School Board member and former teacher Ruth Sarar graciously judged the contest on technique, thoughtfulness, originality, and holiday festiveness. The winners will receive some Garretson Bucks compliments of the Gazette to spend at a local business. Big thanks to Julie Mueller for gathering the drawings.
Our winners this year were: First Place – Lucie Frewaldt, Second Place – Nathan Roberts, Third Place – Ethan Magnuson, Honorable Mention – Hope Wheeler.
Thank you to all our sponsors for this contest, Alliance Communications, Blue Dragon Academy, CHS, City of Garretson, Don’s Auto, First Bank & Trust, the Garretson Commercial Club, Garretson Insurance, Garretson Food Center, Jesse James Country Store, Minnehaha Funeral Home, Landmark Realty, Nordstrom’s Automotive, Performance Press, Sander’s Printing, and Vandersnick Excavating.
An extra special thanks to Sarar who told us that it’s hard to pick just four students, because she loved every single drawing.
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We wish you a Happy Holidays and wishes for a great New Year! Enjoy our Christmas issue, jam packed with photos from Hometown Christmas, Letters to Santa, holiday drawings, and much more.
We will not be publishing an issue next week due to the holiday; we will see you in the new year with our January 2 issue!
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.
Editor’s Note: The Garretson Gazette loves the innocence of how children view the season; while we’ve run Letters to Santa from the second-grade students and drawings from the sixth-grade students for several years now, we wanted to include the younger Garretson Elementary students as well. This week, we present Jacki Liester’s Kindergarten class letting us know what their favorite things are about Christmas.
We’ve also got the 6th Grade Drawing Contest, in which some wonderful drawings were submitted. School Board member and former teacher Ruth Sarar graciously judged the contest on technique, thoughtfulness, originality, and holiday festiveness. The winners will receive some Garretson Bucks compliments of the Gazette to spend at a local business. Big thanks to Julie Mueller for gathering the drawings.
Our winners this year were: First Place – Lucie Frewaldt, Second Place – Nathan Roberts, Third Place – Ethan Magnuson, Honorable Mention – Hope Wheeler.
Thank you to all our sponsors for this contest, Alliance Communications, Blue Dragon Academy, CHS, City of Garretson, Don’s Auto, First Bank & Trust, the Garretson Commercial Club, Garretson Insurance, Garretson Food Center, Jesse James Country Store, Minnehaha Funeral Home, Landmark Realty, Nordstrom’s Automotive, Performance Press, Sander’s Printing, and Vandersnick Excavating.
An extra special thanks to Sarar, who told us that it’s hard to pick just four students, because she loved every single drawing.
With the Second Grade letters, we did our best to preserve errors, misspellings, and the spirit of the child’s letter. Corrections were made with regards to certain errors or words that only made sense in the child’s handwriting. A huge thank you goes out to teachers Samantha Bruins and Jodi Neugebauer for undertaking this project each year!
Something good I did this year was I drid the dishis all by myself. I got my sistr Hatchimals for. Christmas. I gave my mom and dad love notes. If I could give someone a gift, I would give Jovie a playhaws manshin. Something I would like is Hatchimals. My Christmas wish is all the home lis people have home. I was wondering wen is you’r Brthday is. Love Daisy
To: Santa
From Tayiynn, age 7 ½
Dea Santa,
I have been pretty good! Somethig good I did this year was I shovled the Dek for my mom!
If I could give som gifts I would give to Josie LOL and omg dolls!
Something I would like is lol and omg doll and Theglaper
My Christmas wish is I hop my mom is going to have a presents!
I was wondering if you spellbrat Christmas! Love Taylynn
To: Santa
from Nevi, age 7
Dear santa,
I have been good.
Something good I did this year was I was cazy lot it was fun. If I could give someone a gift, I would give my mom a a new bed room. Something I would like is a dog a wenr. Dog
My Christmas wish is a baby boy.
What do you look like?
Love, Genevra
To Santa
From Cooper, age 8 ½
Dear Santa,
I have been good
Something good I did this year was I paly with my dog sumtims. If I could givea someone a gift, I would give my lasgun
Something I would a wel rascar
My Christmas wish is chicin
I was wondering do you ever go on vakashon!
Love Cooper
To: Santa
From Josie, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been good sometime bed L
Some thing good I did this year was… play whith Taylynn and Lydia and Cora. If I could give some a gift, I would give it to Taylynn Lol Doll and omg Doll
Something I would like is glaper and lol Doll and omg Doll.
My Christmas wish is that my famle could get together agen. And evewun had munny$. Do you like ever wun coocky?
Love Josie
To: Santa
From: Aubrie, age 7
Dear Sanat,
I have been really good
Something good I did this year was I help’t my mom If I could give someone a gift I would give, my elf I love If I could Toch her something I would like is a I Phone 11
My Christmas wish is to see you are you ok with that
Love Aubrie
To Santa
From Kail, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been really good
Something good I did this year was I help
If I could give someone a gif, I would give my mom a pool
Something I would like is ac milain
My Christmas wish is I wish a veandoo dolers
I was wondering you have randear
Love Kail
To Santa
From Eryn, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been really good!
Something good I did this year was I help my grandma make special k bars and my mom let me invite 2 friends.
If I could give someone a gift, I would give my sisters toys that shed loved.
Something I would like is a new iPad.
My Christmas wish is for that every buddy whud get a Present.
Ps I was wondering do you like everybute.
Love Eryn
To: Santa
From: Jada, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been good lately
Something good I did this year was I lisend.
If I could give someone a gift, I would give Carson a tractor.
Something I would like is a baby puppy.
My Christmas wish is that my aunt Cassandra’s baby does not come late. When is your birthday?
Love Jada
To Santa
From: Bekett, age 7
Dear Santa
I have been osam
Something good I did this yea was I bid tuck my elf
If I could give someone a gift. I would give a mini car
Something I would like is It for ll.
To: Santa
From Armando, age 8
Dear Santa, I have been gud something good I did this year was…
If I could give someone a gift, I would give.. so my mom cud cum bak
My Christmas wish is my mom to come bac
Love Armando
To Santo
From Lane, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been good some thing good I did this year was win I got my birthday pesit it did wuck but I still licit
If I could give someone a gift I would give Lance a tanosich and for me I wat moore game for my a ex
My Christmas wish is donat toy. Win is my ef coming
Love Lane
To: Santa
From: Malena, age 7 ½
Dear Santa, I have been really good.
Something Good I did this year was I help my Grandma do the washing. If I could give someone a gift… I will my mom a sweter. Something I would like is LOL dolls. My Christmas wish is that on Christmas day we have snow. I was wondering how many evfs do you have.
Love, Malena
To: Santa
Frome: Tenley, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been good
Something good I did this year was I help my mom and dad.
If I could give someone a gift, I would give I would make my mom Happy.
Something I would like is a ipad a watch a American girl dall and American girl dall stuf.
My Christmas wish is that everybody is happy on Christmas day
? do you like every cooke that people make
Love, Tenley S
To Santa
Fram James, age 7 ½
Dear Santa,
I have been good
Something good I did this year was I hellpt miy Dad. If I could someone a gift, I would give Jerry a ifon a 11
I wont a IPod.
I wont a lexa.
My Christmas wish is a dady sistr?
I was wondering wat do yoy luck like
Love James
To: Santa
From: Mason, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been really good.
somthing good I did this year was I helpd my mom.
If I could give someone a gift, I would give my mom a new car. somthing I would like is a tickit to florda.
My cristmas wish is that we don’t have much snow days.
? I was wondering how old is dasher.
Love: Mason
To: Santa
From: Jovie, age 8
Dear Santa,
I have been good I now I have yelled at my sister. Something good I did this year was I was kind! I did the dishes all by my slfe! I clend my room! If I could give someone a gift, I would give my Mom to have a spoday!
Something I would like is a alexe!
My Christmas wish is that my mom nad my dad and my sister have a good Christmas!
I was wondering why do you have a red soot!
LOVE Jovie
To Sata
From: Finnlay, age 7 ½
Dear Sata
I have been good
Some thing good I did this year was.. helpt my frend
If I could give some one a gift I would give mine mawse sliprs
Same thing I would like is a rass track
Myi crismis wish is to see you
I was wandring wen is your birthday is
Lave, Finnlay
To Santa
From Becket, age 8
Dear Santo
I have been good and bad
Something good I did this year was be nice
If I could give someone a gift, I would give my mom and dad a break. Something I would like is a switch.
My Christmas wish is my dad to come to Christmas with us. I was wondering why you war a red sout!
To Santa
From: Avery, age 7 ½
Dear Santa,
I have been really good
Something good I did this year was started takeing care of my brothers and sister. Helped my Mom and Dad. I was kind. I helped my teacher.
If I could give someone a gift, I would give everyone something special to them!!!
Something I would like a 006000 dollars!!
My Christmas wish is to fix my Grandma car. I was wondering if you can give my Grandma 500,000 dollars to fix my her car. PS: her name is Marry
Love Avery
To: Santa
From: Izabell, age 7
Dear Santa,
I have been prete good
Something good I did this year was… I bot my Litl sistrarar LOL and I got my bruther a Lagstrip of
If I could give someone a gift, I would give I wud giv Josie a LOL something I would like is PiteboLrs and a LOL slime hachaaLs and I’d canabe arts plisaIPab 500 doLrs. My Christmas wish is my famle is togithr agen navanisL if agen
Can I you did you no Chisism favrit crsmis Love Izabell J
Dear, Santa
Santa wen I get mad I get feereds. Santa I like to wesel. Santa I also like football. What is your faveret sport? How meny elfs do you have? Am I on the good list or bad list? If you wont to call, hear is my parents number 00000000 What I wont for Chrismes is deer lisens, nerf guns, lego sets, beebea gun, football, and a elf on the sellf.
From Caleb
Dear Santa,
I hope you have a great Christmas and a great time.
I will leave some caret’s for the raindeer and some cookie’s for you.
I am in 2nd grade.
I will be 8 on December 5.
How dous rudolf’s nous work?
What dous the North pole look like?
Love: Stella F
I have a list at home.
Dear Santa,
I work hard alote. I love reading. I want a book and a hachamol for Christmas. What is it like in the north pole? I love Christmas. Happy Holidays. Over. What time do you leave on Christmas eve? Is roodolfe real? From Cole
Dear Santa,
Do you hav a puppys?
Foa Krimas I wot a BrBe Deem Haws.
I wis for BrBe Dollsis.
From Grace
Dear Santa
How many elf do you have? What elf do you like best? Dose rodof have a red nose? How old are you? How big is your work shop? Have Ms. Cloos mest you up? Can I have SDSU socks can I have a rasecar that is black. Can I have a dog. From Gabe
Dear Santa,
How mene elvs do you have
Right now. Is it going good up ther. How old are you. It is going good for me. What are you doing up. I want for crismis a plastashon 4 and sum gams GIoe5 and Fortnint. From Kole to Santa
Dear, Santa claus
Do you have a Iphone? Do you have a Telaporter to help get aroud The world? How old are you Dood? Do you Biled ginger bread houses? Santa can I have a Iphone 11 and a Transformer of Octumis prime. From, Mason
Ps am I on the nice list or notye list.
Dear Sanat
Sanat are you 100 years old?
I wot fome Christmas is a legoslet has a mostr truck and the DRaGon 4 movie. Fome Cole L.
Dear Santa
Can you achole fly? Do you have pupies? Do you eat spesile food?
Do you see everething at ones? Dus Mis Close Doow a Jode? Do you make tows with your elfs
Ples can I have a Dire with a loke.
Haw old are you?
Love Cora
Dear Santa
What are the Ranideers favrite cockies? How many years old are you? Do you have puppys? How many elfs do you have? What is your favrite coller? I want for ChRistmAs is a droon.
From: Amelie
Dear, Santa
I been good this year! I rily want a pet hamster for Christmas and a hourse cind of hourse Qurter. I want clows and a swingset and bunkbeds. How old are you? I’m 8 years old.
I want a new iphone 11 for Christmas. I’m in 2nd grade. I want a corgie awssie stufft animal.
Love, Bristol
Dear Santa,
Am I on the good list or bad list? How many elfs do you have? I want a elf. And a nutcracher.
I ben helping my mom and dad.
From: Mariah
Deer Santa
How is Viksen I wander haw the Nine randeer is Viksen eting cande for Christmas
I want the DrAGon4 movie.
From Conner F
Dear Santa,
For Thanksgiving we went to both of my Grandmas. At one of them we played games and set up the tree. My tree is up and has presents onderneth. How old are you. How many elfs do you have. What is your favorit candy. For Christmas I would like legos, bubblegum Amarcin gril doll set, scruff a love, Liffsavers, charelstin chous, CC hats. By the way Christmas is my favorit holowday.
From, Lydia
Dear Santa,
Monk Warlor doll with a helmit
Mohwk WARP-set
Zipline
Captin America bll
Basslith ger
Ts4 woody tsl
Rex t2 2
Army-MaN. What is It like at the North pool? What dose the Bakeing be for CHRIStmas?
From Kymani
Deer Sante
How mayh efs?
Is roodof rele?
Santa me and my brother try to see you?
How are you?
I wote a enchatd ax Mincraft and. a Mincaft echatd shafl and a Mincaft echatde ssordes and a pixax Mincraft and Lego. A Lego hide see chase and. A eyephne eleven2 from, Leo
Dear Santa this is my Christmas list, Vr. Glasses, (also my elf Charlie I think you know him knows this to) street fighter consoul, fake elf sooo… I think that’s it. Also how many elfts do you have, are there more boys than girls?
From: Grayson
How old are you?
Another PS. Am I on the nice list?
Dear Sata.
I do not want a prsit. My mom is going thrue a lote so I want the bast for her.
Did you ever giet sik if you did wode cirsmis be over?
From Caylea
Dear Santa,
I wonder what Is Mrs Clus real name is? And I also wonder what dose she do? Ok let’s go to my wish list-
-now I’m relley hopeing that I’ll get the latest model of an Iphone and Santa one more qushtion am I on the nughty list? If I am on the nughty list at Liest I have family and friends.
This week I spent some time exploring the origins of the word, kind: It comes from Old English gecynd (YEH’-kund) or cynn (kyn), meaning nature, race, family. Another Old English word kyndnes (KIND’-nes) means “nation,” which I interpret as a subtle and ancient nod toward kin, kinship and our common bond in support of our country. Modern dictionaries define the word kindness as the quality or state of being generous, helpful, caring and giving. Synonyms include tactful, good hearted, neighborly, forgiving and gracious.
Sometimes I only understand something when I explore it’s opposite or antonym. For example, I had to think about mental illness to better understand mental health; about hate to better understand love; about depression to better understand joy. The antonyms of kindness are words like mean, cruel, malicious, spiteful, malevolent, even despicable.
Where is the intersection of kindness and medicine? In years past, admission committees for medical school have searched hard to find the very smartest college graduates and they were able to do it. Certainly, physicians need the intellect to understand the complexity of human health and continue a lifetime of learning. However, we have realized that searching for students by intellect alone might graduate medical students who don’t always develop good bedside manners and a capacity for compassion. More recently, some of the best medical schools have added kindness and compassion programs to their curriculum.
I didn’t have the benefit of such a program when I went to medical school, however, over my 40-year medical career, I’ve learned to recognize the healing power of kindness in medicine. I’ve seen it in the nursing staff caring for folks living in a small-town long-term care facility. I’ve heard it from medical providers, nurses and technicians caring for people in clinics, ERs, hospitals and in hospice programs. I’ve heard it from kind supportive friends who have offered or driven me for chemo; from jolly laughing buddies who raise my mood; from my care team as they gently hook me up for my next infusion; from our kids who call to check on me; and from my loving wife who is at my side warming me when I’m chilled, picking up my burdens with unending daily kindnesses as I struggle through these side-affects. It’s a good thing she doesn’t love me for my hair.
I am happy that our medical schools are teaching young doctors that people deal with illness so much better when it comes with a generous dose of kindness.
Richard P. Holm, MD is founder of The Prairie Doc® and author of “Life’s Final Season, A Guide for Aging and Dying with Grace” available on Amazon. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit www.prairiedoc.org and follow Prairie Doc® on Facebook featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&A show streaming on Facebook and broadcast on SDPB most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.
Last Friday, First Bank and Trust had its annual Christmas Open House, and again featured a model trains display with Rich Hozapfel, who has been instrumental in bringing the delight of model trains to Garretson over the past couple of years. This year, the display was quite a bit larger, and Garretson Elementary classes were invited to visit in the afternoon. All of the children were quite happy to see the display, watching the trains go by, looking for surprises (such as Bigfoot) hidden within the scenes. Hozapfel was dressed in red, with a matching Santa hat and his natural white beard, which quite convinced the kindergarten students in Mrs. Liester’s class that they were talking with the Big Man himself.
Students from Mrs. Bruin’s 2nd grade class express their surprise at the details they were finding.
Looking for Bigfoot? Rumors passed quickly that Bigfoot was hiding somewhere among the trees, waiting for someone to find him, and students were eager to spot it.
The trains captivated the 5 and 6 year-olds of Mrs. Liester’s class, with some students following the trains around the table.
Rich Hozapfel places a disconnected car back on the track after it derails. Hozapfel said, after one of the teachers noted that putting the display together was likely a lot of work, that it “was no work at all.” After all, it’s never work when you’re having this much fun, he said.
Lady Blue Dragons bring back core of last year’s team
by Hayden Olofson, GHS Blue Ink
Even though it’s thirty degrees outside, the girls are breaking a sweat in the gym, doing drills, scrimmages, and hustling the ball up and down the court. The Garretson girls’ basketball team started practice this week with two seniors taking the place of one senior last year.
Photo from the Dec. 5 Garretson Food Pantry charity scrimmage play for the GHS girls and boys teams.
Seniors Aftyn Heitkamp and Rachel Kindt will be filling the shoes of Greenhoff.
Head coach Matt Schrank said, “Kylie Greenhoff graduated and we lost some role players that are not returning to the team this year. So there will be a lot of opportunities for others to step up.”
Last season the Lady Blue Dragons went 13-8 overall, 4-3 in the BEC, taking the consolation championship in the BEC tournament.
Schrank, in his second year as girls’ head coach, along with assistant coach Bev Howe, set some goals. They are hoping to win their conference as well as the conference tournament, a SoDak16 berth is high up on the list, and of course the ultimate goal is a trip out to Rapid City.
While the goals are lofty, they have the components to make it happen. Last season Lizzie Olson was a 1st team Big East All-Conference selection, while Lauren Heesch and Jaelyn Benson were honorable mentions. All three players are returning this season.
The girls’ basketball team at this point is looking for leaders to shine on the court. That opportunity is out there for everyone. This season Coach Schrank hopes to be a little more balanced in scoring as well.
The ladies have a competitive schedule with both conference and non-conference games.
Coach Schrank believes that all teams are beatable, but emphasized a few in conference. “McCook Central/Montrose, Flandreau, and Beresford will be the teams to beat.”
He also said, “We are going to have a balanced attack on offense, and we will be able to throw a lot of different defenses at teams. Our deep bench and versatility will give teams a tough time”.
This girls’ basketball team could be a very exciting team to watch this year. There are a lot of girls that are vying for varsity playing time. There will be a constant competition throughout the year. The community was able to preview that last Thursday night during an inter-squad scrimmage. The Lady Blue Dragons tip off their season at Tri-Valley this Friday as part of a boys-girls double header.
With high hopes for the 2019-2020 season, the boys Blue Dragons basketball team’s expected outcome is unpredictable with such a young squad: new coaches, upcoming high schoolers, and new seniors.
Photo from the Dec. 5 Garretson Food Pantry charity scrimmage play for the GHS girls and boys teams.
While the coaches are not new to the program, they are filling in different roles.
New head coach Tad Heitkamp has tons of experience coaching, with 18 years under his belt. He has four years of junior high and 13 years of assistant coaching prior to becoming head coach.
New assistant coach Cory Buchholz will be going on his sixth year of coaching basketball. All previous years were served as a volunteer to the high school boys basketball program.
Along with coaches in new roles, players find themselves there too. The Blue Dragons have only one returning starter, Sophomore Dylan Kindt. Others have experience on the varsity court but will see a shift in their roles and playing time this year.
Both coaches stated that for the time being, the four seniors, Cole Skadsen, Hayden Olofson, Trey Buckneberg, and Lucas Fitzgerald, will be the captains.
With the four seniors bringing leadership to the team, Coach Buchholz and Coach Heitkamp both see the team coming together as one complete unit and can’t say just one or two players are the leader.
“We, as a team, are great at picking each other up and making sure that, from seniors down to freshman, everybody knows that they belong and we are here for each other,” Buchholz stated, and Heitkamp agreed.
Both coaches believe that the goal for the team is to learn to become one, and just become a better team through working on communication and overall teamwork. However, they also believe that if they achieve the goals they have set, they should have no problem having a winning record this year with a team that has as much skill as this one.
Coaches Heitkamp and Buchholz pegged teams to beat this year in the BEC as Sioux Valley and Baltic, because both teams have good upcoming players with experience playing varsity basketball.
The boys were able to showcase skills in a scrimmage last Thursday and have their first contest this Friday, Dec 13, at Tri-Valley. The sky's the limit for this young Blue Dragon team.
