Hauser bags mountain lion in Montana - Pioneer Review

The 

$1.00 

Includes Tax 

Volume 31 

Number 30 

January 9, 2014 

Bison Courier 

Official Newspaper for the City of Bison, Perkins County, and the Bison School District 

A Publication of Ravellette Publications, Inc. 

P.O. Box 429 • Bison, South Dakota 57620-0429 

Phone: (605) 244-7199 • FAX (605) 244-7198 

County Commission holds 

final meeting in old year 

Hauser bags mountain 

By Beth Hulm 

With just one day remaining in 

2013, the five-man Board of 

Perkins County Commissioners 

convened to take care of last 

minute business before closing 

the books on the old year. They 

will meet again on January 7 to 

begin a new year of county business. 

There was discussion about 

stationing a motor grader in the 

far southern part of the county 

where somebody local would be 

hired to operate it for snow removal. 

Jamie Gerbracht had expressed 

an interest in doing that 

job and was present last Monday 

morning to hear what the county 

board had to say about the idea. 

It has been done in the past 

but, according to acting highway 

superintendent Duane Holtgard, 

“Logistically, it’s a nightmare” 

when it comes to maintenance 

and re-fuelling. He also said that 

the county doesn’t have the extra 

equipment to leave some of it sitting 

in the country. 

Right now, there are six men 

and six blades and there are 

times when they are all needed. 

It might be a feasible option to 

place equipment throughout the 

county if there was more equipment, 

Holtgard said. 

“We need more people (operators) 

for the amount of roads,” he 

said. “We have enough people for 

the equipment we have.” 

Holtgard thinks that his men 

can get the job done without having 

additional help. His philosophy 

is to “poke it all open” so that 

people can get out and then drop 

the wings on the plows to clean 

up the roads. 

Chairman Mike Schweitzer 

voiced objections to playing favorites. 

“If we’ve got (a grader) 

down south, I want one up north,” 

he said. “We just have to treat all 

areas of the county equally.” 

The issue may be re-visited 

when a new highway superintendent 

is hired. The application 

deadline was January 1. Commissioners 

will begin interviewing 

candidates soon. As of last 

week’s meeting, there were four 

applicants. 

Tyler Fisher was recently hired 

and is the newest member of the 

highway crew. 

Holtgard had an update on the 

Mack truck that the county recently 

purchased off a Sanborn 

County bid. The truck is currently 

in Rapid City being outfitted 

with equipment – a box, a 

snow plow and a hoist. A Brookings 

County bid is being used for 

the equipment part of the package. 

Holtgard would also like to 

add a sander, which was not on 

the special meeting agenda so no 

action was taken on making that 

purchase although the general 

consensus of the board was that 

continued on page 8 

lion in Montana 

SDFU member Meyer appointed to 

another term on Cattlemen’s Beef Board 

South Dakota Farmers Union 

(SDFU) member Vaughn Meyer of 

Reva, S.D. has been appointed by 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack 

to another term on the Cattlemen’s 

Beef Promotion and Research 

Board, also known as the Cattlemen’s 

Beef Board (CBB). 

Meyer is an Angus producer that 

owns and operates SoDak Angus. 

He has over 50 years of involvement 

in cattle production and is a 

lifelong member of SDFU. 

“Vaughn Meyer has worked very 

hard during his first three years on 

the CBB and I know he will continue 

to be a strong advocate for 

South Dakota’s cattle farmers and 

ranchers,” said SDFU President 

Doug Sombke. “In addition to his 

three years on the CBB, Meyer has 

served over 11 years on the South 

Dakota Beef Industry Council and 

is a natural leader for the South 

Dakota cattle industry. We are fortunate 

to have him appointed to another 

term on the CBB.” 

The CBB consists of 103 members 

appointed by the Secretary of 

Agriculture for three-year terms. 

The number of board members is 

determined according to the number 

of cattle in each state or region. 

South Dakota has four members on 

the CBB. South Dakota’s members 

in addition to Meyer include Danni 

Beer of Keldron, Linda Gilbert of 

Buffalo, and Gary Sharp of Bath. 

The CBB oversees the collection 

and management of $1-per-head on 

all cattle sold in the United States 

and the equivalent on imported cattle, 

beef and beef products. 

On December 30, 2013, Agriculture 

Secretary Tom Vilsack announced 

41 appointments to the 

CBB. The announcement with the 

other appointments can be found 

here. 

Joesy Hauser went with his stepdad, Rich Kokesh, to the Little Belt Mountains in Montana where 

they tracked and treed this cat. After several miles, several days, and deep snow, they finally 

came upon this guys track. Pictured is Justin and Joesy. Justin helps hunters track their prey, 

he also had the dogs that treed the cat.

2 • The Bison Courier • Thursday, January 9, 2014 

This 

week in 

Bison 

January 15th at American Lutheran 

in Bison: Potluck meal at 6:30 with program 

following. The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton will be present, 

see article on page 11. 

The Bison Food Pantry will be open one week later 

than usual in January. The date is January 15th, 2014 

from 2:30 - 4:30. If you have a food need, please come. 

Alcoholics Anonymous is meeting weekly in Bison. 

The group meets every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the 

basement of the Presbyterian Church. Everyone is welcome. 

To have your NON-PROFIT meeting listed here, please 

submit them by calling: 244-7199, or e-mailing to: 

courier@sdplains.com. We will run your event notice the 

two issues prior to your event at no charge. 

SDSU announces 

graduates 

The following students were 

candidates for graduation after 

the Fall 2013 session at South 

Dakota State University. 

Alyssa Anne Martin, Bison 

SD Master of Science in 

Graduate School 

Nutrition Site 

Menu 

Thursday, January 9 

Chicken alfredo 

Italian vegetables 

grape juice 

fruit crisp 

Friday, January 10 

Hot beef on whole grain bread 

mashed potatoes w/gravy 

corn broccoli bake 

peaches 

ice cream 

Monday, January 13 

Spanish rice w/hamburger 

seasoned spinach 

grape juice 

orange 

Tuesday, January 14 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

Chicken & dressing 

baked squash 

harvest beets 

fruit cocktail 

cake 

Wednesday, January 15 

Meatloaf 

baked potato 

lima beans w/pimento 

pineapple tidbits 

whole wheat dinner roll 

Private Pesticide applicators 

Who needs to be certified or recertified 

as a Private Pesticide Applicator? 

If you plan to apply any 

pesticides to produce an agricultural 

commodity worth $1,000 or 

more to land that you or your employer 

rents or owns, you need to be 

certified. It does not matter what 

Farm Credit Services of America 

(FCSAmerica), a customer-owned financial 

cooperative, announced 

today it will offer $2,500 scholarships 

to juniors and seniors at land 

grant universities in Iowa, Nebraska, 

South Dakota and Wyoming. 

FCSAmerica will provide scholarships 

to six South Dakota State University 

(SDSU) qualifying students 

studying agriculture or ag business 

in the 2014-2015 academic year. 

2014 marks the 18th year that FC- 

SAmerica will offer land grant scholarships 

through its scholarship 

program. 

Application information and complete 

scholarship criteria are available 

at fcsamerica.com/scholarships. 

Printed applications are also available 

at the College of Agriculture 

and Biological Sciences at SDSU, Ag 

Hall156. The deadline for the SDSU 

scholarship application is February 

15, 2014, and completed applications 

must be sent to Dr. Don Marshall at 

SDSU. 

“These scholarships provide 

needed financial assistance to eligible 

students and contribute positively 

to the future of agriculture 

and rural America,” said Bob 

Schmidt, senior vice president, FC- 

SAmerica, Pierre. “Providing educational 

support to our future 

pesticide you apply (herbicide, insecticide, 

fungicide, etc.) you need 

to be certified as a private applicator, 

explained Buyung Hadi, SDSU 

Extension Pesticide Applicator 

Training & Urban Entomology Specialist. 

FCSAmerica Agriculture Scholarship 

available to South Dakota State 

University students 

$2,500 scholarships available to juniors and 

seniors for 2014-2015 academic year 

producers and agribusiness leaders 

is one of the many ways we support 

the South Dakota communities we 

serve.” 

Other scholarship criteria include 

a grade-point average of 3.0 or 

higher, written essay, agriculture 

background or work experience in 

agriculture, career interest and residency 

by state. Students must be 

enrolled in their university’s College 

of Agricultural Sciences and Natural 

Resources with course work emphasis 

in agribusiness or economics, or 

enrolled in the College of Business 

Administration with course work 

emphasis in agribusiness, finance, 

accounting or economics to be eligible 

for the FCSAmerica scholarships. 

Through its community involvement 

program, FCSAmerica contributes 

more than $425,000 each 

year in educational scholarships and 

sponsorships for its Young and Beginning 

Program, 4-H, FFA and 

other agriculture leadership programs 

in its four-state area. In 2013, 

FCSAmerica and its employees contributed 

more than 5,000 volunteer 

hours and more than $2.2 million 

dollars in community involvement 

support to organizations in Iowa, 

Nebraska, South Dakota and 

Wyoming. 

THE BISON COURIER 

Periodicals Postage Paid at Bison, SD 57620 

POSTAL PERMIT #009-944 

Published weekly every Thursday by Ravellette Publ., Inc. 

at PO Box 429, Bison SD 57620-0429 

Telephone: 605-244-7199 • Fax: 605-244-7198 

E-mail Addresses: courier@sdplains.com 

couriernews@sdplains.com 

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 

Bison ............................................................................$36.04 

Meadow, Shadehill, Prairie City, Reva & Lodgepole ........$35.36 

Lemmon........................................................................$36.04 

in state ........................................................$39.00 + sales tax 

out of state (Includes all Hettinger addresses.)...$39.00 (no tax) 

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 

The Bison Courier, PO Box 429, Bison SD 57620-0429 

Deadlines: Display and Classified Advertising: Mondays 

at 12:00 p.m. Legals: Fridays at 12:00 p.m. 

Publisher: Don Ravellette 

Editor/Office Manager: Arlis Seim 

Asst. Editor/Reporter: Lita Wells 

Ad Sales: Beth Hulm (605-244-5231), Beth@sdplains.com 

COPYRIGHT: Ravellette Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be 

reprinted, photocopied or in any way reproduced from this publication, in whole 

or in part, without the written consent of the publisher. 

Dear Editor and 

residents of Bison 

The recent utility billing for November 

usage (payable by Jan. 15) 

included an additional $8 monthly 

fee, per resolution 2013-1, for 

every water meter in town. It is 

designated to repay Bison’s share 

of a $5.1 million state loan that 

Perkins County Rural Water owes. 

Bison used money from PCRW 

to rebuild the infrastructure system 

in town and, therefore, is liable 

for part of the debt. 

The City of Lemmon and all 

rural water users will also pay a 

share of the amount due. It is 

payable over the next 40 years. 

The Town Board of Bison apologizes 

for any inconvenience that 

this additional charge may cause 

its consumers and for a lack of 

communication before it appeared 

on the December billing. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Juell Chapman 

Chairman of the Board 

Town of Bison

The Bison Courier • Thursday, January 9, 2014 • 3 

Highlights & Happenings 

Its Bingo time!! Jan. 12 at 1:30. 

Community Center. Lunch will 

The Dewey, Meade, Perkins & 

Ziebach County FSA offices 

would like to keep you informed 

of the following items important 

to USDA programs. If you have 

any questions please contact the 

Dewey County office at 865-3522 

ext 2, Meade County at 347-4952 

ext 2, Perkins at 244-5222 ext 2 

or Ziebach County at 365-5179 

ext 2. 

DATES TO REMEMBER: 

JANUARY 15 – Final date for 

late filling 2014 winter wheat, 

rye, and perennial forage where 

the fees will be waived 

JANUARY 17 – Last day to return 

COC election ballots after 

received new ones mailed December 

20 

JANUARY 20 – OFFICE 

CLOSED 

FEBRUARY 17 – OFFICE 

CLOSED 

MARCH 15 - Last day to purchase 

NAP for 2014 Spring 

Planted and Forage Crops 

JANUARY 2014 INTEREST 

RATES 

Interest Rate for Commodity 

and Marketing Assistance Loans 

be served, $1.00 per card play all 

afternoon. Lots of prizes. 

USDA/Farm Service Agency news 

is 1. 125% 

Interest Rate for Farm Storage 

Facility Loans is 2.250 7 YEAR 





FLP Farm Operating Loan Interest 

is 1.875% 

FLP Farm Ownership Loan Interest 

is 4.125% 

Farm Changes for 2014 

To prepare for the upcoming 

year, FSA is requesting that all 

farm changes be reported to the 

office. Changes include any land 

that has been bought or sold, any 

ground that has had an ownership 

change or if you are farming 

different land than you did the 

previous year, changing from 

cash to share rent or share to 

cash rent, and any corporation, 

LLP, LLC, Trust or other entity 

that has been formed in the last 

year that now owns or operates 

ground. New mailing addresses 

or direct deposit accounts need to 

be updated. Please report any 

changes now to avoid delays. 

Jim and Vera Wilson and Herb 

Fried were New Year’s Day 

guests of Mary Ellen Fried. Greg 

and Peggy Fried joined them for 

supper. 

Jean and Raymond Akers were 

Friday afternoon visitors of Mary 

Ellen Fried. 

Bud and Mary Petik of Sandy, 

Tuesday, Dawn Harris stopped 

by in the evening for a brief visit. 

Bridget Keller and the boys were 

supper guests of Duane and 

Dawn Harris. 

Wednesday evening, Albert 

Keller returned home from work. 

Friday, the Keller’s traveled to 

the home of Patricia Keller at 

Trail City and spent the night. 

The boys will be spending the 

week with Grandma. 

Saturday, Albert and Bridget 

Keller traveled to Bismarck for 

the day. 

Sunday, Albert and Bridget 

Keller traveled to Cabo, Mexico 

for the week. 

Tiss Treib was among those 

who attended the Church council 

meeting at the church Monday 

evening. 

Tiss Treib called on Jim and 

Angie Spenny Thursday afternoon. 

Tiss Treib made a trip to Lemmon 

Friday around noon. 

Tiss Treib spent Friday 

through Sunday at the Western 

Meadow News ...By Tiss Treib 

Utah were Monday through Friday 

house guests of Jerry and 

Carolyn Petik. 

New Year’s Day, Jerry and Carolyn 

Petik were among the afternoon 

visitors of Irene Young. 

New Year’s Day, Jerry and Carolyn 

Petik were among the supper 

guests of Jim and Kim Petik. 

Rosebud News....By Tiss Treib 

Horizon’s Care Center, due to the 

weather. 

Tiss Treib visited with Goldie 

Baker Saturday evening. 

Tiss Treib and Shirley Dreiske 

played pinochle with Lucylle 

Doerr and Fern Sipma Saturday 

evening at the Western Horizon’s 

care center. 

Kylee Sandgren helped her 

grandmother, Thelma Sandgren, 

get ready for their early Christmas. 

After the Christmas Eve Services 

at the Presbyterian Church 

in Bison, the Sandgren families 

had supper and celebrated 

Christmas eve at the James and 

Marci Sandgren home, not the 

ranch. Sorry for the mistake. 

New Year’s Day, Vince Gunn 

brought Thelma Sandgren‘s mail 

in and they had coffee and a good 

visit. 

Thursday, Thelma Sandgren 

called Steve Sandgren because 

she had low water pressure. He 

found a broken pipe on the waterer, 

they then called Dick Vliem 

Fred and Bev Schopp spent 

Thursday and Friday overnight 

in Ft. Pierre. 

Laurie and Danci Hoff; Jessie 

Ginther; Weston, Katelin and 

Triston Ginther brought food out 

and the granddaughters prepared 

a meal for Fred and Bev 

Schopp. 

and he came and fixed it and they 

all had lunch together. 

Friday, Thelma Sandgren went 

to Hettinger, she visited at the 

Nursing Home and came home 

early due to the unpredictable 

weather. 

Saturday, James and Marci 

Sandgren came out to the ranch, 

James had to fix things and feed 

horses. Marci helped Thelma put 

some holiday items away. It was 

an enjoyable get together. 

Lexi Johnson spent Saturday 

with her grandmother, Shirley 

Johnson and helped her take 

down the Christmas tree. 

Jim and Patsy Miller spent 

New Year’s Day evening in Bison 

attending Eastern Star. 

Jim and Patsy Miller traveled 

to Lemmon Saturday. 

Jim and Patsy Miller were in 

Hettinger Friday and visited with 

Violet Miller at the Nursing 

Home. 

Tim and JoAnne Seim called on 

Chet and Mandy Anderson and 

family. 

Monday, January 13 

Chicken noodle casserole 

green beans 

whole grain roll 

salad bar 

fruit & milk 

Tuesday, January 14 

Sloppy joes 

string cheese 

salad bar 

fruit & milk 

Wednesday, January 15 

Scalloped potatoes & ham 

whole grain roll 

salad bar 

fruit & milk 

Thursday, January 16 

Hamburgers 

french fries 

salad bar 

fruit, milk


These girls sure do have fun! 

Town and Country has busy December 

Homestead Heights residents and guests joined a Christmas sing-along on the Saturday before 

Christmas. Seated, left to right, Jill Archibald, Sylvia Weishaar, Norman Kopren, Edith Meland, 

Eldora Ogdahl, Becky Carlson, Darlene Kolb, Allen Morris and Della Hatle. 

December was a busy and fun 

month for the ladies at Town and 

Country Extension Club. 

Festivities began early in the 

month with the decorating of a 

lighted angel tree at the courthouse 

for Parade of Trees. That 

tree won the best lighted tree contest. 

Community members were 

invited to place gifts for women 

and children beneath the tree, 

which were then donated to Communities 

Against Violence and 

Abuse in Lemmon to be given 

away as Christmas presents to 

the people who used those facilities 

throughout the year. 

Immediately following the tree 

decorating, club members gathered 

at Mom's Place for lunch, in 

honor of Vera Kraemer who has 

moved away from the community. 

Per the club by-laws, Kraemer 

was presented with a farewell 

gift. 

On Sunday evening, Dec. 15, 

Beth Hulm hosted the club 

Christmas party in her home. 

There was a potluck dinner, a 

couple of games, some caroling 

and a gift exchange. 

Finally, on Saturday, Dec. 22, 

the group met again in Homestead 

Heights center building 

where they hosted a Christmas 

sing-along and provided a light 

supper for residents and friends. 

Joyce Waddell furnished birthday 

cake and ice cream to all who 

came in honor of her mother, 

Edith Meland's, upcoming 94th 

birthday, which was on Christmas 

Day. 

As Town and Country members 

prepare for another year of activity, 

they invite anybody who 

would like to join them to please 

call Hulm, 244-5231. The regular 

January meeting will be Thursday, 

Jan. 23 at 7:00 p.m.


December box top winners 

Students in Mrs. Kahler's 1st grade class enjoyed making and eating these edible Christmas trees. These students brought in the most Boxtops, Our Family Labels 

and Campbell's Soup upc codes this month, and received this reward. Back: Jacelyn Watson-Veal, Grace Holzer, Jetta Hulm, Grace Juergens, Molly Lemer, Jozi 

Schuchard, Matti Krautschun, Jada Peck Front: Talon Lundberg, Kaden Glover, Colt Kopren, Josh Cook, Colbin Seidel.


Obituaries 

Maurice Hamilton 

Maurice Hamilton, age 90 of 

Reva, South Dakota, passed away 

December 21, 2013 at Sandstone 

Manor in Spearfish. 

Maurice Gordon Hamilton was 

born July 2, 1923 at Strool, South 

Dakota to Ralph and Marianna 

(Giannonatti) Hamilton. Maurice 

was raised on the family homestead 

in the Cash community, 

which he later purchased from 

his father. Maurice attended 

rural grade school and graduated 

from Hettinger High School in 

1941, where he was active in 

sports. Following graduation he 

worked in Bison as a mechanic 

and electrician. 

Maurice served his county during 

WW II, by joining the U.S. 

Navy in June of 1944, onboard 

the destroyer ship U.S. Stormes, 

helping “shoot the big guns” in 

the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 

He was honorably discharged in 

May of 1946. 

He returned to being an electrician 

and mechanic, along with 

working on the family homestead. 

He married Dixie Marie 

Blomberg, on June 2, 1951 and 

they lived east of Prairie City, 

where he raised cattle and Dixie 

taught country schools. Maurice 

and Dixie had one son, Blair Martin, 

born July 8, 1961. 

Following the death of Dixie’s 

brother Martin “Bud” Blomberg, 

Maurice and Dixie moved to her 

home ranch in the Slim Buttes to 

help her mother. Maurice continued 

raising cattle and begin moving 

haystacks throughout the 

area, before the era of the big 

bales. Later, Blair also joined the 

ranching operation. 

Maurice was farsighted and 

utilized the technique of artificial 

insemination to build up a fine 

herd of registered Simmental cattle, 

which sold throughout the 

United States, and he served as 

president of the American Simmental 

Association. 

He was an avid hunter and 

fisherman. Among his trophies 

was a caribou head, from a hunting 

excursion in upper Canada, 

where they were dropped off on 

the tundra by a ski plane that 

would return to pick them up a 

week later (they hoped)! 

Maurice was also an avid rodeo 

fan, especially of his son, “Badlands 

Blair” who won many 

championships. 

Due to failing health, Maurice 

left the beloved ranch and his 

cows and moved to Spearfish. He 

remained an integral part of the 

ranching operation even from 

town. Maurice was hardworking, 

honest and remained sharp 

minded and witty to the very end. 

Maurice was preceded in death 

by his wife Dixie in 2010, and 

son, Blair Martin in 2009. Also 

preceding him in death were his 

parents Ralph and Marianna; 

two sisters, Hazle Hanson and 

Shirley Aaker and one brother 

Jim Hamilton. 

Maurice is survived by nieces 

and nephews, other extended 

family and many friends. 

Memorial services will be held 

at the Reva Hall on January 11, 

2014 at 11:30 a.m. Interment will 

be 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 13, 

2013 at the Black Hills National 

Cemetery near Sturgis. 

A memorial has been established 

to benefit the Reva Fire 

Department, PO Box 96, Reva SD 

57651. 

Arrangements are under the 

care of Kinkade Funeral Chapel 

of Sturgis. 

Condolences may be sent to the 

family at www.kinkadefunerals 

.com. 

Victor Merno Blade 

Victor Merno Blade, 65, died at 

his home of natural causes on 

Thursday, December 26, 2013. 

Funeral services were held at 

10:00 a.m. Friday, January 3, 

2014 at Redeemer Free Lutheran 

Church in Canton, SD. Visitation 

was Thursday from 2-8 p.m., family 

present 6-8 p.m., at Anderson 

Funeral Home in Canton. 

Victor was born September 29, 

1948 in Lemmon, SD to Marion 

and Lula (Ford) Blade. Victor 

was a farmer and rancher for his 

entire life. He loved riding 

horses, fishing, farming, and 

working in his garden. He was a 

skilled mechanic and enjoyed tinkering. 

He will be remembered 

for always lending a hand when 

needed. He recently began attending 

Redeemer Free Lutheran 

Church in Canton. 

Victor is survived by his children, 

Ian (Carla) Hettinger, ND, 

Brad (Kristie), Belfield, ND, 

Cherri (Steve) Hendricks, Hettinger, 

ND, and Justin (Jamie), 

Canton, SD; brothers, Randy, 

Terry, Neil, David, and Leonard; 

sisters, Cindy and Linda; 11 

grandchildren; and 3 greatgrandchildren. 

He was preceded 

in death by his parents; brothers, 

Willie and Val; and sister, Sherry. 

www.andersonandsonsfh.com 

Wishing peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving 

memories to forever hold in your hearts, in the loss of your loved ones. 

Pastor’s Perspective 

Pastor Henry Mohagen 

Slim Buttes Lutheran Church 

Reva, South Dakota 

“Happy New Year”! We have been hearing this for the last couple weeks 

now. We, well I, struggle with writing 2014 for a good amount of time before 

my mind get acclimated to the new year then it is about time to change to 

the next year. Time sure rolls on. 

Epiphany is the time we celebrate the coming of the Magi following the 

star, looking for the Savior. When we were in Alaska the people of the 

Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the birth of Jesus about the same 

time as Epiphany. They would walk from house to house following someone 

carrying a star that would spin as a wheel. I don’t know how the person to 

carry the star was chosen but it was considered an honored and special 

position. They would fly from village to village and do the same. There are a 

number of traditions with this I would disagree with and doctrines I would 

disagree with BUT I appreciated the thought of following the star to 

worship Jesus. 

In Matthew chapter 2 we have the account of the Magi coming looking 

for the King of the Jews. They followed their GPS (GOD PREPARED STAR) 

to Jerusalem. They went to the palace to look for the King, a very logical 

place to look for him. Many times when we travel we can go 

hundreds of miles with a map and struggle when we get to the details of the 

final few miles or blocks. God had a plan for these Magi going to Herod with 

the question of “where is the King?” The Magi found the Savior and 

Worshiped Him and brought gifts. They returned home a different way 

because Herod was a ruthless and jealous king and tried to destroy this 

baby Jesus. But it was the indication that this Immanuel (God with Us) 

was for the gentiles as well. The message had gone out to the shepherd, 

indicating that the Savior had come for the common people and then 

including the Magi. What a marvelous plan including you and me. 

By faith the Magi followed the star to the Savior. You and I by faith, 

believing in Christ as our personal Savior, can have eternal life with Christ. 

Have a great New Year and do not neglect Worship of the Savior in your 

lives.


Genesee & Wyoming buys DM&E Railroad 

The Canadian Pacific (CP) railway 

announced on Thursday, January 

2, that it will sell the former 

Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern 

(DM&E) rail line, west of Tracy, 

Minn., to Genesee & Wyoming, 

Inc., for $210-million 

Genesse & Wyoming is a Greenwich, 

Conn., based rail company 

that is the nation’s largest operator 

of short-line rails. The sale involves 

660 miles of track.CP will 

retain the former DM&E holdings 

east of Tracy. 

The announcement comes 

shortly after the Surface Transportation 

Board (STB) issued a decision 

on the state of South 

Dakota's Canadian Pacific petition 

requiring CP to produce documentation 

of capital investments 

made to improve the line. 

“I am hopeful this sale to a 

short-line operator is in the best 

interest of the state,” said Governor 

Dennis Daugaard. “With the 

recent decision from the Surface 

Transportation Board, I am also 

hopeful that our questions about 

the Canadian Pacific’s obligations 

to improve the line will be answered. 

As I’ve said before, South 

Dakotans deserve to know 

whether CP kept its promises. The 

line is too important to our state 

for our questions to go unanswered.” 

Last year, Daugaard set forth 

four values that he would use to 

determine whether or not to support 

any future sale of the line. 

Those values are: 

•The buyer’s ability and willingness 

to maintain and operate 

the line between Pierre and Rapid 

City. 

•The buyer’s ability to maintain 

healthy competition, both as to 

shipping rates and access to markets. 

•The buyer’s ability to provide a 

high level of service to South 

Dakota shippers and producers. 

•The buyer’s commitment to 

providing long term service in 

South Dakota. 

“The fact that the proposed sale 

is to a well-known short line operator 

appears to be a good step in 

the right direction,” the governor 

added. 

The STB rendered their decision 

on December 19, which will 

also require the Canadian Pacific 

to answer written questions and 

produce further documentation requested 

by the state. 

After CP indicated that it may 

sell the line west of Tracy, Minn., 

the governor filed a petition with 

the STB. The petition requested 

that the STB look into whether CP 

fulfilled the representations it 

made while seeking to acquire the 

line. Based upon CP’s representations, 

the STB approved the company’s 

purchase of the DM&E 

Railroad in 2008. 

After filing the petition, the governor 

traveled to Washington, 

D.C. to discuss the importance of 

the line with United States Agriculture 

Secretary Tom Vilsack and 

United States Transportation Secretary 

Anthony Foxx. 

Since the fall of 2012, Daugaard 

and members of his administra- 

tion have been in contact with CP 

to examine whether CP had fulfilled 

its promises to the STB. 

Though there has been some communication 

with CP, the governor’s 

questions have still largely 

gone unanswered. 

The deal is expected to close by 

the middle of 2014, provided it receives 

approval from the U.S. 

Surface Transportation Board 

and meets other conditions. 

Genesee & Wyoming Inc., 

which operates short-line and regional 

freight railways in the 

United States, Australia, Canada, 

the Netherlands and Belgium. 

According to a story in The 

Canadian Press, Calgary, “G&W 

will rename the line the Rapid 

City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad 

and will hire 180 employees, most 

of whom will have already been 

working on the line. It will be 

able to link up to the networks of 

CP and other major North American 

railways.” 

The Canadian Press also reported, 

“As a result of the transaction, 

CP is expected to record a 

net after-tax writedown of about 

$240-million in its fourth-quarter 

2013 financial statements. The 

sale is expected to be cash positive 

for the Calgary-based railway 

and have no material effect 

on future earnings.” 

According to reports from “The 

Street,” “It (Genesee & Wyoming) 

expects the acquisition to generate 

annual revenue of $65 million 

and boost earnings per share immediately.” 

Church Services 

Directory 

Grace Baptist Church • Pastor Phil Hahn 

Sunday School 9:30 a.m. • Worship Service - 10:30a.m. 

Wednesday Prayer Mtg. - 7:30 p.m. 

Church of Christ 

18 mi. south of Prairie City - Worship Service - 10:00 a.m. 

Prairie Fellowship Parish ELCA • Pastor Dana Lockhart 

Sat. evening services • GR Luth. - 5:00 p.m. •American - 6:30 p.m. 

Sunday morning services •Rosebud - 8:00 a.m. • Indian Creek - 10:30 a.m. 

Christ Lutheran Church WELS 

Pastor Gerhardt Juergens 

Sunday Bible Class - 8:00 a.m., Worship Service - 8:30 a.m. 

Coal Springs Community Church 

South Jct. of Highways 73 & 20 

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m., Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. 

Seventh Day Adventist Church • Pastor David Moench 

Sabbath School - 2:00 p.m., Worship Service - 3:00 p.m. 

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church • Fr. Tony Grossenburg 

Saturday Mass: - Morristown - 4:45 p.m., Lemmon 7:15 p.m. 

Sunday Mass: Lemmon - 8:15 a.m., Bison - 11:00 a.m. 

Holland Center Christian Reformed Church 

Pastor Brad Burkhalter • Lodgepole 

Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. 

First Presbyterian Church • Pastor Florence Hoff, CRE 

Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. Sunday School - 9:30 for all ages 

Slim Buttes Lutheran • Pastor Henry Mohagen 

Reva • Sunday School 9:45 a.m. for all ages 

•Worship Service - 11:00 a.m., WMF 2nd Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. 

Beckman Wesleyan Church • Pastor Brad Burkhalter 

Prairie City 

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m., Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m. 

Vesper Service - 6:00 p.m., Wed. Evenings - 7:30 p.m.


Perkins County 

Commission 

Special Meeting 

Date: December 30, 2013 

Present: Commissioners Schweitzer, 

Henderson, Ottman, Besler and Foster, 

Finance Officer Chapman 

Others Present: Shane Penfield, 

Duane Holtgard, Jamie Gerbracht, 

Beth Hulm, press 

Call to Order 

Chairman Schweitzer called the Special 

December 30th Commission Meeting 

to order at 10:00 am. The Pledge 

of Allegiance was recited. 

Approval of Agenda 

Ottman moved, Foster seconded to approve 

the agenda, motion carried. 

1980 International Truck 

Foster moved, Henderson seconded to 

rescind the motion on the 1980 International 

Truck since a higher bid was 

received at the time of the bid opening 

and was not noticed, motion carried. 

Henderson moved, Ottman seconded 

to accept the high bid from Laurence 

K. Carr in the amount of $580, motion 

carried. 

Highway Department 

Foreman Duane Holtgard addressed 

the following: 

•New Mack Truck has been taken to 

Rapid City. It will need to have a 5th 

Wheel plate installed. Northern Truck 

Equipment will be installing the box 

and reversible plow. 

•Holtgard has been checking into 

generators for the radio towers. The 

minimum requirement is 3-4 KW. 

•Holtgard would like purchase another 

sander. This will be addressed at 

the January meeting. 

•Tyler Fisher has been hired to 

work for the Highway Department at 

base wage of $15.35. He will begin the 

first full week of January. 

•Discussion was held on the Bison 

Township Culvert installation. 

Jamie Gerbracht 

Jamie Gerbracht was present to inquire 

about the possibility of working 

part-time for Perkins County and having 

equipment at his disposal at the 

southern part of the county. No action 

taken. 

Weather Stations 

Commissioner Schweitzer has been in 

contact with Nathan Edwards from the 

State Climate Office at SDSU concerning 

implementing weather stations in 

both Bison and Lemmon. The cost to 

Perkins County would be $3000 per 

station annually. Foster moved, Henderson 

seconded to deny the request on 

the weather stations, motion carried. 

Claims 

The following claims were presented 

and approved for payment: A&B Business, 

supplies, 400.90; Julie Bachand, 

travel, 92.50; Billion Automotive, 

equipment, 25,115.00; Bison Courier, 

publishing, 200.72; Bison Food, supplies, 

51.61; BlueTarp Financial, repairs, 

199.98; Newton Brown, road 

repair, 1,519.48; Broz Law Office, ct 

appt atty, 534.00; Butler Machinery, 

repairs, 565.78; Kirby Chapman, 

travel, 63.00; Chapman’s Electronics, 

repairs/equip; 850.34; Connecting 

Point, maintenance, 325.00; Contractors 

Supply, supplies, 345.76; Country 

Media, publishing, 128.45; Current 

Connection, supplies/equipment, 

5,237.71; Dakota Auto, supplies, 

464.10; Dakota Business, supplies, 

137.00; Dakota Herald, publishing, 

2,654.65; Dale’s Tire, supplies, 

11,160.50; DMI Diesel Machinery, repairs, 

529.11; Faith Lumber, supplies, 

26.99; G&O Paper Supply, supplies, 

263.90; Rownea Gerbracht, travel, 

111.00; Grimms Pump Service, supplies, 

290.85; K&R Auto Body, maintenance, 

3,348.00; City of Lemmon, fuel, 

925.89; Light & Siren, equipment, 

1,330.00; Lodgepole Propane, utilities, 

1,276.87; McLeod’s Printing, supplies, 

813.05; Meade Co Auditor, jail board, 

1,870.00; NAPA Auto, supplies, 

1,799.60; Native Sun News, publishing, 

24.00; Neve’s Uniforms, equipment, 

1,130.00; Newman Signs, 

supplies, 897.81; NW Farm & Home 

Supply, supplies, 149.07; Robert 

Opheim, chemical rebate, 384.75; 

Pharmchem Inc, drug testing, 63.00; 

Pheasantland Industries, equipment, 

1,257.00; Phil’s Paint & Body, repairs, 

1,400.00; Prairie Community Health, 

prof fees, 116.00; Perkins County Ambulance, 

travel/vehicle subsidy, 

$6,512.68; Print Shop, supplies, 

207.50; SBM, maintenance, 13.37; SD 

DOT, repairs, 1,784.28; Kelly Serr, 

travel, 112.00; Sheehan Mack Sales, 

repairs, 412.77; Streicher’s, supplies, 

226.00; Rebekah Veal, supplies, 43.39; 

West Group, lawbooks, 714.39; West 

River Health, blood testing, 73.00. 

Adjournment 

Ottman moved, Besler seconded to adjourn 

the meeting at 11:30 am, motion 

carried. The next regular meeting of 

the Perkins County Commission will 

be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 

7, 2014 at the Perkins County 

Courthouse. 

ATTEST: 

APPROVED: 

Sylvia Chapman, Finance Officer 

Mike Schweitzer, Chairman 

[Published January 9, 2014 at a total 

approximate cost of $43.87.] 

Bison Courier 

244-7199 

courier@sdplains.com 

County Commission 

continued from page 1 

it was a good idea. They could 

take action on Jan. 7. The Brookings 

County bid expires on Jan. 9. 

Installation of a new box culvert 

on Golf Course Road, southwest 

of Bison, may have to be bid. 

Bison Township purchased the 

culvert and the agreement was 

that the county would install it. 

Schweitzer talked briefly about 

a request from SDSU for county 

funding of weather-reading 

equipment at both Bison and 

Lemmon airports. The current 

Super AWOS systems have been 

non-certified. SDSU equipment 

would have to be moved from its 

current location in Lemmon to 

the airport; the equipment in 

Bison, now at the Bentley Building, 

might be close enough to the 

airport so that it wouldn’t need 

moving. SDSU wants $3,000 of 

county money for each location. 

Commissioners have, so far, denied 

that request.


Grand River Roundup ............................................... By Betty Olson 

continued from last week 

She opened it hesitantly and 

took the shoes out one pair at a 

time. There was a pair for her 

and one for each of the children - 

sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that 

would last. I watched her carefully. 

She bit her lower lip to keep 

it from trembling and then tears 

filled her eyes and started running 

down her cheeks. She looked 

up at Pa like she wanted to say 

something, but it wouldn't come 

out. 

"We brought a load of wood too, 

Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me 

and said, "Matt, go bring in 

enough to last awhile. Let's get 

that fire up to size and heat this 

place up." I wasn't the same person 

when I went back out to bring 

in the wood. I had a big lump in 

my throat and as much as I hate 

to admit it, there were tears in 

my eyes too. 

In my mind I kept seeing those 

three kids huddled around the 

fireplace and their mother standing 

there with tears running 

down her cheeks with so much 

gratitude in her heart that she 

couldn't speak. My heart swelled 

within me and a joy that I'd never 

known before, filled my soul. I 

had given at Christmas many 

times before, but never when it 

had made so much difference. I 

could see we were literally saving 

the lives of these people. 

I soon had the fire blazing and 

everyone's spirits soared. The 

kids started giggling when Pa 

handed them each a piece of 

candy and Widow Jensen looked 

on with a smile that probably 

hadn't crossed her face for a long 

time. She finally turned to us. 

"God bless you," she said. "I know 

the Lord has sent you. The children 

and I have been praying 

that he would send one of his angels 

to spare us." 

In spite of myself, the lump returned 

to my throat and the tears 

welled up in my eyes again. I'd 

never thought of Pa in those 

exact terms before, but after 

Widow Jensen mentioned it I 

could see that it was probably 

true. I was sure that a better man 

than Pa had never walked the 

earth. I started remembering all 

the times he had gone out of his 

way for Ma and me, and many 

others. The list seemed endless as 

I thought on it. 

Pa insisted that everyone try on 

the shoes before we left. I was 

amazed when they all fit and I 

wondered how he had known 

what sizes to get. Then I guessed 

that if he was on an errand for 

the Lord that the Lord would 

make sure he got the right sizes. 

Tears were running down 

Widow Jensen's face again when 

we stood up to leave. Pa took each 

of the kids in his big arms and 

gave them a hug. They clung to 

him and didn't want us to go. I 

could see that they missed their 

Pa, and I was glad that I still had 

mine. 

At the door Pa turned to Widow 

Jensen and said, "The Mrs. 

wanted me to invite you and the 

children over for Christmas dinner 

tomorrow. The turkey will be 

more than the three of us can eat, 

and a man can get cantankerous 

if he has to eat turkey for too 

many meals. We'll be by to get 

you about eleven. It'll be nice to 

have some little ones around 

again. Matt, here, hasn't been little 

for quite a spell." I was the 

youngest. 

My two brothers and two sisters 

had all married and had moved 

away. Widow Jensen nodded and 

said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. 

I don't have to say, 'May the Lord 

bless you,' I know for certain that 

He will." 

Out on the sled I felt a warmth 

that came from deep within and I 

didn't even notice the cold. When 

we had gone a ways, Pa turned to 

me and said, "Matt, I want you to 

know something. Your ma and me 

have been tucking a little money 

away here and there all year so 

we could buy that rifle for you, 

but we didn't have quite enough. 

Then yesterday a man who owed 

me a little money from years back 

came by to make things square. 

Your ma and me were real excited, 

thinking that now we could 

get you that rifle, and I started 

into town this morning to do just 

that. But on the way I saw little 

Jakey out scratching in the woodpile 

with his feet wrapped in 

those gunnysacks and I knew 

what I had to do. Son, I spent the 

money for shoes and a little candy 

for those children. I hope you understand." 

I understood, and my eyes became 

wet with tears again. I understood 

very well, and I was so 

glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle 

seemed very low on my list of priorities. 

Pa had given me a lot 

more. He had given me the look 

on Widow Jensen's face and the 

radiant smiles of her three children. 

For the rest of my life, whenever 

I saw any of the Jensen's, or split 

a block of wood, I remembered, 

and remembering brought back 

that same joy I felt riding home 

beside Pa that night. Pa had 

given me much more than a rifle 

that night; he had given me the 

best Christmas of my life. 

This weeks news 

Is it cold enough for ya? Sunday 

was absolutely miserable. It 

was below zero when we got up 

and by afternoon the mercury 

had dropped to 20 below with a 

forty mile an hour wind. I about 

froze my face off when I went out 

to take care of the chickens. Not 

exactly the weather I’d hoped for 

to start the New Year. Church 

services around here were canceled 

on Sunday, most of the area 

schools were closed on Monday 

and we postponed the Monday 

meeting of Great Western Cattle 

Trail meeting until Wednesday in 

Spearfish at the Heritage Center. 

The governor of Minnesota canceled 

classes in all the schools in 

the state for Monday. Now that’s 

cold! 

Did you hear about the Russian 

ship, Akademic Shokalskiy, that 

got stranded in the ice in the 

Antarctic while on a mission was 

to find evidence of global warming? 

A group of climate change 

scientists were rescued by helicopter 

after being stranded in the 

ice since Christmas morning. 

Three rescue attempts had been 

thwarted by growing levels of sea 

ice and weather conditions. On 

January 2nd all 52 passengers 

were airlifted to a nearby Australian 

icebreaker ship which had 

tried, and failed, to plow through 

the ice and free the ship on December 

30. Two more ships are 

headed south to try to free the 

Russian ship and crew, as well as 

the Chinese ice breaker that got 

stuck trying to free the Global 

Warming bunch. 

Chris Turney, the expedition’s 

leader, is a professor of climate 

change at the University of New 

South Wales. Before their ship 

got stuck in ice, the researchers 

were following the trail of the explorer 

Douglas Mawson, who was 

stranded in Antarctica for more 

than a year, beginning in December 

1912. I guess there were no 

rescue helicopters back then? According 

to news reports, Turney 

admitted “we’re stuck in our own 

experiment.” Well, duh!! The only 

thing that would make this even 

funnier is if Global Warming advocate 

Al Gore was stranded with 

them. 

It’s been too cold to work on the 

new shed, so the guys spend most 

of their time feeding livestock 

and building feed bunks in the 

shop. Casey took a tractor down 

to Sandy Dan on Tuesday and 

picked up the steel for the new 

shed. Hopefully it warms up before 

lambing and calving starts so 

they can get it finished! 

We had a good bunch here for 

supper on New Years Day. Roger 

and Judy Nash, Dennis Nash, 

and Russell Beld joined the Olson 

crew that evening for a real good 

visit. Judy brought a big batch of 

fresh lefse she just made that day 

and it was absolutely delicious! 

Missy had the flu so she stayed 

home and both Bryce and Taz 

were gone, but Casey and Trig 

helped us polish off a lot of food. 

Judy and Roger got a new 

granddaughter on New Years Eve 

and brought pictures of the little 

angel to show us. Their daughter 

Sophie and Ben Bengston are the 

proud parents of a baby girl, 

Emily Rose. Emily was born in 

Sioux Falls weighing 5lbs, 9.5 oz 

and measuring 18 inches long. 

Congratulations! 

The Harding County FFA seniors 

flew to Arizona on New Years 

Day for their senior trip. The seniors 

attending were Bryce Olson, 

Hattie Cramer, Ashton Giannonatti, 

Tymber Teigen, Dalton 

Hurst, and Dalton Jenkins. They 

were accompanied by Jamie 

Brown and Michelle Teigen. 

Bryce said the weather was really 

nice down there in Phoenix, but 

she thought the Christmas lights 

decorating palm trees and the 

Nativity scenes set on green 

grass just didn’t seem right. She 

was glad to get back to the snowy 

north country when they returned 

on Saturday. She’s probably 

rethinking that now. . . 

Our old friend Maurice Hamilton, 

age 90 from Reva, passed 

away December 21 in Spearfish. 

His funeral will be at the Reva 

Hall on Saturday, January 11 at 

11:30 a.m. Interment will be 1:00 

p.m. Monday, January 13 at the 

Black Hills National Cemetery 

near Sturgis. A memorial has 

been established to the Reva Fire 

Department. 

Both Reub and I got treatments 

from Mary Eggebo in Hettinger 

Thursday and I got the oil 

changed in my car to get ready for 

those long trips to Pierre that 

start next week. I have an Executive 

Board meeting on Monday 

and Tuesday, January 14 is the 

first day of the 2014 legislative 

session. I sure hope the weather 

improves before then! 

Time just flies by when you get 

older. I can really relate to this 

New Year poem Joel Schell sent 

us. Hope you enjoy it too: 

Another year has passed 

And we're all a little older. 

Last summer felt hotter 

And this winter seems much 

colder. 

There was a time not long ago 

When life was quite a blast. 

Now I fully understand 

About 'Living in the Past' 

We used to go to weddings, 

Football games and lunches. 

Now we go to funeral homes, 

And after-funeral brunches. 

We used to have hangovers, 

From parties that were gay. 

Now we suffer body aches 

And sleep the night away. 

We used to go out dining, 

And couldn't get our fill. 

Now we ask for doggie bags, 

Come home and take a pill. 

We used to often travel 

To places near and far. 

Now we get sore rears 

From riding in the car. 

We used to go to nightclubs 

And drink a little booze. 

Now we stay home at night 

And watch the evening news. 

That, my friend is how life is 

And now my tale is told. 

So, enjoy each day and live it up 

Before you're too darned old! 

A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you 

all! May the Lord continue to 

bless you abundantly, and 2014 

bring you all the good health and 

prosperity you can handle.


Girl Scouts season of sharing 

Since November the Bison Girl 

Scouts have been busy working on 

projects to share with those in need. 

Back before Thanksgiving the Girl 

Scouts purchased and raffled off a 

frozen turkey in exchange for food 

and money for our local food pantry. 

They brought in over 100 food items 

and $30 to go for utilities and whatever 

expenses the food pantry incurs. 

The winner of that “turkey 

raffle” was Arla Kopren. 

The first two weekends of December 

the Girl Scouts joined the local 

Boy Scouts in the South Dakota 

Care and Share Food Drive. The 

first weekend was spent delivering 

blue bags to residents of the Bison 

Area. They returned the following 

Saturday to pick up the bags, which 

residents filled with non-perishable 

food items. The drive was a success, 

even through freezing temperatures, 

bringing in an estimated 300 pounds 

Dr. Jason M. Hafner 

Dr. David J. Prosser 

OPTOMETRIST 

Faith Clinic 

1st & 3rd Wed. of the month 

Buffalo Clinic 

2nd & 4th Wed. of the month 

1-800-648-0760 

of food to stock the shelves. 

Also in December the girls made 

ornaments to hang on their tree in 

the Parade of Trees at the Courthouse. 

These ornaments were to be 

sold to the public for a free will donation 

and the money was to be 

given to an organization in need. 

The final part of the Girl Scout Law 

is to make the world a better place. 

The girls thought the world would be 

much better without childhood cancer. 

They painted the ornaments 

gold, the designated color, and hung 

them on the tree. The girls raised 

nearly $50. Tree decorations are 

sure to be neatly tucked away for the 

year, but there are still some left if 

you are interested. The Girl Scouts 

plan to continue this season of caring 

into the New Year and realize, as 

always, they could not do it without 

such a supportive and giving community. 

Thank you! 

Farm Credit Services of America to distribute record $145 Million 

cash-back dividend payment to customer-owners for 2013 

Farm Credit Services of America 

(FCSAmerica), a customerowned 

financial cooperative, has 

approved a 2013 cash-back dividend 

of $145 million – the largest 

in its history – to its eligible customer-owners. 

FCSAmerica 

serves farmers, ranchers, 

agribusinesses and rural residents 

in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska 

and Wyoming. 

In South Dakota, eligible FC- 

SAmerica customers will receive 

approximately $27 million. The 

final number is subject to change 

once final calculations are completed 

in 2014. 

The $145 million distribution 

marks the cooperative’s tenth 

consecutive year of returning a 

significant portion of its earnings 

back to its eligible customer-owners. 

Since 2004, FCSAmerica has 

distributed $830 million in cashback 

dividends. 

“We are 100 percent owned by 

the farmers and ranchers we 

serve, and our mission is to serve 

agriculture through good times 

and bad,” said Robert Bruxvoort, 

Board Chairman and an Iowa 

farmer. “As a cooperative, our 

earnings are either returned to 

customers or retained to maintain 

a strong balance sheet for future 

generations of producers.” 

Gerry Greve, an FCSAmerica 

customer who farms near Elk 

Horn, Iowa, also runs a fuel supply 

operation in town. “I like 

being part-owner of a financially 

sound lender,” Greve said. “I like 

the fact my cooperative returns 

its earnings to the people who 

helped generate the success. 

We’re all rural Main Street consumers, 

so the earnings go back 

to our communities, and that 

strikes a chord with me.” 

The FCSAmerica Board also 

approved a patronage program 

for 2014 at their meeting this 

week. The Board will determine 

the amount of the cash-back dividend 

for the 2014 program in December 

2014. 

“It’s clear from our financial results 

and subsequent cash-back 

Piggy Drawings - January 3, 2014 

Jeffery Johnson 

Bison, SD - $100.00 

dividend that our customers are 

passionate about our cooperative 

business model,” said Doug 

Stark, Farm Credit Services of 

America president and CEO. 

“We’re proud to return yet another 

strong cash-back dividend. 

At the same time, we retained a 

significant portion of net earnings 

as a capital reserve, which gives 

our cooperative greater flexibility 

to continue serving agriculture.” 

Cash-Back Dividend Details 

The Board of Directors has paid 

cash-back dividends, available as 

part of its patronage program, 

every year since 2004. For 2013, 

each customer’s cash-back dividend 

from the program is based 

on the customer’s average loan 

volume during the calendar year. 

The more eligible loan business a 

customer has with the cooperative, 

the more they benefit financially 

from the patronage 

program. Eligible customers can 

expect 2013 payments to be distributed 

in March 2014. 

Grace Holzer 

Bison, SD - $25.00

Advertising Rates: 

DISPLAY ADS: $4.90 per column inch. 

CLASSIFIED ADS: $5.90 for 30 words; 10¢ for each word 

thereafter. $2.00 billing charge applies. 

THANK YOU'S: $5.90 for 30 words; 10¢ for each word 

thereafter. $2.00 billing charge applies. 

HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS: $5.90 minimum or $3.10 

per column inch. $2.00 billing charge applies. 

HAPPY ADS: With or Without Picture: $15.00 minimum or 

$4.90 per column inch. 

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: $41.00 for a 2x7 ad. 

Legal Deadline is Friday at NOON! Ad Deadline is Monday 

at NOON! 244-7199 or courier@sdplains.com 

Veal Haygrinding 

Larry Veal 

605-244-7773 

Shannon Veal 

605-788-2270 

Wanted 

Looking for a good lazyboy recliner 

in the Bison area, cheap 

call 244-5931. 

B30-1tp 

Gun Show 

GUN SHOW: Dakota Territory 

Gun Collector’s Association Annual 

Winter BISMARCK Gun 

Show. Saturday, January 18, 9 

a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, January 

19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. BISMARCK 

CIVIC CENTER. Use South Entrance 

A. Roger Krumm 701-336- 

7533 or 701-851-0129. 

B28-4tp 

BIDS/PROPOSALS 

CITY OF PLATTE is seeking proposals 

from qualified firms to assist 

City with designing, 

engineering and constructing new 

Aquatic Facility for community. 

Copy of request for proposals 

available by contacting City of 

Platte, Shauna Meyerink Finance 

Officer, 605-337-3921. Proposals 

shall be returned to City Office on 

or before February 3, 2014, at 


Presiding Bishop 

of the ELCA 

visiting the area 

which time review process will 

begin. 

EMPLOYMENT 

THE MOODY COUNTY ENTER- 

PRISE, located in Flandreau, is 

seeking an ambitious and talented 

team player to fill the Editor position. 

This position requires the 

ability to work some nights and 

weekends, strong writing and editing 

skills along with solid photography 

skills. Full benefit 

package available. Applicants interested 

in joining the team at this 

terrific weekly newspaper should 

send cover letter, resume and writing 

samples to: The Brookings 

Register, attn: William Mc- 

Macken, PO Box 177, Brookings, 

SD 57006 or email to bmcmacken@brookingsregister.com. 

CUSTER REGIONAL HOSPITAL 

has full-time RN opportunities 

January 15th at American 

Lutheran in Bison: Potluck meal 

at 6:30 with program following. 

The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, who 

was elected bishop of the national 

expression of the ELCA in August, 

will be visiting areas of western 

South Dakota impacted by the October 

blizzard with SD Synod 

Bishop Dave Zellmer and representatives 

of Lutheran Disaster 

Response and Lutheran Social 

Services. All members of the community 

are welcome to come and 

welcome Bishop Eaton to our area, 

as well as to join in the conversation 

about the ongoing recovery 

from the storm and the Lutheran 

church’s relief efforts. 

available working in the beautiful 

southern Black Hills of SD. We 

are located just a short distance 

from Mount Rushmore, Wind 

Cave National Park, Custer State 

Park, Jewel Cave National Park 

and many other outdoor attractions. 

We offer competitive salary 

and excellent benefits. Please call 

605-673-9418 for more information 

or log on to www.regionalhealth.com 

to apply. EOE. 

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS: LPN’s 

& CNA’s, top weekly pay, direct deposit, 

& flexible schedules. Take 

control of your schedule with Tri- 

State Nursing. Apply online today. 

www.tristatenursing.com 800-727- 

1912. 

THE BROOKINGS REGISTER is 

looking for an ambitious and talented 

individual to fill a news reporter 

position. Experience at a 

daily newspaper preferred. This is 

an hourly position with full benefit 

package. Any persons interested 

in joining the news department at 

an award-winning daily newspaper 

should send a cover letter and 

resume, along with professional 

writing samples to: Jill Fier, PO 

Box 177, Brookings SD 57006 or 

email jfier@brookingsregister.com. 

LOG HOMES 

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Homes, building in eastern, central, 

northwestern South & North 

Dakota. Scott Connell, 605-530- 

2672, Craig Connell, 605-264- 

5 6 5 0 , 

www.goldeneagleloghomes.com. 

NOTICES 

ADVERTISE IN NEWSPAPERS 

statewide for only $150.00. Put the 

South Dakota Statewide Classifieds 

Network to work for you 

today! (25 words for $150. Each 

additional word $5.) 

Call this newspaper or 800-658- 

3697 for details. 

OTR DRIVERS 

DRIVERS WANTED: CDL, owner 

operators, freight from Midwest 

up to 48 states, home regularly, 

newer equipment, Health, 401K, 

call Randy, A&A Express, 800-658- 

3549.


Weather Wise 

Data colleted by 

Grand Electric Co-op, Inc. 

DATE HI LO PRECIP 

Dec. 31 16 2 2.5”snow 

Jan. 1 15 -1 2” snow 

Jan. 2 11 -2 


Jan. 3 43 8 trace rain 

Jan. 4 37 -6 

Jan. 5 -2 -19 5” snow 


Jan. 6 3 -17 

One year ago 

Hi 35 Lo 6 

See us for all your automotive 

& industrial parts! 

Paint & Body 

Supplies 

Tools & Equipment 

Windshields & Car Care Products 

110 Airport Road N 

Hettinger 

701-567-4387 

800-729-2719

Hauser bags mountain lion in Montana - Pioneer Review

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