THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
— Vince Lombardi

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: apricot.
Friday-Sunday: huckleberry.
Monday-Tuesday: blue mood.
Wednesday-Thursday: lime.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— FRIDAY
* Boys soccer: at Douglas, 4 p.m.
* Girls soccer: at Douglas, 6 p.m.
— SATURDAY
* Girls soccer: at Spearfish, 2 p.m.
* Boys soccer: at Spearfish, 2 p.m.
— MONDAY
* Boys golf: at Brandon Valley invitational, 2 p.m.
— TUESDAY
* Boys golf: at Sioux Falls Washington invitational (at Willow Run), 8 a.m.
— THURSDAY
* Girls soccer: home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 4 p.m.
* Boys soccer: home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 6 p.m.

Other sports opening dates:
* Girls tennis: Aug. 20 vs. Harrisburg and Lincoln at Sioux Falls.
* Cheer/dance: Aug. 28 at Aberdeen Central invitational.
* Volleyball: Aug. 24 at Watertown.
* Cross country: Aug. 27 Pierre Invitational.
* Football: Aug. 27 at Harrisburg.

Pre-season soccer polls: The South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association released its pre-season polls for both classes. In Class AA the top five boys teams are projected to be (1) Stevens, (2) Aberdeen Central, (3) O’Gorman, (4) Roosevelt, (5) Spearfish. The top five girls teams are projected to be (1) O’Gorman, (2) Brandon Valley, (3) Harrisburg, (4) Aberdeen Central, (5) Stevens.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

Fall sports opening dates:
* Football: Aug. 20 at Timber Lake.
* Cross country: Aug. 28 at Mobridge-Pollock meet.
* Volleyball: Aug. 28 at Bennett County triangular.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Fall sports opening dates:
* Football: Aug. 20 home vs. Colome.
* Cross country: Sept. 2 at Redfield invitational.
* Volleyball: Aug. 24 at Jones County.

COUNTDOWN

Today: Sully County Fair, Onida (Aug. 12-15).
Today: American Legion baseball World Series, Shelby, N.C. (Aug. 12-17).
Today: Field of Dreams game, Yankees vs. White Sox, Dyersville, Iowa (Aug. 12).
1 day: Pierre girls/boys soccer openers (Aug. 13).
4 days: Pierre boys golf opener (Aug. 16).
8 days: Stanley County football opener (Aug. 20).
8 days: Sully Buttes football opener (Aug. 20).
12 days: Pierre volleyball opener (Aug. 24).
14 days: Corn Palace Festival, Mitchell (Aug. 26-28).
15 days: Pierre cross country opener (Aug. 27).
15 days: Pierre football opener (Aug. 27).
21 days: State Fair, Huron (Sept. 2-6).
25 days: Labor Day (Sept. 6).
28 days: NFL season opener, Dallas at Tampa Bay (Sept. 9).
29 days: S.D. Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Chamberlain (Sept. 10-11).
31 days: Minnesota Vikings season opener (Sept. 12).
36 days: Sanford International golf tournament, Sioux Falls (Sept. 17-19).
37 days: Homecoming at Northwestern College, Iowa (Sept. 18).
38 days: Emmy awards, CBS (Sept. 19)
44 days: “M” Day at School of Mines (Sept. 25).
44 days: Blue & White Day at DWU (Sept. 25).
44 days: Swarm Day at BHSU (Sept. 25).
44 days: Homecoming at U. of Minnesota (Sept. 25).
44 days: Trojan Day at DSU (Sept. 25).
45 days: Tony awards, CBS (Sept. 26).
46 days: Riggs High coronation (Sept. 27).
49 days: Riggs High homecoming parade (Sept. 30).
50 days: Riggs High homecoming day (Oct. 1).
50 days: S.D. Festival of Books, Deadwood (Oct. 1-3).
51 days: Gypsy Day at Northern (Oct. 2).
51 days: Cougar Day at USF (Oct. 2).
51 days: Homecoming at U. of Nebraska (Oct. 2).
51 days: Dakota Day at USD (Oct. 2).

BASEBALL UPDATE

* Four Corners: The Four Corners team lost its state tournament game against Wynot, 9-2. Justin Allen had Andrew Coverdale each had three hits, Jeremy Hand threw five innings, allowing six runs and seven hits.

* Pierre Trappers: In their last regular-season game the Trappers lost at home to Spearfish, 12-8. The Spearfish team three days later clinched a playoff spot as division champions. Pierre had a 9-20 record in the first half, 8-25 in the second half and 17-45 overall.

* Sioux Falls Canaries: With the season winding down, the Canaries are home tonight vs. Cleburne, Friday through Sunday vs. Fargo-Moorhead, and Monday through Thursday vs. Houston.

* Little League baseball: The state champion Sioux Falls team won its first two games at the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis by 10-0 and 7-0 scores over Davenport, Iowa, and Columbia, Mo. Both the regional champion and runner-up advance to the Little League World Series, so the Sioux Falls team needs to win only one of its next two games to advance to the big show at Williamsport.

* Legion baseball: The Fargo team that went all the way to the national championship game of the Legion World Series two years ago against Idaho Falls is back at the World Series after winning the Central Plains Regional. The Series starts today and runs through Tuesday at its permanent site, Shelby, N.C. Fargo begins pool play against Honolulu at 9 a.m. today (Thursday), continues against Tupelo, Miss., at 3 p.m. Friday and concludes at 3 p.m. Sunday vs. Ridge St. Mary’s Md. Teams in the other pool are Dubuque, Iowa; Beverly, Mass.; Midland, Mich., and Idaho Falls. All pool play games are being streamed on ESPN3; the semifinals Tuesday at 3 and 6 p.m. will be on ESPNU, and the national championship game is at 5:30 Tuesday on ESPNU.

* Minnesota Twins schedule:
Friday: Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m., BSN.
Saturday: Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m., BSN.
Sunday: Tampa Bay, 1:10 p.m., BSN.
Monday: Cleveland, 7:10 p.m., BSN.
Tuesday: Cleveland, 7:10 p.m., BSN.
Wednesday: Cleveland, 12:10 p.m., BSN, MLBN.

SOCCER UPDATE

* Minnesota United FC: The Loons’ great season continued with a 2-0 win over Houston. Minnesota hosts Los Angeles at 4 p.m. Saturday on Fox, then plays at San Jose at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on BSN+.

COVID-19 ROUNDUP

Last week the state Department of Health reported 650 COVID-19 cases in the state. Yesterday in a week’s time that total had soared to 1,149. There were 75 hospitalizations reported yesterday, double from a week ago. The death toll went up by another person to 2,051 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Some of the past week’s developments:

• State Rep. Taffy Howard of Rapid City, who will be a Republican primary challenger against incumbent Rep. Dusty Johnson next June, said she plans to introduce legislation to limit private businesses from making vaccinations mandatory as a basis for employment.
• Vermillion mayor Kelsey Collier-Wise said Monday the state needs COVID reports from the Department of Health more often than once a week now that schools are about to open.
• The Rapid City school district’s back-to-school plan approved by the previous school board was announced by Supt. Lori Simon this week, including no mask mandate to begin the year and no distance learning this year. The school board, now controlled by a right-wing conservative group, imposed additional restrictions Monday—forbidding any mask mandate ever, regardless of how many COVID cases materialize; removing all authority of the administration to do contact tracing for students or staff who test positive; removing any administration authority to require any quarantine period for anyone in close contact with a positive test. The board was cheered on by a big crowd of supporters. A final vote on all these restrictions is expected next week.
• The Sioux Falls school board has updated its back-to-school plan to say that masks are “encouraged.”
• The Yankton school board has dropped its mask mandate. The Mitchell school board adopted a policy of optional masks for now. Any change in their policy will now be made by the board, not the administration.
• United Airlines now requires employees to be vaccinated. However, Southwest, Delta and American airlines are not requiring shots for their employees.
• An Arkansas state law banning mask mandates by school districts and government bodies was blocked by a judge. Then on “Face the Nation” Sunday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson admitted he should not have signed the bill into law. He said he is glad the judge blocked its becoming law.
• Gov. DeSantis of Florida threatened to withhold paychecks of any superintendent or school board member in the state who defies his order prohibiting mask mandates. Meanwhile, the Broward County school district, second-largest in Florida, is defying the governor’s ban on mask mandates.
• In California Governor Newsom planned to announce yesterday that teachers in every school district must be vaccinated or submit to regular testing.
• The Dallas (Texas) school district will require students and teachers to wear masks, defying Gov. Abbott’s barring schools from issuing mask mandates.
• The University of Minnesota will require COVID shots of students once federal regulators give full approval to vaccines.
• Duquesne University in Pittsburgh is imposing a mask mandate for all students, faculty and staff, whether they are vaccinated or not.
• West Virginia Wesleyan University will charge any non-vaccinated student a non-refundable $750 fee for the fall semester.
• CNN fired three employees for going to work unvaccinated. CNN said in a statement it has a “no tolerance” policy for those who violate their employment requirement.
• Several cruise lines are requiring a negative test before any passenger can board their ships. The state of Florida is fighting such requirements in court.
• The South Dakota Medical Association, which represents more than 2,000 doctors, recommended masks for students in school in the state.
• New Orleans has canceled its Jazz and Heritage Festival for the second straight year.
• The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced that certain people who attend mass will be required to wear masks. The bishop urged Catholics to get vaccinated.
• Canada opened its borders Monday to fully vaccinated travelers from the United States.
• The U.S. Department of Defense will require all military troops to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 15.
• Snohomish County, Washington, is now going back to requiring masks in stores and other indoor public spaces after COVID cases doubled in the past three weeks. Governor Inslee of Washington made vaccinations a condition of employment for 60,000 state employees, which is a problem for the highest-paid state employee, the Washington State football coach, who refuses to get a vaccination.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

* Sioux Falls Storm: Desperately needing wins in the final two regular-season games, the Storm will play the first of those two at Iowa this Saturday.

* Minnesota Vikings: The first of three preseason games will be against Denver at home at 3 p.m. Saturday on NFL Network.

* NFL live games on TV:
— Saturday, noon, Miami at Chicago.
— Saturday, 3 p.m., Denver at Minnesota.
— Saturday, 6 p.m.: Cleveland at Jacksonville.
— Saturday, 9 p.m.: Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams.
— Sunday, noon: Carolina at Indianapolis.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“We live in an era of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs and expertise. But we’re also stymied by the forces of misinformation that undermine the true knowledge that is out there.”
— Dr. Laolu Fayanju, M.D.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): Idle last week, the Champions Tour resumes at Calgary this weekend with the Shaw Charity Classic Friday through Sunday.

WEDDING DAYS

Sept. 25: Nick Jung/Natalie Nagle.
Oct. 2: Jordan Lamb/Abbey Fjeldheim.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• It’s time for our football contest for this season to begin. You are invited to enter by picking the winners of the 10 games listed. There are two places to find the contest games: (1) on the Parker Knox page on Facebook beginning on Sunday night each week, or (2) here in The Midweek Update each Thursday. “Comment” with your 10 winners on the Facebook page or send them to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by the deadline, which is an hour or so before any of the games kick off. We keep track of the results each week; we give 10 points to all contestants who have the best correct-incorrect record, 8 points to those with the second-best record and 6 points to those with the third-best record. However, no points are given if a contestant’s record is worse than .500. At season’s end we total up all the points earned, divided by the number of contests entered and figure out who our champion is. Last season Jon Boer was our champion with David Ludwig second and Nathan Vetter third.
• Tonight (Thursday) is the night the White Sox and the Yankees will play a regular-season game that counts on the northeast Iowa farm where “Field of Dreams” was filmed three decades ago. Coverage begins on Fox at 5 p.m. CDT.
• During the NFL Hall of Fame game and constant television interviews last Thursday night, Dallas Cowboys legend Drew Pearson was still—46 years later—talking about the original “Hail, Mary” play against the Vikings in a playoff game in 1975 at old Metropolitan Stadium. On the final play of the game Roger Staubach lofted a long pass, Pearson pushed off for offensive pass interference but didn’t get called for it, and he caught the ball to complete a 50-yard touchdown play that won the game for Dallas. Staubach then coined the phrase “Hail, Mary” that now refers to any desperation pass play.
• A good question I read last week in Axios Sports: “If you drink two five-hour energy shots, do you get 10 hours of energy or five hours of double energy?”
• A concert celebration of the legendary Broadway musical “Wicked” will air Aug. 29 on PBS stations. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who starred in the original production of the show on Broadway, will “defy gravity” and co-host the show.
• I’ve known, of course, forever that this year would be the 65th anniversary of graduation from Onida High School of my own Class of 1956. If my calculations are correct, 22 of the original 31 graduates are still alive and kickin’, which is pretty good considering we all are in our 80s. I was the youngest in the class, and I am 82 1/2, so you realize the age of those “old people” in the class. Some of the 31 will gather for a reunion dinner Friday night during the Sully County Fair in Onida.
• This week I am compiling the list of local college athletes we will need to follow in the Update this school year. You can help by reminding me especially of those who are going out-of-state to participate in college athletics. I will check the rosters of all fall sports at all of the in-state colleges, but help me with those out-of-staters, please!

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Aug. 12:
Taylor Murtland, Courtney Zander, Cooper Hogan, Mary (Holm) Keahey, Molly (Wilbur) Budmayr, Lindsay Ambur, Kari Anderson, Bo Rosane.
— 4th anniversary, Chris/Ashlee Voller.
— 42nd anniversary, Dave/Marcia Mack.
— 15th anniversary, Tim/Lindsey (Simons) Ferber.
— 21st anniversary, Christopher/Jessica (Yost) Cox.
— 21st anniversary, Kevin/Julie Lors.
— 15th anniversary, Jeff/Jamie (Stokke) Lemire.

Friday, Aug. 13:
Kory Davis, Misti (Currier) Baumberger, Sam Herrscher, Charissa Howard, Bobbi (West) Meyer, Leto Knudson, Finn Meiners, Andi Mancuso.
— 5th anniversary, Jerry/Aly Bollinger.
— 10th anniversary, A.J./Tisa Wharton.

Saturday, Aug. 14:
Ethan Harder, Rebecca Cruse, Mike Zellmer, Mike Walton, Andrew Johnson, Kristi Barnhart, George Summerside, Eloise Cermak, Wyatt Rumrill, Jonathan Pfleger, Heath Stoeser, Jackson Goodman, Jordyn Riipperger, Gay Rhoades, Tim Maher, Michaela Stroup, Spencer Thomas.
— 34th anniversary, Doug/Deb Smith.
— 17th anniversary, Rick/Katie (Skrondahl) Melius.
— 16th anniversary, Nate/Tracie (Seyfer) Vogel.
— 40th anniversary, Tony/Shiela Mangan.
— 11th anniversary, Justin/Jill Gilmore.
— 11th anniversary, Chris/Victoria Bell.
— 51st anniversary, Mike/Diana Vogel.
— We fondly remember Phil Trautner, who passed away 18 years ago today.

Sunday, Aug. 15:
Hunter Roberts, Kathy (Hoover) Pautz, Meredith (Lee) Roebuck, Jason Christenson, Danny Snow, Jesse Nystrom, Jack Steece, Heath Houdek, Brian Kemnitz, Jared Dutton, Ellie Knudson, Autumn Iverson, Dianne Weyer..
— 41st anniversary, Mark/Glennis Zarecky.
— 12th anniversary, JD/Amanda Lauing.
— 14th anniversary, Sam/Amber (LaBrie) Shaw.

Monday, Aug. 16:
Trudie (King) Feldman, Melanie (Bunkowske) Cruse, Gaylon Gerber, Terry Keller, Mike Vgel, Brittney (Nuttall) Binger, Ann (Schroyer) Schwartz, Nancy Shoup, Susan Culberson, Dustin Van Balen.
— 7th anniversary, Derek/Natalie Van Roekel.
— 52nd anniversary, Monte/Barb Hillestad.
— 35th anniversary, Rodney/Marla Mosiman.
— 18th anniversary, Jerry/Doralynne (Micklos) Jarvis.
— 13th anniversary, Robert/Samantha (Merrill) Pietz.
— 18th anniversary, Tom/Jill (Novotny) Hart.
— 18th anniversary, Eric/Misty (Doll) Brenden.
— 8th anniversary, Devin/Kimberly (Bartels) Malone.
— 13th anniversary, Terry/Brenda (Crandell) Carroll.

Tuesday, Aug. 17:
Karen Stengle, Adam Snow, Lois Telford, Stephanie (Colwill) Harmon, Ryan Callahan, Brad Curtis, Rachel (Hermanson) Knutson, Olive Williams, Asher Williams.
— 19th anniversary, Josh/Katie Melgaard.
— 19th anniversary, Bob/Cara (Roseland) Gray.
— 20th anniversary, Jeremy/Penny Ripperger.
— 13th anniversary, Jesse/Megan Ahlers.
— 8th anniversary, Mitchell/Casi (Huizenga) Popko.

Wednesday, Aug. 18:
Landyn Uecker, Kathy Lindekugel, Mike Larsen, Hannah Stahl, Kyle Weaver, Jerrid Conway, Brooke (Graff) Albertson.
— 3rd anniversary, Jason/Micki Noyes.
— 3rd anniversary, Todd/Hillary (Handcock) Leiferman.
— 9th anniversary, Jamey/Erin (Titze) Herr.
— 54th anniversary, Larry/Dee Lundeen.
— 12th anniversary, Isaac/Anna Vogel.
— 54th anniversary, Larry/Anita Zastrow.
— 14th anniversary, Will/Stephanie (Magedanz) Bartsch.

Thursday, Aug. 19:
Anita Jung, Emily (Zarecky) Steber, Carmen Howard, Maddie Lund, Ross Hettinger, Nick Johnson, Tom Huber, Bill Stevens, Jacob Shoup, Naomi Fossen, Tanna Becker.
— 15th anniversary, Ryan/Melissa (Luers) Hansen.
— 51st anniversary, Don/Diane Giesinger.
— 15th anniversary, Abran/Brandy Kean.
— 21st anniversary, Jesse/Sarena (Nuttall) Beastrom.
— 49th anniversary, Mike/Jean Denton.
— 4th anniversary, Colton/Jenny (McKillip) Langdeau.
— 4th anniversary, Trevor/Brielle (Yackley) Bohle.
— 4th anniversary, Trevor/Mary (Volmer) Lopour.
— 4th anniversary, Wyatt/Miranda Trautman.

SUNDAYS AT THE LEGION SCHEDULE

Music on the deck at the American Legion cabin begins at 5 p.m. each Sunday:

Aug. 15: The Barstool Boys.
Aug. 22: No Worries Band.
Aug. 29: Hidden Timber Band.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

A memorial service will be held at a later date for Sully County native Patrick Kane, 93, who died July 14 at the Omaha VA Hospital. Pat was raised on the family ranch near Agar. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. He met Jean Walsh at a USO dance at Fort Monmouth, N.J., and they were married in 1953. They raised their family on the ranch at Agar. Pat graduated from the USD law school in 1971, and the family relocated to Sioux Falls in 1973. He was Minnehaha County deputy state’s attorney for several years and remained in private practice until retiring at the age of 90. Pat served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1985 to 1992 and was dubbed “the conscience of the Democratic Party.” He was a life-long basketball enthusiast, playing in high school, in the Army, at the YMCA and at the Senior Games. He is survived by seven children, Dan Kane of Berlin, Germany; Sheila (Doug) George of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Anne Howell of Salt Lake City; Sam (Vicki) Kane of Kansas City; Nora Kane of Omaha; Mimi Kane of Sioux Falls, and Rita Kane (Eric Passoja) of Los Angeles; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his sister, Kathleen, and his brother, Francis.

Save these dates if you are an alumnus of Fort Pierre and Stanley County high schools. The all-school reunion is set for June 24-26 next summer.

Pierre native and Riggs High alumnus Chad Grunewaldt (’02) was married on July 31. His wife, Ann, grew up in North Platte, Neb., and graduated from USD in 2006 in dental hygiene. She now is the clinical hygiene instructor at USD. Chad is owner of the Old Lumber Company bar and grill in downtown Vermillion.

Zach and Christina (Borah) Merrill of Pierre are the parents of a son, Jameson Ryan, who was born Aug. 5. He weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces. Zach earned a bachelor of science degree from Dakota State in 2013, and Chrsitina completed her master’s at Black Hills State in 2013.

A celebration of life party in honor of Craig Johnson, 77, who died in March, will be held at 6 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 13, at the Veranda by Meadow Barn, 1690 Willow St. W., Harrisburg. He was the father of Lisa Bondy of Pierre. He worked in Pierre during the Janklow administration as a cabinet secretary in the Department of Commerce and Regulations and the Department of Labor.

Joie (Schuetzle) Jockheck has ended a 16-year teaching career and is headed in a new direction. She will work as a content marketing specialist for a company called MacroAir in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Since she, husband Tony and their two boys moved to northern Idaho a few years ago, Joie has been a middle school teacher at nearby Post Falls.

Gladys (Paulson) Schill, 79, died Aug. 2. Her memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at Lutheran Memorial Church. A graduate of Pierre High School in 1960, she married Howard Schill in 1965, and they made their home in Pierre. Gladys had a 42-year career in state government with the Department of Revenue. She is survived by her husband; her daughter, Christie (Vern) Sevier; her son, Kurt Schill; her brother, Gerald Paulson; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Our sympathy to former Pierre residents Bill and Beth (Miner) O’Toole. Bill’s mother, Colleen, of Hartford passed away at Bethany House in Sioux Falls. Services were held Aug. 11 at George Boom Funeral Home. She is survived by her husband, Paul, of Hartford; three sons, six grandchildren and a sister.

The Sioux Falls Post 15 East baseball team won twice at the Central Plains Regional before being eliminated and finished their season with a 40-14 record. One of their starters in the outfield was Nate Sprenkle, son of Eric Sprenkle and the late Amanda (Weaver) Sprenkle. Nate, who had a three-run home run in one of East’s two tournament wins, was named to the all-tournament team.

Excavation began Monday on the new swimming pool to be constructed on the site of the former Griffin Park pool.

Jason Young’s daughter, Natalie, placed fourth in the South Dakota Golf Association’s state women’s amateur tournament in Aberdeen. She had a 12-over-par 73 scorecard.

Lois (Marso) Schmidt, who would have turned 94 later this month, died Aug. 7. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Lois was born at Harrold and moved with her family to Pierre in 1939. She graduated from Pierre High School in 1945. In 1943 she began a 78-year career with the Civil Air Patrol, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a community volunteer she was involved in countless organizations and projects, including the East Pierre Women’s Club garden at the corner of Pierre Street and Pleasant Drive and the removal of the Oahe Chapel bell to that location. She worked as a telephone operator until marrying Robert “R.O.” Schmidt in 1947, then became a bookkeeper for his business. Later she owned and operated several rental properties. She is survived by Vernard “Skip” Schmidt, Jeanne (Verne) Olson, Jim (Becky) Schmidt, Bill (Deb) Schmidt, Richard Schmidt, Mike (Mary) Schmidt Terri (Mark) Undeberg, and Sandy (Robert) Schmidt; a brother, Fred (Anita) Marso; a sister-in-law, Jackie Marso; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, her parents, sons Skip and Dick, two grandchildren, brothers Bob and Donny Marso, sister Vivian Marso and two sons-in-law.

A public shooting area near Eureka will be named for John and Vera Cooper at 11 a.m. Friday. The event is being hosted by Ducks Unlimited. John Cooper spent 22 years based in Pierre with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. He later served as secretary of the Department of Game, Fish & Parks and then as a member of the Game, Fish & Parks Commission until retiring at the end of his second term on the commission in 2016. (News courtesy of KELO-TV)

Kim Hipple and Seth Hastings were married Aug. 1. They had originally set a later wedding date but moved the day ahead due to medical issues involving Seth’s grandmother. The couple plan to have a reception later on their original wedding date. Kim is serving as pastor of Beach United Methodist Church in Howard.

The Pierre school district’s back-to-school plan involves optional masks and optional vaccinations. Final approval of the plan is expected at the next school board meeting. Meanwhile, superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt said the 20 open teaching positions have been reduced to one. The first day of school is next Thursday, Aug. 19.

Jerry Schaefer has been honored by the Department of Transportation for 45 years of service. He currently holds the position of certification/accreditation engineer in the DOT’s materials and surfacing program.

The annual Country Cookin’ fund-raising meal at the Community & Youth Involved Center in Fort Pierre is back. The meal will be served beginning at 5 p.m. next Wednesday, Aug. 18. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. The menu includes oven-fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, cucumbers, homemade bread, melons, iced tea, lemonade and coffee.

Belated congratulations to Conrad and Alta Otterness, who just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

A date for your calendars: The sounds of Mariachi music will come to Pierre on Sunday, Aug. 29, when Mariachi San Pablo presents a free outdoor concert at the Steamboat Park amphitheater. Presented by Faith Lutheran Church of Pierre, the event will kick off with a free Mexican lunch and games for the kids, starting at noon, followed by the concert at 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Mariachi San Pablo presents family entertainment as part of their ministry for a Lutheran mission based in El Paso, Texas.

PONDER THIS

Don’t forget that you’re human. It’s okay to have a meltdown. Just don’t unpack and live there. Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed.