There will be a benefit spaghetti feed and auction for Kevin Kidwiler on Monday, August 29th from 5-8pm at the Winner American Legion. Proceeds will help defray medical expenses. If you would like to donate items for the auction you can contact Colleen Farley at 842-5471, Tanya Harter at 840-0559 or Tracie Haley at 840-0072. An account has also been setup at First Fidelity Bank for the Kidwiler family. Donations can be sent to First Fidelity Bank, PO Box 111, Winner, SD 57580.

The Burke Hospital will hold a community stakeholders meeting this Wednesday, August 24th. The meeting will start at noon in the hospital conference room. Also on Wednesday, an ice cream social featuring sandwiches, pies, desserts and ice cream will be held at the Valentine United Methodist Church from 5-7pm at the Fellowship Hall. It will be free will donation.

We wanted to remind you that the Winner Community Playhouse has changed the dates of their fall production to the last two weekends in the month of October. If these dates fit your schedule better and you would still like to audition for a part, please contact director Sandra York at 605-842-2397. Contract Sandra as soon as possible!

(Winner, SD) – Plans to break ground are underway as news reached administration and the Board of Directors that Winner Regional Healthcare Center was recently approved for a low interest Community Facilities Loan from the USDA. In November, plans were unveiled, at a public meeting, to pursue a major expansion and renovation project. These plans were contingent upon a feasible financing option, which has now been secured with the USDA. The $23 million project was approved by the Board of Directors as a necessary step in ensuring Winner Regional’s ability to continue to address the healthcare needs of those in Winner and the surrounding region. “A commitment of this magnitude is not only a commitment to the future of Winner Regional, but a commitment to the residents of our area,” stated Board President Brian Schaeffer.

Winner Regional’s existing facilities were designed and constructed in an era of health care delivery that was dramatically different from today and where it is headed in the future. An expansion and renovation of the hospital and its clinic facilities will allow Winner Regional to more efficiently deliver modern health care to those who depend on their services. The proposed facility changes will fully integrate the current best practices with an eye towards flexibility and expandability to allow the hospital to evolve with the ever changing delivery of health care. To support the primary goal of improving the patient experience, the main focus of the project will be the construction of a new clinic, ER, OR, lab and radiology department, along with a streamlined registration area for the entire facility. The original 1947 building will be demolished to make room for new construction, while the old laboratory and radiology spaces will be repurposed to accommodate services currently housed in the 1947 building.

Plans include 28,000 square feet of new construction, along with 16,000 square feet of major renovation work. All hospital services will continue to be operational throughout the course of construction. The total anticipated cost of the project is expected to be $23,035,000 dollars. In addition to the low interest USDA loan, funding for the project will include the previous gift of $3 million from the late John and Raymond Erickson, $1 million in other pledges received to date, as well as securing $3 million in local philanthropic donations. Regarding the expansion, CEO Kevin Coffey said, “We take great pride in our role of serving this community for over 65 years and are thrilled we have the opportunity to further show our dedication through the growth of our facility and organization.”

The 2016 MBBA Bull Finale is set for Friday, September 2nd at the Randy Shippy Ranch Arena, four miles south of Colome. Futurity will begin at 10am and admission is a free will offering. Come watch the top riders go head-to- head with the best bucking bulls for champion buckles and a share of $70,000 in prize money! Concessions will be provided on the grounds and it will be a great time for the entire family. Tehrani Motors will be sponsoring the big event so make plans now to attend!

We wanted to send a couple reminders your way about what is coming up in Valentine. The Cherry County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, August 30th at the regular location in Valentine starting at 10am. Coming up on Thursday, September 8th, the Valentine City Council will meet in the meeting room of the Valentine Public Library beginning at 7pm.

Todd County School District classes will begin on Monday, August 22nd and will be in session for three days before the Rosebud Fair. School will resume after the fair on Tuesday, August 30th. This year the classes will start at 8:30am. The first week students will be released for high school at 12:45, middle school at 12:50 and elementary at 1pm. Normal dismissal times will be 3:35pm, 3:40 and 3:45. Buses will run thirty minutes earlier than last year.

Don’t forget the Gregory/Dallas Chamber has their final act in the arts and entertainment series tomorrow night! Go checkout “Re-Percussion” at the Dallas American Legion on Thursday night beginning at 6:30pm!  Also on Thursday, don’t forget that Winner Middle School orientation for students entering grades 6-8 will be held starting at 6pm at the Winner Armory. Students will receive schedules and other information during the meeting. Students and parents will also be able to visit classrooms and check out lockers. Any questions call the office at 842-8125.

The Burke Farmers Market will re-open tomorrow on Main Street! The market will be open from 4-6pm each and every Thursday through early October. The Chamberlain Farmers Market will be back open this Saturday from 8am-noon in the parking lot of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Chamberlain. The market is open through October 1st each and every Saturday. For more information you can call Teal at 605-682-9377. The market is sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.

There will be a benefit spaghetti feed and auction for Kevin Kidwiler on Monday, August 29th from 5-8pm at the Winner American Legion. Proceeds will help defray medical expenses. If you would like to donate items for the auction you can contact Colleen Farley at 842-5471, Tanya Harter at 840-0559 or Tracie Haley at 840-0072. An account has also been setup at First Fidelity Bank for the Kidwiler family. Donations can be sent to First Fidelity Bank, PO Box 111, Winner, SD 57580.