THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.”
— Peter Marshall

ADVANCE VOTING BEGINS FRIDAY

Registered voters can cast their ballots for the June 7 primary elections starting this Friday, April 22, at county auditors’ offices.

Another date to remember is that the deadline for properly registering to vote in the primary is May 23.

Voters registered as Democrats or Independents are not allowed by Republicans to vote in their primary on June 7, but they still have an important reason to vote early or vote on June 7. That is because every primary ballot—even if no contests are on the ballot—will offer the opportunity to vote on Constitutional Amendment C. If it is approved, every subsequent measure referred to voters will require a 60% majority instead of the present simple majority. Republican lawmakers scheduled this vote to take place at the primary election level where fewer people tend to vote, and they figure that it will pass so that, in November’s general election, the Medicare expansion measure on that ballot will fail to get what then would be a 60% required majority for passage.

Republicans on June 7 will also have Constitutional Amendment C on their ballot.

Republicans at the June 7 primary will have these races to decide:

• Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate: John Thune, incumbent; Bruce Whalen; Mark Mowry. (The winner will face Brian Bengs, Democrat, in November.)
• Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives: Dusty Johnson, incumbent; Taffy Howard. (There is no Democratic candidate for November, so this primary is actually the election itself.)
• Republican nomination for governor: Kristi Noem, incumbent; Steven Haugaard. (The winner will face Jamie Smith, Democrat, in November.)

On June 7 Republicans in District 24 (Hughes, Stanley, Sully, Hyde counties) will have legislative races to decide:

• Republican nomination for state Senate: Mary Duvall, incumbent; Jim Mehlhaff. (There is no Democratic candidate.)
• Republican nominations for state House of Representatives (2 to be elected): Mike Weisgram, incumbent; Will Mortenson, incumbent; Jim Sheehan, Mary Weinheimer. (There are no Democratic candidates.)

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Girls golf: at Rapid City invitational, 10 a.m.
Boys tennis: home vs. Aberdeen Central, 10 a.m.
Track/field: at Sully Buttes invitational, Onida, 1 p.m.
— FRIDAY
Track/field: home for Pierre Legion Relays, 11:30 a.m.
Baseball: at Sioux Falls Lincoln, 5 and 7 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Boys tennis: at Harrisburg triangular (with Sioux Falls Christian), 10 a.m.
Baseball: at Sioux Falls Washington, 1 and 3 p.m.
— TUESDAY
Girls golf: home for Pierre invitational, 10 a.m.
Boys tennis: home triangular (with Huron and Spearfish), 11 a.m.
Baseball: home vs. Huron, 7 p.m.

Baseball: The Governors were idle last weekend. Friday games against Mitchell were canceled, and Saturday’s Brookings games were postponed to May 10.

Boys basketball: Pierre’s Lincoln Kienholz was named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader’s Second Five at the conclusion of the basketball season. The newspaper selected the young men it considers to be the five best players in the state, regardless of classification, for its First Five, and the next five for its Second Five. Lincoln, only a junior, has one more high school basketball season awaiting him.

Boys track/field: Among 32 schools at the rescheduled Rapid City Track-o-rama on Tuesday, the Governor boys had the second-highest team point total. Jack Merkwan won the 300-meter hurdles in :41.75 and placed third in the 110-meter hurdles in :15.78. The Pierre medley team of Caden Thompson, Landon Bertram, Josh Strand and Jared Lutmer won their race in 3:49.48. Aaron Campbell won the javelin at 146’10” with Elijah Boutchee second at 135’1″. Lutmer placed second in the 3200-meter run in 9:59.69. Canyon Jones was fourth in the pole vault at 12’6″ and Blake Wagner fourth in the discus at 133’6″.

Girls track/field: Pierre’s girls placed seventh among 32 schools at the Rapid CIty Track-o-rama. Pierre’s best finishes were a pair of second-place medals—Aleise Christopherson in the long jump at 16’3/4″ and Addison Cumbow second in the 100-meter hurdles in :15.77. Aleise was also fifth in the triple jump at 34’4 1/2″. Maya Shorter was third in the discus at 113’5″. The 4×200 relay team of Dani Ringstmeer, Ryann Barry, Aleise Christopherson and Nevaeh Baade placed third in 1:54.04. Marissa Mathews was fourth in the pole vault at 8’6″. Emly Lingle was fifth in the shot put at 34’9″.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Girls golf: at Miller invitational, 10 a.m.
Boys golf: at Miller invitational, 10 a.m.
— FRIDAY
Girls golf: at Philip invitational, 10:30 a.m.
Boys golf: at Philip invitational, 10:30 a.m.
Track/field: at Pierre Legion Relays, 11:30 a.m.
— SATURDAY
Track/field: at Ipswich invitational, 10 a.m.
Girls golf: at Wall invitational, 10:30 a.m.
Boys golf: at Wall invitational, 10:30 a.m.
— TUESDAY
Girls golf: at Pierre invitational, 10 a.m.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: pineapple.
Friday-Sunday: blue mood.
Monday-Tuesday: grape.
Wednesday-Thursday: coffee.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Northern State track/field (Rachel Guthmiller): Because of the blizzard in North Dakota, the Wolves did not go to meets in Jamestown and Dickinson. NSU hosts the Dewy Donat Classic this Friday and Saturday.

Iowa Central Community College baseball (Jack Van Camp): The Tritons lost three out of three to Iowa Western CC by scores of 3-0, 3-2 and 3-0. Against North Iowa on Tuesday ICCC split a pair, winning 8-7 in seven innings and losing 15-10 in 10 innings. Jack did not play in these four games. Now 31-11 overall and 12-7 in league play, Iowa Central plays Thursday at Northeast CC, then three over the weekend at Southwest CC.

Texas State baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Bobcats swept UT-Arlington, 6-1, 5-3 and 17-6 in seven innings, then defeated UT-San Antonio, 14-12. Peyton did not pitch in any of these games. Now 29-9 overall and 12-3 in conference play, Texas State is home for three this weekend vs. Arkansas-Little Rock and home again Tuesday against UTSA.

Black Hills State track/field (Frank Becker): At Nebraska-Kearney’s meet Frank ran on the 4×400 relay team which placed fifth in 3:35.32. BHSU competes Friday and Saturday at the Kit Mayer Open at Golden, Colo.

South Dakota Mines track/field (Erick Colman): At the Nebraska-Kearney meet Erick placed sixth in the shot put at 47’6 1/2″ and 29th in the hammer throw at 140’7 1/2″. Mines goes to Golden, Colo., for the Kit Mayer Open this Friday and Saturday.

Sioux Falls track/field (Jessica Lutmer): Jessica did not compete as the Cougars went to meets in Platteville, Wis., and Kearney, Neb. USF goes to USD’s meet Friday and Saturday.

South Dakota State track/field (Addy Eisenbeisz): Addy didn’t go to several California meets with other Jackrabbit athletes. SDSU competes Friday and Saturday at USD’s meet.

Northern State baseball (Spencer Sarringar): In an 11-7 win over Minot State, Spencer went 1-for-4, driving in a run with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly and earlier scoring a run himself. In a 6-5 10-inning win over Minot State, Spencer slugged a two-run home run in the third inning, then won the game with a solo homer in the top of the 10th, so he scored three and drove in three runs. The third game of the Minot series was canceled by weather. Now 12-15 overall and 7-7 in the NSIC, Northern played St. Cloud State twice yesterday, then plays two Friday and one Saturday against Minnesota-Duluth.

Dakota State track/field (Houston Lunde): The Trojan men won the team title at the Bethel (Kan.) meet. Houston threw the hammer 122’5″, the discus 107’7″ and the shot 36’3/4″ but did not place in those events. DSU competes at meets at Northern and USD this weekend.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Pierre Legion Relays (April 22).
5 days: Riggs High spring band concert (April 26).
9 days: Riggs High prom (April 30).
12 days: Riggs High awards night (May 3).
14 days: Pierre Educational Foundation’s Evening of Excellence (May 5).
17 days: Mothers Day (May 8).
18 days: Riggs High spring chorus concert (May 9).
19 days: Georgia Morse Middle School band/chorus concert (May 10).
21 days: NSIC track/field championships, Aberdeen (May 12-14).
23 days: Ellsworth AFB air show (May 14-15).
25 days: State ‘A’ boys tennis tournament, Rapid City (May 16-17).
28 days: State ‘AA’ boys tennis tournament, Rapid City (May 19-20).
30 days: High school baseball regional tournaments (May 21).
31 days: Riggs High graduation (May 22).
33 days: “This Is Us” final episode, NBC-TV (May 24).
35 days: Pierre Trappers season opener (May 26).
35 days: State track meets, Sioux Falls (May 26-28).
37 days: State ‘A’ baseball tournament, Sioux Falls (May 28).
39 days: Memorial Day (May 30).
42 days: NBA FInals opening game (June 2).
43 days: Black Hills Playhouse “The Mountaintops” (June 3-12).
46 days: State ‘B’ boys golf tournament, Rapid City (June 6-7).
46 days: State ‘AA’ girls golf tournament, Brookings (June 6-7).
46 days: State ‘A’ girls golf tournament, Sioux Falls (June 6-7).
46 days: State ‘B’ girls golf tournament, Rapid City (June 6-7).
47 days: Primary elections (June 7).
52 days: Tony awards, CBS-TV (June 12).

HOCKEY UPDATE

Rapid City Rush: The Rush clinched a playoff spot with a win in the first of three games against Tulsa. Then the Rush lost, 1-0, and won, 5-2, to end the regular season. As the #2 seed in their conference, the Rush begin a best-of-seven series against #3 Allen, Texas, in Rapid City with home games at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The series then moves to Texas on April 26 and 29 and, if necessary, April 30.

Aberdeen Wings: The Wings lost to Austin, 2-1, and beat Austin, 4-3, in overtime to end the regular season with a record of 32-24-3-3. The first round of the playoffs has Aberdeen at Austin this weekend.

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Stampede lost to Waterloo, 7-3, and beat Tri-City, 8-2. Sioux Falls was home vs. Des Moines last night, then plays at Fargo Friday and at home vs. Fargo Saturday to end the season.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild won three of four this past week, and one of the wins clinched a playoff spot for the Stanley Cup playoffs starting the week after next. Minnesota played three consecutive overtime games, beating Dallas 3-2, losing to St. Louis 6-5 and beating San Jose 5-4. Then the Wild beat Montreal, 2-0. Minnesota is home vs. Vancouver Thursday and Seattle Friday, on the road to Nashville Sunday, then home vs. Arizona Tuesday.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Thursday: at Kansas City, 1:10 p.m.
— Friday: Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.
— Saturday: Chicago White Sox, 3:05 p.m., FS1.
— Sunday: Chicago White Sox, 1:10 p.m.
— Tuesday: Detroit, 6:40 p.m.
— Wednesday: Detroit, 6:40 p.m.
— Thursday: Detroit, 12:10 p.m.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Timberwolves: In Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against Memphis, the Wolves stunned the Grizzlies in Memphis, 130-117. The series reverted to a 1-1 standing with a 124-96 loss in Game 2. Games 3 and 4 will be at Target Center Thursday and Saturday, and Game 5 will be back in Memphis next Tuesday.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons defeated Colorado, 3-1. Minnesota hosts Chicago at 4 p.m. Saturday.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): The Champions Tour resumes with the ClubCorp Classic at Irving, Texas, this weekend.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”
— Kalu Ndukwe Kalu

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Rapid City Marshals: The Marshals lost at Gillette, 59-51. Rapid City’s next game is Saturday at Dodge City, Kan., against Southwest Kansas.

Sioux Falls Storm: The Storm lost to Iowa, 47-37. Sioux Falls is home vs. Bay Area at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• After reading Randy Howe’s obituary last week, Steven Johnson wrote in to say how he remembers Randy and Andy Howe as Basin League baseball umpires. He recalls how the late Roe Gifford was merciless to umpires from his seat in the Hyde Stadium bleachers.
• After mentioning seeing John and Bobbi Brown in church recently, I mentioned in this section of the Update that their daughter, Erin, is a veterinarian in Rapid City. I thought their son, Colin, was elsewhere, but Gail Lyngstad points out that he is very much in Rapid City where she recently was one of Dr. Colin’s optometry patients.
• This has been another week for the “freedumbs” who populate this state to celebrate another victory over common sense, but it’s been a bad week for people who have to travel. A federal judge in the South, appointed by President Trump, declared “not qualified” for a judgeship by the American Bar Association but approved by Republican politicians anyway, ruled that the federal mask mandate on public transportation should no longer be in effect. It was just last week extended for only two extra weeks to May 3, but the judge’s ruling ended its effect immediately. What fun it would not be to now fly inside an airplane full of unmasked persons, some of whom are sick and some of whom don’t care if they are or not!

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, April 21:
Colette Kemink, Donna Cole, Danyelle Angyal, Kara (Kurth) Kuiper, Olivia Graff, Adam Bertsch, Mira Garrett, Larissa FastHorse, Neil Nemec, Teresa (Zebroski) Murdoch, Melissa Gosselin, Alexander Becker, Ava Stoeser, Vicki (Kinder) Rapp.
— 10th anniversary, Jake/Tara Johnson.
— We remember Hyrma Zakahi on her birthday.

Friday, April 22:
Tim Schmidt, Lindsey (Jungwirth) Costello, Bonnie Bauder, Bob Burke, Sandra Hepper, Mark Livermont.
— 16th anniversary, Todd/DeNeil (Hosman) Taylor.

Saturday, April 23:
Scott Carbonneau, Preston Mohlman, Karen (Cremer) Hofer, Teva Snodgrass, Tara Jo St. Germaine, Grady Gilmore, Clara Shelbourn (#90), Shirley Bonhorst, Heather Sperry, Gracie (Lindbloom) Curtis, Dusty Paulsen.
— 11th anniversary, Brian/Sarah Custer.

Sunday, April 24:
Sean Devins, Damian Dieken, Terry Larsen, Karissa Guthrie, Dave Lingle, Phil Leidholt, Autumn Bryant, Briggs Goehring.
— 12th anniversary, Joel/Kelly (Johnson) Metz.
— 10th anniversary, Dustin/Kayla (Gallimore) Witt.
— 40th anniversary, Jack/Jill Aadland.

Monday, April 25:
Evan Jarvis, Lola Hollingsworth, Betty Jones, Cameron Sass, Stephanie (Magedanz) Bartsch, Helen Jane Paxton, Greg Lakner, Peggy Hofmeister, Jodie (Hickman) Anderson.
— 13th anniversary, Chase/Joanie (Flottmeyer) Blair.
— 13th anniversary, Justin/Holly Artz.
— 36th anniversary, Bob/Laurie Gill.
— 9th anniversary, Trevor/Jackie Fisher.

Tuesday, April 26:
Breslyn Mittleider, Beth Simon, John Wellhouse, Jean Easland, Ellis Mangan, Matt Mitchell, Julie Miller, John Bradley, Nathan Ellenbecker, Susan (Van Camp) Wendelbo, Jane Candler, Sully Schumacher, Sheryl Nielsen, Susie (Gloe) Hanson, Sarah Gloe, Brian Chicoine, Rebekah (Hartmann) Hlavacek.
— 19th anniversary, Dennis/Jackie (Thorson) Richey.
— 8th anniversary, Andrew/Ashley Tople.
— 18th anniversary, David/Ann (Beemer) Candler.
— 8th anniversary, Tyler/Nikki (Koenig) Sullivan.
— 8th anniversary, Will John/Kylee (Lamb) Johnson.

Wednesday, April 27:
Mike Leidholt, Mary Potter, Carol (Ebert) Newcomb, Mona Oehlerking, Cora Bertsch, Allyson (Friez) Kreycik, Isaac Denke, Daulton Mercer, Gene Weischedel, Sarah Olson, Matt Blake, Melinda Christiansen, Lacey Hepker, Morgan Lindekugel, Lavin Stoeser, Leo Sengos.
— 20th anniversary, Forrest/Susan (McNeely) Foster.

Thursday, April 28:
Casey Ahlers, Aaron Mentele, Lane Severyn, Gabriel Yost, Steph Paluch, Brittney (Witte) Hunsley, Allen Goodman, Ada Mae Stofferahn, Ryker Custer, Henry Hansen, Boyer Mikkelsen, Barron Kafka, Eric Tilberg, Benjamin Lechtenberg.
— 15th anniversary, Matt/Carly Heard.
— 10th anniversary, William/Lynnette Coolidge.
— 21st anniversary, Mike/Erika (Snow) Andreas.
— 4th anniversary, Connor/Amanda McKittrick.
— 4th anniversary, Chris/Morgan Pope.
— 4th anniversary, Josh/Kelsie (Brandlee) Williams.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.”
— Langston Hughes

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Brianne (Barnett) Roby had qualified for the Boston Marathon two years ago, but the event was canceled due to the onset of the pandemic. In the meantime she had qualified again. This year she made it there and to the finish line. Bri had her own fan club in Boston on Monday—her mom, Fern Barnett; her sister and brother-in-law, Mallori and Nick Johnson, and her husband, Jeff Roby, and their children—as she completed the marathon.

Members of the Sully Buttes graduating classes of 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, the first five senior classes of the newly consolidated school district, should check out the schedule for their reunion weekend during the 100th Sully County Fair in Onida this coming August. The schedule can be found on Facebook on the page entitled “Sully Buttes Class of 1975.”

Opening Night for Pierre Players’ spring musical, “Ordinary Days,” is only a week away. The play at Grand Opera House will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 29-30, and May 5-6-7 as well as at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1. Call 224-7826 to make ticket reservations.

Long-time Pierre businessman Perry Anderson, 92, died April 17. Masonic and Eastern Star memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at Feigum Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, followed by inurnment at Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. MDT. Perry grew up in Iowa and entered the U.S. Army at the age of 17 at the end of World War II. He was stationed in Panama. He married Dolores (Dee) Zink in 1951. They moved to Pierre in 1959, and Perry worked for his uncle, Bill Anderson, at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. In 1967 Perry and Dee opened Anderson’s clothing store across the street and operated there until Perry retired at age 87 in 2015. He held numerous offices in Masonic organizations. Survivors include his son, Greg (Deb) Anderson; his daughter, LeAnn Bruno; four grandchildren, and a sister, Bonnie Morrow. Dee Anderson passed away in 2021 after they had been married for 70 years.

Tyler Bonnett has completed his service with the U.S. Marine Corps. He is now on “terminal leave” till June 1 when he will officially be done. Tyler’s last flight occurred last week at his home base, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, in western Arizona. His sister, Char, and her three children were there for Tyler’s last USMC flight. Tyler is pursuing a career as an airline pilot and is currently undergoing interviews for that purpose.

Haley Nadeau of the golf team and Braedon Foster of the track and field team were named Athletes of the Week by the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association last week.

Adella Kayser, 98, died April 14 at Avera Maryhouse. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, preceded by visitation starting at noon.

The next pancake-and-sausage breakfast for the benefit of the Post 8 baseball programs will be served from 6 to 10 a.m. this Saturday, April 23, at the American Legion cabin.

In conjunction with National Organ/Tissue Donor Awareness Week, which is April 18-24, there will be a special program at Rawlins Library at 1 p.m. this Friday, April 22. Dr. Jenna Wickersham will tell how kidney disease has affected her family. When she was 5, her dad, Gary Wickersham, underwent a kidney transplant. He is one of nine siblings, six of whom have polycystic kidney disease. Jenna inherited PKD and herself is awaiting a kidney transplant.

The Riggs High musical, “Anything Goes,” will be performed at the Riggs theater at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Dale Kastner, 78, died April 7 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. Services will be held this summer at a time and place to be announced. He grew up at Garrison, N.D., and married Sharon Dwelle in 1963. They lived at Riverdale and Oakes, N.D., Salida, Colo., and Huron. They lived for the past 43 years in Fort Pierre, 35 of which he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1978 to 2013. He is survived by his son Brett (Lisa) Kastner; his daughter, Lori (Lloyd) Tucker; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his sisters, Darlene (Joe) Friese and Arlyce (Jerry) Kaufman, and his brother, Al (Marie) Kastner.

Jaxin Melby, daughter of Kyle and Lisa Melby of Loveland, Colo., was inducted into the Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society at a ceremony April 14 at the University of Charleston in West Virginia where she is a volleyball player. Jaxin is finishing her junior year and will graduate in December, a semester early, with a bachelor’s degree in public health. Kyle grew up in Pierre, and his parents were the late Pete and Carole Melby.

Vick Becker of the art department was honored as Fine Arts Performer of the Week at Riggs High School this week.

What’s for supper tonight (Thursday)? How about turkey and biscuits! Countryside Hospice’s annual supper to benefit the hospice’s support and memory center will be served as a drive-through supper out of First United Methodist Church from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Drivers should enter the church’s south parking lot off Central Avenue, pick up their food, then exit via the alley.

Kenneth Doran, 91, died April 9 at Edgewood Senior Living in Pierre. His funeral took place Monday at the Isburg Funeral Chapel. Kenneth was born at Woonsocket and went to school at Lane. He married Eva Hotchkiss in 1950. He worked as a farmer near Wessington Springs, for the Jerauld County Highway Department, as director of equalization for Jerauld County and as a property tax specialist with the state Department of Revenue. Survivors include three sons, David (Joanne) Doran of Moorhead, Minn., Chuck (Leann) Doran of Elk Point, and Terry (Brenda) Doran of Des Moines, Iowa; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Leola (Hank) Werz.
PONDER THIS

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world—someone to love, something to do and something to hope for.”
— Tom Bodett