-58, as Ciara was 6-of-9, including 2-of-3 from downtown, and 1-of-2 for 15 points along with two rebounds, one assist and four steals. USD won at the Pentagon over Wichita State, 73-64 as Ciara was 6-of-12, including 4-of-7 in threes, and 7-of-8 at the line for 23 points with eight rebounds, four assists and a block. Chloe was 3-of-10, including 1-of-6 in threes, and 1-of-1 for eight points with one rebound, three assists and two steals. USD then won at Montana, 64-41. Ciara had another great night, hitting 11-of-18 in field goals, including 2-of-6 in threes, and 2-of-2 for 26 points with three rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Chloe was 3-of-6, including 1-of-2 in threes, for seven points with two boards, two assists and two steals. Now 5-1, USD, after hosting Iowa State last night, hosts Green Bay at 1 p.m. Saturday on Midco Sports Network and goes to Missouri State next Tuesday.

Mount Marty women’s basketball: The Lancer women lost to Northwestern, 92-82; lost to Midland in overtime, 66-58, and lost to Briar Cliff, 81-58, to drop to 0-5 in the GPAC and 3-5 overall. MMC hosted Jamestown last night and is home vs. DWU next Wednesday.

Mount Marty men’s basketball: The Lancers lost to Northwestern, 102-63; beat Midland, 74-71; lost to Briar Cliff, 87-70, and lost to Wayne State, 75-58. Now 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the GPAC, Mount Marty after hosting Jamestown last night plays at Nebraska-Kearney Saturday and hosts DWU next Wednesday.

Dakota State men’s basketball: The Trojans are 2-7 after losses to Dordt, 89-83; to Midland, 91-87, and to Morningside, 104-75. DSU goes to Bellevue Saturday.

Dakota State women’s basketball: The Lady Ts are off to a 1-6 start this season with their most recent losses to Augustana, 87-41; to Dordt, 89-62, and to Mines, 101-42. DSU plays at Bellevue Saturday.

Northern men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Wolves beat Black Hills State, 82-50, as Iam Smith and Parker Fox had 13 points each. NSU beat Mines, 75-67, as Gabe King scored 17. In a 61-59 win over Truman State, Justin Decker led the Wolves with 13. In a 66-62 win over Chadron State, Smith had 17. Now 4-2, Northern is home Saturday vs. MSU-Moorhead.

Northern women’s basketball (Rachel Guthmiller): Northern won a crosstown battle over Presentation, 63-53, as Alayna Johnson had 19 points. Rachel was 2-of-3 and 1-of-1 for five points with a steal. In a 58-52 loss to East Central, Rachel made her only shot for two points with one rebound. NSU then lost to Emporia State, 72-60. Now 2-3, NSU is home vs. MSU-Moorhead Saturday.

Black Hills State women’s basketball (Remi Wientjes, Racquel Wientjes): The Yellowjackets won in overtime over William Jewell (Mo.), 66-62. Both Onida girls had starting roles. Remi went 7-of-13 in field goals, including 1-of-4 in threes, and 5-of-7 in free throws for 20 points with seven rebounds and three assists. Racquel didn’t score but had a rebound and an assist. BHSU then defeated Wisconsin-Parkside, 79-60. Remi was 6-of-7, including 2-of-2 in threes, and 3-of-3 for 17 points with three rebounds and two assists. Racquel was 2-of-4, including 1-of-2 for five points with four boards, three assists and a steal. Now 4-0, BHSU plays at Mines at 5:30 Saturday.

Black Hills State men’s basketball: BHSU lost to Northern, 82-50, as Fraser Malcolm scored 15. He had 21 in a 65-62 win over Augustana and 29 in a 68-64 loss to Alaska-Fairbanks. In a 90-70 loss to Montana State-Billings, Makaleb McInnis led BHSU with 18. The Yellowjackets play at Mines at 7:30 Saturday.

South Dakota Mines men’s basketball: The Hardrockers have lost five in a row and stand at 2-5. Mines lost to Augustana, 70-51, led by Mitchell Sueker’s 15 points. They lost to Northern, 75-67, as Logan Elers scored 21. After a 68-52 loss to Mary, Mines went to Alaska and lost twice to Alaska-Anchorage, 75-55 and 73-68. Mines hosts Black Hills State at 7:30 Saturday.

South Dakota Mines women’s basketball: Mines lost to USF, 66-49; beat Montana State-Billings, 81-69, and topped Dakota State, 101-42. Now 2-1, Mines hosts Black Hills State at 5:30 Saturday.

Presentation men’s basketball: The Saints won twice in Oskaloosa, Iowa. In a 90-87 squeaker win over Shawnee State (Ohio), Lollis Quadre scored 33. Presentation also beat Wright State-Lake, 77-64. Now 6-5, the Saints host Dickinson State Saturday and Trinity Bible next Wednesday.

Presentation women’s basketball: The Saints are 3-6 after losing to Northern, 63-53; to DWU, 106-54, and to USF, 98-46. PC hosts Dickinson State Saturday and Trinity Bible next Wednesday.

Incarnate Word women’s basketball (Liz Holter): The Cardinal women are 0-7 after losing to Houston, San Diego State, Weber State and Arizona. Against San Diego State Liz got in for 12 minutes and had two free free throws and two rebounds. She had one rebound in two minutes of action in the Weber State game. UIW plays at Texas-Arlington Sunday and at Minnesota next Wednesday.

South Dakota State men’s basketball: The Jacks lost to Florida Gulf Coast, 84-78, as David Jenkins scored 29 and Mike Daum 18. SDSU went 2-1 in a tournament at Fort Myers, Fla. Daum scored 28 and Jenkins 23, but SDSU lost to Tulane, 84-80. In a 99-79 win over Texas-San Antonio, Daum scored 41, becoming the leading scorer in school history, and had 10 rebounds. Skyler Flatten scored 28. Jenkins scored 32 in a 78-65 win over Colorado State. Now 5-2, the Jacks, after hosting UMKC last night, play Northern Iowa at the Vikings’ stadium Saturday night on Midco Sports Network and go to Memphis Tuesday.

South Dakota State women’s basketball (Sydney Palmer): SDSU dominated Creighton, 74-48, as Macy Miller scored 23. Sydney was 4-of-56 and 2-of-2 for 10 points, with two rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist. In Las Vegas the Jacks lost to Baylor, 77-62, as Madison Guebert scored 22. Sydney didn’t score but had three boards and one steal. In a 61-55 loss to Buffalo, Sydney was 4-of-6 for eight points with three rebounds and a steal. Now 3-3, the SDSU women host Green Bay tonight on Midco Sports Network and play at Chattanooga Tuesday.

North Dakota men’s hockey: The Hawks lost twice to Western Michigan, 2-0 and 6-2, and won twice over Alaska-Anchorage, 5-2 and 4-3. Now 7-5-1, UND plays Friday and Saturday at Minnesota-Duluth.

South Dakota volleyball: The Coyotes won the Summit League tournament championship in stunning fashion, beating top-seed Denver, 3-2, in the finals on DU’s home court on game scores of 27-25, 24-26, 19-25, 25-21, and 15-6. USD’s Taylor Wilson, senior from Corydon, Ind., was named tourney MVP. It is USD’s first volleyball title in the Division I era. Now USD takes its 21-9 record to Omaha to face #9 overall national seed Creighton in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday. That winner will face the Washington-St. Mary’s (Calif.) winner next.

An interesting note from Brian Oakland on the USD-Creighton volleyball match in the NCAA Tournament this Friday: The only rostered player on either team who played high school volleyball in South Dakota is Creighton’s Taryn Kloth from Sioux Falls O’Gorman. USD has one player from South Dakota—Abbie Pederson from Gary—but she played her high school volleyball at nearby Canby, Minn.

MUSICAL Q. & A.’S

Q.: How do you fix a broken tuba?
A.: Use a tuba glue.

Q.: Why couldn’t the string quartet find their composer?
A.: He was Haydn.

— Classic fm.com

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Nov. 29:
Corey Westover, Sarah Burger, Kayla Prince, Josh Tetzlaff, Ashleigh Baker, Marcie (Fuhrer) Holsteen, Kallie Heibel, Luke Steece, Lisa Blake, Dallas Cronin, Michael Hardwick, Reid LeBeau, Bobbi Bourk.

Friday, Nov. 30:
Robbin (Volmer) Figge, Lynsey (Meyer) Anderson, Todd Palmer, Chris Boom, VeaBea (Bourk) Thomas, Jay Vogt, Elizabeth Heidelberger, Jake Stewart, Mary (Storsteen) Dieken, Michael Gardner, Cole Hoelscher, Myron Kusler, Robyn (Bramblee) Bothwell, Joanna Peterson, Holly (Byrum) Jacobs.
— 44th anniversary, Rodney/Janice Haag.

Saturday, Dec. 1:
Shawn England, Lena (Burtts) Hemmell, Kristin (Rau) Hayward, D.J. Stars.

Sunday, Dec. 2:
Cayden Jensen, Tyler Bryant, Randy Weischedel, Scott Weischedel, Kristin Gunderson, Brady Douglas, Liam Dehne, Jamie (Driscoll) Olson, Brock Rose, Andrew Heymans.

Monday, Dec. 3:
Kyler Gabriel, Hannah Harmon, Hallie Holden, Shawn Luldemann, James Lee, Brandon Cruse, Louise Snodgrass, Heath Olson, Amy Stotts, Porter Hunsley, Trey Redetzke, Landen Lizotte, Nolan Ortbahn, Jake Imsland, Brad Heckenlaible.
— 2nd anniversary, Rip/Heather (Schreiner) Ray.

Tuesday, Dec. 4:
Carmen Ziegler, Mandy Bartels, Deb (Raue) Evans, Kayson Boyer, Andrea Calkins, Kristen (Colestock) Pittman, Jesse Boyer, Wanda Boyle, Chad Harris, Calvin Bumann, Glenda Woodburn, Scott Senftner, Matthew Dial, Zack Weinheimer.
— 19th anniversary, Mike/Ann Shoup.

Wednesday, Dec. 5:
Elizabeth Stofferahn, Colleen Burchill, Lacie Boyle-Herman, Jill (Rounds) Sleger.

Thursday, Dec. 6:
Jon Beastrom, Dan Johnson, Steve Zarecky, Ruby Renemans, Jason Knox, Darlene Stampe, Brianna (Emerson) Bolger, Isaac Williams, Danielle (Ryan) Schroeder, Bob Hoisington.

REASONS TO WRITE A LETTER

— Send your partner or best friend a list of things you love about him or her.
— Send someone something you’ve been meaning to say but totally forgot.
— What’s your favorite thing in the world? Tell someone you like him or her even more.
— Send a sincere “so happy for you” note to someone with whom you have a strained relationship.
— Write someone about a random thing that happened to you that made you think of him or her.

FOOTBALL CONTEST #14

In Contest #12 two weeks ago all 18 contestants picked the Chargers over Denver (bad decision!), and 14 picked the Vikings over the Bears (they should have known!). But Todd Palmer missed only the Chargers game en route to a 9-1 record and 10 points. At 8-2 for nine points each were Jon Boer and John Pederson. At 7-3 for eight points apiece were Eric James, Shawn Hostler, Nathan Vetter, Jason Noyes and Eric Lusk.

In Contest #13 last week, Michigan, Washington State and Oklahoma State caused our contestants problems, but most of them still had faith in the Vikings and the Eagles, so there are good scores to report. At 8-2 for 10 points each were Jason Noyes, Levi Neuharth, Beth Rinehart, David Ludwig, Seb Axtman and Randy Pool. At 7-3 for 9 points each were Eric James, Kle Richards and Greg Dean. Earning 8 points each for 6-4 records were Nathan Vetter, Jeff Adel, Debra Bollinger and Lane Kozel.

This week’s games (send your 10 winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by FRIDAY afternoon):
(1) FCS 2nd-round: Duquesne at South Dakota State
(2) FCS 2nd-round: Montana State at North Dakota State
(3) Big 12 championship: Texas vs. Oklahoma
(4) SEC championship: Georgia vs. Alabama
(5) Big 10 championship: Northwestern vs. Ohio State
(6) ACC championship: Clemson vs. Pittsburgh
(7) PAC-12 championship: Utah vs. Washington
(8) AAC championship: Central Florida vs. Memphis
(9) NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh
(10) NFL: Minnesota at New England

HOCKEY UPDATE

Oahe Capitals: The boys varsity split four games at the Rendezvous at Rushmore tournament in Rapid City. The Caps defeated Gillette, 10-2; lost to Billings, 5-2, and lost to Manitoba, 4-2, in pool play. In the third-place game they defeated the Manitoba team, 5-2. In that contest Caden Davis tied the game at 2-2 after which Talon Griese scored three consecutive goals for the win. Goalkeepers Riley Briggs and Tate Mueller each had 1-1 records at the tournament. The Capitals will be home this weekend at 8 p.m. Friday against Rushmore and at 7 p.m. Saturday against Huron.

Oahe Lady Capitals: The girls varsity, playing with a minimum number of players this season, lost their first two SDAHA league games at Sioux Center, 3-1 and 6-4. Jesse McTighe scored the Oahe goal in the first game as Abigail Stewart-Fromm made 20 saves. In the second game Ashton Lee accomplished a hat trick and Olivia Swenson had the other Oahe goal. Stewart-Fromm made 34 saves in the net. The girls host Huron at 3 p.m. Saturday and go to Watertown for a 4 p.m. face-off Sunday.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush just completed six straight games against the Idaho Steelheads, going 1-2 in Boise and 1-2 in Rapid City. The Rush won 3-2 in a shootout, lost 3-2, lost 2-1 in overtime, lost 3-0, won 4-1 and lost 6-0. Rapid City, after a home game against Utah last night, hosts Utah Friday and Saturday, then plays at Allen next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd won in overtime over Lincoln, 4-3; won in a shootout over Omaha, 4-3, and lost to Dubuque, 5-3. Sioux Falls will be at Tri-City Friday, at Des Moines Saturday and home vs. Des Moines Tuesday.

Minnesota Wild: Minnesota has gone 3-3 in the past two weeks. The Wild defeated Vancouver, Ottawa and Winnipeg while losing to Buffalo, Chicago and Arizona. Minnesota is at Columbus tonight (6:00, FSN); home vs. Toronto Saturday (6:00, FSN+), and at Vancouver Tuesday (9:00, FSN).

Gillette Wild (Coleman Varty): The Wild lost two at Helena, 10-5 and 6-0. Coleman had three goals and one assist in the first of those two contests. Last weekend Gillette lost to Great Falls, 8-2, then won over Great Falls, 3-1. In the latter game Coleman had two more assists. The Wild is home for two vs. Butte Friday and Saturday.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“Money is like manure, of very little use except to be spread.”

— Francis Bacon

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Midco Sports Network live games this week:
Thursday: Women’s basketball, SDSU-Green Bay, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Women’s basketball, USD-Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Saturday: Men’s basketball, USD-Cal State Bakersfield, 3:30 (MSN2).
Saturday: Men’s basketball, NDSU-Drake, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: Men’s hockey, UND-Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m. (MSN2).
Saturday: Men’s basketball, SDSU-Northern Iowa, 8 p.m.
Sunday: Women’s basketball, NDSU-UMKC, 1 p.m.

Sioux Falls Skyforce: The Skyforce lost to Oklahoma City, 140-121; beat Memphis, 116-108; then split with South Bay, winning 152-112 and losing 112-109. Sioux Falls will be home vs. Northern Arizona Friday, then goes to California to play at Stockton Sunday and Santa Cruz next Wednesday.

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves have gone 5-2 in the past two weeks with wins over New Orleans, Portland, Brooklyn, Chicago and Cleveland and losses to Memphis and Denver. Minnesota, after playing San Antonio last night, hosts Boston Saturday (7:00, FSN); and stays home to play Houston Monday (7:00, FSN) and Charlotte Wednesday (7:00, FSN).

PONDER THIS

“Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.”

— Polybius

FOOTBALL UPDATE

NFL live games on local TV this week:
Thursday: New Orleans-Dallas, 7:20 p.m., Fox.
Sunday: Arizona-Green Bay, noon, Fox.
Sunday: Denver-Cincinnati, noon, CBS.
Sunday: Minnesota-New England, 3:25 p.m., Fox.
Sunday: Los Angeles Chargers-Pittsburgh, 7:20 p.m., NBC.
Monday: Washington-Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN.

NEBRASKA 2019 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31: South Alabama
Sept. 7: at Colorado
Sept. 14: Northern Illinois
Sept. 21: at Illinois
Sept. 28: Ohio State
Oct. 5: Northwestern
Oct. 12: at Minnesota
Oct. 26: Indiana
Nov. 2: at Purdue
Nov. 16: Wisconsin
Nov. 23: at Maryland
Nov. 29: Iowa

Denver Broncos: The Broncos held off Pittsburgh, 24-17, intercepting the potential game-tying touchdown pass in the end zone in the final minute. Denver, now 5-6, and still in the running for a wild-card berth in the playoffs, plays at Cincinnati at noon Sunday on CBS.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings overcame Green Bay’s early score to beat the Packers, 24-17, and now stand at 6-4-1 with some tough games ahead but currently in good playoff position. Minnesota plays at New England at 3:25 p.m. Sunday on Fox.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• Sign on the wall at Prep & Pastry, the morning/afternoon restaurant in Tucson where my son Ryan works: “Brunch without booze is just a sad late breakfast.”
• Watching the sunrise from several thousand feet in the air aboard a northbound Allegiant airliner is a spectacular sight. I enjoyed it on the way home from a quick visit in Tucson two weeks ago. On the morning I drove into Tucson the temperature was 73 degrees; runners were wearing hoodies, and numerous people on the U. of A. campus were in sweatshirts and long sleeves and even a few jackets. Chilly weather, I guess.
• At Ryan’s play at The Rogue Theatre, I sat next to Diane (Wheeler) Olson, who grew up in Murdo and now lives in Tucson. Having read of Ryan’s South Dakota roots in the theater program months ago, she asked him to be sure to seat her next to me on my next visit to Tucson so we could visit. And we did!
• How humbling for a grammar and typo policeman like me to find a typographical error, which becomes a grammatical error (“to” instead of “too”) in my Christmas letter after I had them all printed! Embarrassing!

COUNTDOWN

1 day: State oral interpretation tournament, Watertown (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).
1 day: Pierre Players’ “Whodunit, Darling?” (Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Dec. 6-8).
4 days: Stanley County high school/middle school concert (Dec. 3).
5 days: Blunt Elementary concert (Dec. 4).
8 days: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas celebration, Onida (Dec. 7).
9 days: Pie Day at the Capitol (Dec. 8).
9 days: Surprise Package concerts (Dec. 8-9).
11 days: Georgia Morse Middle School band/chorus concert and art show (Dec. 10).
14 days: Hegg Brothers’ Holiday Jam concert (Dec. 13).
15 days: Onida Elementary concert (Dec. 14).
18 days: Riggs High band/choir concert and art show (Dec. 17).
18 days: Stanley County Elementary concert (Dec. 17).
20 days: St. Joseph Elementary Christmas concert (Dec. 19).
26 days: Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
27 days: “Kennedy Center Honors,” CBS-TV (Dec. 26).
30 days: College football national semifinals (Dec. 29).
37 days: NFL playoffs begin (Jan. 5).
37 days: State inauguration events (Jan. 5).
39 days: College football national championship game (Jan. 7).

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”

— William Shakespeare

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Fort Pierre’s Pat Duffy Community & Youth Involved Center will be having its 33rd annual Holiday Tour of Homes this Saturday, Dec. 1, with tour homes open for viewing from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets at $10 are available at American Bank & Trust, all BankWest locations, First Dakota National Bank and Capital City Florist and in Fort Pierre at the PDC&YI Center. The homes that will be featured on the tour this year are the Pierre homes of Kevin Klein, Jamie Damon/Dr. Pat Hermanson, Al and Barb Rohrbach, and Susan Wet/Steve Spitler and the Fort Pierre home of Cody and Lila Briggs. A lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sutley Senior Center for $5. Complimentary coffee and cookies for tour ticketholders will be served at the Sutley Senior Center from 12:30 to 4:30. For information on the tour and the day’s events, call Pat Duffy at 223-2201.

Joan Adam was selected from among five applicants as the new member of the Pierre School Board. She will fill out the term of Dr. Paul Turman, who resigned because he is leaving Pierre to become chancellor of the Nebraska state college system.

Services were held Nov. 23 at the Onida United Methodist Church for Patty Brooking, 69, who died Nov. 19. A native of Tulsa, Okla., she spent many years in missionary work in Panama. She married Onida native Jim Brooking, Jr., in 1986. In 1991 they moved to Onida and lived on the Brooking family farm. She is survived by a sister, a brother and many nephews and nieces.

A program entitled “In Concert for Christmas” will be held at First United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 2. A free-will offering will be taken. Providing music will be Lo Hall on solo bells, vocalist Jeff Speaect and organist Ron Smith.

Jennifer (Hayes) Davis, 38, lost control of her vehicle on an ice-covered bridge on I-90 near Humboldt on Nov. 17 and died at the scene after the van rolled. Her four children—ages 18, 15, 14 and 13—were all injured and hospitalized in Sioux Falls. The family was on the way to a Special Olympics event in Sioux Falls. A memorial service will be held after the children are all home from the hospital. The daughter of Helen Johnson and Enos Hayes attended Riggs High School. She had lost her father when she was 6 and her mother when she was 16. After living in Kansas for a time, Jennifer returned to Pierre as a single parent. She worked for 18 years as a certified nursing assistant at Pierre Care and Rehabilitation Center, formerly Golden Living Center. She married Jason Davis in 2004, and they later separated. Jennifer is survived by her children, Trevor, Tanisha, Caleb and Spencer Davis; her siblings, Pat and Dave Miller of Groton, Clifford Johnson of Pierre, Linda Sullivan of Vivian, David Johnson of Sioux Falls, Diane Johnson of Pierre, Monte Johnson of Sioux Falls, Donna Carda of Pierre and Sheryl Johnson of Pierre, and 14 nephews and nieces.

Matt and Joy Ellefson of Pierre are the parents of a son, Ethan William Ellefson, who was born Nov. 20, weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces. The Ellefsons have an older daughter, Mia, in their family. Ethan was transported to a hospital in Sioux Falls shortly after birth and has been cared for there since that time.

Nearly 70 soldiers with the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion have received a mobilization order for deployment to the Middle East beginning in July 2019. The Pierre-based unit is scheduled for a nine-month deployment during which they will provide multi-functional logistics support operations. The unit will report to Fort Hood, Texas, to complete several weeks of theater-specific training prior to deploying overseas. This unit first deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013. (News courtesy of “Today’s KCCR News.”)

Alice Englund, 75, Pierre, died Nov. 25. Services will be held at a later date. She moved with her family to Pierre when she was in the fourth grade and graduated from Riggs High School in 1961. She married Ted Englund in 1962. They lived in Germany while he was in the U.S. Air Force Security Service. After they returned to Pierre, Alice worked with the Legislative Research Council and with the state retirement system. She is survived by her son, Derek Englund; her daughter, Lisa Kirkpatrick and her husband Mike; two grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Misterek of Sioux Falls and Shirley Helgeson of Pierre, and a brother, Don Pruess of Rapid City.

Elizabeth Schaefer, daughter of Pierre natives Troy and Kim (Merkwan) Schaefer, was named to the all-tournament team following the state “AA” volleyball tournament. Two of her Rapid City Stevens teammates also were named all-tourney as the Raiders won the state championship.

Capt. Brian Custer will assume command of the 687th Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, at a Dec. 12 ceremony at Fort Polk, La.

Pierre Players’ winter show, “Whodunit, Darling?” opens this weekend with 7:30 shows Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday at Grand Opera House.

At the state volleyball tournaments the “AA” title was won by Rapid City Stevens over Sioux Falls Washington, 3-0; the “A” championship by Sioux Falls Christian over Miller, 3-0, and the “B” title by Warner over Northwestern, 3-1.

At the Sully County Snow Queen pageant on Nov. 10, Brittney Todd was crowned Sully County Snow Queen and Kaelie Keiser was chosen Junior Snow Queen. They will both compete in state contests in Aberdeen in January. Kallie Murphy was voted as Miss Congeniality.

A Christmas concert called “Campfire Concerto,” hosted by the Dakota Western Heritage Festival, will be held at the Riggs theater at 4 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 1. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The program will feature legendary violinist and fiddler Kenny Putnam, Boyd Bristow, Chet Murray, Jamie Lynn, cowboy musician Paul Larson and cowboy poet Yvonne Hollenbeck.

Mike and Jamy (Nuttall) Jones of Pierre became grandparents for the first time on Nov. 10 when their daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Adam Bruscher, became parents of Weston Joseph Brusher. They live in Chugiak, Alaska.

Chris and Ashlee Voller of Billings, Mont., became parents for the first time on Nov. 16. Their son, Tristan Matthew Voller, weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

J.J. Iverson, after many years in Alaska as a sales representative, has returned home to South Dakota. He has begun a new job as a sales associate in medical technology products with Zimmer Bonnet based in Watertown. Much of his time will no doubt be spent with his first niece, the daughter of Ashley (Iverson) and Jason Feyereisen, who live nearby.

Louraine Hammell, 82, Pierre, died Nov. 21 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. A time of gathering was held at Feigum Funeral Home this past Monday. Mrs. Hammell and her husband Jim relocated to Pierre in 1963. She worked for the state Department of Social Services until retiring in 1997. She is survived by her husband; son James Feak of Wasilla, Alaska; daughter Sandra McGruder and her husband Leo of Pierre; son Tyler Hammell and his wife Lena of Chamberlain, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

According to their Thanksgiving card, Jessi (Huber) and Eric Herrscher and their two children were part of a family trip to Disney World during this year and also spent a week at family camp in Wisconsin. Sam is a third grader, and Maya is a second grader. Dad and Mom are both continuing their teaching careers, and the family home is in Greenfield, Minn.

A Snow Queen competition returned to the Pierre community this month. Ashlyn Briggs was crowned Capital Area Snow Queen, and Emerie Stephens was named Capital Area Junior Snow Queen. They will represent the Pierre-Fort Pierre community at their respective state competitions in Aberdeen in January. (News courtesy of The Onida Watchman.)

Megan Rapp-Deal and her mother, Judy Rapp, took Megan’s boys to Onida for the basketball camp led by legendary Duke University star Christian Laettner on a recent Sunday. The women, who are fanatical Duke fans, had the chance to have their picture taken with Laettner.

Matt and Mandy (Kusser) Mitchell revealed on Facebook last week that their fourth child coming this spring will be a daughter.

The city of Pierre invites the public to an open house and ribbon-cutting at the new location of city hall at 2301 Patron Parkway from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3.

Troy Docken began a new job this week at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Stanley County High alumnus Herman Fennell, who is a senior sports management major at SDSU, will be an intern with the Pierre Trappers baseball club next summer. Herman works at SDSU as an intern in the athletic department.

Former Pierre Post 8 Legion baseball coach Rick Knudson and his wife, Lisa, continue to teach in the Prince William County school system in northern Virginia, Lisa teaching at Old Bridge Elementary and Rick at Parkside Middle School in Manassas. Their son, Erik, 14, is a freshman at Woodbridge High and plays left tackle in football while nearing his Eagle Scout rank. Second son Ian, 12, is a seventh grader at Lake Ridge Middle School and plays baseball. Their daughter Ellie is a fifth grader at Old Bridge and is active in gymnastics. All three of the Knudson kids are active in Scouting and at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

Riggs High alumnus Sam Holden, who was an assistant coach at Pacific University in Stockton, Calif., in recent seasons, is now just a bit farther north at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., as assistant athletic director for facilities and is living in nearby Walnut Creek. These cities are just east of Oakland.

Two very young cousins who were born just two weeks apart last spring were baptized at the same ceremony by their uncle, Father Tom Anderson, in Pierre Nov. 24. The infants are Harper, daughter of Pat and Sara (Tillman) Anderson of Pierre, and Gio, son of Jay and Kasey (Anderson) Cappellano of Omaha.

There were probably others with local connections somewhere along the route of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, but we know Jesse and Megan Ahlers and their three children from Kingston, Mass., were there.

Brandon Cruse and his officiating crew worked the San Diego State home game against Hawaii last Saturday night.

Jeff and Diane Rausch visited their daughter, Kristin Hangebrauck; her husband, Scott, and their two children in the Twin Cities area over Thanksgiving. One of their activities was attending a Minnesota Wild home hockey game as a group.

Eric and Christina (Adams) Lusk are the parents of a daughter, Lydia Inez Lusk, who was born Nov. 27, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and measuring 19 1/2 inches. She is the Lusks’ first child. Eric works at the South Dakota Retirement System as a retirement planner, and Christina is a program specialist at the Department of Education.