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GHS Golf, Jesse James Invite on May 2nd

by Kelsey Buchholz, Coach

Already rolling into the month of May, the Garretson golf team continues to stay busy but does so battling the weather. Most recently Garretson hosted the Jesse James Invite on Friday, May 2 at River Ridge Golf Course. While the weather was slated to be in the mid 60s, the wind and cloudy skies made it feel much cooler than that. However, it didn't deter the golfers as they pushed through the elements, which was the equalizer of the event.

female golfer in blue just after a swing
//Garrick A. Moritz, Gazette

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Blue Dragon Baseball takes two losses

On Wednesday, April 30, the Garretson Blue Dragon Baseball team hosted Colman-Egan/Flandreau and took a narrow loss 3-4. They then headed to Alexandria on Thursday, May 1 to face Hanson Bridgewater/Emery and fell to their opponents 0-14.

baseball player laying on his back just beyond home plate
Safe! Despite going head over heels on home plate, Dan Hoskins made it over before he was tagged. //Carrie Moritz, Gazette

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Garretson Track & Field keeps on trucking

Last week Thursday, Garretson Track & Field headed to Canton for the Terry Bong Invite. There, the athletes performed quite well as they catapulted to first place in mens 400m, the 4x800m relay races (both mens and womens), and the 1600m women's medley and second place in mens 1600m run. 

young female readying to throw discus
Rylee Farrell on Discus //Garrick A Moritz, Gazette

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Garretson history deep dive

by Delilah Johnson,

GHS Blue Ink

I think I can safely say that everyone from Garretson has heard the legend of Jesse James. The story of how the outlaw jumped his horse over Devil Gulch’s 18 foot-wide gorge, to escape the Luverne, Minnesota posse after his robbery of the Northfield bank, has always been a story shared when talking about our town. Unfortunately, that is about all of the history most people know of our small town. 

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AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY – May 2025

The American Legion Auxiliary met on May 1.  Chairman, Cheryl, opened our meeting and substitute chaplain, DaNann, led us in prayer.

Roll call indicated that one officer was absent.  The secretary’s report was read, approved and placed on file.The treasurer’s reported was read, approved and placed on file for audit.  Cheryl   reported that  our membership is now at 200 with more coming.  Many cards were sent and Bingo was held on April 9 with 17 residents, 22 daycare kids and 6 volunteers as well as 3 extra adults.  The secretary read communications including the District May Newsletter  and the V.A. Hospital News.  It was noted that there is a baby shower at the V.A. for new mother veterans on May 17.  There was a draping of the charter in memory of Judy Sievert.

The Legion breakfast in April featured the Easter bunny and was a huge success!.  Over 200 people attended and everyone had fun!  Thanks to Kelli for her leadership!  There was a motion by Denise with a second by Kelli to give four scholarships this year.  The motion carried.  

The Memorial Day Program is now being organized.  Volunteers for readers and lunch serving are now being contacted.  Our bakeless bakesale will be in June and many cards will be sent out.  The State Legion Convention will be June 20-22 in Huron.  Our delegate list has been sent in.  Our next meeting is June 5.

Chaplain, DaNann, closed the meeting with prayer and Sara won the door prize.

-Ethel Kurtz, Secretary

Best & Brightest of the Class of 2025 Honored

The academic achievements of the best and brightest students of the Class of 2025 were recognized recently at the 35th Annual Academic Excellence Recognition luncheon. Garretson High School's Cortney Rogich was a member of the cohort.

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Jenna VanHolland and other SDSU students recognized for research, scholarship, creative activity

BROOKINGS, S.D. — May 2, 2025 — South Dakota State University held its annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day April 15 in the University Student Union’s Volstorff Ballroom. 

South Dakota State University students presented research posters at the university's annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day April 15 in the University Student Union’s Volstorff Ballroom.

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Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

I'm sure many at Garretson High, particularly his students and many of us in the community, realize what an absolute gem we have in Mr. Nick Sittig. The performance Monday night was another example of the ability he has to bring out excellence from his musicians, as is confirmed by the numerous awards they have compiled on the field and the concert floor.

It is awe inspiring to hear the depth of precision and feeling that is shown by every one of his players, from the piccolo to the tuba. He elevates his soloists to great displays of their abilities, and shows his absolute confidence and trust in the entire band, particularly when he wanders off with his trumpet during the jazz sets, playing back-up to the horns.

And as a long-ago high school drummer I am envious of his percussionists.

What wonderful talent, from the skins to the chimes to the marimba, they display.

Thank you Nick.

-Bob Sanders

Splitrock Bowling holds end of season banquet

The Splitrock Ladies Bowling League held their annual banquet at the Pizza Ranch in Brandon on April 29th, 2025, with Steve's Electric as their hostess.  We ate from the buffet and all was delicious.  

Cheryl Scholl opened with a welcome to everyone for coming and for all who bowled this year.  A special thanks to our subs again this year who were helpful filling in.  Subs were Charlene Lowe, Pam Fjellanger, Cindy Hennings, Dee Polreis, Kelly Schroeder, Shiloh Oorlog and Lois Leslie who turned into a full member helping Vickie to end of year.

After the welcome it was turned over to the hostess team Steve's Electric for the drawing of door prizes.  Everyone received a nice prize with a few getting a couple.  A good job for the door prize shoppers.

From there it was turned over to Bonnie Kramer to give out the awards.  There was a roll-off between Alliance Communications the first half winners and Ladies of Leisure (L.O.L.) the second half winners.  The roll-off was won by Alliance Communications.  Members of the team are Bonnie Bruggeman, Julaine Walker, Barb Caffrey and Jan Fonder.  Congratulations!!

The Achievement Awards were given to Marie Cissell who increased her average by 12 pins and Cheryl Scholl who increased her average by 11 pins.

We had two people who had perfect attendance this year.  They were Bonnie Bruggeman and Pat Paulsen.  Way to go ladies.  

 Highest Game & Series

This year the awards were given out for the bowlers highest game and some for series.

Pam Fjellander for bowling a 127, Amanda Lumpkin for bowling a 134, Joann Gundvaldson for bowling a 135, Kathy Hegge for bowling a 137, Glenda Sandstede for bowling a 140, Vickie Wielenga for bowling a 140 and Marie Cissell for bowling a 145.

Marlene Blum for bowling a 156, Sue Polly for bowling a 156, Connie Saathoff for bowling a 156, Julaine Walker for bowling a 160, Barb Caffrey for bowling a 161, Lois Leslie for bowling a 161, Gwynne Anderson for bowling a 174 and Barb Risty for bowling a 174.

Diane Fueston for bowling a 177, Rhonda Baker for bowling a 178, Holly Mulder for bowling a 179, Gail Trudeau for bowling a 179, Bonnie Bruggeman for bowling a 184, Ann Behrend for bowling a 186, Renee Nelson for bowling a 186, Marcia Ryken for bowling a 189, Bonnie Kramer for bowling a 191, Jill Reindl for bowling a 191, Shari Petri for bowling a 195, Kathie Franz for bowling a 198, Marcia Bork for bowling a 199, Jan Fonder for bowling a 199 and Cheryl Scholl for bowling a 199.

Charlene Lowe for bowling a 200, Sharon Small for bowling a 200, Amy Caldwell for bowling a 201, Brenda Jones for bowling a 214 and Pat Paulsen for bowling a 214.

For Series:  Joann Gundvaldson for bowling a 362. 

Glenda Sandstede for bowling a 401, Julaine Walker for bowling a 409, Sue Polly for bowling a 413, Barb Risty for bowling a 426, Diane Fueston for bowling a 424, Lois Leslie for bowling a 431, Bonnie Bruggeman for bowling a 456 and Ann Behrend for bowling a 460.

Pat Paulsen for bowling a 502, Gail Trudeau for bowling a 508, Bonnie Kramer for bowling a 512, Kathie Franz for bowling a 516, Cheryl Scholl for bowling a 517 and Marcia Bork for bowling a 522.

We had two people who bowled 75 pins over their average:  Brenda Jones bowled 84 pins over her average with a 214 and also 80 pins over her average with a 212 and Pat Paulsen bowled 84 pins over her average with a 214.  Way to go gals.

A few special achievement awards were handed out.  Sharon Small and Marcia Ryken for the least improved bowlers.  We had a four way tie this year for turkeys with 5:  Marcia Bork, Brenda Jones, Jill Reindl and Marcia Ryken.  Kathie Franz picked up the most splits with 13.

This year Brenda Jones and Renee Nelson joined our 70's Club.

The next years hostess will be Jesse James.

Hope to see you all this fall.  Have a great summer.

Obituary: Joanne Shellum, age 81

Joanne Shellum, age 81, of rural Trent, SD, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Bethany Home in Brandon, SD.

Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Highland Lutheran Church rural Sherman, SD with Pastor Alan Blankenfeld officiating.  Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday, May 7th from 5 -7 PM with a 7PM prayer service and time of remembrance, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson, SD.

Joanne Shellum was born October 4, 1943 to Lawrence and Marie (Mausbach) Kroeger in Canton, SD.  She graduated from Canton High School in 1961 and continued her schooling at Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield until 1963. She worked in an office in Sioux Falls until her marriage to Ronald Shellum on June 10, 1967. The couple bought a farm in 1969 and started their family.  They had three sons: Allen, Mark and Paul.

She loved to garden and canned much of her harvests.  She enjoyed hanging out with Ron’s mom Alice, collecting glass and furniture.  After losing her husband in 1989, she continued to farm and raise her boys. In 1992 her father passed and she started taking care of her mother and continued to farm her mom and dad’s place with her boys. When her mother passed, she became more involved with Prairie Village in Madison and was on the board as secretary for many years. She also helped set up the flea market for Jamboree and took great pride in making contacts with the vendors. In 2000 her sons bought a tractor-pull sled and she became very involved with the tractor pulls. 

She was a collector of many things and spent her later years going to auctions and buying J.D. tractors, J.D. literature and toy tractors, teacups, Little Golden Books, Depression Glass, fine china, Avon collectibles, and anything Winnie The Pooh.  She enjoyed watching the Vikings and college basketball. She loved watching Tom Selleck on Blue Bloods and the Chicago Fire, PD, Med series, Criminal Minds, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, The Young and Restless, and The Price Is Right. 

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Allen (Pam) Shellum, Mark Shellum, and Paul (Nancy) Shellum; grandchildren, Jennifer (JR) Anderson, Kirsten Bailey, Shelby (Dusty) Lingen, Alyssa Shellum (Kale), Kenyon (Hannah) Shellum, Ceara Shellum, Cody (Meghan) Shellum, Zachary Shellum (Nevaeh), and Abbey Shellum, Samantha Shellum, Colin Shellum and Chase Shellum; great-grandchildren, Madison, Emery, Carson, Keelan, Avan, Amelia, Charlotte, Melanie, Hayden; and many others, friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Marie Kroeger; husband Ronald; father-in-law, Obed and her mother-in-law, Alice.

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