Year in Review 2016

A Look

BACK 2016 The year’s biggest local stories from December 2016 A Special Supplement to

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YEAR IN REVIEW

December 2016

JANUARY: Longtime Mitchell High coach dies at 72

squads to the state tournament in 39 years — with nine of those boys teams winning state titles.

A 2013 South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Munsen closed out his career with 673 boys basketball wins and 229 girls basketball wins. He finished a fabulous run trailing only Larry Luitjens, a Custer and De Smet coach, in boys basketball wins.

Following his death, hundreds gathered in the Corn Palace — the very place Munsen roamed the sidelines for decades — to remember the man who touched the lives of so many.

Munsen also served as the coach of Mitchell’s most recognized basketball talent. In

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Jan. 20: Hansen Wheel & Wagon, based in Letcher, built a stagecoach that was used in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film “The Hateful Eight.�

Jan. 21: A fundraising campaign for former Mitchell Middle School music teacher Allen Remily raised more than $18,000.

Jan 21: Mitchell building permits hit a new high in 2015, with the previous year’s construction amounting to $44,661,227 in investment in the city.

Jan. 22: The Firesteel Healthcare Center kicked off its $8 million expansion, adding more than 23,000 square feet and remodeling another 21,000 square feet of the existing Mitchell facility.

Jan. 23: Mitchell resident Gwenda Koch was recognized with the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award, an honor given to locals committed to making a difference in the community.

Jan. 27: Gov. Dennis Daugaard took to Mitchell to speak about his State of the State Address, a speech he gave earlier that month.

Jan. 29: Hanson girls basketball coach Jim Bridge won his 500th game as the Beavers’ coach in his 30th year with the school.

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By The Daily Republic Longtime Mitchell High School basketball coach and White Lake native Gary Munsen died in January, leaving behind a winning legacy and impacting the lives of young studentathletes for 39 years.

Munsen, who died at age 72, retired as the Mitchell Kernels’ basketball coach in 2012 with a record-setting 902 combined wins in both girls and boys basketball.

The celebrated Kernel coach oversaw 12 title-winning teams and was recognized throughout town following his death for his coaching acumen and impact on Mitchell.

Munsen coached boys basketball in Mitchell from 1974 to 2012, guiding 34

Jan. 14: Mitchell Main Street & Beyond Director Kari Kirchmeyer resigned, marking her tenure with the development of the Downtown Thursdays summer concert series, enhancing membership services, exploring the streetscape plans and coordinating the relocation of the MMS&B office to the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce building.

Jan. 15: The city of Mitchell announced Scott Schmidt, a Mitchell native and former athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Florida National University, would take the position of Corn Palace director.

Jan. 18: A state official said South Dakota Highway 50 in Bon Homme County would not be expanded to five lanes during a $14.17 million 16-mile project.

Jan. 19: Mitchell Department of Public Safety communication specialist Jerry Fradet was selected out of approximately 65 full-time employees to win the Pursuit of Excellence Award.

Jan. 19: The city of Mitchell approved another year of its five-year sidewalk plan, forcing Mitchell residents to collectively pay more than $137,000 in special assessments to install pedestrian paths on

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Matt Gade/Republic Scott Munsen shares stories of his father, Gary Munsen, during a funeral for the former Mitchell High School teacher and basketball coach back in January at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

1994, 1996 and 1997, teams led by Munsen and future NBA player Mike Miller took home the state boys basketball title.

Jan. 2: Gary Gjesdal, of Plankinton, was recognized as The Daily Republic’s 2015 person of the year. Gjesdal, a retired farmer, estimated he’d given away more than $1 million in the last nine years.

Jan. 5: A Lake Andes man was injured when he allegedly set fire to his own home in what authorities believed to be a suicide attempt. Michael Miller, 56, suffered smoke inhalation, and his home sustained a collapsed ceiling and became uninhabitable.

Jan. 7: The Hanson County School District gave its 59 employees a big gift during the holiday season. Due to rising enrollment, the district saw its funding rise by approximately $65,000, $44,250 of which was distributed to the district’s staff.

Jan. 13: Gov. Dennis Daugaard proposed a plan to raise what was — at the time — the state’s lowest-in-the-nation teacher pay.

Jan. 14: The Mitchell Kmart announced it would close in April, leaving 52 employees seeking other jobs. The announcement was made in conjunction with the closure of the Kmart in Pierre.

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Daily Republic

FEBRUARY: Wesleyan’s new wellness center officially opens organizations. Included among those contributions were a $2.5 million commitment from Avera Health, $1.5 million from the DWU Board of Trustees and $800,000 from the Mitchell Area Development Corp.

But the project also came together with the help of the Christens and the Corrigans, who each contributed more than $2.5 million to the project.

Feb. 2: Former state legislator, and now a state representative-elect, Lance Carson announced his intention to run for the South Dakota House of Representatives while State Rep. — and current State Sen.-elect — Joshua Klumb announced his intention to run for the state Senate.

Feb. 3: Mitchell School District Superintendent Joe Graves announced the private donations for the district’s fine arts center surpassed $860,000 after the district decided to lower the amount for naming rights of the facility.

Feb. 4: U.S. Sen. John Thune called the inspection reports of the Great Plains Area Indian Health Service “beyond comprehension,” describing conditions of dirty and unsanitized medical equipment and how one patient gave birth to a child on a bathroom floor of an IHS facility with no health care professional in sight.

Feb. 5: Two commanding officers of the USS South Dakota were given the key to the city during their visit to the Corn Palace Feb. 5: Forty-three state legislators joined forces to seek approval for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would run through South Dakota on its 1,179-mile route from Canada to the United States.

Feb. 6: Hanson High School senior Tasha Determan was named one of 53 winners across the country in the eighth annual Doodle 4 Google competition.

Feb. 10: The Davison County Commission listened to its constituents in February, blocking a $40 million wind project that would have brought nine to 11 turbines, each standing 446 feet tall, to the Mitchell area.

Feb. 11: Hunter Mees, a cancer survivor from Wessington Springs, organized an event that raised $11,621.82 to be donated to grant a wish for a child with a life-threatening medical condition.

Feb. 12: Dan Guericke, director of Mid-Central Educational Cooperative since 1992, announced his retirement.

Feb. 13: The Mitchell High School gymnastics team won its third straight state team

During the Holiday Season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible.

We take this opportunity to say “Thank You” and to wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with health, happiness and prosperity.

Matt Gade/Republic Donna Christen, second from left, and Glenda Corrigan, second from right, have a laugh holding the giant scissors after taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony as their husbands, Paul Christen, left, and Fritz Corrigan, stand at their sides during the dedication ceremony for the DWU/Avera Sports and Wellness Complex back in February in the Corrigan Fieldhouse inside the complex.

championship, besting secondplace Sioux Falls O’Gorman by 4.55 points.

Feb. 16: In the midst of another legislative session, South Dakota Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton, D-Burke, said he has entertained the idea of running for governor in 2018, but he said he’s more focused on his immediate future.

Feb. 18: Shane Thill, director of Second Chance Alternative High School in Mitchell, was announced as one of five contenders for national LifeChanger of the Year, an award he would later win.

Feb. 19: Mid-Central Educational Cooperative filed a $2 million claim against the

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estate of Scott Westerhuis, the business manager accused of killing his wife and children.

Feb. 20: Following hurricane-force winds, a 100foot tall grain dryer at CHS Farmers Alliance grain elevator in northwest Mitchell tipped over.

Feb. 22: The Parkston High School wrestling team took home the Region 3B tournament championship, backed by five individual champions, to defeat Bon Homme/Scotland and Winner Area for its fifth championship in six years.

Feb. 24: South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Lucas Lentsch announced his plans to vacate the office after three years of service.

Have a Joyous New Year!

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By The Daily Republic A collaboration between two of Mitchell’s most well-known entities led to the creation of a 90,000-square-foot facility on the south side of town.

Avera Queen of Peace and Dakota Wesleyan University joined forces to build the DWU/ Avera Sports and Wellness Complex, a $10.7 million health and wellness center on the south end of DWU’s campus.

The facility opened in January, but the ribbon cutting and tours of the facility were held in February during a dedication ceremony for the massive addition to Wesleyan’s campus.

A longtime priority for the school, the facility added the 4,000-square-foot Donna and Paul Christen Community Health and Fitness Center, men’s and women’s locker rooms, an athletic training suite, a classroom, wrestling room and lounge and concessions areas. The facility also included the addition of the Glenda and Fritz Corrigan Fieldhouse, which features a 200-meter track, three sport courts, facilities for long jump, pole vault and batting practice and bleachers for up to 700 people.

And the project came together thanks to a contributions from more than 160 individuals and

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YEAR IN REVIEW

December 2016

MARCH: DWU men, women make runs at national tourneys

By The Daily Republic The Dakota Wesleyan University women’s and men’s basketball teams saw their seasons end in disappointment, but what a wild ride it was.

For the first time in school history, both the men and women played in the NAIA Division II national tournament in the same season, and both Tigers teams came roaring out of the gates with wins.

The women, who would ultimately advance further than the men, were fueled in the team’s first round win by a 27-point explosion from Erica Herrold, while the men

escaped the first round after blowing an early 15-point lead.

The Tiger men would see their season end with a hard-fought battle against York College, losing in Point Lookout, Missouri, 78-77.

But the Tiger women continued their winning ways, with a powerful performance over Davenport University. In the 87-77 win in Sioux City, Iowa, Herrold scored 17, Kristin Sabers added 14 and Kelsey Bertram and Rylie Osthus both scored in the double digits. In the second-round match, the Tiger women shot 56 percent and held a double-digit lead

Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. in multiple South Dakota towns, made several substantial gifts to organizations in Mitchell and Huron.

Mar. 4: Mitchell native and South Dakota State University guard Macy Miller was named to the all-Summit League first team, marking her first time being recognized for the honor.

Mar. 5: For the second straight year, Parkston High School junior Blake Bietz earned The Daily Republic’s wrestler of the year honor.

Mar. 8: Wagner Community School elementary teacher Travis Barthel was shot in stomach and shoulder after accidentally discharging a pistol in his jacket pocket.

Bathel was expected to make a full recovery.

Mar. 9: After a lengthy construction process, the Avera Grassland Health Campus in southern Mitchell opened its doors to patients.

Mar. 10: Mary Pranger, a paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary School, and Cindy Gerlach, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Mitchell High School, earned the Mitchell School District’s annual Classified Staff of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards, respectively.

Mar. 12: A fire at one of Geddes’ largest buildings was

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deemed suspicious after the building, with no electrical functions, collapsed due to the damage it incurred.

Mar. 17: State Attorney General Marty Jackley announced three additional people would be charged for their alleged misconduct involving funding through the Mid-Central Educational Cooperative and the GEAR UP college readiness-program.

Mar. 19: Jamie Ray Benedict, of Spearfish, was able to kick out the window of a Davison County Sheriff’s Deputy’s patrol car while handcuffed after being detained while his vehicle was being searched.

Mar. 24: Former Stickney Superintendent Bob Krietlow was pegged to serve as interim director of the Mid-Central Educational Cooperative following a series of felony charges filed against former employees.

Mar. 25: For the second straight year, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket’s Myah Selland was named The Daily Republic’s girls basketball player of the year.

Mar. 26: In his junior season as a player on the Chamberlain Cubs boys basketball team, Seth Friesz earned The Daily Republic boys basketball player of the year honor.

Happy

The New Year is a time to reflect and remember as we turn a new chapter in our lives. God has blessed us and we have been blessed by many of you. We are so grateful that we can be of service to you! We pray that the New Year brings you health and happiness. We look forward to serving you in the future.

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Matt Gade/Republic Dakota Wesleyan Head Coach Jason Christensen and the Tiger bench and fans celebrate a basket late during the first round of the NAIA Division II women’s national tournament against Haskell Indian Nation University back in March at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

for much of the game.

The season ended in defeat at the hands of Goshen College in front of 1,020 fans.

Mar. 1: Mitchell-based Central Electric Cooperative installed a solar voltaic generation system, which harnesses power emitted from the sun.

The system included 36 solar panels, and in optimum conditions, can absorb 8 kilowatts per hour — which can power a 2,000-squarefoot home.

The $37,467 system was funded in part by a $7,511 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for the America Program.

Mar. 2: Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed a bill that would have made South Dakota the first state in the nation to require transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth.

Mar. 2: Dakota Wesleyan University announced its plans to add a black box theater, a welcome center and more space for the Dakota Discovery Museum on its Mitchell campus.

Mar. 3: The Mitchell and Huron communities mourned the loss of philanthropist and retired businessman Earl Nordby, who died at age 85.

Nordby, who owned the

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Daily Republic

APRIL: Mitchell School District’s Thill honored nationally more than $1.9 million for tax fraud from 2002-2013.

Apr. 8: Nearly a week after a leak in a Keystone pipeline was reported near Freeman, TransCanda officials announced an estimated 16,800 gallons of oil had leaked. The leak was reported April 3 by a local who noticed standing oil on a section of land. A source of the leak was identified, fixed and the pipeline restarted operations two days later.

Apr. 11: Mitchell High School’s show choir, Friend de Coup, made history when it was named grand champion in the Class AA division of the South Dakota High School Activities Association’s first-ever state show choir championship.

Apr. 13: The Woonsocket School Board unanimously voted to enter a cooperative agreement with Sanborn Central for its cross country program, the last athletic activity at the school that still participated in events under the “Redmen” moniker.

Apr. 15: Three people were indicted on felony charges stemming from a financial probe into South Dakota’s GEAR UP college-readiness program.

Dan Guericke, Stephanie Hubers and Stacy Phelps were scheduled for a May arraignment. The investigation

was launched in September 2015 after Scott Westerhuis, who served as Mid-Central’s business manager, shot his wife, Nicole Westerhuis, and their four children, then set fire to the family home and killed himself. Investigators believe Scott and Nicole stole more than $1 million before their deaths. On April 28, the trio pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Apr. 19: The Mitchell City Council unanimously approved a new veterans park project, which Mayor Jerry Toomey said would boost the appearance of a high-traffic route to the World’s Only Corn Palace.

Apr. 23: The governing board of the Platte-based Mid-Central Educational Cooperative voted to terminate the co-op, following the murder-suicide involving two employees authorities say were stealing money before their deaths.

The termination takes effect June 30, 2017.

Apr. 23: Plans were put in place for the Dakota Magic basketball team to play its home games at the Corn Palace. The professional basketball team is made up of former NCAA and NAIA college basketball players, with 10 home games scheduled to be played at the

Looking forward to serving you in 2017

It’s been a privilege serving you, and we thank you for making this past year a most worthwhile one for us.

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Palace between September and November.

Apr. 27: A Salem man shot by law enforcement pleaded no contest to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, after originally pleading not guilty.

Apr. 28: The Lyman County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle belonging to a murder

Happy Holidays

New Year’s Greetings To you and yours

Matt Gade/Republic Shane Thill, an assistant principal at Second Chance Alternative High School, thanks his kids Jordan, 15, left, and Bridgett, 15, center, after thanking his parents Larry and Janet Thill, left, and before thanking his wife Deb after being named a 2015-2016 nominee for the ‘LifeChanger of the Year’ back in February. On April 12, Thill was announced as the ‘LifeChanger of the Year’ during a celebration held in Los Cabos, Mexico. The award came with a $10,000 grand prize.

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By The Daily Republic Mitchell High School Teacher Shane Thill earned national recognition for his work as an educator when he was named the nation’s LifeChanger of the Year.

LifeChanger of the Year is an annual award that recognizes educators and school district employees who “are making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership,” according to the organization’s website.

Thill, director of Mitchell’s Second Chance High School and assistant principal of Mitchell High School, was chosen from a pool of more than 600 teachers, administrators and school district employees from 50 states and the District of Columbia.

As the National Grand Prize winner, Thill received a $10,000 cash award.

Apr. 1: Mount Vernon native Chad Greenway reached a one-year deal to return to the Vikings for an 11th season, giving area football fanatics a familiar face to cheer for.

Apr. 6: A Letcher man who claimed he didn’t have to pay income taxes because he believes God owns his money was ordered by the United States District Court to pay

YEAR IN REVIEW

December 2016

MAY: Oacoma hotel hit with early-morning fire

Caitlynn Peetz/Republic Officials work the scene of a fire back in May at the Oasis Inn in Oacoma.

officials with the hotel had not announced whether they plan to re-open the hotel.

May 3: By a five-stroke margin, the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s golf team won its eighth-straight GPAC golf title.

The tigers, powered by individual champion Lauren Fitts and a career day from junior April Barnett, won after trailing Mount Marty into the final day, with Nebraska Wesleyan and Morningside also within three strokes of the lead.

May 6: A longstanding tradition to replace the murals on the outside walls of the Corn Palace took a one-year hiatus when the Mitchell City Council decided to keep the same murals from 2015 through 2016.

burden Weisser Oil could not overcome, eventually leading its owners to sell the business.

Dean Honomichl was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary for third-degree burglary, to run consecutive with a 10-year sentence for an unrelated crime. Tara SmejkalHonomichl was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended for aiding and abetting a thirddegree burglary.

May 14: Less than a year after an early-morning fire burned through the former Coca-Cola distribution plant, the facility owned by Sioux City-based Chesterman Co., broke ground on a $2.7 million facility. The new facility will be 53,000-square-feet, whereas the old building was only 42,000-square-feet.

May 18: Construction on a new veterans memorial in Ethan began, with its design coming from Tristen Scott, a sophomore at Ethan High School.

The memorial was built on the edge of Ethan, on the south side of Highway 42, and was expected to cost approximately $40,000.

The Ethan American Legion had been discussing the possibility of a veterans memorial for years, but had been unable to settle on a

design, until seeing Scott’s.

May 25: A Colome man was thankful for his life after riding out a severe weather system in an iron box.

Rick Petersek was caught in heavy winds and rain, and eventually spotted a funnel cloud. Stuck in his barn, he was unable to move indoors to a steady structure, so he instead opted for an iron gun safe, which was inside the barn.

Petersek was not injured.

May 27: A Lake Andes man was charged with vehicular homicide for his involvement in a crash that resulted in the death of his brother. Albert Fischer allegedly had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system during a rollover crash on April 26 that resulted in the death of his brother James Fischer, 22.

Albert Fischer’s preliminary breath test revealed a bloodalcohol content of 0.173 percent. The legal limit to drive in South Dakota is 0.08 percent.

May 28: A lightning strike in McCook County killed 21 cattle that were huddled around a metal feeder. The lightning struck the feeder.

The estimated monetary loss for the farmer who owned the cattle was approximately $45,000.

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By The Daily Republic A popular Oacoma hotel sustained heavy damage in an early-morning fire over Memorial Day weekend.

Around 2:15 a.m. May 30, a fire broke out at the Oasis Inn, located next to Al’s Oasis, but everyone was evacuated and no injuries were reported.

The main section of the building was a complete loss due to heavy smoke and water damage, and there was a collapsed section toward the front of the building. But a second section, connected with a walkway, suffered minimal damage.

The cause of the fire was later determined to be a mechanical failure in the whirpool area, not the result of a lightning strike, as many locals had speculated.

As of mid-December,

The idea was offered as a cost-saving measure, as each year the city pays approximately $157,000 to redecorate the building’s exterior, including updates to the murals wrapped around the west and south walls of the building, as well as other grasses that are displayed on the building’s face.

May 9: The 2016 DWU graduation ceremony was one for the record books. At the ceremony, school officials announced the 283 graduates were a record-high for the private university.

May 10: Thanks to new legislation, each of the 196 full-time teachers in the Mitchell School District was given a $6,000 increase in their salary for the 2016-2017 school year, announced by Mitchell School District Superintendent Joe Graves. Graves said approximately $1.27 million in additional funding, which comes from an altered funding formula supported by a halfcent sales tax increase, will help attract quality teachers to South Dakota.

May 12: A Wagner couple was sentenced to spend time in the South Dakota State Penitentiary after taking $7,623.53 from Weisser Oil, an auto shop and convenience store in Wagner.

The theft led to a financial

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Daily Republic

JUNE: Water main break on Main, a headache for store owners Act. Jun. 7: The Mitchell City Council unanimously denied an ordinance proposed

by Mayor Jerry Toomey’s parking committee that would have barred several prohibited implements from parking curbside in Mitchell.

Councilmembers said they had heard from an array of constituents who felt the ordinance, which would have banned campers, motor homes, flatbed and enclosed trailers, boats, pontoons, jet skis and other watercraft from parking on Mitchell streets, was a bad idea.

Jun. 8: The pilot of a plane was killed when an aircraft crashed into Lake Thompson, near DeSmet. The pilot died on scene and his body was recovered by Codington County Search and Rescue. The passenger of the plane survived.

Jun. 10: The Burke Fire Department moved into a new expansion project that took two years to complete. The expansion measured 32 feet by 60 feet and cost $90,000.

The project began when the department was gifted a new fire truck in which there was not enough space for in the fire hall.

Jun. 13: At least eight girls were treated for heat exhaustion when record-setting high

temperatures scorched Mitchell during the annual Lowell Rang Memorial Softball Tournament.

Temperatures reached 100 degrees, breaking the record high for June 11, which was previously 98 degrees recorded in 1976.

Jun. 14: Cornelius Milk, of Salem, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after an incident in which he discharged a firearm outside a Salem bar and was later shot by deputies.

On April 18, Milk pleaded no contest to a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony. The charge stems from an incident on July 19, 2015, when Milk, armed with a gun, made threats of “popping holes in the roof” in Salem’s Brewery Bar on Main Street.

Jun. 16: The BridgewaterEmery School District decided to undertake a $4.5 million gym construction project in Emery.

The project was expected to be completed in mid-2017 and includes locker rooms, a stage, bleachers, gym, weight and exercise rooms, concessions and various storage areas.

Jun. 21: Donika Gonzales, a Gann Valley native who was convicted of killing 4-yearold Mason Naser, was given a reduction in sentence from 145 years in prison to 55 years.

Gonzales was sentenced on 001518564r1

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Matt Gade/Republic Workers with Krohmer Plumbing Inc. work on the main water line that runs underneath North Main Street in front of the VFW building back in June. The evening before, while the VFW was having a sprinkler system installed at its new location, a valve broke that led to additional problems with the water main, forcing the city of Mitchell to shut off the water. Water flooded the VFW basement along with Havre’s Sports Shop’s basement as well.

July 1, 2015, to 130 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter and 15 years for aggravated assault. In June, Judge Bruce Anderson modified the manslaughter sentence to 90 years with 50 years suspended.

Jun. 23: Tickled Pink Boutique, a clothing store located on Main Street in Mitchell, closed its doors after a fire left an

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extreme amount of smoke and soot damage — the second fire to affect the business in two years.

Jun. 27: An Alexandria teenager was killed in a onevehicle crash that left four others injured. Dylan Mentele, 18, was ejected from the vehicle that was driven off the roadway.

Mentele died at the scene.

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By The Daily Republic A water main break in midJune left several Mitchell Main Street business scrambling to save merchandise. On June 13, officials with the Veterans of Foreign Wars were installing a new water line to attach to a sprinkler system when a rupture occurred on the city’s water main.

A block of Main Street in front of the affected area was closed while repairs were made.

Fans and dehumidifiers were used to air out the VFW’s basement, and Harve’s Sport Shop reported an estimated 1,500 gallons of water in its basement.

Megan Sabers, owner of Tickled Pink and Bliss Bridal, estimated there was 2 to 3 inches of water in her store, but none of her merchandise was damaged.

Jun. 2: Work on a $1.38 million infrastructure improvement project began on Wessington Springs’ Main Street, drawing both optimism and skepticism from business owners. The infrastructure project looked to improve three blocks of the street by implementing new water and sewer systems underground, a new road, sidewalk, lighting and adding handicap/wheelchair access to each business, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities

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YEAR IN REVIEW

December 2016

JULY: Area families welcome home soldiers

Matt Gade/Republic Specialist Eric Simonton kisses his 3-year-old son Ethan prior to the welcome home ceremony for the 155th Engineer Company at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. Members of the 155th spent the past 11 months on a mission in Kuwait.

By The Daily Republic Hundreds gathered in Rapid City in July to welcome home family and friends in the South Dakota National Guard’s 155th Engineer Company, which was deployed in Kuwait for nearly a year.

The 162 soldiers based in Wagner and Rapid City arrived on July 2 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City for a ceremony, where politicians, military officials and 700 onlookers welcomed the group back to South Dakota.

“You’re the first ones in the state to step up and fight the war on terrorism. You went to

war on our behalf,” U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem said to the group.

The 10-month deployment was the company’s second mobilization after it was sent to Kuwait in support of Operation Noble Eagle in 2002 and 2003.

“This nation is forever in your debt,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy Reisch during the ceremony.

Other speakers included Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, U.S. Sen. John Thune and Gov. Dennis Daugaard.

During the group’s 10-month service, the soldiers logged 67,000 hours of work, and 18 members were promoted.

Fourteen servicemen had

children born back home while they were overseas.

Many community members wore shirts designed and printed prior to the 155th’s deployment that read, “We wait, we hope, we pray for those deployed for a safe return home.” Others donned shirts with similar phrases, like “Proudly supporting the 155th” and simply “Welcome home.”

Jul. 1: Former Parkston head football coach Tony Axtell was charged with grand theft for allegedly embezzling about $9,000 from the football program while employed there.

Axtell was hired in July and also served as a physical education and physics teacher and assistant track coach. Axtell later pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jul. 9: Construction on the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline reached central South Dakota as crews began clearing land for the oil line about 12 miles north of Howard in Miner County. The company planned to install 14 miles of pipeline in Miner County, with a total of 274 miles in South Dakota. The project has been tabled thanks to protests in North Dakota.

Jul. 14: A judge cleared the city of Mitchell and its former mayor, Ken Tracy, on counts of breach of contract, defamation intentional interference,

with contractual relations and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The civil charges were brought by Steve Koch, who was selected as Corn Palace director in October 2014 but was then denied the job after Tracy became aware of Koch’s criminal record.

Jul. 19: Cassandra Wherley, 25, of Ethan, died in a onevehicle rollover crash about one mile north and one mile east of Ethan. According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, she lost control, entered the ditch and rolled. The crash came just three weeks after another fatal crash near Ethan that killed 18-year-old Dylan Mentele, of Alexandria.

Jul. 22: Donald London, 43, of Kimball, sought the dismissal of his case due to “outrageous government conduct.” London is charged with multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer after a roughly 24-hour standoff with authorities, in which he allegedly shot and injured a Highway Patrol trooper, but his attorneys argued law enforcement actions exacerbated the situation.

Jul. 23: Some teachers in small school districts were disappointed when their salaries didn’t increase as much as projected after the

state passed a half-cent sales tax increase earlier in the year.

In the Bon Homme School District, salaries increased by $4,000, bringing their salaries to $40,261, below the state’s $48,500 target.

Mitchell teachers received a $6,000 pay hike, bringing their salaries to $50,700.

Jul. 23: There were as many felony filings in Davison County in the first six months of 2016 as in all of 2014, bringing the county’s felony total to the fourth highest in the state. A local judge began scheduling extra circuit court dates to handle the higher case load.

Jul. 26: The Dakota Magic hired Kasib Powell, a former NBA D-League MVP with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2008, as the team’s head coach. Powell played as a small forward during his career but said he’s excited to make his first foray into professional coaching with the National Basketball League of America.

Jul. 28: Dawn Long, 38, of Mitchell, was charged with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly trying to kill her husband. Long was already charged with arson and is suspected of setting fire to her home on Oct. 8. She was injured in a vehicle chase through Badlands National Park but was arrested after she recovered.

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Daily Republic

AUGUST: Alexandria goes unbeaten, captures Class B crown early 2000s, but former Angels manager Dan Fergen said that period has led fans to stand behind the team because they know what it’s like to be without.

Aug. 3: Merle Northrup, of Mount Vernon, was arrested and charged with taking about $400,000 in grain. Northrup was hired by two area farmers to transport grain, but he allegedly sold some of the grain under his own name. After his release, Northrup was charged again with stealing a smaller amount and later pleaded not guilty.

Aug. 5: Mitchell Main Street & Beyond decided to bring back Mitchell’s Parade of Lights for the first time since its cancellation in 2012 due to a decline in participation from community members. The parade was held in December.

Aug. 8: Tyndall Officer Kelly Young suffered broken ribs, a cut on his leg and an injured ankle among other injuries after being struck by a pickup in the parking lot of Frank’s Trading Post in Tyndall. Travis McPeek, of Sioux City, was later charged in connection to the incident.

Aug. 8: Tucker Easton, 16, of Wessington Springs, was killed in a one-vehicle crash on Aug. 5 south of Ree Heights. Easton was driving on 349th Avenue

when his vehicle rolled and he was ejected. He was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Aug. 9: The Mitchell Board of Education approved a $6,000 salary increase for instructors at the Mitchell Career and Technical Education Academy for the upcoming school year, as well as a 5 percent increase for Mitchell Technical Institute faculty. The increase was part of the Mitchell Area Technical Educators agreement.

Aug. 10: Three tips from the public led to the arrest of Paul Brown, of Maple Valley, Washington, near Kimball after the state issued an Amber Alert on Aug. 8. Authorities were seeking Brown after he allegedly took his 3- and 1-year-old children from his home and drove away.

Aug. 12: The federal government renamed Harney Peak to Black Elk Peak in honor of a Lakota spiritual leader who died in the mid-20th century. The “Harney” name was criticized by activists because Harney’s soldiers killed American Indians.

Aug. 15: The Tripp-Delmont School District decided to consolidate, dissolve or ask taxpayers to opt out of tax limits to keep the school open.

With declining enrollment and decreased funding after recent

Matt Gade/Republic The Alexandria Angels hoist up their trophy after defeating the Garretson Blue Jays 7-1 in the Class B state amateur championship game at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.

legislation, the district decided it would be unable to continue on its current path and opened discussions with districts in Avon, Menno, Armour, Parkston and Scotland.

Aug. 24: The Bon Homme County Commission struck down proposed amendments to an ordinance about concentrated animal feeding operations after more than four months of discussion.

The talks began after the construction of a hog barn in the county. The amendment would have allowed the county to treat 500-999 unit animal farms differently than 0-499 unit operations.

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Aug. 25: Andrew Sybesma, 10, of Geddes, was killed in a two-vehicle crash near Dakota Christian School. Sybesma, the 14-year-old driver, and an 11-year-old girl were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle. The driver and female passenger suffered minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, as well as 2- and 4-year-old passenger, also suffered minor injuries.

Aug. 28: Gordon Thomsen, founder of Trail King Industries, died on age 89. He moved to Mitchell in 1969 and was recognized as a leader.

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By The Daily Republic The Alexandria Angels completed what players called a “storybook season” after the team emerged as the undefeated champion at the Class B state amateur baseball tournament.

Alexandria won the title for the second time in four years.

The Angels defeated the Garretson Blue Jays 7-1 on Aug. 14 at Cadwell Park in Mitchell, completing the season with a 28-0 record.

With the win, Alexandria is believed by fans, coaches and commentators to be the only team in the modern era of amateur baseball history in the state to have finished a season undefeated, which dates back to the 1960s.

But the game was special for the team for another reason.

Playing in the final game wasn’t a new experience for the Angels. They qualified for the championship game four years in a row, but the 2016 game was the first time the team won since 2013.

Alexandria is also the first team to compete in four straight championship games since Canova’s run from 1997 to 2000.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a town that was without a baseball team for about five years in the

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YEAR IN REVIEW

December 2016

SEPTEMBER: Woonsocket man charged with first-degree murder

By The Daily Republic Matthew Novak, of Woonsocket, was arrested as a suspect in the death of 26-year-old Jennifer Gibson.

Law enforcement responded to an incident at 9 a.m. at 206 S. Third Ave. in Woonsocket, where Gibson was found dead.

Her death was eventually determined to have been caused by a knife wound to the neck.

According to the Sanborn County Department of Equalization, the home was owned by Colleen Gibson, but neighbors said it was occupied

by Novak, Jennifer Gibson and Gibson’s children.

Novak was arrested and

ultimately charged with alternate counts of first-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Novak pleaded not guilty to the charges on Sept. 13.

If Novak is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty. Firstdegree manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Neighbors said they often heard “screaming and yelling” from the home prior to the incident.

“There’s always been problems over there with fighting,” said neighbor Sandi Willman. “Seems like the cops

section of town, but 170 homes lost power. No serious injuries were reported.

Sept. 9: Marcus King, of Platte, was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame on his 74th birthday for his role in bringing independent grocery stores to Platte, Wagner, Parkston, Winner, Freeman and Mobridge, as well as promoting competition rather than establishing a monopoly.

Sept. 12: The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits played their first game in the school’s new $65 million football stadium, a 56-28 victory over Drake University.

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium was christened the week before with a concert featuring Luke Bryan, Lee Brice and Little Big Town.

Sept. 13: Brule County, Chamberlain and state officials detonated a homemade explosive device on Sept.

9. The device was found in a rural Pukwana home, and authorities began searching for Donald Pickner, who lived at the residence and was believed to have created the device.

Sept. 16: At the end of a convocation ceremony, Dakota Wesleyan University officials ceremonially broke ground on a $1.2 million theater. On the same day, the department was named the Ron and Sheilah

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Sept. 19: A 50-foot statue called “Dignity,” designed by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Lamphere, was set in place at the Chamberlain rest stop overlooking the Missouri River. Hundreds of people converged for a celebration of the statue, which depicts a Native American woman draped in a star quilt.

Sept. 21: Avera Health announced its newest venture in Mitchell, the Avera Therapy and Integrated Therapy Services Center, which will overtake the former Avera Urgent Care building to provide physical, occupational and speech therapy. Avera was also selected by the Indian Health Service to provide telemedicine services to a network of 19 hospitals and clinics across the Great Plains.

Sept. 23: A 66-year-old man was kidnapped, robbed, blindfolded and left naked in a field southeast of Mitchell by four individuals, later identified as Vanessa Hakl, Alex Rock, Danica Loseke and Marco Sherman. Each was charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree robbery. All four pleaded not guilty but could face up to life in prison if convicted.

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Matt Gade/Republic Investigators with the Division of Criminal Investigation search the home of Jennifer Ann Gibson, 25, who was murdered in her home on in Woonsocket. Matthew Novak, 33, was arrested after local law enforcement responded to an incident at 206 S. Third Ave. in Woonsocket, according to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

are always over there about something.”

Officers surrounded the residence, and a portion of South Third Avenue was shut down in response to the death. The Woonsocket School implemented a self-imposed lockdown, but law enforcement said no one was in danger following Novak’s arrest.

Sept. 1: The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department reported a 20 percent decrease in the statewide pheasants-per-mile index compared to 2015 after its annual brood survey. While that could make pheasants more difficult to find, the department still expected harvest numbers to exceed 1 million birds.

Sept. 2: Dayna Wells, of Oacoma, was sentenced to five years in prison, three suspended, for her role in the stabbing death of 32-year-old Calvin Shields on Sept. 4, 2015, in Oacoma. Whitney Turney, of Oacoma, admitted to killing Shields and asked for Wells’ help in hiding the body.

Sept. 6: Straightline winds topping 110 mph during an overnight storm pummeled Springfield, destroying four homes and severely damaging 12 others, leaving 70 people displaced. The damage was largely limited to the southeast

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Daily Republic

OCTOBER: Cabela’s sold to Bass Pro for $5.5 billion brands and creating increased stability and opportunities for our team members.”

Oct. 4: Tessa Dee, a Mitchell native, was crowned 2017 Miss South Dakota USA. Dee placed first runner-up for two years in a row before nabbing the title.

Oct. 5: The 2016 South Dakota State Report Cards were released, revealing the Mitchell School District topped almost all of the state averages.

Oct. 6: Hanson County Sheriff Randy Bartlett submitted his resignation letter after serving for six years. He vacated the position to pursue a job elsewhere but did not disclose where he was going to work.

Oct. 8: Linda Feenstra, of New Holland, grew a 437-pound pumpkin to win the Douglas County Pumpkinpalooza competition.

Oct. 10: The Mitchell High School Marching band won its class at the Dutchman Field Championships for the ninth consecutive year. The competition featured more than 30 bands.

Oct. 12: Brad Greenway was named The National Pork Board’s 2016 America’s Pig Farmer of the Year.

Oct. 12: A plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the Mitchell Municipal Airport, which was resolved without

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Oct. 15: Toshiba America Business Solutions’ toner manufacturing plant, one of Mitchell’s largest employers, celebrates its 30th anniversary with approximately 100 people in attendance.

Oct. 17: After pheasant hunting season opened for the weekend, statewide reports showed a lag in average bird count. The Mitchell area averaged about one bird per hunter for opening weekend, while other parts of the state varied between one-half bird to 1.5 birds per hunter.

Oct. 18: The Mitchell FFA team sent 11 students to the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, where they would be competing for national honors.

Oct. 19: The Wheat Growers facility in Kennebec filled its first train, which marked the opening of the Mitchell-Rapid City rail line from Chamberlain west through Reliance and Kennebec to Presho. This rail line had been closed since the mid-1990s.

Oct. 21: A Winner High School Student, 16-year-

Matt Gade/Republic It was announced Cabela’s will be purchased by Bass Pro Shops for an estimated $5.5 billion.

old Taylor Watzel, died from injuries suffered in a farming accident, in which he was stuck in a grain bin.

Oct. 26: A total of 12,685 Davison County residents registered to vote for the Nov. 8 election. Of those registered, 5,860 were Republicans while 4,049 were Democrats.

The county also serves as home to 2,258 independent voters, 20 Libertarians, three constitutionalists, 24 voters listed as “other” and 471 with no party affiliation.

Oct. 28: The Mitchell High School Kernels defeated Sturgis 79-22 to head to the Class 11AA semifinals. In the

final seconds of the playoff game, Kernel’s Tayler Reichelt scored a 58-yard touchdown run untouched. Reichelt, also known as “T” or “T-Man,” was born with Down syndrome and was also crowned homecoming king earlier in the year.

Oct. 31: Mitchell Public Works Director Tim McGannon announced that approximately $30,000 will be saved on infrastructure work on the Sixth Avenue park project. But while the savings brought good news to Mitchell taxpayers, McGannon also said the groundbreaking may not come until 2017.

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By The Daily Republic Cabela’s was sold to Bass Pro Shops for approximately $5.5 billion, but the impact was unclear on how the merger would affect the Mitchell location.

In an official press release between the two companies, it was said the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2017.

Cabela’s operates 85 retail stores primarily in the western U.S. and Canada, while Bass Pro Shops is located mainly in the eastern and southern U.S. The Mitchell location, which opened in March 2000, is located south of Interstate 90 and has quite the economic impact on the city.

The closest Bass Pro Shops is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. On top of the Mitchell location, South Dakota also has a Cabela’s in Rapid City.

“The combination of our two companies will honor and build upon this legacy,” said Johnny Morris, CEO and founder of Bass Pro Shops, in an open letter. “Bass Pro Shops has every intention of celebrating and growing the Cabela’s brand. We will work hard to foster the qualities that customers love most about both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s.

The spirit of this agreement is about adding to our great

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YEAR IN REVIEW

December 2016

NOVEMBER: Kernels claim 11AA state title over Harrisburg

Matt Gade/Republic Mitchell team captains Spencer Neugebauer (8), Cody Riechelt (31), Spencer Mohr (55) and Chris Wahlen (11) raise the trophy as the Kernels defeated the Harrisburg Tigers 41-6 for the Class 11AA state championship game on Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

record with 406 rushing yards, breaking Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s record of 361, set in 2005.

Spencer Neugebauer set a Class 11AA title game record with 236 rushing yards, narrowly beating Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s David Sturdevant’s record of 233 set in 2007.

“We remained tough, we stayed with it and we showed that resiliency that has become a mark of this football program,” MHS head coach Kent VanOverschelde said after the game.

Following the win at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, the team was welcomed home

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called it quits in May. Nov. 17: Mitchell resident Dusty Johnson announced his intentions to run for South Dakota’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. Johnson served six years on the state Public Utilities Commission and spent nearly four years as Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s chief of staff.

Nov. 18: A new Japanese cuisine restaurant opens its doors in Mitchell. Located at 819 E. Spruce Street, Tokyo features a full menu ranging from hibachi to sushi.

Nov. 19: United Way exceeded its annual fundraising goal by $3,115, for a total of $439,115.

The amount was revealed at the annual recognition luncheon for the 36th year in a row.

Nov. 23: Russell Bertram, 64, was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder without the possibility of parole. The former police chief was charged with murder of Leonila Stickney in 2009.

Nov. 25: The conviction of a Mitchell woman charged with kidnapping and murdering a teenage girl was affirmed by the South Dakota Supreme Court. Maricela Diaz, 22, was sentenced to 80 years in prison for first-degree murder and 50 years for felony murder kidnapping of Jasmine Guevara on Nov. 10, 2009.

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former South Dakota highway patrolman, was charged with taking nearly $70,000 from drug arrests over the past four years. Biehl, of Platte, was arrested by complaint on one count of grand theft by law enforcement of seized property for taking $69,668 in money confiscated between May 21, 2012, and Oct. 19, 2016, according to court documents.

Nov. 9: Joshua Klumb earned the District 20 state Senate seat over his opponent, Quinten Berg, by a 64.66-35.34 percent margin.

Nov. 10: Adam Bruns, 24, of Gregory, was found not guilty on all charges against him.

Bruns was accused of killing his infant son, and after seven hours of deliberation by the jury at the Gregory County Courthouse in Bruke, he was acquitted of all charges.

Nov. 15: U.S. Rep Kristi Noem announces her run for governor of South Dakota in 2018. The Hamlin County native will seek the governor’s office in Pierre, which will be vacated by termlimited Gov. Dennis Daugaard.

Nov. 16: A second Main Street business shut its doors for good. Country Corner Boutique is closing down after being open for approximately eight months. This comes about five months after Gamerz Choice, a former Main Street business,

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By The Daily Republic History was made this year for the Mitchell High School football team.

The Kernels defeated Harrisburg 41-6 in the Class 11AA state title game on Nov. 11 for the school’s first-ever playoff-era state championship and first football title since 1971.

Mitchell scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. The Kernels ended their season 11-1, losing only to Harrisburg in the first game of the season.

Not only did the team make history in Mitchell, but it also set a Class 11AA title game

at the Corn Palace with a celebration.

The nearly two-hour ceremony filled the Corn Palace with family, friends and fans of the Mitchell Kernel football team.

VanOverscheldde was the final speaker of the ceremony, receiving two standing ovations.

“We finally got one,” said VanOverschelde, who guided the Kernels to a programtying best 11-1 record in his 10th season as the head coach.

“This team earned this state championship.”

Nov. 3: A Mitchell man is suing Coca-Cola after allegedly growing ill from drinking a can of pop that had a mouse inside of it. Duane Putzier purchased two 16-ounce of cans of CocaCola and in the second can, he discovered a dead mouse, he stated in court documents.

Nov. 4: The Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its second house of the year—a first for the group to have two projects within the same year.

Nov. 5: Poet Biorefining celebrates 10 years since it opened a facility northwest of Mitchell. In the past 10 years, the facility has produced 650 million gallons of ethanol and 1.8 million tons of Dakota Gold animal feed.

Nov. 8: Brian William Biehl, a

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Daily Republic

DECEMBER: Mitchell Police Division was able to give away $100 bills to random individuals in the community

By The Daily Republic Thanks to an anonymous donor, the Mitchell Police Division was able to give away one hundred $100 bills to random individuals in the community.

With 28 sworn officers in the division, the goal was to have every police officer give away at least one $100 bill.

“Some of them may be people they know or maybe they took a report from them or they dealt with these people a week or two ago,” said Chief of Public Safety Lyndon Overweg.

“Maybe they had seen a need while they were visiting with them. It doesn’t have to be a vehicle pullover.”

The project has been in the works for about a week, and the donor, who wants to remain anonymous, selected the officers because of “challenges that those in the law enforcement profession have recently faced,” according to a press release.

Not only this, but police officers have a “good sense of judgment” on individuals who could benefit from the donation, the release continued.

Dec. 1: The Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team defeats Morningside 91-81 — its first win against the team since 2004.

Dec. 6: After a five-year hiatus, the Parade of Lights returned to Mitchell, exceeding expectations. Put on by Mitchell Main Street and Beyond, the parade saw 53 entries, well above the group’s goal of 40.

Dec. 7: Gov. Dennis Daugaard delivered his state budget address asking the Legislature for 1 percent increases in state funding for public schools, Medicaid service providers and state government employers.

Dec. 9: LeAnn Rimes asked Mitchell residents to get their “jingle jangle on” as she stopped by the The Corn Palace for her holiday-themed tour called, “Today is Christmas Tour 2016.” This is the second time Rimes visited Mitchell, with her initial appearance back in 2006.

Dec. 10: Nearly a year after a train derailment occurred in Scotland on Sept. 19, 2015, the Federal Railroad Administration deemed the cause was a broken rail. The damage was expected to cost more than $1 million.

Matt Gade/Republic Brittany Larson, of Chamberlain, gets teary eyed as Mitchell Police Sgt. Joel Reinesch surprised Larson with $100 on Wednesday afternoon. Larson is pregnant and expecting a boy with a due date of Dec. 25. Larson said she hasn’t picked out a name yet, while Sgt. Reinesch offered a suggestion of naming the boy Cash. The $100 given out by Sgt. Reinesch was part of the $10,000 donated to the Mitchell Police Division to handout thanks to an anonymous donor.

About this edition: Daily Republic staffers reviewed each edition from 2016 to compile a summary of each month’s local and area news. Dates are those of the edition in which the news was reported. News was compiled up until Dec. 20 due to printing of the edition.

Layout/Cover Design by Jen Phillips/Republic.

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Dec. 14: A Wagner man found a stolen boat and trailer in his cornfield. The two items were stolen from storage sheds located in Wagner Building Supply Storage Units. The thefts occurred on Nov. 16 and finding the boat in Seth Fischer’s land was a big break for the Wagner Police Department.

Dec. 18: Cherry Berry called it quits after being in Mitchell since June 2012. The owner’s reason for closing was due to a decline in business and large lack of customers.

Dec. 19: The weekend temperatures reached record lows. At about 7 a.m. on Dec. 18, Mitchell reported the temperature to be at 26-below zero. The previous record was set in 1922 at 24-below zero.

Dec. 20: A man accused of seriously injuring a Tyndall police officer in August during a vehicular assault incident was arrested in Mesa, Arizona.

Travis McPeek was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force for his involvement in the hit-and-run incident that left officer Kelly Young with broken ribs, a large cut on his legs and an injured ankle.

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YEAR IN REVIEW

THE BEST OF

The Daily Republic publishes a Quip of the Week on its Opinion Page each Saturday. Following are some of the best from 2016:

March 19: “It shows them there’s more to it than just putting wet stuff on the red stuff.”

— Avon Fire Chief Kevin Tjeerdsma, on the importance of firefighter training.

Jan. 9: “I’m not very good at thinking up a thing for the theme, but the only thing I could think of was ‘Gone with the Wind.’ ” — Dale Bitterman, on a float idea for Delmont’s New Year’s Eve Parade.

April 2: “He kept calling, and I thought, ‘Don’t they know their pastor goes to church on vacation, too?’ ” — Brian Bucklew, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Delmont, who was out of the state when a tornado ripped through town on May 10, 2015, and destroyed the church.

Jan. 16: “Like the alcoholic, the aspirin’s fine in the morning, but it doesn’t fix the problem.”

— District 20 Sen. Mike Vehle, on the importance of finding the root cause of an issue, not a short-term solution.

Jan. 30: “He takes it to the extreme — his license plates say ‘science.’ ” — Avon School Superintendent Tom Culver, on school science teacher Paul Kuhlman’s passion for his profession.

Feb. 13: “Obviously, they wanted to see an implosion, but you can’t do that.”

— McCook Central High School Principal Brad Seamer, on how excited students were to watch demolition of the school’s “1924” building.

Feb. 20: “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” — Russell Dillon, a Carthage firefighter diagnosed with leukemia.

2016 QUIPS

May 21: “I wish Bernie would just go take a nap.”

— Dan Smith, a Sioux Falls resident and Hillary Clinton supporter, at a speech by former president Bill Clinton Friday in Sioux Falls.

Oct. 1: “Some people will love it and some people will hate it. Some people will go, ‘What the heck did I just see?’ ” — Dan Miller, director of the play “God of Carnage” and director of theater at Dakota Wesleyan University.

May 28: “Even Leonardo DiCaprio got his Oscar.”

— Destiny Pinder-Buckley, on the importance of perseverance in her commencement address at the Corn Palace.

Oct. 15: “Add some extra syrup, too.”

— Mitchell High School offensive linemen Zeb Parsons and Bryce Geraets joking about getting “pancakes.” A “pancake” is a term used by linemen to describe a block that leaves a defensive player flat on his back.

April 16: “For us old farts who are now eligible for social security, it’s a pretty exciting time.”

— Rick Mayer, about his band, The Postmen, being inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame.

June 11: “It was about five minutes after I got the election results, so it was kind of just how my luck goes — has to balance out, I guess.”

— Steven Cotton, of Wagner, on hitting a deer with his car after winning the Charles Mix County state’s attorney primary.

April 23: “It is a tall task, but I’m a tall woman.”

— Paula Hawks, U.S. House of Representatives candidate, on the uphill battle she faced in an attempt to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Kristi Noem.

July 16: “ ‘I was collecting Pokemon’ is not a legal defense.”

— Mitchell Police Sgt. Terry Reyelts, on the augmented reality game that swept Mitchell and the nation.

May 7: “When I walked into the launch in Daytona, Dave Stang met me at the door and he goes, ‘If you were a little better looking, I’d kiss you on the lips.’ ” — Brian Klock, of Klock Werks, on the response to his motorcycle design.

March 5: “Put it this way, there probably won’t be a ribbon cutting.”

— Davison County Commission Chairwoman Brenda Bode, on the new shower pods at the Davison County Jail.

December 2016

Oct. 29: “Now you haven’t lived until you have heard a dog sing ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’ ” — Ventriloquist and Comedian Todd Oliver about his “talking dog” performance.

Nov. 19: “It’s almost kind of normal to not have normal weather.”

— Billy Williams, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, on the unseasonably warm temperatures.

Nov. 26: “I just got my stitches out from the last time I was here.”

— Mitchell Baseball Association President Dean Sadler on discussion with the Mitchell City Council about a proposed baseball training facility at Cadwell Park.

Aug. 13: “I tell people coming to Mitchell is like putting on an old pair of shoes. It’s comfortable for everybody.”

— Herb Sundall, secretary treasurer of the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association.

Dec. 17: “You usually don’t find them in the winter time parked in a corn field.”

— Farmer Seth Fischer about the boat he found on his property near Greenwood.

Sept. 3: “We’re kind of beating our heads against the wall to figure out why there was such a snafu.”

— Mitchell Mayor Jerry Toomey on the veterans park signage setback.

Thune’s True Value

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hardware & Appliance Center 1400 N. Main | 996-7508

WISHING ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!

Happy New Year!

See Thune’s for all your hardware & appliance needs.

Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to working with you in 2017.

001005742r1

39758 SD Hwy 34 • Woonsocket, SD 605-796-4448 --P.O. Box 350 • Wessington Springs, SD 605-539-1555 001351554r1

Wishing you a happy 2017

Smith Jewelry 001351769r1

996-1243

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS.

361 Dakota Avenue South Huron, SD • 605-352-2896 Established in 1909, jewelry repair and colored gemstone cutting done on the premises.

15

YEAR IN REVIEW

Daily Republic

www.deerequipment.com

Fred Haar Company Freeman, SD (605) 925-4241

Fred Haar Company Wagner, SD (605) 384-4580

Fred Haar Company Yankton, SD (605) 665-3762

Davison County Imp. Mitchell, SD (605) 996-6633

*Offer valid on purchases made between 10/29/2016 and 1/31/2017.

Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial.

1 Fixed Rate of 0.0% for 60 months. $500 OFF implement bonus is in addition to Low Rate financing on all Compact Utility Tractors and requires the purchase of 2 or more qualifying John Deere or Frontier implements. 2$400 OFF is in addition to Low Rate financing offer on 1025R Tractors. 3In lieu of financing offer, get $1,750 OFF on 4R Series Tractors, 4$1,250 OFF is in addition to Low Rate financing offer on 3038E Tractors. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer from complete details and other financing options. Valid only at participating US dealers. 001515765r1

YEAR IN REVIEW

Photo © SD Tourism

Photo © Sam Stukel

16 December 2016