THOUGHT FOR MEMORIAL DAY
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”
— Unknown
PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP
Girls soccer: Sidney Zanin has resigned as head coach of the Governors girls soccer team. He was the first-ever girls soccer coach for Riggs High School, and he is completing his seventh season. His teams were state champions in 2017 and 2018.
Track-field: Eight seniors on the boys and girls track teams have earned Academic All-State recognition. They are Nolan Rounds, Isaac Polak, Jacob Larson, Houston Lunde, Regan Bollweg, Hannah Schochenmaier, Kenzie Gronlund and Emma Lusk.
This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY:
Girls golf: at ESD Conference tournament, Mitchell, 10 a.m.
— FRIDAY:
Girls golf: at Brandon Valley invitational, 10 a.m.
Track-field: at state “AA” meet, Sturgis, 9:30 a.m.
— SATURDAY:
Track-field: at state “AA” meet, Sturgis, 9 a.m.
Track-field: The regular season ended at the Wendelgass meet at Huron. The Pierre boys placed fourth among six schools, and the girls were third of six. In girls’ events Jessica Lutmer won the 800 in 2:26.88; Brianna Sargent won the 3200 in 12:45.12, and Ryann Barry won the high jump at 5’0″. Addison Cumbow placed second in the 200 in :27.49, and Aleise Christopherson was second in the triple jump at 34’2 1/2″. In boys’ events Josh Strand placed second in the 400 in :52.05, and the 4×400 relay team was second in 3:36.01.
Baseball: The Governors’ season ended in the regional championship game with a 20-6 record. In the opening game Pierre dominated Rapid City Central, 13-3. A two-run double by Jack Merkwan was the big blow in a 3-run first. Lincoln Kienholz’s RBI triple made it 4-0 in the second. After the Cobblers scored twice, the Govs answered with a 3-run third on Jayden Wiebe’s two-run single and a Kienholz sacrifice fly. Pierre blew it open with six runs in the fourth as Jakie Mayer had an RBI single Merkwan drove in two with a triple, Matt Hanson plated one on a ground-out, Kienholz had a one-run double and a wild pitch scored one more tally. Central got one run in the top of the fifth but remained 10 runs down, ending the game after 4 1/2. Isaac Polak pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing five hits and three walks but giving up only one earned run and striking out six. Mayer came in and accomplished the final four outs. Merkwan had three hits to get his four RBIs. The championship contest vs. Brandon Valley stayed scoreless until the Lynx got single runs in the fourth and fifth. A Hanson hit brought Pierre back to within 2-1 in the fifth. Two costly insurance runs by BV in the top of the seventh proved to be the dagger because the Govs scored one in the bottom of the inning on a Bennett Dean double and a catcher’s throwing error. But the game ended at 4-2, and Pierre’s season was over. Brady Getz gave Pierre a strong start, going five innings and allowing only four hits and two runs. Elliot Leif and Kienholz each pitched an inning in relief. BV’s ace, Carson Aksdal threw a complete game, allowing only three Pierre hits, one earned run, two walks, one hit-batter and six strikeouts.
Girls golf: The Pierre team placed fifth at last Thursday’s Brookings invitational with a 66-over-par team total. Haley Nadeau placed ninth with a 12-over 84. Ellie Jo Simpson played the course in 87, Hadley Hart 90 and Madilyn Brakke 93. At Watertown’s meet Tuesday Pierre was fifth in a tournament won by Harrisburg. Simpson’s 11th-place 86, 14 over, was Pierre’s best. Hallie Baldwin had a 95, Nadeau 95 and Brakke 96.
Boys basketball: It will be a bit of a historic moment next December when the Governors take the court to open the season. The head coach, replacing Terry Becker, who retired from the coaching job, will be Brianna Kusler. The former Aberdeen Central and Northern State University basketball star was an assistant on Becker’s staff and coached the sophomore boys last season.
COUNTDOWN
1 day: State track meets, AA Sturgis, A Spearfish, B Rapid City (May 28-29).
4 days: Memorial Day (May 31).
5 days: Post 8 baseball season openers (June 1).
9 days: Casey Tibbs Match of Champions (June 5).
10 days: Kennedy Center Honors, CBS-TV (June 6).
11 days: State AA girls golf tournament, Sioux Falls (June 7-8).
11 days: State B boys/girls golf tournaments, Brookings (June 7-8).
12 days: Pierre city commission/school board elections (June 8).
15 days: Trail of Governors statues unveiling (June 11).
19 days: State high school finals rodeo (June 15-19).
21 days: South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Vermillion (June 17-20).
21 days: U.S. Open golf tournament, San Diego (June 17-20).
22 days: Oahe Days (June 18-19).
23 days: College World Series, Omaha (June 19-30).
24 days: Fathers Day (June 20).
36 days: Sitting Bull Stampede rodeos, Mobridge (July 2-4).
47 days: Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Denver (July 13).
49 days: The British Open golf tournament (July 15-18).
50 days: Pierre Players’ “Man of La Mancha” (July 16-18, 22-25).
51 days: Hills Alive music festival, Rapid City (July 17-18).
56 days: PGA Tour’s 3M Open, Blaine, Minn. (July 22-25).
57 days: State Legion baseball tournament, Brandon (July 23-27).
57 days: Summer Olympics, Tokyo (July 23-Aug. 8).
69 days: State amateur baseball tournament, Mitchell (Aug. 4-15).
70 days: NFL Hall of Fame game, Canton, Ohio (Aug. 5).
71 days: Sturgis motorcycle rally (Aug. 6-15).
77 days: Sully County Fair, Onida (Aug. 12-15).
77 days: American Legion World Series, Shelby, N.C. (Aug. 12-19).
78 days: Field of Dreams game, White Sox vs. Yankees, Dyersville, Iowa (Aug. 13).
STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP
This week’s schedules:
— FRIDAY:
Track-field: at state “A” meet, Spearfish.
— SATURDAY:
Track-field: at state “A” meet, Spearfish.
Track-field: At the Region 6A meet in Chamberlain the Buffalo boys were third and the girls fourth. SCHS earned six first-place medals in boys’ events—Evan Nordstrom in the 100 in :10.87 and the 200 in :23.34, Nathan Cook in the shot put at 47’6″ and the discus at 131’5″, Trey Frost in the 110-meter hurdles in :17.50, and the 4×200 relay team in 1:35.71. Runners on that quartet were Nordstrom, Cook, Frost and Andrew Fredericksen. Cormac Duffy placed second in the high jump at 5’3″ and second in the long jump at 18’9 1/2″, and Fredericksen was second in the 400 in :53.31. SCHS had three second-placers in girls’ events—Carlie O’Conner in the shot put at 32’8″, Kaysen Magee in the 800 in 2:28.52, and Taylee Stroup in the 100 in :13.28.
SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP
This week’s schedules:
— FRIDAY:
Track-field: at state “B” meet, Rapid City.
— SATURDAY:
Track-field: at state “B” meet, Rapid City.
Track-field: At the Region 2B meet in Gettysburg, the Sully Buttes girls were sixth and the boys fifth. Stevie Wittler won the 100-meter hurdles in :16.21 Ally Wittler won the discus at 115′. Lydia Hill was the shot put winner at 32’4 1/2″ and was second in the discus event at 114’3″. In boys’ events the only first- or second-place athlete was Jesse Schall, who won the shot put at 46’1 3/4″.
Golf: Sully Buttes golfers went to the regional meet at Huron Monday. In girls golf Olivia Olson placed 17th with a 117 and qualified for the state tournament. Gavin Colson placed seventh with an 87 and Garrett Petersen 12th with a 94, and both boys qualified for their state tournament. Caleb Chicoine missed the state tourney cut by only two strokes and Thomas Farries by three shots.
WEDDING DAYS
June 18: Shaun Keller/Brittney Ware.
June 18: Chris Rumrill/Katya Vakshteyn.
June 26: William Fairbanks/Valori Kunsman.
July 31: Jack Carpenter/Leesa Johnson.
Sept. 25: Nick Jung/Natalie Nagle.
Oct. 2: Jordan Lamb/Abbey Fjeldheim.
COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP
Iowa Western Community College baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference’s all-region team includes Iowa Western pitcher Peyton on its first team. He had a pitching record of 8-2 and an earned-run average of 1.87, striking out 77 in 62 2/3 innings. He threw four complete games among the 12 he started. Peyton will be part of the baseball program at Louisiana-Lafayette beginning this fall.
North Dakota State football (Grey Zabel): NDSU offensive lineman Grey was selected to the All-Freshman All-America team. The 6’5″, 280-pound freshman played in five games and started in most of them. He was injured in the April 17 SDSU game to end his first season prematurely.
Augustana baseball/softball: Augie’s spring teams continue to enjoy great success. The baseball team, which won the national Division II championship in 2018, is the #2 seed in the six-team Central Region in Warrensburg, Mo., this weekend. First opponent is Southern Arkansas at 7 p.m. Thursday. Augie hopes to return to the scene of its national title, Cary, N.C., for the Division II World Series next week. The softball team, defending national champions, is back in the Division II World Series in Denver, starting with a game against Valdosta State (Ga.) at noon Thursday. The tourney runs through Monday.
University of Minnesota baseball (Nolan Burchill): The redshirt senior from Sioux Falls has again been pitching for the Gophers, who have had a down season. They are 5-29 but finished their home season with a 9-8 walkoff win over Purdue on Senior Day last Sunday. Nolan’s win-loss record is 1-1 through last weekend. He has made 10 appearances, pitching a total of 17 innings, walking eight, striking out 12, and allowing 31 hits and 22 earned runs. The Gophers finish their season with two games against Penn State and two vs. Purdue this weekend.
Rochester Community & Technical College baseball (Cade Hinkle): The season came to an end for Cade and his teammates in their super regional tournament at St. Cloud. RCTC lost to Century College, 7-5, in pool play; stayed alive with a 9-1 win over Itasca CC and lost to Century, 10-4 and failed to advance. The season ends with a 26-19-1 record. Cade, who now returns home to play one more season of Legion ball with Post 8, was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the first Century game and was 0-for-3 with a walk in the Itasca win.
South Dakota State baseball (Landon Badger): The Jackrabbits split a four-game series against Oral Roberts and thus qualified as the #4 seed in the four-team double-elimination Summit League tournament in Omaha this weekend. SDSU, now 14-30 overall and 9-19 in league play, starts with a game against Oral Roberts today (Thursday). The other teams there are Omaha and NDSU. Last Thursday in an 11-8 loss to ORU, Landon slugged a first-inning grand slam homer to put SDSU ahead 5-1. He was 1-for-3 and had four RBIs with his home run along with a walk. Garrett Stout was 0-for-0. In a 4-3 loss Landon was 1-for-3 on an RBI double in the fifth and also scored a run. On Friday in a 4-3 win, with SDSU trailing 3-0, Landon hit a three-run homer in the fourth to tie the game. The Jacks won on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth. Landon was 1-for-4, and Garrett did not play. In a 7-4 win Saturday Landon was 0-for-3, was hit by a pitch once and scored that time. Garrett was 0-for-1. Landon finished the regular season with six homers, all at home.
ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE
Thursday: strawberry cheesecake.
Friday-Sunday: huckleberry.
A THOUGHT ABOUT JUNE
“What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.”
— Gertrude Jekyll
BASEBALL UPDATE
Pierre Post 8 schedule:
— Tuesday: home vs. Renner (3:00) and Rapid City Post 22 (7:00). (Renner and Post 22 will also play each other at 5:00).
— Thursday, June 3: home vs. Brookings (noon) and Minot (4:00). (Minot and Brookings will also play each other at 2:00).
Post 8: According to a story in the Capital Journal, the Post 8 roster for this summer includes Lincoln Kienholz, Maguire Raske, Aaron Booth, Jake Mayer, Cade Hinkle, Jack Van Camp, Elliot Leif, Bennett Dean, Andy Gordon, Spencer Letellier, Gary Nedved, Isaac Polak, Brady Getz, Matt Hanson, Jack Merkwan, Jayden Wiebe, Christian Busch, Jackson Edman, Brecken Krueger and Jett Zabel.
Pierre Trappers: A late addition to the roster last week is outfielder Bennett Osborn from Century College (Minn.). His hometown is Redfield.
Pierre Trappers: The Trappers opened the Expedition League season by splitting their first two games, beating Hastings on a walkoff error Tuesday. 5-4. and losing last night.
Pierre Trappers schedule:
Thursday: home vs. Hastings.
Friday: home vs. Western Nebraska.
Saturday: home vs. Western Nebraska.
Monday: at Spearfish.
Tuesday: at Spearfish.
Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Friday: Kansas City, 7:10 p.m., BSN.
— Saturday: Kansas City, 1:10 p.m., BSN.
— Sunday: Kansas City, 1:10 p.m., BSN.
— Monday: at Baltimore, 12:05 p.m., BSN, ESPN.
— Tuesday: at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m., BSN.
— Wednesday: at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m., BSN.
— Thursday: at Kansas City, 7:10 p.m., BSN.
Minnesota Twins: The Twins still have a way to go to get back in the division race, but they have had a good week, winning six of their last seven games through yesterday. Minnesota lost to the Angels, 7-1; beat the Angels, 6-3; beat Cleveland, 10-0; lost to Cleveland, 5-3; beat Cleveland in 10 innings, 8-5, and swept Baltimore, 8-3, 7-4 and 3-2.
Four Corners: The Four Corners team beat Colome, 11-4, to go to 2-0, then lost a Sunday game in 40 MPH winds to the Plankinton Bankers, 18-2. Four Corners plays Thursday at Kimball/White Lake and next Thursday at Miller.
Sioux Falls Canaries: The Birds were swept by Kansas City over the weekend, 4-2, 7-4 and 7-2, but they have rebounded with two wins over Houston, 8-7 and 16-0. Sioux Falls is home vs. Houston tonight, then goes on the road for the first time to Lincoln Friday through Sunday and to Kansas City Monday through Thursday.
HOCKEY UPDATE
Aberdeen Wings: The Wings took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 division semifinal playoff series over Minot, winning 3-1 and 4-3. The series concludes Thursday and, if necessary, Friday and Sunday this weekend.
Rapid City Rush: The Rush lost two of three to Indianapolis, winning 3-2 and losing 3-2 and 5-0. Rapid City now finds itself on the brink of playoff elimination. The team is home vs. Allen Friday Saturday and Sunday.
Minnesota Wild: In the first-round playoff series the Wild, with the series tied at one game apiece, lost twice to Vegas, 4-3 and 4-0, and seemed doomed for elimination. But somehow Minnesota won in Las Vegas Monday, 4-2, and won Game 6 at home last night, 3-0, to force a deciding Game 7 in Las Vegas Friday night. The series winner in the next round will play favored Colorado, which has been resting since Sunday.
SOCCER UPDATE
Minnesota United FC: Idle last weekend, the Loons return to MLS action at Real Salt Lake this Saturday.
GOLF UPDATE
PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): The Champions Tour was idle last weekend. The players are in Tulsa for the Senior PGA Championships Thursday through Sunday.
FOOTBALL UPDATE
Sioux Falls Storm: The Storm evened their record at 1-1 with a 50-46 win over Arizona. Sioux Falls plays Saturday at Louisville.
PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES
- Some people have too much time on their hands, and that’s OK. Zippia, which calls itself a career site, ranked states by how gross they are, basing their rankings on such things as trash, dirty air and the spread of illnesses. They “credit” Virginia as the grossest state in the nation, followed by South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Delaware and New York. Alaska came in in 50th place, making it the least gross state with Montana 49th. South Dakota ranked 33rd, slightly worse than North Dakota 36th, Minnesota 38th, Iowa 40th and Nebraska 47th.
- The primary elections next June are still a year away, but here’s a bit of information to keep in mind while you listen to proponents and opponents go back and forth on the issue during the next 12 months. No matter whether you are a registered Republican, a registered Democrat or a registered voter of some other party affiliation, your primary ballot in June 2022 will include a constitutional amendment that would increase to 60% the threshold required to pass referendums, initiated measures, etc. Such an issue at the present time requires only a simple 50% to pass. The Republicans are strongly in favor of this and the one-party Legislature scheduled this to be voted upon at the primaries, which are typically very low-turnout elections. While most races in the primary next June will be on the Republican ballot, they figure that it will be almost entirely Republicans who decide this amendment issue. Democrats and thinking people realize it is a trick to get common folks to limit their power and defer all spending and taxing authority to the one-party legislature. If the amendment is approved by all the combined primary election voters next June, it will take effect in time for the November 2022 general election, and it is likely that the issue of Medicaid expansion in South Dakota will be on that ballot. Thus, the Republican majority who oppose Medicaid expansion will have by that time put in place the fact that a 60% majority will be required, and they figure they won’t get that.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Thursday, May 27:
Debbie (Willingham) Hubbard, Erin Stars, Marcia Mack, Troy Fox, Kristi (Kennedy) Van Winkle, Audrie Morris, Emma Haberman, Mary Peterson.
— 4th anniversary, Ryker/Angela (Koch) Tieszen.
— 15th anniversary, Jason/Deanna Reitz.
— 4th anniversary, Cody/Jessica (Blackmore) Nilson.
— 5th anniversary, Alex/Nikki (Douglas) Jensen.
Friday, May 28:
Mary Heidelberger, Sarah Deters, Larry Johnson, David Hauschild, Brian Custer, Sophia Lundeen, Emma Lundeen.
— 10th anniversary, Chad/Amanda Jungman.
— 4th anniversary, Damon/Jessica Thielen.
— 10th anniversary, Brian/Caitlin (Feller) Kemnitz.
— 5th anniversary, David/Georgina (McKee) Smith.
— 16th anniversary, Brian/Nicole (Miller) Willis.
— 16th anniversary, Tom/Erin (Nielsen) Nielsen.
— 16th anniversary, Ross/Jessica (Duba) Castelli.
— 4th anniversary, Taylor/Bethany Brock.
— 5th anniversary, Ryan/Elizabeth (Nail) Miller.
Saturday, May 29:
Hunter Hamre, Kimberly Coats, Cora Hachem, Dax Cappellano, Helen Stahl, Teagan Madden, Gail Opoien, Breanna Bishop, Austin Senger, Ray Hunsley.
— 11th anniversary, Matt/Kacy (Hutchinson) Gill.
— 28th anniversary, Dan/Deb (Kern) Workman.
— 28th anniversary, Carter/Anne Taylor.
— 51st anniversary, Galen/Ann Jordre.
— 11th anniversary, Tony/Jessica Jockheck.
— Anniversary, Ken/Joyce Koistinen.
— 12th anniversary, John/Callie (Buechler) Morris.
— 60th anniversary, Larry/Gail Lyngstad.
— 17th anniversary, Andrew/Darcy (Beck) Boersma.
— 17th anniversary, Dustin/Tina (Peterson) Ottenbacher.
— 17th anniversary, Mike/Meghann Klinger.
Sunday, May 30:
Calvin Marso, Paul Schoenfelder, Kristin McNeely, Priscilla Sommer, Jaxon Griffith, Eric Lebida, Aaron Propst, Judy Rapp, Brienna Binger, Jamie Lamb, Trish (Curtis) Schloeder, Jordan Bordewyk, Jason Rodgers, Linda Lomheim.
— 6th anniversary, Jason/Kelsey Mangan.
— 6th anniversary, Will/Shuree Mortenson.
— 6th anniversary, Drew/Nicole Mickelson.
— 6th anniversary, Austin/Moriah (Wagner) Gross.
Monday, May 31:
Wes Dugstad, Jackson Hipple, Graham Protexter, Jackie Schlaikjer, Jay Mickelson, Tori Emerson, Lahnee Martin, Rodney Parks, Curry Kuehl, Tyler Bales, Connie (Rislov) Casanova, Kayla Engelbrecht, Anna Engelbrecht, Craig Feigum, Alice Rapp, Jeff Robbins, Kirk Yackley, Melissa (Hitchcock) Maxwell.
— 13th anniversary, Dan/Alissa (Harter) Schumacher.
— 60th anniversary, Jack/Lillian Campbell.
— 18th anniversary, Jason/Lanete (McFarling) Kotilnek.
— 24th anniversary, Jon/Heather Sailer.
— 7th anniversary, Andrew/Heather Fargen.
— 7th anniversary, Nick/Liz (Winter) Marso.
— 8th anniversary, Aaron/Jenna (Goehring) Haller.
— 10th anniversary, Daniel/Christee (Staufer) Hirshberger.
Tuesday, June 1:
Josh Ford, Bruce Abels, Amanda (Chick) Deelstra, Miranda Townsend, Jonathan Huft, Jerry Bollinger, Rick Jensen, Melinda (Kruger) Vetsch, Alex Roth, Paige Erickson, Julie (Inman) Darger, Tanner Johnson.
— 19th anniversary, Nathan/Kristen (Koupal) Venner.
— 8th anniversary, Elliot/Emily (Bloomberg) Meier.
— 58th anniversary, Dan/Helen Sutera.
— 48th anniversary, Mark/Marcia (Davis) Kozel.
— Anniversary, Craig/Gail Eichstadt.
— 5th anniversary, Aaron/Kayla (Pochop) Riswold.
Wednesday, June 2:
TyAnn Herman, Austyn Christiansen, Bill Shoup, Nicole Erbele, Matt Judson, Marley Myers, Lila Houck, Ryan Beck, Momo Kei Welch Okawa, Tammy (Hinckley) Garrity, Julie (Shangreaux) Sibson.
— 15th anniversary, Aaron/Ashley (Pries) Brewer.
— 3rd anniversary, Ethan/Heather (Mangan) Fife.
— 15th anniversary, Mike/Lindsey Swenson.
— 3rd anniversary, Cole/Kadence Cruse.
— 9th anniversary, Tony/Mackenzie (Kusser) Blake.
— 3rd anniversary, Lou/Alyssa Mehlhaff.
— 9th anniversary Sam/Holly (Lindbloom) Gilkerson.
Thursday, June 3:
Rusty Westall, Josh Vanderloo, Cohen Grunewaldt, Amber (LaBrie) Shaw, Aspen Iverson, Lucas Roberts, Shawn Hostler, Seamus McDonough.
— 4th anniversary, Clint/Cally (Thomas) Kindred.
— 26th anniversary, Jon/Theresa Beastrom.
— 54th anniversary, Terry/Nancy Woster.
— 32nd anniversary, Duane/Penny Unruh.
— 4th anniversary, Walter/Natasha Haag.
— 32nd anniversary, John/Sandy Zimmerman.
— 16th anniversary, Tyler/Tiffany (Tate) Stoeser.
NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS
A memorial service for Helen Easland will take place at 2 p.m. next Thursday, June 3, at First Congregational United Church of Christ. She passed away at the age of 103 at the Highmore Healthcare Center May 19. She is survived by her son, the Rev. Roger (Jeanie) Easland of Pierre; her daughter, Anita (Diane) of Santa Rosa, Calif.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, James, and her daughter, Phyllis Rindfleisch.
Election update: Absentee voting is now under way for the June 8 school board and city commission elections in Pierre and the school board election in Stanley County. Voting can be done in this manner during normal office hours at the county auditor’s offices at the courthouses. Candidates for two school board seats are incumbents Dennis James and Randy Hartmann as well as Bree Oatman, Paul Giovanetti and Lindsay Strohfus. Four candidates are seeking two city commission seats, including incumbent Jamie Huizenga as well as Todd Johnson, Amy Currie and Lucas Solberg. In the case of the Stanley County school board, there are four candidates for two seats—Kevin Carter, Shaun Cronin, Mitch Kleinsasser and Kayla Magee. Chris Fosheim is unopposed for re-election to his own seat on the board.
Eileen Briggs, who graduated from Stanley County High School in 1988, returned as commencement speaker Sunday. She has 20 years of experience with nonprofits, government and philanthropy efforts. Now she works as a grant-making director with the Bush Foundation focusing on Native American communities.
Ann (Beemer) Candler; her husband, David, and their son and daughter lived for several years at Boulder, Colo., until a year ago when they moved to Mendocino, Calif., on the northern California coast. The Candlers next month are moving to Brevard, N.C., in the Great Smoky Mountains near Asheville. Ann tells us they are looking forward to raising their children in a small-town atmosphere, enjoying the amenities of Asheville and the area, and being within driving distance of several family members.
COVID-19 updates:
- Yesterday’s Department of Health update said 48 are hospitalized and there are 421 active cases. The state death toll stands at 2,004.
- The European Union (EU) countries have agreed to open their borders to Americans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Canada has continued until June 21 its restrictions on non-essential travel from and to the United States at the borders.
- Iowa’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill making it illegal for any city or county to impose a mask mandate. Gov. Kim Reynolds immediately signed the measure, which took effect immediately. Some school districts thus had to adjust their protocols overnight.
- The College World Series in Omaha next month will operate with 100% capacity at T.D. Ameritrade Stadium.
- The CDC and the State Department warned Americans against traveling to Japan where the Olympic Games begin July 23. This is not a ban but a warning, and the CDC says even vaccinated persons may be at risk in that country.
- The University of Wyoming announced it will allow full capacity in its football stadium this fall.
Long-time Pierre residents Larry and Gail Lyngstad will observe their 60th wedding anniversary this Saturday, May 29. Friends can send them greetings to 28894 Meadow St., Pierre SD 57501.
Paul Herman, 81, Pierre, died May 18. A memorial celebration of his life is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at Feigum Funeral Home. Mr. Herman graduated from high school at Barnard, S.D., near Aberdeen in 1957. At Northern State College he majored in business administration and minored in industrial arts. He began working for the state Department of Transportation in 1960 and married Sandra Keller that year. In 1967 a new position within the DOT brought him and his family to Pierre. The Hermans acquired Oahe Sports Shop in 1970, and they operated that business until 1975. The Hermans fostered children for more than 30 years. Mr. Herman is survived by five children, Kristie (Dale) Jacobsen, Paul (Leane) Herman, Elizabeth (Toby) Crow, Jonathan (Lacie) Herman, and Jocqueline (Ryan) Butler, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
This year’s RASDak (Ride Across South Dakota) bicycle ride will follow the Missouri River from the North Dakota border to the Nebraska border in far southeastern South Dakota, and Pierre will be one of the overnight stops. The ride will start at Pollock on June 5. The bikers’ schedule: June 6, Pollock to Mobridge; June 7, Mobridge to Gettysburg; June 8, Gettysburg to Pierre; June 9, Pierre to Chamberlain; June 10, Chamberlain to Platte; June 11, Platte to Tyndall; June 12, Tyndall to Vermillion.
Seventh-grader Conor Cruse, playing Flight 6 singles for Rapid City Stevens at the state “AA” tennis tournament last weekend, won his quarterfinal match over a Brandon Valley player, 6-3, 6-3. In the semifinals Conor had the misfortune to come up against eventual champion River McKenzie of Sioux Falls Lincoln and lost 6-1, 6-1. Conor then in the third-place match lost to an O’Gorman player, 11-10, finishing in fourth place at his first state tournament. Conor’s parents are Brandon and Melanie (Bunkowske) Cruse.
More graduates whom you may know:
- Ella Peterson from Stevens High School in Rapid City. She is the granddaughter of Sandy Peterson and the late Terry Peterson.
- Nate Sprenkle from O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls. He is the son of Eric and Cindy Sprenkle and the late Amanda Sprenkle and the grandson of Randy and Bev Sprenkle and Prentice and Susan Weaver, all former Pierre residents.
- Tayler Lahman. the daughter of Chad and Lori Lahman of Broomfield, Colo. She is the last of the Lahmans’ four offspring to finish high school, following in the footsteps of her three brothers.
Jeff and Jamie (Stokke) LeMire, who live with their sons Nathan and Jacob in the Kansas area of Kansas City, were at the St. Louis Blues’ hockey playoff game against Colorado in St. Louis Sunday, both clad in Blues gear. Unfortunately for them, the Blues lost, ending the series and their season.
The Riggs High School Class of 1972 has scheduled a planning meeting for their 50-year reunion to be held in 2022. The meeting will be at the St. Charles Lounge at 7 p.m. next Thursday, June 3. Any class member is welcome to spread the word and attend the meeting.
Jordan and Nikki Hoover of Bozeman, Mont., are the parents of a fourth child. Their son, Dean Alec, was born May 10, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces. He joins a sister, Leighton, 7, and two brothers, Hart, 4, and Grant, who will be 2 in July, in the Hoover family. Jordan and Nikki and their children lived in Henderson, Nev., for his work but now are back in Bozeman where his employer, Barnard Construction, is headquartered.
Karl’s TV Audio & Appliance, which has been located along West Sioux Avenue for many years, has decided to expand and move to Northridge Plaza.
Memorial Day programs:
* At the Riggs High School theater: Music begins at 10:30 a.m. and the service at 11. Lunch served afterwards at the American Legion cabin.
* At Blunt: 10:30 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
The University of South Dakota has announced its spring semester Dean’s List, which includes these local students: Phil Adam, Paul Adam, Alexandria Allison, Miles Amende, Cassandra Axtell, Hannah Booth, Taylor Davis, Halli Drewes, Abigail Foster, Jaid Freestone, Tyler Gere, Demeri Hanson, Carlie Hanson, Amanda Jandt, Hanna Jerome, Hallie Jerome, Tori Jones, Grant Judson, Chloe Kaiser, Carter Karst, Devan Kleven, Grayden Klundt, Chloe Lamb, Morgan Leiferman, Caleb Lusk, Morgan Magdanz, Thomas Maher, Jack Maher, Jessi Martell, Cassidy Miller, Emily Nielson, Peyton Pietz, Dawson Puepke, Macahi Raske, Caitlin Reimers, Ellie Richards, Casey Williams and Joana Zanin. The Academic Honors List for part-time USD students includes Rachel Fallon and Molly Stulken.
Rob Miller marked his 15th year as a pilot with SkyWest. Rob, who is based in Minneapolis, says on his Facebook page, “25 years to go.” He is the father of three children—Landon, Everett and Clara.
The number of Trail of Governors statues that line the main streets of Pierre in the Capitol area and downtown will increase by three this year. A ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda at 10 a.m. Friday, June 11, will see the unveiling of the second governor, Charles H. Sheldon; the sixth governor, Coe I. Crawford, and the 11th governor, Carl Gunderson.
PONDER THIS
“One of the best metaphors I’ve seen in modern life is that it’s a car headed toward a cliff’s edge while billboards line both sides of the road, blocking the driver’s view. Those billboards are all the distractions that society has to offer. Netflix. Sports. Movies. Music. Everything you consume to avoid thinking about where you are ultimately headed. And those billboards cover your view until the end of the road when suddenly the cliff approaches. Then, as your car is flying in the air, that’s when you start thinking about death and the meaning of life.”
— Jonathan Tjarks, basketball writer diagnosed with cancer in April
Seb & Carol Axtman Wedding Anniversary August 24 – married 64 years (1957-2021).