There will be a benefit auction for Cleo Barry on Saturday, November 19th at St. Mary’s Hall in Winner. Supper will be served starting at 5pm with a silent and live auction to follow. All of the proceeds from this event will go toward medical expenses as Cleo is fighting her third round of breast cancer. For more information or to donate auction items you can call Tawny at 605-208-1545, Taylor at 208-0484, Tracy at 840-9804 or Wendy at 840-1229.

It should be a fun weekend that is filled with numerous Halloween activities in Central South Dakota! The Disney Bound Spirit Gems in Winner will be having a Hysteria House Friday through Sunday in the old Rich’s Rec Building just next door to KWYR at 126 East 4th Street. It will be open 7-11 pm Friday and Saturday nights and from 7-9pm on Sunday. The cost of admission is eight dollars. The Winner Methodist Church will hold their annual trunk or treat this Sunday from 5:30-7pm at the Church. The final dance of the season will take place Saturday night at Carlock Dance Hall from 7:30 to 11:30pm. Country Two will be playing your favorite tunes! Saturday is the final night for you to check out the Zombie Zone at Fergie’s Pub on Main in Platte. The kids version will run from 7:30-8pm followed by the adult version. The cost is ten dollars at the door. Zion Lutheran Church in Colome will be hosting a trunk or treat this Sunday from 6-8pm at Skatetown! A trunk or treat event will be held on Saturday at the Valentine Methodist Church from 5-7pm. Hot dogs and chili will be served. The Gregory Community Club’s annual Haunted House, “The Haunts of the Past” will be at the Gregory Auditorium Friday and Saturday night from 7-10pm. Proceeds will go toward the Gregory Community Club and the Junior After Prom party. The Cherry County Ag Society invites you to their haunted hay ride Friday through Monday from 8pm to 12 at the Cherry County Fairgrounds parking lot! Just ten dollars per ticket and not recommended for kids five and under.

There will be a Veterans Day program on Thursday, November 10th starting at 2:30pm at the White River Community Events Center. All veterans and community members are encouraged to attend. A Veterans Day Program will be held on November 10th at the Winner Armory. The American Legion and Auxiliary will be hosting a soup luncheon at the Winner American Legion after the program. All veterans and spouses are welcome to attend.

There will be a trunk or treat at the Gregory Football Field parking lot on Monday, October 31st from 4-5:30pm before the playoff football game. Any businesses or individuals that would like to take part in the trunk or treat can signup by calling Gregory Schools at 835-9672. A treasure of treat will be held on Halloween night at the Winner Community Church from 5-7. Stop by the church for a treasure or a treat!

The HOSA team at Winner High School is asking for donations of hygiene products to be distributed throughout the local area. Collection boxes are located in the lobby of the Winner Armory at home games and in Mr. Olson’s room. Recommended items include, but not limited to: toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, mouthwash and floss.

A community Thanksgiving meal will be held on Thursday, November 24th at the Community Center in Chamberlain! The meal is free of charge and will be served from 11am-2pm. If you would like to donate to this event you can call Melissa at 734-6001, or if you would like to volunteer at the event you can call Deacon Jim Bregel at 234-5868.

The Winner VFW Auxiliary holiday wreath project is underway! You can purchase live wreaths for home decorations, gifts, business and cemeteries. All of the proceeds will support veterans and their families. The order deadline is November 14th. To order you can call Sandy at 605-840-4961, Connie at 840-9333 or Rosemary at 842-2127.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – The average value of farm and ranch land in South Dakota has dropped for the first time in at least a quarter century.

A new report from South Dakota State University says the average per-acre value of land dropped 2.4 percent after averaging a 10 percent increase annually since at least 1991, when the university began its survey of experts across the state.

The Capital Journal (http://bit.ly/2f4EWcC ) reports that the land’s worth reflects the sharp declines in crop and beef cattle prices.

Ranchers and other livestock market experts say prices for calves coming off pasture in the fall are down at least 40 percent from two years ago. Farmers say prices for corn, soybeans and wheat are down at least 30 percent historic highs seen three and four years ago.
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Information from: Pierre Capital Journal, http://www.capjournal.com
AP-WF-10-25-16 1521GMT

The following is a detailed summary from the technical education meeting that was held on October 19th at the Tripp County Courthouse:

Our overall goal is to provide Technical Education courses for all ages. Local hands-on education should be directed toward local job opportunities, quick, effective skill building and adult education.

Attendees spoke and the following comments are noted:

Regional Technical Education Center (RTEC) – Yankton

Josh Svatos, General Manager and John Darcy, Welding Instructor

RTEC started in 2004 and formed a 50l(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. They started in a 5,000 square foot building and soon added 12,000 square feet of space with Grant money. The initial 24 Directors were reduced to less than 12 people. Their cornerstone was for manufacturing and specializing in custom education programs. RTEC developed community partners. Initial Grants of $50,000 and $300,000 were obtained. Summer programs are offered. Quick programs are provided as well. Issues will come up, keep going forward thinking as a team, lastly, agree to disagree. Approximately 50% of their students are recent K-12 graduates.

Sinte Gleska University – Mission

Provost Phil Baird and Cheryl Medearis, VP Academic Affairs

Sinte Gleska has accredited programs. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) are offered with cross credit. South Dakota is an open union state. Apprenticeship programs can be a problem in other states that are unionized. They also operate a van to transport students between Burke and Mission, twice daily, year-round.

Mid-Plains Community College (MPCC) – Valentine

Jennifer Nollette, Class Coordinator

MPCC is offering day and evening classes: accounting, computers, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), visual arts, and welding. Valentine is one of 20 distance learning centers through MPCC.

Suggestions from Experience

1. In general, partnerships are key. RTEC will assist us with instructors where they can. Avera Hospital has partnered with RTEC providing healthcare equipment, obtaining Grants and instructors.

2. Start small, offer most critical classes, get local employer support plus community at large.

3. Offer a class when four people sign up – eight more will usually follow.

Oct 19 Public Meeting Summary – Page 2 of 2

(Suggestions continued on page 2)

Suggestions from Experience (continued from page 1)

4. An Accountant can help with 501(c)(3) application.

5. Cross-trained local professionals can be used as local instructors for some classes.

6. Hands-on is a vital key. In conducting classes, start with hands-on instruction, then classroom instruction and then back to hands-on. This proven method is a big learning motivator.

7. It was suggested that a survey may be helpful – employers, potential students (all ages) and teacher resources (local, retired, and others interested in instructing). In any event, a plan for short and long-term education programs will be developed as we go forward.

8. We are going to come up with unique programs, for example, Drone Technology as applied to agriculture, in addition to more common programs. Historically, Fairview Community College, which has been operating for 60 years, conducts the only Harley- Davidson sponsored Technician Training program in Canada. Students come from all over to this northwestern Alberta town of 4,000 people.

In conclusion, the meeting was very interesting and useful. The intersecting activities of these nearby educational institutions were shared in a very cooperative manner. This will further education choices.

Volunteers are needed to help start this Post-Secondary Hands-on Technical Education Program. One Attendee has already offered to be a Director.

This activity is part of the plan to develop the Winner Regional Technical Center.

By Chuck Noble

There will be a benefit auction for Cleo Barry on November 19th at St. Mary’s Hall in Winner. Supper will start at 5pm with a silent and live auction to follow. All of the proceeds will go toward medical expenses as Cleo is fighting her third round of breast cancer. For more information or to donate auction items you can call Tawny at 208-1545, Taylor at 208-0484, Tracy at 840-9804 or Wendy at 840-1229.