Jan 31st, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
PIERRE – Crews assisting with storm repairs at six South Dakota electric cooperatives continue to make steady progress Saturday as they sought to restore power to about 2,000 homes. Power in the Wessington Springs area was restored to the last Central Electric Power Co. customer on Thursday night, January 25. Some customers in the area were without electricity for ab0ut a week. Central Electric crews installed 50 new poles –covering a distance of about four miles– to reach the final Jerauld County customer and restore their power.
Grand Electric Cooperative hopes to restore power to the last 15 of its members Sunday. However, to do so, the cooperative needs to set 140 more poles in deep snow in remote locations today and Sunday morning. The cooperative in northwestern South Dakota was able to restore power to 15 homes on Friday.
Another cooperative reported that to make repairs on two wire breaks in one area, a four-mile path had to be dug through the snow to access the damage. The fix resulted in several homes receiving power.
More than 650 workers assisting at the cooperatives come from cooperatives, public power districts, municipal utilities and private contractors in 10 states. Additionally, the South Dakota National Guard, area farmers and students from Mitchell Technical Institute are also assisting the crews. This is in addition to the impacted cooperatives’ own work forces of more than 100 people.
Repairs are expected to take several days before power is restored to the nearly 2,000 rural homes still without power.
The storm knocked down in excess of 8,200 power poles across eastern, central and northern South Dakota. The storm also caused thousands of wire breaks and damaged other infrastructure.
Jan 31st, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
BY PENNY WENZEL
WESKOTA MANOR AVERA ACTIVITIES LEADER
In honor of Customer Appreciation Week October 4-10, members of the Service Excellence Team at Weskota Manor Avera hosted Customer Appreciation Bingo and provided a special snack afterwards.
Dorothy Krog played her Autoharp for us on October 13.
Tom Shonley entertained residents with storytelling on October 20. Tom also comes and volunteers on other days during each month by getting residents to group activities and calling Bingo numbers.
Susan and Gail Arnott, accompanied by Twila Zastrow, sang for the residents on October 21. We always enjoy their wonderful music.
Jan 31st, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE
BRYANNA KURTH, a fifth grader at Springs Elementary, gets off the school bus at her home on College Avenue last week. The bus department, overseen by Superintendent Lance Witte and Supervisor Kim Baker have had some tough calls over the past month or so as ice, snow storms, and fog has made travel hard in the country. As of last week, the students will have to make up three days in the spring but another snow storm Monday morning had school being called off and perhaps adding another make up day later in the year. The school bus supervisors and drivers should be applauded for their efforts both to keep our children safe and also make sure they get an education.
Jan 31st, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
A young father was packing for a business trip while his three year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, ’Daddy, look at this’ , and stuck out two of her fingers.
Trying to keep her entertained, he reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in his mouth and said, ‘Daddy’s gonna eat your fingers,’ pretending to eat them. He went back to packing, looked up again and the child was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face. ‘What’s wrong, honey?’ he asked. She replied, ‘What happened to my booger?’
Jan 27th, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
Rep. Quinten Burg
District 22 SD House of Representatives
Weekly Legislative Update
I have enjoyed the presence of constituents from District 22 in Pierre during the opening weeks of the 2010 legislative session.
Most recently Peggy Woolridge, director of the Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau, and others shared their table at the annual tourism conference with all of us District 22 legislators.
Matthew Orstad and Laura Kieser, attending a rural leadership conference, also spent a day visiting the capitol and listening to committee hearings. We value the input from local citizens who make that effort to be part of the legislative process and appreciate your hosting of events, visits, e-mails and calls.
Jan 27th, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
Eddie Strehle 87 of Wessington Springs died early Monday morning January 25, 2010 at Weskota Manor. Funeral services were held Friday, January 29, 2010 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with Rev. John Paulson officiating. Interment was in Prospect Hill Cemetery with military honors.
Eddie was born on May 2, 1922 at the family farm near Medina, ND, one of three sons of Emmanuel and Barbara (Oberlander) Strehle. He attended the local rural school and acquired his elementary education.
Jan 27th, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
Rodney Dean Johnson, 51, devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend passed away Friday, January 22, 2010.
Rodney was born on July 30, 1958 in Wessington Springs, South Dakota to Dale and Darleen (Miessner) Johnson. He grew up and attended school in Wessington Springs graduating from high school in 1976.
Rod loved children and children loved Rod. He loved all kids but had a special place in his heart for his daughter, Nicole and his many nieces and nephews. He was affectionately known as “Uncle Rod” by children who were related and many who were not.
Jan 27th, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
Gertrude Marilla Carlson 94 of Wessington Springs died Wednesday morning January 20, 2010 at the Weskota Manor/Avera Health.
Her funeral service will be held Tuesday January 26, 2010 at 1:30 PM at the Immanuel Baptist Church with Rev. Dan Edzards officiating. Interment will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Gertrude Van Schaick was born on April 3, 1915 to Frank and Bessie (Stearns) Van Schaick on a farm north of Summit, South Dakota.
Jan 27th, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
Merrill Gunderson 78 of Salome, AZ. died Friday January 15, 2010 at the LaPaz Regional Hospital in Parker, AZ. Funeral services were held Friday January 22, 2010 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with Rev. John Paulson officiating. Interment was in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery rural Wessington Springs. Military rites were provided.
Funeral arrangements were announced by, the Basham Funeral Home of Wessington Springs.
Merrill J. Gunderson was born on May 12, 1931 to James and Kathryn (Wilson) Gunderson at Wessington Springs, SD. He attended school in Wessington Springs and graduated from Brooking Agriculture School.
Jan 27th, 2010
by Craig Wenzel.
Photo/Duke Wenzel
POWER POLES IN THE JERAULD COUNTY AREA succumbed to an ice storm that blanketed the area last weekend. Fourteen power poles were broken on the Hurley/Bridgman road a mile west of town, one of which is shown in this picture that was taken Monday morning. Despite blizzard conditions, Central Electric crews continue to work to restore electric service to the approximately 450 members remaining without electric service. High winds, blowing snow and colder temperatures are making working conditions more difficult for power crews trying to restore electric service. Most of the Central Electric Cooperative consumers in the eastern part of Jerauld County were back in service on Monday morning.
PIERRE – Crews assisting with storm repairs at six South Dakota electric cooperatives continue to make steady progress Saturday as they sought to restore power to about 2,000 homes. Power in the Wessington Springs area was restored to the last Central Electric Power Co. customer on Thursday night, January 25. Some customers in the area were without electricity for ab0ut a week. Central Electric crews installed 50 new poles –covering a distance of about four miles– to reach the final Jerauld County customer and restore their power.
