Fort Pierre Tourism
and Promotion Council
Visit us on Facebook!
Hewitt Land Company
(605) 791-2300
http://www.hewittlandcompany.com/
Brittney Schiefelbein
American Family Insurance
(605) 224-6627
ENTERTAINMENT AT THE CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREES DISPLAY
Thursday:
Noon to 1 p.m.—Riggs High School choirs.
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.—Kim Jacobs-Bowman piano students, Pierre.
6:30 to 7 p.m.—Stanley County elementary choir.
7 to 8 p.m.—Riggs High School chamber choir.
Friday:
Noon to 1 p.m.—White River High School and Middle School choirs.
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.—Kim Jacbos-Bowman piano students, Pierre.
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.—Lama Jedi quartet (Larry and Mary Jo Johnson, Diane Kehrwald, Jeanne Goodman), Pierre.
Saturday:
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.—Kim Jacobs-Bowman piano students, Pierre.
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.—Huron Middle School orchestra.
11:30 to noon—Christine Hanson, Fargo, and Rebekah Boyer, Pierre.
Noon to 12:30 p.m.—Rapid City Children’s Chorus.
1 to 2 p.m.—Mitchell Area Children’s Choir.
2 to 3 p.m.—Hosanna Dance, Pierre-Fort Pierre.
3 to 4 p.m.—Langford High School choir.
4 to 5 p.m.—Northern State University percussion ensemble.
6 to 6:30 p.m.—Ss. Peter & Paul traditional choir, Pierre.
Sunday:
4 to 4:30 p.m.—Ss. Peter & Paul traditional choir, Pierre.
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.—Pierre Youth Orchestra.
Monday:
Noon to 1 p.m.—Iroquois High School band and choir.
5 to 6 p.m.—Edgemont High School band and choir.
6 to 7 p.m.—Platte-Geddes Middle School band.
Tuesday:
Noon to 12:30 p.m.—New Technology High School chamber choir, Sioux Falls.
Wednesday:
Noon to 1 p.m.—Dell Rapids High School band and choir.
6 to 6:30 p.m.—Julie Willoughby piano students, Pierre.
7 to 8 p.m.—River Harmony women’s barbershop chorus, Pierre.
PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP
Football: Garrett Stout has been named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of South Dakota. Gatorade honors one player in each state. As the state winner, Garrett has the opportunity to donate $1,000 to a sports charity of his choice.
Football: The Class 11AA All-State team is dominated by players from the team that dominated that class. Pierre players who earned first-team All-State recognition are quarterback Garrett Stout, receiver Andrew Coverdale, tight end Regan Bollweg, offensive linemen Grey Zabel and Cole Nelson, defensive end Gunnar Gehring, linebackers River Iverson and Chase Sattgast and defensive back Cade Hinkle. On the honorable mention list are Maguire Raske, Carston Miller, Matt Lusk and Matt Heilman.
This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, home vs. Harrisburg, 7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, at Rapid City invitational, 2 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Boys basketball—Friday, home vs. Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball—Friday, at Harrisburg, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, home vs. Huron, 7 p.m.
Gymnastics—Saturday, at Aberdeen Central invitational, noon.
Wrestling: The Governors opened the season with a bang, taking second place at the Mandan invitational. Bismarck won the team title, and Rapid City Central was third. Pierre had three individual champions—Cade Hinkle (8-0), Regan Bollweg (7-0), and Preston Taylor (6-0). Taylor also won the tournament’s pinners’ award. Other Pierre placers with their records for the day—Jack Van Camp (6-1), second; Blake Judson (4-2), third; Maguire Raske (5-2), third; Jacob Larson (4-2), third; Hayden Shaffer (3-1), fourth; Tyson Johnson (5-2), fourth; Trey Lewis (4-2), fifth; Kahlor Hindman (5-2), fifth; Deegan Houska (3-4), sixth. Other Governor wrestlers there were Jaret Clarke (2-3) and Gavin Stotts (0-4).
Gymnastics: The Governors won the season-opening quadrangular at Huron with 133.2 points, followed by Huron at 123.6, Chamberlain at 119.25 and Stanley County at 96.9. Mikah Moser was second and Meg Erwin third in the all-around standings. At the Lolly Forseth Invitational in Sioux Falls Pierre placed sixth at 130.2, Mitchell was the team champion there. Moser was seventh in the all-around with a fifth in vault, 12th on bars, 13th on beam and 28th in floor exercise.
Girls soccer: Members of the Pierre team who qualified for Academic All-State honors were Janaina Zanin, Kaitlyn Pitlick, Kylee Thorpe, Cassidy Miller and Taryn Senger.
STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP
This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Saturday, at Gregory invitational, 10 a.m.
Boys basketball—Friday, home vs. Lyman, 3:30 p.m.
Girls basketball—Friday, home vs. Lyman, 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, at White River, 4 p.m.
Gymnastics—Saturday, at Wagner invitational, noon.
Gymnastics: The Buffaloes placed fourth in the quadrangular at Huron with a 96.9 score.
Wrestling: The Buffaloes were third in their home invitational with 129 points. Burke-Gregory was the team champion with 209 points, the Pierre JVs were second with 163.5, and Bennett County fourth with 127. Trey Frost won his title at 126 pounds. Other SCHS placers: Sydney Tubbs, second at 220; Chase Hanson third at 126; Levi Stover, third at 145; Hayden Roggow, fourth at 113; Isaac Cliff, fourth at 182; Dylan Endres, fourth at 285; Colton Brady, fifth at 120; Reid Wieczorek, fifth at 170.
SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP
This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, at Lyman triangular (with Miller/Highmore-Harrold), 6 p.m.; Saturday, at Faulkton invitational.
Boys basketball—Tuesday, home vs. Lyman, 4 p.m.
Girls basketball–Friday, home vs. North Central, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, home vs. Lyman, 4 p.m.
THOUGHT FOR THESE TIMES
“For though my faith is not yours and your faith is not mine, if we are each free to light our own flame, together we can banish some of the darkness of the world.”
— Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
COUNTDOWN
2 days: Surprise Package concerts (Dec. 14-15).
3 days: “Kennedy Center Honors,” CBS-TV (Dec. 15).
4 days: Georgia Morse Middle School band/choir concert (Dec. 16).
7 days: Democratic presidential candidates debate (Dec. 19).
7 days: Holiday Jam with the Hegg Brothers concert (Dec. 19).
13 days: Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
16 days: College football national semifinals (Dec. 28).
23 days: NFL playoffs begin (Jan. 4-5).
24 days: Golden Globe awards, NBC-TV (Jan. 5).
32 days: College football national championship game (Jan. 13).
45 days: Grammy awards, CBS-TV (Jan. 26).
52 days: Super Bowl LIV (Feb. 2).
53 days: Iowa caucuses (Feb. 3).
56 days: State one-act plays festival, Sioux Falls (Feb. 6-8).
61 days: New Hampshire primary (Feb. 11).
64 days: State gymnastics meet, Aberdeen (Feb. 14-15).
HOCKEY ROUNDUP
Oahe Capitals boys varsity: The Capitals’ offense was playing in a high gear in the league season-opener at Yankton as nine different men scored goals in a 12-3 win. Oahe led 5-0 after the first period, and five players had scored at that point. Elliot Leif finished with a hat trick, Raef Briggs scored a pair, and individual goals were scored by Cole Nelson, Ryan Wedin, Clay Ambach, Isaac Polak, Ashton Griese and Andrew Gordon. Kian Paul assisted on three goals. Leif, Caden Davis and Elias Mogedal had two assists each, and Jaden Flor, Polak, Spencer Wedin and Gordon had one assist apiece. Kieran Duffy made 17 saves in goal. The Caps host Mandan Friday night in a non-league game, then hosts Yankton at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Oahe Capitals girls varsity: The girls were beaten by Mitchell, 7-0, in the SDAHA seaosn opener. Abigail Stewart-Fromm made 33 saves as the Marlin girls peppered the net with 40 shots. The girls are home vs. Huron at 2 p.m. Saturday, then go to Brookings for a 2 p.m. Sunday faceoff.
North Dakota men’s hockey: The Fighting Hawks continued a red-hot streak and are now 14-1-2. UND defeated Western Michigan, 1-0 in overtime and 8-2. UND is off until a game against the U.S. U18 team at Plymouth, Mich., Dec. 28.
Rapid City Rush: The first-place Rush defeated Utah 5-4, then lost at home for the first time this year in a 3-0 loss to Utah. Rapid City hosted Wheeling last night and plays them again at home Friday and Saturday.
Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd won two overtime’s, 3-2 and 2-1 over Omaha. Sioux Falls is 5-1-1 in its last seven games. Sioux Falls is home Friday vs. Cedar Rapids and Saturday vs. Fargo.
Aberdeen Wings: Aberdeen’s record is now a lofty 15-4-4-2 after 6-2 and 7-3 wins over Minnesota and a 5-1 win over Minot. The Wings are home Friday and Saturday against Bismarck.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild defeated Tampa Bay, 5-4, then lost to Carolina, 6-2, and to Anaheim in a shootout, 3-2. Minnesota is home Thursday vs. Edmonton and Saturday vs. Philadelphia, then goes to Chicago Sunday and to Las Vegas Tuesday.
BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Sioux Falls Skyforce: The Force lost to Austin, 116-107, in their only game this past week. After playing Memphis last night, Sioux Falls will be home vs. Stockton Friday, on the road to Iowa Saturday and back home vs. Texas Tuesday.
Minnesota Timberwolves: It’s been a bad week for the Wolves, losers of all four games. Minnesota lost to Dallas, 121-114; to Oklahoma City, 139-127; to the Los Angeles Clippers, 142-125, and to Phoenix, 125-109. After playing Utah last night, the Wolves host the Clippers Friday and New Orleans next Wednesday.
FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
NFL games on local TV this week:
Thursday—New York Jets at Baltimore, 7:30 p.m., Fox and NFL Network.
Sunday—Chicago at Green Bay, noon, Fox.
Sunday—Los Angeles Rams at Dallas, 3:25 p.m., Fox.
Sunday—Minnesota at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:25 p.m., CBS.
Sunday—Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7:20 p.m., NBC.
Monday—Indianapolis at New Orleans, 7:15 p.m., ESPN.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings defeated Detroit, 20-7, at home Sunday to improve to 9-4. Minnesota plays at the Los Angeles Chargers at 3:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos led at halftime, 31-3, and held on to beat Houston, 38-24. Now 5-8, Denver plays at Kansas City at noon Sunday.
College football update:
— SDSU 8-5: Lost to Northern Iowa, 13-10, in second round of FCS playoffs; season done.
— NDSU 13-0: Beat Nicholls State 37-13 in second round of FCS playoffs; hosts Illinois State in quarterfinals, 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN.
— Minnesota 10-2: Idle last week; plays Auburn in Outback Bowl in Tampa Jan. 1.
— Iowa 9-3: Idle last week; plays USC in Holiday Bowl in San Diego Dec. 27.
— Iowa State 7-5: Idle last week; plays Notre Dame in Camping World Bowl in Orlando Dec. 28.
— Wyoming 7-5: Idle last week; plays Georgia State in Arizona Bowl in Tucson Dec. 31.
MIDCO SPORTS NETWORK LIVE GAMES THIS WEEK
Friday: women’s basketball, St. Cloud State at Southwest Minnesota State, 5:30 p.m.
Friday: men’s basketball, St. Cloud State at Southwest Minnesota State, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: women’s basketball, Central Michigan at SDSU, 2 p.m.
Sunday: women’s basketball, Montana at USD, 1 p.m.
Monday: men’s basketball, Montana State at NDSU, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: women’s basketball, Marquette at SDSU, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: men’s basketball, Florida Gulf Coast at SDSU, 7 p.m.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Thursday, Dec. 12:
Evelyn Hopper, Wanda Goodman, Steph (Vogel) Lund, Tara Dowling, Lukas Tedford, Laura (Hansen) Mikkelsen, Kyle Neuberger, Jeff Ice, Starlene Flax, Joyce Williams, Jenifer Tobin, Abby Lingle, Josh Rose, Eric Sibson, Brian Pibal.
— 4th anniversary, John/Kylie Potts.
Friday, Dec. 13:
Gerri (McKenney) Carpenter, LeAnn Poile, Taylor Martin, Lincoln Elizabeth Fitzke, Jason Bakeberg, Joey Kafka, Karlea (Stahl) Larson, Carter Howard, Lila Edelen, Michael Voeltz, Natalie Magedanz, Dianna Knox, De Knudson, Troy Thomas, Ramsay McKee, Ric Severson.
Saturday, Dec. 14:
Terra Zeller, Jafar Karim, Avett Becker, Joyce (Jansen) Moore, Andy Carda, Abby Javurek, Adam Emerson, Elliot Williams.
— We remember the 20 kids and six teachers at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Conn., who died seven years ago today in the first of this era’s countless school massacres.
Sunday, Dec. 15:
Paul Lepisto, Linda Johnson, Jennifer (Schlekeway) Heggelund, Kelly (Kafka) Schrempp, Shirleen Fugitt, Derek Dehne, Wayne Crawford, Steve Withers.
Monday, Dec. 16:
Brenda Goeden, Eric Serbousek, Augustus Gross, Vicki Hagemann, Brooke Lee, Rod Burley, Natalie Likness, Bonnie (Pitlick) Rus, Steve Hinker, Nathan Hamm, Rachel (Weber) Bishop.
— 2nd anniversary, Brandon/Kelli (Cronin) Nagel.
Tuesday, Dec. 17:
Kathie Patten, Jackson Palmer, Molly (Robertson) Golla, Jessica Jockheck, Mason Frohm, Kade Anderson, Austin Mammenga, Ryan Nuttall, Edna Brunmeier.
Wednesday, Dec. 18:
SuzMarie Squires, Devan Bruns, Ross Olson, Gary McMath, Sandy Tillman, Kirsti Garrett, Jayne Parsons, Calvin Hofer, Kai Hanson, Jordan Jarvis, Jeff Swartz, Joseph Bock, Ruth Smith.
Thursday, Dec. 19:
Tim Bjorneberg, Dianne Noyes, Karin (Unkenholz) Hansen, Alexander Meagher, Blake Hemminger, Jim Costello, Breanna Costello, Georgia Hanson, Miles Hunsley, Elise Titze, Lisa Dorschner.
— Anniversary, Casey/Alyssa Kahler.
FOOTBALL CONTEST #19
In Contest #17, which included last weekend’s big college games, Debra Bollinger, Seb Axtman, David Thoreson and Jason Noyes rang the bell for 10 points each with 9-1 records. Blame SDSU and Utah for spoiling just about everybody’s entry. At 8-2 for 9 points each were Jon Boer, Brett Hansen, Jeff Adel, Greg Dean, Nathan Vetter and Brian Hunhoff. At 7-3 for 8 points each were Laurie Johnson, Kyle Richards, Eric James, Laura Schmidt, Levi Neuharth, Randy Pool and Chuck Libby.
In Contest #18, which involved 10 of last Sunday’s NFL games, every entry picked Houston over the Broncos. (Bad choice.) At 8-2 for 10 points each were Jason Noyes, Randy Pool, Levi Neuharth and David Ludwig. At 7-3 for 9 points each were Greg Dean, Beth Rinehart, Brad Cruse, Brian Hunhoff, Debra Bollinger and Kyle Richards. At 6-4 for 8 points each were Jon Boer, Eric James, Mikal Kern, Seb Axtman, David Thoreson, Chuck Libby and Nathan Vetter.
Contest #19 (send your 10 winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Saturday morning):
(1) Army vs. Navy
(2) FCS quarterfinals: Northern Iowa at James Madison
(3) FCS quarterfinals: Illinois State at NDSU
(4) FCS quarterfinals: Montana at Weber State
(5) D2 semifinals: Minnesota State-Mankato at Slippery Rock (Pa.)
(6) D3 semifinals: Wisconsin-Whitewater at St. John’s (Minn.)
(7) NFL: Houston at Tennessee
(8) NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Dallas
(9) NFL: Minnesota at Los Angeles Chargers
(10) NFL: Buffalo at Pittsburgh
COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP
Texas A&M-International women’s basketball (Nate Vogel): Nate’s women lost an exhibition game to UT-Rio Grande Valley, 72-56. The 4-4 Dustdevils are home Saturday vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Bradley Dean): The Tigers lost to a vastly improved Mount Marty team, 106-98, then won at Concordia (Neb.), 72-57. Now 9-1, DWU played Valley City State last night and hosts Doane Saturday.
South Dakota State swimming (Ashley Theobald, Caleb Huizenga): Idle last week, the Jackrabbits don’t have a meet until a dual at St. Cloud State Jan. 18.
South Dakota State wrestling (Aric Williams): SDSU sent wrestlers to a Las Vegas tournament and to Buena Vista’s invitational last weekend. Aric did not wrestle at either site. SDSU hosts Minnesota in a dual on Dec. 20.
Lindenwood men’s hockey (Coleman Varty): Idle last week, the Lions are off until a pair against Missouri State Jan. 10-11.
South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb, Ciara Duffy): The Coyotes added the Big East to their victims list with a win over Creighton, 72-65. Ciara was 5-of-9 (1-of-2 in threes) and 2-of-3 for 13 points with five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Chloe was 3-of-6 (1-of-1) and 0-of-0 for seven points with six rebounds and an assist. USD dominated Coppin State, 82-44. In that one Chloe was 5-of-7 (0-for-1) and 4-of-4 for 14 points with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Ciara went 4-of-8 (1-of-2) and 3-of-4 for 12 points with four rebounds and one assist. USD took a 9-1 record against Mount Marty last night, then hosts Montana at 1 p.m. Sunday on Midco Sports Network.
Augustana women’s basketball (Aislinn Duffy, Katie Bourk): The Vikings split a pair of league games. In a 72-64 loss to Winona State, Aislinn was 2-of-10 (1-of-5) and 1-of-1 for six points with seven rebounds. Augie topped Upper Iowa, 74-48, as Aislinn was 4-of-7 (1-of-2) and 0-for-2 for nine points with two rebounds and two steals. Now 5-2, Augustana goes to Minnesota-Crookston Friday and over to Bemidji State Saturday.
Augustana wrestling (Jebben Keyes): At a tournament at Kenosha, Wis., Jebben did not wrestle. Augie hosts Parkside and Nebraska-Kearney in a pair of home duals Dec. 20.
Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): The Marauders lost a dual to Upper Iowa, 28-6, and wrestled at MSU-Moorhead’s Dragon Open Sunday. So far as we can tell, Lincoln did not wrestle at either site. The Marauders send men to Indianapolis to the Midwest Classic Saturday and Sunday.
Northern men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Wolves defeated Bemidji State, 81-73, and dominated Minnesota-Crookston, 101-58. In the latter blowout Lincoln got in for seven minutes and was 1-of-2 in field goals and 2-of-3 in free throws for four points. Now 6-3, NSU goes north to Minot State Friday and to Mary Saturday.
Tennessee women’s basketball (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols lost for the first time this season in a 66-60 loss to Texas. Now 7-1, Tennessee played Colorado State last night, then goes to Stanford next Wednesday.
Black Hills State women’s basketball (Racquel Wientjes): The Yellow Jackets lost a pair of RMAC games in Utah. In a 69-53 loss at Westminster, Racquel was 7-of-14 (3-of-7) and 5-of-8 for 22 points with five rebounds, an assist and a steal. In a 71-65 loss at Dixie State, Racquel again was 7-of-14 (0-for-1) and 4-of-6 for 18 points with three rebounds and two steals. Now 4-4, BHSU is home this weekend against Adams State and Fort Lewis.
Black Hills State track/field (Frank Becker, Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Allan McDonnell): At their home Holiday Open dual against Mines, Frank, freshman from Pierre, placed fourth in the 200 meters in 24.69 seconds and third as a runner on the BHSU “B” team in the 4×400 relay in 3:33.92. Kelsey, junior from Fort Pierre, did not run the distances in this meet. Allan, junior from Wall with Pierre grandparents Roger and Vicki Hanson, won the high jump at 6’6 3/4″, placed second in the long jump at 21’11 3/4″ and was second in the triple jump at 42’10”. BHSU is off until the Chadron State Open Jan. 18.
S.D. Mines track/field (Theron Singleton, Erik Colman): At the Holiday Open at BHSU, Theron, senior from Pierre, placed eighth in the 5,000-metr run in 16:46.33. Erik, sophomore from Pierre, did not throw at this meet. Mines is off until the Chadron State Open Jan. 18.
South Dakota track/field (Maddy McClure): Maddy, sophomore distance runner from Yankton whose dad is Sully Buttes alumnus Seth McClure, did not run at the SDSU Holiday Open. The USD women were first among 13 teams at Brookings. USD is off now until the Bison Team Cup at Fargo Jan. 18.
South Dakota State track/field (Addison Eisenbeisz): The sophomore jumper from Pierre won the high jump at 1.70 meters and placed seventh in the triple jump at 11.07 meters. Addy is smarter than your Update editor, so she can tell you how high and how far in feet and inches those distances are, but I can’t. The SDSU women placed third of 13 teams at their home Holiday Open. Next up for the Jacks is NDSU’s meet Jan. 18.
Augustana track/field (Elizabeth Schaefer): The freshman sprinter/hurdler from Rapid City Stevens (daughter of Troy and Kim Merkwan Schaefer) competed in the indoor pentathlon at the SDSU Holiday Open and placed fifth in the final standings with 3,505 points. She was fifth in the 60-meter hurdles, second in the high jump, ninth in the shot put, and third in the long jump. Augie is off until a meet at MSU-Mankato Jan. 17.
Northern track/field (Rachel Guthmiller): The Onida sophomore thrower placed 22nd in the weight throw at 39’2 1/4″ in the Dakota Classic in Fargo. NSU’s women were fourth among seven schools. NSU is now off until a dual vs. Jamestown Jan. 18.
South Dakota volleyball: The Coyotes, who were among the “first four out” when the NCAA selected its tournament field, have reached the semifinal round of the National Invitation Volleyball Tournament. USD defeated Central Michigan, 3-1; shut out UNLV, 3-0, and won in the quarterfinals over Texas-Arlington, 3-2. USD will take a 30-2 record into the NIVC semifinals against Tulsa or Weber State.
PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES
- Call it “The O’Gorman Effect.” No sooner had O’Gorman won a state tournament semifinal over Yankton last spring on a shot that should not have counted than instant replay became a reality. Now comes “The Pierre Effect.” The aftermath of the Governors’ 103-0 playoff win over Spearfish continues to roll. The football advisory board has recommended a new plan for five football classifications instead of seven. The current 11AA class in which all eight teams qualified for the playoffs would be expanded to 16 schools. (However, those who want to see Pierre moved up to the big-school class to take its lumps—in other words, the Sioux Falls class—are yelling already that the Governors may win what they call another “participation trophy” again next year. Also a new mercy rule is in the works—a 35-point lead in the second half of any game in any class will result in a running clock. The current 50-point game termination rule for Class 11B and all nine-man classes would be eliminated. These proposals are not a done deal yet. The SDHSAA board of directors has the final say.
- The broadcast of the annual Kennedy Center Honors show usually comes during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. However, this year CBS is putting it on the air earlier, which is this coming Sunday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. CST. (That time may be messed up a bit because NFL football always runs late, leaving the evening shows to start later than usual. So if you’re recording the Kennedy Center show, be aware that it may start somewhat after 7. This year’s honorees are actress Sally Field, singer Linda Ronstadt, the TV program “Sesame Street,” conductor/composer Michael Tilson Thomas and the R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire.
- I wonder if the local sports talk kid knows how dumb he sounds when he utters this: “It’s going to be No. 1 LSU verse No. 4 Oklahoma in the college football playoffs.” Verse? Really? Besides, he is a Patriots hater and is beside himself with glee over the latest allegations against the NFL champions.
- I would not be a suitable teacher of English grammar any more. Not after the Merriam-Webster Dictionary people this week caved in and declared the pronoun “they” to be the “Word of the Year” for 2019. You see, people have (incorrectly, in my humble opinion) been using “they” in place of a singular pronoun when the gender of the singular person in question is unknown. So, for example, instead of saying, “A voter messed up the original ballot and, when asking for a new one, he (or she) was granted one,” these dictionary people, and too many of you, think saying “THEY were granted one” in this case is perfectly fine. Boo! Foul! Destruction of the English language! I will never buy another Merriam-Webster dictionary. And I vow never to use a plural pronoun to refer to one person, even if these fickle dictionary “authorities” say it’s all right to do so.
- This should help in this state and nation where there is such a divide. The color of the year for 2020, as declared by The Pantone Color Institute, is “calm, confident Classic Blue.” Calm? The upcoming presidential impeachment and election year is going to be calm? I don’t think Classic Blue is going to help.
- As we have begun the wrestling season, you fans of that sport will want to pay more attention than usual to the results of duals this winter. I won’t try to explain how the schedule at the state tournaments will work, but be aware that the dual tournament, which we haven’t had since 2004, is being reinstated this season and will be run in conjunction with the state individual tournaments. All of this will happen Feb. 27-29 in Sioux Falls. Note that the state tournaments start on Thursday instead of Friday.
NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS
Four local teachers have been chosen to serve as TALES Project fellows next year. “TALES” stands for Teaching Artifacts from Lived Experiences. The story-teaching project empowers educators to go beyond the textbook. The local teachers are Mary Steffen, Stanley County third-grade teacher; Jessica (Callahan) Carr and Hope Armstrong, science teachers at Georgia Morse Middle School, and Ashley Boone, freshman English and oral interpretation coach at Riggs High School
Paul Hansen, 70, died Dec. 3 at Avantara in Pierre. A celebration of his life took place Wednesday at the American Legion cabin. He grew up in Veblen and Rapid City and worked in many locations until settling in Pierre. He was a carpenter, construction worker and roofer. Among his survivors are his father, Elvyn Hansen of Pierre, and his sister, Vicky Engelhaupt and her husband Marv.
Capt. Ellen Bramblee of Black Hawk, whose husband is Pierre native Tane Bramblee, took command of the South Dakota Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, during a change in command ceremony in Sioux Falls Dec. 7. She began her military service in April 2009 as food service specialist with the 139th Brigade Support Battalion in Brookings. She received her commission as an engineer officer in August 2012 from the SDSU Army ROTC program. Since her commission she served as the construction officer for the 155th Engineer Company while deployed to Kuwait in 2015. She served as the operations officer for the 200th Engineer Company in 2016 as well as their platoon leader from 2012 to 2015. She works full-time for the SDARNG Joint Force Headquarters’ strategic planning branch as the performance excellence coordinator.
At the state oral interpretation tournament in Yankton, the Pierre team earned a team excellence award, which requires a school to have at least four of its seven entries earn superior ratings. The Pierre superiors went to Levi McKinley in serious reading, Sarah Hancock in non-original oratory, Savannah Shrake in storytelling and the team of Xzaria Henderson and Jack Ferris in duet.
At the Pierre Fire Department’s awards banquet this week, Anna McCarthy was named not only Firefighter of the Year but also the recipient of the Don Marso Memorial Award. She is a member of Engine 3. The Rookie of the Year in the department is Hunter Speck of Engine 2.
Marvin Hiller, 89, Onida, died Dec. 8. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Friday at the Onida United Methodist Church with the funeral there at 10. After serving with the U.S. Army in Korea, he married Shirley Westphal in 1953. He worked for many years for Oahe Grain Corporation. After retiring he worked for Lamb Chevrolet and Lamb Motors. His favorite retirement job was delivering lunches to the Blunt school for the school district. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Shirley Hiller; his sons, Wade Hiller and his wife Rondha, and Wes Hiller; two grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; his sister, Lorraine Miller; his brother, Roy Hiller, and his sister-in-law, Mary Hiller. Among those who preceded him in death were three infant children, sister Ethel Maskovich and brother Chet Hiller.
Dr. Ken Bartholomew will host a book signing at the Bistro in the Helmsley Center from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday). His new book is “Last Flight for Whiskey Mike.” He will be in Faulkton Friday for a book signing there.
Alberta (Flansburg) Olson, who lives in the Piedmont/Black Hawk area, is one of those people who, if she didn’t have bad luck, would have no luck at all. After surviving a rollover accident west of Fort Pierre in October, this week she is in Memphis for work training. As she was crossing a street from a Perkins restaurant to a Walgreen’s drug store in a pedestrian lane, she was hit by a pickup making a right turn on a red light. She landed on the pickup’s hood, then when the driver stopped, Alberta landed in the intersection. A registered nurse who was in a passing vehicle sat with her until an ambulance arrived. Alberta, who had to spend a night at a hospital, had to have her clothes cut off by emergency personnel, so hospital clergy went to buy her some clothes to wear. (They brought purple sweat pants and a neon yellow shirt!) She sustained two broken bones in her lower back and was fitted with a brace. She is swollen, bruised and sore but is living on the next of her nine lives.
Our sympathy to the Getz family. Bob Getz, 87, Sioux Falls, formerly of Kadoka, died at home Dec. 9. The funeral service is being held this (Thursday) morning at 11 a.m. at West Nidaros Lutheran Church near Crooks. He is survived by his wife, Frances Getz; his sons, Scott Getz and his wife Anita and Roger Getz and his wife Angel; his daughter, Deb Whipple and her husband Rob; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Surprise Package vocal ensemble’s annual Christmas concerts will be this weekend at First United Methodist Church. Concert times are 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Donna (Crain) Nye, 84, Blunt, died Dec. 6 at Avantara in Pierre. Her funeral is being held today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. at New Life Assembly of God in Pierre, preceded by visitation there starting at noon. A 1954 graduate of Blunt High School, Donna married Elden Nye in 1955. She worked for the Department of Social Services in the area of child protection until her retirement. She is survived by two sons, Richard Nye and his wife Carol and Jamie Nye and his wife Jennifer; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and her sister, Judy Staples and her husband Cecil.
Derrick Larson, Onida native who is the son of the late Larry and Jan Larson and a former Pierre Post 8 baseball player, is one of three alumni honored at a Nov. 7 recognition dinner by the USD Beacom School of Business accounting and finance division. A 1996 alumnus of the USD business school, is partner-in-charge at Eide Bailly in Sioux Falls where he manages a team of more than 100 partners and staff while continuing to serve clients. He specializes in providing audit and consulting services in the renewable energy, telecommunications and electric utility industries.
Shelby Guthrie, a sophomore, has been inducted into the Order of Omega, a Greek honor society at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Marie Tedrow, 97, Murdo, died Dec. 6 as the result of a fall. Visitation will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Murdo, followed by a vigil starting at 6. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will take place at a later date at Black Hills National Cemetery. Mrs. Tedrow worked for more than 40 years in banking in New Underwood, Rapid City, Okaton and Murdo. After retiring, she worked part-time as a cashier at the truck stop restaurant in Murdo. She and her husband, Russell Tedrow, whom she married in 1944, were married for 68 years. She is survived by two sons, Ron Tedrow and his wife Karen in Pierre and Douglas Tedrow and his wife Judith in Silverton, Ore.; her sister, Helen Miller; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Students of the Month for November in the Stanley County middle and high schools were: grade 6, Jersey Anderson; grade 7, Keira Briggs; grade 8, Adi Longbrake; grade 9, Hope Smedley; grade 10, Daysen Titze; grade 11, LaShonda Defender; grade 12, Liz Duffy.
Riggs High senior Josi Stevens has signed a letter of intent to attend and play volleyball at Midland University in Fremont, Neb.
Blunt native Mike Eckman, 82, died in a hospital in Ocala, Fla., Dec. 4 after suffering from diabetes and heart complications. A celebration of life will be held Jan. 3 in Ocala, and a second memorial is planned for Memorial Day weekend in South Dakota. After high school in Blunt, Mike served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then earned degrees from Northern State University. He taught in Sheboygan, Wis., and was high school principal at Highmore. He worked as equal education opportunity director for the state of South Dakota and as a quarter horse trainer in the 1970s. After moving to Florida, he ran a thoroughbred auction company and a thoroughbred stallion marketing agency, was owner and trainer of a thoroughbred racing stable, and bred and trained racehorses. He is survived by his sister, Joan Vickerman of Mequon, Wis.; his brother, Morry Eckman and nhis wife Barbara of Ocala; daughters Shelbi Eckman and Keely Streeter and son Joel Eckman, and six grandchildren. Mike was married to Karen Skogmo for 16 years before their divorce in 1978.
Well said, Parker. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you. I’m thankful for you!