Read more about this fire school inside this issue.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE

AN INSTRUCTOR RUSS HEGGEN GOES over some of the equipment (above) the firemen will be using during a class on farm extractions. It was part of the Central South Dakota District Fire Fighters School hosted by the Springs department last Sunday.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, Pierre, wrote the following letter to the True Dakotan editor last week, concerned with a column that was written by State Represenatative Peggy Gibson, Huron. The Governor’s rebuttal is printed below. Also printed is the Gibson column that was released around May 1, 2012.

Objects to Rep. Gibson’s column

To the Editor:

South Dakota’s First Lady was in Wessington Springs on Wednesday, May 2, to read to the third, fourth and fifth grade classes.

Linda Daugaard, wife of Gov. Dennis Daugaard, has announced two of the initiatives she will work toward during her time as First Lady of South Dakota. Both are aimed at improving literacy among South Dakota’s youth.

The First Lady will be promoting the Reach Out and Read program, administered by the Department of Social Services. The program provides age-appropriate books to infants through 5-year-old children during child well-checks.

Fighting the Brain Drain

 By Andrew Dellman, University of South Dakota Student

Students at WSHS painted and delivered “Spartan Buckets”, trash cans that promote school and community spirit last week. Shown are, back row: Dillon Garfve, Blake Messmer, Craig Shryock, Jevon Hohn, Alyson Palmer, Joe Hettinger. Front row: Taylor Sinkie, Whitney Reider, Lane Knipfer, Wyatt Stevens and Joe Hettinger (custodian). TRUE DAKOTAN/DUKE WENZEL

DUKE WENZEL

The United Parish of Alpena presented a moving program featuring “The Living Last Supper” on Maundy Thursday, April 5, 2012. The scene was made up of youth and adults from the Alpena church.

Shown, from left are, Samantha Dowling (Nathaniel), Landon Ochsner (James the Lesser), Tangy Uttecht (Andrew), Devin Tebay (Peter), Stacey Dowling (Judas), Lance Tebay (John), Leo Jensen (Jesus), Morgan Tebay (Thomas), Shawn Ochsner (James), Samantha Uttecht (Philip), Dylan Ochsner (Matthew), Alex Muilenburg (Thaddeus), Lexi Grote (Simon the Zealot). Narrator was Rick Tebay and Tiffany Tebay was in charge of costuming.

 OBITUARY

Rita R. Kubal

Rita R. Kubal, age 43—wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend—entered the everlasting peace of her Father near Scotland, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, April 9, 2012 at the Bishop Marty Chapel on the Mount Marty College Campus, Yankton, SD with Rev. Dan Smith and Msgr. Carlton Hermann officiating. Burial was in the Polish Catholic Cemetery, rural Lesterville, SD overlooking the family farm.

On December 14, 1968, Rita Jackson was born to Darrel and Mary Ann (Bradley) Jackson of Wessington Springs, SD.

DUKE WENZEL

Long after the Christmas season has passed, a tree decorated with yellow ribbons stands at attention outside the home of Keith and Jenny Wetzel, Wessington Springs.

The tree, complete with red, white and blue lights, is in honor of the couple’s son, Jay Wetzel, who is now serving in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. He is a a heavy equipment operator with the South Dakota National Guard’s 847th unit from Sturgis/Belle Fourche/Spearfish.

Jay, (shown at right at the time of his deployment) has been in the Middle East since November-2011 and should complete his tour of duty this fall, in time for Christmas.

Obituary

Jerry (Wayne) Van Buren

Jerry (Wayne) Van Buren, 74, Sedalia, MO died Thursday, March 22, 2012 at University Hospital, Columbia. A graveside service was held March 26 at Highland Sacred Gardens Cemetery, Sedalia with Rev. Ed Broyles officiating. Military honors were conducted by the American Legion Post 642, Sedalia.

He was born on March 9, 1938 in Wessington Springs, a son of Leonard and Hilda (Krueger) Van Buren. On September 20, 1959, he was united in marriage to Lois Nadine Palmer at Corning, IA. He loved to garden and do yard work. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He served his country honorably in the US Air Force for 26 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 642.

OBITUARY

Shirley Grohs

Shirley Jean Brown Grohs, age 76, died at the Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket on March 29, 2012.

She was born December 2, 1935 in the Deluxe Hotel in Woonsocket to Joseph Herbert Brown and Bertha Swenson Brown. She graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1954 and from the University of South Dakota in 1958.