ENTERTAINMENT AT THE CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREES

Thursday, Dec. 5:
— Noon to 12:30 p.m.: Beresford chamber choir.
— 12:30 to 1 p.m.: Riggs High jazz band.

Friday, Dec. 6:
— Noon to 1 p.m.: St. Thomas More band and choir.
— 5 to 5:30 p.m.: Andrew Wulf and Karen Lindbloom, instruments/piano.

Saturday, Dec. 7:
— 2 to 3 p.m.: Dupree band and choir.
— 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Isabelle Mickelson and Gabby Goebel, Gettysburg, vocal duets.
— 4 to 5 p.m.: L’atitude (Jerry Zins and Shiloh Oorlog), Sioux Falls, vocals.
— 6 to 7 p.m.: Norwegian dancers, Brookings.
— 7 to 8 p.m.: Priscilla Hofer, piano.

Sunday, Dec. 8:
— 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: 147th Army Band brass group.
— 4 to 5 p.m.: Tim Larson and Ron Smith, vocals/piano.

Monday, Dec. 9:
— Noon to 1 p.m.: Center of the Nation brass quintet, Belle Fourche.
— 6 to 7 p.m.: Ron Smith, piano.
— 7 to 8 p.m.: Jeff Speaect and Ron Smith, vocals/piano.

Tuesday, Dec. 10:
— Noon to 1 p.m.: Washington High choir and chamber orchestra, Sioux Falls.
— 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Katie Sternke piano students.

Wednesday, Dec. 11:
— Noon to 1 p.m.: Hill City choir.

VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS UPDATE

Final results of the state tournament championship matches:
‘AA’—Watertown over Sioux Falls O’Gorman.
‘A’—Sioux Falls Christian over Dakota Valley.
‘B’—Northwestern over Faulkton Area.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Boys basketball—Dec. 13, home vs. Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball—Dec. 13, at Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Wrestling—Friday/Saturday, at Mandan invitational, 3 p.m./9 a.m.; Thursday, home vs. Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Gymnastics—Thursday, at Huron quadrangular, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, at Sioux Falls Lincoln invitational, 11 a.m.

Cheer/dance: At their postseason awards get-together the Governor dance and cheer teams saw these awards presented: Miss Congeniality, Maegan Walsh; best facials, Bailey Nelson; Rookie of the Year, Katelyn Harris; most improved, Keara Peplinski; Work Hard/Dance Hard Award, Paige Brandt; best technique, Hattie Shaffer; Dancer of the Year, Hattie Shaffer.

Football: Members of the Governors who earned recognition on the Academic All-State team are Cobey Carr, Garrett Stout, Grey Zabel, Isaac Buchholtz, Matt Heilman, Weston Gravatt and Will Kessler. Such recognition goes to anyone involved in football for at least three years along with a grade-point average of at least 3.5.

Football: At the Governors’ postseason banquet these were among the special awards given—offensive most valuable player, Garrett Stout; co-defensive most valuable players, Regan Bollweg, Gunnar Gehring; special teams most valuable player, Carston Miller; lineman of the year, Grey Zabel; scout of the year, Austin Foley; blue collar Govs, Cobey Carr, Matt Heilman, Collin Brueggeman; Golden Gov, Jaret Clarke; captains, Andrew Coverdale, Garrett Stout, Grey Zabel.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, at Lyman triangular (with Todd County), 6 p.m.; Saturday, home for Stanley County invitational, 10 a.m.
Boys basketball—Dec. 13, home vs. Lyman, 3:30 p.m.; Dec. 19, home vs. Philip, 5:30 p.m.
Girls basketball—Dec. 13, home vs. Lyman, 3:30 p.m.; Dec. 19, at White River, 4 p.m.
Gymnastics—Thursday, at Huron quadrangular, 5:30 p.m.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Saturday, at Stanley County invitational, 10 a.m.; Tuesday, at Lyman triangular (with Miller/Highmore-Harrold), 6 p.m.
Girls basketball—Dec. 13, home vs. North Central, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 17, home vs. Lyman, 4 p.m.
Boys basketball—Dec. 17, home vs. Lyman, 4 p.m.; Dec. 21, home vs. Winner, 2 p.m.

Football: Players and managers of the Charger team who earned Academic All-State recognition are Grant Johnson, Jett Lamb, Angela Guthmiller and Brianna Fanger.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: State oral interpretation tournament, Yankton (Dec. 6-7).
1 day: Pierre Players’ “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Dec. 6-8, 12-14).
1 day: “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” events, Onida (Dec. 6).
2 days: Pie Day at the Capitol (Dec. 7).
2 days: Holiday Tour of Homes (Dec. 7).
2 days: Country Christmas on Ice (Dec. 7).
2 days: Cowboy Christmas concert (Dec. 7).
5 days: Riggs High band/choir concert (Dec. 10).
9 days: Surprise Package Christmas concerts (Dec. 14-15).
10 days: “Kennedy Center Honors,” CBS-TV (Dec. 15).
11 days: Georgia Morse Middle School band/choir concert (Dec. 16).
14 days: Democratic presidential candidates debate (Dec. 19).
14 days: Holiday Jam with the Hegg Brothers concert (Dec. 19).
20 days: Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
23 days: College football national semifinals (Dec. 28).
30 days: NFL playoffs begin (Jan. 4-5).
31 days: Golden Globe awards, NBC-TV (Jan. 5).
39 days: College football national championship game (Jan. 13).
52 days: Grammy awards, CBS-TV (Jan. 26).

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Dakota State volleyball (Nicole Sarringar): In the first round of the NAIA Tournament the Trojans lost a 3-0 match to St. Mary (Kan.). Nicole had 14 assists and four digs. DSU ended the season with a 19-13 record.

Loyola men’s soccer (Sean Knoblauch): In the first round of the NCAA Tournament the Ramlbers lost to Kentucky in double overtime, 2-1. Loyola’s final record was 11-5-4.

Northwestern (Iowa) football (Morris Hofer): In the first round of the NAIA football playoffs the Raiders lost a 25-20 game to St. Xavier (Ill.). Northwestern’s season ended with a 9-2 record.

Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): The Marauders lost a 19-16 non-conference dual to Minot State. Lincoln did not wrestle that night. Mary is home for a league dual vs. Upper Iowa Saturday, then goes to the Dragon Open at MSU-Moorhead Sunday.

South Dakota State swimming (Ashley Theobald, Caleb Huizenga): At the Augustana invitational SDSU finished second among four schools. Ashley won the 100-meter individual medley in a school-record time of 57.22 seconds. She swam on SDSU’s “A” team in the 200-meter freestyle relay, and the team was second in a school-record time of 1:34.15. In other individual events she was eighth in the 200 IM in 2:08.99, ninth in the 400 IM in 4:41.91 and 10th in the 800 freestyle in 24.22. She swam on the “B” 200 medley relay team (fifth in 1:46.49) and the “B” 400 free relay team (ninth in 3:39.87. Caleb placed ninth in the 50 free in 22.01 seconds and 21st in the 200 free in 1:50.55. He swam on the “D” 200 medley relay team (seventh in 1:36.15) and the “B” 200 free relay tea, (fifth in 1:26.20). The SDSU swimmers are off until a dual Jan. 18 at St. Cloud State.

South Dakota State wrestling (Aric Williams): The Jackrabbits defeated Utah Valley in a dual, 24-12. Aric did not wrestle there. Now 1-1 in duels, SDSU wrestles at the Las Vegas invitational tournament this Friday and Saturday.

Charleston volleyball (Jaxin Melby): In the first round of the MEC playoffs Charleston lost a 3-0 match to Wheeling. Jaxin did not play in that one. The final record for the team was 12-21.

Lindenood men’s hockey (Coleman Varty): The Lions split with Ohio, winning 4-1 and losing 2-1. Now 11-5-0, Lindenwood is off until playing Missouri State Jan. 10-11.

NSIC All-Academic: The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced its all-academic athletes for fall sports, including a pair of local athletes at Northern State University. They are senior Colten Drageset of Fort Pierre from the football team and junior Tori Thorpe of Pierre from the soccer team.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb, Ciara Duffy): The Coyotes stand at 7-1, having just completed an impressive two-game sweep at a Las Vegas tournament. In a 68-53 win over Ohio State, Ciara was 7-of-16 (4-of-8 in threes) and 4-of-4 for 22 points with 12 rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block. Chloe was 5-of-7 (3-of-5) and 0-0 for 13 points with four rebounds and one steal. USD then finished its Las Vegas stay with a dominating blowout of Northern Illinois, 91-48. Ciara was 5-of-9 (3-of-5) and 0-of-0 for 13 points with three rebounds, four assists and a steal while Chloe was 3-of-5 (3-of-4) and 0-of-0 for nine points, four assists, a steal and a block. Earlier USD defeated Missouri, 72-56. In that one Ciara was 4-of-9 (3-of-5) and 2-of-2 for 13 points with four boards, eight assists and a steal, and Chloe went 2-of-8 (2-of-5) and 0-of-0 for six points with three assists and a steal. The only loss came against Missouri State, 74-66. Ciara was 5-of-16 (1-of-4) and 1-of-2 for 12 points with six rebounds and four assists, and Chloe was 1-of-7 (0-of-1) and 1-of-2 for three points with five boards, four assists and a block. The Coyotes, after hosting Creighton last night, hosts Coppin State Saturday and Mount Marty next Wednesday.

Augustana women’s basketball (Katie Bourk, Aislynn Duffy): The Vikings are 4-1 after wins over Mount Marty, 86-59, and Bellevue, 82-49, and a conference loss to Wayne State, 80-76. Augie is home this weekend in NSIC play against Winona State and Upper Iowa.

Augustana wrestling (Jebben Keyes): The Vikings competed at the Nebraska-Kearney tournament and lost a 32-9 dual at North Dakota State. Jebben did not wrestle at either place. Now 0-2 in duals, Augie goes Saturday to the Jim Koch Open at Kenosha, Wis.

Northern men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Wolves defeated CSU-Pueblo, 95-73, and Chadron State, 70-59, then lost a conference game to MSU-Moorhead, 81-74. Now 4-3, the Wolves are home Friday vs. Bemidji State and Saturday vs. Minnesota-Crookston.

Black Hills State women’s basketball (Racquel Wientjes): BHSU lost to Wayne State, 84-74, as Racquel was 7-of-11 (4-of-4 in three-pointers) and 3-of-3 for 21 points with five rebounds and two steals. In a 55-47 win over Mines, Racquel was 4-of-11 (0-of-2) and 3-of-3 for 11 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Now 4-2, the Yellow Jackets go west for RMAC games at Westminster Friday and Dixie State Saturday.

NCAA volleyball tournament: Talk about a lack of respect for the Summit League! USD, which had a 27-2 record, was left out of the NCAA tournament when the bracket was revealed Sunday night. The Coyotes lost in early September to Iowa State, then went on a 24-game winning streak, taking the Summit League regular-season title with an unbeaten record, but lost a 3-1 match in the league semifinals to Omaha, which surprisingly turned out to be their last match of the season. Denver, which won the Summit League tournament, didn’t get any respect either, being sent to #3 national seed Stanford for its first-round match. Nevertheless, USD gets an automatic bid to the National Invitation Volleyball Tournament because of its regular-season championship, and the Coyotes will host one of the eight regional’s. The Coyotes play at home at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) vs. Central Michigan. The 4:30 game pits UNLV against Missouri-Kansas City. The two winners play for the regional title at 2 p.m. Friday, and that winner advances to the national quarterfinals.

Tennessee women’s basketball (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols are a perfect 7-0 after wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 92-51, and Air Force, 81-54. Tennessee has a big one this Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2 against Texas.

Texas A&M International University women’s basketball (Nate Vogel): Nate’s team is now 4-4 after splitting four recent games. They won in double overtime over Arkansas-Fort Smith, 75-72; lost to Oklahoma Christian, 80-68; beat Western Oregon, 51-42, and lost to St. Martin’s, 75-60. TAMIU plays at UT-Rio Grande Valley Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Bradley Dean): The Tigers are unbeaten at 8-0. DWU defeated Jamestown, 75-65; lost to St. Cloud State, 75-71, in an exhibition game; defeated Briar Cliff, 88-73; won over Lincoln College in Illinois, 74-70, and defeated St. Francis (Ill.), 80-71. Brad got in for one minute in the Briar Cliff game. DWU, after hosting Mount Marty last night, goes to Concordia (Neb.) Saturday.

King’s College men’s soccer (August Axtman): Gus has been named first-team All-Region in soccer, the third year in a row he has been selected for the all-region team. He was also selected Middle Atlantic Conference co-defensive player of the year. King’s is located at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

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

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

Saturday, Dec. 7:
Homer Harding, Sarah Parker, Sam Shaw, Alex Helbig, Jacob Severson, Bonnie Lahren-Gallagher, Jim Kuchta, Desirae Ludwig, Owen Picchietti.

Sunday, Dec. 8:
Tammy (Pool) Cole, Rhener Gordon, Tim Smith, Kathryn Schuetzle, Erin McKillip, Chris Markley, Carolyn Deal, Rochelle Scott.
— Anniversary, Edd Hogan/Larissa FastHorse.

Monday, Dec. 9:
Jackie Cook, Les Traut, Tyler Coverdale, Jerry Sperry, Gary Drewes.

Tuesday, Dec. 10:
Kaitlyn Richey, Sarah Moreno, Annabeth Haarstad, Franklin de Hueck, Alexi Axlund, Becky Lindekugel, Patti Fuchs, Penny (Cruthoff) Malevich, Kelsie Brandlee, Camilla Karschnik, Amber Robinson, Michael Tveidt, Weston Bruscher.

Wednesday, Dec. 11:
Mitch Boe, Chris Hawkinson, Sandy (Voller) DePountis, Joe Stolp, Diane Giesinger, Charlene Reed, Arden Rapp, Teri (Donahue) Weischedel, Mary (Donahue) Kramer.
— 15th anniversary, Josh/Amy Joy.

Thursday, Dec. 12:
Lukas Tedford, Steph (Vogel) Lund, Tara Dowling, Wanda Goodman, Evelyn Hopper, Laura (Hansen) Mikkelsen, Kyle Neuberger, Jeff Ice. Starlene Flax, Joyce Williams, Jenifer Tobin, Abby Lingle, Josh Rose, Eric Sibson, Brian Pibal.

HOCKEY UPDATE

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: The Caps went 2-2 at Rushmore’s tournament in Rapid City. Oahe pounded Watertown, 10-2, led by Clay Ambach, Caden Davis and Raef Briggs with two goals each. In a game against Rushmore the score was tied 4-4 after regulation time. According to tournament rules the game went straight into a shootout, which was won by Rushmore two goals to one, giving the Thunder a 5-4 victory. Caden Davis had two goals for the Caps. In a 6-0 win over a Manitoba win, Spencer Wedin scored twice. Elliot Leif scored two goals in the championship match won by Rushmore, 6-5. The SDAHA league season begins Sunday with the Capitals at Yankton at 1 p.m.

Oahe Capitals girls varsity: The girls’ opening league games—Saturday vs. Brookings and Sunday vs. Rushmore—were both postponed until later dates due to the blizzard.

North Dakota men’s hockey: The Fighting Hawks swept St. Cloud State, 4-2 and 2-1 in overtime, and swept Minnesota, 9-3 and 3-2. UND goes to Kalamazoo for two games this weekend against Western Michigan.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush swept three from Tulsa by scores of 2-1, 4-3 and 3-2. At Idaho the Rush lost in overtime, 4-3, then won 4-3 and 4-2. Rapid City, in first place in the ECHL, was home vs. Wichita last night, then plays Utah at home Friday and Saturday.

Aberdeen Wings: The Wings swept Chippewa Falls, 6-3 and 4-1; defeated Bismarck, 5-1, then lost to Bismarck Sunday night in a 4-3 shootout game. Aberdeen is home Friday and Saturday vs. Minnesota.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd split a pair with Youngstown, winning 3-2 in overtime and losing 4-2; defeated Fargo, 7-1; beat Sioux City, 4-2, and lost to Dubuque in overtime, 3-2. Sioux Falls goes to Omaha Friday and Saturday.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild beat Colorado, 3-2; lost a pair of overtime games, 5-4 to Boston and 3-2 to the New York Rangers, then went on a four-game win streak. Minnesota beat New Jersey, 3-2; beat Ottawa, 7-2; beat Dallas, 3-2, and took down Florida, 4-2. The Wild goes to Tampa Bay tonight and to Carolina Saturday, then comes home to play Anaheim Tuesday.

THOUGHT FOR THE SEASON

“The more you serve and the more you give, in return you’re actually going to get the fulfillment, the peace and the joy in your heart in making someone else’s life better.”

— P.J. Fleck, University of Minnesota football coach

FOOTBALL UPDATE

NFL games on local TV (subject to change by the networks):
Thursday—Dallas at Chicago, 7:20 p.m., Fox, NFL Network.
Sunday—Detroit at Minnesota, noon, Fox.
Sunday—Denver at Houston, noon, CBS.
Sunday—Kansas City at New England, 3:25 p.m., CBS.
Sunday—Seattle at Los Angeles Rams, 7:20 p.m., NBC.
Monday—New York Giants at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN.

Argus Leader Elite 45: The annual Thanksgiving Day release of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader honored list of their 45 best players in the state, regardless of classification, featured Pierre’s Garrett Stout as the team’s captain, emblematic of his being the state’s most outstanding player. He was also named Midco Sports Network’s Player of the Year in Class 11AA. Joining Stout on the Elite 45 were Pierre center/defensive tackle Grey Zabel, Sully Buttes offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jett Lamb and Sully Buttes quarterback/defensive back Nick Wittler. On the Elite 45 honorable mention list were Pierre’s Regan Bollweg, Gunnar Gehring and Maguire Raske, Stanley County’s Dylan Gabriel and Sully Buttes’ Grant Johnson.

Class 9A All-State: Nick Wittler, Grant Johnson and Jett Lamb of the Sully Buttes Chargers were named first-team All-State players, all on the All-State first-team offense. Nick rushed for 1,855 yards in 179 carries, averaging 10.4 yards per carry and scoring 27 touchdowns, and passed for 24 touchdowns, completing 94 of 156 passes for 1,716 yards. Grant at wide receiver caught 41 passes for 943 yards, averaging 23 yards per carry and scoring 12 touchdowns. He also carried 19 times for 222 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per carry, and scored four times. On the offensive line Jett led an offense that gained 4,500 yards and scored 526 points and 62 touchdowns.

College football update (record; latest scores; next game):
— USD 5-7: Beat SDSU 24-21; season done.
— SDSU 8-4: Lost to USD 24-21; first-round bye in FCS playoffs; home Saturday vs. Northern Iowa, 1 p.m., in second round.
— NDSU 12-0: Beat Southern Illinois 21-7; first-round bye in FCS playoffs; home Saturday vs. Nicholls State, 2:30 p.m., in second round.
— UND 7-5: Beat Southern Utah 36-18; lost in first round of FCS playoffs to Nicholls State, 24-6; season done.
— Augustana 9-3: Lost to CSU-Pueblo 17-0 in first round of Div. II playoffs; season done.
— USF 8-4: Lost to Colorado Mines 24-21 in first round of Div. II playoffs; season done.
— Minnesota 10-2: Beat Northwestern 38-22; lost to Wisconsin 38-17; next, bowl game to be determined.
— Iowa 9-3: Beat Illinois 19-10; beat Nebraska 27-24; next, bowl game to be determined.
— Nebraska 5-7: Beat Maryland 54-7; lost to Iowa 27-24; season done.
— Iowa State 7-5: Beat Kansas 41-31; lost to Kansas State 27-17; next, bowl game to be determined.
— Wyoming 7-5: Beat Colorado State 17-7; lost to Air Force 20-6; next, bowl game to be determined.

NEBRASKA 2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 Purdue
Sept. 12 Central Michigan
Sept. 19 South Dakota State
Sept. 26 Cincinnati
Oct. 3 at Northwestern
Oct. 10 Illinois
Oct. 24 at Rutgers
Oct. 31 at Ohio State
Nov. 7 Penn State
Nov. 14 at Iowa
Nov. 21 at Wisconsin
Nov. 27 Minnesota

MINNESOTA 2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 Florida Atlantic
Sept. 12 Tennessee Tech
Sept. 19 Iowa
Sept. 26 BYU
Oct. 3 at Maryland
Oct. 10 at Wisconsin
Oct. 17 Michigan
Oct. 24 at Illinois
Oct. 31 at Michigan State
Nov. 7 Purdue
Nov. 21 Northwestern
Nov. 27 at Nebraska

Denver Broncos: The Broncos lost at Buffalo, 20-3, and defeated the Los Angeles Chargers on a last-second field goal, 20-17, aided by a questionable defensive pass interference call on a hail-Mary pass. Denver plays at Houston at noon Sunday on CBS.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings, after a bye on the weekend before Thanksgiving, lost at Seattle Monday night, 37-30, and remain a game behind Green Bay in the NFC North. Actually they are two games behind because Green Bay owns the tie-breaker over the Vikings. Minnesota hosts Detroit at noon Sunday on Fox.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“Gratitude can transform common days into thankgivings, turn routine jobs into joys and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

— William Arthur Ward

MIDCO SPORTS NETWORK LIVE GAMES THIS WEEK

Friday—Women’s basketball, Winona State at Augustana, 5:30 p.m.
Friday—Men’s basketball, Winona State at Augustana, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday—Women’s basketball, Upper Iowa at Augustana, 3:30 p.m. (MSN2).
Saturday—Men’s basketball, Upper Iowa at Augustana, 5:30 p.m. (MSN2).
Saturday—Men’s basketball, East Tennessee State at NDSU, 7 p.m.
Sunday—Women’s basketball, Wisconsin at NDSU, 2 p.m.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Sioux Falls Skyforce: The Force lost to Sioux City, 111-99; lost to Agua Caliente, 98-87; lost to South Bay, 133-118; lost to Texas, 106-104; then swept Northern Arizona, 114-100 and 129-94. Sioux Falls has one game this week at Austin Friday.

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves lost to Utah, 103-95; lost to Phoenix, 100-98; beat Atlanta, 125-113; beat San Antonio, 113-101, and lost to Memphis, 115-107. After a game at Dallas last night, Minnesota plays at Oklahoma City Friday, at the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday and at Phoenix Monday.

ANOTHER BLONDE JOKE

I was at the post office when I saw a blonde shouting into an envelope. I asked, “What are you doing?”

The blonde replied, “Sending a voice mail.”

FOOTBALL CONTEST #17

In Contest #14 Jeff Adel was the only one of 19 contestants to pick USD to knock off SDSU, and Laurie Johnson was the only one who chose Arizona State over Oregon. Those two with 9-1 records earned 10 points each. At 8-2 for 9 points each were Randy Pool, Kyle Richards, Greg Dean and Jason Noyes. At 7-3 for 8 points each were David Ludwig, Mikal Kern, Eric James, Seb Axtman, Brian Hunhoff and Dawn Magee.

In Contest #15, which covered most of last weekend’s college rivalry games, it took only a 7-3 record to earn our 10 points each. Those went to Mikal Kern, Debra Bollinger, Seb Axtman, Greg Dean and Chuck Libby. At 6-4 for 9 points each were Randy Pool, Jason Noyes, Jon Boer, Kyle Richards, Eric James, Levi Neuharth, Brian Hunhoff and Dawn Magee. Everybody else had below-.500 records and thus earned no points.

In Contest #16, which included some college games and some NFL games of this past weekend, the Browns’ and Patriots’ losses messed up most entries. But at 8-2 for 10 points each were Debra Bollinger, Nathan Vetter and Jon Boer. At 7-3 for 9 points each were Randy Pool, Chuck Libby and Mikal Kern. At 6-4 for 8 points each were Jason Noyes, Eric James, Brian Hunhoff, Levi Neuharth and Greg Dean.

CONTEST #17 (send your 10 winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Friday afternoon):
(1) PAC-12 championship: Utah vs. Oregon.
(2) Big 12 championship: Baylor vs. Oklahoma.
(3) ACC championship: Clemson vs. Virginia.
(4) SEC championship: Georgia vs. LSU.
(5) FCS Round of 16: Nicholls State at NDSU.
(6) FCS Round of 16: Northern Iowa at SDSU.
(7) Big 10 championship: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin.
(8) Mountain West championship: Hawaii at Boise State.
(9) AAC championship: Cincinnati at Memphis.
(10) Sun Belt championship: Appalachian State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.

CONTEST #18 (send your 10 winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Sunday morning):
(1) NFL: Baltimore at Buffalo.
(2) NFL: San Francisco at New Orleans.
(3) NFL: Kansas City at New England.
(4) NFL: Denver at Houston.
(5) NFL: Tennessee at Oakland.
(6) NFL: Miami at New York Jets.
(7) NFL: Detroit at Minnesota.
(8) NFL: Indianapolis at Tampa Bay.
(9) NFL: Pittsburgh at Arizona.
(10) NFL: Washington at Green Bay.

THOUGHT FOR THESE TIMES

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

— Abraham Lincoln

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

— Football players, teams, fans, schools and total strangers across the state have rallied to support Trevor Zuehlke of the Britton-Hecla team, who was seriously injured in a game this fall. He was in a coma for some time and was hospitalized in Sioux Falls until being able to be transferred to Lincoln just last week. He will be there for some time. Anyone who would like to send a greeting can use this mail address: Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital; 5401 South St.; Trevor Zuehlke L66; Lincoln NE 68506.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

A benefit for Mark Garber will take place at the Pizza Ranch from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight (Thursday) with a portion of the proceeds from dine-in, carry-out and delivery orders going toward his medical expenses. Mark was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and is being treated in Sioux Falls.

Dale List, 76, died Nov. 25 at Avera Maryhouse. Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. with a rosary at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Isburg Funeral Chapel. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. He grew up on a farm near Lesterville, attended Scotland High School and graduated from Yankton High School in 1963. He attended Southern State College for two years. Dale and Eileen Meyer were married in 1969, and they became the parents of two daughters. In 1975 the Lists moved to Pierre, and Dale worked in finance for the Department of Transportation until retiring in 2000. His survivors include his wife, Eileen List of Pierre; his daughters, Kim Rubendall and her husband John of Mitchell and Kristie Magnino and her husband Matt of Arlington, Neb.; six grandchildren; his brother, Eugene List of Yankton, and his sister, Gloria Pibal of Yankton.

The Blunt Community Center will hold a fund-raising series of events this Sunday, Dec. 8. Breakfast will be served from 7 to 10 a.m.; photos with Santa will be taken for $15 each between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and there will be a vendor fair and bake sale from noon to 5. Proceeds will go toward repair of the building’s floor.

Steve Pietrus was honored this week for achieving the highest rank in the Loyal Order of Moose. The Pilgrim Degree of Merit is held by only 18 men in the Dakota Moose Association and by only 3,000 worldwide. This is the first time in 25 years anyone in the Fort Pierre lodge achieved the Pilgrim status. (News courtesy of Pierre Capital Journal)

Jason and Micki Noyes of Sioux Falls became parents on Nov. 13. Their son, Langston Jonus Noyes, weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 22 inches. The family’s new home was completed just in time for Langston and his mother to go home and get ready for a family Thanksgiving celebration there.

Betty Manke, 70, Pierre, formerly of Aberdeen, died Nov. 23. Her funeral service took place Dec. 2 at Feigum Funeral Home. She spent a long nursing career in the Twin Cities area. After retiring she moved to Aberdeen to be closer to family members. More recently she came to Pierre to be near her sister. She is survived by her sister, Mary Livermont and her husband Jay of Pierre; her nephews, Mark Livermont and his wife Alysia of Sioux Falls and Jason Livermont and his wife Ashley of Dakota Dunes; her niece, Kristine Harvey and her husband Andrew of Rapid City, and nine great-nephews and nieces.

This year’s inductees into the Pierre Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted at halftime of the Pierre-Harrisburg boys basketball game next Friday, Dec. 13. Five individuals and three teams will be joining the Hall of Fame. The individual athletes are Scott Rislov (Class of ’99), Kim Merkwan Schaefer (’85), the late Doug Shangreaux (’60), Jesse Ahlers (’99) and Shane Prunty (’97). The honored teams will be the 1944 state ‘A’ boys basketball championship team, the 1974 state ‘A’ wrestling championship team and the 1979 state ‘A’ boys basketball championship team.

Tate and Kristin Gabriel are the parents of a son, Gavin Dean Gabriel, who was born Nov. 22. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 21 inches. He is the couple’s first child.

Don Bollweg, 77, died Nov. 26. His funeral will be held in the Harrold school gym at 11 a.m. today (Thursday), preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. Don graduated from Harrold High School in 1962. He married Judi Davis. They became parents of two children and were married for 57 years. Don was a pilot, owned a construction business, created Bollweg Farms, was one of the founders of Harrold Grain Company and operated a pheasant hunting business. For 17 years he served on the South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources. He is survived by his wife, Judi; his son, Michael Bollweg and his wife Angie of Harrold; his daughter, Melissa Berg and her husband Barry of Dell Rapids; three grandchildren; three brothers, Chuck Bollweg and his wife Cydni of Fulton, Md., Mike Bollweg and his wife Judy of Phoenix, and Patrick Bollweg and his wife Shelly of Sioux Falls; and three sisters, Jan Krull and her husband Ross of Harrold, Phyllis Perkovich and her husband Mike of Pierre, and Linda Bollweg of Fort Pierre.

The Riggs High music department will present a concert entitled “The Light Eternal” at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Dec. 10. Jazz groups will provide music in the lobby prior to the concert. Admission price will be a non-perishable food item to help the Tri-M Honor Society collect food items for Pierre Area Referral Service.

Former Pierre resident Bonnie Bjork had seven tickets to “Phantom of the Opera” in Minneapolis for its Friday afternoon show and couldn’t use them, so she went on Facebook to ask who wanted them. It turned out that a Pierre couple who now live in the Twin Cities couldn’t get home for Thanksgiving, so they and some friends used them.

Jim and Jackie Protexter and their son and daughter-in-law, Evan and Angie Protexter of Madison, Wis., flew to Anchorage to spend Thanksgiving with the Protexters’ other son, Graham, who is in Alaska completing a rotation in nuclear pharmacy, and to celebrate Evan’s 28th birthday. Graham will graduate from SDSU’s pharmacy school in May. Evan and Angie are both civil engineers in Madison. Jackie wrote on Facebook: “Eating reindeer sausage for breakfast, yak burgers for lunch, reindeer meat for dinner, and ran into random reindeer in the park.”

Reuben Niehoff of Onida died Nov. 24 at the age of 101. His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Scott Raue’s son, Lucas Raue, was named to the Class “A” All-State football first team in North Dakota as a linebacker. He was also a senior running back for the Harvey-Wells County team which qualified for the playoffs but lost in the first round to Thompson, 20-6. Lucas’ team finished with a 6-4 record.

Keenan and Carly (Feiler) Retterath became parents on Nov. 26. Their daughter, Lauren Jo Retterath, weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces, and measured 20 3/4 inches. Pierre native Carly is the director of alternative education in the Mandan school district in North Dakota.

Brady Hawkins, who quarterbacked the Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan team to the state 9AA championship last month, was named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 team and as also honored by the Mitchell Daily Republic as its Area Player of the Year.

Joy (Ondricek) Nye, 71, Fort Pierre, died Nov. 29 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) with a prayer service at 7 at the Isburg Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church. A native of Highmore, Joy worked for more than 50 years for the state at the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. She was married to Bill Nye. Joy is survived by her mother, Dorothy Ondricek of Highmore; her son, Tony Ondricek and his wife Paula and their two daughters; and three sisters, Norma Erickson and Dawn Jaqua of Sioux Falls and Tonita Hamlin of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Dr. Ken Bartholomew’s new novel, “Last Flight for Whiskey Mike,” is now on sale wherever books are sold, including at the Prairie Pages store in downtown Pierre.

Isabella “Daisy” Mernaugh died at the age of 100 at Avera Maryhouse Nov. 28. Daisy joined the Women’s Air Corps (WACs) during World War II and worked at McDill Air Force Base, Florida, processing photos taken by reconnaissance planes overseas. After the war she returned home to Watertown and met LeRoy Mernaugh. They were married in 1949 and raised five sons. The family moved to Winner in 1966 and to Pierre in 1971. Daisy was known around Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church as the “commander” of the funeral meals volunteers. She was a driving force in the East Pierre Women’s Club as well. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, LeRoy Mernaugh; five sons, Ray Mernaugh and his wife Glenda of Hoover, Ala., Kenny Mernaugh of Spearfish, Kelly Mernaugh of Omaha, Kevin Mernaugh and his wife Debbie of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Paul Mernaugh and his wife Lisa of Ocala, Fla.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a sister, Sister Rogene Fox of Rochester, Minn.

Twice a month KNBN-TV and First Interstate Bank team up to award a deserving educator in the Rapid City area with a $500 grant to help them improve and innovate in the classroom. Kelsey (Wilson) Trimble, a teacher at East Middle School, has been awarded this month’s 1+1 Giveaway. She hopes to buy Amazon Kindles for her reading intervention class. Kelsey and her husband, Aaron Trimble, were married in September 2015.

Football players with local connections who earned Academic All-State recognition include Colton Hartford of Rapid City Stevens and Brady Hawkins of Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan.

Robert Mullally of Albuquerque, N.M., who was born and grew up in Pierre, died at the age of 76 Nov. 16. A gathering of family and friends will be held at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City. The son of Ed and Kitty Mullally, graduated from Riggs High School in 1962. He earned a degree in political science at USD. He was appointed by Gov. Richard Kneip as director of personnel for the state. He continued his career in the human resources field for the city of Salt Lake City, the state of Utah, the GTE Corporation in Salt Lake City and as personnel director for the city of Rapid City. He married Barbara Larson in 1969, and from their 20-year union came two children. Bob is survived by his daughter, Teresa Nestor and her husband Duane of Rapid City; his son, Mason Mullally and his partner, Lisa Langell, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; the mother of his children, Barbara Mullally of Rapid City; his brother, Mike Mullally and his wife Marla of Key Biscayne, Fla.; and his sister, Kathie Cink and her husband Bill of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

John Axtman, the middle of Greg and Sarah (Adam) Axtman’s three boys, was named to the Pennsylvania soccer coaches’ All-State team. John is a senior at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg.

Jerry Leidholt, 87, died on his 87th birthday Thanksgiving Day at a hospital in McAllen, Texas. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Jerry graduated from high school at Bowdle in 1950 and served in the U.S. Navy. After his discharge he located to Pierre to work on the construction of Oahe Dam. He married Shirley Wittler, and they had two sons. Jerry started Leidholt Cooling & Heating in 1960. In 1983 he married Corrine Wiebe and gained three stepsons. He retired from his business in 2007. The Leidholts spent summers at Spring Creek and winters at Mission, Texas. Jerry is survived by his wife, Corrine Leidholt; his sister, Janice Bergeson; his sons, Ken Leidholt and his wife Johna and Ron Leidholt and his wife Cari; his stepsons, T.J. Wiebe and his wife Jamie, Troy Wiebe and his wife Jeri, and Trevor Wiebe and his wife Amber; 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Friends of the family of John and Carol Robertson and those who knew them when they and their girls lived up there at the north end of Highland Avenue should read this paragraph. Their daughter, Molly (Robertson) Golla, posted on Facebook this week that her mom has been moved into a memory-care assisted-living facility. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease three years ago. Molly said her mother loves to look at pictures and reminisce about her family and friends, so she and her sisters and their dad are hoping many of you who have stories and memories to share will send them via Facebook to Meg Robertson or John Robertson at their own pages, and the family will then share them with Carol.

Meanwhile, we see that Molly (Robertson) and Nate Golla, who live in Luverne, Minn., accompanied the Luverne band to Disney World in Florida on a recent trip. Apparently Nate and Molly drove a pickup that pulled the band’s equipment trailer all that way and back.

There is no shortage of things going on in Pierre and Fort Pierre this Saturday, Dec. 7:

• Pie Day at the Capitol Christmas trees display (see entertainment list above).
• Country Christmas on Ice show presented by Central South Dakota Figure Skating Club at the Expo Center, 7 p.m. Free-will offering.
• Cowboy Christmas concert for the benefit of Dakota Western Heritage Festival at the Riggs theater, 4 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door. Performers include Kenny Putnam, Boyd Bristow, Chet Murray, Paul Larson and guests Sarah Carlson, Yvonne Hollenbeck and Jami Lynn.
• “Arsenic and Old Lace” presented by Pierre Players at the Grand Opera House. Performances at 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, as well as Dec. 12-13-14. Also a matinee at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 8. Call 224-7826 for ticket reservations.
• Holiday Tour of Homes for benefit of Pat Duffy Community Center in Fort Pierre, 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets at $10 each at all BankWest offices, Capital City Florist, American Bank and Trust, and the Pat Duffy Community Center. Complimentary coffee/cookies for all tour ticket holders from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the community center. Also lunch for $5 at Sutley Senior Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

PARKER’S COLUMN

From the Custer Chronicle Dec. 10, 2015

It was only a matter of hours after Thanksgiving when the first of many such posts came across Facebook. It happens every year.

The post will read “I will say ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of ‘Happy Holidays.’ Share if you agree.” Or words to that effect.

Well, fine! Go ahead and say “Merry Christmas” to your heart’s content. But as a member of the Christian faith, I have never been offended when someone says “Happy Holidays.”

After all, from the end of November to early January we mark several such days—Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and others. It seems to me that someone who utters the seemingly blasphemous greeting of “Happy Holidays” is simply including them all. This is, after all, the holiday season. So is it so wrong to say “Happy Holidays”?

Ah, you say in response, but I’m forgetting the reason for the season.

No, I’m not. I will wish “Merry Christmas” to relatives and friends in my Christmas cards. (See? I don’t call them “holiday cards.”) And to people at church or at the store or in the restaurant, I will say “Merry Christmas” there, too. I will do as many good deeds for others as I can this month, trying my best to do as Christ would have me do. I will be in church at least twice on Christmas Eve. I wouldn’t miss it! But I also do not expect everybody to believe as I do nor worship as I do nor celebrate as I do.

It seems to me that the Christ-like thing to do (and you DO want to be Christ-like, right?) would be to be inclusive. There are other religious holidays in December observed by people of other faiths. The Jewish people have their Hanukkah. The people of the Muslim faith celebrate the birthday of their Prophet. So if nation-wide companies advertise under the “Happy Holidays” theme and expect their employees to also use that greeting, is that so terribly wrong that they want to include people of all faiths in this nation of diversity where there are millions of people of the Jewish faith and millions of Muslims as well as Christians of varying denominations? And for that matter, they are including people of no faith, too.

No one is demanding that you commit to uttering “Happy Holidays!” instead of “Merry Christmas,” unlike those politicians playing to their base who pound their chests and insist on the opposite.

You are free to keep Christ in your Christmas observance and activities as much as you wish. Despite what you hear from your favorite news channel, people, there is no war against Christmas, trying to remove any and all religious significance from this holiday we celebrate on Dec. 25. Yet neither should they nor you be forcing your will and your beliefs on everybody else.

To keep Christ in your Christmas, feel free to erect your own Nativity scene on your front lawn or inside your home. I myself love them! They are more effective—and you are showing your faith to a better degree, it seems to me, if your Nativity is on your property rather than on some government building’s lawn. It is your Christian faith, not the government’s.

Feel free to deliver a load of wood to people on the reservation. Feel free to volunteer at the homeless shelter or the local shelter for domestic abuse victims. Feel free to take people who can’t take themselves to see the decorations around your town. Feel free to invite someone who has nowhere else to go to be included in your family Christmas dinner.

If you want to keep Christ in your Christmas, show it by paying in the line at Burger King or Starbuck’s for the customer behind you. Go ahead and drop off a plate of your homemade goodies for the people who staff the fire station or police headquarters or the hospital emergency room. Feel free to volunteer at the Feeding South Dakota warehouses. Go to one of the school concerts or a Sunday School pageant.

Jump right in and help serve your local Christmas dinner for those who have nowhere to go. See that your teen-agers shovel the snow from the sidewalks of someone who can’t do it himself. Take an elderly person along for Christmas shopping who can’t otherwise make her way out to the stores. Throw a couple extra bills into the Salvation Army’s red kettles.

If keeping Christ in your Christmas is so important to you (and I definitely am not saying that it should not be), have your family devotional moment throughout Advent. Take along somebody to your church’s Christmas service who otherwise wouldn’t go. Drop off a couple gifts at the home of a family whose kids might not otherwise have many to open. Knock on some stranger’s door and leave a bag of groceries or a gift card.

Drive by one of the nursing homes and play a few tunes on the piano for the residents there or go down the hallway and greet any of those folks who have their doors open. Write a note in a card to someone who blessed your life whom you haven’t contacted for awhile. Leave a greeting and perhaps a dollar bill or two in a card for your mailman or your newspaper delivery person or the garbage truck guys. And in a country where civility is at such a low point these days, pray for peace and good will among all men.

Of course Christmas marks the birth of the Savior, we Christians believe. But it also is family gatherings, decorations, office parties, caroling, sleigh rides, vacations and giving gifts to others. That’s not going to change, nor should it.

No one can rob you of the kind of Christmas you prefer unless you let him. Christ will be in your Christmas this year just as much as you want Him to be and just as much as you show that He is.

Merry Christmas to all. And happy holidays, too!