Aberdeen Magazine March/April 2023

24

Protecting What’s Important… Because Things Happen

➼ Insurance Plus isn’t just your one stop shop for insurance needs – they’re also dedicated to serving the community.

34 40

Masking an X-Factor

➼ 3M Aberdeen’s response to a pandemic.

Get to Know:

Derek Washenberger

➼ Helping others reach their goals with a ‘white belt’ mentality.

It’s Always Volleyball Season

➼ Matchbox Recreation Center provides a place for volleyball all year long.

60 A Look Back: AberdeenMagazine’s First Issue

➼ Aberdeen Magazine debuted in 2013. Now that it’s 2023, we’re taking a look back at the issue that started it all.

70

For the People

➼ The League of Women Voters of the Aberdeen Area have been advocating for voters since 1947.

74

EVERY

From the Editor

32

What’s New

➼ Your source for what’s happening in Aberdeen.

Then & Now

➼ Capturing the change and growth of our city through photos.

Calendar

➼ Never miss an event in the Hub City.

48 80

Building on a Vision

➼ One of Downtown’s biggest buildings transforms yet again.

Possibilities Come with a New Location

➼ Homes Are Possible and the United Way can achieve more together in their new workspace.

Taste

➼ Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is a super easy take on a cheesy classic.

Aberdeen Book Club

➼ Not sure what to read next? We’ve got you covered!

ON THE COVER Growing Connections: Community Gardens

➼ Ristynn Hook, daughter of Zac and Marissa Hook, admires a home-grown cherry tomato. Since the 1970s, the city has offered gardening plots for people without room at their homes for a garden. The number of plots have gone up over the years, and a few new garden locations have been added to the mix. Several community gardeners have shared their stories and what gardening means to them. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

During the planning stage of each issue, I spend a lot of time staring at the old magazine covers above my desk. I noticed that our very first issue was released in March 2013… which was a full ten years ago! We’ve covered the history of the magazine in the past, like when we celebrated our 50th issue, but I thought it was worth taking a look back at the one that started it all.

A lot has changed since Aberdeen Magazine first hit the stands – both with the publication itself and the world around us. Businesses open and close, people move away, and events begin and end. The spirit of the magazine has remained the same, though, and I don’t imagine that’s going to change in the next ten years either.

This issue, we’re really focusing on community connections. From the city’s community gardens to The League of Women Voters to The Art Group, nearly every story this month features a thriving community with members who uplift and support their members as well as Aberdeen’s residents as a whole. I hope you enjoy this issue, and here’s to ten more years! /

CONTRIBUTORS

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MANAGING EDITOR

Annie Scott annie@aberdeenmag.com

PUBLISHER

Troy McQuillen troy@mcquillencreative.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Eliot Lucas eliot@mcquillencreative.com

AD SALES

Julie Lillis julie.aberdeenmag@gmail.com

PUBLICATION OFFICE

McQuillen Creative Group 423 S. Main St., Suite 1 Aberdeen SD, 57401 605.226.3481

PRINTING

Midstates Printing

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS from interested parties will be considered. Please submit to the editor at annie@aberdeenmag.com

 PATRICK GALLAGHER is a regular contributor commenting on Aberdeen’s personality, food options, and history.



PRIVACY STATEMENT Any personal information, email addresses, or contact submitted to the editorial office or online via our Facebook page will not be sold or distributed. Aberdeen Magazine does wish to publish public comments and attitudes regarding Aberdeen, therefore written submissions and comments on our Facebook page implies permission to utilize said information in editorial content.

COPYRIGHT 2023 Aberdeen Magazine is produced exclusively in Aberdeen, South Dakota. All content is copyright with all rights reserved. No content may be shared, copied, scanned, or posted online without permission. Please just ask us first. We're pretty flexible.

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PUBLISHED BY

 ANGIE CLEBERG and AARON SCHULTZ are on the executive team at the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota. The United Way is instrumental in providing support for health and

www.mcquillencreative.com

human service programs in our community.

 DAVE VILHAUER is a veteran Aberdeen journalist and creator/ owner of a sports website called SD SportScene. He has 42 years of experience in serving the community as a member of the media.

 PETER CARRELS is an Aberdeen native who writes in Sioux Falls, where he lives with his wife, Mary.

BECCA SIMON is a former managing editor of Aberdeen Magazine and an active freelance writer and editor. Along with writing, she is a video game enthusiast, folklore fanatic, and animal lover.

Annie Scott MANAGING EDITOR

 TARAH HEUPEL is a marketing professional living in Aberdeen with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she can be found curled up with a good book, dreaming up her next vacation, or shuttling her crew of kids around town.

Aberdeen Downtown Association Hires New Director

The Aberdeen Downtown Association has hired Alexa Sheldon as its new Executive Director.

Originally from Gettysburg, Alexa recently moved to Aberdeen and began her new position on December 5 last year.

“Growing up, I spent many weekends here. I have always been an advocate and believer in the growth and potential of downtown Aberdeen. I have felt great pride as I watched the efforts of

local businesses and entrepreneurship blossom and reshape the heart of this community, even from afar as I lived and worked in Minneapolis,” Alexa said. Her background in business development, marketing and public relations will be assets to this role. The Board of Directors looks forward to working with Alexa and continuing the upward momentum of revitalizing downtown Aberdeen. // —Annie

New Veterinary Clinic Opens This Spring

A new veterinary clinic is coming to Aberdeen. Dakota Pet Care will focus on preventative and internal medicine for small companion animals. Construction of their new facility began in 2022 and is expected to be completed on April 1.

“I practiced in Groton for 12 years,” said veterinarian Chanda Nilsson. “Many of my clients were living in Aberdeen, and I also spent a lot of time there, so it made sense to open the clinic there as well.”

Chanda will be working with her staff of three veterinary technicians, and she has plans of expanding in the future.

// —Annie Scott

 Dakota Pet Care will be located at 701 N Production St. For more information, visit their Facebook page at Dakota Pet Care.

Homemade Favorites At Uffda Eatery

On December 12 last year, Uffda Eatery opened in the Uptown Aberdeen Mall’s food court.

“It has always been my dream to open a restaurant,” said owner Amber Moen. “I worked at Chivilla Bay when I had the idea, and Rhonda May really helped me get it going.”

Uffda Eatery serves homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and other fresh baked goods. Their menu includes seasonal specials as well, including a soup and sandwich of the day.

When brainstorming a name for the restaurant, Amber came up with different sayings that related to her home state, Minnesota. In the future, Amber hopes to expand Uffda Eatery’s menu, as well as potentially opening a food truck.

Uffda Eatery is open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. // —Annie Scott

 For more information, visit their Facebook page Uffda Eatery.

Scott

 Alexa Sheldon. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

 A mockup of the new Dakota Pet Care building by Huff Construction Inc.

 Amber Moen will offer seasonal specials at Uffda Eatery. Photo by Annie Scott.

AWARDS

Aberdeen Public Schools Foundation Presents Golden Apple Awards

The Aberdeen Public Schools Foundation announced the seventh annual Golden Apple Awards, recognizing individuals that are dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference in the Aberdeen School District. This year’s honorees are Simmons Elementary School Principal Kim Aman, Central High School Band Instructor Jeremy Schutter, and Special Education Coordinator Mendy Jones. Each received $500 and an engraved golden apple.

Aman learns the names of new students within the first week of school, and she has implemented many positive behavior plans, including growth mindset and restorative behavior practices. She also promotes a caring atmosphere for staff members, and will drop whatever she is doing to help others. Building relationships is important to Aman, and in addition to her students and staff, she also works closely with the school’s PTA and local businesses. Her passion for learning is evident by her many degrees and accolades.

Schutter goes above and beyond what is expected in his responsibilities by creating strong personal connections with each of his

students. He makes his classes exciting to be in by including challenging materials in order to push students to improve their skills. Schutter’s impact can be found outside of the classroom because many of the lessons he teaches are essential lessons for life in the real world. He emphasizes punctuality, strong work-ethic, and self-improvement.

Jones began her career by working in several school settings for at-risk students. When transitioning to the public schools, her caring, supportive, and enthusiastic demeanor was evident in her daily interactions with her students. Her ability to connect with them along with her high classroom expectations created a welcoming environment where students felt safe in expressing their thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings. She played an essential role in developing the Basic Classes at Central High School as she saw a need for more classes that would specifically fit the academic needs of students which improved the graduation rate of students with special needs. // —Gretchen Sharp  For more information, visit www.AberdeenPublicSchoolsFoundation.org.

AWARDS

Local Girl Scout to Complete Gold Award

Central High School junior Jessalyn Fischer is set to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award this year. During the month of April, Jessalyn will be teaching outdoor safety courses for children in kindergarten to grade 12. Topics such as safe hiking, leave no trace, fire, and road safety will be covered.

Children in kindergarten through grade 5 will meet on April 29 at the TDAF Lodge, and grades 6 through 12 will meet Monday nights at the Community Room at the Aberdeen Police Department.

“I got the idea when my friend told me she wanted to try one of the Girl Scout Trailblazer activities,” Jessalyn said.

“This project is like a Trailblazer program for the whole community.”

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. They are completed by a single person, and they are required to be sustainable projects with a global impact. In addition to the classes, Jessalyn will be recording lessons that will be archived on YouTube.

Jessalyn started planning her project last August. Prior to completing her Gold Award, Jessalyn refurbished wagons at Centennial Village for her Silver Award.

// —Annie Scott

 For more information, contact Jessalyn at survivethecomm@yahoo.com.

 Jeremy Schutter, Mendy Jones, and Kim Aman. Photo courtesy of Gretchen Sharp.

 Jessalyn Fischer will complete her Gold Award this year. Photo courtesy of Heidi Fischer.

EVENT

AberdeenMagazine’s 2nd Annual Spring Style Show

On April 20, Aberdeen Magazine will be hosting the 2nd Annual Spring Style Show at Engels Event Co. The Spring and Fall Style Shows showcase the newest seasonal fashion arrivals from local boutiques including Boho Closet Boutique, Hitch’N Post, Lily’s, Mainstream Boutique, Skal Moon, The Fuze, Beauty Brew Boutique of Groton and now The Finery on Main. Tickets are available for purchase in advance for $30 and include one free drink ticket, as well as many delicious appetizers. They can be purchased online at aberdeenmag.com or in person at McQuillen Creative Group at 423 S Main Street, Suite 1. // —Annie Scott  For more information, call 605-226-3481.

EVENT

Agency Fair Highlights Services for Those In Need

On April 20, the K. O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library will be hosting an Agency Fair from 4 to 7 PM. Over 20 Aberdeen agencies and nonprofits will bring information about their programs and services that benefit those in need. The event will be headlined by the Salvation Army.

“The library has many free resources that patrons can use,” said Library Director Anna Moser. “In addition to the equipment we can offer, we’re also a resource for information. It’s important to inform people about the specific services that can benefit them.”

Many of the agencies will be able to assist veterans, homeless individuals, and those in need of affordable housing. There will also be several practical prizes for attendees to win, including gift cards for groceries and haircuts.

// —Annie Scott

Kiwanis Club of Aberdeen Founded 100 Years Ago

The Kiwanis Club of Aberdeen is celebrating 100 years as a service club this year.

Founded in April 1923, the local service club, which currently has 40 members, meets the second and fourth Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. at the Best Western

Ramkota in Minervas.

Lee Schinkel, club president for the past three years, said club projects are focused on kids.

“We have on occasion, helped an adult, but we are really for kids,” he said.

The biggest program sponsored by the Kiwanis is their Ice Cream Carnival and Social, held the Sunday after Labor Day. This program has historically been at Melgaard Park, but had a change of venue in 2022 and planned it at the Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen.

The Kiwanis Club also gives out scholarships; helps serve meals at The Salvation Army; and helps pack the kids food bags distributed by the Salvation Army. Rounding out the 2023 officers are vice president Carter Carlson, secretary Don Erlenbusch, and treasurer Jeff Moench.// —Elisa Sand

Home-Grown Local News Returns

Local news coverage is vital for communities like Aberdeen. In January of this year, The Aberdeen Insider launched online, and the first physical print edition will hit the stands on April 6. This independent news publication will cover all things Aberdeen and will help our town retain its own voice.

Aberdeen Magazine has been providing in-depth coverage on current events since 2013, but this new

publication will be able to provide readers with news on a daily basis.

Online access can be purchased on a monthly or yearly basis. The weekly print edition will be available for free at several locations in town, similar to Aberdeen Magazine, and subscription options are available to those who would like the paper delivered to their homes. // —Annie Scott

 For more information, visit aberdeeninsider.com.

 The Spring Style Show began in 2022. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

 Roy Becker, Jeff Moench (treasurer), Lee Schinkel (president), Don Erlenbusch (secretary) and Carter Carlson (vice president).

Then – Aberdeen’s Y.M.C.A. – This undated picture of the Y.M.C.A. is interesting because it shows a building to the north of the Y and another beside that which appears to be oddly set back from the street. The first building has a sign that says, “Hatfield Motor Supply.” In 1914, Della Boyd (widow of A.F. Boyd, owner of the building later known as Malchows) donated land at the corner of 5th Avenue and Lincoln Street for the purposes of building a Y.M.C.A. The idea was conceived by Commercial Club members (early Chamber of Commerce) who traveled the country looking at Y.M.C.A.s. They believed the building would be a place where young boys could go instead of hanging out in the streets and pool halls. They also thought it would help attract boys to “the Normal” (now NSU). The president of the Normal said the student body was drifting into a female seminary blaming inadequate facilities for boys. In 1919, they launched a “survey” that resulted in $82,000 in pledges. In the spring of 1920, a campaign was launched to raise over $175,000 for the construction of the new building. // —Troy McQuillen

Later – Rather than Now – Our Y.M.C.A. was demolished in 2005 after a new, modern, accessible facility was built. A picture of “Now” would merely show a bunch of cars. As many know, this building stood majestically on the corner of 5th and Lincoln. In fact, the architect repeated this corner-dominating scenario many times in this neighborhood. It was designed by Aberdeen architect George Fossum, who designed the corner Municipal Building at 2nd and Lincoln as well as the Presbyterian Church which commands attention at the corner of 4th and Kline, just to name just a few of his structures. He specialized in schools and churches and built many in northeast South Dakota. Building this Y.M.C.A. wasn’t a slam dunk. Fundraising didn’t go as planned for the Commercial Club committee in 1922 and construction came to a grinding halt. The shell of the building was left dormant for several years. It wasn’t until 1926 that the building was finished and dedicated. The cornerstone, with a YMCA etched in it, can still be seen at the new Y built, not on the corner, but mid-block on Frist Avenue between Dakota and State.

//

—Troy McQuillen

2023

March & April

Teddy Bear Toss

March 4, 7:15 PM

Odde Ice Center

➼ The Aberdeen Wings will be teaming with the Yelduz Shriners of NE South Dakota for a Teddy Bear Toss game. Wings fans are encouraged to purchase/bring teddy bears that will be donated to the Shriners Hospitals For Children.

 605-216-4176

NSU Jazz Concert

March 9, 7:30 - 9:30 PM

NSU JFAC Jewett Theater

➼ Join Northern State University as their jazz ensembles host a concert to celebrate spring! Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and as always, free for NSU students.

 605-626-2497

March

Michael Ray Concert

March 3, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Dakota Event Center

➼ Come and have a great night with Michael Ray and special guest Tripwire with proceeds benefiting the DTOM Veterans Ranch. Tickets can be purchased in person at Maverick’s Steak & Cocktails or online. www.dakotaeventcenter.com

Luau Family Fun Night

March 3, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

➼ Come escape the winter cold with a YMCA Luau! There will be a carnival full of games, face painting, bounce houses, and so much more!

 605-225-4910

SDHSAA State B Boys Basketball Tournament

March 16 - 18

NSU Barnett Center

➼ Come and watch the exciting conclusion of the 2022-2023 basketball season!

National Ag Day

March 21

Presentation College

➼ National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America and celebrated in Aberdeen with the help of the Ag Committee. Students can do spin-the-wheel trivia for prizes, try local food samples and see some hands-on educational displays.

 605-225-2860

South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association

AAU Wrestling State Championships

March 24 - 26

NSU Barnett Center

➼ The annual SDWCA AAU State Wrestling Tournament will be returning to Aberdeen March 24-26th at the Barnett Center on Northern State University. Wrestling will begin Friday evening and will continue all day Saturday and Sunday.

 605-228-2433

Winefest

Renaissance 2023

March 25, 4:30 - 9:00 PM

Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen

➼ Sample more than 50 wines from across the country, along with a great selection of beers and spirits, a variety of delicious hors d’ oeuvres and some of the area’s finest artists. Bid on live and silent auction packages and support the Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen!

 605-225-8714

YMCA Boys & Girls Interstate Basketball Tournament

March 31 - April 1

Aberdeen Family YMCA

➼ Come and join in on the Boys & Girls Basketball Tournament for boys grades 3-9 and girls grades 6-9. Register your team online at www.aberdeenymca.org or at the YMCA front desk.

 605-225-4910

 Michael Ray

 Teddy Bear Toss

Yelduz Shrine Circus

April 6 - 8

Aberdeen Civic Arena

➼ It’s the most wonderful time of year again – the Yelduz Shrine Circus is in town! 2023’s show will be filled with amazing, death defying acts and your favorite circus animals will even be here!

 605-225-4841

Midwest Youth Wrestling Championships

April 15 - 16

NSU Barnett Center

➼ Midwest Youth Wrestling Championships features a dual format tournament on Saturday April 15th followed by an individual tournament on Sunday April 16th. The event K-8 wrestlers from the surrounding region and states.

 605-228-2433

ABERDEEN WINGS

MARCH / APRIL 2023 SCHEDULE

MARCH

FRI.-SAT., MARCH 3-4 VS MINOT

FRI.-SAT., MARCH 10-11 VS AUSTIN

Spring Style Show

April 20, 5:30 - 8:30 PM Engels Event Co.

➼ Get ready for the warm spring weather! Many local boutiques and clothing stores will present their spring and summer styles on the runway. There will also be a wide range of vendors from home services to health and beauty. Tickets are $30 and include one drink and many delicious appetizers.

 605-226-3481

New World Symphony With Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony

April 22, 7:30 - 9:30 PM

NSU JFAC Jewett Theater

➼ Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony plays an all-American program for its final concert of the season. The AUCS is very proud to feature professional violinist, Ms. Jessica Mathaes.

 605-626-2497

FRI.-SAT., MARCH 17-18 @ NORTH IOWA

FRI.-SAT., MARCH 24-25 @ BISMARCK

FRI., MARCH 31 VS MINOT

APRIL

SAT., APRIL 1 VS MINOT

FRI.-SAT., APRIL 7-8 @ ST. CLOUD

FRI.-SAT., APRIL 14-15 VS ST. CLOUD

Corporate game sponsorships are available now!

 Jessica Mathaes

 Yelduz Shrine Circus

 Spring Style Show

Protecting What’s Important… Because Things Happen

Insurance Plus isn’t just your one stop shop for insurance needs –they’re also dedicated to serving the community.

For over 100 years, Insurance Plus has been providing quality insurance products and service to the residents of Aberdeen and the surrounding communities. Their staff, comprised of 22 employees in Aberdeen and one in Milbank, maintain a high level of service in their field who are also dedicated to community involvement.

Insurance Plus’ history dates back to the 1930s. After several acquisitions of different agencies, Insurance Plus as we know it today began its operations in 1994.

“Our professional staff has worked hard to

by ANNIE SCOTT

get to where we are today,” said Eldon Swingler, Agency Principal. “In the beginning, we had five or six employees and offered personal and business insurance. Since that time, we continued to grow and expand and now offer business, personal, farm, crop, life, Medicare supplements, individual, and group health insurance.”

The insurance industry is constantly changing, and as an Independent Insurance Agency representing over 40 insurance companies, Insurance Plus is positioned to assist these clients with

 Lane Bauer – Customer Service Agent, Carol Sommers – Employee Benefits Agent, Pam Behan – Retirement Planning, Desiree Kolb – Customer Service Agent, Courtney Hostetter – Individual Health, Life, Medicare Agent

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Eldon Swingler – Agency Principal

all of their insurance needs at one convenient location.

“There are people that you need to trust and work with in your life, and your insurance agent is one of them,” Eldon said. “We are able to direct and lead clients towards financial success.”

Insurance Plus has a rich heritage and roots in the community, and they give back and support Aberdeen in any way that they can. They support agencies such as Aspire, Safe Harbor, the Boys & Girls Club of Aberdeen, Northern State University, and SPURS, as well as 4-H programs in six counties and various sporting events in town.

Their involvement is not just limited to Aberdeen. Insurance Plus employees serve on boards and help many non-profit organizations in the communities surrounding Aberdeen, especially in rural areas.

“We’ve always been encouraged to be involved with the community,” said Courtney Hostetter, Life and Health Agent. “I’ve been involved with the Chamber of Commerce for 8 years, as well as the Aberdeen Exchange Club. I chair the Youth Awards Committee, and we’re able to celebrate

MISSION STATEMENT:

To be the premier insurance agency and employer of choice through outstanding customer service, community involvement, strong company relationships, and continued agency growth.

SCAN THIS

the accomplishments and characteristics of the young people who will become the next generation of leaders.”

“When you live in a town like Aberdeen, the size can make events difficult. Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have events like the Brown County Fair, NSU nights, or Safe Harbor’s Mardi Gras party,” said Eric Payne, Farm Agent. “It’s important to promote events like these. Community involvement shouldn’t become a lost art with the next generation.”

“I never saw myself working in the insurance industry,” said Carol Sommers, Employee Benefits Agent. “But I love what I do. I like to be involved in the community, and I like to help when I can. We’re encouraged to work with nonprofits and other community efforts, and we’re able to make a difference.”

“Our agency is comprised of dedicated professional agents with a family-driven culture. Our staff has thrived in our business model, and it’s the key to our success,” Eldon said. //

 Pat Tollefson – Commercial Agent, Alisa Burgard – Customer Service Agent, Mary Heier – Customer Service Agent, Janel Achen – Commercial Agent, Mic Daggett – Commercial Agent

 Kim Schneider – Farm Agent, Carol Pueppke – Personal Lines Agent, Cecily Joosten – Customer Service Agent, Melissa Rohrbach – Office Manager, Eric Payne – Farm Agent, Andrea Shelton- Customer Service Agent, Christa Swingler – Controller

Photos by Troy McQuillen

Scan the QR Code to watch their video Watch video

I LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I LIKE TO HELP WHEN I CAN.”

–CAROL SOMMERS

Fostering Forever Friendships

The Pet Rescue League ensures that each animal they save finds the perfect family.

by BECCA SIMON

When Shannon Bohl met Piper, an Old English Bulldog, Piper was cowering beneath a kitchen table. The family who adopted her had unknowingly purchased her from someone who “flips” dogs—a troubling practice that occurs when dogs are found or stolen and later sold for a profit. After a month and a half, the family had made no progress with Piper, and decided to contact the Brown County Pet Rescue League for help. Shannon was able to coax the panicked pooch out from her hiding place and, eventually, helped place her in a new “Forever Home” in Minot, N.D. Within a week, Piper had already adjusted to her new home, exceeding everyone’s expectations by getting along with other people, dogs, and even children. The best part? Piper’s success story inspired a string of other rescues from those who knew her and her new owner, leading to the successful placement of even more rescue dogs.

Stories like this are why Shannon Bohl, president of the Brown County Pet Rescue League (BCPRL), has been running the rescue for over a decade and found forever homes for over 300 dogs (and other pets!)

Shannon started volunteering at the local Humane Society when she was 14 years old, but her career in animal care didn’t begin until after the birth of her first child. Health complications made her reconsider her teaching position at the time, and she began to think seriously about the need for a local foster-based rescue.

Unlike the Humane Society, the Rescue League doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar location. Instead, the league is made up of a network of volunteers who host rescued animals in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. This is a

great alternative for animals that may struggle in a shelter setting due to age, medical issues, or a lack of socialization and behavioral training.

Most importantly, the Foster program allows Shannon and members of the league to get to know both the animals and the people adopting them.

“I won’t place a dog in a home until I’ve gotten to know the family and know they have a good history,” Shannon said.

In shelters like the Humane Society, it’s

important for animals to be adopted quickly to prevent overcrowding. Unfortunately, this sometimes means pets might not always mesh well with their new home, causing them to end up back at a shelter.

“People get animals by how they look and later realize they’re a lot more work,” Shannon said. “If I can keep an animal out of the system and in a good home, that is always my goal.”

But the Rescue League is so much more than just a foster program. It also helps pet owners

IF I CAN KEEP AN ANIMAL OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND IN A GOOD HOME, THAT IS ALWAYS MY GOAL.” –SHANNON BOHL

Photos courtesy of Shannon Bohl

 Jimmy Pizza’s Nick Schaunaman has helped with the Pet Rescue League’s fundraising efforts.

 The Pet Rescue League’s setup at the Downtown Summer Concert Series.

who have fallen on hard times. Foster homes can keep pets while a family goes through a move or other major life change, and the League will help pay for basic needs like food and cat litter if someone is having trouble making ends meet.

“They might not have much money, but they have a whole lot of love,” Shannon said.

The Rescue League also runs a food bank to give pet food to families directly, in addition to taking over the Spay and Neuter Coalition to make sure people have access to low-cost spay and neuter options.

“We will never rescue our way out of overpopulation,” Shannon said. “Especially with cats. We can’t rescue them fast enough.”

Shannon says she has a soft spot for helping senior citizens with their pets. “These animals mean everything to them,” she said. “When they get too old to care for them, they worry, ‘What will happen to my dog?’”

The Rescue League makes sure the pets have a safe place to go, and even helps keep former owners in touch with them.

“All the owners are so thankful and appreciative,” Shannon said.

Fit to Foster

The Brown County Pet Rescue League currently has about 10 foster homes, though that number is constantly fluctuating. Right now, many foster homes are housing both dogs and cats to keep up with the ever-rising demand of animals in need. Potential fosters fill out an application on the Pet Rescue League’s website. If Shannon thinks they sound like a good fit, she calls them to talk to them directly, after which she schedules a home visit and inspection.

“I don’t do that to judge people—just to make sure they live where they say they live,” Shannon

explained. “After you’ve done this for so long, you kind of get a gut feeling about things.”

She isn’t strict with requirements, though for specific dogs known to be “escape artists” she may recommend the foster home have a fencedin yard. She also tends to be more cautious with families that have babies or toddlers since certain dogs may struggle more with children in the home. “It’s just for everybody’s safety,” she said.

After passing the home inspection, the Rescue League does a 7-day trial period to make sure the animal successfully settles in. The Pet Rescue League pays for all expenses once an animal is in a foster home. “We just ask that they give [the animal] love and shelter,” Shannon said. With a long list of behavior classes under her belt, Shannon works directly with the dogs to help train them. That even extends to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society, where she frequently helps train dogs and hopes to soon offer a revamped volunteer program that would teach volunteers to do basic dog training such as loose-leash walking.

But what if I want to keep them all???

Shannon understands firsthand the bonds many foster families form with the animals they rescue. She’s kept her own fair share of animals over the years, but lovingly insists the ones she takes in are the dysfunctional ones. “I tend to take in the dogs that are harder to adopt out, whether they’re older or more challenging.”

Her first rescue-turned-family member was a chihuahua who was stuck in a garage in a box. “His owners said he was a terrible dog. But he and I just clicked for some reason,” Shannon said.

It can be difficult at first, but it gets easier when you see the animals going home to good families, Shannon says. She makes sure the foster families are involved with the adoption families, listening to their input on applications and even letting them come along to meet the applicants. Oftentimes, both the foster and the adoptive family become friends and continue to exchange photos of their pets. “I’ve learned that it’s a lot easier to foster when you have input,” Shannon said. “When you know they’re going to the right home, it doesn’t hurt so much.”

Being on the front-lines of pet rescue can sometimes be difficult, heartbreaking work. Shannon has rescued dogs from all kinds of situations, from puppy mills to abusive homes to dogs abandoned on the street. But despite the challenges, the difference the Pet Rescue League has made on the community has made it more than worth it.

“I love watching the families when they meet their new dog and the dog meets them, and you just know it’s right,” Shannon said. “I might not be able to save them all, but at least there’s one life I made a difference in. When you see that, it refills your cup.” //

 In order to keep up with the constant animal-care needs running a rescue requires, the Pet Rescue League is constantly seeking out new fosters as well as monetary donations. If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive family, you can apply online at browncoprl.wixsite.com/bcprl . Donations can be made to BCPRL@paypal.com or mailed to PO Box 1020, 6th Ave. S.E. Suite 1. For more information and any questions you might have, you can contact Shannon directly at 605-228-2894. Follow their Facebook page to get updates of all the current foster animals at www.facebook.com/ PetRescueLeague.

Photos courtesy of Shannon Bohl

 Malerie Henschel and Patsy Brosz during an event.

Possibilities Come with a New Location

Homes Are Possible and the United Way can achieve more together in their new workspace. by UNITED WAY STAFF

Spurred on by new growth at United Way, the office in Aberdeen is moving to a new location! At the beginning of summer 2023, the United Way office will be located at 123 S. 2nd Street. This will be a shared space with the building owner, Home Are Possible, Inc. (HAPI).

Homes Are Possible, Inc. is best known for the development of housing development areas on the southwest and north side of Aberdeen. HAPI is a non-profit group of concerned citizens who are committed to empowering individuals, stabilizing families, and revitalizing neighborhoods through a variety of economic

and social initiatives. The purpose is to facilitate low- and moderate-income persons and families in securing and/or refurbishing good quality affordable housing. HAPI currently operates in Beadle, Brown, Campbell, Clark, Codington, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hand, Marshall, McPherson, Potter, Roberts, Spink, and Walworth Counties in northeast and north central South Dakota.

Did you know that HAPI is its own Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides home buyer education, and has grants available for home repair? The goal of the grant is to keep people in their homes for five years or longer. Funding is available for things such as shingles, siding, windows, HVAC systems, and ADA accessibility. Income guidelines and owner occupancy requirements must be met.

“The grants are essentially loans that are forgiven at a 20% rate per year. If the homeowner lives in the house, the loan is forgiven after five years,” said Darin Beckius. In 2022, close to halfa-million dollars in home repairs came about through the HAPI home grant program.

“I see both of our organizations benefiting by being housed in the same building,” said Aaron Schultz, Director of the United Way. “We have aligning missions and at the end of the day we are attempting to improve the lives of people in Northeastern SD.”

“When looking for potential building mates, United Way seemed to make the most sense. I look forward to the creative partnerships that will come from our organizations being together,” said Darin.

 HAPI began their occupancy in early February while United Way will move in by May 2023. For more information about HAPI or the United Way, please visit www.homearepossible.org or www.uwnesd.org

I SEE BOTH OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS BENEFITING BY BEING HOUSED IN THE SAME BUILDING.”

–AARON SCHULTZ

 Darin Beckius and Aaron Schultz.

Photo courtesy of Angie Cleberg.

by PATRICK GALLAGHER

3M Aberdeen’s Response to a Pandemic

Three years ago in March, on the second day of my new job, a staff meeting discussion turned to how we would operate when the new COVID disease came to South Dakota. I thought it was premature, assuming we had months to prepare. By the end of that week, major sports and other events were being canceled around the country, and as the pandemic settled in, millions would go home to work, if they were able to keep their jobs, 100 million would become sick, and more than a million would die. Even before my staff meeting, a leading player in fighting the pandemic—based in Aberdeen—was already at work.

In January 2020, 3M Aberdeen was already in planning to be in the first line of defense against the newest version of the plague. The Aberdeen plant opened in 1974 and occupies about half a million square feet on 160 acres in northeast Aberdeen. The staff of about 700 people have produced more than 12,000 different products, but they’re best known for N95 respirators.

The local plant was ready to take on COVID because of its unmatched expertise in N95 respirators, “No other 3M facility in the US produces more N95 respirators,” said value stream manager Erik Poe. “In fact, Aberdeen is one of top producers of N95 respirators in the world.” Within a little more than a year, workers at the plant quadrupled their capacity to produce N95 respirators, reaching an unprecedented accomplishment in a time of national need.

X FACTORS

3M calls these major events X Factors, and they include pandemics, forest fires, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and other varieties of disaster. “That’s when the 3M community steps up to do what’s needed,” Poe explained. One of the first X Factors 3M Aberdeen addressed was the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state in 1980. It also responded to September 11, 2001, the anthrax attacks that occurred in its wake, and numerous disease outbreaks.

Charged with managing various aspects of N95 respirator production, Poe came to 3M in 2006 with a University of Nebraska degree in mechanical engineering. He started in Aberdeen as a process engineer in the respirator area. After meeting his wife here, they moved to Omaha where she went to graduate school, and he transferred to the 3M facility in Valley, located just outside the city. They returned to Aberdeen in 2017, where he assumed a role that works on capital projects, new product introductions, yield improvement, and process optimization.

While PPP—as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s Paycheck Protection Program—would be symbolic of the Federal response to the pandemic, 3M was already operating with an extra P. Poe said, “We’re not just producing widgets, we’re producing products that protect people—PPPP.”

A key example of that is the N95 respirator. Poe notes the difference between N95 respirators and surgical masks or face coverings: Surgical masks and face coverings are for protecting others around you if you are talking or coughing, and an N95 respirator is designed to also help protect the user while breathing in.

Aberdeen makes about 35-40 different types of respirators for several kinds of applications,

but the N95 has always been the most produced. It’s also the respirator health care workers use on daily basis. “During the early stages of the pandemic, everything being produced was being sent to front line health care workers. The need quickly outpaced our capacity” Because of that, 3M knew what it had to do.

In spring 2020, across the country and in Aberdeen, schools and many area businesses closed in response to COVID, with some offering pick up services. Those that stayed open often asked customers to wear masks and practice social distancing. Other businesses gradually reopened in later spring and summer.

“3M recognized an unprecedented event,” Poe explained. “We had been through previous pandemics, but this felt a lot different in scale. 3M recognized the global impact from the start.” So they ramped up production already in January 2020, but “We realized they weren’t going to meet the needs of global demand with just our existing equipment, and discussions happened quickly in the beginning stages of COVID.”

EXPANSION

Word came in early April 2020, that the plant would undergo an expansion in personnel, physical size, and production capacity to respond to the demand produced by the pandemic. Plans were to increase staffing by nearly 50 percent, expand the footprint by 120,000 square feet, and install new, technologically advanced production equipment. All in less than a year.

By April 30, 2020, Aberdeen’s hospitals admitted only one COVID patient, but May brought 13 hospitalizations and two deaths. By the end of 2022, there would be 590 hospitalizations. While hospitals in some cities were nearly overwhelmed by cases, local hospitals held their own. Still, as Avera St. Luke’s communications and public relations coordinator Victoria Lusk explained, “Hospitals across the Avera system did experience a significant increase in hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19. However, we were well prepared and able to operationalize surge plans to continue to meet this unprecedented

Chinese officials report an outbreak of an unusual pneumonia-like illness and share the genetic sequence of a novel coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the outbreak as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), noting evidence of possible human-tohuman transmission.

December

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirms infections of the SARSCoV-2 virus in multiple U.S. states. WHO and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declare the outbreak a public health emergency.

January

COVID TIMELINE: December 2019-August 2021 2019

WHO officially names the disease COVID-19, an abbreviation of “Coronavirus Disease 2019.” A month later, with nearly 120,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,300 deaths, WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic.

February

The U.S. government declares a nationwide emergency and issues a travel ban on non-U.S. citizens traveling from certain European countries. Within days, states begin implementing shutdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19. President Donald Trump signs the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. It includes direct payments to adults, expanded unemployment benefits, forgivable small business loans, loans to major industries, and pandemic funding for state and local governments.

March

 3M Aberdeen is a world-class manufacturing facility that produces 12,000+ products. 3M Aberdeen's expansion begain in 2020. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

need of our communities. At Avera St. Luke’s that meant opening up rooms on our previously unused fourth floor and taking other measures such as discontinuing elective surgeries.”

After a relatively gentle 2020 summer, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths began increasing in fall. By the end of 2020, total cases had already reached 40% of the pandemic’s December 31, 2022, total, and the number of deaths was at 45% of that amount.

Regarding staffing, Poe noted, “This plant

CDC announces mask-wearing guidelines and recommends that all people wear a mask when outside of the home. The U.S. has over 18,600 confirmed deaths and more than 500,000 confirmed cases in under four months. Shortages of personal protective equipment like gowns, eye shields, and masks arise. Through Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government helps finance vaccine development by private companies.

april

usually employs between 650-750. During COVID, we peaked around 1000.” And, he added, “It was a significant challenge to hire 300 people.” Besides traditional listings and online postings, they advertised openings in various, perhaps unusual, ways, including postcard mailings and on gas pumps.

To fill the positions, they hired from all over U.S. not just Aberdeen. “Historically we look within a 100-mile radius of the city, but we went wider this time,” Poe noted. Still most hires came from within 100 miles.

That doesn’t count 3M staff who came from other plants to help. Daryl Thoennes, Aberdeen plant manager since June 2022, previously worked at the Hutchinson, Minnesota, plant. “COVID impacted all of 3M,” he said. “Aberdeen did the heavy lifting, but other 3M staff came here,” including from his Hutchinson plant. “It was really a team effort.”

Once the new staff were in place, the experience was like a “whirlwind,” Poe said. “It all happened in short order.” Particularly the physical expansion. That included two phases— basically constructing two new buildings for

N95 production. “Everything was done to get the equipment and building ready for production as quickly as possible,” he explained. “We had a huge number of contractors working on it around the clock.” They broke ground for the first building in April 2020 and were producing there in September. Equipment was being installed as the building was being built around it. After the first building was finished, the second was completed just four weeks later.

In fall 2020, most area schools reopened with some masking and social distancing. High school athletics resumed, but area college sports remained sidelined for the fall seasons. During the fall months, the Aberdeen City Council discussed then voted down a mask mandate for the city. By the end of the year, COVID vaccines arrived, and area health care workers received the first doses. Eventually vaccinations were available for all people.

The third leg of the expansion was the new equipment, and workers had to learn new skill sets. “We were making respirators,” Poe said. “We’re obviously familiar with making respirators, but this was different technology.” In fact, they were some of the most technologically advanced machines for producing respirators in the world. Donnie Johnson, a process engineer in the Aberdeen plant for 18 years, was assigned early on to oversee installation of the new equipment in the expansion. That meant getting the inputs—the raw materials that become N95s—to work with the flat fold respirator production machines. In simplest terms, the machines, Johnson said, “take multiple inputs and convert them to produce N95 respirators.”

The installation was hardly simple, however. Johnson called it “a journey. Everyone was focused on increasing capacity.” Fortunately, they were able to send a core team to other plants to help prepare for installation and debugging. “We were on an aggressive timeline

The U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpasses 100,000.

COVID-19 becomes the third leading cause of death in the U.S., with deaths surpassing 1,000 per day. Nationwide cases exceed 5.4 million. The first U.S. COVID -19 reinfection is confirmed.

May august

HHS announces plans to make COVID-19 vaccines free in the U.S. The global COVID-19 death toll reaches more than 1 million.

September

Initial vaccine testing shows 95% and above effectiveness.

November

 3M Aberdeen employee holding a stack of 3M 8210 N95 respirators. 3M is the largest manufacturer of N95 respirators in the United States.

Photos courtesy of 3M.

 3M Aberdeen robotic arm stacking packed boxes of 3M N95 respirators. 3M Aberdeen produced more than one billion respirators since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pandemic Snapshot

Brown County total cases

11,777

132 deaths United States

100,570,000 cases

1,088,000 deaths

and could meet it because of the chance to learn ahead,” he explained. “It took long hours by a lot of people to make it happen, but we made it happen.” In the end, they added a significant amount of equipment during the expansion.

BILLION-WITH A B

By September 2020, Poe noted, the new equipment was producing product ready for sale and at about four times their previous capacity, heading to a record accomplishment.

Most impressively, the plant reached 1 billion N95s made during about the first year and a half of the pandemic—from January 2020 to August 2021. For a sense of scale, a package of 20 respirators is about 9 inches tall. One billion N95s in packaging stacked one on top of another would reach over 7,000 miles high—above Earth’s atmosphere. Companywide, 3M produced 95 million N95s per month during COVID, primarily in Aberdeen and Valley, Nebraska.

By the end of August 2021, when 3M reached a billion N95s, Brown County’s cases reached just over 5,800, not quite 50% of what the total would be by the end of 2022. Deaths had reached 95, 72% of the later total. Also, by summer 2021, COVID variants began increasing total cases in the area.

Reflecting on what he saw, Poe referred to what he called the “constancy of purpose” 3M applied to the pandemic. “It’s cool to see what 3M is capable of doing when everyone is working to the same singular goal,” he said. “3M corporate looked to Aberdeen to respond and even sent staff here as needed to meet the goal.” Thoeness agreed, “It was impressive to see how fast things could be accomplished when whole company is working on it.”

“There was a lot of pride in what we were achieving, contributing to the global response,”

Johnson said. “A billion respirators is an achievement, something we’re definitely proud of. Setting records after records. It definitely felt like we were part of something big.”

Poe concluded, “For everyone, the #1 priority was getting the lines running. There’s something to be said for people who showed up for work every day during pandemic. When other industries and states shut down, people showed up here because there was a job to do.” And they did it.

X FACTOR LESSONS LEARNED

As noted, 3M has responded to a variety of X Factors. Johnson noted that previous X factors ones caused increased demand that sometimes lasted up six months, “But COVID was a whole bigger scale. Previous X Factors were nothing compared to this.”

Poe agreed. He was in Aberdeen 2009 for H1N1, “the biggest X factor before COVID. We were running all the time, but compared to COVID, it was not even on the same playing field. COVID dwarfs it.”

COVID, which is hardly gone, will not be the last X Factor. “This was unprecedented,” Poe observed. “COVID introduced an entirely new situation with global impact, and it prompted partnerships with the U.S. government to be better prepared for the next thing we don’t want to happen.” He added, “We know we have the capacity in place that we never had before, and we know more, for example, about supply chains and logistical challenges. We are significantly more prepared now than we have ever been.”

Getting there was a difficult and satisfying journey for the people at 3M Aberdeen. Thoeness summed it up, “When I came here, I saw the pride and work ethic here because they really stepped up and helped the world.” //

The U.S. COVID-19 death toll reaches 352,000 and more than 15 million cases. The first COVID-19 variants are detected. President Trump signs the second COVID Relief Act, which includes $900 billion for enhanced unemployment benefits, business loans, COVID-19 vaccines and testing kits, and $600 direct cash payments. At yearend, 2.8 million people in the U.S. have received a COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Americans have received more than 23 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. The number of recorded COVID-19 cases worldwide surpasses 100 million. The recorded COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. surpasses 500,000.

january

President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law, which includes expanded unemployment benefits, rental assistance, and COVID-19 vaccinations, and direct cash payments of up to $1,400 per person.

COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the U.S. exceed 200 million.

march april

FDA expands use of COVID-19 vaccines to include all adolescents ages 12–15 years.

may

The Delta variant becomes dominant in the U.S., launching a third wave of infections during the summer of 2021.

june

U.S. death toll exceeds 675,000 with more than 40 million cases.

September

Get to Know: DEREK WASHENBERGER

Helping others reach their goals with a ‘white belt’ mentality.

Derek Washenberger of Hub City MMA & BJJ teaches a variety of practical martial arts to students of all ages here in Aberdeen, providing them with the skills that they need to achieve their individual goals. His gym welcomes competitors and hobbyists of all experience levels, and he and his staff work together to ensure that all students can grow to reach their full potential.

Q.

HOW DOES YOUR WORK REFLECT YOUR

PASSION? A.

I get to see my passion reflected through our members. Martial arts training is a unique individual journey. Everyone has unique goals, reasons for training, and challenges they will face. I’m really passionate about having members with different levels of experience working together to push each other towards their goals. I’m so happy to see how welcoming and supportive our team of members are. It makes me very proud.

Q.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THE ABERDEEN COMMUNITY?

A.

I love the sense of connection within the local community. We have members from all different walks of life, and I enjoy watching them succeed outside of the gym as much as in training.

Q.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? A.

I enjoy spending time with my family and our two dogs. We enjoy the outdoor recreation areas in and around Aberdeen.

Q.

by ANNIE SCOTT

WHERE IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO GO IN ABERDEEN? A.

I love getting outside and running in the summertime. Aberdeen has so many great recreational trails, it’s tough to pick just one. But if I had to, I’d say the track at Holgate Middle School. When the weather allows, that’s my favorite place to go for a run, zone out, and get some exercise. I really enjoy the wide open space and the peace and quiet up there on the track.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Derek Washenberger teaches several classes to all age groups.

Q.

WHAT IS ONE WORD YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

A.

Learning. I’m ALWAYS learning. I try to approach everything I do with a ‘white belt’ mentality. Whether it’s business, coaching, training, or anything else that I do; I’m constantly learning.

Q.

WHY IS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

A.

A community is shaped by the people who live in it. I want to provide something more for the Aberdeen community and its youth. Martial arts training has many benefits, both physical and mental. And I want to share those benefits with as many people as possible, because it’s had such an incredible impact on my life.

Q.

HAVE YOU NOTICED A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE YOUTH YOU WORK WITH?

A.

Absolutely. I’m fortunate to see their development firsthand. Even more amazing is the feedback from their parents. Almost every week I get feedback from parents in our youth program. The development in these kids’ confidence, communication skills, behavior and overall health is amazing. I’m fortunate to be able to play a role in helping the youth in our community find confidence and a love for exercise. It’s something I wish I could have had when I was growing up here in Aberdeen. //

“I LOVE THE SENSE OF CONNECTION WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.” –DEREK WASHENBERGER

Growing Connections: Community Gardens

by PATRICK

would make a great donut gardener. I like the planning and planting, and I like the harvesting and eating, but there’s a hole in the middle when it comes to weeding and hoeing and watering and weeding. So I’m impressed by people who have the discipline to do the work, especially if they don’t really have the space for a garden. Fortunately for them, the City of Aberdeen has an answer.

Since the 1970s, the City has offered gardening plots for people without room at their homes for a garden. Aaron Kiesz, City Forester since 2006, heads the Forestry Division of the Parks and Recreation Department, which manages the Community Gardens. Back issues of the American News credit the late

Ernie Hassenger with helping to establish the gardens in 1978. Not coincidentally, he was also a mover behind Natural Abundance Food Coop and the Farmer’s Market.

Kiesz admits he must rely on some long-term gardeners for the history of a program that began three decades before he started the job. Ray Andersh, age 82, remembers gardening plots since before they belonged to the City. “It was a private lot owned by a California woman with a local relative,” he recalls about what are now called the Taft Street Gardens, just south of 8th Avenue along the west side of Moccasin Creek. “We’d rent plots from her,” he said. “When the City built the bike path along the Mog, they planned to lease the property, but the gardeners convinced the City to buy the lot.”

PLANNING

By the mid-1980s, the City laid out gardens south of Melgaard Road on either side of the Mog. Of the total 182 plots in four sites around town, more than four out of five are in the two south locations, with most in the East Gardens. More recently, the Northwest Gardens were established west of Presentation College.

Andersh remembers that in the early years, “The gardens had lots of the same people. The only time we got a new neighbor was when someone died.” He added, “We very seldom had empty plots.”

Kiesz generally confirmed that recollection. “For years, we used to have a waiting list of 20 people,” he said. “Now we have 20 unused plots”— the assumption being older gardeners dropping

While everyone gardens for their own reasons, a sense of community is shared with the community gardeners.

GALLAGHER

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Gary Morehouse prepared to harvest some of his produce in his community garden plots.

out aren’t being replaced by younger ones. At the same time, many renew. “About 75 percent of gardeners return each year,” he noted. “The rest is some turnover, with new people giving it a try.”

Throughout the program’s history, the City rewarded good gardeners with easy renewal of their plots each year. “If you have a garden and are doing it well,” Kiesz says, “we make it available for you to keep it.” After previous gardeners claimed their plots, Parks and Rec used to have a spring meeting at which remaining plots were distributed through a kind of lottery. At the beginning of the pandemic, that shifted to a call-in system, which continues to work as demand has declined. This year’s call-in date is March 23, 2023.

With fewer gardeners, Kiesz has also been able to relax some restrictions. In prior years, there was a limit of two plots per person. Now gardeners can get three, and sometimes more (with a partner). Kiesz believes “about 25 percent have two plots, and a few, less than 5 percent, have three.”

Most plots are 1,200 square feet, with a few half-plots available. Full-size plots are available for $20 for a year (not much above the $12 charge

in the 1980s), and half-size are $10. Although it’s generally an informal system, “We do have some rules,” Kiesz said, listing the key points:

 Don’t plant before the spring tilling. “It always seems somebody goes too early,” he said.

 Keep your weeds down. “Some gardeners complain when neighbors don’t weed well enough. Most complaints are about weeds.”

 Don’t go beyond your space. “One year somebody moved their garden to the creek bed, and we had to stop that.” Fortunately, he said, a gentle reminder usually does the trick.

PLANTING

It seems like a good deal. How does it work for gardeners? In the 2022 gardening season, I visited with a few. Andersh was pretty clear. “I’m a happy, satisfied gardener,” he said. “The City takes care of us out there. They till before

we plant in the spring, then plow it under in the fall.” Having had two plots for many years, he’s less able to garden as regularly and now has a partner who does most of labor.

For more than 20 years, retired construction worker Gary Morehouse has had two plots in Melgaard East. He started on the west side then moved east to help a friend and stayed after the friend passed away. Previously, he lived south of Northern State University near a railroad right of way where he put in a garden. When he moved to his current home, however, there wasn’t room for a garden, so he set up down south.

Mary Raile has one full plot and two side-byside half-plots in the Taft Gardens. She has also been in the Community Gardens for about 20 years, but “It took four years to get my foot in the door, after being on the waiting list,” she said. That was when she got one of the half-plots she has now. About ten years ago, she assembled

 Zac Hook lays down weed barrier and even has a gravity-fed watering system. His kids, Rowynn, Ristynn, and Rorye often help tend to the plots and to sample the bounty.

 Zac plants a lot of pepper plants for homemade salsa.

 Zac Hook experimented with planting Stevia plants, the leaves of which are used as a cane sugar substitute.

her current allotment. Once the “new kid on the block,” whom the old timers said wasn’t doing things right, now she has almost the longest tenure. “I’m an ‘oldie’ now,” she laughed, “an ‘oldie but a goodie.’”

Game, Fish & Parks employee Zac Hook has plots on the far south end of Melgaard East. Working with a partner, he’s gardened there for six years. He started in the northernmost plot but lost plants to the neighbor’s chickens. The next year, he moved almost all the way south, where he got plots next to the late Del Griffin, “whose garden was always spotless.” When Griffin died in early 2021, Hook acquired his plots. Now, instead of chickens, he loses okra to deer.

CULTIVATING

The people I spoke with garden for similar reasons. Morehouse, who comes from a large family, remembers, “Ma put in a garden about this size, and that’s how I got started, going out to help her. She had twelve kids—had to feed them somehow!” Ultimately, he explained, “I just like to do it. It gives me something to do.” He added with a grin, “I tell my wife it keeps me out of the bars. It’s kind of my therapy.”

Raile, who says she probably gardens because her mom did, lives three houses north of Taft. She gardens there because she wanted to save her backyard for her day care children. Always wanting them to be friendly with the elderly, she brought the kids to visit gardeners. The proximity has a very practical benefit as well. She can pull a garden hose from her house to fill barrels at the garden, which she does “very early

in morning so I don’t interrupt my neighbors.”

Last year, Raile planted brussels sprouts, tomatoes, kohlrabi, sweet potatoes, muskmelon, watermelon, green peppers, and more. “I swore I’d never plant green beans because after my sisters and I would collect beans, Mom would go through and find more,” she said, ruefully, “Now I plant beans.”

She uses bottomless coffee cans for a lot of her plants, because it helps concentrate watering. While she uses water from her house, some gardeners pump water from the Mog, and she has been amazed that creek water “would be clean in the bucket after it settled.”

Morehouse grew beets, onions, potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, cabbage, plus flowers for the bees they attract for pollination He gardens by himself today, but in the past he did the weeding and hoeing, and the lady who lived next door picked the garden at the end of the season. “We each did what we liked.”

“Everything you can get out of a seed catalog, I plant,” Hook said. As we walked through his several plots, he listed what was in them—a list he kept adding to throughout our visit (without duplicating the others’ lists here): corn, garlic, broccoli, okra, strawberries, eggplant, pumpkins, summer squash, herbs, celery, hot peppers, bell peppers, jalapeno, poblano, sweet potatoes, and more.

Hook asked the City not to till his plots, because “I want to do minimum till in my garden.” He also adopts some regenerative and organic agriculture techniques.

Landscaping fabric covered much of his garden to reduce weeds. He cut holes in it and, like Raile, put plants in cans. He also tries not

 Besides the deer and chickens, other pests have gotten at the plants in the Community Gardens: people. While Andersh notes that his garden is next to the bike path and he has no memory of theft problems, he does remember hearing of people stealing from the south gardens. The thieves “said they thought it was free for the community,” Andersh laughed. “Everybody got a chuckle from it.”

Aaron Kiesz said there are rare reports of theft, usually in the fall, and usually pumpkins. No matter what, that’s not what the community in Community Gardens means. Hence, today, there are signs at the gardens with the warning “Theft of produce is not tolerated.”

to use chemicals that go in the ground because “I try to be as organic as I can.” Ultimately, he explains, “I grow my own stuff because this way I know what I’m getting”—and, he adds, “what’s gone on them.”

HARVEST

A 1,200 square foot plot can produce a lot of produce. After taking what they need, what do the gardeners do with their harvest? I came home with bags of veggies, and if I was any indication, they give a lot away.

When Morehouse harvests, he gives his sisterin-law beets, and she makes him beet pickles. “What we don’t eat,” he added, “we give away to neighbors and other gardeners.” He gave some once to an Asian neighbor whose plot got flooded by the Mog. “He doesn’t speak English, but he understood the offer.”

With his produce, Hook makes salsa and sauerkraut. Returning to the Gardens’ roots,

 Gary Morehouse unearths a bunch of carrots.

 Rorye Hook and a very large zucchini.

GROWING FOR THE GRADE

 Reminiscent of a stray offshoot growing off the southwest corner of NSU’s Mewaldt-Jensen building, the first of NSU’s greenhouses is home to lots of growth, life, and education. Jodie Ramsay, a biology professor at Northern for 22 years, leads much of that learning. Besides teaching three plant courses, she grows many plants needed for classes, supports independent plant research, and works inside a fascinating high-tech space.

Ten years ago, NSU had no greenhouse. Today, after a wild rush of growth on campus, it has two. The MJ greenhouse opened in 2015. A few years later, a smaller greenhouse was incorporated in the Jewett Regional Science Education Center, where much student work ends up because most science classrooms are there.

Ramsay, who co-owns a greenhouse in Minnesota that she operates in the summer, has a few student workers who help during the year. She and the workers “grow plants for various classes to use, like the photosynthesis lab or classes such as General Biology, Ecology, or plant-specific courses.” Students sometimes grow their own for research projects or independent study. “If plants are needed for a class, we will start them in the greenhouse,” she noted. That often involves propagation by growing plants from cuttings of parent plants.

From the outside, it looks like a classic greenhouse, but the MJ unit is high-tech. “It has a weather station that will respond to changing conditions,” Ramsay said. “It will open or close vents or move a ceiling shade depending on what the weather is doing. We can set the system’s thermostat to trigger responses to weather conditions.” In addition, two of the rooms can be sealed off for biotech work

All Biology and Environmental Science majors have to take Biology 153 which covers, in part,the diversity of all living organisms plus a plant course, so they all connect with the greenhouse in some way Ramsay estimated about 50% of students grow their own plants there. The experience teaches them about plant diversity by studying plants from mosses to flowering plants, and propagation by growing from seeds or cuttings.

Just east of the MJ greenhouse is a pollinator garden, and NSU maintains another at the City Arboretum. The gardens were created several years ago with a grant from South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. The gardens qualify as monarch waystations because they include multiple species of plants that pollinators feed on (learn more, including how to make your own, at monarchwatch.org).

The greenhouses are occasionally open to the public for tours and talks. Ramsay noted that the carnivorous plants in the science building are quite popular.

so to speak, he has also sold some at the Farmer’s Market and Natural Abundance. If he has extra produce, he likes giving it away to people who don’t have gardens.

After Raile loaded me up with free veggies, she said, “I like my tomatoes more than any store-bought.” She also doesn’t need to buy watermelon or muskmelon. Plus she cans and pickles a lot and likes to compare her costs to the prices in the store.

GARDEN CULTURE

Gardeners aren’t all the same. Or maybe they are. Several Asian newcomers, Karen people from Thailand who made their way to Aberdeen for jobs that couldn’t be filled locally, grow at the Community Gardens. About two out of every five plots in the east Melgaard plots belong to Karen gardeners.

Hook said he’s learned a lot about what you can and can’t eat watching his Karen garden neighbors, including things that we think of as weeds. Morehouse added the Asians pick creeping jenny and put it in salads.

First Baptist Church has a special ministry for the Karen. It’s a large enough congregation that when a building on church property was removed, Pastor Gary Compton turned the space into garden plots the Karen use, because, he said, “having a garden makes it feel like home for them.”

One of those gardeners is Mar Gret, who

began gardening at the church when she got sick a few years ago and, as translated by her daughter Poe Poh, “had nothing to do at home.” She had gardened in Thailand, and “Gardening here makes me happier.”

She grows some of the same vegetables as the other gardeners plus some that are more common in Asia, such as red chilis, green pumpkins, water spinach, long beans, and green bitter gourd vine seeds. While some seeds are available in Aberdeen’s Asian stores, Mar Gret obtained what she needed on a trip to Thailand.

Mar Gret grows more than the family needs and says, “It makes me happy to give my extra to friends.” When we talked in October 2022, after Mar Gret had cleared her garden, Poe Poh was excited to find a few uncollected red chilis, noting that veggies her mom grows save them money. “We didn’t have to buy vegetables all summer!” she smiled.

HARVEST

Gardening is a healthy activity in more ways than one (the donut approach is not one of them). Even if you don’t have the space at your place—or don’t want to give it up— Aberdeen makes it easy—or at least easier. If you’re reading this in the spring, there’s still time call Parks and Rec, pick up a spade, and turn over a new leaf. //

 Rowynn Hook examines the pumpkin and squash sections.

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

An easy take on a cheesy classic.

by ANNIE SCOTT

The first recipe I ever committed to memory (aside from grilled cheese and the instructions on a ramen noodle packet) was baked ziti. I was still a teenager, and I was so impressed with myself that I even remembered what temperature to set the oven to. It has always been one of my favorite meals, and that was partly because it was so easy to make.

Imagine my surprise when I found out there was an even easier way to prepare it!

This recipe is little more than layering

ingredients and pushing a few buttons on your slow cooker. There’s no need to boil your noodles ahead of time, as the sauce does the job for you. It’s also pretty easy to adjust to your preferences. Are you a mozzarella fan? Go ahead and add a little more! Not crazy about ricotta? Then you could cut out a layer or two. I know it’s not technically baked ziti at this point, as there’s no oven involved, but this dish tastes just as good as its classic counterpart, and it’s perfect for those lazy nights where you just don’t feel like cooking. //

Photos by Anna Jahraus

INGREDIENTS

12 oz. penne

48 oz. marinara sauce

32 oz. ricotta

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon basil

¼ grated parmesan

16 oz. shredded mozzarella

DIRECTIONS

1. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray, or use a slow cooker liner.

2. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, eggs, parmesan, basil, salt, and pepper.

3. Cover the bottom of your slow cooker with marinara.

4. Layer pasta on top of the sauce.

5. Put four or five scoops of the ricotta mixture on top of the pasta.

6. Place a layer of mozzarella on top of the ricotta.

7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 two more times.

8. For your last layer, finish off with marinara, ricotta, and marinara. Make sure all of your noodles are covered in sauce.

9. Cook on high for 2 ½ hours. Serve with additional parmesan on top.

It’s Always Volleyball Season

by DAVE VILHAUER

While volleyball has a defined season for high school athletes, the sport never truly goes out of season in Aberdeen thanks to a facility designed to help aspiring young players.

The Matchbox Recreation Center is home to more than 400 volleyball players ranging in age from 3 to seniors in high school. It started in 2019 as an idea from Alexz Smith, Owner and Director of Operations. She has a strong background in volleyball as a former player and current assistant coach at Northwestern, as well as being a club coach for nearly 15 years.

“We had a club volleyball program in town, and it was kind of dissolving, so we were trying to figure out what to do,” Smith said. “I have a background in both business and coaching so it was a natural fit for me to kind of do something on my own, still give our kids an opportunity to play volleyball in our area.”

Smith said she sought out the opinions from a variety of volleyball friends to find out the best way to meet the needs of area players.

“I feel so blessed that I have so many connections in volleyball in this part of the country,” Smith said.

While some of those opinions may have varied, the common denominator was that everyone wanted what was best for the kids.

“This is such a sport where people are willing to offer help,” Smith said. “It’s such a strong sense of community so everyone was excited about it, so it was fun to get everyone’s opinion on it.”

The end result was a facility that features three permanent volleyball courts, an area for concessions and a retail store. While there are no mounted scoreboards, there are portable remote-controlled scoreboards for each court.

The facility has not only become a hub for volleyball enthusiasts, there are two other groups that have come to call Matchbox home during the winter months.

“We have a crew of pickleball players that play in here Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the mornings,” Smith said. “Then Hub City Soccer, we also have a partnership with them. They run their indoor soccer programs out of here in the wintertime.”

As a result, Matchbox is an extremely busy place with activity morning, noon and night nearly every single day during the winter months. While that helps to maximize the existing space,

it also creates a challenge when it comes to scheduling.

“It’s definitely a gigantic jigsaw puzzle. That’s what we say,” Smith said. “It’s a jigsaw puzzle and it’s also forced us to be super creative in the way that we run practices and the way that we schedule, because we do want to fit as many activities in here as we can and as many kids in here as we can.”

Matchbox hosts 23 tournaments a year. When tourneys do take place, the middle volleyball court is not used to allow space for spectators to view the matches.

Still, despite the full schedule, there is an opportunity for the space to be rented for special occasions.

“We also open it up for court rentals where people can come out and just rent this space, a court at a time or the whole gym,” Smith said. “Sometimes we get families that come out and just rent it so they can have their kids run around for a while. More specialty events like that we have very limited availability for.”

People can check out details at www.matchboxrec.com

Matchbox has featured a who’s who of area

Matchbox Recreation Center provides a place for volleyball all year long.

Photos courtesy of John Davis

 Owner and Director of Operations Alexz Smith.

volleyball players who have used the site in its brief existence. Some even come back from college to help coach the next generation of players in the summer months.

Smith is happy that she is still able to maintain her coaching duties at Northwestern in addition to running a full-time business.

“It’s really fun for me to still be included in the high school season in the fall, because I get to see not just the Northwestern kids, but every team that we compete against. I get to catch up with all the players everywhere we go,” Smith said. “We really try and talk the talk, and walk the walk. We want these players to be participating in everything so as a coaching staff we really encourage that too, that we are involved in club and in high school. That’s a really important thing that we do here.”

Matchbox has players that come to Aberdeen from outlying communities like Mobridge, Sisseton, Britton, Watertown, Hitchcock, and Jamestown, N.D.

“We have different things throughout the year. Our club program, girls come in individually,” Smith said. “We don’t care where you’re from. And it’s a big thing of what we do here, we’re trying to help girls make friends, enjoy the sport that they love together, where we’re mixing players all together.”

In addition to the club program, Matchbox also features skill clinics, private lessons, and individual training workouts.

Smith said it is difficult to gauge how much

of an impact that Matchbox is having on players because there really isn’t a measuring stick.

“It’s hard to say what is the end success, what means that you got better, because if it means that we’re producing more collegiate athletes, I don’t think that’s necessarily a fair indicator based on all the small schools that we have around here and just the level of athletes and commitment level,” Smith said. “A lot of these kids are three-sport athletes, you see that all time, which is absolutely fantastic. We love that. So as far as like seeing progression, it has been really for us to see, not necessarily skill progression, but interest progression.”

Besides, not every high school player wants to play college volleyball. And in some instances, there are high school-aged girls that come to Matchbox who do not play for their school teams.

“It’s hard to catch up because it’s about touches combined over time, but there’s always an opportunity to get better and there’s always

an opportunity to enjoy the sport in itself,” Smith said. “So, if you enjoy playing volleyball, we do offer different recreational programs. We have some kids that don’t play high school volleyball, but they do play here. There are recreational options for them as well.”

Smith said she often gets asked what the next step is for Matchbox. While there is always a wish list, she is content with how things are currently going.

“We do have a need to grow, but I also like what we have here,” Smith said. “We have something that really works for us right now, so maybe someday.”

In the meantime, the Matchbox Recreation Center will continue to serve the needs of the volleyball community the best way that it can.

“What we’re really trying to do is to provide a positive and beneficial athletic opportunity for our young girls in our community,” Smith said. “That’s primarily what we’re focused on.” //

 Matchbox hosts several activities each day, and organizing the schedule can be like a jigsaw puzzle.

 Players also come from Mobridge, Sisseton, Britton, Watertown, Hitchcock, and Jamestown ND.

 Matchbox can be rented for other activities than volleyball. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

THE ART GROUP THE ART GROUP

LOCAL ARTISTS HAVE FORMED A WELCOMING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

by ANNIE SCOTT

In 2017, Betty Sheldon came up with a way to unite the artists of Aberdeen.

“I was trying to think of ways to do something in the community,” said Betty. “I sent out an email to about 25 people who are artists. I told them to come over for soup and bread and to bring something to show.”

The Art Group’s very first meeting was held in Betty’s home and was attended by 17 artists. By the end of the night, they were already planning the next one.

“It’s always so much fun,” said Gail Funk. “Everyone is welcome to come. We always share a meal together before we share art.”

 The Art Group members gather for their potluck dinner during the closing ceremony of their most recent art show at the Red Rooster Coffee House.

The Art Group meetings all usually play out the same way. Members will gather at one member’s home on the first Wednesday of each month, and many people bring dishes for everyone to share in a big potluck-style meal. After everyone finishes eating, a big show-and-tell session takes up the rest of the meeting. Artists receive praise and friendly constructive criticism on their works. The encouragement and uplifting words that are shared are the heart of the group.

“There are lots of resources for all the artists here,” said Guy Clothier. “We all give each other feedback. It’s very important to encourage each other and fuel the passion.”

“If you feel unmotivated, you’ll get a lot of encouragement so you don’t quit,” said Connie Gisi.

Participation in the group has steadily grown, and some meetings have had over 20 people in attendance. Now the group supports over 70 members in total from across the world. One year,

a few Chinese exchange students from Northern State University joined the group, and they always brought plenty of food with them to share.

“We have people who regularly attend from Watertown, Webster, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls,” Betty said.

“Some members have moved away since joining,” Gail said. “We keep in touch with them still, in case they’re able to join one of our meetings over Zoom.”

Betty noted that when they were trying to come up with a name for the group, they wanted something that would include all of the members. ‘The Art Group’ was a simple and succinct way to describe themselves, and sometimes they shorten it to ‘TAG’.

When the group first started, Gail kept an email list that served as a way to remind members of meeting times and other important events. Then a Facebook page for the group was

 “Custer Burro” by Connie Gisi

 “Sitting Bull” by James Johnson

 by Gail Funk

 by Connie Wagenaar

created. Many members share their work on Facebook in between meetings, and the page also serves as a calendar of events for individual and group art shows.

“There are still a lot of artists in town that we haven’t heard of,” Gail said. “We follow galleries and try to find other people to support.”

Each member of The Art Group brings something unique to the table. There are painters, sculptors, potters, fiber artists, jewelers, found-object artists, metal workers, and mural painters that all share their work. The artists aren’t just limited to the visual arts either. Writers, poets, and musicians perform their work at meetings as well. Some members even collaborate with each other outside of meetings.

Just like the many mediums of art they celebrate, the members of The Art Group are diverse as well. Men and women of all ages have joined, from college-age students to retired folks and everyone in between.

“I joined the group a couple years ago,” said Guy. “They’re all really nice, welcoming people. You can see the diverse group coming together as a community.”

Connie, who has been a member since the first meeting, has enjoyed watching their community grow.

“Before the group, a lot of us didn’t have a place to come together and share our work,” she said. “Little by little, the group grew.”

“At one point, we had to start timing each other just to make sure everyone had time to share,” Betty said.

“It’s such a wonderful, fun, educational group,” said Barb Ripperger. “Sometimes we get deep too. The reason why I joined is because they accept everyone here.”

Most members of The Art Group are very active members in the community. Several

 “Green Salamander” by Rocky Eaton  “Best Friend” by Roberta Goldade

 “Timberline” by Deb Many Carson

Local Art Galleries

PRESIDENT'S GALLERY, JFAC

GALLERY, STUDENT CENTER

GALLERY, AND GALLERY X

Northern State University

 1200 South Jay Street

 605.626.7766

 President’s Gallery: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM, JFAC Gallery: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM, Student Center: Mon–Fri 7 AM–4:30 PM and weekends 1–9 PM

Gallery X: Mon-Fri 8 AM - 5 PM

LAMONT GALLERY

Dacotah Prairie Museum

 21 South Main Street

 605.626.7117

 Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM, Sat and Sun 1–4 PM

ARTWORKS CO-OP GALLERY

Uptown Aberdeen

 3315 6th Ave SE Suite #48

 605.725.0913

 Thurs–Sat 11–6 PM & Sun 12–6 PM or by appointment

JANE WEST GALLERY

Capitol Theatre

 415 South Main Street

 605.225.2228

 Open during events, call ahead for additional hours of operation

ARCC GALLERY

Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center

 225 3rd Ave SE

 605.626.7081

 Mon–Thurs 9 AM–8 PM

Fri 9 AM–5 PM & Sat 10 AM–12 PM

RED ROOSTER

COFFEE HOUSE GALLERY

 218 South Main Street

 605.225.6603

 Mon–Thurs 7 AM–7 PM, Fri 7 AM–9 PM and Sat 8 AM–9 PM Sun 9 AM–2 PM

THE MARKET ON THE PLAZA GALLERY

 506 S Main Street Suite 4

 605.824.4189

 Mon-Wed 7:30 AM-4 PM

Thur-Sat 7:30 AM-9 PM & Sun 8 AM-3 PM

members have held their own art shows, and the Heartland Casino has offered their gallery space for the group to use. Two members, James Johnson and Linda Roesch, have done murals in town. Some members are vendors at art shows like Arts in the Park, and The Art Group has had members’ artwork displayed all across the state.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit South Dakota, The Art Group was faced with some new challenges.

“We never missed a meeting until COVID,” Betty said.

With social distancing restrictions, meetings could no longer be held in members’ homes. The members of The Art Group adapted to this change, and meetings were held over Zoom. Once COVID restrictions began to ease, they were able to meet up at local parks and other outdoor areas. In the colder months, they held their meetings at the ARCC and the Red Rooster. They haven’t made their way back to home meetings quite yet, but the new arrangements have been working well for everyone.

“When we think about trying to meet up at a house again, something always comes up,” Betty said. “COVID has affected us in ways we are still realizing.”

The Art Group holds their own art show for all members once a year. These shows have been held in the ARCC and the Red Rooster. Their most recent show held their closing ceremony on Feburary’s meeting date, and there was plenty of food, conversation, and laughter – a perfect way to showcase what the group is really about. //

 “Mail Delivery” by Amy W. Woods

 by Sharon Schnabel

In March of 2013, the premiere issue of Aberdeen Magazine hit the stands. Though the publication we’ve all come to know and love has gone through its fair share of changes (our first issue was only 20 pages!), our main mission has remained the same. We’re here to shine the spotlight on the people, places, and events that make Aberdeen a special place to live. Take a look back at our very first issue and check out the hot topics from a decade ago.

THE BUZZ

Did you know our ‘What’s New’ section used to be called ‘The Buzz’? The front end of Aberdeen Magazine is still dedicated to providing the fast facts about new businesses, upcoming events, and noteworthy people.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt

In the 2010s, Aberdeen entered the frozen yogurt scene. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, formerly located in the Lamont Plaza Building, opened in 2012. It was the first of two dedicated frozen yogurt shops in town, the other being CherryBerry. Both shops have since closed.

Presentation College Black and White Ball

On March 2, 2013, Presentation College held its annual Black and White Ball. The event has been a fundraiser for student scholarships since 2002. The 2022 event, now known as the Denim and Diamonds Gala, was held on September 24.

Doggy Daycare

Northern Plains Animal Health began offering a dog daycare service. Since then, the service charge has only increased by $1, and patrons can still enjoy the same amenities offered in 2013.

The Historic South Main Depot Lives On The M & SL.L. Depot was sold in 2013. It has since been completely renovated, repurposed and houses several businesses.

Bread on the Rise

Palm Garden Cafe and Chocolate Shoppe previously housed Burckhard’s Bakery. The bakery had been around since 1906, and they closed briefly in the 1990s before Pete Burckhard took over. Now, Palm Garden offers Thai cuisine.

TASTE

Recipes have been a staple in Aberdeen Magazine. Many magazine contributors have covered this section, but Troy McQuillen’s delicious dishes are simply unforgettable. The very first recipe, sweet cinnamon bread pudding, was a nice, warm dessert that could help anyone get through the final dregs of winter weather.

on

cover

ON THE COVER

The cover of our first issue featured our very own Lady Justice statue, seated atop the Brown County Courthouse. Publisher Troy McQuillen dove deep into researching the statue’s history, and former Managing Editor Barb Andrews completed the writeup of our first cover story. The 10 foot 8 inch statue has looked over Aberdeen since 1903, and over time this copper statue took on a gold appearance, thanks to some brave painters who restored her in 1953 and 1988.

There was some speculation that our Lady Justice might actually be Lady Liberty, and that we received the wrong statue when she was first ordered. Barb continued her research and discovered that the statue was ordered in 1903 from the W.H. Mullins Manufacturing company in Salem, Ohio. She found a fourdigit number linked to a purchase of $200

(almost $3,400 in 2023). A historical society in Salem was able to confirm that the number, 6875, was the item number for “Justice with Scales at Side”. The mystery has been solved! Today, Aberdeen Magazine tries to incorporate historic stories in every issue

we can. Our new ‘Then and Now’ section highlights historic Aberdeen photos and compares them to photos taken in the same location today. Patrick Gallagher, one of our long-time writers, has also covered a wide variety of historic locations and events.

THE SCENE

This section used to cover art shows, fundraisers, and other important events that were happening in Aberdeen. Now, much of this content is included in our ‘What’s New’ section, and details about local galleries are listed in our artist spotlights. In 2013, we covered the NSU Faculty Art Exhibit, former Mayor Mike Levsen’s “State of the City” address, and the Boys and Girls Club Awards Banquet.

LOVE THIS CITY

The first issue of Aberdeen Magazine was released right before Arbor Day, so naturally we feature some eco-friendly articles. The Donate, Sell, Repurpose, and Dispose list helped spring cleaners decide what to do with their unwanted items. Ann Andrews of Ann’s Touch offered some tips on how to decide what items are worth hanging on to, and Stucke Resource Group helped with the safe disposal of old computers.

In the Arbor Day feature, City Forrester Aaron Kiesz shared the importance of the holiday, and our 10 Really Great Reasons to Plant a Tree list is just as relevant today as it was back in 2013.

STYLE

A beautiful, colorful spread of spring accessories graced our pages for the first Style Feature. Each and every one of these items were available for purchase at local shops Lily’s Floral, Natural Abundance, Red Rooster Coffee House, and the Dacotah Prairie Museum’s gift shop. In our more recent issues, we have highlighted the Aberdeen Magazine Spring and Fall Style Shows. These fashion shows, organized by our very own Julie Lillis, show off our local boutiques’ newest arrivals.

DAY TRIPS AND STAYCATIONS

Foote Creek Bed and Breakfast and Moccasin Creek Country Clubs were the first two locations featured in the ‘Day Trips and Staycations’ section. You don’t always need to plan a big, out-of-state trip in order to have a great time.

THE ABERDABBER

Eliot Lucas’s comic series, The Aberdabber, has appeared in many issues of Aberdeen Magazine. The comic brings humor to the little details of our day-to-day lives, like how Groundhog Day really doesn’t apply to those of us residing in the Midwest.

dAy trips and stAycAtions

issue of the issue

Troy McQuillen

–

vicious dogs, like the one that bit my head off, there are proba- bly ten times more irresponsible pet owners who have no right owning animals of any kind. And then I must wonder: if peo- ple aren’t responsible enough to properly care for dogs, should they drive cars, own hunting rifles, mopeds or even trampo

lines? The city tried to prevent irresponsible people from get- ting Pit Bulls in efforts of protecting us. So I ask, when is it time for the law to step in or for these decisions to be left up to an individual’s own good (or bad) judgment? Who’s to say, but most people agree; a breed ban doesn’t address the real issues. The Pit Bull breed ban is old news. The city council re- jected the proposal, ending this debate for now. Which brings me then to the real point of this story. That as a citizen of Aberdeen, you have the right, and the opportunity, to speak out for, or against, what you believe in. When the Pit Bull ban was being discussed a group of concerned Pit Bull owners joined together and made their arguments against the ban to elected officials. These pet owners were respectful of the process. They didn’t name call, they weren’t belligerent, they didn’t threaten with lawsuits. They just organized, presented their case, created a conversation on Facebook, proved they were responsible pet owners, and won. Pit Bulls were NOT banned in Aberdeen.

cil meets every Monday night and they have a dedicated ten minutes set aside at the start of each meeting designed for anyone to bring up anything they want to talk about. Unfor- tunately, few take advantage of this. Of course it shouldn’t be a crab session, but rather, a constructive conversation. For example, if you have some ideas about how to get rid

foote Creek Bed and Breakfast

A tranquil getaway just five miles from town.

For a fun “staycation” idea, consider Foote Creek Bed and Breakfast. Take a night to escape the loud chaos of city life… okay, more like the faint sounds of horns, sirens and the occasional neighborhood disturbance. Though living in the city is convenient, and friendly, and doesn’t lose that rural appeal we all love around here, it’s not the same as reading a good book til 2 am to the music of beautifully uninterrupted silence. Besides, there’s just something about getting out of your house that gives your body permission to relax, guilt free. And your mind a chance to clear. In fact, at Foote Creek B & B you could get so relaxed that your woes might just drift away on a

Fluffy Bob-Ross-like cloud. Now isn’t that nice?

all “fore” the Country Club Moccasin Creek invites new members

The Moccasin Creek Country Club is our local hot spot for great golfing, family entertainment and dining in a classy atmosphere. If you’re not a member, the Casino Night and Putting Challenge on March 23rd is your chance to become one. This event is an opportunity for current members to invite prospective members. At 6 pm the Club will be serving appetizers and a buffet. From 7 pm to 9 pm there will be a dinner featuring such items as Salmon with Dill Sauce and Carved Prime Rib. Yummy! Participants will have a chance to win prizes such as a golf discount and a free membership. If you are not already a member, contact your friends who are and nudge them for an invite.

n For questions or to make a reservation contact: Carla at 1-877-922-1617. n For questions contact: Moccasin Creek Country Club at (605) 226-0900.

AberdAbber

ISSUE OF THE ISSUE

The first (and only) ‘Issue of the Issue’ covered Pit Bull ownership. Nowadays, Aberdeen Magazine focuses on the positive side of news. Perhaps this is a section we could revisit, but our brand-new news publication, The Aberdeen Insider, is a great place to check out the latest coverage on Aberdeen’s hot topics. //

Photos: Troy McQuillen

Ahead of Her Time

Earth Day Lesson Presented by Sister Louis Lives On

by PETER CARRELS

Iwalked ditches and roadsides on the outskirts of Aberdeen during the first annual Earth Day, held April 22, 1970, joining a group of Roncalli High School schoolmates to collect litter. We were led by our science teacher, a Presentation nun named Sister Louis.

Sister Louis was physically distinct because of her sturdy proportions, and she was also intellectually impressive. She spoke in long, complete sentences, handled complex explanations about biology and chemistry without hesitation, and she expected her students to apply themselves to their classwork.

Dressed in concealing attire, the faces of Presentation Sisters who were teachers in Aberdeen’s Catholic schools took on added emphasis when my classmates and I assessed their personalities. I recall Sister Louis gazing serenely across our classroom during exams, looking satisfied she had given us the information we needed to do well. Sister Louis could be stern, when necessary, but her gleaming grin was a more common expression. We fondly nicknamed her Sister Buddha.

 Sister Louis Mannion, an early environmentalist, possessed a deep appreciation for nature. She loved teaching biology and chemistry and spent countless hours tending the large garden maintained by the Presentation Sisters near Presentation College. Here, she displays fruit from the garden.

Photos courtesy of Kathleen Daly

Her profession to the Presentation congregation included dedication to teaching and devotion to worship, and she also happily labored in the expansive vegetable garden maintained by the Sisters and situated alongside their college and convent building. Some sisters remember her as the garden’s de facto manager. I grew up near that garden and saw Sister Louis and others weeding, pruning, and watering. I remember hearing conversations and sharp laughter coming from those gardeners and feeling awkward to witness nuns in such normal circumstances.

On that Earth Day in 1970, we gathered countless bags of garbage, heaping them onto

piles covering spring’s greening grass. Before that debris was trucked to the city dump, Sister Louis convened her troop of volunteers. We were, I’m sure, completely unaware of why there was an Earth Day, but the sight of so much that had been so carelessly discarded was startling.

I figured she would scold the litter bugs, but instead she presented a tutorial about waste and thoughtlessness, and she began with one short, mysterious sentence.

“There is no such thing as away,” she declared, glancing toward the trash. I stared blankly at her, clueless about what that meant.

She continued the lesson as we stood in a semi-circle around her. Every single day,

she said, we throw things away. Some people toss bottles or bags out their car windows, and they forget about them. If we place trash into a garbage can or send it up a smokestack or out a drainpipe, we think of it as gone, that we’ve thrown it away. But there is no such thing as ‘away. ’ What we have really done is move something we describe as waste or garbage from one place to another. We may have even changed its form, but we truly cannot throw anything ‘away.’

I later realized that Sister Louis was the first environmentalist I knew. The years she taught at Roncalli corresponded with an era when smart, open-minded people were paying close

 Sister Louis gave herself fully to teaching, and she had a love for young people and guiding their lives.

SISTER LOUIS COULD BE STERN, WHEN NECESSARY, BUT HER GLEAMING GRIN WAS A MORE COMMON EXPRESSION.”

 Sister Louis with one of her students.

 Sister Louis was born Kathleen Mary Mannion in Galway, Ireland. She journeyed to Mitchell, SD at age 16 to begin preparations to become a Presentation Sister, and years later became a respected teacher at Roncalli High School. At her funeral in 1995, just shy of her 91st birthday, Sister Louis was honored by a fellow sister who said her friend “loved the earth and all creatures of the earth.”

attention to Rachel Carson, a gifted scientist and nature writer turned environmental activist. Aldo Leopold had already introduced the idea of ecological ethics and stewardship to the public though his writing, but Carson and her most important book, Silent Spring, took that proposition and added a confrontational posture while warning people about the dangers associated with certain agricultural chemicals. Her valiant crusade to halt the use of DDT was stubbornly resisted by the chemical industry, including an aggressive, underhanded effort to destroy her reputation. When Carson and her allies prevailed, their activism was quickly fruitful. Banning DDT triggered the remarkable resurgence of our continent’s bald eagle population, a species nearly exterminated by that chemical.

Carson’s book and her political campaigns protecting nature ignited that faction of Americans who admired and respected the natural world and the fragile, often imperceptible web of life that makes human existence possible. Organizations such as Friends of the Earth, the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society flourished as they became more politically and socially engaged. Simultaneous to the earliest earth days came a flurry of significant environmental protection laws. Never had any nation on Earth enacted such meaningful policies and requirements aiming to sustain the livability of our planet. It was, in my estimation, the start of a social movement as impactful and valuable as any in human history.

Beginning in the early 1970s, discussions about economic development began to include analysis forecasting the biological consequences of an idea, proposal, or project. A deeper mindfulness about how our behaviors and activities affect air, water, land, wildlife, and

the health of people, began to influence public and private sector decision-making.

Environmentalism was controversial, especially during its earliest years. But the mainstream’s acknowledgement regarding environmentalism has matured. What was once ridiculed as extreme or radical, is now increasingly and properly viewed as fundamental and necessary.

There’s much more to be done, of course. Researchers continue to study and reveal alarming rates of pollution killing and sickening humans and other species. But headway has been made. Consider clean energy, pocket houses, recycling, pollution regulations, endangered species protections, municipal sewage facilities, professionally managed landfills, the rising popularity of organic food, and fines imposed on those who litter. Our environmental sensitivities have grown more informed and sophisticated during the past 50 years. Most of us now realize, for example, that the emitted byproducts of combusted fossil fuels do not float into space and harmlessly, magically disappear. As Sister Louis once said, “There is no

such thing as away.” //

 Sister Louis remained active well into her retirement. She was an active member in AARP and continued to volunteer in Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota.

For the People

by TARAH HEUPEL

If you’ve ever spotted a group of women dressed as suffragettes at NSU or manning a voter registration booth at a downtown event, then you’ve seen the League of Women Voters of the Aberdeen Area in action.

Formed as a nonpartisan organization to encourage informed and active participation in government, the group advocates for issues that affect women.

Major ongoing activities for the League include registering eligible voters, providing voter information, and advocating for voting rights. In addition, the organization supports a variety of public policy positions, such as health care reform, reproductive rights, immigration and LGBTQ+ issues.

Betty Sheldon is the Aberdeen chapter’s chairperson, and a passionate advocate for fostering an informed electorate.

“One of the beautiful things about the League is that we come together annually to agree on or reaffirm our list of focuses,” Sheldon said. “No one individual’s position is placed above others. We have a lovable and respectful dialogue around issues, then show up together to support issues we all care about.”

The group does not endorse specific candidates or political parties, instead choosing to focus on issues and provide education to help voters make informed choices at the polls.

The League hosts a public lunch each year with local government leaders, where citizens are encouraged to ask questions and learn about issues affecting their city and state. The League also hosts voter registration drives, educational speakers and programming that emphasizes women’s studies, voter rights and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Sheldon joined the League after retiring, not intending to take a leadership role with the organization.

“I thought I would just go to the meetings and sit in the back row and help make cookies or something,” Sheldon said, laughing. “I got in deeper than I intended. The League is an

The League of Women Voters of the Aberdeen Area have been advocating for voters since 1947.

 Eve Larson, LWV; Drew Dennert

organized way to participate in issues you care about.”

Gail Funk is also a long-time member, and she’s particularly proud of the group’s ongoing work to support local cracker barrels, register voters and collect signatures to put issues on the ballot.

“We are working toward the good of the people,” Funk said. “We are bringing issues to the forefront that affect our community.”

A decade of advocacy

The League of Women Voters has been active in South Dakota for more than 100 years, and the Aberdeen chapter has been continuously active since 1947.

“Our local chapters are the lifeblood of the League of Women Voters, and most of the work is done at a local level,” said Amy Scott-

Stoltz, spokesperson for the League of Women Voters of South Dakota. “Our focus remains on defending democracy and empowering voters. We are a nonpartisan organization that encourages everyone to take part in our democracy, to be empowered and informed.”

In 1920, the League was founded by suffragettes to help women learn about their newly-gained right to vote. While the day-today work of the League has evolved over time, the group’s mission hasn’t. The organization believes in the freedom to vote and the right to be informed.

Today, the Aberdeen chapter is seeing a resurgence, with a number of younger members joining the ranks. They point to increasing political conflict over the last few years as a trigger for increased membership.

“When Roe v. Wade was overturned, people started coming out of the woodwork,” Sheldon said. “The League was being very visible, attending Pride events, collecting signatures for Medicaid expansion and voter redistricting bills, and doing a lot of voter registration. Young women see us and become interested in what we’re doing.”

We are working toward the good of the people. We are bringing issues to the forefront that affect our community.

GAIL FUNKE

Photos courtesy of Betty Sheldon

 Ruth Wegehaupt, Emily Guhin, Valerie Nixon, and Betty Sheldon participating in a suffrage reenactment at the Centennial Village at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

 The League of Women Voters have set up voter registration stations all around town, including Northern State University’s Avera Student Center.

The Aberdeen chapter isn’t the only one seeing renewed interest from a younger generation. Statewide, membership grew by 20% last year, and new chapters are opening in Brookings and the Black Hills, joining more than 750 chapters across the country.

“When we see events that take away our freedom, we tend to see an uptick in activism. Our nonpartisan policy welcomes everyone who is interested in participating in democracy,” said Scott-Stoltz.

The organization believes in inclusivity; not only are members of all political parties welcome to join, all genders are as well. While the Aberdeen chapter doesn’t currently have

any male members, Scott-Stoltz says there are several across the state. Any person of voting age may become a league member.

Sheldon says it’s both exciting and gratifying to see new members joining their efforts. That energy drew Alicia Dohn, who was already active in several advocacy groups that put her in the League’s orbit. She was looking for mentorship and found it in long-time League members.

“They invited me to a luncheon and I was really impressed with the women themselves and their goals. I was able to meet a number of other likeminded women and advocates from around the community. Aberdeen has so many wonderful resources but we don't always find each other; LWV helps me connect, share assets, and build solutions. Plus, all the cool women were there,” said Dohn.

She found the group’s members to be smart and interesting, with a passion for issues that aligned with her own.

“Officially, I've made valuable community connections to help me in my professional and advocacy pursuits. Personally, I've made some really cool new friends who are interested in making ‘good trouble,’” said Dohn.

Dohn is most excited to work with the League

to engage youth in voter registration, and demonstrating that changing the world is simple and doable.

“It starts local. You don’t have to be elected, quit your job, or have a degree in politics. All you have to do is wake up, show up, and speak up. And vote!”

Marisa Roemmick was first drawn to the group when her husband ran for state office in 2018. Over time, she got to know the group members and felt encouraged by their mission.

“When my husband was running for office, it amazed me how many people did not know how to register to vote or where to see if they are registered. The League is dedicated to improving civic participation and I want to help be a part of that,” Roemmick said.

Roemmick says she used to be someone that wanted to stay out of politics, but over time her stance has evolved.

“We all need to get out and do everything we can so that every voice is heard.”

The Aberdeen Area League of Women Voters meets the 4th Thursday of each month at the Public Safety Building. Meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in learning more about the organization is welcome to attend. //

It starts local. You don’t have to be elected, quit your job, or have a degree in politics. All you have to do is wake up, show up, and speak up. And vote!

ALICIA DOHN

 Betty Sheldon and Gail Funk.

 The League of Women Voters support local cracker barrels, register voters, and collect signatures to put issues on the ballot.

on a

One of Downtown’s biggest buildings transforms yet again

photography and story by TROY MCQUILLEN

The Historic Ward Hotel

 The second floor of the Alonzo Ward Hotel had a few existing hotel rooms that were restored in the 2004 renovation, the ballroom on that level was converted to additional hotel rooms, creating 18 new and remodeled boutique hotel rooms in total.

The railroad’s prominence in Aberdeen’s founding years was the main attraction for Eastern businessmen to pioneer here.

Alonzo Ward arrived here in 1883, started a lunch counter, and developed the first Alonzo Ward Hotel on the corner of First and Main, downtown Aberdeen. However, as often happened to pioneers, the hotel burned to the ground in 1926. Not to be deterred, he built this building, and opened its doors on May 15, 1928, to a state dentist convention. The 120-room, six-story hotel was

supposedly fireproof, modern in all respects, and over the years, hosted many celebrities and prominent people passing through Aberdeen. Alonzo died a year later, leaving the business to his son, Alonzo Ward, II. In 1964 the building was sold and passed through many hands after that. Soon the hotel portion was closed, a couple shops still rented the ground level spaces, and a restaurant would pop up from time to time. In 2004, Blackstone Developers (Tom Aman and Norg Sanderson) launched a plan to make the Ward Hotel the place to live downtown as part of a multi-building investment

in downtown. Upscale condos were built in the upper floors, the ballroom was restored, a restaurant was reestablished, several hotel rooms were restored on the second floor and a four-level parking ramp was built to the west. It was a mini convention hall and hosted many weddings and events over the years. Blackstone Developers recently sold the building to Hub City Downtown, LLC. Led by Jim Thares (Founder/ CEO Primrose Retirement Communities), work began once again to transform the Ward Hotel into yet another version of itself. In February, the doors were opened to the public. The

condos remained, Roma Ristorante Italiano was relocated to the back portion of the ground level, the lobby was reconfigured, The Finery Men’s Clothing Store opened in one of the retail spaces, and to the surprise of many, the ballroom space was converted to several hotel rooms, making 18 hotel rooms in total on the second floor. It is a bright, modern hotel now with self-check-in, quiet, spacious rooms, a fitness room, laundry, free guest parking and hints of historic charm throughout. Downtown is transforming right before our eyes. Alonzo Ward took a risk because he had a vision that the prairie town of Aberdeen was destined to be great. But that very greatness comes from pioneers like him, developers like Blackstone, and entrepreneurs like Hub City Downtown, LLC, all of whom continue to move Aberdeen progressively forward. //

 This historic photo shows a group of Shriners meeting in the ballroom on the second floor. The three windows in the back were preserved in a new hotel room.

 Historic and modern touches blend seamlessly in the hotel area and rooms.

 The original corridor, bottom left, used to lead the way to Roma Italian Ristorante, however, in the recent remodel, Romas has been relocated to the back section of the first floor. The new space features a much more open, brightly lit environment.