THOUGHT AS THE CALENDAR CHANGES

There is always in February some one day, at least, when one smells the yet distant, but surely coming, summer.

— Gertrude Jekyll

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, home vs. Huron; Saturday, at Brookings invitational.
Gymnastics—Saturday, at Rapid City Central invitational.
Girls basketball—Friday, home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt; Saturday, home vs. Yankton; Tuesday, at Mitchell.
Boys basketball—Saturday, at Yankton; Tuesday, home vs. Mitchell.

Gymnastics: At the Rapid City Gym-o-rama the Governor team placed second with a 132.175 team score, behind four-time North Dakota state champion Dickinson and ahead of four other teams. Mikah Moser placed second in the all-around standings after winning the bars, placing second in the vault and the floor exercise and placing seventh on the beam. Pierre’s Emerie Stephens tied for 10th in the floor exercise.

Wrestling: The Governors started their weekend with a 62-6 dual win over Yankton in an ESD Conference match. Pierre scored six pins, two major decisions, three decisions and two forfeit wins. At the East-West duals on Saturday, the Governors swept their three West River opponents—39-27 over Stevens, 45-20 over Sturgis and 49-22 over Central. In the Stevens dual Kahlor Hindman, Jack Van Camp, Maguire Raske, Regan Bollweg and Preston Taylor won by pins. Against Sturgis Tyson Johnson, Raske, Bollweg and Taylor won by pins. In the Central dual Blake Judson, Trey Lewis, Deegan Houska and Taylor scored pins. Pierre is now 9-0 in duals this season.

Boys basketball: Despite leading 12-2 at the start of the game, the Governors lost to Douglas, 62-55. Lincoln Kienholz scored 19 points, Grey Zabel 11 and James Mikkonen 10. On Tuesday the Govs’ only first-quarter points were two free throws en route to a 61-40 loss to Aberdeen Central. Zabel scored 14 and Kienholz 13 as Pierre fell to 1-12 for the season.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, at Sully Buttes triangular (with Potter County); Saturday, at Wagner invitational.
Gymnastics—Friday, at Hot Springs invitational.
Girls basketball—Thursday, at Crow Creek; Saturday, home vs. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte; Tuesday, at Todd County.
Boys basketball—Thursday, at Crow Creek; Tuesday, at Todd County.

Wrestling: At the Winner invitational the Buffaloes placed 11th among 13 teams with Burke-Gregory winning the team title. Trey Frost of SCHS placed third at 126 pounds, and Reid Wieczorek was third at 170.

Girls basketball: The Buffalo girls lost to Sully Buttes, 60-32. Karley Leafgreen and Jordyn Sosa were high scorers with eight points each. On Tuesday the girls lost to Gregory, 62-24, and the high scorer was Kennedy Sommars with six. SCHS is now 0-12.

Boys basketball: In their only game of the past week the Buffaloes lost to Sully Buttes, 69-58, and are now 6-6 for the season. Lathan Prince scored 26, Slater Tople 13 and Charles Good Bird 11.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Wrestling—Thursday, home triangular (with Stanley County and Potter County); Saturday, at Wagner invitational.
Girls basketball—Thursday, at Hitchcock-Tulare (in Tulare); Saturday, at Warner; Tuesday, home vs. Jones County.
Boys basketball—Thursday, at Hitchcock-Tulare (in Tulare); Saturday, at Warner; Tuesday, home vs. Jones County.

Girls basketball: Two more wins for the Charger girls this week upped their record for the season to 6-4. SBHS whipped Stanley County, 60-32, led by Kendra Kleven’s 1j8 points, Ally Wittler’s 15 and Stevie Wittler’s 10. In a 52-45 win over Philip on Monday, Kleven had 15, Ally 14 and Stevie 14.

Boys basketball: After a season-opening loss to Lyman in December, the Chargers have reeled off eight straight wins, including a 69-58 victory over Stanley County Tuesday. Nick Wittler had a 40-point game, Grant Johnson added 12 and Quinn Jordre scored seven points.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Jan. 30:
Rebecca Gruba, Cory Holmes, Isaac Stoeser, Michele Hoscheid, Kelly Neiles-Brindza, Laura Hofer, Julie Osnes, Randy Pool, Weston Williams.

Friday, Jan. 31:
Jane Stewart, Kevin Stiles, Jeff Pierce, Tony Bevers, Levi Reiprich, Elsie Grace Vogel, Darin Newcomb, Don Hoepfer, Wendy Ramler, William Tousley, Blake Freidel, Tracy Berg.

Saturday, Feb. 1:
Carl Hawkinson, Ed Jacobson, Jim Severson, Colin Brown, Mary Hoover, Jeremiah Oltmann, Kallie (Dresbach) Hall, Nicholas Edwards, Cole Severson, Lygia Garrett-Davis Libel, Tracy (Shangreaux) Boom, Kaylee Kampfe, Blake Norman, Katrina Hewlett, Andy Gerlach.

Sunday, Feb. 2:
Jordan Reiss, Nate Chicoine, Joy Erlenbusch, Becky (Markley) Wosick, Stevie Brockhouse, Jeff Stewart, Carla Madden, Cody Coppess, Josh Lamb, Darline Zimmerman.

Monday, Feb. 3:
Peggy Johnson, Mike Owens, Victor Scharnweber, Daisha (Seyfer) Finke, Parker Knox, Mike Baker, Bill Witte, James Vollmer, Brad Shoup, Deni (Lohman) Hollingsworth, James Kachelmyer, Jason Lindberg, Joshua Kachelmyer, Gianna Harty, Matt McGovern, Kathy (Fette) Paul.
— We fondly remember Jack Unkenholz on his birthday.
— We also fondly remember Donna Fjelstad, who passed away 9 years ago today.

Tuesday, Feb. 4:
Anne Eichstadt, Jamie McQuistion, Blake Deal, John Barber, Charlene (Hyde) Bietz, Chelsey (Roberts) Renemans, Tom Valentine, Jaremy Joy, Alec Espeland, Sheila Ring, Ethan HIght, Eric Paxton, Avery Burger, JoAnne Hipple, Jake Miller, Tom Gerken.
— 31st anniversary, Randy/Jodi Hartmann.
— 47th anniversary, Steve/Peggy Stout.

Wednesday, Feb. 5:
Spencer Richey, Amanda Schmitgen, Jonathan Semro, Devin Dodson, Nick Osterkamp, Chad Coppess, Kara Lyn (Fouts) Brewer, Pamela Cronin, Sam Shives, Ben Merrill, Bob Judson, Anthony Hunt, Wade LaRoche, LaJena (Johnson) Gruis.

Thursday, Feb. 6:
Alex Hillestad, Stacie (Ries) Swanstrom, Jarrett Klinger, Jenifer Palmer, Adam Gallagher, Colin McDaniel, Weston Fuller, Mary (Morris) Weinheimer, Deleight (Kelly) Sudmeier, Declan Murphy.

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THESE TIMES

“You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.”

— Learninginlife.com

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Augustana track/field (Elizabeth Schaefer): At SDSU’s meet for Division II schools, the Augustana women were second among 15 teams. Elizabeth won the 60-meter hurdles in a personal-best time of 8.99 seconds and placed fifth in the high jump at 5’1:. She also ran third leg on Augie’s “B” team in the 4×400 relay, and they placed fourth in 4:06.59, ahead of Augie’s “A” team by .63 seconds. The Viking athletes will be in Mankato for Minnesota State’s meet Friday and Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Bradley Dean): The Tigers lost to Hastings, 73-64, last Wednesday, and Brad got in for one minute. The Tigers took a 17-4 record (9-3 in the GPAC) into a game against Jamestown last night and hosts Concordia (Neb.) Saturday.

Augustana wrestling (Jebben Keyes): The Vikings won a conference dual over Southwest Minnesota State, 27-10. Jebben won his 149-pound match in a 9-6 decision. Now 6-2 overall in duals and 3-0 in the NSIC, Augustana wrestles at Northwestern (Iowa) tonight and at Upper Iowa Sunday.

Northern track/field (Rachel Guthmiller): At the Division II meet hosted by SDSU, Rachel placed 52nd in the weight throw event at 35’8 1/2″. NSU competes Saturday at Dakota Wesleyan’s meet.

Texas A&M International women’s basketball (Nate Vogel): The Dustdevils lost two more conference games, 68-60 to Eastern New Mexico and 64-54 to West Texas A&M. Now 3-16 overall and 1-12 in the league, TAMIU plays at Cameron (Okla.) Thursday and at Midwestern State (Texas) Friday.

Lindenwood men’s hockey (Coleman Varty): The Lions split with Ohio University, winning 8-1 and losing 3-2. Now 16-6-0, Lindenwood is home Friday and Saturday vs. Oklahoma.

Colorado Mines women’s basketball (Liz Holter): The Orediggers won twice in RMAC play and Liz had a terrific weekend. In a 973-65 win over Metro State, she was 4-of-10 in field goals (3-of-7 for threes) and 2-of-5 for 13 points with four rebounds, a block and three assists. In a 93-48 trouncing of Chadron State, she was 11-of-13 (3-of-4 in threes) and 1-of-2 for 26 points along with five rebounds, a steal and five assists. Mines is now 12-6 overall and 9-4 in the RMAC. They are home Friday vs. CSU-Pueblo and Saturday vs. New Mexico Highlands.

Augustana women’s basketball (Aislinn Duffy, Katie Bourk): The Vikings defeated Concordia-St. Paul, 86-73. Aislinn was 3-of-9 (1-of-4) and 3-of-4 for 10 points with six rebounds, two assists and a block. In a 61-60 loss to Minnesota State, she was 5-of-12 (1-of-4) and 2-of-2 for 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two steals. Now 11-7 overall and 7-7 in the NSIC, Augie is home Friday vs. Minot State and Saturday vs. Mary.

Black Hills State women’s basketball (Racquel Wientjes): Racquel had a great weekend, but the Yellow Jackets managed only a split on a southern road trip in the RMAC. In a 73-47 win at New Mexico Highlands, Racquel was 8-of-17 in field goals (2-of-6) and 4-of-4 for 22 points with 14 rebounds and two assists. In a 69-63 loss to CSU-Pueblo, she was 9-of-19 (2-of-5) and 8-of-10 for 28 points with six rebounds, a block and a steal. BHSU is now 11-7 overall and 8-5 in the RMAC. The Jackets go to Chadron State Friday and on to Metro State Saturday.

Northern men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Wolves drew two more huge crowds to the Barnett Center and split a pair of NSIC games. They beat St. Cloud State, 88-71, but lost to Minnesota-Duluth, 87-79 Now 15-5 overall and 11-3 in the NSIC, Northern is home Friday vs. Concordia-St. Paul and Saturday vs. Minnesota State.

S.D. Mines track/field (Theron Singleton, Erick Colman): At the Dave Little meet at BHSU, Theron placed ninth in the 5,000-meter run in 16:35.15. Erick was second in the shot put at 49’2 1/2″ and fourth in the weight throw at 49’7 3/4″. The Hardrockers return to Spearfish Saturday for the Myrle Hanson Open at BHSU.

South Dakota State wrestling (Aric Williams): The Jackrabbits won a Big 12 dual at home over Oklahoma, 23-16. Now 7-4 overall in duals and 1-4 in the conference, SDSU wrestles at Oklahoma State Friday night.

Black Hills State track/field (Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Frank Becker, Allan McDonnell): At the Dave Little meet, Kelsey placed fourth in the 5,000-meter run in 19:43.29. Frank was 12th in the 400-meter run in 54.99 seconds. The Yellow Jackets stay home Saturday for the Myrle Hanson Open meet.

South Dakota State track/field (Addison Eisenbeisz): At the Jim Emmerich meet at home, Addy won the high jump at 5’7″. The Jackrabbits go to Minneapolis for the Jack Johnson Classic Saturday.

South Dakota track/field (Maddy McClure): At the Jim Emmerich meet at SDSU, the Coyote women were first and the men third. USD competes Saturday at the Adidas Classic in Lincoln.

Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): The Marauders lost a conference dual to Minnesota State-Mankato, 29-12. Lincoln lost his 133-pound match in a 3-1 decision. Mary then had to wrestle the nation’s #1 Division II team, St. Cloud State, and lost 45-0. Lincoln was moved up to 141 pounds for this dual, and he lost by fall at 2:51. Mary wrestles at Augustana Friday and at Southwest Minnesota State Saturday.

Tennessee women’s basketball (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols lost to UConn, 60-45, but won over LSU, 63-58. Now 16-4 overall and 6-1 in the SEC, Tennessee plays at Vanderbilt Thursday and at South Carolina Sunday. The latter game will be on ESPN2 at noon.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Ciara Duffy, Chloe Lamb): The Coyotes continued to roll, winning games by 54 and 23 points. In a 79-25 demolition of Purdue-Fort Wayne, USD led 27-4 after a quarter and 52-10 at halftime. PFW went 0-for-16 in three-point shots and was only 9-of-43 in total field goals. Ciara was 4-of-9 (1-of-3) and 4-of-4 for 13 points with six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and three steals. Chloe was 5-of-8 (1-of-3) for 11 points with three rebounds, one assist and one steal. On Sunday the Coyotes defeated Oral Roberts, 79-56. Ciara was 7-of-10 (1-of-2) and 3-of-4 for 18 points with three boards, five assists, a block and two steals. Chloe was 3-of-7 (1-of-3) for seven points with one rebound and two steals. USD was 19-2 overall and 8-0 in the Summit heading into last night’s game at Omaha. Then the Yotes go to Denver Sunday.

Wyoming wrestling (Tate Samuelson): We have discovered that Wyoming’s 184-pounder, Tate Samuelson of Castle Rock, Colo., is the grandson of Blunt native Joanne (Gunsalus) Haugland. Tate was 23-9 overall in his freshman year at Wyoming and was an NCAA qualifier at 184. So far this season he is 15-9. Back in high school in Castle Rock, he was a two-time Colorado state champion, including a perfect 44-0 junior year. Wyoming defeated CSU-Bakersfield, 34-3, last Friday, and on Sunday won in Green River over Utah Valley, 37-9. Tate won by major decisions in both duals, 13-4 over Bakersfield and 11-2 over Utah Valley. Wyoming wrestles at Oregon State Friday.

COUNTDOWN

3 days: Super Bowl LIV (Feb. 2).
4 days: Iowa caucuses (Feb. 3).
5 days: State of the Union address (Feb. 4).
7 days: State one-act play festival, Sioux Falls (Feb. 6-8).
10 days: Oscars, ABC (Feb. 9).
12 days: New Hampshire primary (Feb. 11).
15 days: State gymnastics meet, Aberdeen (Feb. 14-15).
23 days: Nevada caucuses (Feb. 22).
28 days: State wrestling tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 27-29).
30 days: South Carolina primary (Feb. 29).
30 days: NSIC men’s/women’s basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 29-March 3).
30 days: NCAA Div. II Super Region 5 wrestling tournament, Sioux Falls (Feb. 29).

ISN’T IT THE TRUTH!

While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.

— Patience Strong

HOCKEY ROUNDUP

Minnesota Wild: The Wild beat Detroit, 4-2, last Wednesday and since then has been in the NHL’s all-star break. Minnesota returns to the ice at home Saturday at 7 p.m. against Boston, then hosts Chicago at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd swept the weekend in Madison, Wis., winning by 6-2 and 4-1 scores. Now 15-16-3, the Stampede is home against Waterloo Friday and Saturday and Tri-City Tuesday.

North Dakota: The Fighting Hawks lost at defending national champ Minnesota-Duluth Friday, 7-4, but scored two third-period goals Saturday to beat UMD, 3-2, and gain a split in their weekend series. UND is home Friday and Saturday vs. Colorado College with both games on Midco Sports Network.

Aberdeen Wings: The Wings split a pair with St. Cloud, losing 5-1 and winning 6-1; Aberdeen is now 27-6-4-2 with a 12-point lead over second-place Bismarck. That is whom they play this weekend twice in North Dakota.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush took two of three at home over Wichita, winning 4-3 in overtime, losing 7-4 and winning 5-2. The Rush held on to their fourth-place playoff spot. Rapid City plays at Idaho Friday and Saturday.

Oahe Capitals girls varsity: The girls lost to Brookings, 7-1, as Jessa McTighe scored the Oahe goal and Abigail Stewart-Fromm made 27 saves. On Saturday the Caps scored a 6-5 win over Huron. McTighe and Kaitlyn Swenson had two goals each, and Sara Bierne and Madison Evje scored once each. Stewart-Fromm had 29 saves. The girls play at Rushmore at 4 p.m. Saturday and at home vs. Watertown at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: Idle last weekend, the Caps return to SDAHA play at Sioux Falls at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at home vs. Watertown at 7 p.m. Saturday.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

South Dakota State swimming (Ashley Theobald, Caleb Huizenga): In a dual against USD in Brookings, the Jackrabbit women lost, 154-146, and the men lost, 170-130. Ashley won the 100-meter individual medley in 1:00.21 and placed third in the 50 free event in 24.56 seconds. She swam on State’s “A” team in the 200 free relay, and they won the race in 1:38.05. Her 200 medley relay “C” team placed sixth in 1:52.90. Caleb was seventh in the 50 free in 31.89 and eighth in the 100 free in 50.51. He swam on SDSU’s “B” team in the 200 free relay, and they placed third in 1:28.40. His “D” team in the 200 medley relay was seventh in 1:41.89. SDSU swims next Feb. 7-8 at home in the Jackrabbit Invitational.

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

Super Bowl LIV: Kickoff for Sunday’s game between San Francisco and Kansas City will be at 5:30 p.m. CST on Fox. The pregame shows go on for hours in advance of that time, including 1 p.m. on Fox.

SOCCER ROUNDUP

Minnesota United FC: The major league soccer season is only a month away. The Minnesota Loons’ preseason schedule: Feb. 16, at New England; Feb. 19, at Portland; Feb. 22, at Vancouver. What? No outdoor home games in St. Paul in February? Probably a good decision!

THOUGHT FOR GROUNDHOG DAY

The groundhog is like most other prophets. It delivers its prediction and then disappears.

— Bill Vaughan

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Next year’s state tournaments: With the “AA” and “A” classes no longer having combined state tournaments after this year, in 2021 the state basketball tournaments will all be separate events. The girls tournaments on March 11-13, 2021, will have the “B” in Huron, the “A” in Watertown and the “AA” at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The boys tournaments will be in Aberdeen for the “B”, the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls for the “A” and Rapid City for the “AA.”

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves stretched their losing streak to 10 this week. After losing to Chicago, 117-110; to Houston, 131-124, and to Oklahoma City, 113-104, the ultimate defeat came Monday. Minnesota led 97-78 after three quarters, led by 22 with 5 1/2 minutes left and led by 15 with two minutes left, but Sacramento tied the game at the end of regulation and won in overtime, 133-129. It’s small comfort now, but the NBA the next day said the game-tying layup by the Kings at the end of regulation time should not have counted because the shooter, who deliberately missed a free throw, got into the lane too soon on his way to snagging the rebound and scoring. As usual, the NBA refs were right on top of it. The Timberwolves are now 6-18 in home games. They play at the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday afternoon and at Sacramento Monday night before coming home to face Atlanta next Wednesday.

Sioux Falls Skyforce: The Force split with Rio Grande Valley, winning 130-109 and losing 127-115, then lost to Agua Caliente, 117-103. Sioux Falls goes to Santa Cruz Friday and to Salt Lake City Monday before a Wednesday home game against Iowa.

MIDCO SPORTS NETWORK LIVE GAMES

Friday, 5:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Minot State at Augustana (MSN2).
Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Men’s hockey, Colorado College at UND.
Friday, 7:39 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Minot State at Augustana (MSN2).
Saturday, 4 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Minnesota State at Northern (MSN2).
Saturday, 6 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Minnesota State at Northern (MSN2).
Saturday, 7 p.m.: Men’s hockey, Colorado College at UND.
Sunday, noon: Men’s basketball, USD at Omaha.

GOLF ROUNDUP

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): After a week off, the tour goes to the nation of Morocco for this weekend’s tournament at Marrakech Thursday through Saturday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Being a father is the thing I am most proud of in this world. It’s my greatest accomplishment. I’ve learned so much but perhaps the most profound thing has been the fierce, unconditional love you have for your children when you become a parent. I’m blessed to have had this experience four times now, and there’s nothing more powerful in this world.”

— Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

The fall semester Dean’s List at Northern State University includes Tori Thorpe, Lacey Hepker, Jacob Howard, Lauren Wittler, William Ellwanger and Judah McKinley.

Onida native Sandi (Buol) Benthin lost her 40-year-old son, Jeremy Buol, after a fatal assault in a Watertown bar in November 2017. She donated her son’s organs, saving the lives of five people, including Tom Puig of Rice Lake, Wis., who received Jeremy’s heart. Last Friday Tom’s wife, Linda, surprised him by arranging to meet the Benthins at a restaurant in Rice Lake. Sandi was able to listen to her son’s heartbeat for the first time since he passed away. Puig had been waiting for a new heart for five years when he got the call in November 2017. Sandi and her husband, Larry, live in Watertown. She is one of the daughters of the late Charlotte (Lomheim) and Sam Buol. (News courtesy of WEAU-TV, Eau Claire)

Crew Hunter Heiss was born and passed away Jan. 23 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. A funeral service took place Monday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre. He is survived by his parents, A.Jay and Lindsay (Stoeser) Heiss; his sisters, Mariah, Emry and Tenley; his brother, Corbin, and his grandparents, Barry and Kathy Heiss, Norm Stoeser and Sherri Stoeser.

Stephen and Katie Bollinger of Columbia, Mo., are the parents of a son, Jameson Jude, who was born Jan. 22, weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces. He joins his sister, Adeline, 2, in the Bollinger family. Stephen is a resident physician at the University of Missouri Department of Otalaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, and Katie is a student in the physician’s assistant program at Stephens College.

Monument Health will host a welcome reception for Pierre native and head football coach Josh Breske and his staff on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the BHSU Joy Center in Spearfish. Anyone planning to attend should RSVP to thayer.trenhaile@bhsu.edu.

The University of South Dakota announced its fall semester Dean’s List, which includes these area students: Alexandria Allison, Devan Kleven, Chloe Lamb, Charles Anderson, Cassandra Axtell, Wylin Baker, Hannah Booth, Hallie Dunn, Shaina Farris, Mariah Fuchs, Nicole Gednalske, Jennifer Gillaspie, Katy Honeywell, Amanda Jandt, Hallie Jerome, Chloe Kaiser, Kyle Klusman, Isabelle Lehman, Morgan Leiferman, Jordyn Lemieux, Caleb Lusk, Emily Mikkelsen, Madisyn Neibauer, Emily Nielson, Peyton Pietz, Caitlin Reimers, Ellie Richards, Brittany Samuelson, Lauren Sharkey, Brooke Wiest, Casey Williams.

Part-time USD students who were recognized on the fall semester Academic Honors List include Rachel Fallon, Rebecca Bergeson, John Gillaspie, Kylee Hanson, Drew Heaton, Robin Masteller, Rayne Raue.

The 68th annual South Dakota picnic in Florida will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 745 S. Ingraham Ave., in Lakeland. All former and present South Dakotans are welcome. Take a large casserole or hot dish or salad or dessert. Bring plates and silverware for your own party. Coffee, iced tea and sodas will be provided. For information contact junejj01@gmail.com or suehkelly@verizon.net.

Long-time Pierre businessman and community leader Tony Klein died at age 83 Jan. 22 at Avera Maryhouse. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, followed by burial at Black Hills National Cemetery. Tony grew up in Nebraska and graduated from high school in 1954 at Conception, Miss. After serving with the U.S. Army, he married LaVerne Peatrowsky in 1957. They lived in Fremont and North Platte, Neb., before moving to Pierre in 1963. He worked for Porter Sales, then opened Klein’s, Inc./Klein’s Office Supplies in 1964. After 35 years he sold the business in 1999. After retirement he worked in real estate and ran Capital Appraisals until 2015. During his business career he was a Chamber of Commerce president and a charter member of the Pierre Economic Development Corporation and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. He is survived by his wife, LaVerne Klein; five children, Christopher Klein of Huron, Kathy Raecke and her husband Brian of Mitchell, Barbara Klein of Carrowtiege, Ireland, Cindy Schoppert-Pickett and her husband Jeff of Sioux Falls, and Amy Gruba and her husband Brad of Belle Fourche; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and his siblings, Francis Klein, Tom Klein, Jerry Klein, Rita Williams and Aggie Ortmeier.

Named Athlete of the Week last week by the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association were Kenzie Gronlund of the girls basketball team and Lincoln Kienholz of the boys basketball team. This week’s honorees were Regan Bollweg of the wrestling team and Aubre Westover of the gymnastics team.

A Riggs High alumna who now teaches at Ogden High School in Utah is one of the people instrumental in that school’s having a Horatio Alger National Scholarship recipient for the second straight year. Philip Jiminez is one of only 106 such recipients in the nation from among 40,000 applicants. He has passed six advanced placement tests for college credit and will take five more yet this year. He plans a career in medicine, and his top choice for a school is the University of Oregon. Having grown up in an unstable, tough family situation, he credits his mother among others for his academic success, but he also credits two of his teachers. One of them is Gillian (Woodburn) Hanson, who teaches chemistry at Ogden High. Philip said she pushed him to solve problems, pointing out to him information he had at hand rather than giving him the answer, an ability he knows will help him in college.

At the regional one-act play contest this week, these Stanley County actors earned Outstanding Actor awards: Cade Stover, Slater Tople, Shantay Waldron, Abby Wyly, Kaylie Rathbun, Trace Newbold, Jayda Boxley, Ella Holley.

Achieving recognition on the Dean’s List for the fall semester at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are Shelby Guthrie, Kara Huse, Matthew Darnall, Chloe Jungwirth, Micah Runner, Samuel Ryckman and Jennifer (Duba) Erlandson.

Suzanne (Henkins) Pries, who spent 35 years as an elementary teacher in the local school systems, died unexpectedly Jan. 21. Her funeral service was held Monday at First United Methodist Church. Suzanne grew up with her parents, Ellsworth and Lepha Henkins, and her sisters on the Crow Agency Reservation in Montana where her father was superintendent of the Crow Agency School. The family moved to Pierre in 1947, and Suzanne graduated in 1955 from Riggs High School where she was homecoming queen and a cheerleader. She attended Northern State College and met her husband, Roger Pries, there. They were married in 1957. She taught at Stanley County Elementary, then Lincoln Elementary and finally Jefferson Elementary, retiring in 1998 after 35 years as an educator. Among her survivors are her son, Brent Pries and his wife Mona of Pierre; her daughter, Sarah Coons and her husband Casey of Arvada, Colo.; her grandchildren, Ashley Brewer and her husband Aaron, Zane Pries and his wife Sarah, and R.C. Coons; four great-grandchildren, and three sisters, Nancy Tucker and her husband Bill of McLean, Va.; Trish Hall of McLean, Va., and Della Riis and her husband Ron of Dryden, Nev.

Jason Knox is a member of the cast of Black Hills Community Theater’s “Lend Me A Tenor,” which opens Friday night. The play will have Friday and Saturday night shows and Sunday matinees the next three weekends.

A fund-raiser for St. Joseph Elementary school programs will be held at the Perkins restaurant in Fort Pierre tonight (Thursday) from 5 to 8 p.m. That takes care of supper for tonight. Now how about lunch tomorrow (Friday)? Try Edgewood Senior Living up on E. Fourth St. where the annual SOUPer Bowl fund-raiser for the Alzheimer’s Association will take place. For a free-will donation you get to taste soup and then vote on your favorite from among entries from Drifters Bar & Grille, Chops, The LB, and Branding Iron Bistro.

CUC is no more. The name of Capital University Center this week became Capital City Campus, so call it CCC from now on.

Steve Beck of Beck Motor Company in Pierre has been named president-elect of the board of directors of the South Dakota Retailers Association. Among the new board members is David Mickelson of Graham Tire in Sioux Falls, who is beginning his first three-year term. One of the outgoing board members is Dick Murphy of Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Gifts in Sioux Falls. (News courtesy of Dakota Radio Group’s “My Daily News.”)

Riggs High alumnus Bryan Konechne (’98), who has worked at the Rapid City YMCA for the past several years, began a new job this week. He is now communications director for the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Foundation.

The Dueling Duo pianists, one of whom is former Post 8 player Ryan Merriam, will perform at Drifters at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in a fund-raiser for Post 8 baseball. Tickets for a table of 8 people at $250 are on sale.

Stanley County students of the month for December: grade 6, Kasyah Studenberg; grade 7, Camryn Norman; grade 8, Tatum Scott; grade 9, Mia Fernandez; grade 10, Tori Fratzke; grade 11, Trace Newbold; grade 12, Reid Wieczorek.