The JV girls got their first win on the road against the Tri-Valley Mustangs on Friday December 13. The Blue Dragons out-scored the Mustangs 29 – 14 in the first half on the scoring efforts of Molly Hulscher with three baskets in the paint and two three-point shots by Logan Bly. Garretson was able to keep the momentum in their favor into the second half and sealed the victory over the Mustangs 48 – 28. Hulscher and Madden Lardy led the scoring with twelve points each. Logan Bly added nine points and Mya Long seven in a well-rounded scoring effort.
Garretson traveled to Coleman the next day to take on the CE-Hawks. The Blue Dragons came out strong offensively and defensively to keep the CE-Hawks scoreless in the first quarter and go into the half leading 24 – 5. Garretson continued with energy in the second half and came out victorious 50-13. Leading scorers for the game were Logan Bly with eighteen points, Mattea Fiegen with seventeen points, and Mya Long netting six.
On Friday January 3rd, after a long break, the Blue Dragons were again on the road to Chester.
The Blue Dragons played a little sluggish during the first quarter but the energy returned and Garretson led at the half 24-5. The Blue Dragons team effort didn’t let up and the girls secured a victory over the Flyers 58-16 with all Blue Dragons putting points on the scoreboard. Molly Hulscher led the team with eighteen points and Mya Long with sixteen, netting three 3-pointers and going 3 for 4 from the free-throw line. Madden Lardy added seven points, Logan Bly six and Raegan Altman five points. Mattea Fiegen, Grace Hove and Anna Jones scored three, two and one point respectively.
SIOUX FALLS – Dustin Powers, the urban planner for the city of Sioux Falls, went through information for a proposed Tax Increment Funding district with Minnehaha County Commissioners at their final meeting for 2019 on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
An artists conception of what the Lloyd Companies Sioux Steel development will look like when completed shows the facilities built along the bank of the Big Sioux River between 6th St. and the Falls.
Powers was joined by Jake Quasney, the Executive VP for Development with Lloyd Companies, about plans for the Sioux Steel property near 5th and Phillips in Sioux Falls.
Although this was just a briefing and no action was taken, Lloyd Co. will eventually be looking for the area to become a TIF district to the tune of $21.5 million for that proposed development.
As Commissioner Dean Karsky explained, a TIF district “isn’t a hand-out.”
“TIF’s are broadly misunderstood,” he said. “These taxes are (still) going to be paid, and once that TIF is paid off, then the full community – county and city – get the full tax advantage.”
According to citylab.com and other sources, the way tax increment financing works, the amount of property taxes collected in the TIF district are earmarked specifically for improvements, infrastructure, and the like in that district, as opposed to being spread throughout the area governed.
This is an aerial view of the old Sioux Steel land between the Big Sioux River and Phillips Ave. Lloyd Companies of Sioux Falls is looking for the land to be part of a $24.5 million TIF district. They plan to develop the land to the north of this photo with a hotel, apartments, office and retail spaces, and a parking ramp.
This system is currently used in all states, except Arizona, for economic development.
Karskey’s comments about the benefits of a TIF district seem to be aimed at city government, after a majority of the Sioux Falls City Council agreed to spend over $20 million for a parking ramp with the now defunct “Village on the River” project, and for which they recently had to approve more money to complete.
The project, which was pushed for by former Mayor Mike Huether and approved by the city council in December 2017, was designed not as a TIF, but as a joint public and private venture.
However, last spring, the city announced that the Village River Group was in default of their contract and the city’s involvement with the project would be terminated.
The Lloyd plans for the Sioux Steel area include many of the same amenities, but it is all being done without the use of public money.
Quasney’s presentation showed the plans for a retail shopping area surrounding their parking structure, and that the ramp would connect to a hotel, offices, apartments, and a convention center via a skywalk.
He also said that the parking ramp, although privately owned, would follow city guideline for the available parking spots to be free during evenings and weekends, which he claimed would be especially desirable during summer Levitt at the Falls concerts.
Quasney had figures on the overall project cost to be over $186 million.
In 2019, the property tax bill on that land, as is, amounted to just under $57,000, but by 2040, the estimated tax bill with the development on that same land will be $2.5 million.
Commissioners seemed to approve of this future development, but, again, this was only an informational briefing, and no action was taken.
The next step for this project will be a public hearing with the Sioux Falls Planning Commission at 6 p.m. at Carnegie Town Hall.
Commissioners also voted to supplement and credit different department budgets.
The major “sticking point” came from court services, which was asking for a supplement of $335,000 to their budget for additional costs during 2019.
Minnehaha Court Services Administrator Karl Thoennes. (Photo by Dave Baumeister)
Karl Thoennes with that department explained that their largest overrun came with court-appointed attorneys, but the county commissioners asked Thoennes for more oversight during the year, and especially during the budgeting process.
As they pointed out, court services had asked for more money as a supplement every year since 2010.
While Thoennes said the department was always submitting “hopeful” budgets, Commission chair Jean Bender said, “I don’t understand ‘hopeful.’ Budgeting is budgeting.”
She pointed out that even while they were allocated a major increase in their budget in 2016, they still came in with a “shortfall” that year.
Commissioner Jeff Barth echoed the sentiments of increasing the budget to a higher amount, as it seems when court service gets more they still find ways to use more.
He likened that to a sailor gong on shore leave knowing he had a lot of money in his pocket.
But in making a motion on whether to supplement the request, Commissioner Gerald Beninga said, “I agree with all of the comments, but the bottom line is that we have no choice at this point in time… this is why we strain during the budgeting process, and we need to remember this conversation when we do it in June.”
The motion passed 5-0.
The Minnehaha Commission has its regular meetings each Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
These meetings are open to all, and public comment is always encouraged.
Congratulations to Sara Rogich and family, who won the Holiday Lights Display contest for the Garretson Commercial Club! In this week's issue, we also have Part 2 of the Year in Review, a profile on community member Brett Williams, and the Blue Dragon Youth Wrestling Tournament returns.
There's a lot going on in our community. Keep up with all of it with the Community Events Calendar on page 4. You can download it here and have it easy to hand! Community Events Calendar
As an on-line subscriber, you are able to view extra photos, articles, and an issue of this week's paper in a flipbook format! Always feel free to contact us at if you have story ideas, letters to the editor, or questions.
Nearly one-third (29 percent) of Christmas tree fires occur in January
January 2, 2020 – If you’re having trouble parting with your Christmas tree, here’s a fact to motivate you: Nearly one-third (29 percent) of U.S. home fires that begin with Christmas trees occurs in January. With this potential fire hazard in mind, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) strongly encourages everyone to remove Christmas trees from their homes promptly after the holiday season.
“Christmas trees are combustible items that become increasingly flammable as they continue to dry out,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “The longer you keep one in your home, the more of a fire hazard it becomes.”
NFPA statistics show that Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they do occur, they’re much more likely to be serious. On annual average, one of every 52 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to one death per 135 total reported home structure fires.
All Christmas trees can burn, but a dried-out tree can become engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds,” said Carli. “In recent years, we’ve seen tragic incidents where Christmas tree fires have resulted in deadly consequences for multiple family members, including young children.”
NFPA recommends using the local community’s recycling program for tree disposal, if possible; trees should not be put in the garage or left outside. The association also offers these tips for safely removing lighting and decorations and storing them properly to ensure that they’re in good condition the following season:
Use the gripping area on the plug when unplugging electrical decorations. Never pull the cord to unplug any device from an electrical outlet, as this can harm the wire and insulation of the cord, increasing the risk for shock or electrical fire.
As you pack up light strings, inspect each line for damage, throwing out any sets that have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.
Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags, or wrap them around a piece of cardboard.
Store electrical decorations in a dry place away from children and pets where they will not be damaged by water or dampness.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
Donations can be sent to GVFD, PO Box 428, Garretson, SD 57030
Robert “Bob” Jacobson and Michelle Jacobson. They’ve operated bookeeping, tax and legal service in Garretson since 1975. This weekend, Jan. 5 they’ll be hosting a coffee and cake reception from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This party will also introduce their clients and the community to Tim Ness, who will be taking over the tax service and bookeeping side of their business.
Robert “Bob” Jacobson might just be the last local businessman to wear a suit and tie to work in downtown Garretson every day. He’s practiced law and certified public accounting with tax services since 1975, when he started his own practice here in Garretson.
“It was a different time, and fashion has changed,” he said. “When I was first out of law school it was suit and tie every day, and when we started in Garretson we’d see a lot more of it at the downtown businesses. Nowadays, I’m pretty much the only one on Main who still does.”
Jacobson is originally from Sioux Falls, and attended O’Gorman and Washington High Schools.
“It was a bookkeeping class that piqued my interest in accounting,” he said. “Then when I attended USD and majored in accounting, a professor encouraged me to look into business law. So I got a degree in accounting and a law degree. I started out with Arthur Anderson, a public accounting firm in Minneapolis, MN. Michelle and I wanted to move back to South Dakota and start a family, and I also love hunting and fishing and couldn’t do that as well in the Twin Cities. We were introduced to Garretson by John Thoreson, and it was the right fit at the right time. I’ve specialized in bookkeeping tax services as well as contract and estate law.”
If you’ve never received a handwritten note from Jacobson, then you might not know what amazing penmanship should look like. When asked about it, he chuckled and had this to say.
“Well I can use a ballpoint like everyone else, but when I need to sign something for a case or legal document, I like to do it well,” he said. “It actually goes back to my wedding, when we received a set of fountain pens as a wedding gift. I still use those pens and I have a quill and inkwell for signatures or special occasions.”
Jacobson said that he’s got a lot that he’s grateful for.
“I have had wonderful clients, and I truly appreciate them,” he said. “Good relationships that have often blossomed into a lot of friendships over the years. Many of these clients we’ve had a great deal of longevity with, and I truly appreciate their trust.”
“Over the years I’ve had a lot of appreciation for my secretaries,” he said. “Keeping notes and having to type forms, many times being self-taught. My wife Michelle has truly been the best of course, and truly kept me on course, and I could not have had the successes we’ve enjoyed without her.”
“A lot has changed over the course of the last fifty years,” he said. “Computers have changed everything. Many kids today might not know what a typewriter even is if you showed one to them. Computers have certainly changed the way everything is done. Correcting forms, carbon paper with plastic overlays, copies and fax machines, all of these things have changed just in my working lifetime.
“About four years ago, Michelle decided that she was ready to retire. I wasn’t quite ready, so I decided to keep on going without her being here full time for a while longer. With 2020 here, I think it’s finally time.”
Because of those long-time clients however, he isn’t just closing his doors. Instead he’s passing on those clients to Tim Ness, who will continue to provide the tax and bookkeeping service part of the business. The Jacobson’s will be hosting an open house coffee and cake social this Sunday, Jan. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate Bob’s retirement and to introduce Ness to their clients and to the community.
We would also be remiss not to mention Bob Jacobson’s model train collection, which has run steadily in his window for decades. Also most importantly, his long-time affiliation with the Commercial Club and downtown Christmas lights that he’s made possible all up and down Main Ave. These topics are so big , that they deserve a separate article, so look for that to appear in the Gazette in the near future.
Retirement party for Bob Jacobson & Meet and Greet with Tim Ness.
Sunday, Jan. 5th, 2020
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Coffee & Cake
Bob will be retiring after 44 years of legal
practice and tax services in Garretson.
Tim Ness will be taking over the tax service
side of the business. So come celebrate
with Bob and meet Tim on Jan. 5, 2020.
No gifts please.
Mary Ann Carlson was the winner of the handmade bull whip made by Todd Kringen. The Garretson Area Historical Society drew a winner for this fundraising raffle during the Hometown Christmas events on Dec. 14, 2019. Many folks have made the joke that now she’s got the right tool to keep the rest of the folks at First Bank & Trust in Garretson in line, as well as being able to make sure her husband Steve behaves. There are also unsubstantiated rumors that she plans to bring the whip to the upcoming annual meeting of the Garretson Area Commercial Club, and that’s how she plans to deal with members should they fail to do their civic duty and nominate a new secretary for the club.
Correction: Also, we made a mistake in the last issue regarding the Historical Society photo of the aluminum Christmas tree. Our editor miss-heard, and the tree is actually 60 years old, not 100. It was the 60th anniversary of the company and this tree is that age, with the price on the box reading $4.98.
Hard to believe we’re at the end of a decade. Now we start the roaring ‘20’s, with hopes it doesn’t end like last century’s. The Gazette was packed with news throughout the entire year; the addition of another full-timer at the office ensured we were able to bring you as much news as possible.
This last year saw the culmination of the 3rd Street and Main project, or at least, stage 1 and a half. The Garretson area had record flooding both spring and fall, which put our farmers in a hard place, along with national happenings that also affected our farmers. The brand-new daycare opened for business, and Garretson made the Sioux Falls news for positive reasons (though South Dakota as a whole did not make national news for the best reasons…but We’re On It). Plus so much more. Enjoy this year in review (Part One of Two)!
In January, winter sports were in full swing, with Garretson High School girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, and wrestling each coming away with wins and losses. Hayden Pierret performed well at the Lincoln Holiday Wrestling Tournament, earning top seed and second place in the 126-pound weight class. Dakota Johnson and Dominic Abraham also placed in the top 8 in that tournament. The wrestling team continued to perform well the rest of the season, with seven GHS wrestlers making it to the State Tournament in Rapid City.
Cold temperatures were also in the news, with Sioux Falls, SD being the coldest place on earth on January 29.
Happy New Year! This week's issue has Part One of the 2019 Year in Review, a profile on a long-time tax/bookkeeping/lawyer businessman, and recaps of winter sports over the holiday season, plus much more.
There's a lot going on in our community. Keep up with all of it with the Community Events Calendar on page 4 in the on-line or paper version. With your on-line subscription, you can download it here and have it easy to hand!
On-line subscribers get access to a Subscribers' Welcome Area, and are able to view extra photos, articles, and an issue of this week's paper in both a Flipbook and PDF format.
On December 13th, 2019, the Blue Dragons Boys Basketball team opened the 2019/2020 season on the road as they traveled to Tri Valley to take on the Mustangs. The Blue Dragons came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders as they jumped to an early 17 to 6 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. Coach Heitkamp stated “We did a great job executing our offensive sets and communicated very well on the defensive side of the ball the first half.”
The second quarter was much the same for the visiting team as the Blue Dragons went to the locker room with a 27 to 19 advantage. Unfortunately, the Blue Dragons couldn’t keep the momentum going the second half as the Mustangs were able grind out a 48 to 40 victory.
“We came out the second half trying not to lose the game...instead of just going out to win the game” said Heitkamp. “We have talented athletes, but the lack of experience in these types of games couldn’t get us over the hump tonight.”
Dylan Kindt led the way in the scoring column with 10 points, while Cooper Long knocked down 8 points of his own. Jake Schroeder pitched in with 7 points, along with 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists. Cole Skadsen collected 6 points, as Trey Buckneberg and Josef Zahn added 4 and 3 points each. Lucas Fitzgerald rounded out the scoring with 2 points and 6 rebounds.
The Blue Dragons got back on the court on December 17th as we hosted the Canton C-Hawks. The Blue Dragons battled the entire game but came up a little short as the home team was defeated 47-56.
“We once again did a very nice job competing all night long, but we let this one get away in the final 8 minutes. We have been focusing on our conditioning since the season opened...now we just need to believe that we can dig a little deeper to come out on top when the final horn sounds.” stated Coach Heitkamp.
Newcomer Josef Zahn was the leading point getter as he netted 10, while Dylan Kindt followed closely with 9 points and 2 assists. Cooper Long (3 steals) and Trey Buckneberg (9 rebounds) each knocked down 8 points, as Cole Skadsen hit for 6 points of his own. Jake Schroeder and Hayden Olofson rounded out the scoring with 5 and 1 points respectively.
The Blue Dragons didn’t have time to dwell on the past as they took to the court two days later and played host to the Hawks from Colman/Egan on December 19th.
“We came out the opening quarter and played maybe the worst basketball of the season, but we were only down 7-12,” said Heitkamp. “We explained to the team...if you buy into our system and work hard on defense you will always be in the game, which was definitely evident at that time.”
The home team continued to work hard and took advantage of some easy scoring opportunities,
which led the Blue Dragons to a 32-31 advantage going into the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as Dalton Voelker (game high 31 points) and Colman/Egan defeated the Blue Dragons 50 to 41.
“We once again went into the final 8 minutes hesitant and unwilling to take over the game,” Heitkamp explained. “We also ran into foul trouble and mental lapses that didn’t help tonight, which is something that will be addressed down the road. The bottom line...we are underachieving right
now, so we are going to make some adjustments and get this team rolling in the right direction.” Jake Schroeder (5 rebounds) led the way with 12 points, while Dylan Kindt (3 assists and 2 steals) and Cooper Long dented the nets for 9 points each. Josef Zahn, Triston Rekstad, and Cole Skadsen finished the night with 5, 3, and 3 points.
The Blue Dragons will be back playing basketball in Chester on Jan. 3. The Entringer classic was postponed because of weather complications.
The Blue Dragon JV team opened up with a 17-2 first quarter lead and never looked back en route to a 40-22 victory Friday night at Tri-Valley. Garretson started out pushing the tempo from the get-go and wore the Mustangs out right away and that was key for the Blue Dragons.
“If we get everyone to buy into our game plan and push the ball up the court from the start, we will be in every game we play this year,” stated coach Cory Buchholz.
“We played about 22 of the 24 minutes of really solid basketball
and when we get that kind of an effort each and every night, great things are going to happen,” said Buchholz.
The Dragons were led in scoring by Cooper Long with 13, Triston Rekstad with 9, Josef Zahn with 8, Isaiah Gnadt and Brady DeBates with 6 and 4, respectively.
The JV will have played Canton on Tuesday, Dec. 17 and will play Colman – Egan on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6:15 in the Dragon’s Lair (results pending).
