THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
— Charles M. Schulz

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— FRIDAY
Gymnastics: at state tournament, Watertown, 11 a.m.
Wrestling: vs. Harrisburg (at Mitchell), 5 p.m., and at Mitchell, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball: home vs. Winner, 5:30 p.m.
Boys basketball: home vs. Winner, 7 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Gymnastics: at state tournament, Watertown, 10:30 a.m.
— TUESDAY
Girls basketball: home vs. Lakota Tech, 6 p.m.

Boys wrestling: It was a long way to drive to have eight matches turn out to be forfeit wins, but the Governors prevailed in Yankton, 70-10. Lucas Chamberlin, Regan Bollweg and Chase Carda got to wrestle and all scored pins while Kahlor Hindman won a major decision.

Girls wrestling: At the girls tournament in Rapid City Sydney Uhrig and Gianna Stangeland earned second places, and Hattie Baldwin placed third in her division.

Girls basketball: The Governors lost at Sioux Falls Washington, 70-20, and lost at home in overtime to Brandon Valley, 57-52.

Gymnastics: Out of the two qualifying meets—the ESD Conference meet and the East-West meet involving the Rapid City and Sioux Falls schools—the top team in each and the next seven best team scores, regardless of which meet from which they come, qualify for the state tournament. Pierre finished as the last of those next seven best scores, so the Governors go to the state meet team competition. Mitchell won at the ESD with a 146.800 score, and Lincoln won the East-West meet at 138.100. The next seven-best teams in order were Watertown, Harrisburg, Brookings, Roosevelt, O’Gorman, Yankton and Pierre. The Governors’ scores in each event were 34.850 in floor exercise, 34.350 on the beam, 33.950 in the vault and 30.750 on the bars.

Boys wrestling: The Governors stand at 6-9 after a 1-2 week. In a 68-53 loss to Sioux Falls Washington, Bennett Dean and Jackson Edman had 11 points each and Houston Lunde 10. Brandon Valley jumped out to an 11-0 start en route to an 80-467 win over the Govs. Lincoln Kienholz was high with 11 points. On Tuesday Pierre won at Huron, 64-52, led by Kienholz with 26 points.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Boys basketball: home vs. White River.
— SATURDAY
Girls basketball: at Wall.
Boys basketball: at Wall.
— TUESDAY
Girls basketball: at Kadoka Area.
Boys basketball: home vs. Mobridge-Pollock.
Next wrestling: at Region 4B tournament, Rapid City, Feb. 20.

Boys basketball: The Buffaloes lost to Chamberlain, 71-44, then lost to Potter County, 82-51. In the latter game Nathan Cook had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Lathan Prince scored 14. SCHS has a record of 7-6.

Gymnastics: Five Buffalo gymnasts have qualified for the individual competition at the state tournament Friday. They are Allison Schlomer, Caycee Knight, Sumar Petersen, Keeley Rothschadl and Aleeyah Schilling.

Girls basketball: The SCHS girls lost to Potter County, 53-13. Kayden Cronin had 17 points and Tyler Simon 11. On Tuesday the girls lost to Miller, 55-19, and fell to 1-15 for the season.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— SATURDAY
Girls basketball: vs. Wilmot (at Warner).
— TUESDAY
Girls basketball: at Sunshine Bible Academy.
Next boys basketball: at Faulkton Area, Feb. 18.
Next wrestling: at Region 1B tournament, Groton, Feb. 20.

Boys basketball: The Chargers lost to Potter County, 67-37, led by Rafe Wientjes with 12 points. SBHS edged Herreid-Selby Area, 52-51, Tuesday, led by Landon Hepker with 15 points and Wientjes with 13. The team’s record is 8-9.

Girls basketball: The SBHS girls dominated Potter County, 61-25, led by Stevie Wittler with 14 points, Ally Wittler with 12 and Lydia Hill with 10. On Tuesday Hill had 12 points in the Chargers’ 43-34 loss to Herreid-Selby Area. The team’s record is 8-9.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: State gymnastics tournament, Watertown (Feb. 12-13).
6 days: Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17).
12 days: Georgia Morse Middle School musical (Feb. 23, 25).
14 days: State wrestling tournaments, Rapid City (Feb. 25-27).
14 days: NSIC basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 25-28).
16 days: Twins spring training opener (Feb. 27).
17 days: Golden Globes awards, NBC (Feb. 28).
20 days: NAIA indoor track-field national meet, Yankton (March 3-6).
22 days: State JV boys hockey tournament, Expo Center (March 5-7).
22 days: State girls hockey tournament, Watertown (March 5-7).
23 days: Summit League basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (March 6-9).
28 days: State girls basketball tournaments, B Huron, A Watertown, AA Sioux Falls (March 11-13).
29 days: State boys hockey tournament, Sioux Falls (March 12-14).
31 days: Daylight Saving Time begins (March 14).
31 days: Grammy awards, CBS (March 14).
35 days: State boys basketball tournaments, B Aberdeen, A Sioux Falls, AA Rapid City (March 18-20).
35 days: NCAA Division I wrestling national championships, St. Louis (March 18-20).

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• To put a final touch on comments in this space last week, we report to those who don’t already know that the bill which would have required that the governor’s security costs on her trips be made public was killed in a House committee by an 11-2 vote. The committee includes 11 Republicans scared of the governor and her fans, loyal only to their party, and two Democrats.
• Every year we look ahead to whom the Super Bowl champions might play on Opening Night on a Thursday next September when the Buccaneers play at home and raise their Super Bowl banner. There’s an obvious choice for the NFL schedule-makers to pick—the Dallas Cowboys. The other Tampa Bay home games will be Chicago, Buffalo, Miami, New York Giants, Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta. Except for Buffalo, all of those say “Boring!” You didn’t ask, but Tom and Gronk and A.B. and the other Bucs will play on the road at Carolina, New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and New England. Won’t that last one be interesting!
• This being white-supremacist South Dakota, one can imagine some of the comments on Facebook after Northern State University revealed that its homecoming week of events will no longer be called Gypsy Days. For now the week will simply be known as “homecoming” although a new theme may arise from a student effort to find one.
• We mentioned last week there was a bill in the state Senate which would have allowed this state to ignore federal laws it doesn’t like. Senate Bill 122, introduced by another of Rapid City’s legislators who come up with some questionable measures every year, would have allowed the legislature to decide if a federal law is unconstitutional, and if they thought so, the state would be absolved of obeying the federal law. Thankfully the bill was killed in committee.
• Meanwhile, Amendment A, the recreational marijuana measure that was approved by us voters in November’s election but opposed by Governor Noem, was declared unconstitutional this week by Circuit Court Judge Christina Klinger, who was appointed to her judgeship by Noem. The appeal was filed by Kevin Thom, sheriff of Pennington County, and by Rick Miller, superintendent of the Highway Patrol, at the order of the governor. (The state taxpayers are paying for Miller’s legal fees.) The judge ruled that Amendment A was a constitutional revision rather than amendment and thus was passed in an unconstitutional process. The ruling will likely be appealed and end up in the state Supreme Court.
• Meanwhile, the other marijuana measure that voters approved in November’s election, set to take effect this coming summer, would be delayed a full year if the governor has her wish.
• The state combined A and B wrestling tournaments constitute a great event with all of the matches right down there in front of the fans in one location. Not this year in Rapid City! If you want to see both classes of the state tournaments, you will have to buy a separate ticket to each tournament. One tournament will be in Barnett Arena and the other in the ice arena.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Directions: Draw a box of 16 squares in a 4×4 format. 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) Home of the Blue Devils.
(5) —- 51, Air Force training range in Nevada.
(6) Angry speech.
(7) Aquarium company.
DOWN—
(1) To challenge to perform.
(2) Russian mountain range.
(3) Lottery-style game.
(4) Satisfies one’s appetite.

Puzzle answer at the bottom.

WEDDING DAYS

May 1: Dan Nielsen/Kim Borbely.
June 18: Chris Rumrill/Katya Vakshteyn.
July 31: Jack Carpenter/Leesa Johnson.
Oct. 2: Jordan Lamb/Abbey Fjeldheim.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Black Hills State track-field (Kelsey Van Den Hemel): Idle last weekend, the Yellow Jackets are home for their Yellow Jacket Open Friday and Saturday.

Northern baseball (Spencer Sarringar): The Wolves open their season March 20-21 at Wayne State.

Summit League men’s basketball standings with 3 weekends remaining: USD 9-1, SDSU 5-1 NDSU 9-3, Oral Roberts 7-3, UND 5-7, Kansas City 3-5, Western Illinois 3-7, Denver 1-7, Omaha 0-8.

South Dakota men’s basketball (Max Burchill): On Friday the Coyotes ended a 29-game SDSU home winning streak with a 64-56 win over the Jackrabbits. SDSU won on Saturday, 84-78, rallying in the closing minutes to grab the victory. Now 11-7 overall and 9-1 atop the Summit, the Coyotes play at UND at 2:30 Saturday and Sunday.

Summit League women’s basketball standings with 3 weekends remaining: SDSU 8-0, NDSU 9-3, USD 6-2, Oral Roberts 4-4, Kansas City 4-5, Denver 3-5, Western Illinois 4-8, UND 2-9, Omaha 1-5.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): A blowout loss on Friday at SDSU didn’t hurt as much as a late-game collapse Saturday as the Coyote women lost twice in Brookings. In a 64-45 loss USD shot 2-of-20 in three-pointers, and the team shot 28% overall. Chloe was 2-of-15 (1-of-6 in threes) for five points with four rebounds, one block and three steals. The USD bench was outscored by the SDSU bench, 23-6. On Saturday USD was primed to earn a split for the weekend leading by eight points, but SDSU went on an 9-0 run to take the lead, stole an in-bounds pass in the closing seconds when USD had a chance to try to regain the lead, and the game ended with the Jackrabbits making it a 13-0 run for an 80-75 win after USD had led 75-67 with 2 1/2 minutes left. Chloe was 6-of-7 (3-of-4 in threes) and 3-of-4 for 18 points with an assist and a steal. Now 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the Summit, USD plays at UND at noon Saturday and Sunday on Midco Sports Network.

Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): The Marauders lost a conference dual to MSU-Moorhead, 26-10. Mary wrestles Thursday at Northern.

South Dakota State baseball (Landon Badger, Garrett Stout, Brady Hawkins): The Jacks open the season Feb. 19-22 with four games at Kansas.

Iowa Western baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Reivers’ season openers will be Feb. 27-28 at Crowder College in Missouri.

Morningside bowling (Alex Badger): The Mustang bowlers are idle this month till Feb. 27 at Coe’s tournament in Cedar Rapids.

Augustana wrestling (Jebben Keyes): Augustana lost an 18-16 dual to #16 Upper Iowa. Jebben lost a 10-4 decision in his 149-pound match. Before the dual Jebben and three other seniors were honored. Augie wrestles Thursday at MSU-Moorhead.

Augustana women’s basketball (Aislinn Duffy, Katie Bourk): The Vikings split with Southwest Minnesota State. In an 83-81 win Aislinn went 8-of-17 (1-of-6 in threes) and 3-of-4 for 20 points with 10 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. In a 75-62 loss Aislinn was 6-of-12 (3-of-4 in threes) for 15 points with six boards, two assists, one block and two steals. Augie is now 7-4 overall and 6-3 in the NSIC. The Viking women host USF Friday and Saturday.

South Dakota State track-field (Addison Eisenbeisz): At the Bison Open in Fargo Addy did not compete in the high jump. In the men’s division USD won followed by NDSU, SDSU and UND. In women’s events NDSU was the winner, followed by USD, UND and SDSU. The Jacks host the SDSU Classic Saturday.

North Dakota State football (Grey Zabel): The strange spring season opens Feb. 21 at home vs. Youngstown State.

Colorado Mines women’s basketball (Liz Holter): Friday’s game vs. Metro State was postponed. In a 69-40 win over Colorado Christian, Liz was 2-of-5 (0-of-3 in threes) for four points with a steal, three assists and a rebound. Mines is now 11-2 overall and 10-2 in the RMAC. The Orediggers go to Fort Lewis Friday and to Western Colorado Saturday.

Black Hills State women’s basketball (Racquel Wientjes): The Yellowjackets lost at Adams State, 68-60. Racquel had a 25-point game, going 9-of-16 (2-of-7 in threes) and 5-of-6 along with five rebounds, two assists and five steals. In a 64-54 win over CSU-Pueblo, Racquel was 6-of-19 (2-of-7 in threes) and 9-of-10 for 23 points with seven boards, two assists and three steals. Now 10-5 BHSU is home Friday vs. UC-Colorado Springs, Saturday vs. New Mexico Highlands and Tuesday vs. Chadron State.

Tennessee women’s basketball (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols’ games against Mississippi State and Texas A&M were both postponed. Now 12-3 overall and 6-1 in the SEC, Tennessee plays at Kentucky Thursday and home vs. Vanderbilt Sunday.

South Dakota Mines track-field (Erick Colman, Theron Singleton): At Chadron State’s invitational Erick competed in the shot put but recorded no distance. Mines competes Friday and Saturday at BHSU’s meet in Spearfish.

Mount Marty men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Lancers lost their regular-season finale, 78-71, at Northwestern (Iowa). Lincoln in 11 minutes of action was 2-of-3 and 1-of-1 for five points and earned an assist. MMC awaits postseason play with a 9-16 overall record and a 6-14 GPAC mark.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Bradley Dean, Nick Wittler): The Tigers lost to Concordia (Neb.), 89-77. After a game vs. Dordt last night, DWU is home vs. Midland Sunday.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Feb. 11:
Beth Sachtjen, Chris Dockter, Colleen (Doyle) Lamb, Cheryl (Beckwith) Ulmen, Kelbie Frederick, Kristin Gabriel, Kerry (Johnson) Bowers, Jonathan Urbach, Aaron Engberg, Megan Tousley, Carly (Feiler) Retterath, Josh Baker, Jackson Sleger, Jerilyn (Cass) Roberts, Beth (Miner) O’Toole.

Friday, Feb. 12:
Julie Linn, Shannon (Taft) Hallock, Cody Nelson, Dick Tobin, Nicholas Deal, Lucas Hoover, Leonard Haggin, Jay Davis, Dave Osterkamp, Greyson Shindle.

Saturday, Feb. 13:
Michell Boe, Nathan Shay, Karla Miles, Suttyn Stahl, Darin Smith, Gerda Jorgenson, Dorinda Daniel, Stacie Mosiman, Cooper Gloe, Sylvie Martin.

Sunday, Feb. 14:
Brady Beck, Nic Lohman, Tammy (Groseclose) Serbousek, Ryan Blake, Mia Tousley, Leonore Friez, Joe Minder, Karisa Magee, Josh Hook, Kirby Welch, Elaine Yackley, Kathy Kraft, Kelli (Stephens) Ford, Veronica Urquhart, Sydney Redden.
— Anniversary, Greg/Joan Baker.
— Anniversary, Mike/Dana (Garry) Reiprich.
— 11th anniversary, Roger/Shelley (Marone) Locken.
— 17th anniversary, Matt/Rebekah (Lawver) Boyer.;

Monday, Feb. 15:
Tessa Jorgensen, Stephanie (Tveidt) Knapp, Tracie (Seyfer) Vogel, Kendra (Woodburn) Zuercher, Lorena Hyde, Curtis Egan, Ken Rausch, Lincoln Sazama, Nolan Sazama.
— Anniversary, Dick/Carol Howard.

Tuesday, Feb. 16:
Marilyn Rasmussen, Matt Farris, Hayden Shoup, Deanie (Yackley) Knudtson, Lori (Tennant) Sperry, Cecelia Mortenson, Kent Hrdlicka, Barry Nuttall, Bennett Dean, Drew Johnson, Bridget Hrdlicka, Dmitri Melius.
— 11th anniversary, Tom/Chelsie Martin.
— 2nd anniversary, Jesse/Meredith (Lee) Roebuck.

Wednesday, Feb. 17:
Ryan Murphy, Brady Walz, Alec Anderson, Alisha Hunt, Austin Hillestad, Amy (McComsey) Nelson, Rowan Hillestad, Kendell Olson, Eileen Crandell, Jordan Heckenlaible, Kirsten (Smart) Biersma, Brian Bechard, Dan Genzler, Gilbert Brindza.

Thursday, Feb. 18:
Katie Kelly, Hatta Stoeser, Jeff Eckhoff, Matthew Beckwith, Robyn (Starks) Holcomb, Gale Harkless, Michael Lusk, Caelie Williams, Rachel Engbrecht, Mary Lehecka Nelson, Dana (Garry) Reiprich, Debbie (Heckel) Blackledge, Katelynn (Lamb) Pottorff.
— 10th anniversary, Dustin/Therese (Blake) Schutz.
— 4th anniversary, Todd/Cora Pfister.
— We fondly remember Shane Cronin on his birthday.

HOCKEY UPDATE

SDAHA boys varsity standings (wins-losses-ties-OT losses=points): Brookings 13-0-0-0 26, Oahe 11-0-0-1 23, Rushmore 11-2-0-0 22, Sioux Falls #2 11-3-0-0 22, Sioux Center 9-5-0-0 18, Sioux Falls #1 8-6-0-0 16, Huron 3-12-0-0 8, Aberdeen 3-10-0-1 7, Yankton 3-10-0-1 7, Watertown 3-10-0-0 6, Mitchell 1-13-0-0 2.

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: For the second straight season the Capitals went into Sioux Falls and swept the city. Oahe defeated Sioux Falls #2, 4-2. Raef Briggs scored first, Dre Berndt tied the game at 2-2, then Ashton Griese scored the next two goals as the game-winner and the game-clincher. Kieran Duffy made 31 saves in goal. On Sunday the Caps won 3-1 over Sioux Falls #1 as Briggs, Jaden Flor and Keenan Howard each scored a goal and Carter Schulz made 28 saves. Now 11-0-0-1, the Capitals have a big home weekend ahead—Aberdeen at 8 p.m. Friday, Sioux Center at 7 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.

SDAHA girls varsity standings (wins-losses-ties-OT losses=points): Aberdeen 13-0-0-0 26, Sioux Falls 13-1-0-0 26, Brookings 8-3-0-0 16, Mitchell 6-2-0-1 13, Sioux Center 6-6-0-0 12, Watertown 4-7-1-0 9, Huron 4-10-0-0 8, Oahe 3-9-1-1 8, Yankton 0-12-0-0 0.

Oahe Capitals girls varsity: The girls swept a weekend pair from Yankton, 4-1 and 5-3. In the first game Sara Bierne scored twice and Olivia Swenson and Alyssa Stahl once each, and Abigail Stewart Fromm made 13 saves. In the second game Swenson scored a hat trick, and Bierne and Brenna Ullmann scored a goal each. Sophia Peschong made 13 saves. Next on the girls’ schedule are a pair of home games vs. Sioux Center Feb. 27-28.

Aberdeen Wings: It’s news when the Wings lose a game, and they did Friday in a 3-2 shootout loss to Minnesota Wilderness. The Wings rebounded Saturday with a 3-1 win. Now 23-1-0-1, Aberdeen plays at Austin Friday and Saturday.

Rapid City Rush: At the end of their long mandated road trip due to the stock show’s occupying their home ice arena, the Rush split at Indianapolis, winning 2-0 and losing 6-3. A three-game home series with Tulsa began last night and continues Friday and Saturday.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Stampede split with Tri-City, losing in overtime, 5-4, and winning 5-3. Sioux Falls is now 12-12-3 in fifth place in the Western Conference but only four points out of second place. The Stampede will be home Friday vs. Sioux City, at Sioux City on Sunday and home vs. Lincoln Monday.

Minnesota Wild: A game against Colorado, two vs. Arizona and one vs. St. Louis were all postponed. The NHL has also postponed the next two Wild games—vs. St. Louis Thursday and at Los Angeles Saturday. MInnesota is scheduled again at Los Angeles Tuesday.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): The tour resumes this weekend at Naples, Fla., with the Chubb Classic.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Missouri Valley Football Conference: The football season is almost here—well, the MVFC spring season anyway, the one that replaces the season that did not happen last fall. But will the season reach completion? The first game, scheduled for next Friday, has already been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns in Western Illinois’ program. The opening weekend schedule:
— Friday, Feb. 19: Western Illinois at USD, 6 p.m. (postponed to April 17)
— Friday, Feb. 19: SDSU at Northern Iowa, 7 p.m. (MyUTV in eastern S.D.; CW in western S.D.)
— Saturday, Feb. 20: Southern Illinois at UND, noon. (Midco Sports Network)
— Saturday, Feb. 20: Illinois State at Missouri State, 1 p.m.
— Sunday, Feb. 21: Youngstown State at NDSU, 2:30 p.m.

FCS playoffs: There will be a field of 16 teams this spring instead of the usual 24. That field will include 11 conference champions and five at-large teams. l Without any byes, the first-round games will be the weekend of April 24, the quarterfinals the weekend of May 1; the semifinals the weekend of May 8, and the national championship game May 15 at Frisco, Texas.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

From U.S. Ben Sasse (Republican of Nebraska): “Politics isn’t about the weird worship of one dude.”

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Midco Sports Network live games this week:
— Friday, 6 p.m., men’s basketball, Augustana at USF (MSN2).
— Friday, 7:30 p.m., men’s hockey, Denver at UND.
— Saturday, noon, women’s basketball, USD at UND.
— Saturday, 2:30 p.m., men’s basketball, USD at UND.
— Saturday, 4 p.m., men’s basketball, Augustana at USF (MSN2).
— Saturday, 6 p.m., men’s hockey, Denver at UND.
— Sunday, noon, women’s basketball, USD at UND.
— Sunday, 2:30 p.m., men’s basketball, USD at UND.

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves beat Oklahoma City, 106-103, then lost to the Thunder, 120-118, and lost to Dallas, 127-122. After playing the Los Angeles Clippers last night, Minnesota is at Charlotte Friday, at Toronto Sunday, home vs. the Lakers Tuesday and home vs. Indiana next Wednesday.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

* South Dakota’s death scoreboard:
— Death toll last Wednesday: 1782.
— Thursday: 6 deaths, 1788.
— Friday: 10 deaths, 1798.
— Saturday: 6 deaths, 1804.
— Sunday: 5 deaths, 1809.
— Monday: 0 deaths, 1809.
— Tuesday: 0 deaths, 1809.
— Wednesday: 6 deaths, 1815.

• As of yesterday the total of active COVID-19 cases in the state was 2,151. The number of hospitalizations was 109.
• The bill that would have instituted a statewide mask mandate was killed as expected when the state Senate voted 25-7 not to even consider the bill. The South Dakota State Nursing Association and the South Dakota State Medical Association both supported the mandate, but Governor Noem’s Department of Health of course did not.
• In the House a bill that would have restricted cities from imposing business shutdowns and other restrictions was “overwhelmingly rejected” in the House Committee on Local Government. Some business owners supported the bill, but some local officials, including from Brookings, opposed the measure.
• In Wisconsin the Republican legislature repealed Governor Evers’ state mask mandate. He immediately issued a new order.
• In New Orleans bars in the city shut down during Mardi Gras weekend this past weekend to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Can you imagine the bars in Rapid City shutting down during stock show week?
• Four thousand people crowded into a building at the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City for a Friday night concert.
• House Bill 1093 introduced in the South Dakota Legislature says local governments can’t take action to mitigate the spread of disease or promote public health as several cities have done in imposing mask mandates. The bill says closing businesses or restricting numbers of patrons violates the 1st Amendment’s right to assemble.
• The management at Great Bear Ski Valley on the east edge of Sioux Falls voluntarily is enforcing that city’s mask mandate for anyone entering the chalet there. Officials said this is “not a political statement but a health statement.”
• NCAA Division III has canceled its national wrestling tournament for the second straight year as well as all other winter sports championships due to low participating numbers in member schools.
• NCAA Division I’s women’s national basketball tournament will take place entirely in San Antonio rather than around the country as usual. The men’s tournament will be played entirely in the Indianapolis area instead of nationwide.
• In Mitchell the mask policy at the Corn Palace will continue throughout the basketball season, its having been extended to March 13. There is a degree of responsibility in at least some South Dakota cities!
• In Iowa Gov. Reynolds has ended most of the mandates intended to slow the coronavirus spread. This ends the restriction on the number of customers in a business and ends a mask requirement. The state of Iowa still reports dozens of deaths daily. In the city of Des Moines, however, the mask mandate remains in place.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

The 25th Governor’s Awards in the Arts became a virtual presentation this year in place of the usual biennial banquet. This year’s awards recipients are:
— Distinction in creative achievement: John Lopez, Lemmon.
— Outstanding support of the arts by an individual: the Pat and Dale Larson family, Brookings.
— Outstanding service in arts education: John Banasiak, Vermillion.
— Outstanding support of the arts by an organization or a business: Brookings Arts Council.
— Outstanding support of the arts to Native Nations with Lands in South Dakota: Cloud Horse Art Institute Kyle.

Kayle “Budda” Abrahamson, 42, Fort Pierre, died Feb. 1. A celebration of his life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 12, at the Governor’s Inn conference room. Kayle attended school in Pierre. His working years were spent bartending and providing security. He is survived by his siblings, Donald Abrahamson of Fort Pierre, Nila Martinek and her husband Greg of Mitchell, Ken Abrahamson and his wife Annette of Sussex, Wis., Zeanna Odens and her husband Dan of Kearney, Neb., Margo Mitchell and her husband Patrick of Kennebec, and Misty Siedschlaw of Pierre.

Bill Wolf, 70, Fort Pierre, died at home under hospice care Feb. 3. A memorial service was held Tuesday at Isburg Funeral Chapel. Bill grew up near Whitewood and St. Onge. He spent most of his life in the Black Hills with some time in Colorado and California. He moved to Pierre where he was a carpet installer for 30 years. He married Becky Rasnake in 2011. Bill is survived by his wife, Becky; his son, Tyler; his daughters, Athena Gold and her husband Anthony and Holly Novak; his sister, Betty Fernakis; his brothers, Frank, David and Marvin Wolf; a special niece, Tina Schaefer and her family; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The South Dakota high school sports awards to be distributed by the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader this spring will include the one for boys soccer, and one of the nominees for the top honor in that sport is Pierre goalkeeper Cam Ahartz.

A pancake feed for the benefit of the Oahe Capitals hockey team will take place at the Fieldhouse from 8:30 to 11 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 13. Prices are $5 for adults and $3 for youths, or as much more as you to contribute!

A fund-raiser for Pierre Governors high school baseball will be held at Pizza Ranch from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15.

Bob Schieckoff, 68, died at home in Box Elder Feb. 4. A celebration of his life is being held this (Thursday) morning at 10 a.m. at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. He was the second of six children of the late August and Lorraine Schieckoff. Bob graduated from Onida High School in 1970. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1972 to 1976, serving in Japan. After leaving active duty he joined the reserves and the Army National Guard. Bob married Shanda Thornhill in 1979, and they had three children. He married Doris Lewis in 1996. Most of his adult life was spent working as a truck driver. He is survived by his three children, Robert Schieckoff, Spring Rose Moore and Rebecca Schieckoff, all of Box Elder; four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and his siblings, Fred Schieckoff, Margaret Aschwge, Clifford Schieckoff, Lily Mitchell and Pam Schieckoff.

Riggs High’s entry in the state one-act play festival, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” earned a superior rating. Members of the cast who earned individual superior acting awards were Delaney Engbrecht, Michael VanDeWiele and Addisyn Gruis.

According to a Facebook post from his wife, Sonia, Chad Downs has returned home to Spearfish after 25 days of hospitalization in Denver. His next chemotherapy treatment is set for Feb. 15. In the meantime, he has several follow-up doctor appointments in Denver this week. Sonia says Chad is getting rest at home and that some of Chad’s symptoms are already showing improvement.

A FINAL THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

From a cartoon posted on Facebook:

Piglet: “If they don’t convict him, does that mean he’s innocent?

Pooh: “No, Piglet. It means they’re all guilty.”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWER

D U K E
A R E A
R A N T
E L O S