Year In Review 2023

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THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST LOCAL STORIES

2023

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YEAR IN REVIEW

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2 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>ON THE COVER<<<<<<

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Construction on the new Mitchell High School complex takes place on Nov. 10, 2023 next to Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Marcus Rothlisberger embraces his fiancé, Alicia, after receiving the Purple Heart on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at the Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 2750 in Mitchell.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Mitchell’s Dylan Soulek skies for a layup in a state semifinal win over Sioux Falls Lincoln at the Class AA state tournament on March 17 in Rapid City.

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 3

>>>TOP STORIES OF 2023<<<

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

A pheasant hunter takes down a bird on the season’s opening day on Oct. 21, 2023 near Mitchell.

2024

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Mitchell’s Perkins restaurant was left in charred remains on Wednesday, Nov. 15 after an overnight fire destroyed the building.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Members of the Mitchell High School girls soccer team celebrate a penalty shootout victory in the Class AA semifinal against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Joe Quintal Field.

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4 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>>>>JANUARY<<<<<<<<<

1

A steady ascent to the top of the Football Championship Subdivision reached its celebratory conclusion for the South Dakota State University football program, which thumped archrival North Dakota State 45-21 in Frisco, Texas, for the Jackrabbits’ first football national title. En route to the historic achievement, SDSU went 14-1 overall, winning its final 14 games to unseat the nine-time FCS champion Bison. SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski was named the game’s most outstanding player for his efforts, accounting for 280 yards of offense and four touchdowns.

2

On the heels of the national championship victory, longtime SDSU football coach John Stiegelmeier announced his retirement. Stiegelmeier, the 26-year head coaching veteran who oversaw SDSU’s transition to Division I and rise to become an FCS power, was honored as the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year in his final season. Stiegelmeier finished his career as the Jacks’ winningest football coach at 199-112. Defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Jimmy Rogers was elevated to the head coaching position to lead the Jackrabbits on their pursuit of a repeat championship run.

3

Snow removal crews in Mitchell were pushed to their limit when a twoday blizzard dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on the city shortly after the New Year. Crews clocked 15-hour shifts to clear streets, earning praise from Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson and city council members, but some residents voiced frustrations with the prolonged process. Despite the myriad obstacles challenging street snow removal, Public Works Director Joe Schroeder said felt the process went well considering the historic amount of snow that dropped on Mitchell.

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Mitchell’s Joe Graves was selected

by Gov. Kristi Noem as the state of South Dakota’s new Secretary of

to reach teach-out agreements to help students affected by the closure.

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Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

South Dakota State head coach John Stiegelmeier, center, holds up the FCS national championship trophy flanked by quarterback Mark Gronowski, left, and offensive lineman Mason McCormick, right, after the Jackrabbits’ win over North Dakota State on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Education, officially taking the reins of the cabinet position on Jan. 10. Graves’ new responsibilities forced him to step down from his role as Mitchell School District Superintendent, a move that he described as bittersweet after serving in the post since 2000.

5

As people sifted through piles of dead fish along the rocks of the Third Street Dam in Huron, longtime Huron resident Kelly Wolf shook his head in awe.

Over the course of several days, hundreds of dead fish piled up on the rocks of the dam that sits on the edge of Huron. While it was unclear what exactly caused the mass fish kill, Wolf speculated the rocks that the city of Huron placed in the James River next to the dam roughly five years ago, paired with a lack of oxygen available to the fish due to the low water levels beneath the ice, was largely responsible. The situation prompted an investigation by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

6

When it comes to motorcycles, few area residents can boast as much experience as Laura Klock, of Ethan.

As such, it was only fitting that Klock was selected as the grand marshal of the 83rd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Klock has a long history with the rally as an attendee, rider and vendor, and began visiting the rally in 1996, even before she moved to South Dakota. The grand marshal serves as somewhat of a brand ambassador for the rally, and over the years the role has been filled by a who’s who of personalities from the motorcycling world. Klock also entered a rather exclusive club, being the third woman chosen to serve as grand marshal.

South Dakota state senator Julie Frye-Mueller, a Republican from Rapid City, was suspended from her duties, a decision sparked by a conversation between Frye-Mueller and a staffer from the Legislative Research Council that was deemed inappropriate. The suspension of Frye-Mueller required a suspension of the Senate’s normal rules, a motion which Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, who presides over the body, declared was “out of order” and flew in the face of due process. The Senate overruled Rhoden’s motion and, next, approved the suspension of rules and formation of the select committee by a vote of 27-6, with two senators excused.

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In the aftermath of Gov. Kristi Noem’s second inauguration, the choice of some of the event’s corporate sponsors was disappointing to South Dakota landowners, mainly because it included companies that stood to benefit from state permits. Among the most notable was Summit Carbon Solutions, which was one of the highest-level sponsors at $10,000 while seeking a carbon-sequestration pipeline through eastern South Dakota.

10

After being arrested and detained in Mitchell in December 2022, a Washington state couple facing murder charges in the death of an 8-yearold was extradited in January. Aleksandr Kurmoyarov, 28, and his girlfriend, 33-year-old Mandie Miller were charged for allegedly killing the child and extradited back to Washington to face charges stemming from the gruesome death of Presentation College, a faith-based their adoptive daughter. Authorities university in Aberdeen, announced it discovered the body of the deceased child would be closing its doors following in a U-Haul trailer that was driven by the 2022-23 academic year. The short Kurmoyarov and Miller. The couple had notice of the decision left some 400-plus been in South Dakota for roughly four days students looking for a new institution.

Later in February, it was announced Dakota at the time of their arrest, according to authorities.

Wesleyan was one of several institutions

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 5

>>>>>>>>FEBRUARY<<<<<<<<

1

Mitchell High School’s gymnastics program added to its legend with its eighth Class AA state gymnastics title since 2007, adding to the school’s proud history of championships under coach Audra Rew. Mitchell finished with 148.550 points, just ahead of rival O’Gorman with 148.250 points at the competition in Aberdeen. In the individual competition the next day, the Kernels snapped a 15-year school record. If there had been team scoring, Mitchell would have scored 150.918 points, topping the previous MHS team record of 150.625 points set in 2008. Emily Moody, Olivia Prunty, Kyanna Gropper and Kyra Gropper each finished in the top-six of the individual all-around scoring for the Kernels.

2

Mitchell-based official Kelly Pfeifer found himself at the center of one of the most viral moments of the 2022-23 college basketball season. In the final minutes of regulation of a Big Ten men’s basketball game between Iowa and Michigan State, Pfeifer engaged in a staring match with Hawkeyes’ coach Fran McCaffrey. The staredown was preceded by a technical foul against McCaffrey.

Moments later, McCaffrey called timeout and then used the duration of the pause to stare at Pfeifer, the Philip native and former Dakota Wesleyan basketball player.

“That moment will live on in college basketball Twitter for the rest of time,” ESPN broadcaster Kevin Brown said.

3

The Mitchell area was wellrepresented at the 2023 state wrestling tournaments in Rapid City, headlined by eight area athletes winning individual state championships. Among the winners were Jagger Tyler (Mitchell) and Noah Hutmacher (Chamberlain) in Class A; Karstyn Lhotak (Wagner), Owen Hansen (Burke/Gregory), Jackson Remmers (McCook Central/Montrose), Riley Orel (Winner Area) and Jack Kruger (Winner Area) in Class B; and Peyton Hellmann

the canal. According to Taylor, the state of South Dakota owns the water flowing through the canal while Mauszycki owns the land it sits on. County officials sought to determine who owns the canal for property tax purposes and clear up how the waterway is controlled. Due to the misunderstanding of ownership of the canal, 17 years have gone by without anyone paying property taxes on the strip of land.

Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic

The Mitchell High School gymnastics team reacts after learning it won the Class AA state team competition on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 at Golden Eagles Arena in Aberdeen.

(Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) in the girls competition. Hansen was later named the 2023 Mitchell Republic boys wrestler of the year for going 43-0 at 132 pounds and claiming a third-straight state title.

4

After being denied on his first attempt to open a medical marijuana dispensary on the south side of Mitchell, Donald Livesay Jr. found a new spot. The Mitchell City Council unanimously approved the new location of 715 S. Rowley St. for the dispensary, marking the fifth medical marijuana business to be approved in Mitchell, which reached its cap of five dispensary licenses.

Livesay Jr.’s first attempt at opening a dispensary was denied due to the 501 E. Juniper Ave. building he proposed to do business in being located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana business.

The 715 S. Rowley St. property has a small one-story house on it.

Marcus Rothlisberger, of Mitchell, received the Purple Heart, awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the armed forces who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the armed services, is wounded or killed. Rep. Dusty Johnson was on hand to present the

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Purple Heart to Rothlisberger at VFW Post 2750 in Mitchell. Serving in the United States Army during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Rothlisberger suffered wounds when the guard tower in which he was posted was struck by an incoming enemy round. Rothlisberger served in Afghanistan from 2012-2018 before returning to Mitchell.

After 16 seasons leading the Mitchell High School football program, Kent Van Overschelde resigned the post.

Van Overschelde, who led MHS to its first playoff-era state football title with an 11-1 season in 2016, was the longest-tenured Kernel football coach over the past 40-plus years, leading MHS to an overall record of 70-92. His tenure included 40 Class 11AA all-state first-team selections, and he was the state’s football coach of the year in 2017. Van Overschelde cited “prioritizing faith and family” as the primary reason for his departure.

It’s no longer a mystery of who owns the land underneath the canal that flows into the west edge of Lake Mitchell after a deputy state’s attorney discovered that Mitchell real estate developer Chuck Mauszycki owns the narrow strip of land on the bottom of

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A 100-mph chase north of Mitchell on Feb. 5 ended with a fatal crash, Davison County law enforcement said.

David VanWagner, 42, died after being ejected from his vehicle when the pursuit took place nearly three hours after Mitchell Police was first seeking to question the driver over an alleged crime and the initial chase was terminated.

9

Gov. Kristi Noem’s legislative agenda took a hit, with the Senate voting 23-11 to reject her proposal to improve the state’s oversight system on foreign agricultural land purchases.

If enacted, Senate Bill 185 would create a seven-member board modeled after the federal agency tasked with reviewing foreign purchases that could impact national security. The committee would review any transfer of agricultural land involving a foreign entity, offering a recommendation to the governor within 90 days, or sooner under an expedited process. Concerns about the effects on property rights torpedoed the bill.

10

Mitchell leaders approved a tax increment financing district for a large Main Street building that has nearly $2 million in planned upgrades.

The 300 N. Main St. building, known previously as the Woolworth’s building, has existed since 1910 and California developer John Adamo is planning to add the project to his list of Mitchell downtown rehabilitation projects.

Happy New Year!

Thanks for bringing so much cheer to our year.

Wishing you a great 2024!

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6 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

1

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>>>MARCH<<<<<<<<

Following an 18-17 vote in the South Dakota Senate on March 6 in favor of cutting the state’s grocery tax outright, Gov. Kristi Noem went on the offensive, calling out Republican leadership who’ve called the grocery tax cut irresponsible.

“My concern is that these legislators really don’t want to cut taxes,” she said following a back-and-forth tax cut debate in the senate.

During the debate on the food tax, several criticisms were made in its direction, including the food tax cut disrupting the “broad-based” nature of the sales tax. A poll conducted on the matter from the governor’s office was dismissed as a “push poll,” to which Noem refuted.

2

The Mitchell High School boys basketball team made a run to the Class AA state championship game for the first time since 2012, falling to Yankton 65-61 in the title game in Rapid City. The third-seeded Kernels defeated Pierre and Sioux Falls Lincoln to reach the title game and finished 19-5 on the season.

Seniors Dylan Soulek and Steele Morgan finished the season as Class AA all-state selections.

3

Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson made the decision to strip Speedy Taxi owner Dustin Feistner’s license to operate his business following an arrest for an alleged possession of methamphetamine.

Feistner was arrested on March 7, and the arrest along with an alleged confession that he was “using meth on a daily basis” were grounds for the city to revoke his license. Everson also wrote a letter to Feistner, saying “the regular use of methamphetamine poses an undue risk to public safety,” noting Feistner’s past criminal background.

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Forum News Service file photo

Gov. Kristi Noem, shown here testifying for her grocery tax cut plan in the South Dakota House, saw the legislation fall short of gaining approval in Pierre in March.

4

Off a 22-point loss on the same court less than a week prior, the Mitchell girls basketball team staged the biggest upset in Class AA SoDak 16 history, beating Brandon Valley 53-49 on the road.

As the No. 12-seed, the Kernels became the lowest-seeded team to advance to the state tournament. The victory changed the tenor of the entire season, as Mitchell finished 10-14 on the season but brought home sixth place at the state tournament a week later in Sioux Falls.

5

South Dakota State women’s basketball clinched a trip to the NCAA tournament, capping a 21-0 run through the regular season and conference tournament for the first time. The Jackrabbits, led by conference player of the year Myah Selland, defeated Southern California in the first round of the NCAAs before falling to eventual Final Four participant Virginia Tech, capping a 29-6 season.

6

The Sanborn County State’s Attorney office confirmed that human remains discovered near Woonsocket in 2022 were those of a Sanborn County man who went missing in 2020. Eugene Prins, 45, went missing on March 26, 2020 after running errands and consumed alcohol with a good friend, according to authorities’ three-year investigation into the disappearance. He was last seen by witnesses walking down the gravel road south of a residence he and his friend went to. His remains were found less than 2 miles west of his last known whereabouts in August 2022.

7

Two Mitchell men were both sentenced to 12-year sentences for what a local judge described as a “violent, premeditated assault” on a victim at a Mitchell motel. In March, Michael Wermers, 39, and Damond Baldwin, 41, were sentenced for their 2022 “disturbing” assault on a male victim at the Corn Palace Inn.

What started as an online bakery business for owner Michelle Kalan, Michelle’s Mad Batter at 123 E. Third Ave offers a “taste of Charleston,” where Kalan, originally from South Carolina, honed in on her baking skills and passion that started from a young age.

Intending to only bake for family and friends upon moving to Mitchell, Kalan began making custom-order desserts for customers when word spread. The demand and the revenue generated from the business led Kalan to quit her full-time job at a local bank, and to pursue opening a full-fledged bakery in town. With the support of both her husband and parents, any nerves on opening day were quickly quelled as the bakery sold out of desserts within five hours.

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A talented group of high school basketball players in the region was led by Mount Vernon/Plankinton’s Reed Rus and Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal were selected as the Mitchell Republic’s boys and girls basketball players of the year for 2023, respectively. Rus was also recognized as the Class A Spirit of Su winner at the state boys basketball tournament for the Titans.

10

The Amish community just west of Tripp, believed to be the group’s first venture into South Dakota when they settled in 2010, was set to move out of the state in March, citing a desire to move back into states such as Iowa and Minnesota for unity’s sake, according to elder Rudy Borntreger.

“Good country. Good area. Good friends,” Borntreger reflected. “Lots of things change in 13 years. Most businesses in Tripp all changed hands. Old friends passed on.”

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 7

>>>>>>>>>>APRIL<<<<<<<<<<

1

South Dakota court officials released previously sealed affidavits describing what triggered a child pornography investigation into T. Denny Sanford, the state’s richest man and billionaire mega-philanthropist whose namesakes include the Sanford Health system.

The documents show law enforcement investigated Sanford after receiving a tip in August 2019 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip indicated they suspected Sanford’s AOL email contained 36 images suspected of depicting child pornography. The tip originated from Oath Inc., which owns email provider AOL. Sanford was never charged in the matter, and has claimed his email was hacked.

2

A Davison County jury ruled the organization that puts on the annual Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo has the right to remove property it purchased and move those structures to a new rodeo site.

The jury awarded Corn Palace Stampede $100,000 in damages in the lawsuit brought in 2020 against Horsemen’s Sports Inc. following a four-day civil trial.

The lawsuit stemmed from a dispute where members of HSI took down an arena fence and moved it to widen the arena and took apart a boardwalk deck area near the VIP section. CSP members were dismayed by HSI’s actions, deciding to seek out a new home and sued HSI for breach of contract.

The jury also split up the items and structures between both companies as part of their ruling.

3

A Mount Vernon man was arrested April 11 and charged with seconddegree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and abuse, cruelty to a minor for allegedly killing a three-year-old child he was babysitting.

Shawn Delancey, 35, allegedly shook the child violently March 14 in an attempt to calm the 3-year-old down, resulting

7

Xzaviyon Drapeau, 18, of Mitchell, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for stealing a pair of vehicles and multiple firearms while possessing child pornography. Drapeau previously pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft, and cooperated with authorities while being questioned about a recent series of vehicle burglaries and stolen firearms. Drapeau expressed his apologies and took guilt from the series of crimes during his sentencing hearing and asked for a chance at probation. “You were repeatedly doing the same dumb things. I’m not optimistic of you to make changes and put this behind you,” judge Chris Giles said in response.

Forum News Service file photo

The previously sealed details of the child porn investigation regarding T. Denny Sanford were released in April 2023. No charges were filed in the case. in the child’s death later in the day.

According to an arrest affidavit, Delancey told authorities the child was acting out while trying to give the 3-year-old a bath.

He admitted to “grabbing the child by his upper chest” and shaking him while yelling at the 3-year-old to calm down.

Injuries sustained by Delancey allegedly shaking the child resulted in the child’s death, as the 3-year-old became unresponsive a short time after the event took place. A date for a potential trial has not been set.

4

South Dakota State tight end and Timber Lake native Tucker Kraft was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, being selected with the 78th overall pick.

Fresh off helping SDSU to the national championship, Kraft became just the third Jackrabbit tight end to be drafted in the first three rounds after Dallas Goedert (2018) and Steve Heiden (1999).

The Corn Palace declined an agreement with the South Dakota High School Activities Association

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to host state gymnastics again in 2026, according to Corn Palace director Doug Greenway. Instead, the venue is set to continue hosting the DWU Classic high school basketball event. Having hosted both events in the past, Corn Palace officials prefer to host the DWU Classic moving forward, in part because the basketball classic is a bigger money-maker for the Corn Palace.

6

The Mitchell School District announced that Justin Siemsen, who currently serves as both high school principal and superintendent for the Sanborn Central School District, had verbally agreed to assume the role of high school principal at Mitchell. Siemsen brings over 21 years of experience to Mitchell High School. He has served in a number of roles throughout his career, including as a teacher, coach, customer support specialist and most recently as position of high school principal and superintendent at Sanborn Central, a role he has held for the past eight years.

8

Mitchell High School announced it was hiring longtime assistant coach Pat Larson to become the next head coach of Kernels football. An MHS and Dakota State University graduate, Larson has been on the Mitchell football staff for the past 19 years, coaching at every level within the program, most recently as a varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach.

9

Mitchell High School kicked off its inaugural season of sanctioned high school softball on April 11, winning 10-0 over Aberdeen Central at the Cadwell Sports Complex. South Dakota was the last state in the country to sanction high school softball and nearly 50 teams participated in the first spring high school season.

10

The South Dakota High School Activities Association formally apologized to White River for administrative mistakes made in a state tournament game in Aberdeen that prevented the Tigers from winning the game in regulation. A missed free throw was mistakenly scored as made for Aberdeen Christian in the third quarter that allowed the game to eventually be tied, and Aberdeen Christian later won the game in overtime.

8 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>>>>>>MAY<<<<<<<<<<<

1

Despite winning a key trial in April to gain possession of its upgrades at its longtime rental location, the Corn Palace Stampede Committee announced on May 8 its rodeo would not take place in 2023, citing its ongoing legal battle with its landlord. In a statement, Corn Palace Stampede said Horsemen’s Sports, Inc., — the organization that owns the rodeo grounds and whom CPS sued for damages related to the grounds — intended to appeal the verdict issued in April by a Davison County jury that allowed CPS to take a number of key pieces of the property to a new rodeo grounds near the Mitchell Regional Airport.

“Because of the nature of the legal proceedings, the rodeo will not be held in 2023,” a statement from the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Committee said. “The rodeo committee proposed to hold one final rodeo at the current site. However, HSI and CPS could not reach an agreement on terms for a one-year agreement.”

The post-verdict battle between Corn Palace Stampede and landlord Horsemen’s Sports continued when the CPS alleged that HSI was trying to hold a July rodeo on the same dates that CPS planned to do so until it was canceled. CPS sought an injunction that would bar HSI from holding a competing rodeo but that was later denied.

2

A controversial energy megaproject proposed in Gregory county was called off, the Missouri River Energy Services and MidAmerican Energy announced on May 23. The proposed pumped storage project would have used an upper reservoir and the Missouri River below to store renewable energy as potential hydropower. MRES citied the financial risk of the investment, not landowner opposition, for forgoing the project.

first-place finishes, two gold medals and being named the Class A girls track MVP. As she helped the Titan girls to a secondplace team finish with 40 of the team’s 68.5 points.

7

With just 10 rostered boys in the Class B state track and field meet, Gregory high delivered a massive performance to grab a share of the boys state team title on May 27. Daniel Mitchell won the high jump, while Kade Stukel won the 100 meters and finished fourth in the 200. On the relay front, Gregory won the 4x100-meter event and was fourth in the 4x200.

8 Sam Fosness / Mitchell Republic

Signage for the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, pictured here in June, was set aside in 2023, as the 50-year rodeo was canceled amid the rodeo’s legal dispute.

3

After a successful Mitchell High School career, 2023 graduate Alexis Korzan earned a full scholarship to Princeton University to study molecular biology on a pre-medicine track. She took advantage of both academic and athletic programs during her teenage years, and even set out on a personal health research project that earned her a government patent for her work.

After a three-year return out of the pandemic, the Starlite Drive-In movie theater closed again ahead of the 2023 outdoor movie season. The theater, which dates back to 1949 at its location near Lake Mitchell along Highway 37, said it “didn’t meet expenses” for each of the

4

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past two years. Prior to opening in 2020 amid the pandemic, the theater closed for seven years.

5

A Mitchell teen and a Mount Vernon man were victims of a fatal crash on I-90 on May 13. Owen Robert Gjerdahl, 17, and Jeffrey Duane McGhee Jr., 29, died at the scene when the vehicle they were in was traveling the wrong way and hit a semi truck three miles east of Plankinton, according to law enforcement.

A crash report said neither person was wearing a seat belt.

6

Mount Vernon/Plankinton junior Berkeley Engelland dominated at the state track meet, taking home four

An engineering firm that’s been analyzing Lake Mitchell’s phosphorusrich sediment over the past two years made a recommendation on May 1 to dredge the body of water at a cost of $25 million. With the scattered areas of high concentrations of phosphoruspacked sediment along the 693-acre lake bottom and nutrients flowing into the lake via Firesteel Creek, the firm urged city leaders to take an “adaptive approach” to restoration plans.

9

Heidi Gehrke, a certified nurse practitioner who has been working with Avera Health in Mitchell for 25 years, and was named a recipient of an award recognizing nurses that provide compassionate care for diseases that affect the immune system.

10

Mitchell High School alumnae Jeana (Hoffman) Krome and Jenna (Hoffman) Kubesh were announced as selections to the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame, one of three sets of siblings to be inducted in the 2023 class. The pair helped Mitchell to a state title in 2003 and later both starred at the University of South Dakota.

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 9

>>>>>>>>>>>JUNE<<<<<<<<<<<

1

City leaders’ hopes to dredge Lake Mitchell were dashed by the Mitchell City Council on June 20.

The council voted 4-4 on a $25 million state loan application that would have funded a multimillion-dollar dredging project. The council’s 4-4 tie vote denied the city from submitting an application for a 30-year loan.

Entering the meeting, Council President Kevin McCardle was the lone council member who had yet to declare his stance on dredging.

After analyzing the financial impact of the estimated $53 million project, McCardle said his gut feeling was the city “can’t afford it.”

“I’ve talked to 60 to 80 people over the last 10 days who were in favor and not in favor of the project. I agree the lake is an asset, but I can’t see myself putting us in that financial difficulty for the next 30 years. My gut feeling is that we can’t afford to pay close to $2 million a year for the next 30 years,” McCardle said prior to voting against the loan application.

Joining McCardle in voting against the loan application were council members Dan Allen, Dan Sabers and John Doescher. Council members Jeff Smith, Marty Barington, Susan Tjarks and Steve Rice all voted in favor of the application.

2

Voters in the Mitchell School District spoke at the ballot box on June 6, approving a $17 million bond issue to pave the way to complete proposed new athletic facilities as part of the new Mitchell High School construction. District patrons strongly approved the measure with 82 percent support, easily surpassing the 60% threshold needed to pass the bond.

3

Mitchell Baseball Association halted activities for the Post 18 Legion team on June 28 due to “player personnel issues,” according to MBA President Jason Christensen.

Christensen said the circumstances that caused the suspension of baseball

race, winning 51.48 percent of the vote to claim reelection. For the Ward 3 position, Mike Bathke won a three-man race with 48.25 percent of the vote. And Deb Everson outlasted Matthew Christiansen with 51.26 percent of the vote to secure the Board of Education seat.

7

Woonsocket native Duane Hjelm hauled in a 27-pound bag of fish after two days on the water to claim the Pickstown tournament leg of the National Walleye Tour. The finish marked Hjelm’s first individual NWT tournament championship in his home state. He claimed a $15,000 victory check and a new fishing boat.

8

An Armour bookkeeper was charged with grand theft and forgery for alleged check fraud in excess of $100,000 on June 30. Kelli Jones, the bookkeeper at Bob’s Farm Service, rewrote many of her payroll checks to be higher than her actual pay, as well as forged checks while her employer was out of town, over a period of more than two years.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Algae continues to clump together at the shore line of Lake Mitchell on Wednesday, June 6, 2023. activities were due to a legal or criminal matter. A spokesman for the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office said state law enforcement were “aware of the allegations” but would not comment further due to the involvement of juveniles.

4

At last, the Mitchell girls golf team is state champions. In the final day tournament play on June 6, the Kernels shot a 307 as a team, with three players shooting in the 70s to lead the way. It was a sweet state title for the Kernels, who lost out on the 2022 state title by three strokes to Harrisburg, and were also second in 2021.

5

On June 6, Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson scolded the Corn Palace Events and Entertainment Board for its inability to secure headline acts for this year’s annual Corn Palace Festival, telling the board to “Get your butts in gear.” Corn Palace Director Doug Greenway said it had been a struggle to find entertainment for the August festival.

6

A pair of Mitchell city council seats and the Board of Education seat were determined on June 6 election day. Mitchell City Council Ward 4 Incumbent Susan Tjarks defeated Don Everson in a narrow

9

Letcher native and South Dakota State graduate Myah Selland signed to play with Baxi Ferrol, a club in the top tier of the Spanish League to kick off her professional basketball career. Selland, 24, signed a training camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx after going undrafted but was waived by the team when the WNBA season started in May.

10

The Mitchell Planning Commission voted against a Sioux Falls cannabis company’s plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary on Main Street but the Mitchell City Council deemed it didn’t have any grounds to deny the application for the facility at the corner of Main Street and East First Avenue. Opponents asked city leaders to stop the permit because of its prominent location at the edge of downtown.

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10 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>>>>>>JULY<<<<<<<<<<<

1

Two of the top teams in their respective amateur baseball districts weren’t in this year’s South Dakota state tournament after rule violations regarding their rosters.

The Garretson BlueJays, the 2022 Class B state runner-up, were disqualified from postseason play by the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association for using an American Legion baseball player in their district playoff game. The same rule also was applied to the Redfield Dairy Queen team, which won their district before being told they were out.

Austin Vanhove, the Garretson manager, told the Mitchell Republic that the BlueJays used a Legion baseball player in their July 23 game against Akron, Iowa in the District 7B tournament in Larchwood, Iowa. According to Vanhove, the SDABA rule is that Legion-level players are not supposed to play in the amateur district tournaments until the Legion state tournament is done. Vanhove said they checked with the district commissioner at the start of the tournament on the rule regarding Legion players participating and Vanhove said they got the go-ahead from the commissioner, who later came back and told Garretson he gave them wrong information.

Mitchell Post 18’s American Legion baseball season was over. After the Mitchell Baseball Association board of directors opted to allow baseball activities to resume following a suspension of more than two weeks, the MBA reversed its decision shortly after. Due to the ongoing investigation and the involvement of juveniles, the MBA could not provide any further details and deferred any inquiries to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

2

3

People throughout the Mitchell area were assessing damage following a severe thunderstorm that made its way through the area

state — and help them become certified teachers. The program was taking shape at school districts like Brookings and Mitchell.

7

The Davison County Commission tabled a decision granting a conditional use permit west of Mitchell for Lowell Langstraat, 30, of Outlaw Repair and Recovery, who was seeking a conditional use permit that would allow him to begin operating a new towing and repair location four miles west of Mitchell at 40525 254th St., the former location of Petrik Sanitation. It’s on a section of the old Highway 16 — one of the busiest county roads in the area, with an average of 2,100 vehicles per day in that section of the highway, including plenty of truck traffic.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

The Garretson Blue Jays, pictured here in the 2022 South Dakota state amateur baseball tournament, were ruled ineligible for the 2023 tournament, along with the Redfield Dairy Queen team, in Mitchell because it used an ineligible Legion player during its district playoffs.

July 25, bringing rain, hail and high winds strong enough to topple huge trees. There were no injuries reported from the storm, which impacted several communities in the area, including Ethan, with wind gusts ranging from 75 to 80 miles per hour.

Despite Gov. Kristi Noem’s strong approval ratings, legislators, lobbyists and other political officials interviewed by South Dakota News Watch pointed to turbulence behind the scenes in the administration with more than three years left in her second and final term.

Noem was, at the time, struggling to find a sixth chief of staff as well as a deputy chief of staff.

4

8

Authorities determined there was at least $34,000 in damages when a woman was driving and struck six horses that were scattered in the roadway.

The Davison County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crash, which occurred at 4:44 a.m., north of Mount Vernon on June 30. A report, filed July 12, said six horses died, but no criminal charges are being pursued.

5

9

6

10

A Hartford chiropractor known to work with student-athletes was arrested and charged with several sex crimes involving juvenile victims. Joel Martens, 31, of Hartford, was arrested Monday, July 24, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on one count of rape of a child between 13 and 16 years of age and seven counts of sexual contact with a child by a person of authority.

A new program from the state could help alleviate the ongoing teacher shortage. The Teacher Apprenticeship Program, the pilot effort for which will launch with the 2023-24 school year, is designed to take successful paraeducators — non-certified teaching aides already found in school districts around the

Construction began on a planned museum to honor native son and cowboy-poet Kyle Evans, along with the town’s western heritage in Wessington Springs. When it is finished — which is projected to be in 2024 — the center will pay homage to the town’s storied cowboy history.

A longtime Mitchell company purchased the former Runnings building at 1400 S. Burr St. to turn it into office and warehouse space.

Sales records later in the year showed Muth paid $3.2 million for the 6-acre complex, filling in for a medical marijuana business that had previously planned to operate out of the building.

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 11

>>>>>>>>>AUGUST<<<<<<<<<

1

Six Mitchell Legion baseball players charged as adults and accused of rape turned themselves into law enforcement. They were booked, processed and released on bond one day after charges of second-degree rape were filed in Pennington County.

Two individuals face three criminal charges in the case. Hudson Michael Haley, 18, is charged with two counts of second-degree rape; and a count for aiding and abetting second-degree rape.

Landon William Waddell, 19, is charged with one count of second-degree rape; and two counts of aiding and abetting seconddegree rape. Four others face two criminal charges each: Karter Markus Sibson, 17; Carter Ryan Miller, 17; Lincoln Charles Bates, 18; and Peyton Douglas Mandel, 17; including one count of second-degree rape and one count of aiding and abetting second-degree rape.

Three other juveniles from the team have pending charges in juvenile court, but the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office said their names and cases will not be disclosed.

All six individuals face charges for second-degree rape and a charge for aiding and abetting second-degree rape.

Both charges are Class 1 felonies, each punishable by up to 50 years in prison and an optional fine of up to $50,000.

2

Mitchell’s Whiskey Creek restaurant closed its doors in August. The chain restaurant that sits on the south side of Mitchell has been in business for nearly 15 years, but a sign notifying the public of the restaurant’s closure was posted this week on the door of Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill, located at 905 E. Spruce St. The sign stated the restaurant has faced challenges finding managers over the past two years.

7

A Mitchell man who allegedly ducttaped a dog’s legs and mouth and proceeded to punch it multiple times, causing the dog’s death, faced animal cruelty and drug possession charges. Aaron Hacecky, 25, of Mitchell, is facing one count of animal cruelty, a Class 6 felony; possession of a controlled substance (marijuana wax), a Class 5 felony; and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Mitchell Republic file photo

The Mitchell baseball criminal investigation became clearer in August, when nine members of the team were charged in the case, including six in adult criminal court and facing rape charges.

3

As its football program is revving up for a title defense, South Dakota State University and the athletic department are reaping the short-term benefits while pursuing ways to sustain the success. Season-ticket sales are up by at least 20% this season, bringing the total to more than 6,500 season tickets, and single-game tickets also have high demand.

4

As Kendall Gassman’s fifth-inning flyball came head-to-head with a shrieking head wind at Cadwell Park, spectators held their breath. As it cleared the fence, jubilation ensued. The Canova faithful rose to their feet, Gang players greeted Gassman at home plate, and the three-run home run proved the exclamation point of Canova’s 4-0 win over Lesterville to claim its sixth state championship in its storied history. Of the 32 teams in the state tournament, it was a matchup of the two smallest participating towns, with a combined

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6

A man and a woman were charged by a federal grand jury for the alleged sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography in Winner. Richard Alan Kucera, 65, and Ivy Rose Heron, 36, were both indicted on Aug. 1 by a United States district court grand jury for alleged crimes occurring between July 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021.

9

Sen. Jessica Castleberry, of Rapid City, resigned her seat on the South Dakota Legislature and agreed to pay back nearly $500,000 in federal COVID relief funds. This was after she was found by a Department of Social Services agent to have received thousands of dollars in relief funds for her child care business for the past three years.

10

Kelsey Geraets was named the 2023 Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year at Dakotafest in Mitchell. Geraets is the manager of her family’s feedlot operation near Colton, South Dakota. Agriculture has always been her passion. “I started off feeding bottle calves when I was much younger. That kind of instilled a little drive to be in agriculture,” Geraets said.

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Six of South Dakota’s 98 nursing homes are on a federal list of the nation’s worst-rated care facilities, according to a report by South Dakota Searchlight. Five of the facilities are eligible for a special program to improve quality of care through increased regulatory oversight: Avantara Norton in Sioux Falls, Bennett County Hospital and Nursing Home in Martin, Dells Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dell Rapids, Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell and Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau.

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8

The McCook County Commission pulled the plug on building permits until December for six hog-rearing projects that have received considerable landowner opposition. On Tuesday, Aug. 1, the commission unanimously decided to pass a moratorium on issuing building permits for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), halting six pending hog CAFO projects that were applied for

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12 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>>>SEPTEMBER<<<<<<<< 1

State and local leaders congregated at the site where a $500 million soybean processing plant 2 miles south of Mitchell broke ground on Sept. 19. The groundbreaking ceremony of the High Plains Processing facility brought Gov. Kristi Noem to the site. Leaders of the South Dakota Soybean Processors announced the facility will be co-owned with BP Products North America as a “joint venture.” Chicago-based BP Products North America is a subsidiary of global oil and gas company BP. The soybean processing plant is estimated to create 75 jobs.

Local leaders like Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson and Mitchell Area Development Corporation CEO Geri Beck have lauded the soybean plant as a project that will boost economic growth for the city of Mitchell and surrounding area.

South Dakota Soybean Processors CEO Thomas Kersting said there was more than two years of planning for the project, which intensified in the two months leading up to the groundbreaking ceremony after BP came into the mix.

“It’s very real now,” Kersting said at the Sept. 19 ceremony. “There’s been a lot of buildup to this day, not just the planning for it, but all of the work over the last two years, and the last two months have been off the hook.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a trip to the small town of Chamberlain in early September. Chamberlain’s municipal airport was one of two South Dakota airports to receive federal funding for future improvements. Buttigieg pointed to Chamberlain’s municipal airport, located in the central portion of the state, as a key transportation operation for medical services. He also visited Salem to discuss trucking policy

2

Rapid City rally. Gov. Kristi Noem was one of few top-elected officials in the state to attend the rally. Despite the legal hurdles facing Trump, the former president is making another run in the 2024 Presidential election.

7

Bridgewater-Emery Elementary School received national recognition in early September when it received a National Blue Ribbon award. Bridgewater-Emery Elementary School was one of three South Dakota schools to earn the prestigious award in 2023. The award recognizes schools for their excellence in overall academic performance or for their progress in closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

From left, High Plains Partners board members Mark Hyde, Jonathan Kleinjan, Craig Weber, Gov. Kristi Noem, Tom Kersting, Mark Hagan and Carl Odde break ground of the High Plains Processing soybean processing plant on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, near Mitchell. and infrastructure upgrades.

3

After facing a flood of opposition from Davison County residents, the city of Mitchell abruptly withdrew its permit to build an outdoor gun range on a piece of land owned by the city. When the city of Mitchell unveiled the location where it sought to build a gun range, about 90 nearby residents flocked to a County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to voice their concerns about the proposed location of the gun range.

4

Mitchell’s Performance Pet broke ground on a major expansion in mid-September.

The manufacturing plant began

its 14,000-square-foot expansion, which will make way for more jobs in Mitchell. The expansion is estimated to be complete in the fall of 2024.

5

The 2023 South Dakota State Fair looked a bit different this year. After years of planning, the $32 million Dakota Events Complex officially opened its doors at the State Fair in Huron. The 150,000-squarefoot facility will also be used to host rodeo and livestock events.

6

Former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a rally in South Dakota. South Dakota Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, along with South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson, did not attend the

8

Jaymison Bjorum, who attends Mitchell Technical College, was one of three winners in South Dakota of a $4,000 scholarship as part of the Mike Rowe Works Foundation, which funds scholarships for students who are going into trades careers. The Bon Homme High School graduate intends to become a power line technician.

9

Avera Health announced its new leader in late September.

James Dover, a longtime health care executive with over 30 years of experience in the field, was named the president and chief executive officer of Avera Health, one of the largest rural health care systems in the Midwest.

10

For the second year in a row, Mitchell Technical College was named the Best Community College in South Dakota by finance outlet WalletHub.com.

South Dakota’s four technical colleges were among 668 total community colleges evaluated for the award across the U.S.

Happy New Year from all of us at

1531 W Elm • PO Box 487 • Mitchell, SD 57301 605.996.3106 • 605.770.5170 Cell

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 13

>>>>>>>> OCTOBER <<<<<<<<

1

In the wake of landowner opposition and permit denials, Navigator CO2 Ventures abruptly canceled its quest to build a carbon capture pipeline that would have stretched through eastern South Dakota.

The company announced it was canceling the project on Oct. 20. The pipeline aimed to capture carbon emissions from ethanol plants across five states in the Upper Midwest.

Leading up to Navigator CO2’s decision to cancel the multi-state project, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission denied the company’s permit. The PUC cited the company’s unwillingness to comply with local ordinances as a reason for the denial.

The carbon capture pipeline project divided some elected officials. Many South Dakota landowners pushed back against the pipeline when the company was pursuing easements to construct portions of the pipeline on private and public land.

Navigator’s pipeline cancellation followed the denied application from South Dakota PUC regulators in September for Summit Carbon Solutions, which has plans for a 469 miles of pipeline through eastern South Dakota. PUC leaders said the proposed route would violate local county ordinances that involve setback requirements. Summit Carbon Solutions said it intends to refile its application with the PUC.

2

Two officials with the Mitchell Baseball Association were indicted in October on misdemeanor charges that allege they failed to report information connected to rape allegations involving Mitchell baseball players. Luke Norden, head coach of the Mitchell Legion baseball team, and Jeremy Borgan, a board member of the Mitchell Baseball Association, were charged with misdemeanor offenses.

The indictment was the first involving two officials within the Mitchell baseball program.

lots was made possible after Mitchell voters approved a ballot measure in June that allowed the city to list eight public lots along Lake Mitchell.

Revenue generated from the sale of the lots will be used for future restoration work.

7

Mitchell Librarian Zack North was named South Dakota’s New Librarian of the Year for 2023.

North was chosen as the new librarian of the year by the South Dakota Library Association. North has worked at the library since 2019. His impact on the Mitchell Public Library was also recognized at an October Mitchell City Council meeting.

8 Forum News Service file photo

Signage in Leola, South Dakota warned against approving carbon pipelines, including the planned Summit Carbon Solutions plan running through eastern South Dakota.

3

State leaders announced a piece of land in Lincoln County as the proposed site for a new men’s prison in early October. The South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC) purchased two 160-acre parcels of land in rural Lincoln County, near Harrisburg. The proposed location sparked pushback among nearby residents and some rural officials.

4

The Mitchell Kernels girls soccer team punched a ticket to the Class AA girls soccer championship game on Oct. 10 with a big win over Aberdeen Central in a penalty shootout. The Kernels’ run ended with a loss to Harrisburg in the

Class AA title match but MHS posted a program-best 16-2 record for the season.

5

Dakota Wesleyan University football’s Jamin Arend became the school’s all-time leading rusher on Oct. 30. The speedy running back from Emery notched a total of 3,558 yards during the Tigers’ game against Jamestown. Arend broke the previous record that was held since 2014.

6

The city of Mitchell’s first public auction for seven lots along Lake Mitchell attracted nearly $1 million. The auction of the city-owned

A Gregory man was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with 20 years suspended, for first-degree manslaughter charges after pleading guilty but mentally ill. Alec J. Dostal Sr., 56, was sentenced for his role in a February 2022 crash where his vehicle hit and struck a side-by-side vehicle, killing 63-year-old Samuel Hoffart, of Dallas, S.D. Dostal was drunk at the time of the crash and had five prior drunk-driving convictions.

9

A proposed Mitchell housing development near Avera Queen of Peace that had been sidelined for three years broke ground on Oct. 11. New project leaders came into the picture and advanced the Ridgeview on Foster housing development, but some nearby residents remain opposed to the project. Despite the opposition, project leaders say it will bring critical affordable housing options to Mitchell.

10

Bridgewater-Emery/ Ethan football coach Jeff VanLeur led his Seahawks to his 300th coaching victory in a win over McCook Central/Montrose on Oct. 6. VanLeur is only the second coach in South Dakota high school football history to reach 300 coaching victories, and has done so all at Emery.

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14 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

>>>>>>>>NOVEMBER<<<<<<<<

1

In quick succession, South Dakota’s 21-year-old state walleye record went down twice. It started in late October when the state’s record was broken on Lake Oahe when Aaron Schuck reeled in a massive walleye weighing 16 pounds and 8 ounces. The North Dakota angler struggled to find a certified scale over the next few days and stored the fish in his fridge. When he located a certified scale, Schuck’s walleye broke the previous record by less than a pound.

Less than three weeks later, Keith Pazour, of Pierre, reeled in a massive walleye on Nov. 11 over the weekend that weighed 17 pounds and 13 ounces.

Pazour brought the state record catch to be weighed at a resort near Gettysburg.

Pazour’s walleye measured 33 inches and was 22 inches in girth. “I had a few choice words when I lifted her in the boat. I was by myself and had my camera set up. I threw her in the live well and it was weighing between 17 and 18 pounds,” Pazour said recalling the catch. “I knew then I had to get in.”

2

Mitchell’s Perkins restaurant was declared a total loss following an overnight fire on Nov. 15. The restaurant was open for 29 years. Perkins officials have indicated they plan to rebuild the restaurant. A cause for the blaze has not been announced. The fire was the latest setback to the restaurant industry in Mitchell, which saw the closure of Hardee’s earlier in the month, Burger King in September and Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill closed in August.

3

In high school football, both Parkston, Avon earned state titles at the DakotaDome on Nov. 9. The Trojans capped an undefeated season in Class 9AA, rallying from an early deficit to win 12-7 for its first state title in the nine-man ranks. In Class 9B, Avon held off Faulkton Area 32-30 for the Pirates’

not bring forward a plan to change the state’s football classification plan, which includes seven classes of football.

7

Tabor’s miniature Czech village was busy in mid-November, as a spiritual drama film called “His Name is Michael” came to town to shoot and film.

Tabor was the location because it had the church sanctuary and surrounding buildings that film directors deemed to be perfect for the late 1800s setting for the film and everything in one place. The hope is for the film to be released in mid2024.

8 Submitted photo

Keith Pazour, a Pierre angler, holds his state record walleye he reeled in on Lake Oahe in November. first state title since 2013.

4

Three more downtown buildings were demolished in November, bringing the total in the last five years to 10. Five of those buildings have been located in the corner block between First Avenue and Lawler Street, with some of the buildings dating back to 1900. Mitchell leaders are hoping to see the now vacant site be redeveloped but no solidified plans have come together.

5

Mitchell High School wrestling coach Andy Everson cited a “hostile environment” stemming from the “social climate” as justification for resigning from coaching. Everson authored a letter addressed to the parents of MHS wrestling, explaining

his decision to resign as head coach approximately two weeks prior to the start of practice for the 2023-24 season, citing the climate around coaching after the Mitchell Legion baseball charges broke and believing there has been a rush to judgment against baseball coaches charged in the matter. A 2002 MHS alum, Everson had been the Kernels’ head wrestling coach since 2019.

6

A plan to shrink the nine-man football playoffs starting in 2024 moved through a panel of football coaches and administrators in November. The measure would bring the number of playoff teams per class from 16 to 12, while trying to make the postseason more competitive. While it got a lot of discussion, the panel did

The Mitchell Board of Education on Nov. 13 approved hiring a social worker and attendance liaison in an effort to combat chronic absenteeism in the Mitchell School District. Earlier in the month, Mitchell was one of four school districts in South Dakota that received state funds to combat absenteeism in schools. At Mitchell High School, the chronic absenteeism rate went up in 2021-22, while the attendance rate fell by 11 percentage points.

9

Formerly known as Tickled Pink boutique, the Mitchell clothing store owned by Megan Sabers changed names in November, mainly because it now sells men’s clothing, filling a gap left by downtown business closures. It’s now known as The Vault Clothing Company, harkening because the building is an old bank dating to 1905, with large vaults inside.

10

Two young South Dakota rodeo standouts, Mason Moody, of Letcher, and Jazz McGirr, of Huron, created a rodeo showcase event of their own to show off talent in the region over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The event was held at the newly opened Dakota Events Complex in Huron on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds.

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023 | 15

>>>>>>>>DECEMBER<<<<<<<<

1

effective at the end of the school year.

Denning, who has been a longtime teacher and coach, had 29 years of experience and was in the process of being certified for superintendent duties. Reasons why Denning resigned weren’t publicly disclosed.

Could Amtrak train service be making its way to eastern South Dakota? The Federal Railroad Administration has quietly indicated Sioux Falls is among the top picks for Amtrak expansion, with a possible route through Rapid City to Denver or to Omaha and the Twin Cities. South Dakota is the only state in the lower 48 of the U.S. that has no Amtrak service, and in 2022, the FRA announced a series of stakeholder meetings and a study to explore the possibilities to restore discontinued Amtrak routes while adding services throughout the country, with South Dakota among the states discussed.

2

South Dakota State’s football success continued in December, capped with a dominant 59-0 win in the FCS playoff semifinals over Albany on Dec. 16 in Brookings. The No. 1 seeded Jackrabbits were 123-12 in three playoff games in December, setting up a return trip to Frisco, Texas in January to defend its national championship and play second-seeded Montana. SDSU is 14-0 on the year and holds a 28-game win streak.

3

While she made clear the budget needs tightening in 2024, Gov. Kristi Noem’s annual budget address on Dec. 5 emphasized funding measures to help the state’s education system, infrastructure and prisons. She proposed a 4% increase in budgets for K-12 education, health care providers and state employees, a group she referred to as the “Big Three.”

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8

A former Mitchell Tech instructor is suing the college and the Mitchell School District over what he believes is wrongful termination from 2022. Carpentier previously taught commercial truck driving courses and claimed he was terminated in retaliation for his reports of allegations of sexual harassment against another instructor. The civil rights case was filed in federal court.

Joshua Lott / Reuters

A file photo shows an Amtrak train attendant walking across the tracks after exiting the California Zephyr Amtrak train in Holdrege, Nebraska.

4

Even in Cattle Country, residents in Miner County saw something they don’t see every day on Dec. 2, when a three-mile cattle drive moved 132 cows down a highway to their new home. Using four-wheelers and ATVs, Will Walter, a Fedora-area farmer and rancher, his son Thad, and their neighbor Pete Hansen led the move along the county road to their new grazing location.

A Corsica man was killed Dec. 6 when the car he was driving was struck by a Davison County Highway Department employee who left his driving lane while operating a highway maintainer near Mount

5

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Vernon. Calvin Boluyt, 24, died in the crash.

6

Ady Dwight, of Dakota Wesleyan volleyball, earned NAIA volleyball All-America first-team honors for the third time of her career. She’s the first three-time first-team All-American in any DWU team sport. This season, Dwight posted 556 kills — which led the NAIA at the end of the regular season — with a career-best .345 hitting percentage, helping the Tigers to 19 wins.

7

The CEO of Mount Vernon School District Eric Denning abruptly resigned on Dec. 11, with the exit

9

A Davison County corrections officer was charged on Dec. 13 for paying women for sex, a misdemeanor charge. The Mitchell Police Department led the investigation and allegedly found text messages and other evidence implicating Marco Mora in that he had paid two women in the area for sex. Mora was booked in the Davison County jail where he worked.

10

Nash Hutmacher, a Chamberlain High School graduate and a defensive lineman for the University of Nebraska, capped a breakout season by being honored by the Big Ten Conference as an honorable mention all-conference selection. The junior nose tackle from Oacoma started all 12 games and set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks as a leader of the Huskers’ top-10-ranked run defense.

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16 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

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