TRUE DAKOTAN

 We haven’t “treated” our Internet visitors with a full front page for awhile… click  here td july 6 p1 to see it.

 We try to make truedakotan.com as informative as possible. But if you want ALL the news from the Wessington Springs (Jerauld County, South Dakota) area, you may subscribe. It’s easy! Just send a check for $45.00 (out-of-South Dakota) or $37.10 (in-South Dakota). Include your name and mailing address. Write to: True Dakotan, PO Box T, Wessington Springs, SD 57382

Click on the “About the Museum” page in the banner of this home page to find out more about the Jerauld County Pioneer Heritage Museum.

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We’ve been on vacation — Duke & Karen in Glacier National Park — and Penny and Craig in the South Dakota Black Hills. So it’s been awhile since we’ve posted items on truedakotan.com.

But things will change very soon….. we’ll get all caught up this week –I hope– as we get back to our regular schedule.

–craig

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HOURS: Carnegie Library hours: Monday 1:00-6:00 p.m. and 7:00-8:30 p.m.; Wednesday 1:00-6:00 and 7:00-8:30 p.m.; Thursday 2:00-5:00 p.m.; Friday 10:00-11:30 and 1:00-6:00 p.m.

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SERVICE: FAX (605) 539-9315, and e-mail (truedakotan@sbtc.net) service available at the True Dakotan office.

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WANTED: Hay ground or alfalfa to rent or would put up on shares. Also custom baling, hydro-swinging. Call Clay Wenzel, 770-0246. tfc

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HOUSE FOR SALE OR RENT: 104 6^th Street NW. 2-bedroom, large bathroom, large family area. Attached one-car garage. Call (605) 539-1066. c-44-47

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Kali Krohmer, Jerrod Niemann, Kaycee Bergeleen and Dacia Bergeleen enjoy a laugh following a May-2010 show at the Wessington Springs 1905 Opera House. Niemann’s single, “Lover, Lover” has since climbed to the top of America’s country music charts as well as the newly-released album.

A singer/songwriter who performed at the Wessington Springs 1905 Opera House in May has catapulted all the way to the top of the country music charts in a meteoric ride that includes both the top single and album in the nation.

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THE COMMUNITY Farmers’ Market kicked off last Thursday, August 12^th from 4:30-6:30 at the east picnic shelter in the city park. Sweet corn was one of the top items with two vendors set up to sell the popular vegetable. You could also find a variety of items at other vendors including fresh baked whole wheat bread made from fresh milled Jerauld County wheat, salad baskets, small paintings and exotic hides from the Durdles. Baking apples were available as well as farm fresh eggs. The market is part of a program and grant from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture to encourage local markets. For more information, contact Linda Burg at 539-1373 or the Wessington Springs Area Development Corporation office at 539-1929. The markets are planned for every Thursday until further notice.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE

 THE TODD AND DAWN MEYERS family is pictured above making a presentation of over $6,700 to the Relay for Life committee. Todd is pictured on the left making the presentation while Dawn and a family member hold the check raised with a poker run. The committee members are from left, David Kogel, John Paulson, Eileen Woodruff, and Susan Jost. The food committee served 121 people. The American Cancer Society benefit event was held last Saturday evening at David Jost Field in the city park. Next year’s event will be held around Lake Pryor in Woonsocket.

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A team of large horses owned by Leroy Horsley had wandered on to SD Highway 34 a mile east of the Junction of SD 34 and Dakota Ave., Wessington Springs, at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, August 12. Calvin Hofer was the driver of the truck. According to Jerauld County Deputy Sheriff Jason Weber there were no citations issued. “The truck had a big, steel bull guard on the front,” he said, “otherwise there would have been a lot more dangerous than it was.”

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4-H JUDGE LINDA BURG (second from left) checks in exhibits at the home environment table with assistant Stanna Olinger (left) during the Jerauld County 4-H Achievement days last week. Also shown from left are Tyra Sinkie, Cody Barber, Kenzee Schafer, Ellie Larson, Riley Larson, Talli Heim, Shelby Barber. Lots more inside your issue of the True Dakotan

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTOGRAPHS/DUKE WENZEL

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO - Classic cars line the Wessington Springs Main Street - August 7, 2010

TWO BLOCKS OF MAIN STREET from Springs Inn/Thornton Drug all the way down to the Traveler’s Motel were full of classic cars, classic tractors and people. People of all ages came to view the vintage machines and enjoy a fun day on Main Street-Wessington Springs. The Foothills Classic Car & Tractor Show drew a record number of entries for the show, which was held Saturday, August 7, 2010. Vernon Schimke, who helped organize the tractors a year ago, said there were six more tractor entries than there were a year ago. The number of classic cars and trucks was also larger. The tractors pictured above were on the first block of Barrett off Main to the south. The kids pedal pull tractors are pictured in the foreground. A lot more pictures and information appears in your copy of the True Dakotan — ($45 in SD, $37.10 SD) PO Box 358, Wessington Springs, SD 57382

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Wind farm investment group raises $1.6 million in Mitchell IN ONE AFTERNOON!

After one day of investor meetings, South Dakota Wind Partners, LLC (SDWP) has raised over 10 percent of the money necessary to launch the first-of-its kind, publicly invested wind farm, which is currently entering the construction state in the Crow Lake area of Jerauld County, southwest of Wessington Springs. Read more about this in your copy of the True Dakotan.

An investor meeting was held in Wessington Springs Tuesday afternoon, August 3. A meeting similar to the one in Wessington Springs was held in Mitchell the day before where $1.6 million was raised.

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The Wessington Springs Owls took to the field Thursday night for their first round match-up with Parkston at the State Tournament.

Despite ten days removed from the District Tournament the Owls came out firing. Arin Boschee got things going with a single to left.

The Owls would then get runners on first and second when Nathan Hainy reached base with a hit by pitch. Pick-up player Chris Hill singled to left center to score the first run of the game. Kaleb Kopfmann kept the inning rolling with a double to deep center scoring Hainy and Hill.

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TRUE DAKOTAN - DUKE WENZEL - Work is being done on the Firesteel Bridge east of Wessington Springs on SD Hwy 34.

BY CRAIG WENZEL

 No one in the Wessington Springs area can recall a wetter summer than this one… but no one had actually said it was a summer of biblical proportions. Not until now, at least.

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Locals earn right to play in state tournament after placing third

The Owls continued their play in the District tournament on Monday night in Pierre. After losing the first game to Plankinton, the Owls kept their season alive by beating 4-Corners.

With the win, the Owls would again play Plankinton. The winner of this game would play Chamberlain and earn a berth in the state tournament. The Owls sent Nathan Hainy to the mound to try to earn the win. The game was intense from the first inning and both teams were struggling for offense.

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 THE WESSINGTON SPRINGS AREA WAS DELUGED with a huge downpour over the night of July 28-29, 2010. More than seven inches hit the town during the night, what is probably an all-time record rain fall. Members of the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department did what they could do for local citizens, some began working at 10:30 Thursday night and continued through the next day. Shown above are some of the firemen who helped out, fire chief Keith Wetzel (left), Jim Vavra (center) and Jason Hine.

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Myra Aileen Grohs left this world for a better one on Thursday, July 22^nd. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 27^th at Mueller’s Tri-Cities Funeral Home in Kennewick, Washington.

Myra was born on September 26, 1936 in Kimball to Lawrence and Kathryn Boesen. She graduated from Kimball High School in 1954 and married Paul William Grohs on February 2, 1956. They were together for 49 years.

Paul and Myra spent 14 years on a farm near Wessington Springs and then moved to Pasco, Washington in December 1969.

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 Classic car and tractor buffs from across the region will converge on Wessington Springs this Saturday for the annual Wessington Springs Foothills Classic Car and Tractor Show.

The carefully-restored vehicles not only draw a crowd of viewers, but the number of participants continues to grow. “According to pre-registrations, it looks like we’re going to have a large show this year,” said Dana Fagerhaug, one of the organizers. He was quick to add, “but it depends on the weather, too.”

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click here to see a page of news from the November 9, 1958 “Gann Valley Chief” newspaper gann valley chief august 3 

WHAT LOOKED LIKE well over 1,000 people line both sides of Gann Valley’s Main Street (above) for the parade last Saturday, July 31st. Gann Valley celebrated “A home on the range for 125 years.” The people of the little Buffalo County seat and the surrounding area hosted a celebration that they could all be proud of. After a 10:00 a.m. parade, the rest of the day and night were packed full of fun things to do and see.

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Residents, former residents and friends converged on South Dakota’s tiniest county seat to enjoy the Gann Valley 125th (quasiquicentennial)  celebration on Saturday, July, 31, 2010.

We just got back from the first and second phases of the celebration –the parade, kids games and visiting– while the street dance will be played tonight. There was a nice crowd and a really good parade. The concession stand selling hamburgers and pop was busy for three solid hours. The Spring Valley Colony stand next door had a steady lineup of visitors who wanted to buy sweet corn, garden produce and canned goods. It looked like more than 100 kids were lined up to participate in games of all types and the street was lined with folks catching up on each other’s news.

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After advertising for bids to build the new Community/Senior Center, 5 contractors submitted bids to the Building Committee, City Hall representatives, Engineer, a District 3 Planning representative and officers of the Senior Citizens organization on Thursday, July 22 at 1:00 P.M.

The lowest bid was submitted by Todd Brueske, Woonsocket, who owns the local Amkota Farm and Home Store.

More information on this story appears in your copy of the True Dakotan (%37.10 in-state, $45 out of SD) PO Box 358, Wessington Springs, SD 57382

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Big round hay bales drift downstream along "Whiskey Road", the gravel road that links Wessington Springs to Lane. Most passersby said they had never seen the Firesteel Creek with so much water.... good luck, Lake Mitchell!!

What is being considered to be a record rainfall caused unprecedented damage to town and country roads in and around Wessington Springs last night.

A rainfall totalling 7.36″ fell over the night time hours July 28-29, flooding basements and devastating rural roads. The rain was estimated to be in excess of 9″ in an area north/northwest of Wessington Springs around the Schimke and Teveldal areas. Lane got 5.75″ of rain. It was reported that the rain caused the dam at Rose Hill Lake, northwest of Wessington Springs, to collapse and spill water and fish onto the prairie.

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Contractors have until August 12 to submit bids for a new hangar at the Wessington Springs airport.

The new hangar will provide temporary or long-term storage space for local and visiting plane owners.

Money for the proposed 80×120’ structure comes from three sources: 95% federal, 3% state and 2% local. All tax dollars generated for the project are generated from the sale of aviation fuel, aviation fees and airline ticket sales.

Hangar construction will be done during the 2010 and 2011 calendar years.

The city’s notice for bids appears in this issue.

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 TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

WITH WIND TURBINES in the Wessington Hills in the background and power lines lining a gravel road, this country scene can be viewed a mile west of the Jan and Fred Krohmer family farm three miles south of Wessington Springs.

The Dean Schroeder farm can be seen at the end of the road located along the blacktop road leading to town.

Construction on another wind farm — only a few miles southwest of the end of this one– will begin soon. That 101-tower wind farm in the Crow Lake area will have around 17 towers located in this county.

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 THE ANNUAL WHEAT harvest was well underway last week in the Jerauld County area. Steve and Brian Roduner were harvesting this field 16 miles west of Springs along Highway 34. With ample moisture, it looks like this should be a banner year for small grain in the area.

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 Michael Doering 52 of Huron was called to his heavenly home Saturday evening July 24, 2010 in Huron. Funeral services were held at 10:30 am Thursday, July 29, at the United Methodist Church in Wessington Springs with Pastor Jan Price officiating. Burial was in the Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Michael Alan Doering was born on January 9, 1958 at Wessington Springs, SD to Orville and Evelyn (Hines) Doering. He was raised on the family farm southwest of Wessington Springs.

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BY CRAIG WENZEL – TRUE DAKOTAN EDITOR   

GEORGE BRIDGE, longtime Gann Valley resident and showman, sits on one of his Scottish Highlander steers (1960s?)

The 125th anniversary of the town of Gann Valley will be held this Saturday, July 31, 2010 with an all-day celebration.  The observance actually begins the day before when the quasqui-centennial wagon train leaves the Ron Peterson residence on the Shelby road at 9:00 a.m. The train will arrive at Gann Valley at around 5:00 p.m., in time for an evening meal. The evening meal is intended for wagon train participants..

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 THIS BIG STORM SYSTEM WAS SEEN south of Crow Lake (southwest of Wessington Springs) on Tuesday afternoon, July 6. The storm had already crossed across the Chamberlain area –where it dropped in excess of two inches in less than an hour– and was headed toward Springs. It eventually went to the south and the community was spared the need to take cover. What appears to be a funnel cloud can be seen at right. Thanks to Pat Fastnacht for sharing this photograph with the True Dakotan.

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 TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

THE WESSINGTON SPRINGS HILLS are emerald green this summer after ample spring rains. This scene of the hills is near the northwest corner of town, just west of the 4-H Rodeo Grounds. Elton Kaus’ horses graze peacefully on the plentiful grass in a pasture near Elton and Julie’s home. Tim Dean owns the pasture further up the hills to the west.

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 We thought you would enjoy seeing this beautiful old photograph. Grain harvest is getting underway in the Jerauld County area this summer. Myron Kleppin shared this photograph with us, depicting a “Threshing Scene, Aberdeen, SD”. There’s no date on the photo, but there are threshing machines, steam-powered tractors and horses all being used together. In North America, the term steam tractor usually refers to a type of agricultural tractor powered by a steam engine, used extensively in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The first steam tractors that were designed specifically for agricultural uses were portable engines built on skids or on wheels and transported to the work area using horses. Later models used the power of the steam engine itself to power a drive train to move the machine and were first known as “traction drive” engines which eventually was shortened to “tractor”. The steam engine was gradually phased out by the mid-1920s as the less expensive, lighter, and faster-starting internal combustion (kerosene, petrol or distillate) tractors fully emerged after World War I.

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Shown are, back L-R: Becky Leslie, Spencer Grubb, Dick Powell and Keith Wetzel; front L-R: Leslie Stevens, Ellen Powell and Jenny Wetzel. Not shown: Deb Doering.

If you have ever been in need of an ambulance in and around Jerauld County, you were happy to see the Jerauld County Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) crew arrive on the scene. Highly-trained, dedicated individuals man the local ambulance with 24 hour service, springing into action when a medical emergency arises.

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SUBMITTED/JOHN SCHMIDT --Peg Olson was awarded the first place prize in the adult art division at the 2010 Prairie Hills Artr Show, held at the Opera House last weekend.

The 27th Annual Prairie Hills Art Show sponsored by SACOTA was held at the Opera House on July 16 and 17. It was a great success due to the many folks who entered, came to view it, and helped so willingly through it all.

Adult Art: 1. Peg Olson 2. Anny Clemetson 3, James Schmidt Honorable Mention: Wendy Bergeleen, LLoyd Kempf, Peg Olson, Lindsey Kenobbie, and Louise Schaller.

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 Georgia Voorhees 92 of Wessington Springs died late Friday evening July 16 at the Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center in Wessington Springs. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday July 21 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Fr. Jim Friedrich officiating. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 6-8 with the family present at that time. A scripture service will be held at 7:30 pm.

Georgia Schaller was born on May 21, 1918 to George and Lucy (Romig) Schaller near Presho, SD.

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The Wessington Springs Children’s Theater will present “The Grade School Musical:”Beyond the No-Character Zone” this Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the 1905 Opera House.

The performance is the culmination of a three-week camp that started on July 5^th. The camp and play are under the direction of Stephanie Rostad with the assistance of Brice Channel and Jina Waggoner.

The play is being sponsored by SACOTA. The children learned the basics of theater over the three-week camp.

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 My wife and I enjoy sitting on our patio, enjoying the soft summer South Dakota evenings. The birds and butterflies have been coming to feeders for months now, and the occasional white tail deer, mule deer and wild turkey make an appearance.

What I assume to be a deer has riddled my small vegetable garden of tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and cucumbers. But I don’t really mind a lot, because we enjoy the wildlife that comes out of South Gulch and wanders into our back yard.

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2010 Jerauld County

4-H Horse Show results

The Jerauld County 4-H Horse Show was held Wednesday, June 30th at the 4-H Horse Arena in Wessington Springs. There were 12 participants from Jerauld County.

The judge this year was Eric Kobernuz of Mt. Vernon and our vet was Dr. Kelli Tobin. Thank you to both of them. Belt Buckles, sponsored by Jean Shultz, were given to the Grand Champion Western Showmanship in each class.

Winners of the belt buckles were Dacia Bergeleen for Senior Western Showmanship, Taylor Sinkie for Junior Western Showmanship and Wyatt Stevens for Beginner Western Showmanship.

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Sentencing for multiple counts was given by Circuit Court Judge David R. Gienapp in the matter of an accident in Jerauld County last December.

Tanner Easter appeared before Judge Gienapp in the Jerauld County Courthouse on Monday, July 12, 2010. According to Jerauld County State’s Attorney Casey Bridgman, Easton was sentenced in regard to the guilty plea to Second nd Degree Manslaughter.

The guilty plea was in regard to the December 5, 2009 motor vehicle accident which resulted in the death of Jasmyn Knippling, of Wessington Springs. Second Degree Manslaughter is a crime for the reckless killing of another person.

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 Karen Willman 68 of Wessington Springs died Sunday evening July 11, 2010 at the Faulkton Area Medical Center in Faulkton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held  Thursday, July 15 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wessington Springs with Fr. Jim Friedrich officiating. Burial was in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery rural Wessington Springs.

She grew up in the Wessington Springs area and graduated from Wessington Springs High School, then attended beauty school in Rapid City.

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EARLY IN THE LAST CENTURY, in the 1900’s, farmers in South Dakota would get together to help each other get their work done. Using teams of horses and plenty of man power, the men would make light work of a seemingly impossible task. The women butchered a few chickens and gathered vegetables from the garden to put together a feast for the workers. This photo of a haying bee in northern South Dakota was loaned to the True Dakotan by Myron Kleppin, longtime Crow Lake area farmer. Watch future issues of the True Dakotan to see more of the photographs in this series.

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THE WESSINGTON SPRINGS ROOKIES BASEBALL TEAM stopped to pose for this photo recently. They are, front row L to R: AJ Neely, Jack Neely, Luke Knipfer, Tyler Fastnacht, Cale Mohling, Cade Mohling; second row L to R: Xander Thompson, Draven Thompson, Cooper Hainy, Carter Grohs, Mason Schelske, Carson Hainy, Quinten Christensen, and Rydell Krueger; back row head coach Heidi Dornbusch and assistant Coach Trevor Kenobbie. True Dakotan/Duke Wenzel July 2010

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 The 125th anniversary of the town of Gann Valley will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010 with an all-day celebration.The observance actually begins the day before when the quasqui-centennial wagon train leaves the Ron Peterson residence on the Shelby road at 9:00 a.m. The train will arrive at Gann Valley at around 5:00 p.m., in time for an evening meal. There is a charge for the meal and the public is invited.

Visit their website at this link for more info on the 125th. http://www.gannvalley.com/

Saturday’s celebration features an all-day special postal cancellation and quilt raffle.

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 TEXT AND PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL -

BEST BUY AUTO owner Duane Jensen has done other things during his working career, but he keeps returning to the used car business. Jensen started his Alpena-based business earlier this year and has around 37 years experience in car sales. The business buys and sells all types of vehicles, including cars, vans, SUV’s and pickups. Jensen (shown above) was born near the small town of Oldham, SD. “I just love it (car business),” he said. “If I don’t have the vehicle you want, I can get it for you,” he continued. Jensen likes the corner he purchased just west of Jack Links, Inc., along the Alpena road. The lots were filled with many types of vehicles last week and it fills a niche for area residents and plant workers.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE A JERAULD COUNTY meadow of deep purple wooly verbena is pictured above. The valley is on the Matt Sinkie farm west of Wessington Springs along Highway 34. Mid-July is

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A page from the 1910 Jerauld County history book - available on line FREE

This history book is quite sought after… since it was printed a century ago and includes all of the Jerauld County (SD) history up to that date. If you find them on local auction sales, they are a little “pricey”. This link is free and lets you read  your heart out.  We have a copy of the history book here in the True Dakotan office and we’ve often been asked about re-printing it and having it for sale. Now you don’t have to pay!!  FREE DOWNLOAD (PDF) or read on line http://www.archive.org/details/historyofjerauld00dunh

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Pastor Jim Holthus, a Lane-area native who serves as a Lutheran minister in Minnesota (go figure) stopped in the True Dakotan office recently with a couple of old pictures of the Springs swimming pool. Jim had taken the photographs in 1970 when he was the lifeguard

The Springs pool -- around 1970-- when Jim Holthus was lifeguard. This is a composite photo of two that he had taken.

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DEATH NOTICE

PATRICIA PECKOVER

Patricia June Peckover ,84 of Cedaredge, Colo., died Tuesday morning June 29th in Cedaredge. A prayer service will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday July 7 at the Basham Funeral Home. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.

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RICHARD HADDORFF

 Richard Haddorff 61 of Sioux Falls died Tuesday evening June 29, 2010 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were Friday, July 2, at the United Methodist Church in Wessington Springs with Rev. Jan Price officiating. Burial was in Prospect Hill Cemetery with military.

After attending General Beadle College at Madison, SD he joined the US Navy and received his training at San Diego, CA. Rich was injured while in the service and later resided in veteran’s care centers in South Dakota, Colorado and Kansas.

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JUNE 1, 2010 – WESSINGTON SPRINGS TRUE DAKOTAN

 A Wessington Springs native, Jamie Ness has made quite a name for himself in just 10 years since getting his horse trainer’s license. The son of Connie Ness, Wessington Springs, and John Ness, he is now the top trainer at Tampa Bay (Florida) Downs and Canterbury Park at the Twin Cities.

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Springs track coach among nominees for state award

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American Bank & Trust "Most Patriotic" float - July 3,2010

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

DUKE WENZEL

TRUE DAKOTAN EDITOR

The Fourth of July Parade held Saturday, July 3, was a big success with over 65 entries. Judy Crist and Murt Wenzel were judges with the winners receiving $25 in Bonus Bucks. The results are:

Most Patriotic, American Bank & Trust; Most Humorous, Pete Bult; (shown at right) Best Horse, Guinn Family; Best Golf Cart or Four-Wheeler, Camden and Marion Jost; Best Antique Tractor, Toby Kleppin; Best Antique Car, Frank and Donna Bult; Best Antique Truck, Tom and Vinetta Shonley; Best Walking Entry, Roger and Sandy Andersen family; Best Overall, American Bank & Trust.

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PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

TRUE DAKOTAN

LUCKY DUCKIES — With 10 inches of rain in June around the Wessington Springs area, these day-old ducklings at Spring Valley Colony could be the happiest critters in the county. They are part of a flock of hundreds that Joe D. Waldner will raise over the summer.

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 The descendants of John and Eunice Anderson Patton met together in Wessington Springs June 18-20 for the Patton Reunion which has been held at various locations every third or fourth year since 1978.

Four of their remaining 5 children (originally 9) attended the event, along with 24 of their 36 grandchildren. More than 90 people participated in the event.

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Our friend and former Wessington Springs businessman Dale Leischner, of Buffalo, Wyoming, wrote a comment on truedakotan.com when he read about the flooding we’ve had lately. “I do not remember anything like this. I remember everyone praying for rain and then complaining about Fred’s low rain gauge readings.”

Of course Dale was talking about longtime weather recorder Fred Marken and the dry years of the 1970s when farmers and businessmen were leaving the area with empty pockets. Fred lived to be 100 years old and was a fun-loving guy. When he talked about his weather report he would say, “I may not be right, but I’m OFFICIAL!”

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 Click here flag if you want to see a pretty good version of the “Star Spangled Banner”…. okay, it’s a VERY good version of the “Star Spangled Banner”

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BY CRAIG WENZEL – TRUE DAKOTAN EDITOR

Our friend and former Wessington Springs businessman Dale Leischner, of Buffalo, Wyoming, wrote a comment on truedakotan.com when he read about the flooding we’ve had lately. “I do not remember anything like this. I remember everyone praying for rain and then complaining about Fred’s low rain gauge readings.”

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Deb Fastnacht, manager at the American Legion’s Prairie Lounge –the lounge with the prettiest view in South Dakota– sent this picture of a baby fawn beside the flag pole at the Lounge. It was taken with a cell phone camera from a pretty good distance, so it has pretty good clarity all things considered. We just wanted to share it with you…. have a great Fourth of July!

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IT WILL TAKE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars to get rural roads back to where they belong after a month of heavy rain in and around Jerauld County.

Washed out culverts and eroded spots in county roads has been wide-spread and is keeping the county road crews busy marking bad spots while repairing them as fast as they can.

This east-west road is located in Western Jerauld County showing a culvert washed out on both sides.

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The Lane all-school reunion was held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Lane Community Center/Museum (above). A luncheon was also held at the Springs Inn on Saturday where 100 people enjoyed a buffet.. Former Lane students and teachers gathered to share stories and reminisce about days gone by. It was a fun day to help keep the memories of Lane School alive. Half of the crowd that attended the banquet are shown at left.

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The Jerauld County 4-H Achievement Days will be held August 5th and 6th in Wessington Springs. What is 4-H? 4- H is a non-profit organization operated through the Cooperative Extension Service. In 4-H youth learn life skills they will benefit from forever. The project opportunities in 4-H are seemingly infinite. 4-H members learn useful knowledge and skills in all areas, from photography, to sewing, craft projects, livestock showmanship, baking to horticulture. 4-H’ers learn how to work in a group, make new friends, and more, all while having fun. Through 4-H, youth acquire incredible skills to become an effective leader and a good citizen of our community.

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whos who Click here to see “Who’s Who” for service in and around Wessington Springs, a regular feature in the weekly True Dakotan newspaper.

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Remembere the old wind mill building in Hawkeye Valley - south of Wessington Springs? Photo Duke Wenzel - 2002

This old True Dakotan file photograph was taken in October of 2002. Yes, that’s snow on the Wessington Hills in the background, but it’s rare in October. You can see this photo and a lot of others in the new feature under the “cagegories” portion of this website. We’ve begun adding photographs regularly and will keep adding to the file as time permits. Click away, remember, and enjoy– Craig

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Fall colors in the gulches around Springs get pretty bright. Sumac and wild grapes make up this autumn wonder. Duke Wenzel 2002

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 Anything going on in Springs over the Fourth of July? Click here and find out!  fourth of july 2010

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 A Wessington Springs area native with twelve years of law enforcement experience has announced that his name will appear on the November 2 general election as a candidate for Jerauld County Sheriff. Thirty-five year old Troy Swenson, of Pierre, has served in many capacities of law enforcement including patrol officer, drug investigator, dispatcher and detective. A certified drug instructor he also has specialized training in missing and exploited children, death and homicide investigations, FBI crisis negotiations and interview and interrogations. He also has specialized training in narcotic investigations. He has been awarded an “Award of Merit” and police medals from the Pierre Police Department. One of his arrests results in the only drug-related life sentence in the state of South Dakota. Another arrest brought a 100-year sentence for a child pornography conviction. Swenson grew up on a Jerauld County farm, the son of the late Clint and Julie Swenson, and graduated from Wessington Springs High School. He and his wife, Cristi (Jost) have three children, Tyler (8), Madison (5) and Tucker (born in April-2010). “I would like to be your sheriff and bring my law enforcement, experience, common sense and family back home to Jerauld County,” he said. He can be contacted at ctswenson@pie.midco.net. Or call 605-224-2312. Swenson will face a Republican challenger in this fall’s election as Jason Weber, a Jerauld County deputy sheriff, is on the ballot. Present Jerauld County Sheriff Roger Thompson will retire when his term expires at the end of this year.

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The Wessington Springs wind farm north of town - Duke Wenzel photo

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s expanding wind energy industry took another leap forward today when the state Public Utilities Commission approved PrairieWinds SD 1, a 165-megawatt wind farm that will spread over parts of Jerauld, Aurora and Brule counties. Basin Electric Power Cooperative expects to begin construction of the facility in mid-July 2010 and be operational by March 2011.

The project will be constructed near Crow Lake in Jerauld County and include up to 110 wind turbines and a 13-mile 230 kilovolt transmission line as well as other associated facilities.

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National guard called to help with flooding in Woonsocket

 June 22, 2010 

WOONSOCKET – National Guard soldiers have joined state prison inmates in Woonsocket to fight flooding from swollen Sand Creek.

A Mitchell Daily Republic reporter on the scene said this morning that the Guard is bringing a bridge and is considering cutting a swath through a ditch to alleviate the flooding.

Woonsocket resident Jo White told the reporter that she’s lived in Woonsocket for 23 years and has never seen flooding this severe. White said she had 10 inches of water in her basement last night.

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From the October 23, 2007 Wessington Springs True Dakotan

Written by Duke Wenzel – True Dakotan Editor -

Laura Ingalls Wilder story layout – Craig Wenzel

The story of how a 56-year old letter from famed children’s author Laura Ingalls Wilder recently came to the Jerauld County museum.

Evelyn Spencer's school picture - Sefrna School 1951

Country school teacher Evelyn Spencer was teaching at the Sefrna one-room school, north of Crow Lake, in 1950 and 1951. She, like many of the teachers in the United States, used the “Little House on the Prairie” series of books in the students’ studies.

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1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cats' mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process 3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

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Photo courtesy Scott Vaske, South Dakota Wheat Growers local manager.

So, you live in a “hillside” town… the Wessington Hills loom above the community on the west side. How could you have flooding? Well, it happened.

It’s hard to tell how much rain fell in the night Sunday (June 20) and early Monday (June 22, 2010), but Lloyd Kraft’s Official Weather said 4.3 inches. Some of the residential rain gauges showed upwards to six inches. Either way, it came in a hurry, and homes and businesses that have previously been immune to ground water runoff began to take on water.

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Entry blanks must be sent or called in by the 23rd, and delivery of all entries to the Opera House is on Friday the 25th from 3 to 6 PM. Anyone having an unusual item for the “What’s it” display should deliver it during those times also.

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THE WESSINGTON SPRINGS SUMMER REC teams are in full swing with their 2010 summer schedules. The Eight and Under girls are shown above. They are, from left, back row: Assistant coach Kelsey Larson, Angie Paulson, Shelby Barber, ShyAnne White, Grace Gran, Maddie Neely, Head coach Heidi Dornbusch; front: Cheyanne Burg, Trinity Flowers, Emma Gran, Makayla Dorbusch, and Piper Jones.

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The United Methodist Church as it looks today, approximately 100 years old

The Wessington Springs United Methodist Church under construction in about 1905. This picture was taken from a glass plate negative that Marvin Mentzer found in his basement and gave to the True Dakotan in 2010. The first Wessington Springs Methodist Church - 1883-1902.

The first Wessington Springs Methodist Church - 1883-1902.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

DOCTORS BEGAN SEEING PATIENTS at the newly-remodeled Jerauld County Dental Clinic on June 1. Regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Shown above are Dr. Jack Krueger, Dr. Jennifer Day and Dr. Josh Day. Dr. Jennifer begins her practice at the clinic on July 1. More pictures appear on page eight.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

4-H LEADER John Stevens shows Prairie Hills 4-H member, Taylor Sinkie how to best get through a gate. It’s one of the exercises she and fellow 4-H horse riders were practicing last week getting ready for the annual 4-H horse show to be held Wednesday, June 30 at 1:00 p.m. The riders will then move on to the State 4-H Show later this summer.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE STRONG WINDS took down several large cottonwood trees along a dam (right) near the Wyatt Brunsen and Robert Jokumsen home a little more than a mile south of Wessington Springs. The May 26th storm also blew down a tree at the Robert and Nancy Amberg home a half mile south. That tree fell on the house causing a hole in the roof. The storm also downed many trees around the David Salmen home between Springs and Lane along Highway 34. Salmen commented that he had not seen so many trees down in all the years he has lived there. It was not confirmed if the damage was caused by tornadoes or strong straight winds.

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Youth from the PASS program at Wessington Springs School will be visiting the residents at Weskota Manor Avera on Wed., June 23 from 1-3 p.m. The Activities Department has a variety of crafts and activities lined up for the youth to participate in. Penny Wenzel, Activity Coordinator says “The residents really enjoy the excitement and energy that the youth bring when they visit. The day camps were started several years ago to encourage the various generations to interact. We also want youth to feel comfortable in the nursing home setting and to encourage them to volunteer or perhaps work in the nursing home when they get older.” Area youth ages preschool to 6th grade not enrolled in the PASS program are also welcome to attend. Contact Penny Wenzel, Activity Coordinator at 539-1621 for more details. The photograph above was tkaen during the 2009 Weskota Manor Avera Inter-generational camp

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Bands like “Teen Kings and the Princes” (above) also performed at area dance halls.

Here’s the story we “teased” you with last week about “someone or something” from the area is the in SD Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame

I don’t talk about this on the pages of the True Dakotan, after all I’m a fine upstanding small town newspaper editor. But, what the heck, nobody reads this Internet stuff anyway….. right?

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 A Jerauld County native, Troy Swenson has entered the race for Jerauld County Sheriff. Swenson, a Democrat, will challenge Jason Weber in the November 2, 2010 general election.

Swenson has 12 years experience in law enforcment including a dispatcher, patrol officer, drug investigator, detective, SWAT team sniper, drug instruction. He has been trained in missing and exploited children, death and homicide investigations, FBI crisis negotiations, interview and interrogations, DEA narcotics investigations. He was won awards from the Pierre (SD) police department.

Swenson and his wife Cristi (Jost) are both natives of Jerauld County.

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A South Dakota sunset by Duke Wenzel

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True Dakotan editor Duke Wenzel took this picture of pigeons around an old silo seven miles north of Wessington Springs.

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The first full color picture ever printed in a Wessington Springs newspaper came in 2001 when fire destroyed the home and personal belongings of a Lane couple.

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Annual Biff Memorial Co-ed Softball Tourney is Saturday, July 10th

Mark your calendars for the 8th Annual Brian “Biff” Peterson Memorial Softball Tourney to be held on Saturday, July 10th at the Alpena Softball Fields. This will be a fun co-ed tourney in memory of “Biff”. For more information or to register your teams contact Nikki VonEye at 605-849-3232 or Tasha Stahl at 605-352-5273.

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The Springs Owls received another outstanding pitching performance and played solid defense to beat the Plankinton F&M Bankers on Sunday night. Erin Boschee lowered his ERA to 0.50 on the season with a complete game shutout to earn the win for the Owls. Boschee allowed five hits over the course of the game while striking out seven. The infield was busy behind Boschee also recording fifteen ground ball put-outs. Kaleb Kopfmann lead the Owls at the plate with two hits including a double to deep center. Boschee added an RBI single that produced the Owls only run.

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A monthly True Dakotan feature from South Dakota’s favorite magazine

By Katie Hunhoff

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Wow…. if you grew up in the Wessington Springs area during the 1940′s through the 1970′s, maybe even into the ’80′s, you’ll remember this one. Someone, or some thing, from this area was recently inducted into the South Dakota Rock’n'Roll hall of fame recently.

We’ll talk about it again next week, after your issue of the True Dakotan has been printed.

craig

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Although he isn’t always a welcome resident, this little fella is common across the Wessington Springs area.

Named for their bark-like warning noise, prairie dogs have roamed the plains for centuries. The 1804 journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition note that in September 1804, they “discovered a Village of an animal the French Call the Prairie Dog.” Here in South Dakota we are home to the black-tailed prairie dog species.

Prairie dogs are highly social animals, living in colonies that can span hundreds of acres. Reaching sexual maturity at the age of three, the pups will then be moved to the outer edges of a prairie dog town to start their own families.

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Darrell Dean Wenzel, 78, of Broadus died Sunday, June 6, 2010, at the Holy Rosary Extended Care Facility in Miles City.

Mr. Wenzel was born in Wessington Springs, S.D., to Joseph and Olive Homewood Wenzel. He started farming on his own in high school, and his first field was Flax Seed with which he actually made money.

He attended welding school and continued working odd jobs. He came to Broadus during the oil boom and drove the water truck. Mr. Wenzel worked in Gillette, Glendive and Sidney following the rigs.

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Erna Bauer, age 90, of Wessington Springs died Tuesday morning June 8, 2010 at the Weskota Manor/Avera Health. Funeral services were held Thursday June 10 at the United Church of Christ in Wessington Springs with Pastor Sara Olson Dean officiating. Burial was in Rest Haven Cemetery at Alpena, SD. Erna Bauer was born on July 21, 1919 to Adam and Sophie (Dietrich) Wahl near Alpena, SD. She was baptized and confirmed in the Ebenezer Evangelical and Reformed Church in Alpena, SD. Erna attended Alpena Public Schools and graduated from there in 1938. On August 10, 1940 she was married to Reuben Bauer in Worthington, MN. They lived in Wolsey, SD until 1946 when they moved to a farm in Buffalo County living there until 1980 when they retired and moved into Wessington Springs. Reuben passed away on October 17, 2002. Erna belonged to the United Church of Christ in Wessington Springs and was active in all aspects of the church. She belonged to Circle 2 and served as Fellowship Chairman. For many years she taught the youth of the church in Sunday school and confirmation. Placerville Camp was a special interest of hers, and she volunteered her time as a camp counselor for several summers. While on the farm Erna was a member of the Buffalo Gals Extension Club and the Garden Club. She had an amazing green thumb and always had beautiful flowers and productive vegetable gardens even in the challenging South Dakota soil. She enjoyed spending time on crafts – doing ceramics, painting pictures and sewing at neighborhood quilting bees. Cooking for family and friends was her specialty. Erna’s life centered around her family – her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is survived by her three children, Gene Bauer and his wife Susan of Northfield, MN, Susan Kohls and her husband Gus of Slayton, MN. and Steve Bauer of Custer, SD; four grandchildren, Gus Andrew Kohls, Lane Kohls, Gina Hall, and Carola Bauer; two sisters Lillian Kludt and Elizabeth Teveldal and her husband Olaf all of Wessington Springs, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Reuben, and two daughters, Mary Louise Bauer and Lois Dambres.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE

THE GRAND ‘OL 105-year-old Opera House could be welcoming the newest building addition in the picture as it passes by on Dakota Avenue last Tuesday, June 1. The new ready-built home belongs to Brett and Melanie Heezen. The home was hauled to the northwest corner of Springs where it now sits with a beautiful view of the Wessington Hills.

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By Duke Wenzel – True Dakotan Editor

You most likely have seen her walking around Wessington Springs. Marie Simmons takes a long walk most every day, sometimes twice. Not just around the block, mind you. She travels over a mile as she walks from her Weskota Apartment up First Street, then heads for the park for a walk through, winds around the south end of town before she makes her way back down Main Street and home.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE

THE WESSINGTON SPRINGS Municipal Airport has had a busy look over the past few weeks with airplanes and crop sprayers. The sprayer in the

background with fuel and chemical trucks belongs to South Dakota Wheat Growers. The 750-horsepower plane was spreading fungicide and insecticide spray on winter wheat crops over a wide area.

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Schedule for July 4th 2010 Holiday

 Saturday, July 3^rd

 7:00 a.m. Avera / Chamber Run & Walk for Wellness – Register right up until race/walk times

8:00 a.m.      Avera Weskota 5K Run – in the City Park-

The fee to run is $12 which includes a t-shirt & your eligibility for trophies.

9:00 a.m . Avera Weskota 1.5 Mile Walk – in the City Park -There is no fee to walk / $10 for T-shirts

11:00 a.m.          Woonsocket Parade – ‘Remember When…’Registration begins at 9 am (old Library).

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

POWER LINE CONSTRUCTION CREWS are building a new line along the Crow Lake road, southwest of Wessington Springs. This crew is the Shulty Power Line Construction out of Gillette, Wyoming. Other crews from different companies are also busy rebuilding lines. They are contracted by Central Electric. Many of the lines they are working on were damaged by an ice storm last winter when temporary fixes were made with many miles of pole and line replacement beging done. The project should help cut down power blackouts in the rural area.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

HIGH WINDS FROM WHAT PROBABLY WAS A TORNADO pulled the roof off a building at the Horseshoe K Ranch, owned by Dihl and Joanne Grohs, in Logan Township west of Crow Lake. The roof on the building was torn off and was found in a twisted pile nearby. The roof was a new one as the building was remodeled and a second story addition added last year. The house is used for lodging at the Horseshoe K Ranch hunting operation. The Grohs’ son-in-law Shane Namany was shown on the deck above as the repairs began.

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TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

American Bank & Trust team wins 2010 title, Springs Auto team won a year ago

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