The 16th Annual Commercial Club Golf Tournament was held last Friday, the Garretson Blue Jays struck out on the second game of the state tournament, and the City Council approved an architect for Phase I of the new community center/City Hall, plus much more!
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At the August 3, 2020 meeting of the Garretson City Council, they had a first look at the proposed 2021 budget, gave a positive update on the streets project, and decided upon an architect to help with planning the future community center/City Hall.
The meeting began with an update from the Garretson Parks Advisory Committee (GPAC), who noted a lot of clean-up had been going on down in the parks.
In Split Rock Park, two areas formerly covered in sucker trees and brush were being cleaned out, re-exposing some of the pink quartzite granite that attracts visitors to the parks. Several ash trees and dead trees were also being removed, moving ahead with the City’s plan to reduce the number of trees that will be affected by the Emerald Ash Borer.
They also let the council know that the sidewalk and gutter were slated to be started in the Jaycee’s Sports Complex as soon as Wednesday, and that Kwik Kerb had been installed at Devil’s Gulch. A new sign was slated to be finished and installed within the next 2-3 weeks at Split Rock Park.
Council member and GPAC advisor Jodi Gloe expressed her gratitude for the work of City employees Craig Nussbaum, Randy Megard, and Anna Uhl with regards to all the parks projects. GPAC expressed its gratitude for the willingness of Gloe and the City’s seasonal help to pursue the clean-up projects.
The ambulance gave an update as well, saying that while calls were down substantially in April and May, June and July had more than made up for that, and they were even with 2019’s call volume.
Ambulance Director Curtis Nelson let the council know that they had transported a handful of COVID-19 positive cases. None of his rostered members had tested positive so far, though one had to quarantine for two weeks after a personal exposure. The state of South Dakota will soon start asking first responders if they’re willing to volunteer for a sentinel program to ensure all members are negative for the virus.
With regards to budget, Nelson was optimistic, saying current negotiations and proposals were looking good. Unfortunately, they had been unable to do their two largest fundraisers. While they had been fortunate to receive a PPP loan and a grant from the Prairie Rose Foundation, and were in the process of looking to do a raffle, they are still in need of a new truck with a cost estimate between $150,000-$200,000. During the City’s budget reading, Finance Officer Uhl did note the ambulance’s request for its usual $40,000, plus an additional $25,000 for equipment.
After approving a fence variance request from Cindy Jorgenson, Uhl reminded the council of the Clean Up Day scheduled for Saturday, August 29. Community members will be able to bring their unwanted items to Garbage N More, located at 708 Nordstrom Ave, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Springdell 4-H will be picking up items as a fundraiser. Contact Uhl for details.
City Maintenance Supervisor Nussbaum then updated the council on the progress of Main Avenue, which is well underway. Everything was right on schedule; water and sewer lines had been replaced and the water mains were being pressure tested. The work on Main, which began July 9, is slated to be completed far enough by the end of August/beginning of September for the company to begin on the truck route, which encompasses Depot, Granite, and Railroad Avenues. The entire project is slated to be completed by November 16.
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SIOUX FALLS – Aug. 7, 2020 – In times of uncertainty, SDN Communications has relied on experienced leadership to keep the region connected.
Ross Petrick, Alliance Communications
Its nine-member Board of Managers has played an integral part in improving communities in South Dakota amid a global pandemic. The spread of COVID-19 proved the importance of having access to reliable connectivity as workplaces shifted to work-from-home environments and schools moved to online instruction.
The Connect South Dakota grant program has awarded more than $11 million to 12 of SDN’s member companies over the past two years. Combined with their investment, South Dakota’s independent broadband providers are closing gaps in connectivity that have left some rural areas of the state unserved or underserved. In 2019, over 100 businesses and approximately 4,800 residents gained access to broadband internet. To date, 2020 has resulted in 295 businesses and 3,700 households receiving internet connectivity. The long-standing leaders of SDN’s member companies have been making a difference across South Dakota and at SDN for decades.
Continued on Part 2- mailed subscription or higher level account required to view
South Dakota is home to outstanding universities and technical colleges that are leading the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) fields that so many students are pursuing. These students have an opportunity to receive a first-class education right here in South Dakota.
Rep. Dusty Johnson speaking to students
While South Dakota has a lot of resources for college-aged students pursuing STEM, there’s no reason we shouldn’t expand our reach to the younger generations. That’s why this week, my office announced South Dakota’s first Congressional App Challenge, a digital app competition for middle and high school students across the state.
The Congressional App Challenge was created because Congress recognized STEM and computer science skills are essential for economic growth in the United States. As a nation, we’ve fallen behind on these fronts, and we have a programmer shortage. STEM jobs are high-paying and in high-demand. It’s crucial we maintain American competitiveness – investing in our youth now and encouraging them to acquire these valuable skills will prepare us as a nation as more careers become STEM focused.
This competition is flexible. The Congressional App Challenge accepts computer programs (or apps) written in any programming language, for any platform (desktop/PC, web, mobile, raspberry Pi, etc.). You may not understand what raspberry Pi is, but your middle schooler might.
Since this is a new competition for South Dakota’s students, I need your help to spread the word. Students must register online by September 10th and submit their app by October 19th. That deadline is coming up fast.
You don’t have to be an expert coder to join the competition – we are looking for students of all skill levels, regardless of coding experience.
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges in South Dakota and honored by South Dakota’s Congressional office. Winning apps will be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building and on the Congressional App Challenge website.
I know South Dakota is full of creative students and I’m looking forward to seeing their talents on full display.
Championship Flight winners Cory Knutson, Shea Stoltenberg, Mandy Smith, and Ernest Smith! (Way to go Ernie! Bouncing right back after some very serious, life threatening medical issues!)
Second place Championship Flight winners John & Jeff Schreurs. Not pictured, Kurt Doeden & Kevin Hauser.
First Flight winners Jeff and Tina Hove & Tracy and Scott Altman.
Second Flight winners Ryan and Renae Nelson & Bert and Barb Risty.
Championship Flight
1st Place w/ 57 score – Ernest Smith, Mandy Smith, Shea Stoltenberg and Cory Knutson
2nd Place w/ 58 score – Jeff Schreurs, Kurt Doeden, John Schreurs and Kevin Hauser
3rd Place w/ 59 score – Ross Hanson, Joey Rotert, Jordan Doane and Jake Heumiller
First Flight
1st Place w/ 65 score – Tina Hove, Jeff Hove, Tracy Altman and Scott Altman
2nd Place w/ 67 score – Keith Eitreim, Colleen Nath, Perry Schneekloth and Marv Furstenberg
3rd Place w/ 68 score – Jim Hove, Steve Frerk, Brad Frerk and Jeff Frerk
Second Flight
1st Place w/ 73 score – Bert Risty, Barb Risty, Ryan Nelson and Renae Nelson
2nd Place w/ 74 score – Paul Nesheim, Debra Nesheim, Denny Garry and Penny Franka
3rd Place w/ 74 score – Scott Abraham, Heather Abraham, Dominic Abraham and Jake Schroeder
The other participating teams received door prizes.
Jason Janssen, Cody Linneweber, Mark Rozeboom and Dan Wagner
Drew Blosmo, Dylan Kindt, Cooper Long and Connor Blosmo
Todd Fink, Tad Heitkamp, Twaine Fink and Chris Altenburg
Jim Kurtz, Del Johnson, Marty Luebke and Rick Ehrhardt
Mark Garry, Shirley Garry, Mark Greguson and Connie Greguson
Gordy Eitreim, Davud Sorenson, Jim Hoefert and Chris Brink
Sawyer Gibson, Shay Gibson, Riley Nordstrom and Lance Gibson
Colleen Mallatt, Tim Mallatt, Danah Riswold and Steve Carlson
Edith Karli, Char Johnson, Linda Bly and Sam Williamson
Wade Plessner, Ryan Tauer, Caleb Michel and Joey Streeter
The weather conditions were 86 degrees F, humid, cloudy, wind 15-20 from the South.
Thanks to all the helpers – Heather Trudeau and Betsy Howe #5 + #14, Robert Jacobson and Linda Johnson #8 + #17, Morgan Gloe and Jodi Gloe on the putting game. Norinda Sandbulte drove the beer cart. Ron Luke from Garretson Food Center, Inc. served an excellent boxed croissant meal. A special thank you goes to Glen Macziewski, Dawn Sorenson, Julie Gnadt, Norinda Sandbulte, Dana Doane, John Meyer and all the ground crew at the River Ridge Golf Course and to Papik Motors, Inc. for sponsoring the hole in one prizes.
Hole Prizes
Holes #1 & #10 – Closest to the Pin, 3rd Shot off the Green and Fringe – Chris Altenburg
Holes #2 & #11 – Longest Drive in the Fairway – Jake Heumiller
Holes #3 & #12 – Longest Putt – Kevin Hauser
Holes #4 & #13 – Closest to Stakes in the Fairway w/out going past
Cash prizes Men’s and Women’s from Steve’s Electric & Plumbing
Men’s – Cory Knutson Women’s – Colleen Mallatt
Holes #5 & #14 – Accuracy Hole - Cash prizes
Holes #6 & #15 – Closest to Pin on 2nd Shot – Jeff Schreurs
Holes #6 & #15 – Closest to Shear Magic’s Cooler – Keith Eitreim
Putting Contest – Kurt Doeden, Marv Fustenburg and Shea Stoltenberg
Holes #7 & #16 – Closest to Stake on the Fairway from Tee Box – Del Johnson
Holes #8 & #17 – Closest to Pin from the Tee Box – Colleen Mallatt
Holes #9 & #18 – Longest Women’s Drive in the Fairway – Tina Hove
Skins Game – Mulligan sales were $380. Ernie Smith’s team won one skin with an eagle on #1 and Jeff Scheurs’ team won two skins with an eagle on #10 and a birdie on #17.
Hole-In-One Prizes from Papik Motors, Inc. included a 2020 Buick Encore 12 dozen Bridgestone golf balls, TravisMatthew package plus $500 shopping spree and set of Cobra King F8 Irons. Unfortunately, there were no hole-in-one winners in 2020.
Thanks to all the golf participants along with Papik Motors, Inc., the Business Sponsors, River Ridge golf course and staff, Ron Luke and his staff plus all the hole in one workers.
The Garretson Blue Jays 2020 season came to an end on Monday, August 10 when they lost in the second game of the Class B South Dakota Amateur Baseball State Tournament with a score of 2-5.
On Friday, August 7, the amateur baseball team faced up against the South Central Storm in Mitchell. The Blue Jays trounced the Storm, cutting them out of the game early and finishing the 7th inning with a game-winning 14-4 score.
With this win, the Blue Jays were on their way toward claiming the State Tournament Title, which they missed last year when they fell to Alexandria in the Championship game. There were four official elimination games and one championship game slated for the state championship this year. Hoping to redeem themselves, the Blue Jays stepped into the second game with a positive attitude, playing the Winner/Colome Pheasants on Monday.
Unfortunately, the Pheasants came out of the gate roaring, snatching three runs in the first inning. Batter Chandler Bakley doubled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs. The Blue Jays started to make up ground, with Scott Splett and Nick Bonte earning a point each in innings 2 and 4. It was game over after the Pheasants claimed two more runs in the 5th and 6th inning. Neither team scored in the final innings.
Dustin Steckler took the loss for Garretson Blue Jays. He surrendered five runs on 11 hits over eight innings, striking out seven. The Pheasants’ Derek Graesser struck out three.
Austin Van Hove led Garretson Blue Jays with two hits in three at bats. The Blue Jays didn't commit a single error in the field. Austin Van Hove had ten chances in the field, the most on the team.
In a Facebook post after the game, the Blue Jays wrote, “The Blue Jays season came to an end last night losing to Winner 5-2. Thanks to our families, friends, and the community for the support all year long.
“The annual Blue Jay Open 4-man scramble will [be] August 22 at River Ridge in Garretson. Contact the course to sign up your team.”
The Blue Jay Open is an annual fundraiser which helps to pay for equipment and dues for the team, which plays each summer from mid-June until August. The golf tournament will begin at 10:00 a.m. at River Ridge. The $60 fee ($30 for members) includes green fee, cart, mulligans, and pin prizes.
Some portions of the recap were powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
Tessa Pederson, (above) Garretson FFA, had the champion commercial heifer. Drew Pederson, Garretson FFA, showed the reserve champion commercial heifer and was the champion FFA beef showman.
In June, the Gazette profiled the newest business in town, Dakota Stained Glass. At that time, new owners Nico and Matt Rogers had just opened their doors to the public after moving from their former location in Sioux Falls. Classes were planned for the future, but hadn’t been scheduled yet.
That schedule was released in late June, and my daughter and I signed up as soon as they were available. We were scheduled for a fused glass class, and showed up in masks ready to be creative.
It was a small class since it was being held on a Thursday afternoon, and teacher and former owner Janet Smith took the three participants through the different tools, materials, and steps we’d need to create our own fused glass art.
We ended up making a pop socket, garden stake, pendant, and had a choice of making a votive, soap dish, or small bowl for the final project.
To say it was fun would be an understatement. We had plenty of help from Kona, Janet’s lovely large grey cat, and Janet was a joy to converse with. Both she and Nico are very knowledgeable about the process, and explained steps along the way, including setting the kilns for the best results (that part of the process, I’m sorry to say, will take several more lessons before that information sticks in my brain, but it was incredibly neat to learn how the artistic process continues in the kiln depending on what temperatures and lengths of time are used).
My daughter, Morgan, is already itching to go back and create more art. She’s most definitely an artist, having experienced success in painting, ceramics, drawing, dance, acting, and singing, so I’m not surprised.
Once a class is taken, you’re able to go back any time during business hours, though Nico recommends calling in advance to ensure space is available, as they’re also holding parties, small group gatherings, and classes regularly.
The cost of a class varies from $40 for a fused glass class to $175 for a beginner stained glass with lead class, and you’ll get to take home all projects after they’ve had their time in the kiln. The costs after class depend on materials used and the length of time in the studio, but the website states that it won’t be more than $5 an hour.
I highly recommend heading to DakotaStainedGlass.com and signing up for a class as soon as you’re able! And if you don’t feel comfortable making your own art, they have plenty available in their gallery for purchase. The new location is at 332 N Main, in the former Little Dreamers building.
SIOUX FALLS – On Tuesday, Aug. 4, for the second week in a row, Sioux Empire Fair manager Scott Wick spoke to the Minnehaha County Commission.
Since the fair began Saturday, Aug. 1, Wick was able to specifically talk about how sanitation and distancing measures were working during this year’s fair.
After taking a pony ride or visiting an A-1 porta-potty, people at the Sioux Empire Fair this week can take advantage of one of the many hand sanitizers dispensing stations located around the grounds. Each station has four to six dispensers, and each of those can be loaded with 1,000 doses. Overall, for the week’s events, the fair is stocked with one million sanitizer doses. (Photo by Dave Baumeister)
As he said previously, some events were cancelled, and others limited, but at this meeting, he could talk about what fairgoers were doing, as opposed to just what was expected.
Wick reported that while attendance was down overall in the first three days, there was more traffic during earlier hours, which helped limit crowds during the usual busy evening hours.
Wick described the two grandstand concerts, Hairball on Sunday, Aug. 2, and Big and Rich on Monday Aug. 3, as having plenty of room for people to distance themselves from others.
He added that people would “pod-up,” presumably with others they knew, but then, he added others would leave space between groups.
Revin’ on the red line
Doug Johnson, the general manager of the new Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, was before commissioners to get approval for 10 special malt beverage licenses at the track.
And while that was his goal, most of the questions asked were about general operations there.
Some commissioners commented on how happy they were to see the track back in action, but, being concerned for county residents, they asked about protective measures at the raceway.
Johnson explained that at their inaugural event on Sunday, Aug. 2, they limited ticket sales for the 9,000-seat venue and opened up the infield for seating, which allowed for more distancing in the grandstand.
Commissioner Gerald Beninga, who mentioned comments he received, had questions for Johnson about the planned hours for Huset’s.
Although Sunday’s race and fireworks lasted until 11:30 p.m., Johnson said that accidents on the track caused the event to run longer than anticipated.
To deal with that in the future, he said they will plan to start events earlier.
In answer to Beninga’s question, Johnson added, “It is our goal to finish up no later than 10:30.”
After all the questions for Johnson, no one spoke in opposition, and the 10 licenses were approved on a 4-0 vote. (Commission chairperson Jean Bender was absent and vice-chair Dean Karsky led the meeting.)
Re-zoning
Commissioners also set Tuesday, Aug. 25, as a public hearing for re-zoning land by Midway Corner near the intersection of SD Highway 115 and 254th Street.
The Minnehaha County Commission meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
All meetings are open to the public, and public comment is always encouraged.
Meals on Wheels is a service that conveniently delivers meals to individuals. This service is looking at coming to this area, and will be holding informational meetings on August 20 and 21 from 2:30 pm- 4:30 pm at the Treasure Chest, 624 Main.
If you are 60 years old or a caretaker, or if you are interested in receiving a meal, please stop in. The director for Meals on Wheels with Active Generations will be here to answer your questions and sign people up.
