THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“What we need are critical lovers of America—patriots who express their faith in their country by working to improve it.”
— Sen. Hubert Humphrey

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Girls wrestling: home vs. Brandon Valley.
Boys wrestling: home vs. Brandon Valley.
— FRIDAY
Girls basketball: at Sioux Falls O’Gorman.
Boys basketball: home vs. Sioux Falls O’Gorman.
— SATURDAY
Boys wrestling: at Brookings invitational.
Girls wrestling: at Aberdeen Central invitational.
Gymnastics: home for Pierre triangular.
Boys basketball: home vs. Harrisburg.
— TUESDAY
Girls basketball: at Harrisburg.

Gymnastics: At Watertown’s meet Saturday the Governors placed fourth with a 132.7 score, only 11 points out of first place. Mitchell won the meet, followed by Watertown and Brookings. Navaeh Karber placed seventh on the beam for Pierre’s only top-10 finish.

Girls wrestling: The Governor girls won every match in dominating Huron in a dual. Sydney Uhrg, Shaylee speck, Constance Antell, Ireland Templeton and Marlee Shorter each won with a pin, Gianna Stangeland prevailed in a major decision, and Dani Ringstmeyer won by decision. At Pierre’s invitational Friday the girls outpointed the opposition with 173 points to earn first place, followed by Rapid City Stevens 96, Spearfish 89, Aberdeen Central 76 and Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda 76. Winning individual championships were Abbigail Lewis at 142 pounds, Marlee Shorter at 190 and Ciara McFarling at 285.

Boys wrestling: The Governors won all four duals at Pierre’s East-West duals meet. In a 72-9 seven forfeit wins accumulated a ton of Pierre points, but Elijah Boutchee, Hudson Shaffer, Jaxon Ducheneaux, Deegan Houska and Trey Lewis all won by pins. Pierre topped Rapid City Stevens, 54-11, as Ducheneayux, Lewis, Chance Carda, Gavin Stotts, Boutchee and Alex Oedekoven all scored pins; Deegan Houska won by major decision; Tristan Spencer won a tech fall, and Lincoln Schoenhard and Josh Rydberg won by decisions. Pierre destroyed Rapid City Central, 62-9. Getting pins against the Cobblers were Chase Carda, Chance Carda, Lewis, Boutchee and Ducheneaux. Spencer won a tech fall, and Oedekoven, Shaffer and Stotts won by decisions. Pierre also gained three forfeit wins. Pierre topped off the East-West meet with a 36-27 win over Sturgis. Spencer, Ducheneaux, Chase Carda and Deegan Houska won by pins after the Govs found themselves down by 21-3 to the Scoopers. Their four pins put Pierre up by 27-21. Trey Lewis added a decision win for a 30-21 lead, and Chance Carda’s forfeit win finished it off at 36-21. Earlier Rydberg opened the dual with a decision win. Prior to the East-West meet, Pierre defeated Huron in a dual, 66-7. Schoenhard won by technical fall, and Jacob Mason, Oedekoven, Lincoln Houska, Spencer, Deegan Houska, Lewis, Chance Carda, Boutchee and Rydberg all won by pins.

Girls basketball (9-2): The Governors lost to Brandon Valley, 75-69, then defeated Aberdeen Central, 63-54. In the latter game Remi Price scored 23 points, Reese Terwilliger 17 and Ryann Barry 13.

Boys basketball (7-4): A blowout win and a pair of gut-wrenching losses featured the Govs’ week. They lost to Brandon Valley, 53-52, on a putback at the buzzer after Lincoln Kienholz scored with 15 seconds left for a 52-51 lead. Jackson Edman scored 16 points and Brecken Krueger 12. Pierre clobbered Douglas, 75-45, led by Ben Heisler’s 23 points, Edman’s 18 and Kienholz’s 12. On Tuesday the Govs lost at Aberdeen Central, 84-82, in double overtime. Kienholz led Pierre with 31 points. Aberdeen’s Spencer Barr scored 51.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Wrestling: at Potter County triangular (with Sully Buttes).
Girls basketball: home vs. Crow Creek.
Boys basketball: home vs. Crow Creek.
— FRIDAY
Gymnastics: at Hot Springs invitational.
— SATURDAY
Wrestling: at Parker invitational.
Girls basketball: at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte.
Boys basketball: at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte.
— TUESDAY
Girls basketball: at Todd County.
Boys basketball: at Todd County.

Boys basketball (3-8): The Buffaloes won at Sully Buttes on Tuesday, 58-50. They led after a quarter, 17-16; led at the half, 35-30, and led after three quarters, 43-41. A 51-41 lead dwindled to 51-50 with just over a minute left, but Kaden Montana’s three-pointer was the dagger with 30 seconds left, and the team added four free throws down the stretch to win by eight. Montana had 29 points, including six three-point baskets. Broch Zeeb had 11 points.

Girls basketball (4-10): The girls lost to Sully Buttes, 78-39. Cadence Hand had nine points, Kaysen Magee eight and Mattie Duffy seven. On Tuesday the Buffaloes lost to Gregory, 71-49.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Girls basketball (8-2): The Chargers swamped Stanley County, 78-39, led by Lydia Hill with 24 points, Ally Wittler with 13, Stevie Wittler with 11 and Calleigh Chicoine with 11.

Boys basketball (1-8): Down against Stanley County 51-41 late in the game Tuesday, the Chargers crawled to within 51-50 with 1:30 left on Marshall Wittler’s three-point basket, but Stanley County went on a 7-0 run to finish the game as a 58-50 Charger loss. Wes Wittler had 16 points and Thomas Farries 13.

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Boys basketball: home vs. Hitchcock-Tulare.
Girls basketball: home vs. Hitchcock-Tulare.
Wrestling: at Potter County triangular (with Stanley County).
— SATURDAY
Wrestling: at Wagner invitational.
Boys basketball: home vs. Warner.
Girls basketball: home vs. Warner.
— TUESDAY
Boys basketball: at Jones County.
Girls basketball: at Jones County.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Riggs High one-act play (Jan. 27-28).
1 day: Rodeo Rapid City and Black Hills Stock Show (Jan. 27-Feb. 4).
7 days: State one-act play festival, Sioux Falls O’Gorman (Feb. 2-4).
9 days: ESD Conference gymnastics meet, Pierre (Feb. 4).
10 days: Grammy awards, CBS-TV (Feb. 5).
15 days: State gymnastics meet, Aberdeen (Feb. 10-11).
17 days: Super Bowl LVII, Glendale, Ariz. (Feb. 12).
19 days: Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14).
21 days: ESD Conference girls wrestling tournament, Brandon (Feb. 16).
23 days: Region 3A boys wrestling tournament, Mission (Feb. 18).
25 days: Presidents Day (Feb. 20).
28 days: State wrestling tournaments, Rapid City (Feb. 23-25).
29 days: Pierre Players’ “The Outsider” (Feb. 24-26, March 2-4).
29 days: Baseball spring training begins (Feb. 24).
30 days: Minnesota Loons soccer season opener (Feb. 25).
30 days: NSIC men’s/women’s basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (Feb. 25-28).
33 days: Georgia Morse Middle School musical (Feb. 28, March 2).
34 days: Zesto opens (March 1).

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Augustana swimming (Ella Ward-Zeller): The Vikings’ scheduled dual with Omaha was called off due to weather. In a hastily scheduled dual against USF, Ella placed second in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:10.33 and second in the 100 backstroke in :59.30. She swam on Augie’s “B” team in the 200 medley relay, placing second in 1:50.19, and she swam on the “B” team in the 400 freestyle relay, placing third in 3:43.11. Augie is off this weekend but swims next at USD’s Coyote Invitational in Sioux Falls Feb. 3-4.

Dakota Wesleyan track-field (Cobey Carr, Abby Ferris): At the SDSU Division II meet Cobey fouled three times in the long jump and thus failed to record a distance, and Abby posted no height in the high jump. DWU sends its athletes to Buena Vista’s meet in Storm Lake, Iowa, Friday and Saturday.

Mary women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): The Marauders won two more NSIC games, 80-56 over Upper Iowa and 75-49 over Winona State. Now 11-6 overall and 10-4 in the league, Mary goes to Minnesota State-Mankato Friday and to Concordia-St. Paul Saturday.

Dakota State track-field (Houston Lunde): At the Division II meet at SDSU Houston placed 10th in the weight throw at 47’3/4″ and 23rd in the shot put at 37’1 3/4″. DSU goes to Minnesota State’s meet Friday and Saturday.

Black Hills State track-field (Frank Becker): At the Yellowjackets’ home meet Frank placed sixth in the 400 in :54.00. BHSU athletes go to either Minnesota State Friday or to Chadron State Saturday.

Augustana women’s basketball (Aislinn Duffy, Katie Bourk): The Vikings are 11-3 in the NSIC and 17-3 overall after wins over Minnesota-Crookston, 69-60, and Bemidji State, 82-38. Against UM-C Aislinn went 6-of-14 (0-for-1 in threes) and 2-of-3 for 14 points with 10 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. In the Bemidji game she was 5-of-9 (0-for-1) and 5-of-5 for 15 points with five boards, two assists and three steals. Augie goes to St. Cloud State Friday and up to Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan wrestling (Aric Williams, Tyson Johnson): At the Worthington Open in Minnesota neither of the Pierre men wrestled. DWU goes to an Augustana dual Friday and then faces Midland and Doane in Sioux City Saturday.

University of Sioux Falls track-field (Jessica Lutmer): At SDSU’s Jim Emmerich meet Jessica placed 12th in the 3,000-meter run in 10:21.07. The Cougars go to Minnesota State’s meet Friday and Saturday.

Northern State track-field (Addison Cumbow): At SDSU’s meet Addison placed eighth in the long jump at 15’6 3/4″, eighth in the 60-meter hurdles in :09.98 and 32nd in the 200 in :29.21. NSU goes down to Mount Marty’s meet Saturday.

Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): The Marauders dominated Minot State in a dual, 41-4. Lincoln did not wrestle there. Now 10-1 in duals overall and 3-0 in the NSIC, Mary wrestles at home Friday vs. Wisconsin-Parkside and Saturday vs. Upper Iowa.

South Dakota men’s basketball (Max Burchill): The Coyotes lost to Denver, 75-60. In 21 minutes Max was 1-of-3 for two points with a rebound and an assist. In an 84-68 win over Omaha he played 20 minutes and was 3-of-4 (2-of-2 in threes) for eight points along with three boards, a steal and an assist. Now 9-4 overall and 4-4 in the Summit, USD goes east to Western Illinois Thursday and up to St. Thomas Saturday.

South Dakota Mines track-field (Erick Colman): At the BHSU meet Erick placed fourth in the shot put at 45’3 3/4″. The Hardrockers go down to Chadron State’s meet Saturday.

Mount Marty men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Lancers lost to Midland, 76-68, as Lincoln was 4-of-6 for eight points with four rebounds and two blocked shots. In a 90-57 loss to Morningside he went 5-of-6 for 10 points with an assist. Last night the Lancers lost to #11 Jamestown, 104-68, and Lincoln had six points. Now 8-15 overall and 4-11 in the GPAC, Mount Marty next plays at Briar Cliff next Wednesday.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Nick Wittler): The Tigers lost to Hastings, 70-59, as Nick was 1-of-6 (0-of-5 in threes) for two points with four rebounds. DWU defeated Doane, 80-69, and last night won over Dordt, 70-66. Now 11-10 overall and 6-6 in the GPAC, DWU goes to Briar Cliff Saturday, to Northwestern Monday and back home vs. Jamestown next Wednesday.

Minnesota State-Mankato track-field (Maya Shorter): The Mavericks went down to a meet at Iowa City, but Maya did not compete there. Minnesota State hosts its own meet Friday and Saturday.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“Let us live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
— Mark Twain

ONE YEAR AGO IN THE MIDWEEK UPDATE

January 27, 2022: The Pierre school board approved a bid from Sharpe Enterprises to build an expansion to Buchanan Elementary School. Construction would begin at the end of the school year and continue for 18 months until late 2023.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• What a treat it was to hear the Riggs High Chamber Singers under the direction of Rodd Bauck perform last Friday night at the convention of the South Dakota chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in Rapid City. They were part of a two-hour program that included DWU’s Highlanders, the SDSU Concert Choir and a choir of northern Black Hills singers and music directors, and the Pierre kids were every bit as great as the older musicians.

HOCKEY UPDATE

Oahe Capitals girls varsity: The girls lost to Mitchell, 5-0, as Abigail Stewart Fromm made 24 saves. On Sunday the Capitals won over Watertown in overtime, 4-3, to improve their record to 2-6-1-0. Cameron Larson, Brylee Kafka and Micah Buffalo scored single goals in regulation time, and Brenna Ullmann put the puck in the net for the game-winner in extra time. Sophia Peschong made 21 saves as the team outshot Watertown, 50-24. The girls play at Rushmore at 8 p.m. MST Friday, then host Sioux Center at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: What a road trip! The schedule makers sent the Capitals to Sioux Falls, Mitchell and Aberdeen all in the same weekend, but the boys responded with a stunning 3-0 record in fewer than 24 hours. At Sioux Falls #2 the Caps won, 8-0, as Colin Lee made 22 saves. Ashton Griese had a hat trick on offense while Barret Schweitzer and Jarron Beck had two goals each and Devin Dodson one. At Mitchell the onslaught continued with a 6-1 win as Schweitzer scored twice, and Griese, Dodson, Andre Carbonneau and Aidan Dozark each scored a goal. Lee made 16 saves there. At Aberdeen on Sunday the boys won by a 6-3 count behind Lee’s 19 saves, Schweitzer’s two goals, and single scores by Dozark, Beck, Carbonneau and Dodson. Now 9-2, the Caps go to Yankton for games at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Aberdeen Wings: The wings lost to Bismarck, 6-0; beat Bismarck, 4-3 in overtime, and lost to Bismarck, 10-4. Aberdeen is home Friday and Saturday with two more games against Bismarck.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush split with Utah last weekend, losing 7-1 and winning 5-4. Last night the Rush lost at Utah 3-1. Rapid City stays in Utah for games Friday and Saturday.

Badlands Sabres (Mason Martin): The Sabres lost twice to Gillette, 4-1 and 5-1. They play at home Friday and Saturday vs. Sheridan.

Minnesota Wild: Not a good week for the Wild on the road to the Southeast! Minnesota lost at Carolina, 5-2; lost at Florida, 5-3, and lost at Tampa Bay, 4-2. The Wild will be home Thursday vs. Philadelphia and Saturday vs. Buffalo.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

NFL games on live TV this weekend:
— Sunday: NFC championship, San Francisco at Philadelphia, 2 p.m., Fox.
— Sunday: AFC championship, Cincinnati at Kansas City, 5:30 p.m., CBS.

South Dakota State: It was announced this week that the defending national champion Jackrabbits will play their home game vs. Drake at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sept. 16. Considering how many SDSU fans made it to Texas for the FCS national championship game, think how many will get tickets for a game as close as Minneapolis!

FOOTBALL CONTEST #26

In last week’s contest, which covered the four NFL divisional-round games, Kyle Richards, Seb Axtman, David Ludwig and Thomas Voeltz got all four correct for 10 points each. At 3-1, missing only Buffalo’s loss, and earning 8 points each were Levi Neuharth, Mikal Kern, Laurie Johnson and Jon Boer. At 2-2 for 6 points each were Beth Rinehart, Nathan Vetter and Randy Pool.

Contest #26, our last contest of the season: (Send your 2 winners to parkerhome16@hotmail.com by Sunday morning):
(1) NFC championship: San Francisco at Philadelphia.
(2) AFC championship: Cincinnati at Kansas City.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): The first stop on the 2023 Champions Tour (for players 55 and older) was the Mitsubishi Electric tournament in Hawaii. Tom did not play there. Next tour stop is the Trophy Hassan II event in Rabat, Morocco, Feb. 9-11.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Midco Sports Network live games this week:
— THURSDAY
Women’s basketball: USD vs. Western Illinois, 7 p.m. (MS2).
Women’s basketball: SDSU vs. St. Thomas, 7 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Women’s basketball: UND vs. NDSU, 1 p.m.
Women’s basketball: USD vs. St. Thomas, 1 p.m. (MS2).

Summit League basketball update:
MEN’S BASKETBALL
— USD (9-11): Lost to Denver 75-60; beat Omaha 84-68.
Upcoming games: Thursday at Western Illinois, Saturday at St. Thomas.
— SDSU (11-9): Beat Omaha 84-61, beat Denver 76-61.
Upcoming games: Thursday at St. Thomas, Saturday at Western Illinois, Monday at Kansas City.
— Summit League men’s standings: Oral Roberts 8-0, SDSU 6-2, Western Illinois 5-4, NDSU 5-4, USD 4-4, Kansas City 4-4, St. Thomas 4-5, Denver 3-6, Omaha 3-6, UND 1-8.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
— USD (10-10): Beat Omaha 70-63; beat Denver 59-50.
Upcoming games: Thursday, home vs. Western Illinois; Saturday, home vs. St. Thomas.
— SDSU (16-5): Beat Omaha 68-61; beat Denver 74-64.
Upcoming games: Thursday, home vs. St. Thomas; Saturday, home vs. Western Illinois.
— Summit League women’s standings: SDSU 9-0, NDSU 7-2, USD 6-3, Oral Roberts 5-4, UND 4-5, Omaha 4-5, Western Illinois 3-6, Denver 3-6, St. Thomas 2-7, Kansas City 2-7.

Sioux Falls Skyforce: The Force lost to Lakeland, 125-121, and defeated Austin, 92-87. Sioux Falls is off until a home game Tuesday vs. Texas.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Minnesota beat Toronto, 128-126; beat Houston, 113-104; lost to Houston, 119-114, and last night won at New Orleans, 111-102. Now 25-25, the Wolves face a long homestand, including Friday vs. Memphis, Saturday and Monday vs. Sacramento and next Wednesday against Golden State.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.”
— Jonathan Swift

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, Jan. 26:
Solomon Erlandson, Ruth Rehn, Sandi (Ahrendt) Beckman, Owen Schnabel, Diana Tibbs, Dustin Ortbahn, Logan Bouchie.
— We remember Luke Melius, who passed away 11 years ago today.

Friday, Jan. 27:
Karen Wyly, Shana (Holsteen) Read, Maxwell Fergen, Josh Schwartzkopf, Matt Jensen, Rory (Groseclose) Mennenger, Tanya (Hoagland) Hardiman, Andy Woster, Peggy (Huebner) Urquhart, Matt Kelley, Karen (Fossen) Cudmore, Megan (Linn) Bertsch, Aidan Javurek-Humig.

Saturday, Jan. 28:
Kathy (Dalton) Smith, Josh Dehne, Zachary Deal, John Culberson, Cindy Jaeger.
— 39th anniversary, Rick/Deb LaBrie.

Sunday, Jan. 29:
Alex Beckwith, Jim Ulmen, Tyson Nafus, Chuck Bartlett, Howard Grinager, Ramona Lomheim, Hazel Baumberger (#107).

Monday, Jan. 30:
Michele Hoscheid, Kelly Neiles-Brindza, Laura Hofer, Julie Osnes, Randy Pool, Rebecca Gruba, Cory Holmes, Isaac Stoeser, Weston Williams.

Tuesday, Jan. 31:
Jane Stewart, Kevin Stiles, Jeff Pierce, Tony Bevers, Levi Reiprich, Elsie Vogel, Darin Newcomb, Don Hoepfer, Wendy Ramler, William Tousley, Tracy Berg, Blake Freidel.

Wednesday, Feb. 1:
Colin Brown, Mary (Junkman) Hoover, Jeremiah Oltmann, Jim Severson, Carl Hawkinson, Ed Jacobson, Andy Gerlach, Katrina Hewlett, Tracy (Shangreaux) Boom, Blake Norman, Kaylee Kampfe, Cole Severson, Nicholas Edwards, Kallie (Dresbach) Hall, Lygia Garrett-Davis Libel.

Thursday, Feb. 2:
Nate Chicoine, Jordan Reiss, Joy Erlenbusch, Becky (Markley) Wosick, Stevie Brockhouse, Cody Coppess, Carla Madden, Jeff Stewart, Josh Lamb, Darline Zimmerman.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Local students who achieved the fall semester Dean’s List at Dakota Wesleyan University are Elizabeth Duffy, Cobey Carr, Morgan (Oedekoven) Carr, Maleihya Estes, Abbigail Ferris, Ingrid Maldonado-Sanchez, Eric Siegfried and Brenda Velazquez Padilla.

The fall semester Dean’s List at Mount Marty University in Yankton included Lincoln Jordre of Onida.

Hazel Baumberger, who lives at ParkWood Apartments, will observe her 107th birthday this Sunday, Jan. 29. Her mail address is 400 ParkWood Dr., Pierre SD 57501.

Brenda Even was recognized by the Department of Public Safety for 30 years of service as South Dakota Wildland Fire finance officer. A plaque and a pin were presented by DPS deputy secretary Dan Lusk and Wildland Fire chief Jay Wickham.

At Northern State University these local students achieved recognition on the fall semester Dean’s List: Teri Carter, Jacob Howard, Audra Bland, Paige Brandt, Delaine Campbell, Grace Campbell, Addison Cumbow, Ashley Even, Carly Handcock, Spencer Kelly, Danielle Nickle, Savannah Shrake, Hailey Switzer.

Alan Weinheimer of rural Onida lost his life Jan. 12 in an automobile accident near Alexandria on I-90. Mass of Christian Burial took place Jan. 21 at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The son of Jerome and Inez (Flannery) Weinheimer grew up in South Dakota and Texas and graduated from Pampa High School in Texas. Once he had a family of his own, Alan devoted his life to farming and ranching in western Sully County. Alan and Cori Nickolas were married in 1995. After their first child was stillborn, they raised five children. He is survived by his wife, Cori Weinheimer; his children, Joshua, Grace, Jacob, Samuel and Simon; his mother, Inez Weinheimer; his parents-in-law, John and Char Nickolas; his brothers, Jerry (Leesa) Weinheimer, Jeff (Tomi) Weinheimer, Mark (Mary) Weinheimer and Ken Weinheimer; his sister-in-law, Gina (Joe) Gruman; his brothers-in-law, Cody (Aimee) Nickolas and Tony (Mandy) Nickolas, and many nephews and nieces. Among those who preceded him in death were his father; an infant son, Joseph, and his grandparents, Walter and Grace Flannery and Eugene and Monica Weinheimer.

The President’s Academic Honors List for the fall semester at Dakota State University in Madison included these local students: Abbie Pillen, Jacob Page, Evan Becker, Collin Brueggeman, Drew Schuchard, Jose Magana, Houston Lunde, Dohrion Eisterhold, Morgan Garber, Griffin Gates, Angela Guthmiller.

Jake and Taylor (Hyde) McLennan revealed on Facebook this week that they are expecting their first child in July.

Dusty Hunsley is joining the staff of American Family Insurance agent Brittney (Lamb) Schiefelbein. Dusty and his wife, the former Brittneh Witte, have three sons—Max, 15; Porter, 13, and Graham, 10.

Three Riggs High senior football players this week announced they are decommitting from Northern State University to the University of Sioux Falls where they plan to begin their collegiate football careers with the Cougars next fall. They are Jack Merkwan, Jayden Wiebe and Christian Busch.

South Dakota State University’s fall semester Dean’s List included these local students (with an asterisk* noting those with 4.0 grade-point averages): Trey Frost, Mataya Geppert, Daysen Titze*, Reid Wieczorek*, Jessica Buntrock, Jenna Bush*, Bennett Dean, Marlee Dravland*, Kayleigh Dueis, Jade Evans*, RyLee Fischer*, Adam Forman, Brady Getz, Adam Goeden, Talon Griese, Halle Gronlund*, Ruth Howard*, Michael Jackley, Allison Johnson, William Kessler, Kyla Keyes*, Abbigail Kitts*, Sawyer Lee*, Luke Leingang, Spencer Letellier, Emily Lingle*, Nick Loe, Emma Lusk, Daniel Magee*, Levi McKinley, Tate Mueller*, Catie Natvig, Thuong Nguyen, Selah Rilling*, Peyton Schlekeway, Malia Schumacher, Taryn Senger, Hattie Shaffer*, Ellie Simpson*, Addy Smith*, Noah Smith*, Kylee Thorpe*, Layne Uecker, Shay Van Den Hemel*, Ryan Warne*, Nathan Williams, Danessa Wilson, Deni Zeeb*, Gracie Zeeb, Cade Currier*, Jordan Schall, Landon Severson*, Shalie Weinheimer.

Cathy Barringer is retiring from BankWest after 42 years of employment there. A retirement party will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the Missouri Avenue Event Center. Light food will be served, and there will be a cash bar.

Thomas Christensen, 73, Fort Pierre, died at home Jan. 22. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. this Sunday with a time of sharing at 6 at the Isburg Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at the Isburg Funeral Chapel. Tom grew up in Wessington, Redfield and Jamestown, N.D., and graduated from high school in 1967 at Gackle, N.D. He attended North Dakota State School of Science for welding. He married JoAnn Rath in 1971, and they had one daughter. In 1973 Tom moved to Fort Pierre where his father owned Christy Lumber. Tom worked for A-G-E Corporation, and during winters he worked at the lumber yard. When his father retired, Tom went to the lumber yard full-time. He married Tammy Schultz, and they had two children together. Tom is survived by his children, Paula Christensen (Ben Berg) of Gackle; Sarah Christensen of Hendricks, Minn., and David Christensen of Fort Pierre; three grandchildren, and a sister, Sharon Keel of West Fargo, N.D. Among those preceding him in death were his parents and his first wife, JoAnn.

The President’s Honor List for the fall semester at Mitchell Technical Institute included these local students: Zack Farries (4.0), Kiley McGee (4.0), Andrew Bierne, Denton Beck (4.0), Jenna Keyser (4.0), Logan Meyer (4.0), Spencer Taylor (4.0) and Orion Albertson (high honors).

PONDER THIS

“Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”
— Socrates