THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Far up in the deep blue sky
Great white clouds are drifting by.
All the world is dressed in green.
Many happy birds are seen,
Roses bright and sunshine clear
Show that lovely June is here
— F. G. Sanders

STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONS!

When the high school baseball season began amid the awful weather of late March and early April, the Governors lost their first five games, all on the road, and the prospects for a successful season looked bleak. Fourteen games later, all of which they won, the Govs are state “A” champions.

After winning two games in their regional at home the previous weekend, Pierre shut down Brandon Valley, 2-0, in the semifinal round. Jonathon Lyons’ two-run single in the first inning was all the offense the Govs would need. On the mound Lincoln Kienholz pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out nine, walking one and allowing five hits but no runs. J.J. Bucholz came in in relief with two outs in the final inning and threw one pitch to end the game.

In the championship game against Harrisburg a few minutes later, Jack Merkwan’s two-run single gave Pierre a 2-1 lead after an unearned run had put the Tigers up early. Jett Zabel’s RBI single made it 3-1. After Jackson Edman had pitched four innings and into the fifth, Bucholz again came in from the bullpen with the score 3-2. He got three Tigers in a row on a strikeout, another strikeout and a pop-up to end the Harrisburg threat and end the inning. In the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded, Lyons was hit with a pitch, forcing in the fourth Pierre run. In the top of the sixth Bucholz retired the side with only a hit batter reaching base for Harrisburg. In the top of the seventh and final inning, the Harrisburg leadoff man reached base. After two pop-ups the next batter got a hit, so the tying runners were aboard, but a scary fly ball to deep left field was caught by left-fielder Merkwan at the track to end the game, preserving the 4-2 lead and earning the Governors their championship

Coaches of the championship team were head man Steve Gray and assistants Ryan Krueger, Jared Fodness and Cody Sharrow.

The All-State team for high school baseball had Lincoln Kienholz on the first team and Jett Zabel on the second team. The All-Region team included Kienholz, Zabel, George Stalley, Deegan Houska and J.J. Bucholz. Named to the Academic All-State team were Brecken Krueger, Houska, Jack Merkwan, Jackson Edman, Jayden Wiebe, Kieholz, and Jonathan Lyons.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— MONDAY
Girls golf: home for state tournament, 9 a.m.
— TUESDAY
Girls golf: home for state tournament, 9 a.m.

Boys track: At the state meet in Sioux Falls the Governors earned 27 1/2 points and finished 10th in the “AA” team standings. Earning team points for Pierre were these athletes:
— Jason Maciejczak, first in the shot put at 61’11 3/4″; third in the discus at 174’4″.
— Jared Lutmer, fourth in the 3200 in 9:34.23; seventh in the 1600 in 4:27.43.
— Colby Carey, tied for fifth in the pole vault at 13’0″.
— Deegan Houska, seventh in the 300-meter hurdles in :41.82.

Other Pierre boys’ results:
— Greyson Schuetzle, 24th in the long jump at 16’6 1/4″.
— E.J. Boutchee, ninth in the javelin at 156’4″.
— Colton Babcock, 13th in the javelin at 147’4″.
— Caleb Morris, 15th in the 3200 in 10:08.03.
— Brock Moser, 16th in the pole vault at 12’0″.
— Chase Carda, 17th in the pole vault at 12’0″.
— Matthew Coverdale, 12th in the shot put at 48’2″.
— Chris Dusky and Andrew Campea, no height in the high jump.

Girls track: At the state meet in Sioux Falls the Governor girls had 38 points good for ninth place in the “AA” team standings. The team points were earned in this manner:
— Reese Terwilliger, first in the shot put at 44’1″; eighth in the discus at 111’5″.
— Kali Ringstmeyer, first in the 200 in :26.29.
— Maya Shorter, second in the discus at 125’9″; fifth in the javelin at 22’10”.
— 4×200 relay (Dani Ringstmeyer, Grace Richter, Charlee Williams-Smith, Kali Ringstmeyer), fourth in 1:45.67.

Other Pierre results in girls’ events:
— Sprint medley (Aleise Christopherson, Reed Curry, Maira Tafoya, Lennix Dupris), 15th in 4:36.31.
— Grace Richter, 10th in the long jump at 15’10 1/4″.
— Aleise Christopherson, 16th in the long jump at 15’4″; 17th in the triple jump at 33’2 3/4″.
— Maya Shorter, ninth in the shot put at 37’6 3/4″.
— Hannah Lemieux, 15th in the shot put at 34’9 1/4″; ninth in the discus at 110’8″.
— Mason Berg, 23rd in the 3200 in 12:33.07.
— Danielle Beck, tied for 18th in the high jump at 4’10”
— Reese Terwilliger, 24th in the javelin at 65’0″.

Girls golf: At a home quadrangular at Hillsview Tuesday, the Governor girls were fourth with a team score of 351, behind Mitchell 306, Rapid City Stevens 319 and Aberdeen Central 324.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

Track: At the state meet in Sioux Falls, Paxton Deal tied for 13th place in the high jump at 19’3 1/2″. The boys sprint medley team of Deal, Colton Brady, Brendon Bothwell and Spencer Sargent placed 24th in 4:02.43. The girls’ 4×800 relay foursome of Grace Sargent, Gracie Olson, Rachel Nemec and Kaysen Magee placed 21st in 10:46.58.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— MONDAY
Golf: at state tournaments, Watertown.
— TUESDAY
Golf: at state tournaments, Watertown.

Track: At the state meet in Sioux Falls the Charger girls accumulated 15 points to finish 19th in the Class “B” team standings. Lydia Hill placed second in the shot put at 39’1 1/4″ and 11th in the discus at 106’7″. Stevie Wittler placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in :16.13 and sixth in the 300-meter hurdles in :49.81. Addison Chicoine was 15th in the shot put at 32’9 1/2″. Payge KBakker was 23rd in the shot put at 30’4 1/2″.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Augustana baseball: The Vikings lost the first game of their best-of-3 super-regional against Minnesota State-Mankato in the worst possible way. With four runs in in the bottom of the ninth and the tying run at third and the winning run at second base, the Augie batter apparently was earned a bases-loaded hit batter to tie the game, but the umpire ruled batter interference, claiming he stepped across the plate to get hit, called him out and ended the game in Mankato’s favor. After that gut-wrenching decision, the Vikings came out for blood on Saturday and beat Mankato twice, 8-3 and 16-2, to win the super regional and advance to the Division II World Series starting Saturday.

Rollins College baseball (Spencer Sarringar): Rollins won the first two games of a best-of-three super-regional over Barry University to advance to the Division II World Series. In the first game, a 7-4 win, Spencer went 2-for-4. He doubled in the eighth inning to score the team’s seventh run. Earlier the Tars had broken a 4-4 tie with solo homers by other players in the fifth and sixth innings. In Game #2 Rollins had a four-run seventh inning to take a 6-0 lead. Spencer doubled and later scored in the eighth as Rollins won, 7-1, to advance to the World Series.

NCAA Division II World Series at Cary, N.C.: Rollins College (Fla.), for whom Pierre’s Spencer Sarringar is the starting catcher in most games, will open the tournament with a 12:30 p.m. CDT game Saturday against Cal State-San Bernardino. The 5 p.m. game that day matches Millersvlle (Pa.) against University of Indianapolis. Those two winners play at 5 p.m. Monday after those two losers play at 12:30 that day. Sunday’s games have Angelo State (Texas) vs. Southern New Hampshire at 12:30 and Augustana vs. North Greenville (S.C.) at 5 p.m. Those winners and losers play Tuesday games. After Tuesday six teams will be left in the tournament, which runs through Saturday, June 10.

South Dakota State baseball (Brady Hawkins): At the Summit League tournament after beating NDSU on opening day, the Jackrabbits lost to Oral Roberts, 15-2. They stayed alive with an 8-2 win over NDSU but then lost to Oral Roberts on championship day, 12-4. SDSU would have had to win twice over ORU that day to advance. Brady pitched two-thirds of an inning and was the fourth of five Jacks pitchers in the final game against ORU. He gave up three hits, two earned runs, one walk and one strikeout. SDSU ended the year with a 24-28 record.

Texas State baseball (Peyton Zabel): In an elimination game at the Sun Belt Conference tournament, Texas State stayed alive with a 6-5 win over Georgia State on a walkoff homer in the 12th inning. The next day Texas State lost to Louisiana, 12-6, and was eliminated. Peyton was the seventh of seven pitchers in that game, pitching a third of an inning in the top of the ninth. He struck out the only man he faced, ending the inning in which Louisiana had scored three insurance runs.

COUNTDOWN

2 days: Casey Tibbs Match of Champions (June 3).
4 days: State B boys golf tournament, Watertown (June 5-6).
4 days: State girls golf tournaments, AA Pierre, A Rapid City, B Watertown (June 5-6).
8 days: Sully Buttes Class of ’73 50-year reunion (June 9-11).
8 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “Silent Sky” opens (June 9-July 2).
9 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “The Lifespan of a Fact” opens (June 10-30).
10 days: Tony awards, CBS-TV (June 11).
13 days: Flag Day (June 14).
15 days: College World Series, Omaha (June 16-26).
15 days: Oahe Days (June 16-17).
17 days: Fathers Day (June 18).
22 days: Pierre FolkFest concert (June 23).

WORDS OF WISDOM

Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.
— Carl Bard

BASEBALL UPDATE

Pierre Post 8: The American Legion season begins at home tonight (Thursday) as Post 8 hosts Brookings in a 5 p.m. doubleheader. Pierre goes to Renner for a doubleheader at noon Friday, to Aberdeen for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Sunday and to Sioux Falls East for a 5 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday.

Fort Pierre Post 20: The team opened the season with a doubleheader sweep over Mobridge. In a 7-4 win Paxton Deal was winning pitcher, and Colton Brady not only earned a save but drove in a pair of runs. In a 15-0 shutout Daysen Titze threw a complete game, allowing two hits and four walks while fanning five. Josh Switzer went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Oahe Zaps: The Zaps finish their road series against first-place Badlands in Dickinson tonight (Thursday). They will be back home Friday, Saturday and Sunday vs. Spearfish and Tuesday and Wednesday against Fremont. The Zaps are now 1-7 after losing late last week to Nebraska, 8-0, and losing four of the first five of six games vs. Badlands at home and away. Oahe got a 4-2 win at home last week but also lost to the Big Sticks by scores of 4-0, 7-1, 11-3 and 8-2.

Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Thursday: at Cleveland, 6:40 p.m. (BSN).
— Friday: at Cleveland, 7:10 p.m. (Apple TV+).
— Saturday: at Cleveland, 6:15 p.m. (Fox).
— Sunday: at Cleveland, 1:10 p.m. (BSN).
— Tuesday: at Tampa Bay, 5:40 p.m. (BSN).
— Wednesday: at Tampa Bay, 5:40 p.m. (BSN).
— Thursday: at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m. (BSN, MLBN).

Minnesota Twins: The Twins lost two of three at home to Toronto, winning 9-7 but losing 3-1 and 3-0. However, this week they took two of three at Houston, winning 7-5 in 10 innings, losing 5-1 and winning last night 8-2.

Four Corners: The local amateur team is scheduled at Wessington Springs tonight (Thursday) and at home Sunday afternoon against Plankinton.

Sioux Falls Canaries: The Birds beat Winnipeg, 8-4, then lost to the Goldeyes 11-6 and 3-2. This week Sioux Falls beat Fargo-Moorhead, 4-2, and lost last night in Fargo, 12-3, The Canaries finish their series against F-M tonight, then are home Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Gary-South Shore and on the road down to Sioux City Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Sioux Falls Storm: The Storm put up a ton of points in a 77-26 win over Iowa. This is the Storm’s bye week. Their next game will be June 10 at home against first-place Frisco.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons tied Real Salt Lake, 1-1, and lost last night to Austin, 2-1. Now 5-6-5, Minnesota is home vs. Toronto Saturday.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx remain winless in the new WNBA season after losing to Phoenix, 90-81; to Las Vegas, 94-73, and to Dallas, 94-89. Minnesota is home tonight vs. Connecticut, on the road to Washington Saturday and on to New York next Wednesday.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• A South Dakota landmark, the JoDean’s restaurant on the north side of Yankton, will close soon after 51 years in business. JoDean’s opened in 1972 and moved to its current location in 2001.
• The breath-taking performance by Rodd Bauck’s Riggs High concert choir in the Capitol Rotunda can be heard if you go to www.oahetv.com, then click on Fine Arts, then look for Angels in Architecture concert. The one-hour concert is sung entirely without accompaniment. One piece they sing is “Riverscapes,” a commissioned piece whose text was composed by choir member Patrick Valentine.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.
— Oprah Winfrey

ONE YEAR AGO IN THE MIDWEEK UPDATE

June 5, 2022: Gov. Kristi Noem with 76% of the vote, Sen. John Thune with 72% and Rep. Dusty Johnson with 59% all won their primary election races easily.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, June 1:
Jonathan Huft, Miranda Townsend, Amanda (Chick) Deelstra, Josh Ford, Bruce Abels, Tanner Johnson, Paige Erickson, Alex Roth, Melinda (Kruger) Vetsch, Jerry Bollinger, Rick Jensen, Julie (Inman) Darger.
— 21st anniversary, Nathan/Kristin (Koupal) Venner.
— 10th anniversary, Elliot/Emily (Bloomberg) Meier.
— 60th anniversary, Dan/Helen Sutera.
— 50th anniversary, Mark/Marcia (Davis) Kozel.
— Anniversary, Craig/Gail Eichstadt.
— 7th anniversary, Aaron/Kayla (Pochop) Riswold.

Friday, June 2:
TyAnn Herman, Austyn Christiansen, Sutton Fitzke, Bill Shoup, Nicole Erbele, Matt Judson, Marley Myers, Ryan Beck, Lila Houck, Tammy (Hinckley) Garrity, Julie (Shangreaux) Sibson, Momo Kei Welch Okawa.
— 17th anniversary, Aaron/Ashley (Pries) Brewer.
— 5th anniversary, Ethan/Heather (Mangan) Fife.
— 17th anniversary, Mike/Lindsey Swenson.
— 5th anniversary, Cole/Kadence Cruse.
— 11th anniversary, Tony/Mackenzie (Kusser) Blake.
— 5th anniversary, Lou/Alyssa Mehlhaff.
— 11th anniversary, Sam/Holly (Lindbloom) Gilkerson.

Saturday, June 3:
Aspen Iverson, Seamus McDonough, Shawn Hostler, Lucas Roberts, Cohen Grunewaldt, Josh Vanderloo, Rusty Westall, Amber (LaBrie) Shaw.
— 6th anniversary, Clint/Cally (Thomas) Kindred.
— 28th anniversary, Jon/Theresa Beastrom.
— 56th anniversary, Terry/Nancy Woster.
— 44th anniversary, Duane/Penny Unruh.
— 6th anniversary, Walter/Natasha Haag.
— 34th anniversary, John/Sandy Zimmerman.
— 18th anniversary, Tyler/Tiffany (Tate) Stoeser.

Sunday, June 4:
Aaron Blow, Jessica (Evenstad) Haeder, Amanda Aadland, Ava Aaaland, Nick Renemans, Ellen Johnson, Emily (Stout) Kelley, Scott Howard, Tillie Haag, Bodie Bramblee, Owen Zuercher.
— 40th anniversary, Gary/Genny McMath.
— 18th anniversary, Brandon/Melanie (Bunkowske) Cruse.
— 18th anniversary, Scott/Sara (Goeden) Richardson.
— 18th anniversary, Tony/Megan Darger.
— 18th anniversary, Brian/Jennifer Lowery.
— 12th anniversary, Lucas/Angela Scheibe.
— 46th anniversary, Patrick/Jill Burger.

Monday, June 5:
Carter Baloun, Harper Jo Anderson, Nate Chappelle, Madilyn Brakke, Chuck Weischedel, Alice (Scharnweber) Safe, Kalen Moodie, Jeremy Clegg, Carter Martin, Sarah Lake, Joe Riis, Mike Fisher, Matt Bunkoiwske, Dakota Huber, Chad Larson, Alexia Zeigler.
— 13th anniversary, Brandon/Jennifer (Pogany) Kirchner.
— 19th anniversary, Chris/Deb (Micklos) Nelson.
— 13th anniversary, Jason/Hollie (Stutesman) Stoeser.
— 13th anniversary, Ross/Jennifer (Neuhauser) Tschetter.
— 19th anniversary, Andy/Deborah (Lucas) Leedahl.
— 13th anniversary, Brett/Amanda Fergen.
— 19th anniversary, Tim/Jamie Maher.
— 19th anniversary, Brad/Dawn Englund.
— 19th anniversary, Josh/Heather (Clausen) Redetzke.

Tuesday, June 6:
Drayton Thomas, Katie Carter, Brad Garrett, Edna Chambers-Brady, Zach Hanson, Willa Whitebird, Preston Workman, Madeline Roby, J.J. Kucker, Vona Johnson, Roberta Lovald.
— 3rd anniversary, Chas/Sheila (Ricketts) Olson.
— 42nd anniversary, Ki/Jennie Weingart.
— 8th anniversary, Mitch/Jennie Boe.
— 54th anniversary, Bob/Eileen Kramer.
— 8th anniversary, Zane/Sarah (Albrecht) Pries.
— 58th anniversary, David/Suzanne (Lauing) Lockhart.

Wednesday, June 7:
Lydia Sullivan, Hudson Barber, Van Huse, Bretton Barber, Sara Anderson, Stacey Somsen, Sarah Sullivan, Erik Gilbertson, Anthony Hatlestad, Ellie Gran, Trailyn Townsend, Paul Karber, Polly Kuykendall.
— 48th anniversary, Dick/Patti Stolp.
— 9th anniversary, Eric/Christina (Adams) Lusk.
— 20th anniversary, Joe/Gina (Nickolas) Gruman.
— 9th anniversary, Spencer/Christina Yackley.
— 20th anniversary, Cody/Susan (Van Camp) Wendelbo.
— 20th anniversary, Andy/Janelle (Kvislen) Carda.
— 48th anniversary, Joe/Cindy Jungman.

Thursday, June 8:
Michelle (Monroe) Kettler, Kristin Brost, Darcy Beck-Boersma, Mike Garrett, Ellen Lee, Torri (Ice) Lechtenberg, Brenda (McGee) Currier, Patty Pearson, Krista Wright.
— 10th anniversary, Jay/Susan Davis.
— Anniversary, Jeff/Connie Pierce.
— 10th anniversary, Cody/Timaree (Ice) Axlund.
— 21st anniversary, Jon/Allyson (Friez) Kreycik.
— 21st anniversary, Chris/Mahryah (Dixon) Anderson.
— 21st anniversary, Ben/Jody Clair.

CAPITAL CITY BAND

The band’s outdoor season begins next Wednesday, June 7, at the Steamboat Park amphitheater. The theme for this first concert is “When Summer Takes Flight.” Every weekly concert begins at 8 p.m. The only exception is the July 4 concert, which starts later at 9 p.m.

SUNDAYS AT THE LEGION

The music on the deck at the American Legion cabin (or indoors if the weather is bad) takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Sunday. Performing this Sunday, June 4, is the Homestretch Band.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

The 90th birthday of June Halverson will be celebrated at an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. this Sunday, June 4, at ParkWood Apartments. Cards can be sent to June at 400 ParkWood Drive, Apt. #12, Pierre SD 57501.

Former Pierre resident Jim Stein, 88, died May 28. No services will be held at this time. Jim grew up in Kansas, then on a ranch at Cotopaxi, Colo. He graduated from high school there in 1952 and from Western State in Gunnison, Colo., in 1958. Jim married Karen Shivers-Miller in 1960. He co-managed his father’s hardware store in Holyoke, Colo., was assistant director of services at Colorado University-Boulder in 1965, worked at Iowa Beef Packers in Sioux City starting in 1968 and became office services director at Winnebago Industries in Forest City, Iowa, in 1970. In 1974 he became South Dakota’s first state telecommunications director, and the Stein family moved to Pierre. He spent the rest of his career at that agency, which later became known as the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT). Jim retired in 1998, and he and Karen moved to Brookings in 2015. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Karen Stein; his sister, Mary (Noel) Poe of Kanab, Utah; his sister-in-law, Marcia Stein of Chadron, Neb.; his sons, Mike Stein and Steven (Kristi) Stein, all of Volga; his daughter, Suzi Stein of Flint, Texas; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter as well as many nephews and nieces.

Larissa FastHorse along with Michael Garces and Todd London, on their way to another performance of “Wicoun” at St. Francis Indian School, got stuck in post-storm sand on the prairielands of the Rosebud Reservation yesterday afternoon.

Pat Jolley (Sully Buttes ’74) is retiring as head track coach at Canistota High School after 35 years in that position.

Early voting in the Pierre school board election continues at the school district administration building behind China Buffet on Poplar Avenue between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. today (Thursday), Friday and Monday. The election is Tuesday with voting locations at Faith Lutheran Church and New Life Assembly of God. Incumbent Dan Cronin is seeking a new term, and challengers are Roger Livermont and Jason Muldoon.

In the Sully Buttes (ABO) district there is a school board race for the Area 4 seat currently held by Tom Yackley. He is a candidate for another term and is being challenged by Scott Currier.

The spring semester Dean’s List at Black Hills State University includes these local students: Nathan Haberling, Hunter Martell, Teyah Lewis, Mikah Moser, Sydney Theobald, Slater Tople.

Karissa Guthrie is now a D.M.D. (doctor of dental medicine) after graduating from dental school in Chicago last week. She will be beginning to practice dentistry in the Charlotte, N.C., area. On the same day her boyfriend, Owen Beyer, proposed to her with parents of both Owen and Karissa on hand in Chicago. They met each other while they both attended Northern Michigan University.

Oahe Softball will induct the newest members of its Wall of Honor on June 10 at noon during the city tournament. This year’s inductees are Kim Bierle, Jordan Gourneau, Mark and Mel Hackett, Leon Schochenmaier, Scott Stabnow and Penn Williams.

Ryan Parker Knox left home in Tucson, Ariz., last weekend and drove to Hannibal, Mo., where he will appear in a lead role in Stephen King’s “Misery” at Bluff City Theatre from June 15 through June 24. The play is being directed by an old friend of Ryan’s from his years in the Twin Cities. On the way to Hannibal Ryan stopped in Kansas City to see a Royals-Nationals game, and he plans to go down to St. Louis for a Cardinals-Reds game late next week.

State track meet notes: . . . . . Rylan McDonnell of Wall won both the long jump and the triple jump at the “B” meet. He is the grandson of Roger and Vicky Hanson of Pierre, and his mom is the former Mandi Hanson. . . . . . Clay Sonnenschein, a junior at Harrisburg High School, placed fifth in the “AA” 110-meter hurdles in a time of :15.06. His dad is Pierre native Chris Sonnenschein. . . . . . Spencer Warkenthien of Brandon Valley placed third in the “AA” pole vault with a leap of 14’0:. His mom is Onida native Kelly Gerber. Spencer will leave in August for basic training and advanced training with the Army National Guard. . . . . . The boys team champions at the state meets were O’Gorman in “AA”, Sioux Falls Christian in “A” and Gregory and Ipswich in “B.” The girls champions were Brandon Valley in “AA” Sioux Falls Christian in “A” and Colman-Egan in “B.” The combined team awards went to Brandon Valley, Sioux Falls Christian and Deubrook Area.

Pierre native Andy Jockheck was highlighted in the “Fast Five” feature in the Coeur d’Alene Press newspaper for his volunteer work with the United Way of North Idaho. Andy’s “day job” is vice president and branch manager of Umpqua Bank in Post Falls, Idaho. He and his family have been in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls area for six years, and dating back to his Pierre years he has been in the banking industry for more than 30 years. According to the newspaper article, Andy is especially interested in United Way of North Idaho’s early learning collaborative committee’s work with early childhood centers as they face decreased funding and sustainability.

The rural home of Trevor and Kelsey Hupp and family southeast of Fort Pierre along Highway 1806 exploded and was totally destroyed last week. The Hupps’ infant daughter, Harper, and Trevor’s mother, LaDonna, died at the scene, and Trevor’s father, Bill Hupp, died of his injuries after being taken to the hospital. The Hupps’ boys—Myles, 5, and Royce, 3—were burned in the blast and air-lifted to the Regions Hospital burn center in St. Paul. A Caring Bridge journal entry early this week said that Myles’ X-rays were looking good and that Royce will be needing surgery in a week or two and will need grafting on his shoulder and chest. Trevor is an ag banker at First Dakota National Bank, and Kelsey is a nurse practitioner. The support for the Hupps in their tragedy have come from across the state. Benefit events are under way in many locations from Rapid City to Philip to Pierre to Huron to Brookings, and a GoFundMe account online and a benefit account at Trevor’s bank have raised funds to help the Hupps recover. With so many fund-raising efforts taking place, a new Facebook page entitled “Hupp Family Support Hub” has been created to try to organize all of the events in one place for the benefit of those who wish to contribute and participate.

A graveside service for the late Ed Baer, a long-time resident who in recent years had lived in California with his wife, Rhoda, and their daughter, Larissa FastHorse, and her husband, Edd Hogan, will be held at Riverside Cemetery at 2 p.m Tuesday, June 13. There will be lunch afterwards at Richie Z’s Brickhouse (the old VFW building at the corner of Dakota and Central) from 3 to 5 p.m.

Long-time Pierre residents Ken and Diane Stofferahn, who have lived in a home in Lincoln, Neb., for several years, have moved into an independent living community.

Nathan and Sara (Dvorak) Becker, who have lived at Alexandria, Va., since their marriage, will be moving this summer to the Orlando, Fla., area. Nathan has been accepted into a PhD program, and Sara will be working at a VA Medical Center. Their children are Emmett 12 1/2; Alex, 11, and Juliette, 9.

Gregory and Jacqee Schaefer of Rapid City became parents for the first time on May 15. Their son, Royal Troy Schaefer, weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 19 inches. His paternal grandparents are Pierre natives Troy and Kim (Merkwan) Schaefer. His paternal great-grandparents are Gary and Twila Merkwan of Pierre and Greg and Karen Schaefer of Rapid City, formerly of Pierre.

“An Experiment with an Air Pump” by Shelag Stephenson is the next installment of Pierre Players Community Theatre’s new Outside the Box series. Enjoy this readers’ theater-style performance in the Grey Goose Store & Social Club at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10. A free-will offering will be taken to help cover costs. A social hour begins at 7:30 and the play at 8. Outside the Box is a new series for Pierre Players Community Theatre to perform scripts not chosen for the main season, to gauge audience feedback on new scripts and those by local playwrights to give more people an opportunity to be involved in community theater and to broaden PPCT’s reach into the community.

The funeral for 14-year-old River Ludemann will take place at 3 p.m. Monday, June 5, at the Stanley County Fairgrounds, preceded by viewing starting at 1 p.m. He was riding in a Jeep involved in an accident on the off-road vehicle area just south of Oahe Dam on the west side of the river Saturday night. The injuries he sustained proved to be fatal. River had just completed the eighth grade in the Stanley County school. He is survived by his parents, Shane and Jessica Ludemann; his siblings, Coy and Dakota; his grandparents, Robin Nihiser of Fort Pierre, Don and Mavis Ludemann of Redfield, and Jack Moody of Tuscola, Ill.; his great-grandfather, Don Moody of Tuscola, and many uncles, aunts, cousins and other relatives.

Graduating from Mitchell Technical Institute this spring with Associate of Applied Science degrees were these local students:
— Jenna Keyser, accounting, 4.0.
— Jack Mercer, agribusiness 4.0, agronomy 4.0, animal science 4.0.
— Wyatt Rose, agribusiness.
— Zach Farries, agronomy 4.0.
— Denton Beck, light truck technology, 4.0.
— Kiley McGee, medical assistant, 3.75+.
— Kash Weischedel, power sports technology.
— In additiion, Blake Wagner earned a diploma in powerline construction and maintenance.

PONDER THIS

We deserve better than a theocracy crafted by imposters. We deserve a nation free from compulsory, fraudulent religion We deserve to be emancipated from their performance. Enough of the Conservative Right’s sickening Christian drag show. Get involved in you local community, leverage your social media platform, speak into your social circle, show up at school board meetings, support local politicians and, most importantly, vote. We need to shut this show down for good.
— John Pavlovitz