THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Crying doesn’t indicate that you are weak. Since birth it has always been a sign that you are alive.
— Charlotte Bronte

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Girls golf: at Brookings invitational, 10 a.m.
Track: at Huron invitational, 2 p.m.
— FRIDAY
Softball: at Harrisburg, noon; at Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 6 p.m.
Baseball: home vs. Yankton in Game 1 of state tourney play-in series, 7 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Baseball: home vs. Yankton in Game 2 of state tourney play-in series, 11 a.m. (Game 3, if necessary, to follow)
Softball: at Sioux Falls Washington, 10 a.m.
— TUESDAY
Softball: on the road for a SoDak 16 game.
Girls golf: at ESD Conference meet, Yankton.

Track: At the ESD Conference meet the Pierre boys placed fifth, and the girls also placed fifth. The Harrisburg boys and the Brandon Valley girls were the team champions. Kali Ringstmeyer won the 100 and the 200, and Reese Terwilliger was the shot put champ. Jared Lutmer won the boys’ 3200.

Baseball: The Governors were swept by O’Gorman, 15-4 and 10-0, on Friday, but on Saturday they swept Yankton, 11-9 and 4-2, finishing sixth in the standings. That means Pierre will host Yankton in a best-two-of-three series starting at 7 p.m. Friday, continuing at 11 a.m. Saturday and finishing, if necessary, with a third game Saturday afternoon. In the first Yankton game Spencer Easland went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs. Cade Kaiser and Matthew Brewer each had three hits. George Stalley was winning pitcher. In the nightcap Cooper Terwilliger pitched six shutout innings, and Easland had two more hits. Pierre’s record is 12-9.

Softball: The Governor girls lost to Sioux Falls Jefferson, 16-1; lost to Sioux Falls Lincoln, 17-0; beat Spearfish, 12-8, and lost to Brandon Valley, 13-0, in a game halted in the fourth inning due to rain. The win over Spearfish ended a 12-game losing streak. Noel Kist pitched a seven-inning complete game.

Girls golf: At Mitchell’s meet Hadley Hart placed 35th with a round of 24-over-par 96. Sittie Kasan was 59th with a 33-over 105. On Tuesday in Watertown the team placed fifth. Hart placed 16th with a 17-over 89, Andrea Mosteller tied for 17th at 90, Kiera Mertes tied for 19th at 91, Kasan tied for 21st at 92, and Drew Rectenbaugh carded a 25-over 97.

Boys tennis: At the state “A” boys tournament in Rapid City, Pierre finished seventh in the team standings. All nine Pierre entries—six singles and three doubles—survived Day 1 and were still playing on Day 2. Jacob Leiferman in Singles flight 3 placed third for Pierre’s highest finish. Weston Northrup in Flight 4 placed fourth. Other singles: Devin Dodson, Flight 1, sixth; Lucas Hight, Flight 2, eighth; Brady Lowery, Flight 5, ninth as consolation champ;; Noah Lueking, Flight 6, 10th. The Dodson/Northrup Flight 2 doubles team placed fourth. The Hight-Leiferman team in Flight 1 placed ninth as consolation winners, and the Lueking/Marty Blanchette Flight 3 team also placed ninth as consolation champs. Sioux Falls Christian was the “A” team champion.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Track: at Gettysburg last-chance meet.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Track: at region meet, Gettysburg.
— TUESDAY
Golf: at region meet, Pierre.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: coconut.
Friday-Sunday: lime.
Monday-Tuesday: pineapple.
Wednesday-Thursday: coffee.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Oahe Zap: Kayden Shivers, sophomore pitcher from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, was added to the roster last week. His hometown is Denton, Texas.

Oahe Zap early schedule:
— May 23-24-25-26: home vs. Fremont.
— May 28: home vs. Spearfish.
— May 30-31: at Hastings.
— June 1-2-3: at Fremont.
— June 5-6: home vs. Nebraska.
— June 7-8-9: home vs. Hastings.

Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Thursday: New York Yankees, 12:10 p.m.
— Friday: at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.
— Saturday: at Cleveland, 5:10 p.m.
— Sunday: at Cleveland, 12:40 p.m.
— Monday: at Washington, 5:45 p.m.
— Tuesday: at Washington, 5:45 p.m.
— Wednesday: at Washington, at 12:05 p.m.

Sioux Falls Canaries (Spencer Sarringar): Spencer joined the Canaries at mid-season last summer, and now he is back for the full season with the Birds. The team got the season off to a roaring start with a three-game sweep over Lake County in Oconomowoc, Wis., winning by scores of 4-2, 7-0 and 8-3. Spencer and another player so far have been taking turns as starting catcher. In the 7-0 win he went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs on a two-run fifth-inning single. On Tuesday a new series started at Kane County, Ill. In a 3-2 10-inning loss the score was 1-1 into extra innings. In the top of the 10th as a pinch-hitter, Spencer got a hit and drove in a run that put Sioux Falls ahead, 2-1. However, Kane County got two runs in the bottom of the inning. Last night the Canaries lost at Kane County again, 4-2. Spencer did the catching and was 2-of-3, getting a pair of singles as a hitter. Upcoming schedule: Thursday, at Kane County; Friday-Saturday-Sunday, home vs. Fargo-Moorhead; Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, home vs. Cleburne.

WORDS OF WISDOM

The easiest way to avoid wrong notes is to never open your mouth and sing. What a mistake that would be!
— Pete Seeger

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Vikings: The full NFL schedule is out, so if you annually go into Minneapolis to see a Vikings game, here are your options for their home games:
— Sept. 15, San Francisco, noon .
— Sept. 22, Houston, noon.
— Oct. 20, Detroit, noon.
— Nov. 3, Indianapolis, noon.
— Dec. 1, Arizona, noon.
— Dec. 8, Atlanta, noon.
— Dec. 16 (Monday), Chicago, 7 p.m.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings’ season opener will be at the New York Giants at noon Sept. 8.

Denver Broncos: Those of you who go down to Denver for a Broncos game each year have these options this coming fall (the times are Mountain Time):
— Sept. 15, Pittsburgh, 2:25 p.m.
— Oct. 6, Las Vegas, 2:05 p.m.
— Oct. 13, Los Angeles Chargers, 2:05 p.m.
— Oct. 27, Carolina, 2:05 p.m.
— Nov. 17, Atlanta, 2:05 p.m.
— Dec. 2 (Monday), Cleveland, 6:15 p.m.
— Dec. 15, Indianapolis, 2:25 p.m.
— To be determined, Kansas City, TBD.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Dakota State track (Houston Lunde): At the NSAA conference meet the Trojan men won the conference title for the fifth straight year. Houston placed eighth in the hammer throw with a heave of 148’2″.

South Dakota State baseball (Brady Hawkins): The Jackrabbits lost two of three to NDSU, losing 11-10 and 7-6 in 11 innings and winning 8-3. Now 19-27 overall and 10-15 in the Summit League, SDSU ends the regular season at home today through Saturday with three games against Omaha.

South Dakota State track (Jessica Lutmer, Lydia Hill, Rylan McDonnell): At the Summit League meet the SDSU men and women both placed third. NDSU won both divisions, and USD was second in both. Jessica placed seventh in the 5K in a time of 17:48.75.

Texas State baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Bobcats took two of three from Troy in conference play, winning 6-0 and 8-6 in 11 innings and losing 5-3. Peyton came in as the second relief pitcher in the extra-inning win. He faced 10 batters, striking out four, walking two, giving up no hits or runs, and getting two batters on fly balls and one on a grounder in 2 ½ innings. Texas State is 26-27 overall and 12-15 in conference play. The Bobcats go to Hattiesburg to face Southern Mississippi for three games this weekend to close the regular season.

Augustana baseball (Jack Sutton): The Vikings swept through the NSIC tournament, beating Concordia-St. Paul 19-93, Wayne State 12-5 and Minnesota State 10-7 and 8-3. Now 45-8 overall, the Vikings are at the NCAA Central Regional in Warrensburg, Mo., this weekend, playing Central Oklahoma first. The regional winner advances to a super regional May 24-25.

COUNTDOWN

2 days: Sully Buttes High graduation (May 18).
3 days: Stanley County High graduation (May 19).
3 days: Riggs High graduation (May 19).
4 days: Voter registration deadline for June 4 elections (May 20).
5 days: ESD Conference girls golf tournament, Yankton (May 21).
5 days: Softball SoDak 16 games (May 21).
7 days: State track meets, Sioux Falls (May 23-25).
7 days: Oahe Zap season opener (May 23).
9 days: Pierre air show (May 25-26).
11 days: Memorial Day (May 27).
14 days: State softball tournaments, Aberdeen (May 30-31, June 1).
18 days: State girls golf tournaments, AA Yankton, A Sioux Falls, B Brookings (June 3-4).
18 days: State ‘B’ boys golf tournament, Brookings (June 3-4).
19 days: Primary election day (June 4).
24 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “The Play That Goes Wrong” (June 9-23).
31 days: Fathers Day (June 16).
42 days: First Biden-Trump debate. CNN (June 27).
45 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “The Little Mermaid” (June 30-July 14).

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.”
— Isaac Asimov

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• A bit of good news from the leaked portions of the NFL schedule: Either the Chiefs or the Ravens will lose on Opening Night Sept. 5. Some other highlights from last night’s schedule release: — The first Sunday night game will be the Rams at Detroit, and the first Monday night will have Aaron Rodgers and the Jets at the 49ers. — Tom Brady’s first game as color analyst for Fox’s #1 announcing team will be Dallas at Cleveland in late afternoon on the first Sunday. — The second Sunday afternoon will have Cincinnati at Kansas City. (Go, Bengals!) — The Packers and the Eagles will play on Friday night, Sept. 6, in Brazil, but you will have to be a Netflix subscriber to watch that one. — The Vikings’ opponent in London will be Aaron Rodgers and the Jets on Oct. 6. — There will be two Christmas Day games even though Christmas will be on a Wednesday. That day will find Kansas City at Pittsburgh as well as Baltimore vs. Houston, and the NFL will force you to buy Netflix to watch these games, too. — Thanksgiving is always a great football day, and this year the three games we’ll watch while munching turkey are Chicago at Detroit, New York Giants at Dallas, and Green Bay at Miami.
• Save Saturday night, Sept. 7. The Nebraska-Colorado football game in Lincoln will be broadcast in prime time on NBC that night.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, May 16:
Cody Nicholas, Becky De Yonge, Nick Jung, Jack Shives, Emma Lusk, Paul Kenefick-Aschoff, Whitney Jandreau, Grady Larson, Jett Zabel, Brent Baumberger, Colleen (Colson) Pool, Scott Kennedy, Tammy Williams.
— 15th anniversary, Jay/Kasey (Anderson) Cappellano.

Friday, May 17:
Josh Davis, Angie Wire, Calla Ellis, Diane Melvin, Eileen Bertsch, Gus Terveen, Meshanna Heckenlaible, Lanete (McFarling) Kotilnek, Uncle Matt Schatz, Tyler Hoffman, Mat Ripperger, Blair Krueger.
— 21st anniversary, Arlo/Chandra (Miller) Brower.
— 21st anniversary, Dan/Sarah (Shepherd) Schulte.
— 10th anniversary, Cole/Jennifer (Glanzman) Uecker.
— 44th anniversary, Hal/Marie Rumpca.
— 10th anniversary, Charlie/Stephanie Moore.
— 15th anniversary, Matt/Blair (Simon) Picchietti.

Saturday, May 18:
Clay Roberts, Doug Marsh, Sara (Tillman) Anderson, Josh Zellmer, Sommar (Jastorff) Nelson, Bryce Herr, Joanne Anderson,, Will Hansen.

Sunday, May 19:
Jullie Smith, Darin Boe, Jack Runyan, Casey Hight, Matt Koester, Emily Swanstrom, Shawna (Miller) Lizotte, Michelle (Beemer) DeWitt, Mike Yackley, Casey Templeton, Paula Welch, Jeff Hayward, Nola Terveen, Tim Davis, Gordon Woods.
— 51st anniversary, Jim/Darlene Neiles.
— 17th anniversary, Tim/Melissa Schumacher.
— 12th anniversary, Seth/Karae (Englehart) Parsons.
— 40th anniversary, Tim/Barb Bjorneberg.
— 45th anniversary, Kevin/Brenda Goeden.

Monday, May 20:
Taynen Stout, Lisa Chamley, Maggie Lanning, Katie (Hallock) Moberg, Murray Thompson, Polly Gill, Renessa Williams, Caleb Kuszmaul, Mark Leiferman, Chad Johnson, Ainsley Askew, Deanna Smith, Dave O’Connell, Elliasia Nelson, Owen Joy, Caelum Carr.
— 19th anniversary, Doug/Krista (Beastrom) Stevens.

Tuesday, May 21:
Boomer Kuiper, Tessa (Heiss) Krueger, Lindsey Kozel, Hayse Moore, Claire Beesley, Tara (Hyde) White, Bob McCarty, Garrett Weber, McKenna Halverson, Sam Booker.
— 8th anniversary, Tyler/Erika Tordsen.
— 20th anniversary, Josh/Kelli (Snow) Rohrer.
— 47th anniversary, Mark/Sheryl Nielsen.
— 13th anniversary, Mark/Alysia Livermont.
— 13th anniversary, Harry/Emily (Goeden) Decker.
— 30th anniversary, Paul/Toni Kenefick-Aschoff.
— 8th anniversary, Cliff/Alexis (Yackley) Warner.

Wednesday, May 22:
Scott Aker, Christopoher Carter, Kim (Merkwan) Schaefer, Nicole Royer, Pat Snow, Tennyson Newman, Brian Bumann, Mandy (Hill) Johnson, Elliot Bertsch, Dick Koester, Mitchell (Knoll) Peterson, Macy (Welch) Kaiser.
— 14th anniversary, Kipp/Kelsee (Larsen) Stahl.
— 15th anniversary, Joe/Amy (Robinson) Ryan.

Thursday, May 23:
Kade Binger, Matt Gijl, Hunter Canode, Caroline Zebroski, Andrew Schneider, Morgan Freidel, Billy Serbousek, Bob Jeffries.
— 9th anniversary, Aaron/Claire (Boyer) Rumpca.
— 9th anniversary, Dmitri/Brittni Melius.
— 32nd anniversary, John/Heather Forney.
— 9th anniversary, Dustin/Tarin James.
— 12th anniversary, Maxx/Macy Vaudrin.
— 15th anniversary, Neils/Kara (Gloe) Christoffersen.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Another reminder to members of the Class of 1994 whose 30-year reunion is just around the corner. Please respond now. Go to the Facebook page entitled Pierre T.F. Riggs Class of 1994 and do what Mary (Wendt) Curtis asks you to do.

Long-time South Dakota broadcasting executive Dean Sorenson, formerly of Pierre, is one of the 10 persons who will be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame on Sept. 13-14 in Chamberlain and Oacoma. The Hall of Fame website has this to say about Sorenson: “Drawn to broadcasting as a teen-ager, he worked nights at his hometown KORN in Mitchell. He has devoted 65 years to managing and owning more than 50 AM and FM stations. Sorenson Broadcasting has served the public and shaped opinion in every corner of South Dakota from Hot Springs to Aberdeen, Watertown to Pierre, Brookings to Spearfish. Throughout his career, Sorenson mentored many broadcasting professionals who still lead stations throughout the state. His influence continues even as he approaches his 85th birthday. One would be hard-pressed to find a local broadcaster who has not been touched by Dean’s mentorship and wise counsel.”

Another of the South Dakota Hall of Fame inductees this fall will be another former Pierre resident, Judith Meierhenry. She was director of the state economic development office, secretary of labor, and secretary of education and cultural affairs. She later became the first woman on the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Mason Ellingson, son of Pierre native Jvonne Heard-Ellingson, graduated from Harrisburg High School where there were more than 400 seniors. His grandparents include Phyllis (Bollweg) and Perk Perkovich in Pierre. One of the Perkoviches’ traditions has been to fill piggy banks for their grandchildren and allow them to finally open them when they turn 18. Mason was the third of their grandchildren to break open his piggy bank and count the contents. He plans to attend USD to pursue music education.

Another member of that huge Harrisburg senior class with Pierre connections is Addison Schipper, daughter of Jason and Sandy Schipper and granddaughter of former Pierre residents Lloyd and Jeannette Schipper.

Becky Spoehr has been named the new executive director of Capital Area United Way. She comes to United Way from the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area.

The Sioux Falls Christian boys golf team that won the Class “A” state championship this week is coached by former Governor golfer John Williams. It was SFC’s second state title in four years.

Anita (Odens) Zastrow died May 7 after a 14-month battle with metastatic breast cancer. Plans are being made for memorial services in Scottsdale, Ariz., and South Dakota. Anita grew up in Bon Homme County and graduated from Springfield High School. She earned a business education degree from Southern State Teachers College. Anita and Laurence Zastrow were married in 1967, and they moved to Vermillion where Larry finished law school at USD. Meanwhile, Anita taught at Elk Point High School. In 1970 the Zastrows moved to Rapid City where Anita worked as assistant to the president and a teacher at National College of Business. She later taught at Belle Fourche High School and Riggs High School in Pierre. She also worked for the State Bar of South Dakota. The Zastrows retired to Scottsdale. Over the years Anita was a pillar in many organizations, including AAUW, Zonta International, United Methodist Women, P.E.O., Business & Professional Women and the Pierre/Fort Pierre Genealogical Society. She is survived by her husband, Larry Zastrow; her daughters, Stephanie (Jason) Ley of Western Springs, Ill., and Stacie (Joseph Van Tassel) Zastrow of Phoenix; and grandchildren Marit and Henning Ley and Skye Durnford. Among those who preceded her in death were her parents; her brother, Robert Odens, and twin grandsons David and Caleb Ley.

Austin Lucas posted last week that his and Kari’s daughter, Harper, is thriving three years after finishing a 2 1/2-year battle with high-risks leukemia. The Lucases are grateful to live in Rochester close to Harper’s treatment hospital.

Pierre Players has announced the cast of “Girl of La Mancha,” a production of the Little Players on June 21-23. Cast members will be Gunner Nordvold, Charli Ulmen, Bailey Smith, Blake, Tostenson, Lincoln Kellar, Zoey Robertson, Josie Bauman, Kay Novak, Haley Kleppen, Chisum Brakke, Lillie Kellar, Tessa Hansen, Conner Coppersmith, Izaak Bauman, Claire Bauman, Cortana Mancuso, Evie Rounds, Sorren Brakke, Wyatt Launing and Mae Stanley.

Mabel Kusler’s granddaughter, her husband and their two little boys had a harrowing experience last week when a tornado blew through Columbia, Tenn. They spent hours in a closet as the tornado first followed them home from Tae Kwon Do practice and then passed by their house. All of the family are fine physically, but the neighborhood sustained severe damage.

Jon Schaack’s daughter Lilibeth is one of this year’s graduates from St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City.

Lori (Heuer) Carpenter, 59, Fort Pierre, died in February after a long battle with cancer. A celebration of her life will take place at the Moose Lodge at 3 p.m. this Sunday, May 19. A life-long resident of Pierre and Fort Pierre, Lori married Steve Carpenter in 2002. She worked at several jobs until being hired by the state. She is survived by her husband; her daughter, Jennifer Suhre of New Orleans; two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; three sisters, Sandy (Steven) Graham of Roseville, Minn., Bernadine Sheppard of Pierre, and Vicky (Bruce) Pittman of Independence, Mo.; three brothers, Virgil Heuer of Yankton, Timothy Heuer of Midland and Lonnie (Cecelia) Heuer of Vicenza, Italy, and many other relatives.

Congratulations to recent Dakota Wesleyan graduate Nick Wittler of Onida, whose engagement to Rachel Fiedler was announced this week.

Three members of the Pierre high school baseball team earned recognition on the Academic All-State team. They are Cade Kaiser, Miles Doyle and Nolan Peterson.

This year’s elections are crucial, both nationally and in South Dakota. The voter registration deadline for the June 4 elections is this coming Monday, May 20. If you are not registered to vote at all, you must do so no later than Monday. Or if you want to change your address or make some other change in your current registration, you also need to do that no later than Monday.

The college graduations of two of the three sons of Mark and Tanna Zabel were celebrated at one location last weekend. Grey Zabel skipped his own graduation ceremony at North Dakota State to go with his parents to Texas for the graduation of older brother, Peyton. Peyton last year completed his bachelor of science degree in business management, but given an extra year of baseball eligibility due to his Tommy John surgery, he decided to stay at Texas State for one more baseball season, and in the process he earned another B.S. degree, this one in business marketing. Grey’s degree from NDSU is in agricultural business. The youngest of the Zabel boys, Jett, stayed home to study for finals and play high school baseball. He graduates from Riggs High this Sunday.

At the eighth annual Evening of Excellence hosted by the Pierre Educational Foundation, the following scholarships were presented to Riggs High seniors:
— Pierre Hospital Auxiliary scholarship ($1,000): Reese Terwilliger.
— Dennis and Shirley Eisnach scholarship ($1,000): Claire Steffensen.
— Edith and Richard Warder scholarship ($1,000): Henry Thronson.
— Charles “Lindy” and Shirley Feeney scholarship ($1,000): Jared Lutmer.
— Herbert and Irene Emde Family scholarship ($1,000): Andrea Mosteller.
— Shaw Family scholarship ($1,000): Corbin Beastrom.
— Shaw Family scholarship ($1,000): Levi Letellier.
— Shaw Family scholarship ($1,000): Claire Steffensen.
— Mortenson Family scholarship ($2,000): Eva Westover.
— Spilde Family scholarship ($2,500): Aleise Christopherson.
— Spilde Family scholarship ($2,500): Joslyn Bush.
— James and Gertrude Mueller scholarship ($3,500): Reese Terwilliger.
— Alvin Benesh Engineering scholarship ($4,000): Reese Terwilliger.
— Schliessman Family scholarship ($4,000): Abigail Lott.
— Swan Family scholarship ($5,000): Austin Griffith.
— Swan Family scholarship ($5,000): Ava Westover.
— Marjorie and Fritz Forney scholarship ($10,000): Luke Hodges.
— Brabander Family scholarship ($10,000): Madilyn Eckstine.
— Brabender Family scholarship ($10,000): Abigail Kropp.
— Evelyn Benesh Music scholarship ($10,000): Gracelyn Bowman.

Cindy Bresee retired from the South Dakota High School Activities Association office staff last week after nine years of working there.

Laurel “Laurie” Taylor, 64, died at Maryhouse May 8. She came with her family from North Dakota in 1972 and graduated from Riggs High School. She traveled with a circus, was a food service worker and barmaid, drove railroad crews to job sites, was a chambermaid for motels, operated transit vans and worked in prisons. She married Gordon Trucker and Mark Birdsong. Survivors include brothers Ron (Heather) Taylor of Parksville, B.C., and Jerry Taylor of Denver; her sister, Jean (Ron) Pierson of Apache Junction, Ariz., and many other relatives.

Henry Stofferahn, son of Steve and Maggie Stofferahn of Terre Haute, Ind., graduated last week from Indiana State University. He majored in political science and minored in history and German.

Voters in Sully County will decide at the June 4 election whether a proposed bridge and road levy resolution passed by the county commission shall take effect. The maximum cost of the levy to an individual taxpayer would be 90 cents per each $1,000 of taxable valuation each year.

Riggs High graduate Katelyn Swenson graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor of science degree. She majored in biology and minored in business. Her parents are Brent and Serena (Buhler) Swenson.

Onida native Jett Lamb graduated from Augustana University with a bachelor of arts degree with majors in business administration and finance. Also graduating from Augustana was Riggs High alumna Natalie Mohr with a bachelor of arts degree with a major in biology. She graduated summa cum laude. Fletcher Somsen of Pierre earned an Augie Access Program certificate.

Onida native and former Pierre resident Karla Byrum, along with her mother, Lois Byrum of Sioux Falls, attended two graduations of Karla’s grandchildren last weekend. Drake Moser graduated from Lake Area Tech in Watertown, and Elyse Moser graduated from Vermillion High School. They are the children of Karla’s daughter Allyson and her husband Jon. Karla and Lois also managed to get to a graduation reception for Samuel Sutton of Harrisburg High School. He is the son of Riggs High alumnus John Sutton and his wife, Rochelle.

Hudson Jarecke, son of Brittany (Bailey) and Nick Jarecke, graduated from DC West High School in Valley, Neb. Hudson plans to attend SDSU to study agricultural engineering.

Emily Olsen, who attended Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa, graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee with a master’s degree in speech language pathology. She is the oldest child of Kevin Olsen and the late Katie (Schaack) Olsen. Among those who attended Emily’s graduation were her aunt, Ann (Schaack) Humphery; her uncle, Jon Schaack, and her grandmother, Karon Schaack. After a back-packing adventure in Europe this summer,. Emily will begin her professional career at the Pediatric Therapy Center in Papillion, Neb., as a pediatric speech language clinician.

Michelle Leidholt, Riggs High alumna and daughter of Mike and Betty Leidholt of Pierre, is the recipient of the 2024 R. L. Fredstrom Leadership Award from the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation. Michelle launched the Entrepreneurial Focus Program and the Career Academy in the district. She was hired as the first coordinator overseeing the Lincoln Public Schools’ Arts and Humanities Focus Program, the LPS Science Focus Program, and the Bay High Program.

Orion Albertson, son of Jamie and Brooke (Graff) Albertson and grandson of Bob Graff of Onida and Pierre, graduated from SDSU with a degree in electrical construction and maintenance. Orion attended Rutland High School.

Jaxon Ducheneaux, who wrestled for the Pierre Governors, this week signed his letter of intent to attend Dakota Wesleyan University and wrestle there. Another Riggs athlete, Austyn Langdeau, signed his letter of intent to play football at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton.

Finn Murphy, son of Pierre native Ryan Murphy and his wife Trish, who live in Dell Rapids, will be leaving in a month to spend the next two years at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle. As the recipient of the school’s Male Scholarship, Finn gets two years of academic tuition, tuition for the summer 2025 five-week program, tuition for the August 2025 August course, $750 monthly housing stipend through June 2026, free individualized weight training and conditioning program, and access to a wellness program that includes sports psychology sessions, massage therapy and physical therapy. Finn’s paternal grandparents are former Pierre residents Dick and Sandy Murphy of Sioux Falls.

PONDER THIS

You don’t have to be a superhero to save the world. What if you’re meant to be the sunshine to someone’s stormy day? Or the voice of clarity to a frantic mind?
— @ Conscious Reminder