(Editor’s note: Friend of the paper Owen Wiese recently asked us to tell some stories about the people who work at Palisades Healthcare, so after a conversation with director Lordes Parker, one of the things we will do regularly as we can are brief featurettes on the employees of the month for the facility.)
Casey Reid
Palisades Healthcare is proud to announce Casey Reid as the employee of the month for April. Reid, a dedicated staff member with a heart for service, has been recognized for bringing joy and comfort to the residents of the healthcare facility.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Reid has called South Dakota home for nearly two decades. Despite a preference for California's sunny climate over South Dakota's extreme seasons, Reid has found a second family among the residents and staff at Palisades.
"I love working here," Reid shared. "I think that I've always really enjoyed elderly people, enjoy their company. I enjoy talking to them and loving on them. And they bring me so much joy. So I don't look at it as coming into work, I come in and hang around some cool people every day and that makes my life happy."
Reid's daily interactions with residents go beyond daily routine care. With activities like Bingo and singing and dancing sessions, Reid ensures that laughter and fun are a regular part of life at Palisades.
Reid's approach to care is influenced by a love for science and a passion for helping others, especially the elderly and infants. "I wasn't one of those people who just wanted to help people," Reid explained. "But I've always had a passion for elderly people and babies."
Reid has a family, with three kids and generally just loves life and people. Her positive attitude and work ethic netted her employee of the Month at Palisades.
“She’s just an excellent person and truly deserves to be recognized by the whole community,” said Owen Wiese.
With that in mind, congratulations to Casey Reid on this well-deserved recognition. Look for more of these profiles in the near future.
On Monday, June 3, the Garretson City Council met in regular session. While the public portion of the meeting was only an hour, the council found itself being updated in several areas, from parks to sidewalks, and opted to move forward with a mill and overlay on 5th Street.
City moratorium on front yard fencing continues
The council continued its policy of not allowing permanent fences in front yards last Monday, after a request was submitted for a variance.
At Monday's meeting, Fourth Street resident Judy Klima, a Vietnam-era Marine service veteran, requested a variance to place a wrought-iron fence in her front yard so she could let her dogs out of the house without needing to navigate steps. The Notice of Hearing and the variance presented in the meeting stated a chain-link fence had been requested, but Klima clarified that it was to be wrought iron.
"I have neuropathy in both feet, so walking and doing steps is pretty hard," she said.
While the council expressed empathy for her situation, they questioned the precedent that would be set if permanent fences were allowed in front yards. Currently, as the ordinance is laid out, fencing is not to go past the edge of the front of the house unless a variance is requested. The council only recently changed ordinances to allow for fences to be installed in side yards and on property lines without a variance request.
"My only concern with it was that this is going to apply to the property indefinitely," said councilor Brayden Beaner. He pointed out that nowhere else in Garretson had a permanent fence in the front yard been allowed.
"There are other solutions," said Joe Schmid, another 4th Street resident. He confirmed that he was not a direct neighbor of Klima's, but he was opposed to having a permanent fence in a front yard. "If it was a temporary fence, I would not have a problem with it."
He suggested other options such as an invisible fence or a satellite GPS system, suggestions that Mayor Bruce Brown agreed with. Brown pointed out that the other options might also save Klima quite a bit of money.
The fence would also be impacted by the 4th Street project that is starting this summer, according to Public Works employees Jordan Doane and JR Hofer, a project Klima was unaware of. She pointed out she had moved to town in January and hadn't heard there would be construction in front of her house.
Despite their empathy with her plight, the council voted unanimously to deny the variance as requested.
4th Street Project has tentative start date
While no further details were given by Public Works Director Jordan Doane, he reported in the meeting that the bid acceptance letter had been signed, and that First Rate Excavate was potentially beginning on 4th Street construction at the end of July. He has stated in the past that the engineering company, Sayre Associates, intends to hold a public informational meeting prior to the start of the project.
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On the morning of May 29th, 2024, Michelle Feldhacker of the United State Postal Service issued the Oath of Office to Michael Van Wyhe as the new Postmaster of the Garretson Post Office. Though he’s been the new acting postmaster for months, now post oath of office it’s both current and officially backdated to the start of his posting here.
Garretson Post Office Staff Bryan Vielmette, Heather Howe, Mike Van Wyhe, Jody Larson and Tricia Richter. //Garrick A Moritz
“I grew up in Luverne (MN) and went to school there,” he told the Gazette. “I now live on an acreage outside of Luverne. I went to Minnesota West in Canby and received an associate’s degree in wind energy out of high school. I joined the Marines after that and spent 4 years active duty. After that I went to school in Colorado and received an associate’s degree in gunsmithing. I moved back to Luverne and went to USD at the University Center while working at the post office. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2018. I started with USPS in Sept of 2015 as a clerk in Adrian, MN and in 2020 took a supervisor job in Brandon. This year will be 9 years with the post office. I just got married at the beginning of the May.”
Mike Van Wyhe bieng sworn in as Postmaster by Michelle Feldhacker.Mike and Jess Van Wyhe
SIOUX FALLS – This week the Minnehaha County Commission heard information from Register of Deeds Amanda Halsey and Jamie Gravett, the director of the Juvenile Detention Center, when each gave their annual briefings to commissioners.
Halsey, who keeps records for all citizens of the county, had the most to say about local facts and figures.
Register of Deeds Amanda Halsey. //Dave Baumeister
As obtaining any records incurs a fee, her office brings in considerable revenue for Minnehaha County; however, those fees were down significantly in 2023, as compared to the previous year.
While requests for “vital records” of births, deaths and marriages were relatively the same, the numbers of deeds and mortgages were down considerably.
In 2022, the county saw 7,317 deed requests, and 21,197 new mortgages, but in 2023, these numbers were at 5,775 and 14,728, respectively.
Halsey attributed the decline to increased housing and loan interest rates.
She also saw a drop in title transfer fees, which are charged at 50-cents for every $500 in transfer costs.
On one of the charts she had, it showed that transfer fees totaling $1.6 million brought in almost 60% of the revenue from Halsey’s office.
That total was the highest in 2021 at around $4.2 million, and at that time interest rates were way down.
As interest rates have increased, that number has gone down.
She added that the Register of Deeds office saw two staff members retire over the past year, and so far, only one of those positions have been added back.
But she told commissioners that she didn’t want to drop the other potential position, as at some point, she expects interest rates to fall, and the number of deeds, mortgages, and sales to increase.
Juvenile detainees
Gravett also presented numbers, but his totals were much smaller.
He looked back at statistics from the JDC in 2023 and looked ahead to the new Juvenile Justice Center being built.
He showed commissioners that the “average daily population” at the JDC was up slightly in 2023 to 29.4 incarcerated juveniles, but that the overall number had really not changed much in the past five out of six years.
But he did have a few concerns he shared. The major one was figures he was seeing on the increased number of assaults at the facility.
Last year an increase in youth-on-youth assaults was at 30, compared to 13 in 2022.
Also, the number of youth-on-staff assaults had almost doubled to 44. Gravett did explain that several of those assault numbers came when staff attempted to restrain inmates, as opposed to out-right attacks.
With these figures, he said that 47% of the assaults were linked to the same six youths.
Another concern Gravett had was problems they were seeing with mental health issues.
While many needed other types of treatment facilities, options were limited, as sometimes it could be very difficult to find places that would take them, he said.
Being inside of a correctional facility, Gravett said, “could trigger their ‘fight or flight’ response.
“On the outside, these youth would be inclined to ‘take flight,’ but on the inside, with limited space, their fight response is triggered.”
He did add that they are now classifying individuals at the JDC as to their risk factors to keep people safer.
As reported in the past, the new Juvenile Justice Center, which in on track to be finished by September 2025, will allow for better courtroom facilities and the ability to have safer and less congested movements of inmates.
In answer to a question from Commissioner Dean Karsky, Gravett explained how the cost structure at the JDC worked.
He said everyone pays around $150 per day, per bed at the facility.
Of the current 32 juveniles housed there, only 14 are from Minnehaha County. The others come from elsewhere in the state.
He said only Minnehaha and Pennington Counties have juvenile detention facilities.
And those under age 18, who were convicted in adult courts, remain there, their cost for incarceration is paid for by the South Dakota Department of Corrections.
Offenders under 18 cannot be housed with adult offenders at state prisons.
There was not be a meeting this week due to Tuesday being primary election day.
The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, in the third-floor meeting room of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
Rodney Peter Dubbelde, age 92, of Garretson, passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Friends and family are invited to a time of visitation Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson, SD. Private family interment will take place Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Stordahl Lutheran Cemetery near Dell Rapids.
Rodney Peter Dubbelde was born on May 10, 1932, to Peter and Willimina “Minnie” Schreurs Dubbelde at home on the farm near Garretson, South Dakota. He attended school in Garretson and graduated high school in 1950. After graduation, he joined the United States Army and served in the Korean War.
Rodney started his career at the Garretson Garage, earning the name “Hot Rod” Rodney with his mechanic skills. He worked in many places in Garretson until he married and started farming.
Rodney married Constance Dellene Nelson on August 7, 1954. For a few years they lived and farmed in rural Chester, South Dakota until 1961 when they moved their family to a farm near Sherman, South Dakota where they had milk cows, chickens, pigs, and crops. They had five children, Julie Ann, twins Kathleen Mary and Karen Marie, Jane Louise, and a son, Thomas Rodney.
Eventually selling his livestock, Rodney began working at DeSchepper John Deere Implement where he worked for over thirty years retiring as the Service Manager. He retired from farming, but continued working the land by helping his son, which he greatly enjoyed.
Rodney enjoyed motorcycle riding, hunting, and made many trips to the Black Hills and other places. Rodney has been an active member of the Garretson Gun Club where he enjoyed shooting trap. While living on the river, he taught his children how to fish, to ice skate, to ride motorcycles, and to handle firearms.
Rodney is survived by his children, daughters Julie (Jim) Winterton; Kathy (Gary) Winterton; Karen (Paul) Koch; Jane Dubbelde; and son Thomas (Jeannie) Dubbelde, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dellene, his parents and his brothers and sisters and their spouses and several nieces and nephews.
The 2nd Annual Benton Howe Memorial Tournament was held this past weekend at River Ridge Golf Course. We had 96 golfers entered.
Tier 1
1st place-Benson/Smith Team
2nd place-T&T Granite Team
3rd place-Van Dyke Sanitation
Tier 2
1st place-JJ's Electric
2nd place-First National Bank of Sioux Falls-Dells Rapids Branch
3rd place-Linneweber Team
Tier 3
1st place-Intellipro Security
2nd place-Heitkamp Team
3rd place-Josh Schmid Memorial Team
1st Annual Youth Tournament Fun
The 1st Annual Benton Howe Memorial Youth Tournament was held on Friday, May 31st. Forty-six kids participated. They all had fun even with the light rain.
13 & up 1st place: Jallson Burns, Will Lockner, Carter Peterson, & Will Peterson. 12 & under 1st place: Bryce Howe, Coyer Buchholz, Caylix Buchholz, Miles Howe, & Easton Schwebach. Photos credited to Kelsey Buchholz.
13 & up 2nd place: Cade Risty, Bence Bonte, Blake Benson(support only could not participate due to star Golf participant), Ty VanHolland(not pictured)
12 & under 2nd place: Gabe Coburn, Mason Snyders, Beckett Trudeau, & James Scholl.
13 & up Last place: Ava Peters, Kylee Rotert, Brylee Stiefvater, & Brooklyn Schonebach. 12 & under Last place: Landon Snyders, Noah Van Beek, Sutton Schroeder, & Garrett Scholl.
Here we are in June already! I have several things I want to inform you about but first I want to talk a little about our great city employees. I have discovered since becoming Mayor all the things they do for the city and I think you need to know about them too.
First let me talk about the front office folks that help you in city hall.
Paetyn Dreckman is the glue that holds everything together! Her official title is Financial Officer. That simply means that anything having to do with money she handles. This includes all fund transfers and deposits, verifying and paying bills, and she monitors the city budget and handles all the state and federal loans and grants as well as sales tax reporting and revenue, she does all payroll and project accounting. She has completely reorganized the financial system for the city and can tell you exactly where everything is. She also prepares a monthly and yearly financial statement for the city council(and reported by the Gazette) Paetyn is heavily involved with preparation of the resolutions and ordinances enacted by the council and organizing city council meetings. She also is involved with Human Resources including claims, benefits, requirements and staff performance reviews. I could fill a several pages with the things Paetyn handles for Garretson. You want to know something about Garretson, she can tell you or at very minimum point you in the right direction. She is a huge resource to me and the city, She is always smiling and even when she is buried!
The other smiling face you will see in the city office is Sonya Swanson. Sony's job description doesn't even begin to cover what she does. First she administers all the utility information and billing. This includes gathering the data and troubleshooting the reporting instruments. She processes all the monthly utility bills. She also enters and records all utility payments. We have had some issues with the new software update with regards to billing. Sony has spent long hours working with the vendor and with customers to fix the issues. It appears that we have finally gotten over that hump, but she is ready to handle any additional issues. The other huge thing Sony does is related to city parks and streets. Sony handles all the camping and park reservations and makes sure spots are ready. She is works with Jordan on maintenance of the utility systems . She spends a great deal of time making sure the streets and parks are clean, well kept and ready for your visit. When we have snow, Sony is plowing, scooping and hauling snow. If something needs to be done, Sony will step up and get it done. She is truly a pleasure to work with!
Next month I will talk a little about Jordan and JR, and Doug, these guys make so much happen I can't even believe it!
So whats coming up this month? RASDAK was here on June 1st, and they will be back this week-end. I really want to thank all of you who welcomed the RASDAK folks. They had a great turnout for the start of the ride. Our business and towns people stepped up to make them feel welcome. I had the privilege to speak to them on Saturday night and then later enjoy there company downtown. They were extremely complimentary on everything the town did to make them welcome. Great job Garretson! Jordan and JR and their crew have been working very hard to get the swimming pool open. It is scheduled to open on June 4th. Get down now and get your passes. The next big thing is Jesse James Days, the 14th thru 17th and the schedule is packed with fun and games. Please invite your friends to come and see the festivities and show case what a great town we have. The Commercial Club has been working very hard on making sure everyone has fun! LeRoy Austin is sponsoring a street dance on Saturday night. The schedule of events is huge! Be sure to check it all out! Great fun for all. Almost forgot to mention the city’s new downtown green space. There are places to relax and enjoy time downtown, as well as the new art display. Kris Frerk has been organizing, go downtown and enjoy! I think the town will have lots of visitors in the month of June, please welcome everyone you see to Garretson.
I also want to thank those of you who attended our city council meeting on Monday the 3rd. Your input and suggestions help the city council make the right decisions. You are always welcome!
The American Legion Post #23 16U baseball team opened its season on Sunday in two games against Hamlin on Tandberg Field.
The team gave a good playing in both games, taking the win 10-0 and 8-5.
Garretson jumped ahead early in the first game as Ian Buettner singled on a fly ball and Carter Siemonsma crossed home plate. A ground out by Brecken Weir allowed Tyler Erickson to score, and Buettner crossed right after as first baseman R. Prouty errored. After Cole Jessen singled on a fly ball to right field, he successfully stole 2nd and 3rd, then stole home as Hamlin pitcher Gavin Maag walked Cole Schleuter. Schleuter then successfully stole second, and then scored as Dan Hoskins reached first on a dropped third strike. They ended the first inning 5-0.
Neither team scored in innings 2 or 3, but in the bottom of the 4th, Buettner scored as Weir grounded out to the shortstop.
Garretson finished out the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, where they crossed home plate four more times. Elijah Winterton and Weir scored on a fly ball from Dylan Waltman out to right field. Waltman later scored when Siemonsma was hit by a pitch, and Hoskins notched the final point of the evening as Erickson was hit by a pitch.
Toeing the mound were Jessen and Weir, who pitched 4 and 2 innings, respectively. Jessen struck out six, walked one, and allowed three hits over 18 batters. Weir struck out one and allowed zero walks or hits over six batters.
Buettner led the team in hits with three in four at bats, followed by Jessen and Weir, who each got one hit in. Weir led in runs batted in with two, followed by Buettner, Erickson, and Siemonsma.
In the second round of play, Garretson took the win late in the fifth inning 8-5.
Hamlin opened the game with two points at the top of the first inning, and Garretson answered back with two of their own in the bottom as Waltman and Isaiah Coburn each scored on a passed ball.
Hamlin scored one more at the top of the second, and Garretson took three more at the bottom. Caiden Maack and Waltman scored on a passed ball, and Coburn stole home, ending the inning.
Hamlin gained two more points in the third and fourth innings while holding Garretson to zero, tying the game 5-5. The game was called when Brecken Weir doubled, scoring three runs and ending the game 8-5.
On the bump for Game 2 were Hoskins, Coburn, and Maack. Hoskins pitched two innings, facing 12 batters, striking out one. He walked three and allowed three hits. Relief pitcher Coburn faced 10, allowing two hits and walking one. Maack took on 3, striking out one and allowing zero hits.
Coburn led in successful hits, reaching first base two times in two at bats. Joey Bey Tonsay, Hoskins, and Weir followed with one hit each.
The team is next slated to head to Canton tonight (Thursday) and Elkton on Friday. Their next home game will be on Tuesday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. as they take on the West Central Trojans.
Garretson 14U faced a difficult opponent last Tuesday, May 28 as they took on Hills Beaver Creek at Tandberg Field.
Hills Beaver Creek outscored the Garretson team early on as they took two points at the top of the first and nine runs at the top of the second inning while Garretson struggled to get on the board.
Despite what you might have guessed from this photo, Ty Vanholland made it to first base, as this ball ricocheted off the glove of the Beaver Creek first baseman. Vanholland is safe! //Carrie Moritz, Gazette
While Ty Vanholland and Wyatt Potter each sent the ball past the pitcher at the top of the first, Vanholland was tagged advancing to second on Potter's Fielder's Choice, ending the inning.
Jacoby Costello slammed a double near the beginning of the second inning as he hit a line drive to right field, and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but a fly ball from Gavin Coburn out to center field was caught, ending the inning. Strikeouts in innings three and four ended the team's attempt to catch the runaway opponent, leaving Garretson 14U searching for a win as the game ended 15-0.
On the bump for Garretson were Bence Bonte, Chase Costello, and Gavin Coburn. In 8 batters, Bonte struck out one, allowed one hit, and walked four. Pitching relief, Costello faced 7, walking four and allowing one hit. Coburn pitched relief for the bulk of the game, striking out two, walking two, and allowing four hits from 16 batters.
Garretson 14U was slated to head to Humboldt on Tuesday to face West Central Gold, and will be in Flandreau as they participate in the 14U tournament this weekend. They'll take on the Bulldogs first on Friday, and are set to face the Parker Pheasants on Saturday.
From Garretson Blue Jays amateur baseball coach Austin Vanhove: "Jays soared into the season with their first game Sunday, June 2 at 2 pm against the Tea Steam. The Jays, old and battered, haven’t had a practice but aim to put those Tea punks in their place.
Jesse Brockhouse catching a grounder at second in July 2023. //Carrie Moritz, Gazette
"This off-season, both Bontes became dads of two. Labrie gained another 10 but also gained more dad power. Tayson still hasn’t hit puberty. Trey and DeBalls are still bash bro’ing it up. Jack Sparo wants his name back, but not this year, fella. Steckler is going to be a dad. Splett still roams the outfield like a pro. Jesse now has his brother Dylan to ride to games with and play catch. Paulson was on the team then quit. Koch is back, probably going to have to catch this year. Flanny has been pumping iron in the off-season, and his grandma is still our number 1 fan. We added a dude that hits bombs named Ed. Chutes is so old he doesn’t even count as a release anymore. And Coach Vanhove is on his last hurrah, although he says that every year.
"Here’s to a season of fun, not pulling a hammy, and hopefully winning a couple of games! Go Jays!"
The next game for the Blue Jays will be tonight (Thursday) at 7:00 p.m. at Tandberg Field. Let's go cheer them on!
