True Dakotan

100-year old negative brought to the True Dakotan

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:45:10 +0000

We uncovered a mystery in this week’s (March 9) True Dakotan. Marvin Mentzer brought in some antique glass negatives that he had found in the basement of his house. We managed to scan them with a digital scanner, looked at the people in the photo and even identified one of them….. here’s a hint, the glass negative is exactly 100 years old! We’ll uncover that story in a couple of days, after our True Dakotan subscribers get a look at it first. — craig

From the letterbox:

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:40:13 +0000

Editor’s note: The monthly South Dakota Magazine column is printed in this issue of the True Dakotan. The column’s mention of Miss Gladys Pyle, of Huron, spurred me to write the following note to SD Mag’s Katie Hunhoff and her dad, Bernie Hunhoff, of Yankton. –Craig

Dear South Dakota Magazine staff

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

I was a young sports editor at the Huron Daily Plainsman from 1968-71. Gladys seemed to have full access to the newsroom at the Plainsman in those days, and the pages of the paper were graced with her photo and quotes regarding issues of the day. She would amble through and people would rise, almost as if they were in the presence of royalty. In a way, they probably were. She never asked for, nor expected, special treatment… the people of Huron just give it to her. She always had a special smile and time to talk to everyone she encountered. What a very special lady. Thanks for a nice memory.

PS: Enjoyed a visit with Bernie during newspaper day at Pierre a few weeks ago. Hope his hand (the one that I mistakenly tried to shake) is healing.

Craig wenzel

True Dakotan editor

Here is the response from Katie Hunhoff:

Craig,

Thanks for the story about Gladys. Although I was very young when I met her I knew she was special – very kind to both my dad and me. Because I met her when I was so young it’s nice to hear more about her.

I hope you enjoy the column, and thanks so much for running it in your paper. My dad tells people all across the state that your paper is the state’s best weekly. So, I am honored to have a column in the state’s best weekly paper.

I think Bernie’s hand is healing, although slowly. It must have been quite painful because he actually went to a doctor to ask about it, which rarely happens.

Thanks again,

Katie (Hunhoff)

Deer congregate in the Hills

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:38:57 +0000

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.

Jean Fergeson is Chamber’s Employee of the Year

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:34:37 +0000

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).

County, school expect windfall tax payments to arrive this spring

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:32:42 +0000

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.

Not much was known about the tax that would be paid on the wind farm when the project began in 2008. But according to estimates the auditor’s office received last week from Todd Bailey, Property Tax Specialist with the SD Department of Rules and Regulations, the figures are impressive.

The largest benefactor to the wind-powered taxes in Jerauld County will be the Wessington Springs Independent School District with an estimated $84,000 this year. The County of Jerauld will receive $53,000 for this year’s payment. Media Township with $2,255 and Anina Township with $6,290 round out the list.

The payments could go up next year, Peterson said. “The 2010 payment is for just ten months in 2009,” she said, “which covers from the time the wind farm went into operation on February 26, 2009 until December 31 of 2009.”

That should be good news to all of the residents in Jerauld County as next year’s payments could be at least ten percent higher.

The wind farm also generates approximately $102,000 annually in $3,000 per tower payments to landowners that host the 34 towers.

Phase two of the Wessington Springs wind farm is being considered where many more towers could be installed in the county. Also in the works is another wind farm, a 111-tower giant between Crow Lake and White Lake that could plant 17 more towers in Jerauld County, raising the tax ante by another fifty percent.

Ownership of the Wessington Springs wind farm has shifted from Babcock and Brown, the company that built it, to Nextera. The new owners have placed four full time workers on the local wind farm.

The Wessington Springs school district has budgeted about $75,000 in tax revenue from the wind farm, Supt. of Schools Lance Witte said. “This is a nice thing for the school district at this time,” he said. “One of the things we were worried about was that the state would deduct (the wind farm tax payment) from the school’s state aid. But under current law that will not happen. This will just be additional revenue for the school district.”

Both the county and the school expect to place this year’s tax payments in their general funds.

Wind farm Windfall

2010 Payment

(for 10 months of 2009)*

County gov’t: $53,839.46

WS Schools: $84,100.00

Anina Twnsp: $6,290.00

Media Twnsp: $2,255.00

Landowners: $102,000

Total payments 2010:

$242,194.00*

Estimated 2011 payments for 2010 taxes:

County gov’t: $64,605.00

WS Schools: $100,920.00

Anina Twnsp: $6,910.00

Media Twnsp: $2,480.00

Landowners: $102,000.00

Total payments 2011*

$276,915.00

*Estimates from SD Dept. of Rules and Regulations

Despite ownership change

School still has sights on a giant wind tower

BY CRAIG WENZEL

TRUE DAKOTAN

Although ownership of the Wessington Springs wind farm has transferred from Babcock and Brown to Nextera, plans for the local school district to acquire a tower are still in the works, according to Supt. of Schools Lance Witte.

The school has continued talks with Heartland Power Consumers, the company that purchases the power from the Wessington Springs wind farm. “We are looking at different options (for getting a school-owned wind tower),” Witte said. “Rather than wait for phase two to go into the works, we are trying to do something with phase one… like adding a 35th tower.”

Blonde jig-saw puzzle

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:30:04 +0000

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.”

He takes her hand and says, “Second, I want you to relax. Let’s have a nice cold drink, and then, he said with a deep sigh………. “Let’s put all the Corn Flakes back in the box.”

Almeda E. Krueger

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:25:50 +0000

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.

Almeda and Bernard owned and operated the bowling alley in Wessington Springs from 1959 to 1968. She worked at Weskota Manor from 1969 until her retirement on June 1, 1989.

She is survived by two sons, Eugene and his wife Donna; and Rodney and his wife Judy, both of Wessington Springs; one daughter, Brenda Paul and her husband Mike of West Des Moines, IA; three grandsons, Kelly Krueger of Rapid City, Jeff Krueger and special friend April of Huron, and Eric Paul and his wife Stephanie of Kansas City, KS; two granddaughters, Ann Doll and special friend Tim of Honolulu, HI and Kim Schumacher and her husband Jerry of Kansas City, KS; one great grandson, Laine Krueger of Rapid City, and one great granddaughter, Lexi Krueger of Huron; one sister, Joyce LaBarbera of Princeton, IN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bernard in 1988, one brother, and six sisters.

Micheal T. Buchholz

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:23:58 +0000

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.

Services were held 1:00 pm, Friday, at Atonement Lutheran Church in Rapid City with Pastor Jon Mapa officiating. Interment with military honors by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 were in Black Hills National Cemetery under the direction of Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Services at Serenity Springs of Rapid City.

A memorial has been established.

Robert (Bob) Emil Erickson

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:22:17 +0000

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.

Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 7, 1941 while living in Alpena, SD and trained at The Great Lakes Naval Station and later Gunner’s Mate Training in San Diego CA. The ships he served on included USS Enterprise, USS Henry T. Allen, USS Hawkins, USS Tolman, and the USS Earle. The Enterprise was in the South Pacific on it’s way to Pearl Harbor, when delayed and 50 miles outside of the harbor when the attack occurred. The medals he received included the American Defense, WWII Victory, Asiatic-Pacific with 7 stars, American Area, and European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one star. He was proud of his service to his country and honored by the appreciation shown by everyone during his July 2008 Lone Eagle Honor Flight to visit his WWII Memorial in D.C.

Robert retired from farming in S.D and moved to NE in 1958, purchased a Dairy Queen in Beatrice NE and worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. He worked for the Lincoln Public Schools as a carpenter, and then later independently as a member of Carpenter’s Union 1055. He also was a member of Legion Post #3, Lincoln VFW, Bethany Lions Club, and St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church serving as a former council member. Robert loved spending time with his family, being outdoors, hunting, fishing, pitching horseshoes, bowling, watching sports, gardening, and traveling. By volunteering to work with Habitat for Humanity and Carol Joy Holling projects he shared his talent for building with others and “measured twice, cut once.”

Funeral Services: 11 a.m., Friday, March 12, 2010, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 1015 Lancaster Lane, Lincoln.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

Jeanette Edna (Anderson) Anderson

Craig Wenzel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:21:16 +0000

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.

While living in Chicago, she fell in love with and married C. Emory Anderson on August 23, 1942. The marriage certificate had to be redone three times as it was confusing that an Anderson married and Anderson!

Jeanette and Emory moved frequently as they ministered in Connecticut, Iowa and South Dakota, Geddes/Dunlap, Doland/LaDelle, Wessington Springs/Lane, Milbank/Corona, Dell Rapids/Garretson and Stickney. In these communities, Jeanette found personal fulfillment in not only ministering through the church choir, being a Sunday School teacher and directing the children’s choirs, but she lent her administrative and secretarial skills to various businesses.

Jeanette and Emory were blessed with four children, Douglas, Craig, Anita and Mark.

In 1981 Emory and Jeanette retired from the United Methodist church ministry and moved to Custer. In 1997 they moved to West Hills Village in Rapid City. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary August 23, 2002.

Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Emory, November of 2004 and her son Craig. Family to carry on the love shown by Jeanette are sons, Douglas Anderson, Providence, RI; Mark (Wendy) Anderson, Woodstock, VT; and daughter Anita (Glenn) Spargur, Cody, WY; grandchildren, Rebekah Anderson, Denver, CO; Shala (Chad) Cullum, Custer; Remy, Spencer and Claire Martin, Woodstock, VT and the delight of her life, her twin great grandchildren, Cip and Caedra Cullum, Custer. She also leaves as survivors, her sisters, Marge Sjodin, Santa Ana, CA and Lucille Ahlberg, Fullerton, CA; many nieces and nephews and her special Japanese daughter, Jean Kiyoe Ogawa, Tokyo, Japan.

Memorials may be made to the Canyon Lake United Methodist Church elevator fund and Dakota Wesleyan University. Cards may be sent to the family at 1414 Hillcrest Drive, Cody, WY; 82414.

Memorial services were, Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church with Rev. Eric Grinager officiating.

Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements and condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.behrenswilson.com