Year in Review 2017

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW

The year’s biggest local stories from 2017

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2017

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December 2017

January 2017

By The Daily Republic

During the Holiday Season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible.

We take this opportunity to say “Thank You” and to wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with health, happiness and prosperity.

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Minnesota Vikings’ Chad Greenway (52) and Chicago Bears’ Willie Young (97) greet each other at the conclusion of their final regular season game at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

No. 2: Matthew Novak, of Woonsocket, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in the death of 26-year-old Jennifer Gibson, a story that appeared in the Jan. 4 edition of The Daily Republic. During a plea deal, Novak admitted to cutting Gibson’s throat and stabbed her 10 times in the nick, chest and abdomen with a large kitchen knife in their 206 S. Third Ave., residence in Woonsocket.

No. 3: Dakota Wesleyan University celebrated 100 years of basketball on Jan. 28 and invited back alumni during a doubleheader at the Corn Palace. Former player Brady Wiebe got his No. 32 retired, the men’s team defeated Hastings and the women lost in a matchup of two top-10 ranked teams.

No. 4: Matthew Wollman, District 8 state representative, submitted his letter of resignation on Jan. 23 following his admission of having sexual relationships with interns during the previous two legislative sessions. Wollman, 26, of Madison said he had consensual sexual contact with an intern in 2015 and 2016.

No. 5: Two fatal crashes occurred in Platte and Canistota on Jan. 23. A 26-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman died after vehicles vehicles crossed the roadway’s centerline.

No. 6: Mitchell-based Puetz Corp. was awarded the bid to construct the indoor pool in Mitchell. The Mitchell City Council selected seven alternate project costs, which gave Puetz the low bid of $7,429,500.

No. 7: Dan Swartos, previously the superintendent at McCook Central School District in Salem, was selected as the South Dakota Activities Association’s executive director on Jan. 11. Swartos replaced Wayne Carney and began his duties July 1.

No. 8: Seventeen months after the last distribution center was destroyed by fire, the first shipments of Coca-Cola products were trucked out of the company’s new facility in Mitchell. The new 55,000-square-foot facility opened in January 2017. It cost $2.7 million and is located near the Highway 37 bypass.

No. 9: The grand opening for Mitchell School District’s $15.3 million performing arts center was postponed, Superintendent Joe Graves announced Jan. 6. The safety systems for the building weren’t functional at the time.

No. 10: Mitchell Mayor Jerry Toomey on Jan. 23 chose to veto the Mitchell City Council’s decision to stick with Aberdeenbased Dependable Sanitation for Mitchell’s recycling services. The Mitchell City Council later overturned the veto.

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Matt Gade/ Republic

Mount Vernon native Chad Greenway capped an 11-year career in the National Football League when the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears on Jan. 1, 2017.

While Greenway later officially announced his retirement from the NFL in March, his final game was a proud moment for Mount Vernon and the state of South Dakota. It’s also The Daily Republic’s top story for January 2017.

“I can tell you that I enjoyed every minute of it,” he said in a postgame press conference following the Vikings’ 38-10 victory over Chicago.

Greenway finished with 1,332 career tackles, played in 156 career games with 144 starts and was selected to two Pro Bowls. He is considered one of the greatest South Dakota athletes of all time and one of the top football players to hail from the state.

Greenway was undoubtedly a role model during his playing days , and the longtime Vikings linebacker continued to make an impact in South Dakota this year following his retirement. He’s donated equipment for athletic teams in both Mount Vernon and Mitchell, hosted sports camps and held the inaugural Greenway Relays track event last spring in Mount Vernon.

Other top stories from the coverage region in January:

Year In Review

December 2017

5

February 2017 Other top stories from the coverage region in February:

A project that was years in

the

making

opened

its doors to the public in February, but the joy we witnessed on visitors’ faces was worth the wait.

The Mitchell School District’s $15.3 million, 67,000-square-foot performing arts center opened its doors to the public with a bang in February. The first event held at the awe-inspiring structure — which features a 1,200-seat theater and much more — was the Palace City Jazz Festival, and it didn’t disappoint.

The immense footprint the facility now has in the community more than earned its opening a spot as the top story in February.

City and school officials have repeatedly recognized its benefit in attracting young families to the Mitchell School District, and we know

Matt Gade/ Republic

Scenes from the 8th Annual Palace City Jazz Festival at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center. Jazz Fest was the first official performance put on at the new performing arts center.

we’d be jealous if we lived in another community that isn’t lucky enough to have a fabulous arts center.

Wishing you a

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No. 2: In a whirlwind of a Mitchell City Council meeting on Feb. 6, Mayor Jerry Toomey was asked by a local businessman to resign from his post after a contract dispute, while another citizen called Toomey “a drunk” due to an issue between the pair in 2015. The latter man, Brad Bowling, later attempted to circulate a petition to recall Toomey, but he failed to collect enough signatures to spark a recall vote.

No. 3: Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Feb. 2 approved the repeal of Initiated Measure 22 — a voter-approved measure which supporters saw as an improvement to campaign finance and ethics laws. Some, like Daugaard, felt the measure was unconstitutional. Portions of IM 22 were later revised and added into law by the South Dakota Legislature.

No. 4: Donald London, of Kimball, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer more than two years after a lengthy standoff. After the Feb. 1 plea, he was later sentenced to 30 years in prison, with another 45-year sentence suspended.

No. 5: The manager of Mitchell’s GameStop was arrested for allegedly stealing money from the store, hiding it in the ceiling and calling authorities to report a robbery. The arrest was announced in a press release on Feb. 9, and Aaron Cooper was later sentenced to spend 120 days in jail as a result of the incident.

No. 6: After the city of Mitchell decided to leave its Corn Palace murals along the building for two years instead of one, some city officials were unhappy with the result. The musicthemed murals have since been replaced, but Mitchell City Councilman Marty Barington told The Daily Republic in its Feb. 15 edition that “We made a mistake here.”

No. 7: Brian Biehl, the former S.D. Highway Patrol trooper who was later convicted of stealing nearly $70,000 in evidence money, stepped down from his post as president of the Platte-Geddes School Board, as reported in The Daily Republic’s Feb. 14 edition.

No. 8: LifeQuest, an organization which creates opportunities and enriches lives of people with developmental disabilities, celebrated a $250,000 donation from the estate of Paul Tobin. Tobin was Mitchell’s mayor in the 1980s.

No. 9: Presho native and former U.S. Rep. Clint Roberts, perhaps best known as the “Marlboro Man,” died on Feb. 13. Roberts appeared in cigarette advertisements as an actor and was later elected to Congress.

No. 10: South Dakota’s wacky winter weather didn’t take February off. In the middle of the month, temperatures hovered around 60 to 70 degrees, well above the normal temperatures.

By The Daily Republic

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December 2017

March 2017

By The Daily Republic

JCPenney has announced its Mitchell location inside the Palace Mall will be closed as one of the 138 stores nationwide.

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No. 2: On March 18, the Bridgewater-Emery boys basketball team capped off a perfect season. The Huskies finished 26-0 and brought home the Class B boys basketball championship.

No. 3: The Northwoods League, a woodbat collegiate summer baseball league, announced it was pursuing an affiliate franchise in Mitchell. The announcement was featured in The Daily Republic’s March 4 edition, the future of the league in Mitchell is still undetermined.

No. 4: The city of Mitchell held the groundbreaking for its $8 million indoor aquatic center on March 1, a facility which is still under construction on North Main Street.

The facility is set to include a leisure pool, a competition-sized pool and a large slide, the latter of which was funded through some crafty contract work from the Mitchell Parks and Recreation Department.

No. 5: On March 6, Minnesota Vikings linebacker and Mount Vernon native Chad Greenway announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the NFL. No. 6: DWU’s dynamic duo of guards Tate Martin and Ty Hoglund received top Great Plains Athletic Conference honors on March 1. Martin, a Mitchell High School alum who dished out more assists than anyone in the GPAC in his senior season, was named the conference’s men’s basketball player of the year. Hoglund, a fresh-faced gunner who led the Tigers with 18.5 points per game, was named GPAC Freshman of the Year.

No. 7: Following a fantastic regular season run, the No. 8 DWU women’s basketball team ended their season with a loss in the NAIA Division II national tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. The DWU men were edged out in the first round of the NAIA Division II men’s tournament on March 8.

No. 8: On March 28, Woonsocket’s Matthew Novak was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing 26-year-old Jennifer Gibson. Judge Jon Erickson called the stabbing death “one of the most tragic crimes,” upon sentencing.

No. 9: Brad Bowling, the man who publicly called Mitchell Mayor Jerry Toomey “a drunk” during a Mitchell City Council meeting, began circulating petitions for Toomey’s recall. Bowling’s recall announcement was featured in The Daily Republic’s March 3 edition, but he never acquired enough signatures to get the recall on the ballot.

No. 10: After a 0-21 season as Mitchell High School boys basketball coach, Erik Skoglund resigned on March 5. Skoglund was later replaced by Todd Neuendorf, of Aberdeen Roncalli.

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Matt Gade/ Republic

Mitchell fell victim once again to a rash of big box closures across the country.

On March 17, Mitchell learned the fate of its JCPenney, and the outlook wasn’t great.

Mitchell’s JCPenney was one of 138 which would be closed, and the store has since picked up and left the Palace Mall. The announcement came approximately one year after Mitchell’s Kmart faced a similar fate.

We learned approximately 25 Mitchell positions would be affected by the closure, which surely was the most devastating impact of all. While many of us enjoyed having the store in our backyard, the folks whose only source of income came from the store lost a sense of comfort and financial support that we wouldn’t wish on anyone.

The closure served as a reminder to all Mitchell area residents that we should support businesses we enjoy, and to support them often. Whether it’s big box stores to mom and pop shops, jobs are jobs. And losing any local jobs is a bad feeling, especially to those who held the positions.

In the wake of the closure, we hope the former JCPenney employees were able to find other gigs around town, because we appreciate every last member of our community.

Other top stories from the coverage region in March:

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Year In Review

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April 2017

Happy New Year To you and yours

From...

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Best Wishes For

Matt Gade/ Republic

Tom Dressen, of Bryant, loads his boat onto his trailer after a morning of fishing as another boat makes its way in and another boat departs the boat ramp at Dry Lake #2 near Willow Lake in April in Clark County.

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No. 2: On April 3, a fire destroyed a case in Menno and damaged two other businesses.

The fire was later determined not to be suspicious in nature, but caused quite the stir in Menno. The owner of the Open Door Cafe had planned to close the cafe for good in the summer of 2017 before it was destroyed.

No. 3: Vernon Parsells, of Wessington Springs, was arrested for attempted seconddegree murder and aggravated assault, as reported in the April 6 edition of The Daily Republic. In October, the attempted murder charge was dropped, as Parsells pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. He was arrested after striking a woman with a silver bar.

No. 4: After a winless season, Mitchell High School tabbed Todd Neuendorf to become the next boys basketball coach. Neuendorf is now aiming to continue a winning legacy established under Gary Munsen.

No. 5: While he hasn’t formally retired, Mitchell native and NBA veteran Mike Miller played what’s currently his last NBA game on April 12. Miller, a star player for Gary Munsen’s Mitchell High School boys basketball teams, played 17 seasons at the pro level and won two NBA Finals championships.

No. 6: Mitchell man Jacob Hubbs was found with 1,000 fentanyl pills and $11,000, as reported in the April 26 edition of The Daily Republic. It was one of eight arrests in a drug-free zone in Davison County between April 2016 and April 2017.

No. 7: South central South Dakota made its presence known once again in this year’s S.D. Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame induction. As reported in the April 21 edition of The Daily Republic, Winnerbased band The Fabulous Unknowns and Dimock’s Hofer’s Lounge — formerly known as Vic’s Place — were among those honored this year.

No. 8: Well in advance of the June 2018 municipal election, Mitchell City Councilman Mel Olson announced his candidacy to be his city’s mayor. Olson, a longtime Mitchell School District teacher and former state legislator, has served on the City Council since 2009.

No. 9: Just before a devastatingly dry summer hit South Dakota, an April 4 report showed 2016 wasn’t kind to the state’s farmers. A report released by the South Dakota Center for Farm and Ranch Management at Mitchell Technical Institute found the average farm experienced a 66 percent drop in net income.

No. 10: Nearly 30 employees were laid off from Mitchell’s Enetech in April following a slow first quarter in the geothermal energy system market.

By The Daily Republic

While the non-meandered waters issue in South Dakota wasn’t temporarily resolved until June, the issue heated up in full force in April when accesses to nearly 30 bodies of water in the state were blocked off to the public.

The Daily Republic spoke with more officials than we care to count on the decision, which followed a March state Supreme Court ruling that determined the South Dakota Legislature must determine whether members of the public may enter or use nonmeandered water or ice over private property. And the decision to block off accesses to those lakes, which weren’t specially designated by the government in the 1800s, brought out some fiery opinions from outdoor recreation advocates and landowners.

We believe both sides made valid claims, but we’re glad rules governing lake access were approved in a special session of the Legislature in June.

Like many, we wondered what the economic impact would be on the state if the confusion caused by the lake closures continued.

The final decision restored access to the lakes, but offered landowners the ability to install signs or buoys saying an area is closed. Problem is, the bill sunsets in June 2018.

We hope this issue can be solved for good, but we sure know it was quite the rollercoaster in the spring of 2017.

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Other top stories from the coverage region in April:

Year In Review

8

December 2017

May 2017

By The Daily Republic

South Dakota State Troopers have stand off with the suspect on a McCook County gravel road.

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No. 2: A Vivian man was arrested for his alleged involvement in the May 4 death of an infant. Gerald Brink, who was 36 at the time of his arrest, was initially charged with one count of first-degree murder of the 7-week-old infant. Later in May, Brink pleaded not guilty to four felonies, including murder, manslaughter and batter of an infant. Brink allegedly threw the infant against a dresser.

No. 3: A report was released on May 19 that blamed several people for the scandal that rocked the Mid-Central Educational Cooperative in Platte.

The scandal was made known after the deaths of Scott and Nicole Westerhuis and their family in September 2015, and a report this year showed nearly $1.4 million in missing money from the co-op’s bank account could have been avoided through better oversight by the organization’s board.

No. 4: A man was trapped in a trench for more than 30 minutes in Emery on May 23. First responders were able to extricate the man from the trench, and they’re work was believed to have kept the man from perishing.

No. 5: The rain didn’t stop Kyle Petty and friends, as the former NASCAR racer stopped in Mitchell during his Charity Ride Across America. Other famous guests included NASCAR legend Richard Petty and former college football star Herschel Walker. Brian Klock, owner of Mitchell’s Klock Werks, was also among the riders on May 17.

No. 6: A section of Mitchell’s Main Street was closed, as reported in the May 23 edition of The Daily Republic, for a few weeks to implement a plan to spruce up the area near the Corn Palace. The plaza west of the Palace was revamped, but the major restoration took place south of the Palace.

The first phase of the project was finished this year.

No. 7: After months of discussions, the TrippDelmont School District’s voters approved an optout resolution, helping secure finances to save the district. The resolution passed 380-228 on May 2.

No. 8: A major traffic change was approved in downtown Mitchell on May 15 with the aim to boost business and reduce confusion from out-of-town drivers. The Mitchell Traffic Commission approved a shift on Second, Third and Fourth avenues between Rowley and Lawler streets, changing the streets from one-way to two-way lanes.

No. 9: With the help of a new, $71,000 projector, The Hilltop Drive-In Theatre in Gregory was able to stay open. But the story that was featured in the May 16 edition of The Daily Republic wasn’t that the drive-in could stay open, it’s that donations helped secure the new projector.

No. 10: With a couple dozen of their neighbors showing up in full force, the Davison County Planning Commission decided to table a proposed 1,000-foot setback for wind energy systems on May 2. The setback has yet to be finalized as of Dec. 11.

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Republic File Photo

McCook County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Hillestad wasn’t able to escape unscathed during a vehicle pursuit of Matthew Rumbolz on May 3.

The event, which was sparked by a vehicle pursuit by Hillestad and apparently instigated

by Rumbolz, was the buzz of eastern South Dakota that day, with reporters and citizens scrambling to find out who was involved and the severity of the deputy’s injuries.

Rumbolz, of Montrose, has not yet seen his case finalized, but fortunately Hillestad was treated and released from the hospital after being shot in the arm.

The case was another reminder of how challenging it is to be a rural law enforcement officer. The challenges of city policing and rural law enforcement certainly overlap, but we can’t imagine the fear that possibly sets in when a standoff situation begins to unfold in an extremely rural setting.

Rumbolz later turned himself in after a few hours of negotiations. As of Dec. 11, Rumbolz’s case had not yet been finalized.

Other top stories from the coverage region in May:

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December 2017

June 2017 Other top stories from the coverage region in June:

Year In Review

9

By The Daily Republic

For a few weeks this summer, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing about Lake Mitchell. And for good reason.

In early June, Lake Mitchell was hit with a surge of bluegreen algae unlike many had ever seen before.

“This is the worst that I have seen it since I have lived on the lake by June 1,” said Mitchell resident Mike Vehle at a City Council meeting on June 5. “I mean, this is really early.”

The water quality fluctuated all summer, and we didn’t blame locals that were seeking other lakes and ponds for recreation.

But it’s not as though the city of Mitchell is letting the lake die.

Volunteers and city officials have poured hours into meetings to find solutions to address the lake, and in mid-December city officials were attempting to refine a lake restoration plan.

It just so happens that June was the worst of it.

On June 7, the city of Mitchell followed its self-imposed guidelines to discourage contact with the lake, establishing a “public health warning.”

The warning meant that at times during the summer months, the city was discouraging direct contact with its lake.

While the lake conditions were astonishing, we hope we never see anything like it again at Lake Mitchell.

No. 2: In the June 2 edition of The Daily Republic, we reported that officials were investigating a suspicious death in Dallas, SD. We later confirmed that Chance Harruff had been arrested for his alleged role in the death of 38-year-old Kristi Olson. He was charged with second-degree murder after he allegedly struck Olson with a “mule strength punch.”

No. 3: Atop the beautiful rolling hills near the Sutton Ranch in rural Burke, State Sen. Billie Sutton announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor of SD in 2018. If elected, he would be the first Democratic governor since Gov. Harvey L. Wollman in the late 1970s. The announcement appeared in the June 1 edition of The Daily Republic.

No. 4: On June 12, Gov. Dennis signed into law a bill to create rules governing use of lakes on private land — relating to the non-meandered waters issue that rankled recreation in SD for the spring. The law restored accesses to nearly 30 public lakes.

No. 5: A Chamberlain man was arrested in June for allegedly possessing 20,000 fentanyl pills worth approximately $500,000. Trevor Harden, 19 at the time of his arrest, was arrested on June 13. He later pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally attempting to possess and distribute fentanyl.

No. 6: Mitchell residents voted for more of the same on June 6, re-electing Mitchell Board of Education member Matthew Christiansen and Mitchell City Council members Susan Tjarks, Steve Rice and Dan Allen. Newcomers John Doescher and Kevin McCardle were also elected, although Doescher faced no opposition in his race.

No. 7: The Andes Central School District broke ground on its $13 million building expansion on June 29, adding 55,000 square feet to the elementary school and remodeling 24,000 sq. ft. as well in a town with a population just over 800 people.

No. 8: NFL star Michael Bennett visited Lower Brule on June 17 for a sports camp and family fitness clinic as part of his foundation’s program called O.C.E.A.N. — which stands for fighting Obesity through Community, Education, Activity and Nutrition.

No. 9: On June 13, two tornadoes narrowly missed White Lake, but the storm still brought quarter-sized hail. Despite the intimidating clouds, the storm caused less damage than expected.

No. 10: On June 17, Winner High School graduate Tawny Barry won first place in goat tying at the College Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.

Republic File Photo

In early June, Lake Mitchell was hit with a surge of blue-green algae worse than most had ever seen.

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Celebrate the New Year with friends and family, and enjoy all the fun and excitement that makes this time of year so special!

Thanks for making the past year a pleasure for us.

We look forward to seeing even more of you in 2018!

May the days to come bring you continued success and good fortune. Thanks!

Year In Review

10

December 2017

July 2017

By The Daily Republic

The summer was brutal for South Dakota farmers, and July played a huge role in a tough summer for the region.

Emery’s

Scott

Stahl

told

The Daily Republic in the July 15 edition that even the “old-timers” were saying 2017 brought some of the worst drought conditions they’d ever seen.

Scott Stahl a farmer in western McCook County carries one of his corn stalks at his home near Emery. Stahl explained how this stalk hasn’t grown as tall as expected due to lack of moisture.

Moisture ultimately arrived at the right time to salvage some crops around the state, but the drought was the talk of South Dakota for much of the year. The state of South Dakota and its municipalities have continued to cite the poor farm economy as the basis for possible lean budgets in 2018.

We hated to see drought conditions like this summer, but many growers have been pleasantly surprised with their yield outcomes considering the expectations. The drought also gave us a good look at the resilience of farmers in South Dakota, who were able to persist despite a gloomy outlook.

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No. 2: Two people died and six more were injured when an 81-year-old woman drove into a group of people and then into a nursing home in Alcester on July 24. A third person later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

No. 3: A 14-car train derailment occurred near Kimball on July 15, but no one was injured. The derailment was believed to be unavoidable by the engineer, and it caused significant damage to the rail line. The train was hauling wheat, and a “significant amount” spilled.

No. 4: Whitney Covey, of Gregory, was arrested on July 13 for six felony charges after an alleged “nonstop assault” on a woman. Covey’s alleged victim survived the incident.

No. 5: The Mitchell High School mascot Cornelius was in line for possible upgrades this summer, with three logos pitched as possible replacements, as reported on July 20. The new logos have yet to be implemented, and many spoke in favor of the old logo.

No. 6: Chamberlain’s Nash Hutmacher won the USA Wrestling Cadet Freestyle National Championship on July 17. He became South Dakota’s first cadet freestyle national champion in 27 years.

No. 7: A “disconnect” in management styles with Mayor Jerry Toomey led then-Mitchell City Council President Jeff Smith to pass on the post on July 3. He remained on the council, where he serves as one of its longest tenured members.

No. 8: In a press release issued on July 10, Kimball native Tim Bjorkman, a former circuit court judge, announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. Bjorkman’s announcement came approximately one month after he retired as judge.

No. 9: Trever Vermeulen, an area amateur baseball legend, set the state record with his 34th consecutive win on July 2. Vermeulen, of the world-beating Alexandria Angels, used to pitch for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

No. 10: On July 11, Mitchell High School football coach Kent VanOverschelde was named South Dakota High School Coaches Association football coach of the year. In 2016, he guided the Kernels to an 11-1 season, and the team won the school’s first football title in the playoff era.

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Matt Gade/ Republic

Other top stories from the coverage region in July:

Year In Review

December 2017

11

August 2017 Other top stories from the coverage region in August:

By The Daily Republic

The South Dakota State Amateur Tournament hit Mitchell once again this summer, bringing teams from around the state — and beyond — to play at beautiful Cadwell Park.

The tournament was as fantastic as ever, despite some rainy weather on the first day, and it always has a tremendous economic impact on Mitchell. It also brings another attraction to town during the summer months.

The event ran through the first two weeks of August, but it’s impact extended beyond the norm.

Tournament director Jim Johnston pondered whether the event could still be held in Mitchell if the city acquires a Northwoods League team in the coming years. While the Northwoods League team — a college, wood-bat summer league — would play at neighboring Drake Field, Johnston expressed concerns about possible conflicts that could arise over field maintenance or competition for fans that the league could create.

The future of the Northwoods League in Mitchell remains unknown, although the city has given the go-ahead to the league to come to Mitchell if it so chooses.

We’re looking forward to the future, and hoping the conflicts can work themselves out. But Johnston’s thought experiment was interesting to ponder during one of the city’s most exciting events of the year.

Oh, and did we mention the Alexandria Angels won the Class B tournament again?

No. 2: Anthony Lewis, of Mitchell, was arrested on Aug. 22 for allegedly stabbing and killing a man outside a Mitchell apartment complex.

Lewis’ case hasn’t been resolved, and he has since requested the use of expert witnesses in his upcoming murder trial.

No. 3: Due to a crumbling building at the intersection of Third Avenue and Main Street, questions starting flying around Aug. 3 about when the portion of the street would reopen. As of Dec. 12, the private construction project has kept a portion of Mitchell’s Third Avenue closed for several months.

No. 4: The solar eclipse was a bit of a bummer in Mitchell on Aug. 21, with storm clouds stifling the view of the rare event. Had the skies been clear, Mitchell would have had a 92 percent view of the eclipse.

No. 5: The state of South Dakota’s annual pheasant survey was released on Aug. 25, and the outlook wasn’t good. Pheasantsper-mile were down by approximately 1.4, and many blamed the report for hampering outdoor tourism during the peak season in South Dakota.

No. 6: A “mentally disturbed” man was arrested after a two-day standoff in Mount Vernon on Aug. 23. Nearly a month later, no charges had been filed against the man and the incident remains shrouded in mystery.

No. 7: Travis McPeek, of Iowa, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Aug. 7, almost one year to the day after assaulting Tyndall Police Officer Kelly Young.

No. 8: More than two years after a Mother’s Day 2015 tornado destroyed Delmont’s Zion Lutheran Church, a rebuilt version was opened and dedicated on Aug. 6.

An estimated 420 people attended the dedication and service.

No. 9: “The Wall That Heals” stopped in Chamberlain on Aug. 10, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Gov. Dennis Daugaard recognized the day as “The Wall That Heals Day” in South Dakota.

No. 10: South Dakota’s three congressional delegates visited Dakotafest in Mitchell to talk about the upcoming farm bill. U.S. Sens.

John Thune and Mike Rounds, as well as U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, answered questions from farmers during the drought-stricken summer.

Matt Gade/ Republic

Action from the Parkston Mudcats against the Harrisburg Schoeneman Woodies during a first round game in the South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament this summer at Cadwell Park.

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December 2017

September 2017

The newly constructed Corn Palace Plaza on 6th & Main Street in Mitchell.

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No. 2: A $20 million project to expand Performance Pet Products in Mitchell was approved through a tax increment financing district on Sept. 5 by the Mitchell City Council. The project had previously been nixed at another location near Interstate 90 due to possible odors that could be emitted from the pet food manufacturer.

No. 3: The Mitchell High School girls tennis team won the Eastern South Dakota Conference championship on Sept. 28 in Aberdeen. Coach Pat Moller said the team had “a fire in their belly” during the event.

No. 4: The city of Mitchell and both a current and former employee of the Mitchell Department of Public Safety were named in a lawsuit that alleged Curtis Meyer was unjustifiably shot and killed in 2015. The case has not been resolved as of Dec. 14, but some Mitchell City Council members told The Daily Republic in the Sept. 8 edition that they remain confident in the Mitchell Police Division.

No. 5: On Sept. 28, Dakota Wesleyan University officially dedicated its new $1.2 million theater. Dan Miller, the director of theater at DWU, said the facility was “desperately needed.”

No. 6: A popular Kimball restaurant announced its move to Mitchell, telling The Daily Republic in its Sept. 22 edition. The Back 40 has yet to open in Mitchell, but will occupy the former home of the Moonlight Bar & Lounge.

No. 7: A group of sixth-graders at Mitchell Middle School raised $600 for Hurricane Harvey victims, as reported on Sept. 23. The students also collected hundreds of school supplies to send to Texas.

No. 8: As reported on Sept. 28, the Sweet Fix Candy & Pop Shop closed this year in Mitchell. The business began its closeout sale in late September after opening more than six years ago.

No. 9: Mitchell’s YWCA disaffiliated from the organization, and instead partnered with Sioux Falls-based EmBe. The merger took place on Sept. 11, and like the YWCA, EmBe offers youth and women’s leadership programming.

No. 10: In a rare Sunday showdown on Sept.

24, the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers football team held off Hastings College with a game-winning field goal from Mitchell native Seth Paulson.

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By The Daily Republic

September was a great month for The World’s Only Corn Palace.

An attraction that means so much to Mitchell and helps drive the city’s economic engine, two new features were unveiled at the facility on North Main Street.

On Sept. 16, a grand opening was held for the new plaza space immediately south of the Palace. And while it’s just a slab of grass and some walkways now, imagining what could take place in the future at the plaza is what made the grand opening so exciting.

From concerts to community cookouts to virtually anything else, Mitchell has a beautiful gathering space at its most famous attraction. And it took the place of what was once a lightly used piece of Sixth Avenue.

But the plaza wasn’t the only wonderful sight to see at the Corn Palace in downtown Mitchell.

New corn murals were finally added along the side of the structure, replacing the music-themed murals that hadn’t been replaced since 2015. The city attempted a cost-saving tactic by leaving the murals up for two consecutive years, a decision which left a sour taste in the mouths of some locals.

The new murals and the plaza weren’t the only good news, though, as the annual Corn Palace Festival raked in the cash. According to Corn Palace Director Scott Schmidt, the event generated a net profit of $35,639.06 — more than $10,000 higher than 2016.

The Corn Palace plays such a vital role in our community, and it was fantastic to see it thrive in 2017. That’s what made whirlwind of good news about the attraction the story of September.

Other top stories from the coverage region in September:

Year In Review

December 2017

13

October 2017 Other top stories from the coverage region in October:

By The Daily Republic

On opposite ends of The Daily Republic’s coverage area, October was a somber month.

Hundreds gathered in Presho on Oct. 19 to honor the life of former Presho Fire Chief Donald “Donny” Manger, a staple in the community. He was the 45th firefighter to die in the line of duty in South Dakota, and he earned a hero’s farewell.

Manger was the fire chief for 23 years, and while his story of serving as a longtime rural fire chief isn’t unique, it’s always awful to report on the death of a dedicated father and community servant.

For a few days in mid-October, support for Manger’s friends and family came pouring in, and it was well earned. His impact on Presho was immense, and we’re impressed with the community for giving him the recognition he deserved.

Unfortunately, disappointing news continued for the state’s firefighting community, with a Oct. 21 crash on Interstate 90 taking the life of Salem and Spencer volunteer firefighter Tracy Morehead.

The deaths of Manger and Morehead served as an important reminder to always show appreciation to your local firefighters while they’re still alive. With that in mind, we believe the celebration of the lives of the two local heroes is the top story of October.

No. 2: Amid an incident that quickly turned from joyous to terrifying, four Mitchell residents were able to escape the horror at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 1.

When they returned to Mitchell, she shared their story with The Daily Republic.

No. 3: A Mitchell man was arrested after allegedly suffocating his wife to death. As reported in the Oct. 19 edition of The Daily Republic, James Brinker was arrested for the death of Marie Brinker amid gruesome circumstances. Brinker’s case has not yet been resolved.

No. 4: Soldiers of the 153rd Engineer Battalion were welcomed home, as reported in the Oct. 2 edition of The Daily Republic. With smiles on their faces as they saw family members, 165 soldiers of the Huron-based 153rd and the Parkston-based Forward Support Company celebrated their return from a 10-month deployment to the Middle East.

No. 5: The Corn Palace announced its 2019 mural theme on Oct. 25, which is “A Salute to the Military.” The announcement was made with members of the USS South Dakota submarine crew on hand.

No. 6: As reported on Oct. 4, a Mitchell woman was Tased after an alleged attempted robbery with a large kitchen knife. Gjoa Moen had allegedly made a series of threats throughout Mitchell.

No. 7: Gopal Vyas, of Mitchell, was named as the South Dakota Association of Fundraising Professionals’ outstanding philanthropist of 2017. Vyas was recognized on Oct. 18, and he volunteers for the Abbott House in Mitchell and has been involved with a number of other local agencies.

No. 8: The Winner Regional Healthcare Center held a groundbreaking for its $23 million expansion on Oct. 4. The main focus of the project is construction of a new clinic, emergency room, lab and radiology department and a streamlined registration area.

No. 9: Caught on tape in rural Hanson County, two whitetail deer were found locked together by their antlers. Thanks to locals Annette and Paul Steilen, as well as South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department’s Andy Petersen, the living deer was saved and set free. The Daily Republic reported on the event on Oct. 5.

No. 10: As Minnesota Twins fans in South Dakota witnessed in horror, the New York Yankees instantly marched back from a three-run first inning deficit to trounce the Twins 8-4 in the American League Wild Card game.

Matt Gade/ Republic

Emergency responders give a final salute to former Presho Fire Chief Donald “Donny” Manger in the Lyman School District’s gym in Presho

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Year In Review

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December 2017

November 2017

By The Daily Republic

Matt Gade/ Republic

The Gregory Gorillas hoist the 9AA state championship trophy following their win over Irene-Wakonda at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

For a second straight season, Gregory High School went undefeated en route to a state football championship.

The Gorillas’ 56-30 victory over Irene-Wakonda on Nov. 9 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion was their 24th consecutive victory.

Winning back-to-back titles was an amazing feat for the small town in south-central South Dakota and was determined to be the top story in November.

The reason is Gregory was the first repeat champion in Class 9AA since Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan accomplished the feat in 2010-11.

“It wasn’t easy,” Gregory head coach Brian Allmendinger said after the game. “These guys put in a lot of personal time and were prepared.

They work very hard, they’re talented and they are passionate about the game.”

In the title game, Gregory had a record-setting performance on offense with 26 first downs, 631 total yards and longest pass of 80 yards. Gregory quarterback Andy McCance was named The Daily Republic’s football player of the year, and he later announced his decision to play football collegiately at the University of South Dakota.

Other top stories from the coverage region in November: No. 2: Dakota Wesleyan University put in a bid to host the NAIA Division II National Men’s Basketball Tournament at Mitchell’s Corn Palace. Officials later decided Sioux Falls would be the location of the March tournament, reported in the Nov. 18 edition.

No. 3: A building on Mitchell’s Main Street that formerly housed NorthWestern Energy was purchased by the Mitchell City Council for $300,000. Reported on Nov. 7, the council did not make a decision on the building’s use, but hinted at a future that could see the park space extended to the new property.

No. 4: Davison County Veterans Services Officer Jessica Davidson was terminated on Nov. 28. County Commission Chair Brenda Bode declined to provide a reason for the firing.

No. 5: A multi-million-dollar project to renovate Burr Street in Mitchell finished on time. The deadline for the first phase of the threephrase project was due Nov. 17, which was achieved.

No. 6: The Mitchell High School volleyball team qualified for the state tournament and finished its successful season with 21 wins, with its final game on Nov. 18. The seventhplace finish was the Kernels’ first state tournament appearance since 2012.

No. 7: On Nov. 14, Dakota Wesleyan University senior quarterback Dillon Turner was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference player of the year for a second straight season. He is the only player in DWU history to win the award outright twice.

No. 8: The Mitchell School District approved on Nov. 10 the selection of a Sioux Fallsbased engineer firm to design a $1.2 million renovation of the Mitchell High School track and installation of artificial turf at Joe Quintal Field.

No. 9: A proposal to name the Corn Palace court after longtime coach Gary Munsen was tabled by the Mitchell City Council.

No. 10: Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan and Corsica-Stickney were runners-up in state championship football games. BridgewaterEmery/Ethan upset top-seeded Sioux Valley in the semifinals, while CorsicaStickney qualified for its first title game as a cooperative.

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December 2017

Year In Review

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December 2017 Other top stories from the coverage region in December: No. 2: After months of anticipation, cost estimates from Fyra Engineering’s Lake Mitchell restoration report were finally released. Two separate estimates, one for $87.01 million and another for $31.218 million, were the guiding proposals offered to restore the algae-filled lake.

No. 3: Todd Neuendorf, the new Mitchell High School boys basketball coach, took the court for his first game with the team. The Kernels lost to Huron 46-32 on Dec. 9 at Huron Arena.

No. 4: Mitchell’s chapter of Pheasants Forever, Pheasant Country, earmarked $150,000 to be used toward a communitybased habitat access program on Dec. 12.

The initiative is intended to help bring more public hunting acres to the area and boost the local economy.

No. 5: Prevailing Winds, LLC. held an information meeting to discuss its plan to build more than a dozen wind farms between Avon, Tripp and Wagner. Construction for the project could begin in 12 to 15 months, officials said.

No. 6: Wagner’s Mandy Koupal and Mount Vernon native Chad Greenway were among 16 names announced to be inducted to the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, it was announced Dec. 13. The induction ceremony is being held April 14.

No. 7: Dakota Southern Railroad heard from the Mitchell to Rapid City Regional Railroad Authority Board about violations and issues.

The MRC board gave stern recommendations and its legal representation on Dec. 14.

No. 8: Vernon Parsells, of Wessington Springs, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after agreeing to a plea deal for assaulting a woman. Parsells, 36, received the maximum sentence for aggravated assault.

No. 9: The South Dakota State University football team qualified for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision semifinals, a first in program history. The Jackrabbits defeated New Hampshire in the quarterfinals before getting beaten by top-seeded James Madison University.

No. 10: At a regular meeting in December, the Mitchell City Council set February to determine how to proceed with a multimillion-dollar project to renovate one of Mitchell’s largest thoroughfares, Sanborn Boulevard. Options discussed were closing the stretch of road from Havens Avenue to First Avenue completely, leaving it partially open or to close it temporarily.

By The Daily Republic

It was an amazing day for Mitchell Technical Institute, and it was all because of Dick and Darlene Muth and Muth Electric.

On Thursday, Dec. 14, the Muths and Muth Electric gifted $1.1 million — the single-largest contribution to the technical school in its nearly 50-year history. The gift was a combination between endowed funds, past donations and in-kind contributions.

The announcement, held during a ceremony at MTI’s Campus Center, declared the school’s Technology Center to be named the Muth Electric Technology Center and the commons in the MTI Campus Center to be renamed Muth Electric Commons.

“We’ve had close ties with MTI for all these years, and MTI has given us a lot,” Dick Muth said about the decision of the gift. “And I could almost say we owe our success to MTI. It’s time that we give back.”

Muth Electric began in 1970, shortly after Dick graduated from MTI. Forty-seven years later, the company grew to 12 locations and 390 employees. Muth said about 100 of those employees graduated from Mitchell Tech.

“Dick and Darlene are putting obviously hard-earned resources into Mitchell Tech, including the endowment,” said MTI President Mark Wilson, “and it’s really the lifeline or the future lifeline of opportunities for future students and employees at Mitchell Tech. It’s exciting.”

Matt Gade/ Republic

Darlene Muth laughs as her husband Dick gives remarks during a special announcement ceremony at Mitchell Technical Institute’s Campus Center.

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Year In Review

December 2017

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