Shannon Nordstrom gave a tour of the Nordstrom Automotive facilities that started in the dismantling area, went through the warehouses, and ended in the office area of the Nordstrom 2.0 building.
Shannon Nordstrom of Nordstrom’s Automotive says it’s hard to put a finger on the actual start date for the business, though the closest he can figure is approximately September of 1969, the year he was born. This was the year the “Nordstrom’s Special” debuted, a 1951 Ford 8N tractor with a V8 hot rod Ford car engine.
“[Art and Marie Nordstrom] have been out tinkering on the farm since ’69,” said Nordstrom. “They started fixing grain trucks and Ford trucks for neighbors, then started buying wrecks and telling the neighbors where they could be fixed.” After the success of selling those wrecks in a magazine in the 1980’s, he says, it just grew from there.
Nordstrom’s Automotive celebrated its 50th Anniversary last Friday, September 27, with a customer appreciation event that included a meal, commemorative gifts, and tours of the facility that was opened last September. There was a large turnout that enjoyed the meal catered by Tony’s Catering, and several people joined the tours or walked around the facility on their own, reading posted signs that showed points of interest.
Nordstrom says that the relationships they build with their customers is everything, and that the goal of the business is to ensure that they’re around for a long time, able to provide high-quality parts that also help the environment by increasing recycling. And with the new, larger facility and a podcast (Under the Hood) that is growing rapidly, it looks like that goal is more than attainable.
Shannon Nordstrom talked about Nordstrom Automotive’s roots on Art and Marie Nordstrom’s dairy farm while giving a tour of their office. Behind him, the wall showed a collage of the years Nordstrom’s has been in business. Shannon said, “I hated farming. My passion was cars.” That drive has allowed him to work with his parents to grow the business into what it is today.
Veterans of the Korean War view the reflecting pool that honors those who served in the Korean War while on an Honor flight to Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 24. Elmer Hegge and Tom Willems of Garretson, both veterans of the Korean War, participated in this flight. Photo provided by Midwest Honor Flight.
Two local veterans took an Honor Flight last week! Elmer Hegge and Tom Willems both took to the sky with 84 other local veterans from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Honor Flight attendees get up in the middle of the night and fly out in the early hours of the morning for a rapid-fire tour of the Nation’s Capital and the National Mall.
“It was wonderful,” said Hegge. “Everybody was so friendly. Great, awesome, wonderful; those are the only words I can think of to describe it. It was so much to take in, a lot to pack in one day.”
This mission, called Mission 5, was sponsored by a generous grant from Smithfield Foods, which donated $125,000 to Midwest Honor Flight, the organization that makes these tours possible. The goal of the honor flight is to give thanks to those who have given so much for this country, and started as a way to thank WWII Veterans. On the Mission 5 trip, two WWII veterans were able to attend, and the rest of the veterans were made up of those who served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
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Tom Willems (middle, wearing a blue shirt and white cap) and son Daniel on their way to boarding the Honor Flight for Washington, DC. In front of Tom is Gazette co-owner Carrie Moritz’s grandfather, Jake Van Voorst. Photo provided by Mark Williamson
Elmer Hegge showcases the memorabilia he received from the Honor Flight, where veterans from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War were treated to a day in Washington, DC to honor their service.
GHS Girls’ Soccer played its final game of the regular season, moving into the Class A Quarterfinals at 6th seed after a disappointing loss to Sioux Falls Christian 0-2 and a draw against Dakota Valley 1-1 last week, putting their season at 4 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws overall. The Quarterfinals will be played on October 8 at a location yet to be announced.
Front Row: Kylie Uhl, Jayden Clark, Sarah Welch, Nadalie Johnson, Jaelyn Benson. Back Row: Doug Clark, Noel Johnson, Oliviyah Thorton, Ashlyn Andersen, Lauren Heesch, Katie Hanson, Abby Schroeder, Dave Schroeder. Photo by Kris Johnson
As fall approaches so too does the shortened high school softball season in South Dakota. Despite involvement with many other activities, 13 talented Garretson girls committed to each other and to representing their school and community every weekend on the softball field.
The season began on August 25, with a twin bill at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls. The Lady Dragons opened the season with a dominating victory over Lennox by a score of 12 – 2. They followed that up later the same day with an impressive win over a talented Winner team by a score of 7 – 1.
The Blue Dragons would have to wait to ride their winning streak as uncooperative weather the following weekend led to the cancelation of games in Pipestone against Tea and Watertown.
Photo by Sheila Schroeder
On September 15, the Lady Dragons had the rare opportunity for some “home cooking” hosting Watertown and Dell Rapids on our home field in Garretson. In front of a large crowd of supporters, Big Blue held on in the first game to defeat Watertown by a score of 8 – 7. In game 2, the Dragons dominated a young Dell Rapids team, winning by a score of 10 – 3.
The long day was highlighted by the opportunity to acknowledge and honor our seniors in front of the home crowd following the sweep.
The undefeated Lady Dragons traveled to Yankton the following weekend to take on the second team from Dell Rapids and the host team, Yankton. The Dragons stumbled in game one as the bats went silent and the team committed several uncharacteristic errors and fell to a very good Dell Rapids 2 team by a score of 11 – 0.
The team showed great resilience and character, bouncing back quickly to earn a split on the day by defeating the host team, Yankton, in the final game of the day by a score of 6 -3. This game was highlighted by an over-the-fence home run off the bat of Oliviyah Thornton – the first of her young career.
The Lady Dragons finished the regular season with a record of 5 and 1 and prepared to enter the state “B” tournament the weekend of September 28 at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls. Garretson opened tournament play bright and early on a chilly Saturday morning, defeating Tri Valley by a score of 14 -7.
Next, the Lady Dragons put it all together – pitching, defense, and big bats, to defeat a very good Pierre team 7 – 0.
The Dragons next faced a talented team from Douglas County to remain in the winner’s bracket. After building an early 5 run lead, the Lady Dragons wavered down the stretch and let the game slip away in the late innings. Douglas pushed across 4 runs in the 6th inning and was then able to walk-off the Lady Dragons scoring 2 more in the bottom of the 7th inning. After a very hard-fought game, the Dragons fell to Douglas for only their second loss of the season, 6 – 5.
On Sunday, when faced with the question of whether to “sink or swim” from the loser’s bracket, the Lady Dragons resoundingly chose to “SWIM!” Early Sunday morning, the Dragons were matched up in the first elimination game, once again, against Dell Rapids 2, the only team to defeat them in the regular season. In an extremely tense, back-and-forth affair with the lead changing nearly every inning, Big Blue learned that it is much better to “walk-off” than be “walked off.” With “BIG HITS” being the theme of the game, they avenged the team’s only loss of the regular season in their last at-bat, defeating the Dell Rapids 2 team 13 – 12 in the most exciting softball game of the tournament.
The girls from G-Town continued to ride the wave next, defeating RC Stevens 14 – 9 in the rain in the second elimination game of the day. As the weather cleared a bit, Garretson was once again pitted against the team that put them in the loser’s bracket the day before and the only other team to defeat them during the season, Douglas County. The girls battled Douglas once again to take a lead in the early innings. Soggy and running on fumes, Big Blue faded in the late innings and fell to a very talented Douglas County team 14 -7 to end their magical tournament run and bring their2019 season to a close.
The Lady Dragons represented themselves and Garretson very well, finishing the weekend with a record of 4 – 2 and placing 3rd overall (out of 16 teams) at the State “B” Softball Tournament, the highest finish in recent memory. This amazing group of young ladies finished the 2019 season with an overall record of 9 wins and 3 losses.
Coach Doug Clark had this to say about the team: “The team, largely the same roster we had a year ago, battled through weather and several other commitments to make significant strides forward this year, with every player demonstrating an improvement in skills. Once again, several players were called upon to play many different, and at times new, positions. More importantly, we grew as individuals and as a team. Throughout the season, the ladies stayed very positive and supportive, playing for each other and they never stopped battling. The season will be remembered for big, timely hits, good at-bats, consistent pitching, and very solid defense. I’m very proud of their efforts and commitments this season and would like to thank each of them for a very memorable season. I’d also like to thank Dave Schroeder for stepping up as the assistant coach, and all the parents for their continued support to keep softball an option in Garretson.”
Dave Schroeder, Abby Schroder, Ashlyn Andersen, Nadalie Johnson, Kylie Uhl, Jayden Clark, Doug Clark. Photo by Kris Johnson
Roster and primary positions: Seniors: Ashlyn Anderson – C/1st; Jayden Clark – P/OF; Nadalie Johnson – SS/2nd; Abby Schroeder – CF/P; Kylie Uhl – RF Junior: Lauren Heesch – 1st/SS Sophomores: Jaelyn Benson – SS/P/1st; Maren Bonte – 2nd; Katie Hanson – 3rd/C/SS; Noel Johnson – 3rd; Chloe Schleuter – 2nd/C; Oliviyah Thornton – 3rd/LF/CF; Sarah Welch – LF/CF. Congratulations, Lady Blue Dragons!
Frighten up your festival, Spooky Trail is returning this year as Hike of Horrors.
The Spooky trail is coming back to Garretson this Halloween season! After a 5-year hiatus, the Jesse James Players are bringing it back. The Hike of Horrors will be a half mile hike, hosted on Oct. 18, 19th, 25th, 26th and Oct. 31st. Start time will be 7:30 p.m. and continue until 11 p.m. Price will be $10 at the gate.
“You’ll get full value for your money too,” said Marissa Wollmann of the Jesse James Players. “We’ve got a really great experience planned. Since we first did it, a lot of other spooky trails and haunted houses have started up. But I think we’ve got them beat, both in price and quality. It’s a little labor intensive, we love doing it, but it requires a lot of organization and setup. Actors, set builders, props. Just like a regular show, just not in a regular theater.”
Thankfully, she said that they had some muscle to spare.
“We were so happy that Mr. Long brought the football team out to help us do some heavy lifting!” she said. “The Garretson Football boys hauled six loads of stuff that filled two trailers and three trucks. Now we’re working on getting them assembled and ready for Halloween.”
In years past, they’ve used the rear woods and grasslands of Markell and Julie Gnadt’s backyard, they’ve used the trails of Splitrock Park, and once down in Corson. This year they’ll be going back to their roots.
“People who want to walk the trail will come down to park at the football complex, and we’ll have signs to point them to the start of the trail,” she said. “I don’t want to reveal too much about what we have planned, but one big feature this year is going to be a maze. We got a huge eighteen by thirty-six military tent, and we’ve been working hard to assemble a maze inside it. Fixing props, sorting and repairing props and sets. It’s been a lot of fun to get this going and I think people are really going to like it.”
When asked what prompted the 5-year doldrums, Wollman said there were lots of reasons.
“First, it is a lot of work for everybody,” she said. “And then my kids were growing up too. After we did the last one, soon after, Bryce started college football at Augie (Augustana University) and Siri got a concussion. Those things kept us busy. We thought about doing it, people asked us when we were going to do it again, but something always came up. At the last meeting of the Jesse James Players however, we talked about it, everybody was pretty positive about it and so we decided to move forward. My kids are grown now, but Julie and Markell’s kids are at about the same ages that Bryce and Siri were when we first started the Spooky trail. It’s been long enough that they either don’t remember the last time we did it or they didn’t remember much. Talking to some of the kids around town though, they remember it and are excited to see it come back. We won’t disappoint.”
“For me, Halloween is just one of those fun holidays. I’m pretty sure that we were one of the first places in the region to have an event like this. I’ve got a lot of good memories of making Garretson, ‘Scarretson.’ Things like coffin races and a zombie run. I’d like to see more of that happening again. So aside from inviting everybody to come out for some scary fun on the trail, I also want to encourage everybody to go all out decorating for this Halloween! Make your street Spooktacular! Get out and decorate for Halloween, and be creative.”
“Just a couple reminders. Unfortunately, the trail is not wheelchair accessible and we don’t have any real feasible way of making it so, as the trail will go through trees and rough terrain and there is no way around that. Costumes are welcome of course, as are families, but please remember that this is South Dakota and it can get cold in October so dress appropriately, bring a jacket and don’t wear heels.”
Editor's Note: Please enjoy a new-to-you weekly column, posted as a bonus for our online subscribers! Prairie Doc has been a staple of SDPB and South Dakota newspapers for many years. His level-headed perspectives on health and overall wellbeing provide a wonderful way to enhance your life.
Historical Trauma and Cultural Healing
By Richard P. Holm, MD
Dr. Richard P Holm, MD
Starting in 1805 through 1858 the Dakota Indian people living in Minnesota were, by U.S. government treaties, gradually cut out of their traditional hunting areas. In 1861, crops failed, winter was severe, meager federal payments were late and Dakota children were starving. By August of 1862, desperation moved some of the Dakota Indians to attack white homestead farmers and families and the state militia responded. War was on.
After six weeks of fighting the Dakota warriors surrendered and 303 men were sentenced to death by hanging. President Abraham Lincoln commuted many but left 38 Dakota men to hang in Mankato, Minnesota just after Christmas 1862. Those commuted were shipped to prison in Iowa where more than a third died as conditions were so poor.
Although many Indian people did not go to war, white hatred of all Indians grew like a prairie fire. Within a year, a $25 bounty was paid for the scalp of any Dakota Indian found free within the state. Lives were lost on both sides of that war, but the Dakota Oyate (Oyate means people) lost their lands and their culture. Pride and family traditions were severely compromised affecting many generations to come.
First introduced by mental health expert Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart, Historical Trauma Response is a societal diagnosis now used by psychologists and historians. It refers to the cumulative, transgenerational, traumatic experience which causes long-lasting injury to communities, cultures and descendants, like that of the American Indian. Another example of HTR is the African American slave experience.
Experts state that HTR may cause smoldering animosity between groups as well as poverty, alcohol abuse, violence, depression and suicide behaviors. How can this be treated without compromising a culture’s traditions? Do ancestors of immigrant Europeans have a societal responsibility to right a wrong? Does smoldering animosity block the path to healing?
I believe prejudice hurts all of us. Hate poisons the well, even if it is “inherited hate” that came from more than 200 years of conflict and violence. It is time for European descendants to free ourselves from the bonds of historical bigotry and better understand the perspective of the Indian people. It is time for people of all races to stop hating and find ways for cultural healing through spiritual kindness to each other.
Lakota leader and mystic Black Elk said, “The bison were the gift of a good spirit . . . and from the same good spirit we must find another strength.”
Richard P. Holm, MD is founder of The Prairie Doc® and author of “Life’s Final Season, A Guide for Aging and Dying with Grace” available on Amazon. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit www.prairiedoc.org and follow Prairie Doc® on Facebook featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&A show streaming on Facebook and broadcast on SDPTV most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.
Next month’s South Dakota Festival of Books will feature more than 60 presenting authors — from local favorites to perennial bestsellers — and myriad opportunities for bibliophiles and aspiring authors to interact with top names in the publishing industry.
Still growing after 17 years, the Festival brings together readers and writers for readings, lectures, panel discussions and book signings. South Dakota's premier literary event annually draws thousands of attendees, including approximately 5,000 students who meet children's/YA authors and illustrators at both the Festival itself and via school visits.
Each year, the Festival of Books features a common read for children and adults via the “One Book SD” program: The 2019 One Book SD is “Neither Wolf nor Dog” by Kent Nerburn, while Donald F. Montileaux of Rapid City wrote and illustrated 2019 Young Readers One Book “Tatanka and Other Legends of the Lakota People.”
Adult Lineup: Stars from all Genres
Leading up to the Festival, book clubs have read and discussed Nerburn’s “Neither Wolf nor Dog.” The 2019 One Book South Dakota tells a story of three men who learn from and about each other during an eventful road trip through tribal landscapes. Much of the narrative is based on Nerburn's conversations with an anonymous Native American elder "Dan," who asked the author to help him tell his story.
The book, which won the Minnesota Book Award and was made into a feature film, is a classic amongst book club enthusiasts and those who appreciate learning more about Native American culture.
As one of 21 non-fiction presenters who represent various areas of expertise, Nerburn will discuss the 2019 One Book during a keynote lecture and other presentations.
Another non-fiction author who’s sure to draw interest from Festivalgoers is South Dakota author Megan Phelps-Roper, a Kansas transplant and former member of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church, which is notorious for picketing soldiers’ funerals with messages like “God Hates Fags.” Phelps-Roper will discuss her new memoir "Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church," which will be released during the 2019 Festival. The book chronicles her life in Kansas from childhood through adulthood, her departure from the church during her mid 20s, and the unlikely series of events that led her to South Dakota.
Fiction Track Features Numerous Big Names
Meanwhile, J. Ryan Stradal, the 2017 One Book SD author, returns to Deadwood as a rising star in the world of commercial fiction. His July 2019 release “The Lager Queen of Minnesota” was one of the hottest titles of the summer and landed on bestseller lists amongst powerhouse authors like Colson Whitehead and Delia Owens.
Heather Graham and Craig Johnson are household names among mystery/thriller enthusiasts in the U.S. and beyond. Graham is making her first Festival of Books appearance, while Johnson will be warmly welcomed as a returning author. His “Longmire” novels are perennial bestsellers and have become a popular TV show featured on both A&E and Netflix. Graham, who has spent numerous weeks on the NYT Bestseller list throughout her career, has published more than 200 novels and novellas, including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. She’s earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America, among other honors.
Young Readers Events held in Rapid City Oct. 3, Deadwood Oct. 4-5
Montileaux leads the Young Readers lineup along with another well-known Black Hills resident, Sean Covel. The Edgemont native, who’s appeared at previous iterations of the Deadwood event to discuss his life as a prominent movie producer — most famously of the cult classic “Napoleon Dynamite”— returns with popular children’s book “Porter the Hoarder,” a collaboration with illustrator Rebecca Swift. Covel lives in Deadwood while Swift lives in Bridgewater, S.D. Young Readers events featuring Montileaux, Covel, Swift and many others will be held in Rapid City on Thursday, Oct. 3 and continuing in Deadwood Oct. 4-5.
South Dakota Authors Featured
In addition to Phelps-Roper, Covel and Montileaux, there are a number of other authors featured at the 2019 event who either reside in South Dakota, are from South Dakota, or who have other connections to the state. Those authors are as follows:
The Garretson Historical board members will be selling raffle tickets for a one-of-a-kind hand-made Jesse James Bull Whip at Garretson Hometown Christmas, with the drawing to be held on December 14.
What is a bull whip?
Bull whips were used by the cowboys while herding cattle to new grazing ground. When a bull whip is cracked, it makes a sonic sound that gets cattle on the move. Bulls are territorial, which means they do not respond to a normal whip as easily as female cows do.
Cowboys learned to make bull whips from the Mexicans, who learned the technique from the Spanish. It got to be a past-time craft to make these while watching the cattle.
A donation of a hand-made, one-of-a-kind Jesse James bull whip was donated to the Garretson Historical Society by Todd Kringen. This whip is made of paracord material, which is very durable and easy to handle. The whip handle is also braided with knob depicting a cowboy with a gun who is riding a horse.
For demonstrations on whip cracking, see “TKringen Bull Whip Company” on Facebook. This whip also comes with a storage bag, crackers, and cap, and would be a wonderful gift for Christmas.
Board members from the Garretson Historical Society are selling raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held at 3:30 pm on Saturday, December 14.
Proceeds will go towards needed repairs in the bank building ceiling. Thank you to Todd for the wonderful donation!
Contact a board member today to get your raffle ticket- it’s a crackin’ good deal!
