A deer visited the house owned by Irving Reese at 517 1st NE (across from the Jerauld County Clinic ) early Tuesday. The doe stayed about five minutes and then moved down Green Street.  The deer also left a deposit at the house, which you can see in the picture. Photo courtesy John Paulson, Wessington Springs.

 It was a lucky day for Wessington Springs when Richard and Roberta decided to retire here a couple of decades ago.

The couple had been living and working in Florida when they decided to return to Wessington Springs because of the hot, humid weather there.

“We’re one of the few people who retire from Florida to South Dakota,” Roberta says… “to God’s country.”

 HURON, SD,- The Obama Administration today announced the individuals who will serve on the South Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Committee.

The individuals appointed to serve on this committee included Wessington Springs mayor Jim Burg as chairperson.

Burg, from Wessington Springs, South Dakota, served as the South Dakota State Public Utilities Commissioner from 1986 to 2003. Prior to that, he served in South Dakota’s State Senate as Assistant Minority Leader. From 1975 to 1986, he was a South Dakota State Representative. Burg has been a farmer since 1967 and has a B.S degree in Animal Science from South Dakota State University.

Weskota Manor Avera volunteer helps former teacher stay in touch with students

FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER KAREN (HEEZEN) FASTNACHT (center) is back in the education business, thanks to the generous assistance of a Weskota Manor Avera activity volunteer. When Karen’s teaching career ended due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on August 14, 2007, she eventually became a resident at the local nursing home. Manor activity volunteer Loretta Couch (right) helped devise a project where the former school teacher corrects papers from the local elementary school. Corrected papers are completed with a sticker. When school is in session a “Mrs. Fastnacht’s Room” (front/left) completes the theme. When she is not doing volunteer work at the Manor, Loretta also works part time in the activities department. Also shown in the photo are Karen’s daughter, Michaela (left) and her husband Mike Fastnacht. Loretta and her husband, Rick Couch, a Springs-area native, moved here in 2008.

William (Bill) Lewis Jacomet passed away peacefully on February 3, 2010 at Weskota Manor Avera in Wessington Springs, SD.

Bill was born in Sioux Falls to Heinie and Daisy (Corbin) Jacomet on June 4, 1931 and graduated from Washington Senior High School in Sioux Falls.

Bill was employed at Sunshine Grocery when he met his wife of almost 49 years, Dolores Jellema. They were married on November 22, 1949. During their years together, they lived in Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Wessington Springs, Pierre, and back to Wessington Springs. Bill worked selling insurance, delivering Langenfeld Ice Cream (including to the Northside Grocery in Wessington Springs)and Sunbeam Bakeries.

Viola Magdelene Barton passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, January 30, 2010. She was nearing her 108th birthday on March 11 – a time when friends and relatives always gathered to celebrate. She lived at Elms Convalescent Hospital in Glendale since 2001.

Viola was born in Wessington Springs, South Dakota on March 11, 1902 to Peter and Carolina Shultz, immigrants of Germany. She was the youngest member of a family of 12.

She started her life on the family farm in Viola Township, Jerauld County, South Dakota, but often said she did not have to do much work since she was the baby of the family.

Bet ya’ didn’t know that Baker’s Design in Wessington Springs now has fresh flowers — JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE’S DAY!

Call them at 605-539-9800 for FREE DELIVERY over Valentine’s Day. Fresh flowers, candy bouquets, silk flowers, balloons.

Of course they still have all of your silk screening needs, too!

ELECTRIC TROLLEY IN SPRINGS? Myron Kleppin brought in this old picture postcard that shows an electric trolley going straight through Main Street in Wessington Springs. The lack of automobiles on the street mean it was in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The photographer probably was having fun with people of the time by cutting and pasting in the trolley.