THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Turn your face to the sun, and the shadow falls behind you.
— Jan Goldstein

ELECTION UPDATES

City of Fort Pierre: Voters in Fort Pierre go to the polls next Tuesday, April 13, and two city councilmen will be elected. In Ward III incumbent Randy Sieler faces Rick Cronin. In Ward I incumbent Greg Kenzy faces Brady Gaer. Unopposed for election are Callie Iverson in Ward II and Todd Burnhard in Ward IV.

City of Pierre: On June 8 two city commission members will be elected from among incumbent Jamie Huizenga, Todd Johnson, Amy Currie and Lucas Solberg.

Pierre school board: On June 8 two school board seats will be filled by the voters. The five candidates are incumbent Randy Hartmann, incumbent Dennis James, Bree Oatman, Paul Giovanetti and Lindsay Strohfus.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Track-field: Tuesday’s Bob Judson Invitational in Pierre was postponed on Monday due to the weather forecast for rain and wind on Tuesday. No new date has been announced.

Athletes of the Week: Earning that distinction from the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association last week were Canyon Jones and Reese Terwilliger of the track teams.

Boys tennis: Tuesday’s home triangular with Rapid City Central and Mitchell was postponed due to the incoming weather and rescheduled for today (Thursday), starting at 11 a.m.

Boys basketball: Sophomore Lincoln Kienholz was named to the Class AA All-State second team by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. There are six first-team players and six on the second team, one of whom is Kienholz.

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Boys tennis: Home triangular (with Mitchell and Rapid City Central), 11 a.m.
— FRIDAY
Track-field: at Huron invitational, 3:30 p.m.
Baseball: at Mitchell, 5 and 7 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Boys tennis: at Huron quadrangular, 10 a.m.
— MONDAY
Boys tennis: at Harrisburg, noon.
— TUESDAY
Track-field: at Miller quadrangular, 4 p.m.

Baseball: Opening the season against Rapid City teams that had played a half-dozen games, Pierre scored 70 runs on 58 hits in sweeping Stevens and Central. The Governors scored in the top of the first inning of all four games and never trailed in any of the games.

• In an 11-3 win over Stevens, Pierre scored four in the top of the first and had another four-run inning later while pounding out 12 hits. Aaron Booth was winning pitcher, giving up no runs, three hits and no walks while fanning six in four innings of work. Elliot Leif and Jett Zabel finished in relief. Maguire Raske, Lincoln Kienholz and Booth had two hits apiece.
• Pierre scored in every inning in a 15-2 win over Stevens, getting 10 hits and committing no errors in the field. Spencer Letellier and Kienholz had three hits each. Bennett Dean was the starter, striking out five and allowing no walks and one hit in his two innings.
• Six runs in the top of the first led to a 28-5 win over Central. A 13-run fifth inning helped the cause. Brady Getz had three hits and four RBIs. Starter Isaac Polak walked one, struck out four and allowed one run in three innings on the mound. Andy Gordon had three of Pierre’s 23 hits.
• Pierre had 15 more hits in a 16-5 win over Central. Kienholz had a triple and three singles, and Jack Merkwan also had four hits. Jacob Mayer was starting pitcher, and Zabel, Collin Brueggeman and Matt Hanson finished the game in relief roles.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

All-conference teams: The Yellowstone Trail Conference announced its all-conference teams for boys basketball, girls basketball and volleyball this week. Rafe Wientjes is on the boys basketball first team, Caleb Chicoine on the second team and Garrett Petersen on the honorable mention list. In girls basketball Stevie Wittler is first-team all-conference, Allyson Wittler on the second team and Calleigh Chicoine and Lydia Hill in the honorable mention category. In volleyball Tailynn Bradford was named to the second team and Stevie Wittler to the honorable mention list.

WEDDING DAYS

May 1: Dan Nielsen/Kim Borbely.
June 18: Chris Rumrill/Katya Vakshteyn.
July 31: Jack Carpenter/Leesa Johnson.
Sept. 25: Nick Jung/Natalie Nagle.
Oct. 2: Jordan Lamb/Abbey Fjeldheim.

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) They won all their games except the last one.
(5) Cleveland’s lake.
(6) To touch; to affect.
(7) “Hamilton” star and Oscar nominee Leslie.
— DOWN
(1) Coke —-, the one without sugar.
(2) Dry.
(3) Hall of Fame football player Cappelletti.
(4) To give the impression of being.

Answer to the puzzle at the bottom of this Update.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: pina colada.
Friday-Sunday: watermelon.
Monday-Tuesday: grape.
Wednesday-Thursday: coffee.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

NCAA Division I volleyball: The USD women, seeded third in the four-team Summit League tournament, beat Omaha then stunned #1 Denver in the finals, rallying from down two sets to none. Winning the tournament sends the Coyotes automatically to the NCAA Tournament, starting with a match against Missouri at 11 a.m. next Wednesday, April 14. The winner of that match will face Ohio State the next day at 11 a.m. All of the volleyball tournament will be played in a bubble setting in Omaha.

South Dakota State baseball (Landon Badger, Garrett Stout): The Jackrabbits were swept in four games at the University of Evansville in Indiana. In a 13-3 eight-inning loss, Landon played center field and had a double in two at-bats, walked twice and scored a run. Garrett played third base and went 0-for-3. In a 3-2 loss Garrett was 1-for-2 and Landon 0-for-2. In a seven-inning 11-1 loss Garrett was 2-for-3. In a 14-8 defeat Landon was 1-for-4, driving in a run with a single and walking once. Garrett was 2-for-5 and also had an RBI single. Now 7-17 overall and 2-6 in the Summit League, SDSU is home for two games Friday and single games Saturday and Sunday vs. Omaha.

South Dakota women’s soccer (Janaina Zanin, Joana Zanin, Emily Mikkelsen): The Coyotes swept NDSU in back-to-back 3-0 games. This weekend USD closes the regular season with Friday and Sunday games at UND.

Black Hills State track-field (Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Frank Becker): At Nebraska-Kearney’s meet Kelsey placed seventh in the 5000-meter run in 19:14.36. Frank placed 21st in the 200 in :23.65 and ran on the seventh-place 4×400 relay team, which was timed in 3:30.09. BHSU competes this Friday at the School of Mines’ Bauer Invitational in Rapid City.

Rochester Community and Technical College baseball (Cade Hinkle): Rochester took three of four games from Itasca Community College. In a 12-1 five-inning win, Cade was starting catcher as usual, went 2-for-4 at the plate, and drove in three runs. His two-run triple and his one-run single both came in the same inning, a 10-run fourth. In a 5-1 win Cade was 0-for-3 and walked once. In a 17-6 six-inning loss he was 0-for-2 and walked once. In a 10-9 win he was 1-for-4 and walked once. On Tuesday the team lost a 3-1 nine-inning game to St. Cloud Technical and Community College, and Cade was 1-for-4. Now 10-6-1, RCTC is home for four games this weekend vs. Century College.

Augustana track-field (Elizabeth Schaefer): The Vikings compete this weekend at the Jim Duncan invitational in Des Moines and the Red Raider Open at Northwestern (Iowa).

South Dakota Mines track-field (Erick Colman, Theron Singleton): The PIerre men did not compete with the Hardrockers at the Nebraska-Kearney meet. Mines is home this Saturday for its own Bauer Invitational.

Iowa Western Community College baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Reivers have gone 7-2 in a busy nine-game week. Last Wednesday the team took two from Southwestern Community College at Creston, Iowa, 7-1 and 16-5 in seven innings. Peyton pitched the opener of a Saturday doubleheader at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington and sustained his first pitching loss of the year. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits, three earned runs and a walk while striking out six. The Reivers lost 4-2 in seven innings. They won the next three from Southeastern, 1-0 in nine innings, 6-0 in seven and 12-2 in nine. On Tuesday they beat Southwestern twice, 7-5 in seven and 12-2 in eight innings. This Saturday and Sunday the Reivers are home in Council Bluffs for four against Marshalltown Community College.

Northern baseball (Spencer Sarringar): The Wolves had an all-winning week, going 4-0 to improve their record to 7-11. In a 12-3 win over Winona State Spencer was 3-for-3, walked once, stole two bases, scored twice and drove in three runs with a two-run single and a one-run triple. In a 6-1 over Winona he was 1-for-4, scored once and drove in a run with a double. Then NSU beat Winona again 6-1, and Spencer was 1-for-3 and walked once. On Tuesday NSU beaty USF, 7-3, and Spencer was 0-for-2 but walked once and scored a run. The nightcap was rained out. Northern is home for two games Friday and one Saturday against Upper Iowa.

South Dakota State track-field (Addison Eisenbeisz): At the USD meet Addy tied for fifth in the high jump at 5’5″. SDSU returns to Vermillion for the USD Challenge meet Friday and Saturday.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): For the second straight year Chloe was named to the Academic All-Summit League team.

Dakota Wesleyan baseball (Bradley Dean): The Tigers lost three of four games to Northwestern (Iowa). Bradley didn’t play in a 13-8 loss and was in right field for an eight-inning 13-4 loss, going 0-for-3 at the plate. In a 9-2 loss he pitched in relief, facing 14 batters, allowing four hits, two earned runs and two walks and striking out one. In a 14-4 win as he played right field Bradley was 0-for-3 but walked twice and scored a run. Now 10-13 overall and 4-8 in the GPAC, DWU plays four Saturday and Sunday at Jamestown.

COUNTDOWN

5 days: Fort Pierre city election (April 13).
7 days: Riggs High spring play (April 15-16-17).
8 days: Minnesota United FC soccer season opener (April 16).
12 days: All-State Orchestra concert, Sioux Falls (April 20).
17 days: The Oscars, ABC (April 25).
22 days: Pierre Players’ “Radium Girls” (April 30-May 2, May 6-8).
28 days: Pierre Educational Foundation’s Evening of Excellence (May 6).
31 days: Mothers Day (May 9).
37 days: FCS football national championship game (May 15).
40 days: NBA playoffs begin (May 18).
42 days: State boys tennis tournament, AA Sioux Falls (May 20-21).
47 days: Pierre Trappers baseball season opener (May 25).
50 days: State track-field meets, AA Sturgis, A Spearfish, B Rapid City (May 28-29).
53 days: Memorial Day (May 31).
54 days: Pierre Post 8 baseball season openers (June 1).
58 days: Casey Tibbs Match of Champions, Fort Pierre (June 5).
59 days: Kennedy Center Honors, CBS (June 6).
60 days: State girls golf tournament, AA Sioux Falls (June 7-8).
60 days: State girls/boys golf tournament, B Brookings (June 7-8).
61 days: Pierre city/school board elections (June 8).
68 days: State high school finals rodeo, Fort Pierre (June 15-19).
70 days: South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Vermillion (June 17-20).
71 days: Oahe Days (June 18-19).
72 days: College World Series, Omaha (June 19-30).
73 days: Fathers Day (June 20).
106 days: Baseball All-Star Game, Denver (July 13).
116 days: Olympics Summer Games, Tokyo (July 23-Aug. 8).

HOCKEY UPDATE

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Herd had a bad week, losing to Sioux City 5-0 and losing to Tri-City twice, 5-1 and 4-1. Sioux Falls plays at Waterloo Friday and Saturday.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush lost to Wichita, 3-1 and 3-2 in overtime. Rapid City has three games this weekend at Tulsa and will be home vs. Allen next Wednesday.

Aberdeen Wings: The Wings played three 3-0 games this week, beating Minnesota Wilderness twice and losing to Minot once. It was only the third loss of the season for Aberdeen. The Wings play at St. Cloud Friday and Saturday.

NCAA Div. I men’s Frozen Four: The national semifinals in Pittsburgh today (Thursday) have St. Cloud State facing Minnesota State-Mankato at 4 p.m. CDT and Minnesota-Duluth, two-time defending national champions, facing Massachusetts at 8 p.m. The championship game will be at 6 p.m. Saturday. All three games can be seen on ESPN2.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild swept a pair from Vegas, 3-2 in a shootout and 2-1; saw their long home winning streak come to an end at the hands of Colorado, 5-4, then took out their frustration on the Avs last night with an 8-3 triumph. The Wild will play at St. Louis Friday and Saturday, then return home to host St. Louis Monday and Arizona Wednesday.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Thursday: Seattle, 3:10 p.m. (BSN) (Note: What used to be Fox Sports North is now Bally Sports North, so we’ll call it BSN.)
— Saturday: Seattle, 1:10 p.m. (BSN).
— Sunday: Seattle, 1:10 p.m. (BSN).
— Monday: Boston, 1:10 p.m. (BSN, MLB Network).
— Tuesday: Boston, 1:10 p.m. (BSN).
— Wednesday: Boston, 1:10 p.m. (BSN, MLB Network).
— Thursday: Boston, 12:10 p.m. (BSN, MLB Network).

Minnesota Twins: After their first six games the Twins are 4-2, having won both of their opening series on the road by 2-1 margins. Minnesota lost at Milwaukee, 6-5 in 10 innings, then beat the Brewers 2-0 and 8-2. In Detroit the Twins won 15-6 and 3-2 and lost 4-3.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves beat New York, 102-101; lost to Memphis, 120-108; lost to Philadelphia, 122-113; won over Sacramento, 116-106, and lost last night to Indiana, 141-137. Minnesota goes to Boston Friday, then comes home to play Chicago Sunday, Brooklyn Monday and Milwaukee Wednesday.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Missouri Valley Football Conference standings: NDSU 4-1, SDSU 4-1, UND 4-1, Missouri State 4-1, Southern Illinois 3-3, Northern Iowa 3-3, USD 1-3, Illinois State 1-3, Youngstown State 1-5, Western Illinois 1-5. (Note: Illinois State and Western Illinois are no longer playing this season, and USD’s season is over since its last two games have been canceled.) This Saturday’s schedule, barring any more late cancellations): NDSU at Northern Iowa, Youngstown State at Missouri State.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons defeated Cincinnati, 3-1, in their second preseason match. Minnesota plays Orlando Friday in the third of the four preseason games.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): The Champions Tour, after a long layoff, finally returns to action next week at the Chubb Classic at Naples, Fla.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• Black Hills Community Theatre in Rapid City is slowly working its way back into staging in-person events. A concert version of the musical, “The Who’s Tommy,” will be performed at the Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15 and at 2 p.m. May 9 and 16. Seating will be socially distanced, and face coverings are required. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 9, at 605-394-1786 or online at www.bhct.org.
• The Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls announced its Broadway theater program will return this fall for the 2021-22 season. The scheduled shows are “Escape to Margaritaville” in September, “Fiddler on the Roof” in February, “Hairspray” in March, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in March, “Come From Away” in May and “Anastasia” in June.
• It’s rather amazing we got through all of the women’s and men’s Division I basketball tournaments, considering the continuing prevalence of COVID-19 everywhere. Next March the women’s tournament will return to various first-round and regional sites, culminating with the Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, the men’s Final Four next year will be at the Superdome in New Orleans. Next year’s Division I men’s wrestling championships will be at Detroit, and the men’s hockey Frozen Four will be in Boston. Speaking of hockey, one of the men’s hockey four regionals will be in Sioux Falls in 2024 and 2026, provided the governor and the Legislature don’t do anything further to cause such events to be removed from this state.
• Among all the base hits the Governors pounded out in their four games at Rapid City last weekend, Lincoln Kienholz had eight of them, and five of those eight were triples, the hardest of all basehits to acquire. According to Jon Winkler’s KCCR sports e-mail report, Lincoln is already second all-time in team history for triples in a single season and is only two behind Landon Badger.
• A sure sign of spring: On the south side of the house where there is ample sunshine, five of the prettiest dandelions you’ve ever seen popped out overnight Sunday into Monday. Obviously they don’t need precipitation to grow!
• I receive a lot of Duke University posts because I like to know what goes on there and because they are interesting to me. Here’s one this week: The university received 49,555 applicants for admission as next fall’s freshmen. Among those just over 2,000 were admitted to the Class of 2025.
• In light of Georgia’s new law that people standing in line waiting to vote cannot be given water or food, I heard a good question posed last night by a radio sports analyst. During the Masters golf tournament this weekend, will Georgia allow a golfer to take a drink of water while he is waiting to tee off? Better just go ahead and do it, golfers, and don’t ask any Republican standing nearby, especially if you are a Black man.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, April 8:
Lexi Anderson, Greg Axtman, Ruth Kilber, Eric Bresee, Katie Larson, Linsey (Peterson) Robbins, Wilson Jordre.
— Anniversary, Donny/Kori (Verhelst) Rolfes.
— 4th anniversary, Josh/Aimee Parsons.

Friday, April 9:
Kai Segrud, Matt Brakke, Kellie (Sutton) Yackley, Kellie Weinheimner, Rob Nill, Wesley Joy, Arthur Olson, Spencer Eich, Aaron Comer.
— Anniversary, Shaun/Sara (Sperry) Thomas.

Saturday, April 10:
Brady Smith, Brandon Louder, Lucas Oehlerking, Ken Fanger, Katherine (Van Gerpen) Cedeno-Torres, John Jordre, Kory McKay, Nolan Nielsen, Jason Livermont.
— 11th anniversary, Tyson/Jenny (Miller) Goehring.

Sunday, April 11:
Austin Lucas, Lillian Campbell, Mike Haas, Teresa (Sprinkel) Gillaspie, Mason Fisher, Amy Burger, Eric Hillestad, James Bobby, Jessica Kost, Terry Barber, Chase DeJong, Sheena Carlisle, Amber (LeFaive) Larsen.

Monday, April 12:
Darby (Warne) Boyd, Austin Neilan, Nathan Bishop, April (Thompson) Schroeder, Brandt Becker, Colton Carter, Mike Eaton, Frank Turner, Luke Nelson, Stacie Suedkamp, Terry Nelson, Lee Fosheim, Cheri Bartlett, Trent Withers, McKenna Yach, David Volk, Meleta DeJong, Brian Grunewaldt.
— 18th anniversary, Aaron/Laura Scheibe.

Tuesday, April 13:
Tanner Pruess, Austin Van Houten, Wynne (Nafus) Sayer, Maggie Brindza, Derek Schiefelbein, George Hollingsworth, Josh Hove, Clara Miller, Michala Huse, Brenna Mikkelsen, Emily (Bloomberg) Meier, Sarah (Adam) Axtman, Sara (Sperry) Thomas, Raina Christenson, Carol Garry.
— 9th anniversary, Justin/Theresa (Frick) Jones.
— We fondly remember Rita Linn on her birthday.

Wednesday, April 14:
Matt Bump, Mark Menning, Sadie (Fitzke) Goodman, Evan Zuercher, Carolyn Elwood, Lola Schreiber, Dee Lundeen.
— 9th anniversary, Eric/Niki (Cowan) Jaworski.
— 3rd anniversary, Kai/Kayla Hanson.

Thursday, April 15:
Brian Deal, Rachel (LeBeau) Hachem, Spencer Safe, Matt Christie, Kassi (Schuetzle) Wilson, Dusty Beringer, Shannon (Dykstra) Herbert, Kelly Gerber, Nevaeh Hight, Jason Wulf, RyLee Fischer, Jacob Wagner.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Claire (Garry) Peschong’s husband, MMC Jon Peschong, retired from the U.S. Navy effective April 1 after serving for more than 20 years starting on Aug. 25, 2000.

Joyce Gilkerson, 72, Pierre, died April 1. A graveside service will take place at 3 p.m. next Thursday, April 15, at Riverside Cemetery. Joyce graduated from high school in Ottumwa, Iowa, then earned a degree at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. She taught in Hannibal, Mo. She later worked with banking institutions including Wells Fargo, US Bank and Fort Pierre National Bank. She spent much of her working life in Davenport, Iowa, but also lived briefly in Missouri, Iowa, Montana and Pierre. Her last position was with the state Department of Transportation. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister and an infant brother.

Riggs High alumnus Nathaniel Gough and his bride, Oor, were married yesterday, April 7, in Singapore where they live. Nathaniel is the son of Julia Richardson Jones and Scott Jones of Pierre.

This past Monday was Debra Bollinger’s last working day in Virginia. She will be officially retired May 1, the day before she turns 65. Deb has been working in Virginia for 21 1/2 years, but she said, “Now is the time to return home.” With the help of her brother, Scott Bollinger, she will move some of her belongings to Arizona where she will live in the winter months. Then she will drive to South Dakota to live in the northern Black Hills in the summers. She will be officially a resident of South Dakota at that time. Deb worked for many years trying to prevent and prosecute securities and franchise fraud, but “it is now someone else’s task,” she said. She is currently watching a criminal case in Norfolk, Va., that she opened at the State Corporation Commission and referred to the U.S. attorney. “I hope he gets the book thrown at him. He stole millions from people all over the country,” she said. She will miss the work and some people, but “I am ready for different challenges.” Deb said she plans to do nothing for awhile, but when the pandemic lifts, she wants to volunteer where she can.

George Sazama, whose wife is the former Heather Knox and who is the director of the ICU nursing unit at Monument Health’s hospital in Rapid City, recently became the only nurse in South Dakota trained to be part of a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT).

Stacey (Bartlett) Schaefer passed away March 11. A celebration of her life is planned for this summer in Pierre. The daughter of Gloria and the late Bob Bartlett graduated from Riggs High School in 1986. He earned a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy at Creighton University and a master’s degree in health care administration at USD. She spent several years working in occupational therapy prior to a career of more than 20 years in health care executive management, leadership, recruitment and consulting. She worked at Regional Health, Children’s Care Rehab and Hospital, and Onewest Healthcare Consulting, all in Rapid City, and most recently Berardi Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery in Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1991 she married her high school sweetheart, Monty Schaefer, and they became the parents of two daughters, Morgan, and McKenzie, who became a physician’s assistant and a medical doctor, respectively. Stacey was preceded in death by her father, Bob Bartlett; her girls’ father, Monty Schaefer, and her grandparents. Survivors include her children, Morgan and Trey Sauvage and Kenzie Schaefer; her mother, Gloria Bartlett; her brother, Mike Bartlett, his wife Stacy and their children, Katie and Jack; and her brother, Matt Bartlett. Friends can send condolences to Stacey’s daughters at these addresses: Morgan Schaefer, 735 Raymond Ave., Apt. 408, St. Paul MN 55114, and Kenzie Schaefer, 1114 E. Adams St. #2, Tucson AZ 85719.

Cassie (Rausch) Stoeser has joined the South Dakota Community Foundation as controller. She previously worked as finance director at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. In the past she has been a credit analyst at BankWest and an auditor at the South Dakota Department of Legislative Audit. Cassie and her husband, Cody Stoeser, are the parents of three children.

Kacie (Schneider) Olson is now engaged to Phil Greenwood. He is biosolids supervisor for the city of Sioux Falls.

Chad and Amy Lockhart were interviewed on KELO-TV last Thursday morning just after they were allowed to return to their home in the Westberry Trails area just outside northwest Rapid City. On the previous Monday, the first day of the Schroeder Fire, they were told by an officer at the door that they had to leave immediately. For 48 hours they stayed at a hotel and in their camper. “It was kind of a homeless feeling and then not know if at the end of the day you truly have a house to come back to, that this might be literally everything you own now is in this car. That’s really scary not knowing if you will have any possessions when you get back,” Amy said. Nothing was harmed inside or outside their home, but at the time of the interview they were still looking for their cat to find its way home.

The funeral service for 108-year-old Alma Buechler, who passed away March 28 at Avera Maryhouse, will be held at 2 p.m. this Friday at Lutheran Memorial Church, preceded by visitation at the church from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Alma and her parents, Emanuel and Lydia Mehrer, moved to a farm near Harrold when she was a child. She lived there until her marriage to Reynold Buechler. The young family moved to Pierre when their little children became of elementary school age. Alma was known for many years as an Avon lady. She worked for the state as a housekeeper, cook and nanny for Gov. Richard Kneip and his family and later for Gov. Frank Farrar. She is survived by her daughter, Daph Richards, and her husband, Floyd; her son, Jerry Buechler, and his wife, Oralee; her son-in-law, Albert Abbott; 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 24 great-great-grandchildren, and a sister, Adeline Rothenberger. She was preceded in death by her husband, seven siblings and her youngest daughter, Vonda.

Pierre native Jason Young’s son John, who played high school-age hockey with the Rushmore Thunder and later junior hockey in Gillette, Wyo., suited up for the Wichita Thunder for two games last week. Coincidentally those two games were in Rapid City against the Rush, so John got to spend Easter weekend with his family. He moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., last fall to work.

Lindsey (Tilberg) Jennewein, who grew up in Onida, was the only candidate filing petitions to run for another term on the city council in Vermillion, so she will be elected without opposition.

The Riggs High School band concert this Saturday at 8 p.m. has a theme of “Roaring ’20s Redo” and is a jazz fund-raiser.

Pierre native Darrell Hartmann has retired as Brookings fire chief after 23 years of service.

Joseph M. Tusa, 61, Pierre, died March 29 after battling cancer. A celebration of his life will be held on his birthday, Aug. 21, in Pierre. He is survived by his mothers, Jeraldyne Ottum Anderson and Kathleen Tusa; his daughter, Nichole Tusa; his sons, Jason Tusa Robinson and Anthony Tusa Robinson; seven grandchildren; his sister, Julia (Chuck) Leonard, and his brothers, Steven (Susan) Tusa, Thomas Tusa, Michael (Ann) Anderson and Keith (Rhonda) Anderson.

Michael and Sarah Jo (Even) Tveidt of Sioux Falls became parents on March 31. Their newborn daughter is Livia Josephine Tveidt. She weighed 5 pounds 7 ounces, and measured 19 inches.

Trace and Lynn Beck are still in Rochester, Minn., but both are out of their hospital stays. Lynn was there to receive a kidney transplant. Trace is recuperating from an organ donation.

Gary Swanson, who graduated from Onida High School in 1960, died at home in Rapid City April 5. The son of the late Les and Irene Swanson was an All-State football player for Onida in the fall of his senior year. He moved with his family to Belle Fourche in 1960. Gary served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1966, stationed aboard the USS Tioga County. After his military discharge he returned to Belle Fourche where he held various jobs. In 1997 he moved to Rapid City. He retired from employment with the Rapid City Area Schools in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Tylene, whom he married in 1997; his daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Bob Lyons of Catawba, N.C.; two grandchildren; his brother, Rick Swanson; six stepchildren and 16 bonus grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 9, at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. A celebration of his life will take place at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Yesterday’s Department of Health status report on COVID-19 showed 2,511 active cases and 94 hospitalizations. The South Dakota death toll, to which there have not been any additions for five days, remains at 1,938.

Graham and Samantha Schuetzle have added a daughter to their family, Susanna Jane joins two brothers in the Schuetzle family.

Hailey Hillestad, daughter of Jed Hillestad of Rapid City and granddaughter of Monte and Barb Hillestad of Pierre, graduates today (Thursday) from U.S. Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Nathan Cook, all-around athlete at Stanley County High School, signed his letter of intent this week to attend Dakota State College at Madison and play football for the Trojans.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWER

Z A G S
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O D O M