I enjoyed seeing Katie’s picture with former Senator Gladys Pyle in this month’s column.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

 LOTS OF DEER HAVE CONGREGATED in the Wessington Hills near the northwesst corner of town due to the long, hard winter weather. The deer — perhaps hundreds of them– graze in the hills by day and visit the SD Wheatgrowers’s corn pile on the dumpground road at night. These were photographed near the Elton and Julie Kaus home.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/CRAIG WENZEL

 THE 2010 COMMUNITY AWARDS BANQUET, sponsored by the Wessington Springs Area Development Corporation (WSADC) and the Chamber of Commerce was held at the Springs Inn Saturday night, March 6. Shown above, from left, are Loretta Couch (community volunteer of the year award), Erin Bergeleen (banquet emcee), Jean Ferguson (employee of the year award), Irene Scott (special award for longtime service with hospital auxiliary) and Allen and Bernece Rasmussen (award for years of service to Wessington Springs Community Foundation).

While providing ecology-friendly electrical power to portions of eastern South Dakota, a wind farm that sprouted up in the Wessington Hills is about to begin providing a punch to the Jerauld County economy.

Officials around Jerauld County area expecting a windfall of sorts as they await the arrival of tax money generated by a 34-tower wind farm near Wessington Springs.

The first annual payment should arrive sometime in April, according to Jerauld County Auditor Cindy Peterson.

 A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, “Please come over here and help me.. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get started.”

Her boyfriend asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?”

The blonde says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a rooster.”

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, “First of all, no matter what we do, we’re not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster.”

Almeda E. Krueger, 87, of Wessington Springs, died Sunday morning, February 21, 2010 at Weskota Manor Avera. Funeral services were held Thursday, February 25 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Bagnall officiating. Burial was in Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Almena E. Krueger was born on October 3, 1922 to Herman and Almea (Lott) Witt in Woonsocket, SD where she was raised and attended school.

On July 13, 1942 she married Bernard J. Krueger at Hartington, NE.

She worked as a lifeguard at Woonsocket Lake for two years.

Micheal T. Buchholz, 68, Rapid City, passed away at the Ft Meade V. A. Medical Center, Monday, March 1, 2010.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Buchholz, Rapid City, a son, Douglas Buchholz, Corsica, two daughters; Valerie Boal, Rapid City and Sheila Buchholz, Box Elder, a brother, Dareld Buchholz, Wessington Springs, six sisters; Jessie Speck, Rapid City, Blanche Swenson, Perump, NV, Marjorie Swenson, Mitchell, LaVonne DuFrain, Arcadia, OK, Beverly Swenson, Mitchell and Alta Butterfield, Wessington Springs, 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 4, from 5:00 pm until 7:00pm at Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Services at Serenity Springs Chapel of Tranquility in Rapid City.

Robert (Bob) Emil Erickson, 87, of Lincoln, passed away on Sunday (3/7/10) following Hospice Care at Tabitha Health Care. He was born on November 2, 1922 in Lane, SD. to Emil and Ethel (Safford) Erickson. Bob graduated from Lane High School.

Survivors: Wife: Esther Erickson Sister & Spouse: Donna and Mac Richards, Rapidan Town, MN Brother-In-Law: Lauren Thompson (husband of Irene) Wessington Springs, CO Children & Spouses: Linda Erickson & Bill Tucker, Salida CO; Douglas and Carol Erickson, Kearney NE; Renise and Don Rosenboom, Ashland NE; and Doreen and Rick Morton, Lincoln NE. Grandchildren: Kyle Stoner, Matthew Erickson, Kelly Rezac, Alexis & Thomas Aschenbach, Tyler Morton, Nicole Morton, Victoria Rosenboom Great-Grandson Eric Rezac Life-long friend Lowell Endahl & wife Vronna, Alexandria,VA join in-laws, nieces and nephews in their grief. Preceded in death by: Parents & two sisters, infant Patricia Erickson and Irene Thompson.

 Jeanette Edna (Anderson) Anderson, 79, Rapid City, died Sunday March 7, 2010 at Westhills Village Healthcare.

She was born January 21, 1921 to John and Amanda Anderson in Worthington, MN; the second of three girls. Jeanette helped her parents on the farm and received her schooling in Worthington.

She attended Worthington Junior College and North Park College in Chicago, IL where she received her Associate of Arts degree in June of 1940. In Chicago, Jeanette worked at the Swedish Covenant Hospital, Fritz Publications and was the Executive Secretary for Proctor and Gamble.