Aberdeen Magazine March/April 2021

ESTABLISHED BY READERS, FOR READERS

➼ Every book enthusiast dreams of curling up with a delicious read in a cozy book store. Elizabeth Svensen took that dream one step further by opening the Corner Book Shoppe.

Feelin’ our content? You really should subscribe ;-) Do it now at aberdeenmag.com/subscribe

REGULARS

04 FROM THE EDITOR

06 BUZZ

Your source for what’s happening in Aberdeen.

14 CALENDAR

Never miss an event in the Hub City.

32 WATCH

Here’s your next binge: The Queen’s Gambit, a Netflix series that follows the unlikely story of an orphan who rises to fame for mastering the game of chess.

68 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Aberdeen Magazine wants to hear from its readers!

68 THE ABERDABBER

FEATURED CONTENT

16 THE EYE OF A CRAFTSMAN

Wood artist Mike McHugh can take a family memory and turn it into a clock, piece of furniture, or home decor item exquisite enough to pass down for generations. Browse a collection of his beautiful work.

22 THE HANDMADE STORE

There’s a new option in town for purchasing handmade gifts year-round! Step into the Bee Hive, a store buzzing with wares from area crafters, makers, and creators.

24 A HISTORY OF BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD

Since launching in 1932, the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota has raised millions of dollars and coordinated large philanthropic causes in our region. See how far they’ve come in the past 89 years.

ON THE COVER

➼ Have you seen this building? Chances are probably not, as it was completely demolished in 1944. But in its prime, it was a signature landmark for the entire region, serving as Aberdeen’s first federal courthouse and post office. Get to know this impressive structure and the senator who brought it to life in our cover story on page 62. Photo courtesy of Troy McQuillen.

TRAPPED: THE REPORTER INSIDE THE PARENT WITHIN

➼ In his book, sports media veteran Dave Vilhauer talks about the challenging role of being a sports parent and how to get it right. Hear why he wrote the book and his real-life experiences in sports parenting.

DRIVEN VOLUNTEERS

➼ Around 60 Aberdeen volunteers work together each week delivering warm meals to seniors and anyone struggling with health or mobility issues. Meet a handful of these dedicated Meals on Wheels drivers.

38 LITTLE, NEEDED UPBEATS

Even if you don’t know someone personally who is in a nursing home or assisted living, there are plenty of ways you can support the elderly and their caregivers through the pandemic. Find out how.

42 PAUSE AND REBOOT

The Aberdeen Area Diversity Coalition strives to connect the diverse groups of people in our community. Here, they share thoughts and examples for bringing everyone together despite the challenges of COVID.

44 BETWEEN PANDEMICS

One of Aberdeen’s signature buildings will soon be gone, but that doesn’t mean its stories have to disappear with it. Discover how it came to be after one pandemic and torn down during another.

46 PROTECTING THE PACK

Last spring, many college students and studentathletes faced abrupt cancellations and season closures. A year later, see how NSU is continuing to move forward with COVID-safety protocols in place.

50 MANUFACTURING OPPORTUNITIES

So, you’ve probably heard of DemKota? But maybe there’s more to this beef manufacturing hub than first meets the eye. In this story, go on a tour of the facility and see it for yourself!

NO, WE DON’T JUST TELL PEOPLE NO

“Our goal is to grow and develop the city, not hinder it.” Learn about Aberdeen’s Planning, Zoning, and Code Enforcement Department and how they manage essential responsibilities that affect our daily lives.

THE LEGACY OF SENATOR JAMES KYLE

After an impromptu speech went viral, a beloved Aberdeen reverend found himself rather quickly serving in public office. Find out how he helped the Hub City thrive by launching our first federal courthouse and post office building.

ast year at this time, we were so excited to have the Aberdeen Central High School Show Choir on our cover to celebrate their successful season. I remember feeling super happy for these local kids to be highlighted in this way because it isn’t every day show choir makes the headlines. Then, just before they were about to host a big competition here in town in March 2020, COVID caused their momentous season to abruptly come to a halt.

Editing this issue that you’re about to read, I couldn’t help but notice how, one year later, the pandemic still touches almost every story we publish. I would never have imagined we’d still be talking about the virus so much, and sometimes I admit I don’t want to be, but I think it’s close at heart because we’re all reflecting on how far we’ve come since last March and comparing life from then to now. How we do business, run nonprofits, get an education, work, participate in community activities, and live has all changed. You’ll see a firsthand look at real examples of this as you browse these pages. The part that amazes me most is our ability to make these changes and keep moving forward. I already have it marked on my calendar for March 2022 to look back on this issue and see how much we talk about the virus one year from now compared to today. I’m hopeful it’s barely a thought.

Jenny Roth MANAGING EDITOR

If you’re ready to start reading, definitely flip to our cover story on page 62. It’s a really cool history piece on our first federal building and the senator who made it possible. We’re also sharing a behindthe-scenes tour of DemKota, stepping inside some local businesses both old (The Corner Book Shoppe) and new (The Bee Hive), admiring art from woodworker Mike McHugh, talking about sports parenting with Dave Vilhauer, and getting to know the City Planning Department.

Wishing you all a wonderful spring! //

 CONTRIBUTORS

 JOSIE CLEMENS is an intern at McQuillen Creative Group and a senior at Presentation College studying communications. She enjoys reading, writing, and solving puzzles in her free time.

 JENIFER FJELSTAD is a journalism and French major studying at Augustana University. In her free time, she enjoys dancing in hiphop and pom styles with the Augustana Spirit Squad.

 SUSAN SCRUPSKI is a writer, filmmaker, advocate, and publisher. She enjoyed a long career in the tech industry, and now spends her free time photographing the beautiful South Dakota landscape.

 DANIEL WISE was born and raised in Aberdeen and grew up living in Washington, D.C. When not spending time with family and friends, Daniel loves watching and writing about soccer.

 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 human service programs in our community.

MANAGING EDITOR

Jenny Roth jenny.roth@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 jenny.roth@aberdeenmag.com

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 2021 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. PUBLISHED BY

FOLLOW US

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

 JAMES HEISINGER is a junior at NSU and a writer for Northern's newspaper, The Exponent. He writes movie reviews and serves as president of the NSU Honors Club.

 KAYLYN DEITER is a freelance editor, writer, and publicist. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, you can find her walking around downtown Aberdeen with her fiancé, Joe, and their fluff-ball of a dog, Belle.

 SHEILA RICHARDS is an original stakeholder in the Aberdeen Area Diversity Coalition, presently serving as chair. Now retired, she has worked as a teacher and as an ordained clergy for United Methodist congregations in South Dakota.

New Chef Brings Fresh Menu Items To Aberdeen The “Golden Ticket” For Movie Lovers

Movie lovers now have the chance to punch their “golden ticket” and enjoy the newest blockbuster releases in a totally revitalized setting thanks to the addition of Golden Ticket Cinemas at Uptown Aberdeen. The movie theater franchise took over the nine-screen theater previously run by AMC late last year—complete with reclining seats, updated cleaning procedures, and a whole new look for Aberdeen cinephiles to enjoy.

“The reception we’ve received so far has been really great,” manager Bryan Simpson said. “We’re focusing on giving a town like Aberdeen the theater it deserves.”

Simpson said that despite the new wave of movies going directly to streaming services, he’s been encouraged to see people still wanting to get out and enjoy the experience of seeing a movie for the first time on the big screen. It’s a trend he hopes continues as people get more comfortable being out and about again.

“We’re hopeful in how smooth things have been going,” he said. “We’re planning to keep improving and keep showing this place love.”

// - Kaylyn Deiter

 Golden Ticket Cinemas is open daily. For showtimes, visit aberdeen. gtcinemas.com.

The restaurant at Moccasin Creek Country Club has a new executive chef as of this past October. Jerry McGuire (no, not of '90s rom-com fame), is a Missouri native who found himself back in South Dakota after visiting in his younger years. McGuire has worked as an executive chef for 32 years, deciding last year that it was time to get back into the country club world.

“Things have been going really great since I got here,” McGuire said. “I’m really happy with the response from the membership. It’s been fun to get to know them, and they’re very open and honest with me about what they like.”

McGuire has added a handful of new items to Moccasin’s menu since his arrival last fall, including his best-selling lobster ravioli, whiskey sirloin, Chilean sea bass, and towering filet mignon—a signature dish of his for the last 20 years. More revamps are also in the queue for this spring, such as a twopound stuffed Maine lobster and a sashimi platter.

“My approach to food is that I want every item on the menu to be a home run,” McGuire said. “The key is to buy the best ingredients you can and treat those ingredients properly. I’m always looking for some kind of ‘wow’ factor.” // - Kaylyn Deiter  Moccasin Creek Country Club is open for dining Tuesday through Sunday. To see their menu, go to www.moccasincreekcc.com/ banquets_dining.

Photo by Troy McQuillen

Photo by Stephanie Ludens

 Jerry McGuire is adding signature dishes to the Moccasin Creek Country Club dining experience.

 The movie theater inside the Aberdeen Mall recently revealed an updated look with reclining seats.

Country Club Care For Your Canine Companion

Hub City dog lovers rejoice!

There’s a new option in town if you’re looking for daycare, boarding, or grooming for your four-legged best friend. Enter Canine Country Club—the Aberdeen location of the boarding and daycare franchise that first started in Brookings. Dogs can be dropped off Monday through Saturday during the Club’s morning hours and picked up again in the evenings. It’s a new take on pet care that locals have embraced whole-heartedly since the Club opened this past December.

“It’s going really well,” manager Ryan McCutcheon said of business so far. “We’re seeing new dogs every day and

getting a lot of inquiries.”

McCutcheon said social media has been huge for drumming up new business and getting Canine Country Club’s name out there. As the company continues to grow, the high-quality care, flexible hours, and friendly atmosphere will undoubtedly remain trademarks of this new home-away-from-home for your pet.

// - Kaylyn Deiter

 Canine Country Club is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM for drop off and Monday through Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for pick up. (Saturday pick up is from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.) To learn more, visit www.caninecountryclubsd.com.

Calling All Coin Collectors and Hobbyists!

Mark your calendars for the weekend of March 6 -7. For two days, the 53rd annual All Hobby Show will present some of the best coin, stamp, baseball card, and other collector hobbies at City Lights in Aberdeen.

The All Hobby Show is hosted by the local Ringneck Coin and Stamp Club, a nonprofit that has been meeting since just after World War II.

Andy Heinze is the club president and owner of Gold N Gems on Main Street. He said collecting coins can have a dual-purpose. “Some people do it just for a fun hobby, and others do it for an investment, similar to collecting guns.”

2021 will be a larger Hobby Show than in years past, as it will be held in partnership with the South Dakota Coin and Stamp Association. Heinze said visitors can expect to browse 25-35 different collections from hobbyists across the state. // - Jenny Roth

 The All Hobby Show is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Sunday. Admission is 50 cents for children and $2 for adults. For more details, call 605.262.0952.

Photo by Troy McQuillen

Photos by Stephanie Ludens

 The Canine Country Club, 521 Production Street North, offers daycare, boarding, or grooming for your pup.

 Andy Heinze of Gold N Gems shows an example of some collector items that will be on display at this year’s All Hobby Show.

COVID Vaccine Clinics Are Underway Zapoya Delivers More Choices For Dining At Home

Aberdeen hospitals began administering COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020. Tess Moeller, COVID vaccine coordinator and vice president of operations at Avera St. Luke’s, said vaccine distribution is directed by the CDC and South Dakota Department of Health.

“Area hospitals are simply a vehicle to get the vaccine to the folks that need it and have been prioritized by the DOH.”

The DOH released a timeline for who can receive the vaccine and when. Aberdeen area residents can visit www.avera.org/covid-vaccine or www.sanfordhealth.org to stay up to date on eligibility phases and get the latest instructions for receiving the vaccine in town.

Sanford and Avera both started by administering a COVID vaccine by Moderna. It is a two-part shot with 28 days between doses. Moeller said they can’t confirm if it will be a yearly vaccine, as research is still ongoing. According to the CDC, “Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected.”

There are no out-of-pocket costs to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Moeller added, “We highly recommend getting vaccinated and trust the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness very much.” // -

Jenny Roth

Did you know Aberdeen has a locally-owned restaurant food delivery service? If you’ve seen vehicles zipping around town with the Zapoya logo, that’s them! Zapoya Delivery has been in the Hub City since 2018, first launching as Zip Dish. The South Dakota-based company also has locations in Brookings and Watertown.

Owner Erin Dudley said they partner with 14 (and counting) locally-owned restaurants and franchises in Aberdeen to bring hot, fresh food to your home or office. Patrons can visit their website at www.zapoya.com to browse menus and place an order. Zapoya delivers between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM for lunch and 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM for dinner. Since the pandemic, they’ve added a contact-free delivery option as well.

Erin talked more about how COVID-19 has impacted their business in Aberdeen. “When restaurants had to close for dine-in, we were able to hire servers, hosts, and bartenders as drivers because delivery requests increased.” She said some of those drivers are still with the company today.



For the most current updates on the COVID vaccine in South Dakota, visit www.doh.sd.gov.

“The advantage of us being a locally-owned delivery service is that we are just a text away to help our restaurant partners or customers with anything they need.”// -

Jenny Roth

 A complete list of lunch or dinner options that can be delivered by Zapoya is available at www.zapoya.com.

 Zapoya brings local restaurant food to you. Pictured L to R are team members and drivers Daniel Ayers, Cami Dudley, Carissa Larson, Erin Dudley, Anastasia Hoven, and Malerie Henschel.

Photo by Troy McQuillen

 A staff member at Avera St. Luke’s receives the COVID vaccine in January.

Photo courtesy of Avera St. Luke’s.

Local Online Infant and Children’s Boutique Opens

Julie Fischbach, owner of Mainstream Boutique in Aberdeen, recently launched an online shop featuring baby and children’s clothing and accessories. The new venture, called Trendy Littles Boutique Co., came from frequent customer requests and inspiration from Nikki Reigle, a new mom and buyer at Mainstream. Reigle said, “We are passionate about finding the cutest pieces for all the adorable littles in your life and strive for quality items that are unique and affordable.”

Trendy Littles Boutique Co.’s sizes start at newborn and run through youth XL. Gifts and accessories are also available, including teethers, bibs, swaddles/ blankets, nursery decor, and much more. Everything can be purchased through their website or private Facebook group, with free pick up available in Aberdeen.

If you have a trendy little in your life, keep an eye out for Trendy Little Boutique Co.’s new affiliate program, where customers can earn compensation for the use of photos with their child in the shop’s attire! // - Josie Clemens

 To shop Trendy Littles Boutique Co., head to www.trendylittlesboutiqueco.com or find them on Facebook.

 Trendy Littles Boutique Co. features online shopping for baby and children’s clothing and accessories. Photo courtesy of Trendy Littles Boutique Co.

Reiki Spa Offers Energy-Enhancing Services

In a time when stress and uncertainty are arguably at an all-time high, it’s helpful to know there are places out there where managing that stress and tapping into positive energy is not just a nice bonus but the main focus. That’s the case for Natasha Valnes-Jorgenson, owner of the newly opened Vibrant Life Spa and a medical reiki master. Valnes-Jorgenson’s job is to provide her clients with ways to remove and/ or block negative energy from their bodies and minds, leaving them instead with healing energy both for themselves and those around them.

“Our entire body is made out of energy,” Valnes-Jorgenson said. “The energy that surrounds us impacts us in positive or negative ways. Within a reiki session, I connect on an energetic level with my client—most of the aliments we have stem from our energetic system.”

Vibrant Life offers a variety of energy-based services to clients, including reiki energy work, halotherapy, holistic life coaching, polychromatic light therapy, ionic cell cleanses, and sound and vibration therapy. Clients can book an appointment through the spa’s Facebook page. Valnes-Jorgenson hopes she can provide services that will help get her clients back on track, physically and emotionally.

“We need to be empowered to get our bodies back working the way they can and the way they deserve,” she said. “We all deserve to work on an energetic, emotional, and physical level, but we often underestimate what our own bodies can do.” // -

Kaylyn Deiter

 Vibrant Life Spa is open by appointment. Clients can book online at www.facebook.com/vibrantlifereikispa or by calling 605.742.4183.

A True Welcome Center For Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau invites everyone to stop by their new location at the Malchow Plaza, 506 S. Main Street, Suite 1. Executive Director Casey Weismantel said the CVB moved over the New Year holiday.

“We packed up on December 30, took the weekend to settle in, and hit the ground running by opening on January 4.”

Weismantel said the Malchow Plaza will be a focal point for Aberdeen locals and visitors alike, making it a perfect fit for the CVB. “The Plaza is going to be the meeting place for Aberdeen and a true welcome center. We’re glad to be a part of it because we want to be more accessible to residents looking for help hosting an event and to people traveling to this area.”

If you’re holding an event or convention in town, the CVB is here to help you plan and find the best location, and their services are free of charge. They also promote area tourism and assist visitors in getting the most out of their trip to Aberdeen. // -

Jenny Roth

 You can check out the new CVB headquarters during their regular hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information, head to www.visitaberdeensd.com.

 Natasha ValnesJorgenson opened her new business, Vibrant Life Spa, at 415 South Main Street, Suite 305.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 The Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has moved to the Malchow Plaza. Pictured is CVB administrative assistant, Cindy Beard.

5G in Aberdeen? Not So Fast…

Did you get one of those 5G phones for the holidays? Well, we checked in with City Manager Joe Gaa on when 5G would actually be available here in Aberdeen. He told us we were “ahead of the curve” and that he didn’t really have a timeline yet. He said the city had begun doing some background research but wasn’t able to discuss it until they learned more.

If you’re not familiar, 5G is the fifth generation of cellular mobile communications. It will ultimately replace where we are now with 4G LTE. Carriers began rolling out 5G in a handful of cities in 2018 and mobile 5G in 2019.

Implementing 5G within a city requires new infrastructure, ordinances, zoning, and a host of new considerations. It’s a massive step-change in increased speeds, bandwidth, and low latency. Yet, once we have it, they say 5G will rock our world. When fully implemented, experts claim 5G will be more significant than the Internet in changing how we entertain, travel, work, and communicate.

All we need right now is a little patience. // -

Susan Scrupski

2021 MARCH & APRIL

AHBA HOME & GARDEN EXPERIENCE

March 5 -7

Holum Expo Building, Fairgrounds

Adults $2. Kids free.

 The Aberdeen Home Builders Association invites you to their 20th annual home and garden show. Browse vendors for inspiration on turning your house and yard into a home. www.aberdeenhba.com

BOWLING BASH

March 7, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

The Village Bowl

$300/team

 Grab your friends and come bowl with Aspire and the Aberdeen Wings! 30 lanes will be available, and each team gets one Wings player. www.aspiresd.org

THE HANDMADE MARKET

March 13, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Dakota Event Center Free admission

 Shop a collection of handcrafted items, repurposed furniture, and farmer’s market goods from various vendors, all under one roof. www.dakotaeventcenter.com

MARCH MADNESS 3D SHOOT

March 13 - 14

Whitetail Bowmen Indoor Range

$12 - $40

 Compete in a two-day archery extravaganza hosted by the Whitetail Bowmen Archery Club. Adult, family, and youth divisions. www.whitetailbowmen.com

18

BEER & PIZZA PAIRING

March 18, 7:00 PM

One-Legged Pheasant Brewery

 A 4-course beer and pizza dinner, featuring unique pizza flavors and brews. Tickets are $30 each, limited, and available at www.jimmysaberdeen. com. All attendees must be 21+ and ID will be checked at the door.

18

JAZZ CONCERT

March 18, 7:30 PM

Jewett Theater, NSU

 Join the Northern State University Jazz Bands as they entertain the public with a spring jazz concert. www.northern.edu

STATE “B” BOYS

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 18 - 20

Barnett Center, NSU

 Cheer for the top class “B” boys basketball teams in South Dakota at this annual contest in Aberdeen. For a game schedule and team listing, head to www.sdhsaa.com

19 26

DAKOTA SLIDEWAYZ BULL RING 300

March 19 - 21

Aberdeen Mall

 Aberdeen’s radio-controlled car club is host to this three-day racing championship. Over $2,500 in cash and prizes awarded. www.facebook.com/dakotaslidewayz

FUZZY AND BROWN BEAR GO FISHING

March 26

Aberdeen Community Theatre

 A children's theater audio play written by Aberdeen native Michelle Schaunaman and illustrated by mother and son duo Lora and Nick Schaunaman. www.aberdeencommunitytheatre.com

STATE WRESTLING

TOURNAMENT

March 26 - 28

Barnett Center, NSU

 The South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association presents its state wrestling match-up. Competition starts Friday evening and continues through Sunday. www.visitaberdeensd.com

SPRING BIG BOY TOY SHOW

March 27 - 28

Holum Expo Building, Fairgrounds

Free admission

 Plan your summer fun and browse campers, ATVs, boats, and more larger-than-life outdoor accessories. www.hubcityradio.com

 Beer & Pizza Pairing

 Fuzzy and Brown Bear Go Fishing

NATIVE SOUL ART: 11 DEGREES OF TATANKA

Through May 3

Johnson Fine Arts Gallery 202, NSU

Free admission

 Artist Jerry Fogg uses threedimension mixed media to teach Native American culture and history. Fogg’s work features painted buffalo skulls, buffalo hides, and found objects combined with painting and beadwork. www.northern.edu

ROADRUNNERS

PANCAKE FEED

Sundays, March - April 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Yelduz Shrine Center

$6

 Start your week on the right foot with a homemade breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and biscuits. www.yelduz.com

KNIGHT FOR A PRINCESS April 17, 4:00 - 8:00 PM Aberdeen Central High School $30-$60

 Dads, grandpas, and uncles can escort the young princesses in their lives to an evening of cupcakes, dancing, photos, and crafts. www.aberdeen.k12/sd/us

ABERDEEN WINGS

MAR/APR 2021 SCHEDULE

FRI. MAR. 5 VS. AUS

FRI. MAR. 6 VS. AUS

FRI. MAR. 12 @ STC

SAT. MAR. 13 @ STC

WED. MAR. 17 VS. MNT

FRI. MAR. 19 @ MNT

SAT. MAR. 20 @ MNT

FRI. MAR. 26 @ MNW

SAT. MAR. 27 @ MNW

FRI. APR. 2 VS. MNW

SAT. APR. 3 VS. MNW

TUES. APR. 6 @ MNT

FRI. APR. 9 @ STC

SAT. APR. 10 @ STC

FRI. APR. 16 VS. BIS

SAT. APR. 17 @ BIS

THU. APR. 22 @ MNT

FRI. APR. 23 @ BIS

SAT. APR. 24 VS. BIS

FRI. APR. 30 @ STC

ZOOM DRAWING CLUB

April 6, 4:00 - 4:30 PM

Hosted by the K.O. Lee Aberdeen

Public Library

Free

 A group Zoom program teaching children ages kindergarten through second grade how to draw animals. Beginners welcome! To join, sign up on the library’s website at www.aberdeen.sd.us/22/Library.

AUCS SPRING CONCERT

April 9 - 10, 7:30 PM

Jewett Theater, NSU

 Get ready to laugh with The Pirates of Penzance, a show that follows the hilarious escapades of a group of amiable pirates. Brought to you by the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony, NSU Theatre, and NSU Opera.

RONCALLI BALL

April 23

Dakota Event Center

 Don’t miss this school fundraiser featuring delicious food, music, and auction items. Thankful to be back after having to cancel in 2020, this year’s theme is Gratitude Gala. www.aberdeenroncalli.org

ZOOM COLORING CLUB

April 27, 4:00 - 4:30 PM

Hosted by the K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library

Free

 Color and share book recommendations with other tweens and teens via Zoom. Simply register at the library’s website (www.aberdeen.sd.us/22/Library), and they will let you know when to stop by and pick up your coloring sheets.

Red denotes home game Get your tickets online at tickets.AberdeenWings.com!

*Schedule subject to change. Follow AberdeenWings.com for more information.

Rob Stiehl

STATE FARM ® INSURANCE AGENT 522 S. Arch Street Suite A

Aberdeen, SD 57401 605.824.3372

www.robertstiehl.com

 11 Degrees of Tatanka

The Eye of a Craftsman

Mike McHugh is always on the lookout for ways he can turn a piece of wood into a work of art.

When you walk into a room where a beautiful table or an elegant clock centerpiece immediately catches your eye, you get the sense that this is more than just a place. It’s a home with a story. Mike McHugh is a local woodworker who crafts pieces like this. Many of his creations have a little bit of history, and all of them will make you stop and look twice.

Maybe his care for the story behind an object comes from his own roots in this area. Mike grew up on a ranch between Aberdeen and Colombia and resides there still today. He attended a one-room country school for eight years before heading to Aberdeen for junior high, high school,

by JENNY ROTH

and college. After graduating from Northern, he took over his family’s ranch, which was initially founded by his dad’s stepfather, Isaac Lincoln of the NSU Lincoln Hall namesake. Here, Mike farmed for over 40 years before his retirement.

Before farming, Mike had dabbled in woodworking as a kid in his local 4-H club. He particularly remembers his dad buying a Shopsmith in the 1950s, a tool he still uses today. But once he started farming full time, understandably, fixing the ever-present broken fence or barn door took priority over woodworking as a hobby. It wasn’t until he retired some 15 years ago that he could pick up his tools again just for fun.

“I started by finding unique pieces of wood and making clocks,” he said, “and that’s evolved to include crafting tables and other furniture items or home display pieces.”

Mike said he keeps one ear to the ground for wood that has an unusual color or grain. This includes checking out stores that sell imported wood when visiting other cities, buying pieces of Redwood when he and his wife Mary made the trip to California a few years back, and creating things from area trees that have died or been cut down.

He mentioned local boxelder wood as an example of the latter. “I really like to use boxelder in small items like clocks because it has this nice red and pink grain in it.” To find this wood, he’ll

 Mike McHugh uses several varieties of wood to create original pieces filled with dimension and color.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

notice limbs that have blown down or broken off or places where these trees have died and can be cut.

Mike said he tries not to put any stain or artificial color on his pieces. “The finish can sometimes change the coloring a little bit, but I try to do everything without adding any additional color. That way, what you see is just the beauty of the wood itself.”

A favorite part of woodworking for Mike has been helping family and friends preserve memories. He made a clock for a neighbor out of the lumber from a tree his mother had planted back when she was a rural schoolhouse teacher. He also made a table from the elm trees his grandmother planted on the family ranch 100 years ago. From these same elms came a bar top and 13 tables for his daughter and son-inlaw’s business, Obscure Brewing Co. in Sioux Falls. In these cases, you get the sense that it’s as much about having something that was close to the person who planted the tree as having something made from the tree itself.

The thing Mike enjoys the most about his craft is the challenge of coming up with a new idea and trying to put it together. He likes making pieces that you don’t see every day, as well as things he’s never done before. Right now, this includes working on a five-drawer, flat file storage cabinet for his niece so she can store and file her canvases and sketch sheets. Before that, he built his family’s big-screen TV entertainment center. It’s not unusual for a family member to fall in love with a style of furniture they

Local Art Galleries

WEIN GALLERY

Presentation College

 1500 North Main Street

 605.229.8349

 Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM

PRESIDENT’S GALLERY, JFAC GALLERY AND STUDENT CENTER GALLERY

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

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

Aberdeen Mall

 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

see at a store and for Mike to “whip them up” a similar piece on his own.

Mike is mostly a self-taught woodworker. He often spots project ideas in magazines, finds a piece of wood that he thinks will work, and gives it a shot. He’s able to work year-round at home, having converted part of a former horse barn and machine shed into a heated woodworking shop.

He joked, “If I had to make a living doing this, I don’t think it would be very good because of the time it can take me to make things.”

But, he added, for a retired person, it’s a great hobby. “I can come out here and spend as much, or as little, time as I want to and make things.”

 Mike McHugh’s pieces are available for commission at the ArtWorks Gallery in the Aberdeen Mall. To reach him for a custom order, call 605.380.1793 or email McIrishSD@yahoo.com.

 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 and 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

ESTABLISHED BY READERS, FOR READERS

In a technology-filled world, places like the Corner Book Shoppe, where you can still unplug and get lost in a good book, are a true and welcomed gift.

by SUSAN SCRUPSKI

There’s something Pavlovian about entering the Corner Book Shoppe at 5th and State St. The bell jingles above the door, and a jolt of adrenaline triggers a salivating response as I walk in and scan all the book titles I can take in at one glance. The red tartan wallpaper that crowns the dark bookcases makes me feel like I’ve literally stepped inside a large gift box of infinite possibilities. It’s all here: mystery, fantasy, romance, history, science fiction, popular fiction, westerns, nonfiction— you name it. If you love to read, you’ve walked into a book lover’s dreamscape.

The Corner Book Shoppe is a refuge in an increasingly mad-paced world of electronics and 21st-century gadgetry. For someone who’s spent her career writing about technology, this beautiful bookstore across from Kessler’s grocery store is a treasure island without wires that can calm the mortal soul with the flip of a page. Quiet and unassuming, the bookstore has anchored Aberdeen citizens through many years of economic ups and downs.

How many years? Well, going on nearly two decades now. Store proprietor Elizabeth Svensen always dreamed of owning a bookshop. She was supported in her desires by her late husband, Dr. William Svensen, the popular town veterinarian. Together with their son, he even built all the stained wooden bookshelves you see

in the bookshop that cascade back through the store in a maze of twists, turns, and alcoves. Yet, make no mistake– the success of The Corner Book Shoppe belongs to Elizabeth Svensen, her staff, and her loyal customers.

Where turnover in retail businesses in Aberdeen has been a challenge in recent years, the Corner Book Shoppe’s resilience can be attributed to the loyalty of its customer base, the in-depth knowledge of the staff, and the care taken with the books themselves. As a used bookshop, each book cover is inspected, pressed, and carefully sanitized with a 70% alcohol solution before it goes on the shelf. This practice was put in place well before COVID-19.

The pandemic put a small dent in the shop’s business. The shop had to close for a few weeks, but Svensen credits strong support from the community keeping the store open in the form of Chamber of Commerce gift certificates

and a supply of hand sanitizer and masks for customers. She is grateful to the generous bookshop patrons who’ve donated books to the shop, as well as Olaf Hanson at Dacotah Bank, who helped secure a forgivable Payroll Protection Program loan to help see them through the 2020 economic downturn. “We are now looking forward to the coming year with enthusiasm and renewed optimism,” she said. Customers grew up with The Corner Book Shoppe. One customer I spoke to, Maria Esser, said, “I’ve been coming since almost the beginning.” As a toddler, her son used to play with the toys that are always left for children under the bench beneath the front window. He’s now 15. She said she comes by at least once every couple of months. Linda Nelson, a shop employee, said customers come from 100 miles away because they’re here for their doctor or dentist appointments, but they always stop by.

 Pictured L to R are the staff at the Corner Book Shoppe: Linda Nelson, Kelly Face, Owner Elizabeth Svensen, and Mary Elsen Svensen. They are standing in front of a collection of books from the late Charles Howard.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 About 20,000 books from every genre you can think of line the store’s shelves.

ELIZABETH SVENSEN ON THE LOVE OF BOOKS

“Like many others who like to read, I had long thought of owning a bookshop. When Duane and Karen Mewing, the owners of Remember When, an antique shop located in a hundredyear-old building (it had most notably been the site of George and Elizabeth Kessler’s first Kessler’s Grocery), were ready to retire, I bought the building. I was very fortunate when Kelly Face, who had worked at Courtney’s Books and had recently returned from serving in the Peace Corps in Botswana, South Africa, agreed to work at the shop. And equally fortunate when Linda Nelson agreed to join us. Mary Elsen Svensen would later become our indispensable bookkeeper and book scout. They all love to read and to share that love with others.

The bookshop is now entering its 18th year. We have always placed great importance on children’s books, and we now have parents who were brought in by their parents bringing in their children. School librarians also come by to replenish their libraries. There is a book written by Munro Leaf (the author of Ferdinand The Bull) in the early 1940s that we especially like to recommend. How To Behave And Why is a much-loved classic, illustrated with charming stick figures, that teaches proper behavior to young people. We think it serves as a gentle reminder to adults as well in these fractious times. Mary first discovered this book, and we go to great lengths to keep it on our shelves.

“New customers,” as she looks behind her, “are surprised when they discover there are 15,000 books back there.”

Kelly Face, the store manager and longtime employee of the bookshop, joined Svensen a couple of years after she opened. Face has an encyclopedic knowledge of nearly every one of the 20,000 or so books in the shop. With a B.A. in English and library science, a master’s degree in the book arts, and a love of reading that matches Svensen’s and Nelson’s, Face makes it her business to help every customer find exactly what they came in for that day. When I asked her what she liked best after all these years about working at the bookshop, she said without hesitation, “Oh, book people are

the best. I don’t even have to try and sell. They’re prone to buy.”

I asked Face if she thought ebooks hurt the market. She had an interesting response: “The Kindle has found its level,” she explained. “Some people will use it a little; some all the time. But it’s not a new toy you need to play with. The online sales will always be there. Quite a few people like hunting the bookstores; they like browsing. They like to meet the books when they’re going through, and look at them, see them, and get to know them before they buy them.”

A great place in Aberdeen to get to know books is the Corner Book Shoppe. No doubt about that. //

I am often asked what my favorite book is. I always reply Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Martinez. It is a richly-detailed accounting of the fifty years, nine months, and four days of Florentino Ariza’s unrequited love for Fermina Daza. I also like to read the novels of John Le Carre and Daniel Silva, an author that an attorney from Britton recommended to me. Robert Crais is another author whom we all like, especially his book Suspect and the K-9 Corps German Shepherd dog Maggie featured in the book. I am also very fond of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin mysteries. David McCullough is one of my favorite historians as well as Doris Kearns Goodwin and Walter Isaacson, and I recently enjoyed reading The Wright Brothers and The Pioneers. Linda especially loves reading books on history. She and I always say Kelly reads everything.

On a personal note, having recently turned 81, I believe more firmly than ever in the importance of reading. Books not only enrich our lives, but they expand our world. They expose us to other points of view. They inform us and entertain us. And they can comfort and soothe us in troubled times.”

 The Corner Book Shoppe has been in Aberdeen for nearly 20 years. It is located in a hundredyear-old building that was also the first Kessler’s Grocery.

The Handmade Store

Something’s abuzz on First Avenue as The Bee Hive connects area artisans and crafters with shoppers looking for that one-of-a-kind item. by

The continued presence of a global pandemic that deals in keeping a distance and not gathering in large groups has been a hazard for many industries. One that maybe doesn’t come to mind right away: the local crafting scene.

Artisans, makers, creators—really, any kind of crafter, have been forced to reckon with a year devoid of craft shows and fairs—the common, and sometimes primary, source of income for those who depend on selling their creations for their livelihood. It’s a sorry situation for makers and lovers of unique, handmade goods alike.

But as is usually the case with the human spirit, when forced to come face-to-face with the absence of one thing, something new usually springs eternal in its place. Enter The Bee Hive, the newly-opened, all-handmade store on First Avenue across from Central Park.

The shop opened late last fall after owner and crafter Belinda Jepsen saw the building become vacant and had the itch to start something new. Jepsen’s husband owns Premier Auto nearby, and the two were familiar with the lot as a storage spot for Premier’s tow trucks and equipment. It was only after Jepsen thought about creating a space to showcase local art that the idea for The Bee Hive came to fruition.

“I’ve always liked arts and crafts, mostly

KAYLYN DEITER

quilting,” Jepsen said. “We thought it would be nice to have a place to showcase art year-round and for vendors to have the chance to display their items more than just three or four times a year at a craft show.”

The Bee Hive officially opened last October and has experienced a steady influx of vendors and customers ever since. The beauty of the store is that it gives makers an opportunity to sell their creations to a broader audience.

Right now, Jepsen said the store is featuring products from 20 to 25 different vendors. She purchases the items at a discount or wholesale price, then resells them in the store. It’s a business model that benefits both the maker and the purchaser of every handcrafted item The Bee Hive has on display.

“There’s not necessarily a theme or criteria to what we sell,” Jepsen said. “it just all has to be handmade by the artist. Pretty much

Photos by Troy McQuillen

Pretty much anything I think is unique, cool, or different we’ll try to feature.”

 Crafter Belinda Jepsen (left) runs The Bee Hive. Her daughter-in-law Hannah Jepsen (right) also loves to craft and has been instrumental in getting the store up and running.

 The Bee Hive is home to a wide selection of handcrafted home decor and gift items.

Some of those items include large wicker baskets Jepsen found from a vendor in North Dakota, crochet hand towels, handmade cards, etched glassware, jewelry, and the ever-popular wooden signs. True to its name, The Bee Hive also sells beeswax candles and honey from local beekeepers, but the presence of those items isn’t how the store got its name.

Jepsen and her husband have been married for 34 years. One of his favorite nicknames for

her has always been “Bee.”

“We have a building behind our house where I would do crafts,” Jepsen said. “My husband made me a sign that said ‘Bee’s Hive,’ and we put it on the building. When we had the idea for this retail space, I just thought we had to incorporate that somehow.”

In addition to her husband, other family members of Jepsen’s also play a crucial role in The Bee Hive’s success. Her daughter-in-law, Hannah, is a naturally crafty person, Jepsen said, and has been an enormous support to

have around as the store opened. Plus, Jepsen’s granddaughter, also named Hannah (she refers to the two as Big Hannah and Little Hannah, respectively), has taken to running the store’s Facebook page, talking to customers, and going live on social media whenever The Bee Hive has something important to announce.

“I absolutely love having family around,” Jepsen said. “They love helping, and I love having them here.”

Though business is steadily growing despite opening during the pandemic, Jepsen said she continues to have high hopes and big plans for her handmade store. New vendors are always welcome to join the group Jepsen lovingly refers to as her “busy bees” (The Bee Hive serving as the place for vendors to show off their “busy work”). Makers of any variety can contact Jepsen via the store’s Facebook page or by simply stopping in on a Saturday during business hours if they’re interested in becoming a vendor.

Other ideas, such as art classes, a self-serve coffee bar, and a grab-and-go craft section where customers can purchase a kit to make their own creations at home, are all things Jepsen would someday like to incorporate at The Bee Hive, she said.

But for now, the focus of The Bee Hive remains on its customers and vendors—offering a unique place to shop local and bring art home one crochet hand towel or beeswax candle at a time.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say that it’s wonderful to have a store like this in Aberdeen where you can see other people’s work,” Jepsen said. “I’m just hoping we can stick around for a long while and feature new vendors all the time.” //

 The Bee Hive is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays. For more information, visit thebeehiveaberdeen.com

anything I think is unique, cool, or different we’ll try to feature.”

 Crafters and artists in all kinds of niches, from jewelry to koozies to scrubbies, can sell their items at the store year-round.

 A few items on display at The Bee Hive include handmade signs and candles.

A History of Bringing Communities Together for the Greater Good

2021 marks 89 years of raising money and supporting local nonprofits for the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota. Here, the organization looks back on what has changed since their early days in Aberdeen, and the things that have always remained the same.

by UNITED WAY STAFF

n February 13, the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota celebrated 89 years of service.

Originally incorporated in 1932 as the Aberdeen Community Chest by H.C. Jewett, Jr., C.A. Draeger, and I. N. Douglas, the United Way has since been an integral piece of the nonprofit tapestry in our region. With the help of many giving folks, they have raised millions of dollars to help numerous for-good programs over the years.

In 1932, the United Way’s inaugural year, the nonprofit raised $22,175. In 2019-2020, eighty-eight year later, over $860,000 was raised, including a special COVID-19 relief fund. A detailed analysis of pledges from the 1930s shows the average pledge amount was just over seven dollars. The annual campaign drive happened consistently under the auspice of the Aberdeen Community Chest until 1970, when the organization incorporated as the Aberdeen Area United Way. The name would change two more times, in 1977 to the Brown County United Way, and again in 1999 to the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota.

While our United Way’s focus will always be intertwined with fundraising, we have developed into a coordinating agency that can see the big picture of philanthropy in our region. Because of our relationship with many of our region’s nonprofits, the United Way often coordinates combined efforts for the greater good. In May 2006, the United Way, along with FEMA, the city, and county officials, coordinated relief efforts related to flooding. Again in 2020, the United Way was asked to lead the nonprofit response

 The United Way of Northeastern South Dakota was first incorporated in 1932 as the Aberdeen Community Chest, raising $22,175 in its first year.

via Brown County Emergency Management as we faced a worldwide pandemic. I like to think that our United Way has a 30,000-foot view of all the incredible things our area nonprofits and businesses are doing in this region. My hope is that this was part of the vision our original founders wanted the United Way to become for our area.

Viewing the minutes and notes from the past

 1932 meeting minutes and newspaper clippings from the United Way's earliest days show a longstanding dedication to collecting funds for local charitable organizations.

89 years, you walk through nearly a century’s worth of our community’s history. Names that reside on schools, parks, and street signs fill the notes from years gone by. While the names and dates have changed over time, one firm belief resides throughout our story, as Margaret Mead so eloquently stated,“Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” //

Trapped: The Reporter Inside

Dave Vilhauer’s book teaches sports parents

children’s athletic careers.

by PATRICK GALLAGHER

Some years ago, during a close high school boys basketball game between two good rival teams, the best player on one team committed a foul. While one side cheered and the other booed, a fan in the front row jumped up and pointed at the player. Immediately feeling stupid, I quickly sat down, hoping my action had been invisible amid the excitement of the game.

As a sports reporter for the Aberdeen American News at the time, Dave Vilhauer might have been at that game. Fortunately, I didn't see myself in the examples in his book, The Parent Trapped Within: A Guide to Sports Parenting. Maybe my eruption didn't qualify inclusion since my son wasn't in that game, but that didn't mean other kids on the court weren’t worried about their parents' outbursts. The 40-some-year sports media veteran wrote the sympathetic but critical look at sports parenting because he said,

the Parent Within

how to be supportive, positive, and understanding during their

"Being a sports parent is very difficult. Parents play a vital role in the lives of their athletes. It just shouldn’t be as coach, official, judge, and jury.” America's sports obsession doesn't make it any easier, but he’s "attempting to help change our culture one person at a time."

The book's title has multiple meanings. "Sports parents have a parent trapped inside," Dave said. "They want to help their child but only have so much control over what's going on." Some try to exert control, however, which can create problems for all involved. In addition, "Parents are also trapped in a system of competitive extracurricular activities," he said, which sometimes pits parents against each other. Tellingly, it’s not just athletic coaches who see the tensions. A music teacher told Dave, "It may say sports in the title, but I see the same things among music parents."

The challenges in sports parenting are happening in a culture in which sports has gained outsized influence, when more people watch the Super Bowl, for example, than a Presidential debate or inauguration. Given this predominance, it's not surprising how much some parents invest in their children's

athletic success, whether it's in pursuit of a college scholarship for the child or some kind of bragging rights for the parents. This leads to what Dave calls the basic premise of the book: "A parent can never want it worse than the athlete. If that's true, either the parent is overly invested, or the athlete isn't invested enough." When the parent wants it more, problems can follow, whether it's in the family, on the team, or in public.

Aberdeen Central girls basketball coach Dawn Seiler, the winningest girls coach in state history, recognized the issue, "Parent involvement is a part of sports. Some parents are only interested in their child's experience in sports. These parents are by far the minority but tend to get the most attention. Every coach has had to deal with these types of parents, and they do have a negative impact on the team experience."

As a reporter, Dave noticed the problems sports parents could bring "from day one," but he doesn't preach from a holier-than-thou perch. "I always told myself I'd never be that parent, but I've disappointed myself," he said. “You don't know how hard it is to be a sports parent until you are one." The book has several examples of bad

Photo by Troy McQuillen

"I always told myself I'd never be that parent, but I've disappointed myself,” he said.

“You don't know how hard it is to be a sports parent until you are one.”

 Dave Vilhauer worked as a sports reporter for years before becoming a sports parent. He shares an honest account of this unique perspective inside his book, The Parent Trapped Within: A Guide to Sports Parenting.

behavior by sports parents. The only perpetrator Dave identifies, however, is himself, but "if I look bad because of the stories about myself,” he said, “that's okay if people learn to avoid the traps I fell into."

The other person who frequently appears by name is Dave's son Isaiah, an Aberdeen Christian graduate who played basketball and tennis. It’s only natural a book about sports parenting by a sports parent would feature stories about the writer's athlete child. Isaiah graduated in 2018, and the book came out in 2019. "The timing was fortunate,” Dave said, “since it was when I 'graduated' from being a sports parent." For his part, Isaiah said, "I didn't think I would have such a prominent role in his book," but "It was fun to see a different perspective other than my own during those sports moments."

Dave insisted, "This is not a parent trashing book" and repeats that it's hard to be a sports parent. He wants to change the world, but the aspiration begs the question: would the people he’s concerned about read a book like this? Maybe. After all, parents who overdo it are not lost causes; they care about their kids. "I think it is important to remember that almost all of

Amanda Lautenschlager MS, LPC-MH Woody Schrenk MA, LPC-MH

Dr. Darren Jilek Ph.D.

Heather Aldentaler MS, LPC, LAC

Photo by Troy McQuillen

 Dave’s book also features stories with his son Isaiah (at left), who played basketball and tennis for Aberdeen Christian.

these actions are coming from a place of love. Parents want what is best for their kids,” said Roncalli varsity football coach Billy Young, whose coaching began in his home state of Texas. “Coaches want what is best for kids as well, but we have to balance what is best for the individual with what is best for the team and the program, and that is not always a comfortable position to be in."

Coach Seiler added, "These decisions are not personal, but they are decisions that you have to make for the good of the team. Most people get that." Sometimes they don't, and sometimes it's very visible. But maybe it will help if they see themselves.

IN THE STANDS

Dave gives examples of a variety of lamentable sports parenting behaviors. Still, it's fair to start with the antithesis of the overinvolved parent: the absentee parent, the one who attends few or none of their children's contests (without justifiable reasons, that is). Obnoxious parents can embarrass their children; invisible ones might discourage them.

But the book is primarily about helping parents

avoid unhealthy actions. A common parent trap is the timekeeper/lobbyist who pushes to boost their children's playing time or spot on the team, which can put them at odds with other parents. Again, music, drama, and speech parents recognize this too. Dave admits he once talked to a coach about where he thought Isaiah ranked on the tennis team. Early in Coach Young’s Texas career, when he coached softball, he moved a girl who had worked hard to play catcher to first base. "I broke the news to her, and as expected, she was disappointed but seemed to accept it," he said. Later that day, while he and his wife were on their way to a Valentine's Day dinner, the player's mom called, and Billy "spent the next 40 minutes listening to her explain how stupid and heartless I was."

For some parents, it's a legacy thing. As Isaiah described, "One of the biggest things is for parents to not try and relive their glory days through their child." He added what would seem an obvious point, "Parents shouldn't force their child to participate in a certain sport because they liked that sport when they were younger."

Another example is the "expert" in the stands. Dave noted that the proliferation of televised

WRITING THE BOOK

Dave had always wanted to write a book, but he wasn't sure what to write about. He recalled, “One night I was lying in bed and I felt that God was telling me, ‘OK, go ahead and write a book. Here’s what you should write about, here’s what you should call it, and here’s how you should go about doing it.’” He felt inspired to go this route even though he'd never thought of the topic before. Since publication, he's done book signings and readings and appeared at state tournaments and other activities to promote the book. "It's been a challenge, baring my soul in the book and talking about it," he said, but the response has been overwhelming. "The book has been out about two years, and it's gaining momentum." Besides endorsements by the likes of ESPN sportswriter Buster Olney, it's helped to have coaches like Dawn Seiler recommend it at a National Coaches Association clinic and in coaching clinics in South Dakota.

Another boost, he added, somewhat wryly, is that the book "doesn't have a shelf-life. The problem isn't going anywhere. I had someone tell me the book may be more relevant in 10 years than it is now."

games and the explosion of sports information has convinced fans they know everything. Coach Young once got "verbally abused for an entire game by an elderly grandma who was not happy with my play calling." He can still hear her yelling, "that play still doesn't work!" Dave highlighted the irony of a coaching shortage despite the abundance of experts in the bleachers.

Some parents also criticize their child. Billy mentioned an egregious example of a boy who had a sore shoulder because "dad wasn't happy with how he tackled in the game the previous Friday, so he had him practice tackling an old refrigerator they had stored in their barn."

There may be no more common problem among sports parents—and among sports fans universally—than complaining about calls made by officials. At one of Isaiah’s basketball games, Dave admits he caught himself yelling, "That wasn't traveling the other night." In a humorous example of overinvolvement, he mentions a parent joking that he'd noticed how much coaching and officiating improved after his kids graduated from high school. As with coaches, it's no wonder officials are hard to find.

Ron Hellwig, who was a tennis dad with Dave, remembered one of his daughter's intense volleyball matches, "The other team killed the ball that looked to be out of bounds. As I stood up to let the ref know that he was blind, Dave's book came into my mind, so I sat back down and put the match into perspective. My daughter was involved in a great volleyball match that she'll always remember, win or lose."

The book is having an impact. "People have told me they read the book and are now changing what they're doing at events," Dave said. "Someone told me their goal is to be sure they're not in my next book."

THE UPSIDE

The Parent Trapped Within is hardly only about bad examples. In addition to celebrating the positive aspects of sports parenting, Dave offers many suggestions to help parents assess their support for their athlete children, including a kind of do’s and don’ts checklist. An important point is: “Parents need to remain positive, understanding, and supportive through the peaks and valleys of athletics.”

Dave encourages parents to talk non-critically with their children about a competition, but maybe to wait a day. One of his checklist points is "Allow your son or daughter to share the joys and frustrations of athletic events without letting your own opinions take over the conversation." According to a reliable witness, it works. "The best parts were the reflective moments after the sporting events," Isaiah said. "I really enjoyed

recalling certain plays or certain moments during those events that helped result in the outcome of that game or match."

Watching sports is also fun, particularly with people you like. Youth sports offer chances to get to know parents of children's teammates as well as opponents. From treats at elementary games to high school team dinners or post-game gettogethers, socializing with other sports parents is much preferable to competing with them.

"I've always believed there were valuable life lessons for those who participated in extracurricular activities,” Dave observed. “Until I wrote the book, I didn't realize the lessons to be learned by their parents." Two of those lessons in his parent checklist involve fundamental parenting jobs, role modeling, and love:

“Always respect the game, support your children to the best of your ability, and handle every situation with character and class. That is the best way to handle the parent trapped within. Parents, don't take these years for granted. They promise to be the most emotional, stress-filled, unpredictable, joyous, meaningful, and rewarding times of your life.”

"The message,” Dave concluded, “is to enjoy it while you can. There's a sunset clause on being a sports parent. The time will come when you won't be able to enjoy it anymore."

So sit down, watch, and cheer (don’t boo or point fingers). It’s better for you and your child. //  For information on purchasing The Parent Trapped Within: A Guide to Sports Parenting, visit theparenttrappedwithin.com.

“People have told

 The Parent Trapped Within: A Guide To Sports Parenting has been out for a couple of years. It continues to impact parents and help them positively support their athletic children.

Photo by Troy McQuillen

me they read the book and are now changing what they’re doing at events,” Dave said.

“Someone told me their goal is to be sure they're not in my next book.”

Driven Volunteers

by JENIFER FJELSTAD

those carefully prepared meals because George brings the food right to their doorsteps.

George is just trying his best to help out in Aberdeen. So, when Jackie asked him to deliver meals around town, his answer was a resounding ‘yes.’ “He was retired, very outgoing, and liked to keep busy,” Jackie said. George wakes up each morning to a newspaper on his doorstep. As he skims the names in each article, he knows almost everyone. He likes that. Living in a small community has given George the chance to volunteer for everything from the film festival to the state chili contest.

or the last 45 years, Aberdeen volunteers have delivered special diet meals as Meals on Wheels to seniors and anyone who may be struggling because of health or mobility issues. The program is run from the Senior Center in partnership with Avera St. Luke's.

The Senior Center’s director Jackie Witlock and activities coordinator Laura Latt work together to organize volunteers, recipients, and meals for the program. Meals on Wheels has one staff member packaging and organizing meals cooked by Avera staff.

Then, the 60 volunteers’ mission is to deliver the meals to community members. In Aberdeen, meals roll from Avera St. Luke’s to the tables of between 70 and 90 senior citizens each day.

The volunteers’ visits also act as wellness checks, so seniors can feel safe that someone will always drop by to check on them. “The best benefit is having face-to-face contact with a person every day,” said Jackie, who’s also been delivering meals for six years.

Those interested in getting involved can call the Senior Center at 605-626-3330.

A Man Of The Community: George P. Sullivan

George P. Sullivan drives his car from Avera to the east quarter of town around 11:00 AM each Tuesday. He waves and honks to friends as he goes along. In the back seat are a bag of hot food and a bag of cold food prepared by staff at Avera specific to each client’s dietary needs. But people don’t need to stay in the hospital to get

Once he knocks on the door, George exchanges a special meal and a kind “hello” to the same senior citizens he sees every week. While he loves seeing Aberdeen residents smile at their delivery, he said he doesn’t volunteer with hopes for thank-yous. “If you’re in it for the gratification, you’re really losing out on what the whole concept is,” he said. George has been delivering Meals on Wheels for more than three years at only the request of a friend, and in doing so, he continues to support the tight-knit community he loves.

10 Years On A Roll: Glenn Denning

For Glenn Denning, it’s all about the friendly chatter with each person that he delivers to. Sometimes he just has to say, “I gotta go because my food’s getting cold,” and that keeps him moving along his route. Reaching his last stop, he would visit with the man living there for up to half an hour.

Jackie noted that Glenn’s wife, who’s since passed, used to receive Meals on Wheels. “It’s

Community, friendship, and family are what inspire Meals on Wheels volunteers to keep on delivering.

 Lois Chapin and Glenn Denning are friends from church who deliver meals together for Meals on Wheels.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Jackie Witlock, director for the Aberdeen Area Senior Center, has been delivering meals for the past six years.

so rewarding seeing somebody that used the program come back and then volunteer,” Jackie said. Retirement brought plenty of free time for Glenn, so when he heard a request at church to ride along with Meals on Wheels, he didn’t refuse. Now, he delivers with a driver and friend from church, Lois Chapin. July 2020 marked Glenn’s 10th year of being a dependable volunteer.

Glenn’s reliability means he’s always on time and makes sure the right meals go to the right people. A couple of times, he returned from his route and found the south route’s packages still there because of a mix-up in scheduling. He climbed back into the car and delivered the second route too.

Over the last decade, Glenn’s route has changed as different people need help from Meals on Wheels. Glenn takes his weekly visits as an opportunity to check in with the people about their health and well-being. “Sometimes they don’t see anybody else the rest of the day,” Glenn said. He knows the program is essential

for people who can no longer drive or cook for themselves. When Glenn volunteers, the name on each meal is not just a label but a friend who needs that exact dinner.

Delivering Together: Glen and Marcy Opp

Marcy Opp recalled delivering for Meals on Wheels to a lady with flower pots in full bloom all over her living room. The pair of master gardeners would connect over gardening techniques and their families.

Glen Opp remembered bringing dinner to a WWII veteran who gave him deep insights about America today. Those friendships characterize Meals on Wheels for Glen and Marcy.

For the past year, the married couple of 47 years has delivered Meals on Wheels together. The high school sweethearts say their teamwork and quality time have only grown as they drive meals to the south side of town each Tuesday. The Opps’ two sons were always encouraged to interact with the elderly

and volunteer their time to help others. And their six young grandchildren are likely to do the same. “We were both brought up that way,” Marcy said, “and passed it on to our children and grandchildren.”

Marcy hops in the passenger seat with the master list of about 20 meals, and Glen gets behind the wheel. At the same time, as social distancing procedures are vital for safety, the two friendly deliverers are disappointed they can no longer chat with people as they drop off meals.

Jackie said, “They’re just so caring and genuine. The people that they meet, everybody says, ‘Oh, they’re the nicest couple.’”

The Opps are happy to go above and beyond for the people they help. For a Vietnam veteran who had trouble navigating snowy sidewalks in his wheelchair, that meant Glen and Marcy were happy to shovel the sidewalk. Friendly connections like that inspire them to continue volunteering and to share the joy of giving with their own family.

//

If you’re in it for the gratification, you’re really losing out on what the whole concept is.”

– GEORGE P. SULLIVAN

 George P. Sullivan’s weekly delivery route for Meals on Wheels is just one of his many volunteer commitments to the Aberdeen community. Photo by Stephanie Ludens.

 Glen and Marcy Opp have been married for 47 years and recently started delivering meals together. Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels.

 Pictured are Norma Nielsen (left), senior center meals on wheels coordinator, and Dawn Cramer with Avera. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

How You Can Help

When we asked nursing homes what the Aberdeen community can do to support their residents, they all said the same thing:

Most importantly, wear your mask, social distance, and when you can, get your vaccine.

“The best thing we could all do as a community is to wear our masks and honor social distancing guidelines,” said Nathan Gelhaus. “It’s not a political issue; it’s simply showing a level of respect for each other and goodwill toward your neighbors.”

LITTLE, NEEDED

UPBEATS

by JENNY ROTH

Remember that feeling of running to the mailbox as a kid on your birthday? How you couldn’t wait to see which grandparents or aunts and uncles had sent you a card or maybe even a gift?

As an adult, your neighbors might start talking if you run to your mail. But I think that little spark of excitement is still with us, birthday or not. There’s always hope that something you’ve been waiting for will be there. Maybe it’s the magazine you love (like this one!) or a letter from a friend. Whatever it is, it brightens your day because you feel closer to the person who sent it, even if distance keeps you apart. Since living through a pandemic, that feeling has become more precious than ever.

Our elderly and nursing home residents in Aberdeen are not miles away from us, but the distance they feel from the rest of the community has grown significantly during COVID. While many of us use technology to help fill the gap of not being with our loved ones as often, we know this doesn’t completely fill the void. This is especially true for our senior population.

Jamie Forrest is a physical therapist working out of Prairie Heights Healthcare for in-home patients, nursing homes, and assisted and independent living facilities. She explained, “The pandemic does affect those of us who were relying on technology and smartphones to communicate beforehand, but maybe not

“The most impactful thing you can do to help us get past this thing is wear your mask,” agreed Tom Snyder. “We need to get our community healthy so that we can start opening back up and getting back to normal again.”

Next, check on your loved ones who live alone. Jessica Rehder said, “Make a point to call them at least once a week. If you live by yourself, it’s definitely not easy to be isolated for so long.”

And if you’re able, use the mail to send residents little things that will boost their day or give them access to the outside world. Some ideas could be:

• Cards or letters

• Snacks or goodie bags

• Notepads and pens

• Puzzle books, crosswords, or word searches

• Pen pal letters

• Stationary

• Coloring books

• Postcards with stamps

“Small gestures like these help us to feel like we’re still connected to the community,” Snyder said.

Even if you don’t have a loved one in nursing home care, you can still help.

Rehder said, “You don’t have to know someone personally. Nursing home staff will know which of our residents do not have family and could use a little something extra, and we will pass your gifts on to them.”

THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR OUR ELDERLY COMMUNITY. HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP.

Photos courtesy of Primrose and Avera Mother Joseph Manor

 Avera Mother Joseph Manor staff Megan Streier (left) spends time with resident Karen Goodall.

to the point that it affects our elderly. For this generation, texting or facetime is entirely new, and they are suffering even more from the lack of personal communication because it just doesn’t compare to visiting face-to-face with your family.”

She added, “Getting mail matters to them so much because that’s what they’re used to.”

Jessica Rehder, sales director at Primrose Retirement Community, agreed, “This generation resonates with handwritten cards and notes. They love to walk to their mailboxes and see what’s there. It means so much more to them.”

Not all Aberdeen residents in assisted living and long-term care facilities have family who can mail them letters or things to do to stay busy. This is where individuals, churches, and businesses in the community have stepped in.

Rehder said, “We have been so lucky during this season. We’ve had cookies delivered by local sports teams, cards dropped off by strangers, musicians playing in the parking lot, decorated cars and parades outside. People are using their

Above and Beyond

“I can’t say enough about what our staff has done during COVID,” said Nathan Gelhaus.

After an outbreak hit their facilities in October, Angelhaus went from having zero cases one day to 13 positives out of 25 residents the next. It was a challenging few weeks with staff being out sick and many of their residents bedbound. “Everyone stepped in to do things that normally would be outside of their roles to get us through, from cooking in the kitchen to cleaning and everything else that needed to be done.”

Jessica Rehder said that throughout the virus, especially during the restricted visitations phase, staff have had to play the role of family and visitors along with their typical responsibilities.

talents just to entertain our residents and be there for them.”

Primrose also partnered with an Aberdeen school to pick up artwork from the students once a week. They hung it in the hallways, and the residents wrote notes back to the students. Tom Snyder, administrator for Avera Mother Joseph Manor Retirement Community, shared similar stories. He added that care facilities have also worked hard to maintain safe outdoor and indoor visiting areas for their residents.

During the holidays, all it took was a few Facebook posts for the Aberdeen area to pitch in and donate over 900 cards for nursing homes and assisted living residents here and in several surrounding communities. Forrest and her family helped with this holiday project by getting cards for all the Primrose locations in town. She said it hit home for her how much even this small gesture means to people when one of her patients showed her the card she’d received.

“My patient didn’t know it was from me right away because we had just written in the cards

“Most staff working in senior living have worked short-handed due to coworkers being out because of the virus. When COVID hits their personal circle, you have a situation where a frontline worker, who is not getting compensated enough for all they do in the first place, has to miss work for 10 to 14 days. So along with their health, the virus is affecting their paycheck, and affecting their coworkers who are working short-staffed.”

Tom Snyder added, “I could not be more proud of our staff. They’ve met so many challenges from the virus with dedication to our residents and this facility. We’ve had some difficult times, and our staff has pulled together, helped each other out, and been so compassionate with our residents. It’s beyond what I could have hoped for.”

He listed wearing masks and face shields for long periods of time, going through COVID screening and testing daily, adhering to extra infection control, and social distancing measures, working more shifts, helping families through this time of limited visitation, keeping residents active and engaged during quarantine, and grieving when a resident loses their fight with the virus as just a few of the things he’s seen nursing home staff handle all at once with grace.

 Clockwise from top left: Residents at Avera Mother Joseph Manor were able to spend time with their families at outdoor visiting areas last summer. Brenda Fortin made quilts for Primrose residents. A nursing home resident visits with a loved one following social distancing and mask protocols. Aberdeen Cougar Hockey players, Madie Witte and Lauren Scheel, baked over 200 cookies for Primrose residents.

‘from your friends in the Aberdeen community.’ She was in tears when she showed it to me because she was so touched to know that people thought about her. The kindness of someone going out of their way to send a card to a stranger seems so small, but it can mean so much, especially when you aren’t able to go out and about and see others like you used to.”

Everyone we spoke to for this story who works with the elderly said they have seen an emotional, mental, and physical decline in their residents due to the isolation brought on by the pandemic. Rehder talked about this specifically. “First and foremost, the hardest part is not seeing their friends and family. Along with that, it’s also difficult not to see your medical team in person. The medical teams have been amazing, but when you meet a patient virtually, it’s just not the same as seeing the whole person face-to-face.”

She added that even for residents who don’t fall ill with COVID, the virus still causes a decline in health because of the isolation. “This is

especially hard for people with dementia who haven’t seen their loved ones in so long. The decline that happens with that disease is so hard, and it’s so hard on the families too.”

Nathan Gelhaus of Angelhaus Retirement and Assisted Living echoed these thoughts. “It’s one thing to get the virus and know what’s happening to you and why you feel sick. But it’s entirely another if you have severe dementia and don’t understand why you don’t feel well or what’s going on.”

Navigating a pandemic is awful. Doing so without immediate access to the outside world via your computer or smartphone creates a lack of human contact that most of us can’t imagine.

Forrest said, “I think of my teenagers who can just pick up their phone, send a text, and instantly be talking with their friends. It’s hard to understand what it would be like not to reach people or hear from the outside world whenever we want to. That’s why anything that comes in through the mail—letters, crossword puzzles, postcards, is so important. It doesn’t have to be big, but these little, needed upbeats just give residents an extra boost in their day and are so appreciated right now.” //

 Residents of Primrose Cottages wave to participants in a drive-by parade outside their facility. Over 35 antique, vintage, and new decorated cars showed up for the event.

A new family to the area needed a way to get their children to school. Ride Line is full. Taxi service is limited. There are no in-town school busses. An AADC stakeholder said, “I can help that family.”

Someone from Presentation was looking for Native American regalia. Amazingly, you guessed it, an AADC stakeholder said, “I have what you need. Come and get it.”

During the holiday season, stakeholders were made aware by Liesl Hovel, AADC vicechair and development director for Lutheran Social Services, that the children at the New Beginnings Center would not be able to go home for Christmas. If one were exposed to COVID and exposed others, New Beginnings would have to “pause” for weeks. Liesl asked for help. Individual citizens and organization stakeholders came to the rescue to make a Merry Christmas for those youth. A shout out to Liesl for her energy. (And she shouts out to all who helped make an awesome holiday.)

Pause and Reboot

 Pre-COVID, members of Aberdeen’s Somali community hosted a meet and greet at the library where over 400 people gathered to eat delicious food and get to know each other.

this introduction to a regular column by the Aberdeen Area Diversity Coalition, the organization reflects on the challenges of connecting people during a pandemic and their hopes for the future.

by SHEILA RICHARDS

The Aberdeen Area Diversity Coalition’s purpose is to creatively connect the diverse cultures in the Aberdeen area by addressing unmet needs, providing information, and partnering with one another to develop cross-cultural experiences and promote dialogue and understanding. Whew!

“Pause and reboot” are the words that best describe the AADC’s work during this pandemic. A friend recently put it this way with regard to all our lives, “COVID has caused us to make peculiar adjustments every day.”

The AADC’s first pandemic “pause and reboot” was not being able to hold our regular in-person meetings twice a month. For the duration, the meetings are now on the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM on Zoom. These virtual get-togethers are

like a giant switchboard connecting people to people. Remember Ernestine on the comedy show Laugh-In? (I am old.) Today’s term would be “networking.”

Even with the “peculiar adjustments” of COVID, the AADC has been able to make connections. We heard of a need for iPads for non-English speaking families. An AADC stakeholder said, “I can fix that.”

Worldwide, there is an immediate need for food distribution that has only been heightened by the pandemic. We know several local organizations that provide food have had to “pause and reboot” and make “peculiar adjustments,” too. COVID has placed a long pause on many in-person meals. “Pause and reboot” for them has looked like graband-go holiday meals and well organized drive-by food banks.

Still, there is no “peculiar adjustment” that can take the place of sharing meals in person. Unfortunately, AADC stakeholder Gordon Tree Top reported that the regular study night for Native American youth is on a long pause. These study evenings begin with a meal, as eating together is just as important as tutoring a math lesson.

The AADC is looking forward to post-COVID plans when people can gather to sing and dance and eat together at meet and greets. These events are one way to take that first, often hesitant, step to get to know people of other cultures, including the new Americans (refugees and immigrants) in Aberdeen.

It will be a great day when the in-person pause button is set to resume for people to people events.

Pausing. For now. //

 Any civic organization, business, church representative, or concerned citizen interested in joining the AADC as a stakeholder can visit aberdeencoalition.org or email revrich@abe.midco.net

In

Photos by Greg Smith

 AADC chair, Sheila Richards (left), visits with members of Aberdeen's Somali community.

Between Pandemics

A hospital born in the aftermath of a pandemic faces demolition after another.

by TROY MCQUILLEN

By now, most of you have heard the incredible story of how the Presentation Sisters conceived a strategy to move a four-story brick building from Lincoln Street to State Street in 1940.

It was a great idea and probably saved them thousands of dollars when considering expanding St. Luke’s Hospital. After being hoisted up, the building edged out onto Lincoln Street, headed north toward the Brown County Courthouse, turned right onto First Avenue Southeast, then proceeded east toward State Street. It then headed south on State and backed into its final resting place on the corner of Third Avenue. Soon after, a handsome bridge was constructed, linking the two hospital buildings. The building, previously known as Lincoln Hospital, became known as the Annex and was used extensively over the years by St. Luke’s. It is now referred to as Lourdes Hall.

However, as times change and hospitals require state of the art facilities, the Annex will be demolished in March, along with the bridge. Both have been condemned for years, and neither suits the hospital’s plans for growth. Avera has plans for several buildings along Third Avenue and is coordinating demolition with maintenance projects planned by the city.

When a building disappears, many connections and stories also disappear with it (see our cover story), but alas, buildings aren’t meant to last forever. Here’s a little background on the Annex.

After the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918, it was determined that Aberdeen did not have enough beds to care for the growing city. A

 The

group of physicians and surgeons built a clinic on the corner of Lincoln Street and Fifth Avenue Southeast, across from where the YMCA would be built. The clinic still stands and is now used as apartments by the Murdy family.

A year after the clinic opened, a four-story hospital/hotel was built right beside it to the north with the capacity for 90 beds. Aberdeen architect, John W. Henry, designed both the Murdy Clinic and the new Lincoln Hospital. If one reads between the lines, the Lincoln Hospital could be considered a competitive, Protestant hospital to that of St. Luke’s. In fact, the Masons were also planning a hospital at the same time. It was reported that the Murdy’s sought support from the Masons for their venture. Apparently, it worked out. According to an Aberdeen Daily News report of the grand opening in 1920, it was called Lincoln Hospital, not for Lincoln Street, but rather Dr. Robert Lincoln Murdy. Most of the building served as a hotel, while the upper floors acted as the medical facility. In fact, the exam and surgical rooms were located on the fourth floor.

Dr. Robert Murdy died from an infection resulting from a scratch inflicted while performing surgery. Upon his death, the hospital fell apart, the depression began, the building changed hands a few times, was foreclosed on, and finally closed in 1938. It was last used as a nursing home. The Sisters purchased it in 1940 and hatched the idea for the “big move.” It is oddly poetic that a pandemic contributed to the birth of this building, and another pandemic will bookend its demolition. //

four-story structure you see here was originally on Lincoln Street as Lincoln Hospital. In 1940, the Presentation Sisters had it hoisted up and moved to State Street, where it became an extension of St. Luke’s Hospital known as the Annex. The historic building will be torn down this spring.

Photos courtesy of Aberdeen

PROTECTING THE PACK

by DANIEL WISE

In March 2020, the world of sports went silent. Games were halted, leagues shut down, and the sports networks scrambled to fill airtime. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic became a grim reality as schools and universities had to cut state and conference championship games short.

Northern State University worked quickly to respond to the crisis. In early March, NSU President Tim Downs released the first message to students and staff regarding the COVID-19 virus, discussing preparedness and prevention tips.

Around that time, Northern State University’s men’s basketball team had wrapped up the NSIC Tournament as champions when they defeated Minnesota State on March 3. They were on their way to face Missouri Southern in the NCAA Central Regional tournament, but the game was called off.

Other sports incidentally faced retracted seasons or outright cancellations. NSU’s baseball team had their season stopped after 13 games on March 12. The track team was unable to participate in the NCAA indoor championships, and subsequently, the rest of their season was canceled.

The same goes for softball, wrestling, and swimming. Some squads like NSU’s women’s soccer team, men’s football team, cross country, and volleyball lost entire seasons to the pandemic.

For many seniors, the COVID-19 pandemic brought an end to their collegiate sporting careers. These athletes had trained to compete for most of their young lives, but the health risks dictated that their seasons had ended.

Despite the abrupt end of these seasons, the NCAA extended eligibility for the vast majority of student-athletes. However, some students made commitments that wouldn’t allow them to continue.

Justin Fraase, vice president for enrollment, communications, and marketing, explained how some of these circumstances prevented their eligibility extension. “Some students already had offers for graduate school, and they elected to graduate and move on to their next endeavor,” he said.

Fraase also pointed out that it wasn’t just athletes who were affected. He added, “COVID-19 impacted fine arts, undergraduate research, speech and debate, and many other experiences that Northern prides itself in offering its students. For many, there simply wasn’t a way to make up for the cancelations.”

As summer came, and it became clear that the pandemic would not pass anytime soon, NSU’s administrators kept in constant communication with coaches and staff. Terri Holmes, associate director of athletics and compliance, told how the school communicated pandemic procedures and testing with the campus.

Holmes said, “We communicated with the coaches and then had a call with our studentathletes in August. We worked with all of them to keep them safe.” As summer passed and the fall seasons arrived, NSU made the difficult decision to cancel the fall sports seasons. Holmes stated, “The NCAA moved forward with less than 60 percent of participation rates across divisions, and the NSIC was among the conferences that had made the decision to cancel in the fall.”

With fall sports suspended for 2020, Northern focused heavily on its testing and student safety. Along with a COVID-19 informational landing page, Northern also established two task forces, one for academics and another for NSU’s return to campus in fall 2020. Fraase explained that the biggest challenge was facing a return to campus with the faculty and student body.

Despite the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, NSU was prepared and equipped to handle the situation. Fraase went on to say, “Once the semester was off and running, we managed our cases and successfully completed the fall semester on campus.”

Like most higher education institutions, Northern received CARES Act funding that helped cover expenses like on-campus testing, PPE purchases, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, improved air filters in select residence halls, and updated technology for online learning and many other operations systems.

How Northern State University responded to a global pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Northern State University

 NSU basketball players, like Kendall Kohler shown here, wear masks during games as part of COVID safety.

However, one of the biggest issues affecting Northern was the availability of supplies for things like hand sanitizer, masks, and other items. Northern continues to work with the South Dakota Department of Health and area health care providers, Avera and Sanford, to provide on-campus testing. Fraase added, “We’ve been able to provide testing for symptomatic students and have offered two on-campus mass testing events thus far.”

With the NSIC opting to start the winter sports season, Northern has stepped up its testing efforts even more. Recently, the state announced an at-home COVID saliva test for asymptomatic individuals, which Northern has promoted to students, faculty, and staff.

Speaking specifically for athletics, the NCAA and NSIC have mandated regular testing of student-athletes in order for competitions to occur. NSU has elected to work with its partners in providing on-campus testing for student-athletes, as well as symptomatic testing for all students.

NSU’s athletic training staff has been an integral part of the on-campus testing for student-athletes. With winter sports resuming, head athletic trainer, Brandon Tetrault, has managed and directed much of the testing effort.

“Early on, it was tough to see if seasons would be cut short or canceled. It’s not something you can tangibly see,” he said. Speaking of when the announcement to cancel and suspend spring and fall sports came through, he added, “It was a shock when we realized things were going to be canceled.”

As the NSIC announced that winter sports would return, NSU took steps to ensure the safety of students, staff, and attendees. Much of NSU’s direction was guided through their partnership with Sanford.

For the university, having detailed information available for students and staff helped them adapt to procedures. Tetrault said, “We communicated directly via email, and we had summer Zoom meetings to let students know what was expected of them.”

Along with a strong public information campaign, which included posters, social media, and discussions, NSU was able to keep students safe in a controlled atmosphere where the university set expectations for social distancing, mask-wearing, and hygiene.

Speaking on how the students have responded to the situation, Tetrault applauded their ability to adapt. He said, “A high percentage of people have been really good in following what we ask of

them. We haven’t had a lot of issues with people creating conflicts.”

One of the students who has set an example in reckoning with the effects of the pandemic is junior forward for NSU’s women’s basketball team, Lexi Wadsworth. For her, having the opportunity to play again makes her feel grateful. After seniors dealt with last year’s championship tournament cancelations, Wadsworth said everyone was just thankful for the chance to play.

This year, Lexi and her teammates have set the tone for the season. For them, it’s an effort that everyone needs to believe in; for the women’s team, it’s “believe, or leave.” She explained, “Our mantra this season is ‘get to,’ as in we get to wake up every morning; we get to train for the sport we love, and we get to compete again.” That feeling of gratitude helps drive them through the healthrelated protocols and multiple coronavirus tests they must complete every week.

NSU’s athletic training staff only consists of four staff members, and these trainers must conduct 100 to 300 tests per week. For

Wadsworth and her teammates, it’s become a part of everyday life. “We are all accustomed to high-time demand. So, we have been able to schedule around it. Most testing is very quick, and we really appreciate our trainers for all the work they do.”

Northern State is still following masking and social distancing advisories, but a small sense of normality is returning to the campus. In January, a limited number of spectators were allowed to attend home basketball games. Not all universities have permitted spectators to return, and for Lexi Wadsworth and her teammates, the fan presence was something they could appreciate.

It may be some time before we can go back to living as normal, but NSU is prepared for that journey. The university continues to work with its partners and keep students and the public updated on the situation. //

 If you would like to know more about what Northern is doing to combat the COVID-19 virus and how you can support its students, visit www.northern.edu/coronavirus.

of

Photos courtesy

Northern State University

 After many closures and cancellations last spring, NSU students are thankful to be back on campus and participating in events, even if it means following social distancing and COVID guidelines.

OPPORTUNITIES MANUFACTURING

an inside look at the DemKota you haven’t heard about.

by JENNY ROTH

 The staff at DemKota Ranch Beef in Aberdeen have processed just over 300,000 head of cattle annually over the past two years.

Inever imagined that I would work at DemKota,” recalled Marketing and Customer Service Manager Richelle Braun.

“Then, I went on a tour of the facility and saw firsthand how everyone here worked together,” she continued. “It was like art.”

By the time that tour was over, the lifelong Aberdeen resident had changed her mind.

“I was just in awe of the employees and what they could do, and how they took time to wave and smile at me, a stranger, as I walked by. After that, I knew I was going to work here,” she said.

Richelle’s experience of getting to know DemKota might surprise you. If I’m honest, it would have surprised me before visiting the beef processing plant back in January.

Like many of you reading this, I had always thought of DemKota as separate from the rest of Aberdeen. The large, windowless building on the outskirts of town, surrounded by a chainlink fence, doesn’t exactly give a “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here!” first impression when you drive by.

This, combined with the challenges the plant faced when it was getting up and running, and

stories that turn up in the rumor mill, and it’s easy to automatically assume it’s a place you wouldn’t want to be.

Then, we got the chance to go inside and see what DemKota is about for ourselves. The pictures on these pages and this story won’t do it justice, but we’ll try.

Richelle is right. Art is the first word that comes to mind when you step onto the processing floor. It’s a place as active and alive as any I’ve been. Every person here has a role that is crucial to the success of the entire operation. There’s no question that each employee has to be highly skilled and knowledgeable at what they do. They also have to be perceptive and careful to keep themselves, everyone around them, and the eventual consumer safe. The same was true of every department we toured, from receiving to shipping and everywhere in between.

I left wondering how they do it. How do they know how to cut and package everything just right, and right on time? Every time I eat beef, I’ll remember the 24/7 dedication and physically demanding effort that goes into getting it on the shelves.

FROM IDEA TO REALITY

The idea for a beef processing plant was first launched in Aberdeen because area producers and sale barn owners wanted a local place that could package the region’s cattle supply. The operation started as Northern Beef, but that business model ended up being unsuccessful. DemKota eventually stepped into the idle facility and began processing in 2015. Adam Bode explained how getting a new plant up and running is a major undertaking. “We’re a manufacturing plant, but we can’t run on widgets or machines, and we can’t automate most of our processes. There’s a lot of human infrastructure that goes into keeping us going every day. It’s not a situation where you can simply turn on an assembly line, and everything just happens.” While DemKota can seem like an industry giant from a local standpoint, they only make up about one percent of the industry as a whole. Four large companies control more than 80 percent of beef packaging across the country, with smaller meatpackers such as DemKota making up the rest. Adam said their advantage is that they’re able to focus on quality, not volume. “Our goal has always been to provide a high-quality product and service model.”

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 A view overlooking the production area at DemKota shows just how much human power is needed at every level of processing.

 DemKota beef is recognized locally, nationally, and around the world for being a high-quality product.

Employees from at least 18 different countries work together at DemKota, along with plenty of Aberdeen natives. Chief Operations Officer Adam Bode from Faulkton will tell you without hesitation that the thing he is most proud of the plant for is its people.

“Our people are invested in the success of the company, and we’re very much invested in them being successful as well. What we can accomplish and the quality of what we do all revolves around the people who work here. Our people are what make the company.”

He also credits his management team. White Oak Global of San Francisco owns the company, but as Adam explained, “DemKota is run locally here in Aberdeen.” They have about 800 people on staff, 97 percent of whom live in the Hub City and surrounding communities. The remaining few percent are sales team members who work remotely across the country.

DemKota has processed just over 300,000 head of cattle annually over the past two years. This number is significant because it shows they stayed within one percent of their 2019 production numbers in 2020, even with the ongoing pandemic. Very few beef packers experienced those same results. While they did reduce their volume by fifty percent for

“What we can accomplish and the quality of what we do all revolves around the people who work here. Our people are what make the company.”

 Chief Operations Officer Adam Bode credits DemKota employees for the beef processing plant’s continued success, especially during the pandemic.

 Every role on the production floor requires attention to detail, safety, and working together.

a time during 2020, they always remained open and operational, and no one lost their job due to pandemic lay-offs. A noteworthy accomplishment for an industry hit hard by the virus.

“Our people are what made that possible,” Adam said. “We devoted a lot of resources toward keeping our staff safe, both in looking out for their physical safety and in creating policies to ensure no one would lose work if they became sick. But every person also brought a high level of individual commitment to follow the expert guidelines on staying healthy. That was huge. It’s all in the people you have working with you.”

As for the future, DemKota expects a ten percent growth projection for 2021. Meaning they’ll be able to partner with more local producers for supply or take in more volume from their current farmer partners. To do this, they’ll need to expand their staff even more. Currently, Adam said they have about 50 job openings. Positions at the company range from entrylevel and manufacturing floor roles to skilled tradesmen like electricians and plumbers, office and management staff, translators, security, and many other categories.

The supply of high-quality beef is here. We have the facility for packaging it. The challenge is finding enough employees to make it happen. Before COVID, the meat processing industry as a whole (including beef, pork, and poultry) estimated it was short by about 20,000 workers. So how do you find and keep employees in an industry that is short-staffed but also highly people-driven? Adam said DemKota always has initiatives to find workers, whether that’s a refugee from a foreign nation looking for a better life or a local looking for a new career.

“Perception is our biggest enemy. We recognize that we, and this whole industry, have essentially put up a wall when it comes to letting people in on what it’s like here to avoid being presented in a negative light. Processing an animal for food can be a delicate topic. But what has happened because of that wall is that it’s assumed it’s been put up to hide negative things, which is just simply not true. We have to try and change that image because there is an enormous amount of opportunity inside this business and inside these walls, and we have to do a better job of letting people in this region know about it,” he said.

WITH PRODUCERS IN MIND

One way DemKota stands out from many beef packers is by offering a dual program for producers. Meaning they process both fed animals, young steers and heifers, as well as mature cows. Adam said, “We focus on the best-fed animals, but we also recognize cattle have a life cycle, and if the farmer-producer puts quality into their mature cows, we give them a marketing option for those as well. This is important because the average herd size of our producers is 163 head. When they have cattle at the end of their life cycle, we give them the option of putting additional value into them by feeding them a high-energy, corn-based diet and then selling them to us. This allows the producer to market both of their outputs, versus just the young, fed animals.”

 Pictured are department leadership members at DemKota Ranch Beef. The beef processing facility employs people from Aberdeen and at least 18 different countries.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

The opportunities he refers to here are for employees. A starting salary for an entry-level role is $16/hour, and for skilled tradesmen, “there is no income ceiling.” The company offers full benefits, full-time hours, and also an upcoming 30-hour, part-time shift that also includes full benefits. They are one of the top three largest employers in the region, and in the past two years, have paid over $100 million in payroll. Adam said, “We believe in local, and a significant portion of that payroll has to be contributing to Aberdeen’s businesses and local economy.”

Along with providing opportunities for their staff, DemKota is an opportunity for local cattle producers to sell their supply close to home. The next nearest beef plants of scale are in Iowa and Nebraska. It’s the producer’s responsibility to deliver their cattle to the processing plant, and Adam said DemKota gives them a chance to shorten their supply chain and lower expenses. Over the past two years, they have bought over $800 million in cattle, most of which are located within three hours of the facility and from familyowned farms.

Walking through the plant, Adam pointed out the characteristics of a ribeye that let you know by just a glance that it’s an exceptional product. His voice lit up when explaining the quality of beef that comes through DemKota. As a girl raised by cattle farmers, I’ve had a front-row seat to everything local producers put into raising their animals, so I admit, I felt a lot of pride here too.

“There is an enormous amount of opportunity inside this business and inside these walls, and we have to do a better job of letting people in this region know about it.”

 These boxes of DemKota products are ready for consumption and will soon be landing in supermarkets and restaurants locally and worldwide. The plant was able to stay open and consistent with its production numbers throughout 2020.

Photos

“The supply network of quality beef in this region is why a facility like DemKota came to be here in the first place,” Adam said. They connect the supply from local farmers to local and global sources. Ken’s SuperFair Foods has the retail footprint on DemKota products, while Cash-Wa has the foodservice footprint, selling to establishments such as Mavericks, Minervas, and Moccasin Creek Country Club, to name a few. But, Adam explained, there aren’t enough consumers in Aberdeen to eat one day’s worth of DemKota’s beef production in a year. This is where national and international customers come in.

“International consumers are typically looking for a high-quality product, and we fit that bill very well,” Adam said.

As part of an industry that has traditionally been marked as intimidating, DemKota realizes they have work to do to change that image into one of opportunity. They’re more than up for the task.

“We want to connect that high-quality supply from our local producers to consumers, and in doing that, provide opportunity for the individuals who work here to have a fulfilling career that supports their family, and in turn, benefits the community as a whole. That’s what we plan to continue to do,” Adam said. //

by Troy McQuillen

 Since COVID, DemKota employees have been adhering to even more work safety guidelines. The plastic screens you see here help with social distancing measures.

Meet Aberdeen’s City Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement Department. by

PATRICK GALLAGHER

When I asked Brett Bill if his job was a little like herding cats, Aberdeen’s city planner wouldn’t go there. Cats have a reputation for being self-centered and interested only in their own needs and desires. Clearly, Brett didn’t think the comparison was fair to Aberdeen citizens who can go out of their way to help their friends and neighbors. No matter what, however, herding cats was how it felt to try to get a handle on this story about an entity with such broad reach and impact on Aberdeen. Inevitably, some of the cats couldn’t fit in the space allowed, so this is a big but still limited picture of the department.

Big picture is still apt. Brett said the Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement Department “covers all aspects of things that happen in people’s daily lives—for example, the street network, the layout of where homes are located, setbacks from neighbors’ homes, where their favorite stores are located, where the salon or

barbershop is, and on and on.” In other words, Planning impacts where we live, work, travel, and play. Sometimes, it has to get involved at the picture’s pixel-level when it implements and enforces plans and ordinances passed due to public input and city council adoption. “People don’t like to be told what to do with their property,” he said. “We deal with the perception that we’re stepping on their rights as property owners.” In reality, “We’re trying to protect people from their neighbors and their neighbors from them,” he said. And maybe protecting people from themselves—although even that can be too much for some.

Aberdeen’s city planner and department director for 23 years, Brett ticks off Planning’s basic duties, “We direct and assist the city’s growth through many avenues, including through the comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinance. We conduct building inspections and code enforcement in town, and this is also the city health office.” When he first came to the

department in the 1990s, there were five people on staff. Now there are ten, including two other planners, who most often work directly with people at the window, which is where most of the work gets done. He noted, “The big thing here is customer service. We try to help the public and give them guidance, even if it’s not always seen that way. Our goal is to grow and develop the city, not hinder it.”

Brett is frustrated, however, that his department seems to have a reputation for denying anything residents want to do with their property or business. “Our job isn’t to tell people ‘no.’ It’s to help them do it right. We want people to be successful because then the city is successful.”

PLANNING’S PLAN

Earlier, Brett mentioned the comprehensive plan. According to the one adopted in 2019, a comprehensive plan “presents a long-range vision for the future and the steps to accomplish

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Pictured L to R are Brett Bill, planning and zoning director/ building official, Eric Miller, planner, and Ken Hubbart, planner.

that vision including a policy framework from which the zoning ordinance, site and subdivision regulations, capital improvements plan, and annual budget are guided.” The current plan is the third Brett has been involved with in Aberdeen. He wrote the first of those plans when he started with the department. The 125-page 2019 plan has a 2045 target date. It establishes goals and an implementation plan for broad aspects of city life, including population, land use, housing, business, tourism, recreation, and transportation, among others. It was developed by a steering committee composed of city staff and officials and citizens, informed by input from the public, and ultimately, adopted by the city council.

A few examples of the areas where Planning is involved will help demonstrate its work and impact. It’s important to remember that what they do is based on the comprehensive plan and related ordinances generated with public input and participation and approved and enacted by the community’s elected representatives. They don’t just come from Brett’s whim.

As suggested earlier, the department’s work impacts where Aberdeen lives, works, travels, and plays. They are less directly involved in the

last two. The comprehensive plan addresses Aberdeen roads and identifies probable future transportation needs. It also reviews recreation in the city and proposes park spaces for anticipated areas of future growth. In both of these categories, however, other departments carry out the plans. The department also has some interest in where we worship, as the zoning ordinance identifies areas that would work better for that purpose. But houses of worship have turned up in other areas without city opposition.

ZONING

Zoning is a key aspect of the department’s work. According to the department’s website, the purpose of zoning is to “establish permitted uses of land, control the intensity of its development, and to minimize conflicting land uses from being adjacent to one another.” It’s a complex process, perhaps best indicated by the fact that as recently as the 1950s, Aberdeen had just three zoning districts. Now, it has more than 20, mainly due to the need to create transitional areas between different land uses. The goal is to put some distance between residential areas and

the sounds and smells of industrial zones and the traffic of commercial areas. Brett said, “We try to keep the zoning ordinance basic to keep it clear and understandable for the public. The zoning for some cities reads like it’s in Greek.”

LIVE

Not surprisingly, where people live—in the senses of both the general areas in the city and more specifically the homes themselves—is a major focus of the department. From a macro view, zoning defines residential areas, and the comprehensive plan identifies parts of town where it anticipates future growth. Such assessments, Brett said, are based in part on whether those areas are out of the flood plain and whether water, sewer, and fire service can get there cost-effectively. Generally, he said, “We help give direction as to where the city’s growth should go, which gives direction on where infrastructure goes.”

Some of that guidance has come from housing studies done to identify needs. There have been three studies in the past decade and a half. One was completed just before the 2007 flood ruined many homes, which prompted a new study soon after. The most recent was done in 2018. Brett said, “The housing studies have spurred most development in the last 10-15 years. They showed so many gaps, all we had to do was say ‘here it is,’ to builders because there was an appetite to do the work.”

Developers work with the department to see what opportunities or pitfalls there might be in a property, for example, accessibility of existing streets and infrastructure. Brett explained, “We work with people on their ideas. We want them to

“WE TRY TO KEEP THE ZONING ORDINANCE BASIC TO KEEP IT CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE FOR THE PUBLIC. THE ZONING FOR SOME CITIES READS LIKE IT’S IN GREEK.” – BRETT BILL

 The city’s Planning, Zoning, and Code Enforcement Department provides resources to residents and follows comprehensive guides to help grow and develop the city.

be successful when they build something. We will let them know if we see problems, but we try to be straightforward and give options.” Sometimes that means looking at how one project fits with other projects. Not doing that could have adverse effects on the community for years.

When talking about developers in Aberdeen, the primary player has been Homes Are Possible, Inc. (HAPI). Brett said, “Without HAPI, we wouldn’t see the residential growth we’ve seen.” In the decade of the 2010s, Aberdeen added about 800 single-family homes. Jeff Mitchell, HAPI executive director, reported HAPI developed multiple subdivisions in the city with 500 homes, about 60 percent of the decade’s total. HAPI itself built about 250 of those, and other builders did the rest. In addition to identifying housing needs, the department’s building inspection team confirms that newly built homes are ready for occupancy.

City Planning has also helped HAPI with existing individual houses. “A lot of the infill houses we have done came through code enforcement,” Jeff noted. The department is responsible for enforcing the International Property Maintenance Code, which covers a broad range of infractions—e.g., from tall grass to hoarding to structural neglect. Typically the enforcement team investigates problems visible from the outside. Sometimes, they may get called into a home with police or social workers and see the house’s condition.

In some cases, essentially doing them a favor, the code enforcement crew referred owners to HAPI, which sometimes purchased the property, demolished the house, and built a new home on the lot. Owners whose homes had gotten out of control (speaking charitably) might see that selling the property to HAPI would be the best option, compared to fines, non-occupancy notices, and other enforcement. It’s a win for the neighborhood—which, instead of dealing with an eyesore bringing down property values, has an attractive new home—and, at least, less of a loss for the owner.

This also points to the fifth leg of the Planning stool, its role as the health department. Through code enforcement and building inspections, and inspections of food service establishments and those seeking a liquor license, the department aims to eliminate potential health hazards and promote health safety.

As Brett credits HAPI for the growth in housing, Jeff shares the appreciation, “A fairly significant amount of our success is due to the fact we work with Planning, and they work with us.” He added, “I don’t always get my way, but they’ve always been responsive. They’re fair, accurate, and consistent.”

ORDINANCES

Brett Bill believes about half of all Aberdeen ordinances are tied to the Planning Department. Ordinances are, simply, laws enacted at a level

below state government. They originate in many ways, typically because a neighbor or a business owner has a complaint or idea that can only be addressed with a new law and approaches Brett, a city council member, or the city manager to try and get satisfaction. No matter how they come to the council, Brett noted, “We always try to see how an ordinance will benefit the citizens as a whole.” The PDF of Aberdeen’s municipal code runs 674 pages.

WORK

Where we work in the city has to do with various aspects of Planning activities. It may be easiest to get a snapshot of how Planning impacts business by looking at some specific examples. While home businesses are allowed in city law, there are rules about what kind of businesses can operate out of a home in residential areas. In 1997, the Planning Department and City Commission members heard from citizens about their neighbors’ home businesses affecting home values and neighborhood peace and quiet. So Brett looked at what other cities had in place and wrote an ordinance approved by the Planning Commission and the City Commission. The general purpose was “to protect the integrity of residential neighborhoods,” Brett said, and he recalls “no real resistance at the time.” He also added, “I want to be clear that the ordinance doesn’t prohibit business in a home, but it regulates what types of businesses can be in

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Planners Eric Miller and Ken Hubbart help an Aberdeen resident at the window. Much of the Planning Department’s work happens here, assisting the public.

homes and how much of the home can be used for business.”

The issue came up in the city council in 2019 of whether the ordinance was too restrictive. Brett acknowledged, “We need to be cognizant that times change, people’s needs and wants change, but I still need to protect the integrity of the neighborhood.” In the end, he added, “I don’t think the council saw the need to relax the home business ordinance. They understood its importance.” At the time, “We heard from both sides in support of and opposition to changing the ordinance,” he said, and the council tightened it a bit to further restrict businesses in garages.

Another example looks at eating outside at Main Street businesses. This is a perk in any city, but it has been a struggle for Aberdeen. On the one hand, our smaller downtown sidewalks restrict options. On another, there has been reluctance to allow alcohol to be served outside. In 2013, the Aberdeen Downtown Association proposed the citywide ordinance that was adopted to allow outdoor dining at

restaurants that derived at least 51 percent of their income from food. This particular solution originated because other downtown businesses anticipated problems for their own shops from outdoor dining, such as congested sidewalks, and wanted limitations.

Interest in expanding outdoor dining options remained, however, and in 2020, ADA Executive Director Shelley Westra-Heier shopped around an idea to eliminate the 51 percent mandate. With buy-in from other downtown businesses, she worked with Brett and City Attorney Ron Wager to amend the ordinance. In the end, the City Council removed the food-related requirement, which freed bars, boutiques, and other businesses that sell little or no food to serve alcohol outside. It also limited how much sidewalk space could be occupied by outdoor dining and how it needed to be set apart.

Planning also plays a role in supporting existing and new business in Aberdeen. From a policy perspective, Brett said, “The city has created numerous commercial zones to spur vitality. We

have building codes to create safer buildings to help them last. Code enforcement makes for a much cleaner community. All of these dovetail to support economic vitality.” Some businesses will counter that city ordinances also create obstacles to their success, with which it may be hard to argue. Still, it offers a good opportunity to recall that ordinances don’t come out of nowhere (or from Brett’s devious mind). Someone made a complaint or a suggestion, someone drafted an ordinance for public and city council review, and it was enacted through a vote of people elected to consider the interests of the city as a whole.

The Planning Department is also often the first contact when businesses who are considering a move to Aberdeen come to look at the city. “We help them see what gaps there are,” he said. “Businesses may be looking for potential sites to purchase, and we can help evaluate options.”

Planning also works with local business development groups. One of those is the Aberdeen Development Corporation. CEO Mike Bockorny works with Planning mostly when a new business wants to build in town, and, “They have always looked and found a way to say yes.” While his needs depend on the project, he explained the basic steps. “When there’s a project, first you have to talk to Zoning to see if the land is properly zoned for the purpose in mind,” he said. “This is the easiest part of the process.” He noted that Planning helps make sure a project meets the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, fire codes, and

“WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT THAT TIMES CHANGE, PEOPLE’S NEEDS AND WANTS CHANGE, BUT I STILL NEED TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.”– BRETT BILL

 The work done by City Planning affects all aspects of our day-today lives. They make decisions based on plans and ordinances generated with public input and approved by elected officials.

so on. Finally, “Their building inspections make sure things are ready to go.”

“Whether you have a residential, commercial, or industrial project, the key is to engage Planning and Zoning prior to the final design stage,” Mike concluded. “Anyone looking to do a project should engage and ask questions. ‘What am I allowed to do, and what am I not allowed to do?’ In my experience, they’ll offer a solution or two for you—so ask!”

THE WINDOW

Ultimately, most of the department’s daily work is not planning for the future but dealing with the here and now, helping residents interpret and live within code. They really mostly work with the public at the customer window. This is as it should be. People are why the city exists and why it needs planning. That’s why customer service is so important to the department. But it doesn’t always pay off. “We hear lots of name-calling,” Brett said.

While Brett didn’t accept my herding cats analogy, he still unintentionally suggested some evidence for it in describing the nature of some encounters at the window. “Some people realize we live in a community with rights as well as responsibilities to neighbors and that we have ordinances to follow,” he said. “Others don’t care that we have ordinances to follow and can get cantankerous.” Like those self-interested cats, they might ignore the fact that while the person on the other side of the window is assessing their request, they’re also keeping in mind the neighbors who aren’t there and making sure their interests are protected too. Brett understands people get disappointed but added, “Aberdeen is small enough that you see people who have gotten mad at you all over town, and they can’t separate you from your job.”

“Planning affects a lot that people don’t realize,” Brett said, but whether they realize it or not, “they take for granted that it’s there” protecting them. Until they think it’s in their way. In those cases, and all the time, maybe the key is to remember that even the person on the inside of that window is somebody’s neighbor too. //

Photos by Troy McQuillen

THE LEGACY OF SENATOR

JAMES KYLE

by TROY MCQUILLEN

IMAGINE A HOT, 1890 Fourth of July political rally. All the gentlemen in their coats, ties, and hats; women in their petticoats, corsets, and hats. A master of ceremonies paces back and forth on a stage, nervously checking his watch. Seems the main-event speaker failed to show. Finally, he gives up and approaches a congregational minister, who was new to the area, seated nearby. He says, in so many words, “Reverend Kyle, we are in a fix. Our speaker has failed to come. We can’t wait any longer. Preacher, I know this is asking a lot, but will you give the speech?”

Crops had been consistently failing during these times, and the people were ready for something new in terms of political leanings and leadership. That’s why a county convention of reformers had gathered for a street rally on this Independence Day holiday. Reverend Kyle did oblige to say a few words to the restless crowd. When he was finished, news of his speech instantly went viral. One newspaper article reported, “The minister responded with alacrity. As he waded in, his hearers began to realize that Kyle had a speech. Curiosity gave way to fascination that soon turned to enthusiastic amazement.”

Within weeks, Populists selected him to represent Brown County in the state Senate. After beginning his term in January 1891, the Populists and Democrats joined forces and nominated him for a vacant Senate seat in the U.S. Congress. He quickly entered the Senate that same year. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

WHO WAS JAMES KYLE?

James Henderson Kyle was born in 1854 in Xenia, Ohio, near Cedarville. His family moved to Illinois, where he grew up and entered the University of Illinois Engineering Department in 1872. A year later, he was back in Ohio, graduating from college in 1878.

While preparing admission to the bar, he answered a call and turned his life toward ministry. In 1881 he married Anna Isabelle Dugot, whom he had met while they both were attending Oberlin College. He graduated from seminary in Pennsylvania in 1882. During his seminary studies, he also taught engineering.

Later, he moved to Utah and continued to teach and minister. That led to a calling at a church in Colorado. His wife then became ill and set their sights on Dakota Territory as a place to recuperate. They arrived in Ipswich, Dakota Territory, in 1885. Four years later, in 1889 (the same year as our statehood), he became the pastor of Plymouth Congregation Church in Aberdeen. He also served as financial secretary for the only congregational college in Dakota, Yankton College. By all accounts, his parishioners loved him. He was kind, he listened, and he identified with the pioneering struggles of the territory. By this time, he and

Anna had one daughter, Ethelwyn, and had lost two other daughters in infancy. The Kyle’s took up residence at 313 S. Kline Street. Later, in 1900, James H. Kyle Jr. would be born.

FROM REVEREND TO SENATOR

Interestingly, in an obscure article published later on by the Philadelphia Times, Kyle’s wife, Anna, tells the story of his viral speech with a bit more interest. She states, after the speech, he took off to Boston. While he was away, the locals came to their house to get Kyle’s acceptance to fill the state Senate position. Anna, completely without Kyle’s consent, agreed that he would be a candidate. Previously he had explained to her, and the locals, that he was but a mere minister, not a politician. As it turns out, Anna was a very influential woman who also carved out her own career in public service.

By the time Kyle entered the Senate, politically charged enthusiasts had painted him a Populist. The Democrats embraced him, yet he considered himself an Independent. However, after his first term in Congress, he seemed to be falling out of favor with the Democrats and the Populists. In 1896, the Populists controlled Congress, and it was presumed Kyle would succeed himself in the election. Growing dissonance among his party caused him to stray from the faction. In doing so, the Republicans took note and ultimately cast their votes for Kyle. Combined with a favorable showing of Democrat support, he easily won

MEET THE FIRST ABERDEEN RESIDENT TO GO VIRAL, LONG BEFORE GOING VIRAL WAS EVEN A THING.

 Portrait of a brand new Senator. Senator James H. Kyle, photographed by C.M. Bell, 1891, Library of Congress.

 Through Senator James H. Kyle’s efforts, this glorious post office/U.S. courthouse opened in 1904 on the corner of Main Street and 4th Avenue. When people see historic pictures of Main Street from Aberdeen’s early days, most confuse this building with the one on the corner of Main and 2nd Avenue (once First National Bank and Stewarts School of Hairstyling). The reality was, the 1904 post office was almost four times the size of the First National Bank building. It was closed in 1937 and razed in 1944.

This photo was given to the author by Syndey Ranney, whose family goes back to Aberdeen’s early days. The stunning quality of this photo is what inspired this story. It is interesting to note the trolley car tracks. The streetcars would enter and exit Main Street from this corner. From here, the tracks went east one block to Lincoln Street, then turned south toward Northern. The scene depicted probably dates to around 1912. This corner is best known as the home of JCPenney (inset), a tenant in the Midwest Building, which still stands here today (now RhodesAnderson Insurance).

reelection in 1897, but with allegiance to a different party. From then on, Kyle considered himself a Republican for the rest of his short life.

During his time in office, Kyle acted as chairman for the Great Industrial Commission for several years. The commission was charged with investigating questions pertaining to immigration, labor, agriculture, manufacturing, and business. The purpose was “to suggest such laws as may be made the basis of uniform legislation by the various States of the Union, in order to harmonize conflicting interests and be equitable to the laborer, the employer, the producer, and the consumer.” (The North American Review, June 1899.)

He also served on the Indian Affairs Committee and worked toward securing opportunities for employment for American Indians. He was promised the chair of the committee on territories but died before the next session started. He had been an active member of the committee and worked tirelessly on scores of laws that governed the territory of Alaska. Kyle was also a member of the committee on pensions, and his work there contributed to benefits for thousands of veterans.

Additionally, he served on committees for irrigation and reclamation of arid lands, Indian depredations, forest reservations, and game protection. The town of Kyle, South Dakota, is named after him.

Last but not least, Kyle was chairman of the Education and Labor Committee and was wildly applauded by labor groups who thanked him for what he did in the name of labor and education. On June 28, 1894, President Cleveland signed bill S.730 created by Kyle. It decreed that the first Monday of September will be celebrated as Labor’s Holiday and become an official holiday

like Christmas, New Year’s, and the Fourth of July. We now know it as Labor Day.

As you can see, the minister from Plymouth Congregation, James Kyle, was a busy guy.

LOBBYING FOR ABERDEEN

Aberdeen got started in 1881. Eight years later, South Dakota became a state. The competition was fierce for state capitals, and when Aberdeen did not receive capital status as it had hoped, general competition among South Dakota cities became even more aggressive. Many community leaders knew what it took to become a regional hub. Community amenities and essentials like municipal water, sewer, and electricity eventually came, often instigated by private individuals. Housing developments sprang up, and downtown evolved with large, multi-story brick buildings.

Senator Kyle always had Aberdeen’s best interest in mind. At the time, Aberdeen did not have a dedicated post office building. It

was always inside an established business and moved at least seven times before a permanent home for it was built. The increased activity due to the railroad traffic and business caused the most strain on the post office. Something had to be done. While I can find no direct lobbying from locals, it probably would be fair to say that local, prominent business people, who were tired of the post office being inside their businesses, encouraged Kyle to do something about it.

Kyle introduced a bill in 1897 that would appropriate $87,000 for a grand scale federal courthouse/post office building to be built in Aberdeen. It immediately passed the Senate. The House, for some reason, didn’t pass it until 1899. Then, the legislation got stalled for two years. In the meantime, Aberdeen was growing rapidly, so it was decided that $100,000 was needed for the new building. The amendment cleared both Houses and was signed into law by President McKinley on March 3, 1901. However, due to Aberdeen’s projected growth, the measure

increased to $175,000 and was again approved by the president. Construction commenced in March 1903, and the building opened on September 26, 1904. The first term of the U.S. District Court began on November 8, 1904.

Upon signing the initial bill into law in 1897, funding the building, President McKinley handed the pen he signed the bill with over to Senator Kyle. It was placed on display in the post office.

The location selected for this glorious building was on the corner of Main Street and 4th Avenue. It was designed to be a modern, efficient icon of community pride. Just two blocks away, another building that Kyle was instrumental in establishing was also being planned, Aberdeen’s new Carnegie Library. Kyle had successfully secured a $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie for the new endeavor. A personal letter to Kyle from Carnegie’s office kindly asked that the library be named for Carnegie’s boyhood friend and former president of the Milwaukee Railroad, Alexander Mitchell, who had passed away in 1887.

➼ HELP FROM THE FAMILY

Whenever I do stories on notable Aberdeen pioneers, I always look for living relatives. At the last minute, I found someone on Ancestry with ties to the Kyle family. I sent her a note and was happy to learn she is the great-granddaughter of Senator James Kyle. She has concentrated much of her research on Kyle’s wife, Anna (pictured), an amazing woman in her own right. I would like to thank Ann Hein for her insight and photos. Upon the Senator’s death, Anna Kyle, along with her children Ethelwyn and James Jr., moved into the Victorian house on Kline Street, right beside their family house. Ms. Hein says that both Kyle homes were built without kitchens. Anna died in Aberdeen in 1920, but Ethelwyn and James Jr. took off to the west.

Unfortunately, Kyle died in 1901 without seeing the fruits of these efforts. The library was only in the planning phases at the time of his death.

A TRUE PUBLIC BUILDING

The vast majority of the people used Kyle’s government building as a post office, which was on the first floor along with the land office. Other offices included the United States Court on the second floor, with rooms for the judge, district attorney, witnesses, marshal, and others. The IRS was also on the second floor. The third floor housed space for the jury, rooms for the railway mail service, and room to grow.

It was a steel structure “skinned” with Kasota limestone veneer. The basement foundation was made of granite from Milbank. In 1926, an addition was added to alleviate overcrowding and better accommodate the growing volume of mail.

In August 1935, talks began among the Aberdeen business community about the need

 This is the house that Anna Kyle and her children moved into after the Senator died in 1901. Anna is seen on the porch, and James Jr. (born in 1900) stands holding an American flag. The house still stands at 311 S. Kline Street. However, the tower and porch are now gone. It was built in 1895. Photo provided by Ann Hein.

 Anna Kyle can be faintly seen in the carriage in this picture. This is the house the Senator and his family lived in while in Aberdeen. Located at 313 S. Kline, it was built in 1887 and is still standing today. Photo provided by Ann Hein.

for a new federal building. The postal demands continued to grow and challenge the current building. Some other reasons cited for a new building included increased parking (there were more cars by now) and the need for a large loading dock with better street access. One key reason, however, was the opportunity provided by resources from the WPA and other re-employment programs. Even though the current post office worked, the city didn’t want to lose out on funds that could end up going to a different community. $400,000 was appropriated by Congress, and a new post office courthouse building was completed and opened for business in 1937 on Fourth Avenue. At the same time, Senator Kyle’s building on Main Street was shut down. It stayed locked up and vacant for many years. Then in 1944, Mayor O.M. Tiffany is seen swinging a pickaxe signifying the initial blow of the building’s demolition.

Demolition? How could a massive stone building that embodied community spirit and growth be slated for razing? Because of war. At the time of its closing, the building was turned over to the Salvage Bureau, a division of the Treasury Department who apparently did nothing with it. An assessment of the building revealed that fasteners that held the masonry together were failing, the roof was leaking, internally routed rain gutters burst, floors were buckling, and ceilings caved in. It was determined that Aberdeen could contribute greatly to the war effort with salvage from the building rather than wait for a developer who probably couldn’t justify the repairs.

The steel girders were of quality steel that was in demand for battleships. After everything usable from the inside was removed, one of the first tasks of demolition was for torchmen to sever connections of steel girders. A massive crane was brought onsite to smash through the walls. What most people didn’t realize was the building was not constructed of massive stones but rather limestone veneer that was only five or six inches thick. The stone slabs were fastened to the superstructure with steel strapping. Thus, the stone cracked very easily and was useless as salvage. After the tin was removed from the roof and the girders were pulled out (about 200 tons worth), along with heavy vault doors, the building was strategically pushed down and into its own basement. A six-inch layer of soil was compacted on top of the grave, and that was that. Senator Kyle’s legacy was gone. Other items

salvaged included brass, copper, lead, zinc, and aluminum. Wood was also saved. The demolition of the building was a several month spectacle, often drawing large crowds of onlookers.

It seems rather odd that a prime location on Main Street would have a three-story building buried just beneath the surface. Officials affirmed that if anyone were to excavate on the site, it would be easier than virgin soil because the rubble beneath was rather loose and can be removed more easily. And that happened just six years later when Fred Hatterscheidt began work on the now standing Midwest Building designed to house JCPenney, then Woolworths, a year later.

A legend that surrounds the rubble from the post office rears up on Facebook quite often. Local lore states that large stones from

➼ WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEN?

If you carefully read this story, you may have happened upon the same question I did when researching. If the pen President McKinley used to sign the post office appropriation bill was given to Senator Kyle, and it was then put on display in the building, where did it go when the building was razed? An article at the time of demolition says it was entrusted to the post office archives. I have been in touch with the GSA to see if they can track it down. Stay tuned.

 Mayor O.M. Tiffany (second from left) was photographed in May 1944 taking a symbolic swing at the post office building, kicking off the demolition. The demolition would last several weeks and was wrapped up in August. Most all the pictures were taken looking north from the Capitol Theatre building. These photos are from the Aberdeen American News from May through August, 1944, made available from the Dacotah Prairie Museum.

the building were placed around Wylie Lake for people to sit on while fishing. Articles do mention that most of the building was buried on site and compacted by the crane. But articles do say some rubble was carted off. Perhaps during the construction of the Midwest Building (home of JC Penney) in 1950-1951 excavated rubble was taken to Wylie Lake.

Surely the post office needs drove the desire for a substantial federal structure, but the Federal Court also provided a draw for Aberdeen and still does to this day. According to U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann, the U.S. District Court continues to draw a large, diverse crowd of visitors to Aberdeen. He says it was quite typical back in the day to include a courtroom with a federal post office in the same building. He suspects Senator Kyle knew that a Federal Court would be a substantial feather in the cap for the growing Hub City.

GONE TOO SOON

Senator Kyle was one of the most beloved citizens of the Hub City during his time. Tragically, he died at age 47 on July 1, 1901.

The Aberdeen Weekly News reported that even though his death was imminent after a threeweek illness, “…the announcement that the end had come caused a shock to the people of Aberdeen such as they have never before

experienced, and it brought sorrow to every heart within the limits of the city – a sorrow that is seldom felt except for a father or mother.” The cause of death was attributed to Bright’s disease along with heart complications causing pulmonary hemorrhages.

Kyle’s funeral was a national affair, held here in Aberdeen. Vice President Teddy Roosevelt appointed 13 Senators to attend the ceremony, which began at the Kyle house on Kline Street. From there, they processed to the Grain Palace at the corner of 5th and Main Street. The Grain Palace was lavishly adorned with flowers and packed with people. After the service, Kyle’s body was escorted to Riverside Cemetery in a procession of carriages reported to be over a mile long. He was buried alongside his two infant daughters on July 4, 1901, just eleven years after delivering his impromptu speech that forever diverted his career and made an indelible stamp on the city of Aberdeen. //

 The folks of Cedarville, Ohio, Senator Kyle’s birthplace, hold a special affinity for him as well. In 1947, a portrait was painted as part of a commemoration ceremony honoring Kyle’s efforts in creating Labor Day. The folks at Cedarville University were kind enough to send us a picture of the portrait that still hangs in their library. Portrait by Elmer Jurkat, photo by Lynn Brock.

 Much of the information for this story was sourced from early newspapers from Aberdeen. Clippings were found at the K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library as well as online. Particular newspapers include the Aberdeen Daily News (1938) and the Aberdeen Weekly News (1901). A chapter was devoted to Senator Kyle in Edwin Torrey’s book, Early Days in Dakota, 1925. As always, many thanks to the Dacotah Prairie Museum for allowing us to publish their archival photographs. I am appreciative of Barbara Paepke and U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann for their help in better understanding the District Court here in Aberdeen.

 This is the letter from Andrew Carnegie’s staff to Senator Kyle announcing a $15,000 grant to fund the construction of a new public library building to be built on Sixth Avenue SE and Lincoln Street in Aberdeen. It is dated March 14, 1901. The Senator unexpectedly passed away a few months later, never seeing the finished building. The letter is on display at the K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library.