ELECTION COUNTDOWN

22 days till absentee voting begins (Sept. 18).
33 days till the first presidential candidates debate (Sept. 29).
41 days till the vice presidential candidates debate (Oct. 7).
49 days till the second presidential candidates debate (Oct. 15).
53 days till the voter registration deadline (Oct. 19).
56 days till the third presidential candidates debate (Oct. 22).
68 days till Election Day (Nov. 3).
146 days till Inauguration Day (Jan. 20).

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— Thursday:
Girls tennis: Brandon Valley (at Rapid City), 2 p.m.
— Friday:
Cross country: home for Pierre Invitational, 10 a.m.
Boys golf: at Huron invitational, 10 a.m.
Girls tennis: at Rapid City invitational, 10 a.m.
Volleyball: at Rapid City Central, 7 p.m.
Football: at Sturgis, 6 p.m. MDT.
— Saturday:
Girls tennis: at Rapid City invitational, 8 a.m.
Cheer/dance: at Aberdeen Central invitational, 10 a.m.
Volleyball: at Rapid City Stevens, 1:30 p.m.
Girls soccer: at Harrisburg, 11 a.m.
Boys soccer: at Harrisburg, 1 p.m.
— Sunday:
Softball: home vs. Tri-Valley, 12:30 p.m., and Vermillion, 3:30 p.m.
— Monday:
Boys golf: at Sturgis invitational, 9 a.m.
— Tuesday:
Boys golf: at Aberdeen Central invitational, 10 a.m.
Cheer/dance: at Watertown invitational, 5 p.m.

Girls tennis: At the two-day Sioux Falls tournament the Pierre girls went 2-2 in duals, winning by 7-2 scores over Lincoln and Roosevelt and losing to Harrisburg and Washington by 9-0 scores. In the case of Saturday’s two dual wins, Kourtney Wait, Marlee Shorter and Sydney Tedrow each won both of her singles matches.

Boys soccer: The Governors fell behind at Aberdeen Central, 2-0, in the first half and eventually lost 5-0 to the Golden Eagles. Pierre is now 0-3.

Girls soccer: At Aberdeen Central Saturday Ryann Berry’s 20-yard shot found the net to lift Pierre into a 1-1 tie, but the girls eventually lost 7-1. In the first half the Governors had outshot the Eagles 7-3 but still trailed 2-1. In the second half goalkeeper Jenna Gehring was injured and had to leave the game. Pierre now stands 0-3.

Football: With postponements and cancellations of games almost inevitable as the pandemic continues, the SDHSAA Board of Control decided this week that a football team has to play only five regular-season games to remain eligible for playoffs. In volleyball the minimum is eight matches, but even not reaching that minimum does not eliminate a team from postseason play. For each one-match difference between that minimum and the number of matches actually played, the team will be given what is considered a loss in the seed-point standings.

Football: Pierre remains in Class 11AA where there are eight schools, and all eight qualify for the playoffs with #8 playing at #1, #7 at #2, and so on. All eight teams are playing within their class this weekend—Pierre at Sturgis, Mitchell at Douglas, Yankton at Spearfish, and Brookings at Huron.

Volleyball: Pierre is in Class AA for volleyball where there are 18 schools, and the top 16 in seed points qualify for the SoDak 16 matches which determine the eight state tournament teams.

Boys golf: At the Pierre Invitational on Tuesday, the top team was Watertown, followed by Stevens and Mitchell. Pierre White placed fifth and Pierre Green 10th in the team standings. For the White team Sawyer Sonnenschein had Pierre’s best score, a 3-over 75. Luke Olson carded an 81, Jack Bartlett 82 and Nick Bothun 83. For the Green team Andy Gordon played the course in 85, Carter Gordon 85, Dawson Getz 87 and Shawn Vanliere 95.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— Friday:
Football: at Chamberlain, 7 p.m.
Cross country: at Winner, noon.
— Saturday:
Volleyball: home vs. Wall, 2 p.m.
— Tuesday:
Volleyball: at Chamberlain, 6:30 p.m.

Football: The Buffaloes lost their season opener at home, 50-7 to Winner. The Warriors had 489 rushing yards and 21 passing yards. For SCHS Lathan Prince passed for 133 yards, 117 of them by Gavin Irving. Evan Nordstrom carries 13 times for 103 yards and one touchdown. Trey Frost, Levi Stover and Nathan Cook had seven tackles each.

Football: Stanley County is again in Class 11B where there are 24 schools, and the top 16 will qualify for the playoffs.

Volleyball: Stanley County remains in Class A Region 6 with Miller, Mobridge-Pollock, Crow Creek, Chamberlain, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte and McLaughlin. In region play the two semifinal winners advance to the SoDak 16 matches which determine the eight state tournament qualifiers.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— Friday:
Football: home vs. Wall, 7 p.m.
— Tuesday:
Volleyball: at Faulkton Area.

Football: In the season opener at Warner, a short Charger punt set up Warner at the SB 42-yard line. On the first offensive play they scored on a 42-yard pass play, and that was just the beginning. Warner had 180 passing yards en route to a 34-0 shutout win. Ty Cramer of Warner carried 19 times for 91 yards and three touchdowns. For the Chargers Jordan Schall rushed for 112 yards.

Football: The Chargers are again in Region 4 of Class 9A where the top three of the six teams in the region will qualify for the playoffs, plus the next four best teams statewide. New Underwood, Philip and Wall are 1-0 to start the season while Sully Buttes and Potter County are 0-1 and Timber Lake 0-0.

Volleyball: Sully Buttes opened the season by beating Jones County, three sets to two, Tuesday.

Volleyball: The Chargers remain in Class B’s Region 2 with Faulkton, Herreid-Selby, Potter County, Highmore-Harrold, Lower Brule, Ipswich, North Central and Sunshine Bible. The two semifinal winners in regional play advance to the SoDak 16 from where the eight state tournament teams are determined.

SOFTBALL UPDATE

Pierre varsity: The Pierre varsity defeated Edgerton, Minn., 14-3, and rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat Tea, 6-5. In the first game Shelby Roman struck out eight and gave up three hits in getting the pitching win. Kenzie Gronlund had a three-run homer, Hannah Lemieux a three-run triple and Khalan Smart two hits. Gronlund was winning pitcher against Tea. With Pierre down 5-3 and the time clock running out, Maya Shorter’s hit tied the game, and Megan Switzer’s line drive was misplayed by the Tea second baseman to let the winning run cross the plate.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Directions: Draw a box of 16 squares, four boxes in each of four rows on top of each other. Number the boxes in your top row 1, 2, 3 and 4 from left to right. Number the boxes in your left-hand row 1, 5, 6 and 7 from top to bottom.

Clues:
ACROSS—
(1) Dr. Biden
(5) 605 —- code
(6) —- Walker, legendary Detroit Lion
(7) “—- of Green Gables”
DOWN—
(1) Pinkett Smith, Will’s wife
(2) The —- Range in northern Minnesota
(3) —- Cuisine
(4) Madison’s county

Puzzle answer at the bottom of this Update.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Pierre football opener (Aug. 28).
1 day: Pierre volleyball opener (Aug. 28).
7 days: State Fair, Huron (Sept. 3-7).
8 days: PGA Tour championship, Atlanta (Sept. 4-7).
9 days: Kentucky Derby (Sept. 5).
11 days: Sanford International golf tournament, Sioux Falls (Sept. 7-13).
14 days: NFL season opener, Houston vs. Kansas City (Sept. 10).
15 days: Stratobowl Historic Hot Air Balloon Launch (Sept. 11-13).
17 days: Minnesota Vikings season opener (Sept. 13).
21 days: South Dakota Film Festival, Aberdeen (Sept. 17).
21 days: U.S. Open golf, Mamaroneck, N.Y. (Sept. 17-20).
22 days: Absentee voting for general election begins (Sept. 18).
29 days: Custer State Park buffalo roundup (Sept. 25).
30 days: Brule’ concert at Crazy Horse Memorial (Sept. 26).
33 days: First presidential candidates debate (Sept. 29).
36 days: Pierre Players’ “Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van” (Oct. 2-4, 8-10).

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

• North Dakota State football (Grey Zabel): NDSU announced Monday the Bison will play one game this fall—an Oct. 3 home game in the Fargodome against Central Arkansas, a team that is playing a full nine-game schedule. Grey is listed on the roster as a freshman offensive lineman with a uniform number of 74. The Bison, taking a break since the Missouri Valley Conference called off its season, will resume drills Sept. 1 to get ready for their one game. Grey is one of four South Dakotans on the roster. The others are junior defensive end Spencer Waege from Watertown High School, junior defensive tackle Costner Ching from Castlewood and freshman fullback Jesse Hastings from Mount Vernon High School.
• Dakota State volleyball (Nicole Sarringar): This will be Nicole’s junior season. The Trojans open Sept. 5-6 at a tournament at Salina, Kan.
• Dakota Wesleyan football (Cobey Carr, Isaac Cliff): DWU’s league, the Great Plains Athletic Conference, has decreed teams will play only conference games and none before Sept. 12. DWU opens at Hastings on that day. Cobey is a freshman linebacker from Riggs High, and Isaac is a freshman fullback from Stanley County High.
• Dakota Wesleyan volleyball (Elena Svingen): This will be Elena’s senior season. The Tigers open Sept. 5 at Valley City, N.D., against Valley City State and Mayville State.
• Northwestern (Iowa) football (Morris Hofer): The Sully Buttes graduate is listed as a sophomore running back on the Orange City campus. The Red Raiders open at Morningside on the evening of Sept. 12.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: As the MLS regular season resumed following the “MLS is Back” tournament, the Loons lost at home to Sporting Kansas City, 2-1. Now 3-1-2, Minnesota plays at FC Dallas Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Fox Sports North Plus, then at Houston next Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports North Plus.

PONDER THIS

“I believe in this country because America uniquely holds the promise of a place where everyone can belong. We also know America has been at its best whenever we make that circle of belonging wider.”

— Pete Buttigieg, former presidential candidate and former mayor of South Bend, Ind.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Sioux Falls Canaries: The Birds have won four of five games in the past week, beating Fargo-Moorhead 8-4 and 5-4, losing 4-3 and winning 9-4, then beating St. Paul 3-1. Sioux Falls is home vs. St. Paul tonight, then plays at St. Paul Friday through Sunday and at Fargo-Moorhead next Tuesday through Thursday.

Minnesota Twins:
— Thursday, at Detroit, 6:10, FSN.
— Friday, at Detroit, 6:10, FSN.
— Saturday, at Detroit, 5:10, FSN and MLBN.
— Sunday, at Detroit, 12:10, FSN.
— Monday, Chicago White Sox, 7:10, FSN.
— Tuesday, Chicago White Sox, 7:10, FSN.
— Wednesday, Chicago White Sox, 7:10, FSN.

Colorado Rockies:
— Thursday, at Arizona, 4:10.
— Friday, San Diego, 6:40.
— Saturday, San Diego, 6:10.
— Sunday, San Diego, 1:10.
— Monday, San Diego, 7:40.
— Tuesday, San Francisco, 6:40.
— Wednesday, San Francisco, 1:10.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx are now 9-4 in the WNBA after a win over Phoenix, 90-80, and a loss to Atlanta, 78-75. Minnesota plays Atlanta again Friday and Phoenix again Sunday.

FOOTBALL CONTEST #2

In our first contest last week Levi Neuharth earned the 10 points for best record of the week with a 9-1 mark. At 8-2 for nine points each in our season-long standings were Randy Pool and Eric Lusk. Earning eight points each for the third-best mark, 7-3, were David Ludwig, Jason Noyes, Greg Dean, Lauren Gilsrud, Kyle Richards and Jon Boer.

Contest #2 (send your 10 winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Friday afternoon):
(1) Stanley County at Chamberlain
(2) Pierre at Sturgis
(3) S.F. Roosevelt at Brandon Valley
(4) Winner at St. Thomas More
(5) Wall at Sully Buttes
(6) Watertown at S.F. Lincoln
(7) Custer at West Central
(8) R.C. Stevens at S.F. O’Gorman
(9) Elk Point-Jefferson at Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan
(10) Aberdeen Central at S.F. Washington

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• There are a few fall sports taking place in colleges though not very many. We are trying to remember what local Pierre-Stanley County-Sully Buttes athletes are participating in college athletics. (Also children or grandchildren of present or former residents of this area!) So far on our list, as shown in the college sports section above, we have Nicole Sarringar at DSU volleyball, Cobey Carr and Isaac Cliff at DWU football, Elena Svingen at DWU volleyball, Grey Zabel at NDSU football, and Morris Hofer at Northwestern (Iowa) football. Please remind me of those we don’t have on our list. Send information to parkerhome16@hotmail.com.
• Shame on the Argus Leader proofreaders. (Do daily papers still have proofreaders?) A story by one of the paper’s own writers the other day had a sentence that began, “Her and her husband have three children.” Her does? Peggy Warner and Laura Waack would never have let one of us get away with that at the Capital Journal back in the day. Speaking of grammatical errors, shame on you Midweek Update readers. Not a single one of you called to my attention my embarrassing boo-boo in last week’s edition. I wrote that I didn’t know who to ask about the marijuana issues on the ballot. Of course I should have said “whom to ask.”
• If you want to watch some high school football from this region on national television, your chance comes Saturday at 8 p.m. when the Bismarck Century-Bismarck Legacy game will be on ESPNU. Here at home Midco Sports Network will televise the biggest game of the week in Class 11AAA when Roosevelt plays Brandon Valley Saturday night. On Friday night Midco is carrying the Fargo South-Fargo Shanley game.
• You can hear it for only about one minute each week, but one of the most haunting pieces of music on TV these days is the theme of “Yellowstone,” the Kevin Costner drama series that is seen on Paramount Network on Sunday nights. It reminds me a bit of the John Dunbar theme from “Dances With Wolves,” which is interesting in that Costner was the star of that film. But it also sounds a bit like one of the Olympics themes we hear every four years. Beautiful music nevertheless!
• Up at the top of this issue you will see this is issue #51 of Volume 20. So next week begins the 21st year of The Midweek Update as Volume 21. Actually it seems longer than 20 years, and in reality it has been longer because those first typewritten issues of The Coffee Cup (was that the title, Class of ’96?) were mailed out in the fall of 1996 to about a dozen college kids. But on we go. Now that I think about it, “The Coffee Cup” wasn’t the title. Something with Brew in the title. Home Brew? Jenna or Murph or Michelle or one of their classmates will correct me.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: orange.
Friday-Sunday: huckleberry.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Aug. 27:
Megan Robertson, Cameron Villa, Ainsley Ries, Alison Weyer, Joe Dravland, Amber (Osnes) Antholz, Kirstyn Larsen, Lauren Bauer, Nicole Stengle, Kodi Jo Spaid, Thomas Simon.
— 4th anniversary, Mike/Jenna Zellmer.
— 27th anniversary, Joe/Stephanie (Colwill) Harmon.
— 9th anniversary, Joel/Anne (Rounds) Harrington.
— 9th anniversary, Scoitt/Debbie (Wagoner) Mees.
— 15th anniversary, Levi/Crystal (Fosheim) Neuharth.
— 9th anniversary, Brandon/Sasha (Yackley) Bertsche.
— 9th anniversary, Jason/Sarah (Linn) Hyde.

Friday, Aug. 28:
Shirley Eisnach, Brylon Beck, Anita Zastrow, Mike Mehlhaff, Whitney (Stoeser) Schnabel.
— 10th anniversary, Shawn/Kristy (Sobolik) Luskey.
— 16th anniversary, Aaron/Carisa (Rathbun) Marshall.
— 16th anniversary, Andrew/Kayla (Johnson) Koob.
— 4th anniversary, Charles/Cleo (Hilding) Berg.

Saturday, Aug. 29:
Lisa Kohler, Jared Neilan, Elin Johnson, Carolyn Fouts, Dan Nielsen, Dalton Carroll, Lincoln Boer, Zach Merwin, Jocelyn Olson, Stella Thier.
— 5th anniversary, Drew/Pam Garry.
— 5th anniversary, Cliff/Kristin (Gilbertson) Curry.
— 51st anniversary, John/Sylvia Moisan.
— 11th anniversary, Eric/Niki (Fergen) Rodawig.
— 5th anniversary, Clayton/Kacie (Cross) Etzkorn.
— 11th anniversary, Abe/Kate Storms.

Sunday, Aug. 30:
Edna Moser (#100), Amanda Tinker, William Maier, Chris Johnson, Henry Runyan, Barry Johnson, Laura White, Morgan Finley, Audra Sarvis, Nathan Vetter, Michelle (Koehn) Fox, Lindy (Bouchie) Geraets, Addison Sarvis.
— 18th anniversary, Cody/Aimee (Stoeser) Nickoilas.
— 17th anniversary, Kyle/Heather (Smith) Englehart.
— 6th anniversary, Kip/Kelsey (Ahlers) Rounds.
— 51st anniversary, Randy/Alice Wright.

Monday, Aug. 31:
Cecelia Hight, Hank Hoffman, Thelma King, Chloe Harder, Heather (Knox) Sazama, Holly (Knox) Perli, Joliz (Schaefer) Beskow.
— 18th anniversary, Bradley/Amy (Klein) Greba.
— 47th anniversary Gary/Judy (Sonnenschein) Larson.
— 18th anniversary, Jared/Krystl (Anderson) Vermundson.
— 8th anniversary, Todd/Julia (Weisgram) Lintner.
— 46th anniversary, Blake/Cathy Barringer.
— 7th anniversary, Peter/Serena (Norman) Townsend.
— 7th anniversary, Mark/Sarah (Zinter) Detwiler.
— 1st anniversary, Tom/Parker Johnson.
— 1st anniversary, Cody/Bailey (Bradford) Nelson.

Tuesday, Sept. 1:
Lauren Gilsrud, Josh Baldwin, Brett Riipley, Taylor Mickelson, Janet (Ellis) Leidle, Jess Ellingson, Trace Beck, Katie Nold, Tarina (Zebroski) Kopren, Jetta Whitebird, Megan Stulken, Diane (Lomheim) Schlenker.
— 8th anniversary, Kevin/Lauren Hall.
— Anniversary, Nick/Renee Osterkamp.
— 8th anniversary, Brandon/Kia (Otten) Rieger.
— 8th anniversary, Cody/Cassie (Rausch) Stoeser.
— 13th anniversary, Shawn/Tracy Hostler.
— 13th anniversary, Kellan/Angie (Huxford) Pfleger.
We fondly remember Jim Valnes, who passed away a year ago today.

Wednesday, Sept. 2:
Danielle Peters, Rachel (Knutson) Steece, Kelly (Lingle) Royer, Brian Knadle, Shayne McIntosh, Mary Ness.
— 3rd anniversary, Jayson/Jordyn (Anderson) Herra.
— Anniversary, Andy/Kate (Robertson) Bartel.
— 14th anniversary, Chris/Carrie Rasmussen.
— 3rd anniversary, Justin/Lisa (Janssen) Harmon.
— 14th anniversary, James/Audra (Meyer) Cardwell.

Thursday, Sept. 3:
Brian Pendergast, Nate White, Beckett Hangebrauck, Austin Schneider, Kyle Villa, Dylan Gordon, Jordan Shangreaux, Dylan Stader, Rona (Todd) Boettcher, Lance Nielsen, Doyle Holden, Benjamin Oehlerking, Sean Billet, Tanner Boggs, Sarah (Kringel) Hibbitts, Tina (Geary) Vermeulen, Alexandria Anderson.
— 4th anniversary, Stephen/Katie Bollinger.
— 4th anniversary, Jason/Sarah (Jeffries) McHenry.
— 4th anniversary, Tyrel/Kallie (Dresbach) Hall.
— 15th anniversary, Terry/Amie Miller.
— 16th anniversary, Levi/Rose (Beckwith) Briggs.
— 15th anniversary Dusty/Amanda (Nystrom) Van Balen.
— 26th anniversary, Tom/Gini Grannes.
— 15th anniversary, Sean/Megan Tousley.
— 15th anniversary, David/Robyn (Clausen) Bauer.
— 14th anniversary, Jake/Chandra Miller.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“If this behavior continues, everyone’s going home, and you’ll be in your parents’ basement for another six months.”

— Dr. Barry Dunn, president of SDSU after he drove around Brookings and saw numerous student violations of virus safety protocols

PANDEMIC UPS AND DOWNS (MOSTLY DOWNS)

1. South Dakota active cases of COVID-19 rose to nearly 14,000 Friday, the highest point since mid-May. By Saturday the state had 251 new cases and the highest number of positive tests since the Smithfield plant outbreak in Sioux Falls in the spring. On Sunday there were 141 more new cases and on Monday 146. Did somebody say we flattened our curve? Meanwhile, nationally Tuesday was the first day with fewer active COVID-19 cases in the United States than the previous day.
2. The South Dakota Festival of Books will be an all-virtual event this year, starting Oct. 1.
3. In Minnesota their Department of Health reported Friday 15 COVID-19 cases related to the Sturgis motorcycle rally. On Sunday there were seven more. Also on Friday the Nebraska Panhandle confirmed seven COVID cases related to the rally. Wyoming so far had reported seven cases related to Sturgis. In all 114 active cases linked to the rally were reported as of Monday.
4. At Huron the high school canceled football practices Friday and Saturday after a positive test. Other sports there also canceled Saturday practices as a precaution. On Saturday the football team was cleared to resume practice on Monday.
5. The Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese became the first diocese in the nation to lift the dispensation in not having to attend Mass.
6. In Rapid City the Performing Arts Center’s two theaters and all rehearsal space and offices are located in the Rapid City High School building. After the school district and the Black Hills Community Theatre boards approved a safety plan, the PACRC board ruled no indoor performances in the immediate future in the entire PACRC.
7. Meanwhile, 2,000 Rapid City students and their parents have chosen distance learning for the fall as opposed to in-person learning. The school board and administration have said school will begin Sept. 8 at the level whereby A-K students will be in school Mondays and Tuesdays, L-Z students on Wednesdays and Thursdays with e-learning on Fridays.
8. At Reno, Nev., the schools were closed again Thursday and Friday due to the oppressive smoke from wildfires in nearby California. The administration said they would have to go full-time distance learning if the smoke remains much longer.
9. In Iowa the state education association and the Iowa City School District are suing Gov. Kim Reynolds and the state’s education secretary over their back-to-school demands. Iowa reported 823 new virus cases Friday alone.
10. The Macy’s parade in New York on Thanksgiving Day will go on but with changes from past years to be announced later.
11. An O’Gorman High School student tested positive in the first week of school, and several other schools around the state reported virus cases. On Monday the state Department of Health reported 141 cases statewide from “educational settings.”
12. At Viborg-Hurley they were one of the several schools who said football spectators would be “encouraged” to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing. Television highlights of several games Friday night, however, showed stands full of spectators bunched together as in normal times.
13. In Utah one school’s athletic director stopped a football game in progress and refused to let it resume until fans put on masks and abided by the social distancing requirements. In Utah students and teachers in grades K-12 can be charged with a misdemeanor for not wearing masks.
14. In Lincoln, Neb., one month after the city enacted its mask ordinance, its rates of virus were still dropping, down to 6.1 per 100,000 residents, less than one-half of the rest of Nebraska’s state average as of Saturday.
15. At Dakota Wesleyan University in lieu of the traditional homecoming parade on Blue & White Day, they are having a “spirit cruise.” People are encouraged to drive through the campus on a specified route Sept. 21-26 to see decorations by clubs, organizations, departments and athletic teams. People in Mitchell are also encouraged to decorate homes and businesses to compete for prizes. DWU’s football team is one of three in South Dakota still planning to play their season this fall.
16. The University of Minnesota has delayed move-in day for at least two weeks on three of its campuses—Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth—and will switch to totally on-line classes for at least that long.
17. In Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, there have been more than 500 cases of the virus in the first week of classes. The city has closed all bars for the next two weeks.
18. The Minnesota Vikings announced there will be no fans at at least their first two home games against Green Bay Sept. 13 and Tennessee Sept. 27. The Denver Broncos will admit no fans for their first home game.
19. In the Douglas School District at Ellsworth Air Force Base, three staff members, one of whom worked at the Sturgis motorcycle rally, and two students have tested positive and are under quarantine.
20. At Lemmon two elementary staff members have tested positive. Students in grades K-5 have been instructed to quarantine for 14 days and to not attend any extra-curricular events. Grades 6-12 will go to school as usual for now.
21. USD announced Tuesday that 61 students there have active COVID-19 cases and more than 300 are self-quarantining. Classes have been in session for only a week.
22. The city of Chicago added South Dakota to its quarantine list. Anyone returning to Chicago from South Dakota or visiting there from here must self-quarantine for 14 days. Anyone found to violate the order could be fined $100 to $500 per day.
23. Kentucky Fried Chicken has decided that, at this point in a pandemic, its “finger-lickin’ good” slogan is probably not appropriate.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

A reminder: Twila Dockter’s grandmother, Edna Moser, will observe her 100th birthday this Sunday, Aug. 30. Her family is asking for a card shower for her. The address is: Edna Moser, c/o Twila Dockter, 500 Yucca Dr., Pierre SD 57501.

Our sympathy to former Pierre residents Vernon and Gloria Bump of Sioux Falls. Vernon’s brother, Jim Bump, 86, died Aug. 18 at Sartell, Minn. A graduate of the School of Mines, Mr. Bump worked as a civil engineer for the Department of Transportation in Iowa for 38 years, retiring in 1998. Among his survivors are his wife, Connie; a son, a daughter, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services were held Aug. 21 at Sauk Rapids where the Bumps lived starting in 2003.

Many of you former Odyssey of the Mind (and later Destination Imagination) coaches and students will remember Cozy Dorton as the state OM director who annually was in Pierre for the state OM tournament when it was hosted at Riggs High School. Cozy, a long-time and legendary kindergarten teacher at Custer, and her husband Bob will observe their 50th wedding anniversary this Sunday, Aug. 30. If you’re not in that area to drive by the parking lot of Custer Lutheran Fellowship to wave at the Dortons, you can send them a card at P.O. Box 809, Custer SD 57730.

Pierre native Bryan Konechne (’98) was married Aug. 22 to Starla Otto. Bryan works at the SDSM&T Foundation on the Mines campus in Rapid City.

Pierre native Scott Raue is thrilled to be back in the coaching game. He has been hired as offensive coordinator for the high school varsity at Harvey/Wells County High School in Harvey, N.D. Scott said that program used to run the ball a great deal. But last Friday the Hornets’ quarterback had five touchdown passes, including the winner with 20 seconds left in the game, to beat Shiloh Christian, 38-35. Harvey/Wells County plays Velva, N.D., this Friday.

A memorial mass for Colleen Weiss, who died April 13, was held Tuesday at St. Lambert Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. A former teacher in Pierre, including at Pierre Indian Learning Center, Mrs. Weiss is survived by her husband, Larry Weiss; five children, Connie Pruner, Kathleen Steen and Robin Weiss, all of Sioux Falls, Steve Weiss of Chicago and Bruce Weiss of Minneapolis, and seven grandchildren.

Jim McLain, who is settling in in Quito, Ecuador, after completing his mandatory quarantine upon arriving from the United States, says the school where he will be teaching will do distance learning until Oct. 1. Teachers can still use their actual classrooms for their Zoom classes except on Wednesdays when the schools are given a thorough cleaning. The quarantine has ended for most of the school’s foreign hires.

Philip Mathews, 86, Draper, died at home Aug. 19. A memorial service was held in Murdo Wednesday. Mr. Mathews and his brothers ranched and farmed together from 1960 to 1996. He also worked for the Chicago & North Western railroad. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Audrey Tobin of Onida; a daughter; a son; seven grandchildren; siblings Patricia Greer in Colorado, Gerald Mathews at Draper and Fred Mathews of Pierre, and a sister-in-law, Marlynrae Mathews of Pierre.

Belated golden wedding anniversary congratulations to former Pierre residents Ron and Linda Olinger in Sioux Falls. Their 50th anniversary date was Aug. 22.

Riggs High alumnus Mikal Kern is still teaching and coaching at Wyndmere, N.D. He is the defensive coordinator for the Wyndmere-Lidgerwood football team, which won its opener, 45-28, over Tri-State, a four-school co-op that includes Rosholt, S.D., and schools in Minnesota and North Dakota. Mikal’s team plays this Friday against Mayville-Portland. This is Mikal’s eighth year of coaching at Wyndmere and his fourth year as elementary principal there.

Brad Anderson, who worked on the air at KGFX in Pierre from 1996 to 2001 and whose wife is the former Linda Kern, spent his last day in the radio business last Friday after 42 years. He is becoming a computer science student at Western Dakota Technical College.

Alan Hess of Brookings, who attended Riggs High, has been named 2020 Realtor of the Year by the East Central South Dakota Realtors.

Master Sgt. Ben Gloe was selected as the Forces Command’s 2020 Best Senior Courses Counselor for a brigade combat team. He will receive the Sgt. Major Marty Boyd-Gray Retention Excellence Award in Leadership in the near future. Ben, who has been in the Army for 16 1/2 years after graduating from Riggs High in 2002, lives with his wife and daughter at Junction City, Kan., near Fort Riley.

Heather Mangan originally graduated from SDSU with a journalism degree and worked in that field for a time. She also served with the Peace Corps in the African nations of Niger and Lesotho. But now her new career as a therapist has begun. She is serving as an intern at Wright College’s Wellness Center. That school is part of Chicago’s community college system. Heather will graduate next May from Roosevelt University with a degree in clinical mental health.

Thanks to artist James Pollock for this information. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Harvey Dunn Plein Air Paint-Out event went virtual. Artists painted wherever they were instead of gathering at the Ingalls homestead in De Smet. Part of the event this year was videotaping some artists painting their work. Some are posted on the Harvey Dunn Society page on Facebook at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/195820682330/posts/10157053016122331/

Scott and Tasha Bothun are co-chairs of the 2020-2021 Capital Area United Way campaign.

Black Hills State University has announced its Dean’s List from the spring semester. It includes these area students: Harrison Armstrong (4.0), Aaron Chapman (4.0), Riley Hannum (4.0), Haylee Hauck, Jesse Jares, James Lees, Jessika McCarty, Jayd Mullen, Katie Nielson (4.0), Kayla Peplinski, Samantha Ray, Rilee Rowse (4.0), Cassandra Ryckman (4.0), Sydney Theobald (4.0), Kelsey Van Den Hemel (4.0), Cassandra Vandewiele, Kala Wallace, Racquel Wientjes.

Sam Willard (’06) was one of those interviewed in a segment on KELO-TV news programs Sunday. More than 400 students received new athletic shoes, socks and a hygiene kit in the eighth annual Samaritan’s Feet back-to-school event. Samaritan’s Feet partnered with Feeding South Dakota for the second year in a row to provide a backpack food bag as well. Since 2013 Samaritan’s Feet has distributed nearly 10,000 pairs of shoes in the Sioux Falls area. In his interview Sam pointed out that some of the young people getting shoes this time were replacing the shoes they picked up in this event last year, having had no new shoes in the meantime.

The Capitol Complex Restoration and Beautification Commission voted 6-1 to proceed with the $400,000 security fence project around the governor’s mansion. Interestingly enough, the one “no” vote came from former first lady Jean Rounds. She said the people who raised funds for the new mansion did so with the understanding there would be no fence around the facility so cast the “no” vote on their behalf.

The Arc of Dreams sculpture across the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls will be lit in blue and silver this evening (Thursday) in celebration of Amanda (Weaver) Sprenkle’s life on the first anniversary of the day she passed away.

Bill Olander won the 70-and-over division of the South Dakota Golf Association’s men’s senior championship tournament with an 8-over-par 152 score. Two strokes back was Louis Mendoza of Eagle Butte. John Knox was third at 155, Dean Degooyer 156 and Charlie Van Gerpen 158 in a tie for fifth. Among other local golfers Brent Dykstra was eighth and Vern Docker 13th. In the Rushmore Division Monty Bechtold was the champion with Craig Bump the runner-up.

Paul Merriman was recognized for 30 years of service with the state Department of Public Safety.

Jackson Schumacher and Kate Plooster were married on Aug. 23.

Donald “Red” Gannon, 86, who lived in Pierre at one point in his life while working for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, died Aug. 11 at the University of Colorado burn unit. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 1, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hot Springs. He is survived by three children, Patrick Gannon of Savage, Minn., Michael Gannon of Pierre, and Tonya Gannon of Shavertown, Pa.; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and five siblings.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Watch his thoughts; they become words.
Watch his words; they become habits.
Watch his habits; they become character.
Watch his character; it becomes our destiny.

— Leo Tzu

DAY BY DAY

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20
These smothering 90- and 100-degree afternoons must make things miserable for the high school soccer and softball players whose seasons are well underway already. This must be especially so on turf fields. As I was typing one night this week at precisely 8 p.m., my phone showed that the outdoor temperature was still an even 100 degrees. Brutal for athletes but, of course, also for people who have to work outdoors on a regular basis. I see from one forecast that we are in for another full week of this August heat, but after that things are supposed to cool down to “below normal” temperatures for a bit. Remembering how often schools used to dismiss early for oppressive heat in their buildings, I wonder if they will even consider doing that now that getting into school due to the pandemic is such a struggle without any other complications.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
One night this week the Texas Rangers’ pitchers could hardly get anybody out, and Texas trailed the Padres by a 10-3 score. A rookie named Fernando Tatis Jr. came to bat and didn’t realize that he was supposed to stand there and take a walk so as not to hurt the fragile feelings of the Rangers. Even his own manager called him out later for—horrors!—swinging at the pitch! The ball Tatis hit went a long way; in fact, it was a grand slam home run, and suddenly the Rangers were down by 14-3. So the Rangers had to retaliate because Tatis broke one of baseball’s “unwritten rules”—showing up one’s opponent. Their next pitcher threw a 100 MPH baseball behind the back of the next San Diego batter. Those unwritten rules of baseball were the subject of much discussion the next day, even here in Rapid City where the local sports talk radio station’s call-in program raised the issue. The program host, Nate Brown, asked aloud why baseball players are so sensitive. If they don’t like what the opponent does, just get ’em out! (Does the Pierre-Spearfish football game of last fall come to mind?) I ran across an article—I believe it was on the espn.com website—which listed some of baseball’s unwritten rules. For example: (1) Don’t steal bases or strut after home runs when your team is behind by a large margin. (2) Don’t swing at the first pitch after the pitcher has allowed back-to-back home runs. (3) Don’t steal bases, swing at 3-0 pitches or otherwise run up the score when ahead by a large margin. (4) Don’t show up your opponent with bat flips, slow home-run trots or screams of delight after strikeouts. (5) Don’t show up your own fielders by throwing up your arms in disgust when they screw up, such as throwing away an infield ground ball or dropping an outfield fly. (6) Pitchers must stay in the dugout until the end of the inning when they were replaced by a reliever. It is mandatory he stay there and watch unfold the damage he has caused! (7) Don’t step on the pitcher’s mound. (8) Don’t walk in front of the catcher; instead go behind the catcher and the umpire on your way to the batter’s box. (9) Don’t talk about a no-hitter while it is in progress. (10) Don’t bunt when the opposing pitcher has a no-hitter going. (11) Never make the first or third out at third base. (12) Don’t use your closer in a tie game on the road. (13) Don’t yell anything when an opposing fielder is trying to catch a ball. (Remember when A-Rod once yelled “I got it! I got it!” when he was a baserunner?) (14) Never rub the area of your body where you were hit by a pitch. Even if it hurts really badly, just take it like a man! (15) If you’re an adult and you catch a foul ball, you must give it to a nearby kid. There are probably more unwritten rules, but you get the idea.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
One of the newspapers I receive online is The Mitchell Republic. One reason is that they have good high school football coverage of Friday night games in time for the Saturday morning e-paper. I noticed this morning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to instantly know the schools whose games they are covering because of the abbreviations of the many football co-ops. For instance, we know BEE pretty well now because Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan is almost always in the playoffs on television. In this area we could figure out that M/H-H is Miller/Highmore-Harrold. A little farther away is WWSSC, but because Stanley County frequently plays them, we can determine those letters stand for Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central. KWL is, of course, Kimball-White Lake. But I had to stop and think for a bit today when the headline over one of the football stories started with TDAACDC. What team is that? Of course it is Tripp-Delmont/Armour plus Andes Central plus Dakota Christian.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
You tell me if I don’t deserve a discount of some sort! I went to the supermarket yesterday morning with a $50 bill in hand and quickly picked up five items. (It’s inconsequential to this story, but I wore a mask inside, and just about everybody at this store, both employees and customers, wears them.) At the register I swiped my “yes card” from that store, which reduces the prices of certain items, and what amount do you suppose was my final bill? $50.00, of course. Not $50.01 or $49.99, but precisely $50.00. I told the clerk I should get a discount for such excellent shopping or at least a reserved spot onstage among the crazies on “The Price Is Right.”

MONDAY, AUGUST 24
As wildfires continue to destroy thousands of acres of forest and prairie land in the western third of the country, not to mention homes and businesses, Monica (Currier) Robbins, Onida native who lives now near Dallas, posted something last night that hadn’t occurred to me. She noted that, in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and all the other states that are burning up, wild animals are fleeing the flames. For that reason people should bring in their domestic animals and pets each night and let the wild animals who are scared and who have lost their home territories pass through as they seek safety. And put out water for them!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
We’re never going to make it through the high school football season, are we? The other night I went to Stevens High School’s Blue and Silver Scrimmage where the offenses and defenses of the varsity and freshman teams took turns playing each other in 10-play scrimmages. The “suggestions” in advance were that people wear masks and socially distance themselves on the Sioux Park stadium bleachers. As for the latter, a few people scattered themselves around, but the middle section along the 50-yard line was packed. As for masks? As I scanned the crowd, I saw two people wearing them. The “don’t tell me what I have to do” crowd is alive and well. We may be done with high school football by the first of October. But in the meantime, even though I can’t go to his games, I’ll be watching and listening. My sophomore grandson is punter for Stevens High. The Raiders play at O’Gorman this Friday night. I hope not, but I fear that Dylan may be very busy in his role.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
I placed a note in front of me on my desk Monday afternoon and taped it there so it would remain all week. It reads, “Make no Facebook comments this week.” It has been difficult to watch the Republican National Circus and to not post comments at their weird collection of speakers and the volume of lies and false information that spews forth from the mouths of just about all of them. It is pointless to comment. All I can do is to vote as soon as I can in September and hope that the majority of the other 49 states do the common-sense thing. Time to leave my laptop, put on my mask and go outside into Kristi’s state of individual freedoms.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWER

J I L L
A R E A
D O A K
A N N E