THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“What concerns me most is that the decisions are being made by politicians and not pediatricians.”
— Dr. David Agus

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedule:
— THURSDAY
Girls soccer: home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 4 p.m.
Boys soccer: home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 6 p.m.
— FRIDAY
Girls tennis: at Sioux Falls Lincoln invitational, 1 and 4 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Girls tennis: at Sioux Falls Lincoln invitational, 9 a.m. and noon.
— TUESDAY
Boys golf: home for Pierre invitational, 10 a.m.
Volleyball: at Watertown, 7 p.m.

Class 11AA football polls: Media poll—(1) Pierre, (2) Brookings, (3) Yankton, (4) Tea Area, (5) Watertown. Coaches poll—(1) Pierre, (2) Brookings, (3) Tea Area, (4) Yankton, (5) Aberdeen Central.

Class AA boys soccer poll: (1) Rapid City Stevens, (2) Aberdeen Central, (3) Sioux Falls Washington, (4) Sioux Falls Jefferson, (5) Pierre.

Boys soccer: The Governors opened with a 1-1 weekend. Pierre won 6-0 at Douglas/New Underwood/Rapid City Christian, then lost at Spearfish, 5-3.

Girls soccer: The Governor girls stand at 2-0 after the first weekend and have yet to allow a goal. Pierre won at Douglas, 10-0, and at Spearfish, 2-0.

Boys golf: At the Warrior/Lynx Invitational played Monday and Tuesday, Pierre finished fifth overall with a 642 score. Pierre was fourth after the first day of play with a 319, then carded a 323 on the second day. Nick Bothun tied for 10th with a 14-over 155. Luke Olson tied for 21st with a 161, Jack Bartlett and Lincoln Houska tied for 28th at 164, Sawyer Sonnenschein was 32nd at 167 and Dawson Getz tied for 49th with a 177.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedule:
— FRIDAY
Football: at Timber Lake, 7 p.m.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedule:
— FRIDAY
Football: home vs. Colome, 7 p.m.
— TUESDAY
Volleyball: at Jones County, 6:30 p.m.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: lime.
Friday-Sunday: black cherry.
Monday-Tuesday: root beer.
Wednesday-Thursday: grape.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Twins schedule:
Thursday: at New York Yankees, 6 p.m., BSN and MLBN.
Friday: at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m., BSN.
Saturday: at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m., FS1.
Sunday: at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m., BSN.
Tuesday: at Boston, 6:10 p.m., BSN.
Wednesday: at Boston, 6:10 p.m., BSN.
Thursday: at Boston, 6:10 p.m., BSN.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Stanley County football opener (Aug. 20).
1 day: Sully Buttes football opener (Aug. 20).
1 day: State 4-H Finals Rodeo, Fort Pierre (Aug. 20-22).
5 days: Pierre volleyball opener (Aug. 24).
7 days: Corn Palace Festival, Mitchell (Aug. 26-28).
8 days: Pierre football opener (Aug. 27).
14 days: State Fair, Huron (Sept. 2-6).
18 days: Labor Day (Sept. 6).
21 days: NFL season opener (Sept. 9).
22 days: S.D. Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Chamberlain (Sept. 10-11).
24 days: Minnesota Vikings season opener (Sept. 12).
29 days: Sanford International golf tournament, Sioux Falls (Sept. 17-19).
30 days: Homecoming at Northwestern (Iowa) (Sept. 18).
31 days: Emmy awards, CBS-TV (Sept. 19).

SUNDAYS AT THE LEGION SCHEDULE

Music begins at 5:30 p.m. Sundays on the deck at the American Legion cabin. The schedule:
Aug. 22: No Worries Band.
Aug. 29: Hidden Timber Band.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons lost to Los Angeles, 1-0, and tied San Jose, 1-1, this week. Minnesota is home Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN against Sporting Kansas City.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

— Minnesota Vikings: The first preseason game was embarrassing until one remembers that no offensive or defensive regulars played. The Vikings were throttled by Denver, 33-6. The second of three preseason games is at home vs. Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Saturday. In eastern and central South Dakota the game will be seen on KSFY-TV.

— NFL live games on TV this weekend:
* Thursday, 6:30 p.m.: New England at Philadelphia, NFL Network.
* Friday, 7 p.m.: Cincinnati at Washington, NFL Network.
* Friday, 7 p.m.: Kansas City at Arizona, ESPN.
* Saturday, noon: Buffalo at Chicago, NFL Network.
* Saturday, 3:25 p.m.: New York Jets at Green Bay, NFL Network.
* Saturday, 6:30 p.m.: Detroit at Pittsburgh, NFL Network.
* Saturday, 7 p.m.: Indianapolis at Minnesota, KSFY-TV.
* Saturday, 9 p.m.: Las Vegas at Los Angeles Rams, NFL Network.
* Sunday, noon: New York Giants at Cleveland, NFL Network.
* Sunday, 6:30 p.m.: San Francisco at Los Angeles Chargers, NFL Network.
* Monday, 7 p.m.: Jacksonville at New Orleans, ESPN.

— Midco Sports Network will televise the Wolsey-Wessington vs. De Smet football game at 7 p.m. this Friday. But before that, tonight (Thursday) on Midco there will be the South Dakota high school football preview at 7:30 p.m. (repeated at 9 p.m.) and the volleyball preview at 8 p.m., repeated at 9:30.

— Sioux Falls Storm: The Storm’s playoff chances are gone after a 55-49 loss to Iowa. The season ends with the final regular-season game at home Saturday at 7:05 vs. Green Bay.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): At the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta, last weekend, Tom tied for 47th place with three 70s. He finished with an even-par 210 score, earning $8,725. The Champions Tour drops down into the States this weekend for the Boeing Classic at Snoqualmie, Wash., Friday through Sunday.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

— Thanks to Greg Dean for pointing out to me that the Fargo team that won the Central Plains Regional and qualified for the Legion World Series is NOT the same Fargo team that went all the way to the national championship game two years ago. This Fargo post pulled stunning upsets in winning its own state tournament as well as the regional.

— The telecast of the Field of Dreams game from northeastern Iowa was fantastic as was the game itself. Next year it will be the Cubs vs. the Reds in that game. As the “Cubs Insider” newsletter says, the Cubs’ losing streak may be over by then.

— We offer this addition to your vocabulary:
* freedumb (n.) — (1) The belief that your personal freedom outweighs others’ personal safety. (2) One who holds this belief.

— It is sad that, when an election turnout is 28.7%, we South Dakotans consider it to be a good turnout. (And it is, considering Rapid City’s pathetic school board election turnout of less than 10% in June.) At the Tri-Valley district on the northwest edge of Sioux Falls, after two contentious and failed school bond elections in recent years, the third time was a charm Tuesday, and the no-no’s finally lost. With a 60.3% approval rate the district’s voters—well, those who bothered to show up—approved a $52 million bond that will help fund a new K-4 elementary school at Crooks, a new high school building at Colton, renovations to the existing high school structure which will become a K-8 school, and an upgrade to the athletic complex.

FOOTBALL CONTEST #1

Everyone is welcome to participate in our weekly contests. Send your 10 winners of the following games to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Friday afternoon. The list of games each week is also posted on the Parker Knox page on Facebook on Sunday evening, and you can “comment” there by listing your 10 winners.

This week’s games:
(1) Stanley County at Timber Lake
(2) Colome at Sully Buttes
(3) St. Thomas More at Aberdeen Roncalli
(4) Sioux Valley vs. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan
(5) Faulkton at Potter County
(6) Wall vs. Gregory
(7) Canistota-Freeman at Platte-Geddes
(8) Winner at Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian
(9) Hill City at Hot Springs
(10) Wolsey-Wessington at De Smet

WORDS OF WISDOM

Heroes don’t seek attention. But they show up continually in the little things. Train your eyes to look for them. They may not be as loud as the headlines or newsfeeds. But they’re all around you, multitudes of them. Train your eyes and listen with your heart. Both rightfully know that the quiet things, the little things, are the big things. They are far more important than the noise of the world.
— Renata Bowers

COVID-19 UPDATE

Some of the past week’s developments:

• On Monday the state Department of Health reported that active cases in the state now surpassed 1,300 for the first time since May 6. The active case total stood at 1,355, and the death toll since COVID began rose to 2,053. On Tuesday the number of active cases was up by 338 over the previous day there were 363 new cases, and the death toll was up by two more. Now on Wednesday 376 new cases were reported, 178 of them in the Rapid City/Sturgis/Deadwood/Spearfish area, and the number of COVID-related hospitalizations in South Dakota stood at 105 Wednesday, compared to only 38 just one month ago. Pennington County (Rapid City) with 406 has its most active cases since Jan. 25. Hughes County reported three new infections in Wednesday’s DOH report.
• PAC-12 football teams who cannot play due to COVID-19 will have to forfeit those games, just as in the NFL, rather than having them rescheduled. The same will be true in the Big 12 Conference.
• The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre and other District of Columbia venues will now require proof of vaccination for entrance.
• One Mississippi school district, after one week of classes, went entirely virtual when one of its high schools ordered 40% of its students to quarantine. The school had made masks optional because they wanted to have a “normal year.”
• Tulane University in New Orleans became the first Football Bowl Subdivision team to require proof of a vaccination or a negative test for every fan—home or visiting—to get into their football games.
• Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected a request to block a school’s vaccination mandate. A group of Indiana University students had tried everywhere else, and the Supreme Court was their last resort.
• The South Dakota High School Activities Association said the safety protocols that were in effect when fall activities began last year will not be in place this fall. Teams that have to miss games due to COVID infections will forfeit them, not reschedule them.
• The Brandon Valley school board, pressured by the angry populace, voted to keep masks optional for students and teachers. Of the 36 people who spoke at the board’s meeting, 30 supported voluntary or optional masking, and only six favored mandating masks, and four of those six were physicians. (What do they know?!) One of the parents had these choice words: “You’re going to die from something. I’m sorry to those who lost someone, but are we going to quit living?”
• Some Catholics in southern California wanted their priests to put in writing that their refusal to be vaccinated was rooted in their Catholic faith. The Bishop of San Diego wrote to all priests in his jurisdiction that receiving the vaccine “is perfectly consistent with Catholic faith” and lauded those who have been vaccinated for contributing to the common good.
• Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Screw your freedom because with freedom come obligations and responsibilities. You cannot just say “I have the right to do X, Y and Z” when you affect other people. This is when it gets serious. Yeah, you have the freedom to wear no mask, but you know something? You’re a schmuck for not wearing a mask.”
• Barclays Center, the arena where the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets play their home games, will require employees and spectators age 12 and older to be vaccinated starting Sept. 13. Each person will be required to show proof of at least one vaccine dose.
• The Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., which starts this weekend, has been closed to spectators, except for a small group of tickets allotted to each participating team for family members and sponsors.
• Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center will require all employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 1, or they will be unable to continue working there. Protesters appeared outside the hospital.
• The governor of Oregon deployed up to 1,500 National Guard troops to support hospitals as the number of COVID cases soared in that state.
• The Dave Matthews Band will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for any person attending any of the band’s concerts anywhere.
• In Texas the state Supreme Court blocked mask mandates ordered by two of the nation’s largest counties in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that no mask mandates exist. And on a personal note, Governor Abbott, one day after attending a huge maskless Republican event, tested positive for COVID-19 and is stuck at the governor’s mansion, even though he had been vaccinated.
• New Zealand’s prime minister announced a NATIONWIDE lockdown after the country confirmed ONE coronavirus case.
• The Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL will offer vaccinations on-site at Allegiant Stadium prior to each home game, allowing those newly-vaccinated fans to attend wearing masks. All others attending Raider games must offer proof of vaccinations.
• The National Park Service announced new mask rules of employees, contractors and visitors in effect inside all park buildings and in crowded outdoor spots, regardless of one’s vaccination status.
• In Wyoming Governor Gordon will not reinstitute a mask mandate. He imposed one last December, then lifted it in March.
• If you plan to travel soon, take your mask with you. The nationwide transportation mask mandate on trains, planes and buses has been extended at least into January.
• U.S. health officials this week recommended that all Americans get a COVID-19 booster shot eight months after their second Pfizer or Moderna shot. The boosters should be available in late September.
• Some major employers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, such as Wells Fargo, Target and U.S. Bank, had intended for their work-at-home employees to return to on-site work in September, but they have delayed that plan now that COVID cases are on the rise again.
• Due to rising COVID cases there, Pittsburgh’s Labor Day parade, the largest in the United States, has been canceled for the second straight year.
• Garth Brooks, who performed before a full Memorial Stadium crowd in Lincoln, Neb., last weekend, has canceled the next five stops on his Stadium Tour at Cincinnati, Charlotte, Baltimore, Foxborough, Mass., and Nashville due to increasing numbers of COVID cases.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

• University of Sioux Falls cross country (Jessica Lutmer): Jessica is a freshman from Pierre where she was a cross country and track and field star. The Cougars begin their season at the Augustana twilight meet Sept. 3.
• Dakota Wesleyan volleyball (Gracie Olivier): Gracie, a Sully Buttes graduate, is listed as a freshman defensive specialist for the Tigers. They open their season in Hutchinson, Kan., this weekend, playing McPherson, St. Mary’s of Kansas, Ottawa and Tabor. Next Tuesday DWU goes to Presentation.
• Augustana football (Jett Lamb, Colton Hartford): Jett is a sophomore defensive lineman from Sully Buttes. Colton, son of Pierre native Joe Hartford, is a freshman defensive back from Rapid City Stevens. Augie opens the NSIC season at home Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. vs. Minot State.
• South Dakota State football (Regan Bollweg): Regan is listed as a freshman tight end from Pierre. The Jackrabbits, fresh off reaching the national championship game last spring, open their season on national television at Colorado State at 8 p.m. Sept. 3 on FS1.
• Northern football (Joe King, Jacob Howard): Joe is a senior tight end from Pierre and Jacob a sophomore offensive lineman from Sully Buttes. The Wolves open their season Sept. 2 at Minnesota State-Mankato.
• South Dakota women’s soccer (Joana Zanin, Janina Zanin): Joana is a senior forward and Janaina a sophomore midfielder for the Coyotes. After exhibition matches against Iowa, Nebraska and Briar Cliff, USD opens the season at home Friday night against Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Joana this week was named a Summit League preseason “Player to Watch.”
• Dakota State football (Nathan Cook, Collin Brueggeman): Nathan is a freshman tight end from Stanley County and Collin a freshman linebacker from Pierre. The Trojans have a scrimmage against Mount Marty’s first-ever football team tonight, then open the season Aug. 28 at Dakota Wesleyan at 7:05 p.m. on Midco Sports Network.
• Dakota State volleyball (Nicole Sarringar): Nicole is a senior setter for the Trojans. They open their season at Hastings, Neb., Aug. 27-28, playing Panhandle State, Haskell Indian Nations University, Kansas Wesleyan and Hastings.
• Dakota Wesleyan football (Josh Rowse): Josh is a freshman linebacker from Pierre. The Tigers open at home Aug. 28 vs. Dakota State on Midco Sports Network at 7:05 p.m.
• Dakota Wesleyan men’s soccer (Cam Ahartz): Cam is a freshman goalkeeper from Pierre. After an exhibition match against Central Community College (Neb.), the Tigers open their season in LaCrosse, Wis., Saturday and Sunday vs. Clarke and St. Ambrose and next Wednesday at home vs. Bellevue (Neb.).
• Dakota Wesleyan cross country (Morgan Oedekoven): This is Morgan’s sophomore season with the Tigers whose first meet is Sept. 3 at the Augustana twilight meet.
• South Dakota football: The Coyotes open the season Sept. 3 at Kansas.
• South Dakota volleyball (Brooklyn Bollweg): Brooklyn is a junior defensive specialist from Harrisburg High School. The Coyotes have an exhibition match at Drake Saturday, then go to Colorado for matches Aug. 27-28 against Northwestern, Colorado State and Northern Colorado.
• Black Hills State football (Josh Breske): This is Josh’s second year as head coach at BHSU, but with last season’s several cancellations it will be his first full season. The Yellowjackets open at home Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. vs. Dickinson State.
• South Dakota Mines football (Matt Heilman): Matt is a sophomore offensive lineman from Pierre. The Hardrockers open Sept. 2 at home vs. Missouri S&T.
• North Dakota State football (Grey Zabel): This is Grey’s sophomore season as an offensive lineman with the Bison for whom he was a starter last year. The Bison open at home at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 4 vs. Albany.
• Northwestern (Iowa) football (Morris Hofer): Mo is a junior linebacker from Sully Buttes High School. The Red Raiders, picked #1 in the nation in NAIA football in a preseason poll, reached the national championship game last spring. They open Aug. 28 at Presentation at 6 p.m.
• St. Joseph’s (Pa.) soccer (John Axtman): John is a sophomore forward at St. Joe’s in Philadelphia from Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg, Pa. He is the middle of the three sons of Pierre natives Greg and Sarah (Adam) Axtman. St. Joseph’s opens at home Aug. 26 vs. Marist and Aug. 29 vs. Long Island University.
• Morningside bowling (Alex Badger): This is Alex’s senior season at Morningside in Sioux City. The Mustangs begin their bowling season Oct. 3-4 at the Midwest Collegiate Championships in Wauwatosa, Wis.

WEDDING DAYS

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

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Aug. 19:
Tanna Becker, Naomi Fossen, Jacob Shoup, Bill Stevens, Nick Johnson, Tom Huber, Ross Hettinger, Maddie Lund, Carmen Howard, Emily (Zarecky) Steber, Anita Jung.
— 15th anniversary, Abran/Brandy Kean.
— 51st anniversary, Don/Diane Giesinger.
— 15th anniversary, Ryan/Melissa (Luers) Hansen.
— 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, Wyatt/Miranda Trautman.
— 4th anniversary, Trevor/Mary (Volmer) Lopour.

Friday, Aug. 20:
Elinor Dekker, Jared Randen, Brycen Haefner, Devin Weingart, Lindsey (Friez) Karschnik, Jordyn Martin, Amber Ogle, Becky (Eich) Watson, Tina Jensen.
— 5th anniversary, Ben/Michelle (Monroe) Kettler.
— 4th anniversary, Cody/Mandi Coppess.
— 17th anniversary, Tyler/Erin (Schiefelbein) Jones.
— 56th anniversary Ray/Wanda Beck.
— 16th anniversary, Brian/Amy (Johnson) Berendes.
— 11th anniversary, Brad/Katie (Zeller) Murphy.
— 61st anniversary, Jon/Terry (Lamster) Horning.

Saturday, Aug. 21:
Carter Zellmer, Jerry Ortbahn, Abigail (Barber) Burgum, Savannah Cromwell, Amy (Ripperger) Grunewaldt, Becki Weischedel-Erickson, Abran Kean, Jordan Lamb, Dennis Reed, Tamra (Buol) Armijo, Dorothy (Nygaard) Gibbs, Emily Lancaster, Amanda Peck, John Peck, Rip Ray, Denise Garber, Jamie Damon, Judson Seaman, Vanessa Sevier.
— 6th anniversary, Vinh/Jackie (Schlaikjer) Nguyen.
— 33rd anniversary, Larry/Peggy Hofmeister.
— 17th anniversary, Kevin/Kim (Kindle) Nachreiner.
— 17th anniversary, Jay/Nikol (Hillmer) Penrod.
— 28th anniversary, Greg/Sarah (Adam) Axtman.

Sunday, Aug. 22:
Sheridan Cronin, Steve Harding, Jason Stahl, Kirby Mammenga, LaDonna Zellmer, Gail (Flansburg) Tennant, David Ludwig, Jim McLain, Quinn Schiefelbein, Alissandra Stoeser.
— 12th anniversary, Demetri/Joni (Haugen) Sengos.
— 1st anniversary, Bryan/Starla Konechne.
— 30th anniversary, Brent/Betty Lindbloom.

Monday, Aug. 23:
Becky Burke, Bohde Kuiper, Joshua Kinsman, Dan Sutera, Jan Sommer, Hope Dill, Alice Wright, Stephanie Zebroski, Alice Whitebird, Merna Imsland, Colin Whitebird, Barry Sargent, Aske Whitebird, Dawn Magee.
— 1st anniversary, Jackson/Kate (Plooster) Schumacher.
— 7th anniversary, Austin/Kelsey Blair.
— 7th anniversary, Shane/Deni (Lohman) Hollingsworth.
— 7th anniversary, Caleb/Katie (Kemink) Shepherd.
— 46th anniversary, Marty/Shirley Javurek.
— 7th anniversary, Todd/Michelle (Beemer) DeWitt.
— 18th anniversary, Josh/Malene Ford.
— 52nd anniversary, Bill/Kathy Van Duzer.
We fondly remember Tyler Wilcox on his birthday.

Tuesday, Aug. 24:
Brent Swenson, Jace Mancuso, Dana Day, Carrie Jo (Eckman) Howard, Katie Stier, Bryan Stahl, Lisa Bondy, Riley Lamb, Chris Klucas, Demeri Hanson, Darrin Dykstra, Eric Aadland, Shawn Chase, Vivien Van Camp.
— 8th anniversary, Blake/Lindsey (Luers) Hyde.
— 20th anniversary, Doug/Lindsey (Tilberg) Jennewein.
— 19th anniversary, Kirk/Shaun Van Roekel.
— 47th anniversary, Bill/Dee Ann Stevens.
— 53rd anniversary, John/Jean Lakner.
— 64th anniversary, Seb/Carol Axtman.

Wednesday, Aug. 25:
Kelsey Nincehelser, Dustin Hight, Gary Johnson, Michael McKillip, Gina (Kotilnek) Hickenbotham, Chris Lopez.
— 9th anniversary, Brandon/Cassie (Kinsman) Deffenbaugh.
— 9th anniversary, Andy/Debra Yackley.
— 3rd anniversary, Steven/Katelynn Gordon.
— 48th anniversary, Rick/Gloria Merriam.
— 3rd anniversary, Sam/Katie (Duenwald) Williamson.
— 9th anniversary, Brandon/Cori (Bechtold) Haag.
— 31st anniversary, Tim/Thea (Miller) Ryan.

Thursday, Aug. 26:
Hannah Reiprich, Jensen Kusser, Scott Hipple, Liz (Winter) Marso, Chad Grunewaldt, Barb Bjorneberg, Nick Dooley, Pat Clark, Ursula Waack, Johnathon Mehlhaff, Braeden Bruning, Hope (Hoover) Brenny, Landry Blake, Trestin Johnson, Jamie (Dykstra) Fitzke.
— Anniversary, Chris/Beth (Weischedel) Henrichsen.
— 10th anniversary, Chad/Emily (Currey) Kiel.
— 4th anniversary, Taylor/Angie (Kemnitz) Owens.
— 4th anniversary, Jerry/Darcie (Mennenga) Tveidt.
— 43rd anniversary, Kevin/Connie Tveidt.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Considering how a lawless mob took over the nation of Afghanistan this week, these are interesting comments from blogger John Pavlovitz:

“We should realize how very fragile the place we call home currently is, how very close we were and still are to a lawless minority taking by force what they could not through fair elections and the democratic process. The most reckless and dangerous thing we could do right now is to imagine that Afghanistan could not happen here. It nearly did.

“The good people here need to work and fight and organize and vote to make certain it does not happen again. We need to write a better story for America.”

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

A celebration of the lives of the late Dennis and Shirley Eisnach is planned for Saturday, Aug. 28. The first event will be a 5K memorial run/walk beginning with registration at the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce building at 7:30 a.m., followed by the run/Walk at 8. A free-will donation for the benefit of the Oahe YMCA will be accepted. A memorial service will be held at Community Bible Church at 10:30 a.m., concluding with a 21-gun salute by the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Refreshments will then be served at Steamboat Park from noon to 2 p.m., accompanied by music from the Over Forte band. Attendees are encouraged to take their own lawn chairs to the park. In the event of bad weather that day, the refreshments portion of the day will switch indoors to Community Bible Church’s gymnasium. All of the day’s events are being hosted by the three Eisnach daughters—Danna Nesler, Denette Eisnach-Becker and Darla Wrage—and their families.

Chris and Mallory (Petersen) Dekker of Rapid City revealed on Facebook they are expecting a third child in December. They have two daughters, Evelynn and Elinor, in their family now. Mallory is a music teacher, and Chris is a conservation officer.

Roselyn Richardson passed away at the age of 101 on Aug. 8 at Azria Health in Clarinda, Iowa. A private family celebration of her life will be held later. A life-long resident of Clarinda, Mrs. Richardson is survived by her son, Bill (Mary) Richardson of Clarinda; her daughter, Julie (Scott) Jones of Pierre; three grandchildren, including Nathaniel (Oor) Gough of Singapore, and four great-grandchildren.

Amanda Kallbom has arrived from Sweden to spend the school year with Matt and Kim Brakke and family and attend Riggs High School. She, like the Brakkes’ daughter, will be a junior at Riggs. Kim is asking people from all over the country to send a postcard depicting their locations to Amanda to give her a sense of America. Send your postcard to: Amanda c/o Brakke family, 500 N. Grand Ave., Pierre SD 57501.

Mike Leidholt retired last Friday as cabinet secretary of the Department of Corrections. He spent a total of 43 years in law enforcement, including 24 years as Hughes County sheriff.

Dr. Meredith Keeler, who graduated from MIdwestern University-Arizona’s College of Optometry, has joined the team of professionals at Eye Consultants of North Dakota in Fargo.

Elizabeth Vogt’s mother, Joan Eitrheim, had an early 90th birthday party, and it was like no other! Her family rented one of the suites at Target Field and took Joan, an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan, to last Saturday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Two dozen family members came from various places to join Joan in the celebration. That night was also the night when the Twins organization celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1991 World Series championship team. An “official” 90th birthday party for Joan, who was an English teacher at Tri-Valley High School for more than 25 years, will be held in December. In the meantime Joan can revel in the fact that the lowly Twins gave her quite a show, hammering the first-place Rays 12-0. Earlier in the day Liz and Jay Vogt’s three sons—Josh (and wife Kelsy), Zach and Gabe—attended the Vikings-Broncos preseason football game, making it quite a sports day for the Vogt men.

Expanding Buchanan Elementary School is part of the Pierre school district’s plan using Elementary and Secondary Schools emergency relief funds. In the works are plans to increase the size of the gym, add a cafeteria/commons area and add more classrooms. (News courtesy of Capital Journal)

Meghan Buscher, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming, has begun studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder where she will pursue a master’s degree in applied math and data science.

Martin Calkins is beginning his ninth year of teaching. He is again at Glenwood Springs, Colo.

A family celebration of the life of James Likness will take place this Friday at Black Hills National Cemetery. Jim passed away at the age of 87 on Feb. 15, 2020. Among his survivors are his wife of more than 65 years, Joan Likness; his sons, Michael (Nancy), Steve (Vicki) and Paul (Diane); his daughters, Karen (Gary) Orcutt and Mary (Colin) Keeler; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The Donut Shop in Pierre is open again with limited staff. Full-time and part-time jobs are still open there.

The Pierre School District welcomes 30 new teachers to its schools this year. Eight are Riggs High alumni, and two are Stanley County High alumni. The Riggs graduates include Landon Badger (SDSU), P.E. teacher at Kennedy; Harrison Armstrong (BHSU), math teacher at Georgia Morse Middle School; Katie Berg (University of Mary), special ed at Kennedy; Jebben Keyes (Augustana), social studies at GMMS; Becky Kitts (DWU), grades 3-5 math at Buchanan; Jim McLain (SDSU and BHSU), Spanish at Riggs (he formerly taught at GMMS before teaching overseas last year); Joette (Johnson) Nesladek (NSU and USD), speech/language pathology at Kennedy, and Cody Ryckman (SDSU), 8th health at GMMS. The Stanley County graduates are Courtney Freng (USD), student services adviser at Kennedy, and Cole O’Conner (USD), math at GMMS. (News courtesy of Dakota Radio Group.)

August Axtman, oldest of the three sons of Pierre natives Greg and Sarah (Adam) Axtman, who graduated from King’s College in Pennsylvania, already has completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and is going to work for Vanguard, Inc., an investment management company headquartered in the Philadelphia suburb of Malvern, Pa. Gus, who was a soccer star in high school in Harrisburg and at King’s, is playing with the Philadelphia Lone Star Football Club in the United Premier Soccer League. Gus joined the Stars last season as a defender and still scored a goal and assisted on two others while playing in 12 games and starting in nine of them. The new season opens Saturday at the New York East FC.

Gerald “Jerry” Sylva, 104, died Tuesday at Avera Maryhouse. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre, followed by burial at Black Hills National Cemetery at 3 p.m. MDT. Jerry grew up in Fort Pierre and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941. He served until retiring from the Navy in 1965 as a Navy commander. As a Navy pilot he flew missions during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War. He married Marie Dufour in 1950. Later Jerry served as a Stanley County commissioner. He was a rancher and a roper in rodeos. He is survived b y his wife, Marie; his special friends, Barry and Diane Smith, and several nephews and nieces.

PONDER THIS

No, we don’t need more sleep. It’s our souls that are tired, not our bodies. We need nature. We need magic. We need adventure. We need truth. We need stillness. We don’t need more sleep. We need to wake up and live.
— Brooke Hampton