Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media, Author at Big Sioux Media Sports Network

PBR Wins Final Cornbelt League Game

July 19, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids PBR earned a win in their final Cornbelt League game on Thursday, July 17th. PBR defeated Canova 11-1 in the 7th inning on the 10-run rule.

Nate Henry had a two-run single to start the scoring for PBR in the third inning. Scott LeBrun had a double, while Travis Peters added a single to drive in runs in the fourth inning.

LeBrun an Henry each had a double and a single in the game. Peters, Nate Alfson, and Kevin Krull each had two singles. Colin Karst pitched a complete game allowing only three Canova hits while striking out three.

PBR finished Cornbelt League play with a 10-8 record. They are 12-14 overall. Their final regular season game is Saturday, July 19th, against the Sioux Falls Squirrels. The District 4B Tournament will start Friday, July 25th, in Colman.

	R	H	E
Canova	1	3	2
Dell Rapids PBR	11	14	0

Dell Rapids – M 15/16 Teeners Split During the Week

July 18, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids M split games this past week to the top two teams in the I-29 League.

West Central 8, Dell Rapids M 1

West Central, the number one team in the league, scored late to pull away from Dell Rapids M 8-1 on Monday, July 14th.

Elijah Story pitched five strong innings for Dell Rapids. He gave up three runs on six hits and struck out two. Mason Peter completed the final two innings. He surrendered six hits and five runs.

Dell Rapids M managed only two hits. Brett Mogen had an RBI single and Eric Klein added a single.

Dell Rapids M 13, Madison Gold 7

Dell Rapids knocked off the second place team in the I-29 League 13-7 on Wednesday, July 16th.

Josh Roemen led off the game with a sharp single past first base and eventually scored on Nate McKee’s sacrifice fly. Dell Rapids never looked back as Roemen added two triples for three hits total. McKee added a second RBI and two singles to the offense. Dell Rapids banged out 14 hits. Klein had a double and single, Story singled twice, and Mogen, Hunter Hansen, Nick Hoffman, Peter, and Ethan Brobjorg all contributed singles.

Mogen pitched the first four innings and entered the bottom of the fourth with a 10-0 lead. Three errors and four singles brought Madison back to a 10-4 deficit. A solid defensive play ended the threat. Centerfielder Hunter Hansen fired a base hit back to shortstop Roemen who relayed it to Peter for the third out of the inning at home plate. Mogen finished his four innings with four hits, four runs and four strike outs.

Klein pitched the fifth and sixth innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits. Peter came on in relief with no outs and runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh. He retired all three batters he faced to end the game. He was assisted by two running catches in the outfield by Adrian Juba. Dell Rapids pitchers did not walk a hitter in the game.

Dell Rapids (5-11) plays its final regular season game on Monday, July 21st at home versus Volga.

Ellis Alberts

July 16, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The funeral for Ellis Alberts will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2014, at the Zion Reformed Church of Amherst, with Pastors Hal Phoenix and Don Flaherty of Ellendale, N.D., and Pastor Glenn Raynor of Hecla officiating. Burial will be in the Britton Cemetery, under the direction of Price Funeral Chapel, Britton.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church in Amherst, with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Ellis was called to his Eternal Home on Sunday evening, July 6, 2014, at the age of 98 years.

Ellis Raymond Alberts was born Nov. 13, 1915, on a farm near Amherst to Harmon F. and Johanna F. Alberts. He attended school at Amherst, graduating from Amherst High School in 1934. He was on the basketball team and played trombone in band. After graduation, Ellis remained on the family farm.

On Sept. 27, 1942, Ellis married Aerial June Stevens in Aberdeen. They made their home on a farm they had purchased, northwest of Amherst. Over the next few years, the couple was blessed with three daughters. Ellis loved the Lord, his family and his farm. He felt very blessed to be a farmer. He milked cows and raised cattle, hogs and chickens for many years. He was noted for planting the straightest cornrows in the country! He was also one of the last farmers in the area to check corn.

Ellis is survived by his three daughters: Claudia (Neil) Frey of Britton, Andrea “Ann” (Dennis) Blumhardt of Shorewood, Ill., Debora (Rodney) Satrang of Mitchell; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Doris Alberts of Britton, Violet Alberts of Dell Rapids; and many nieces, nephews and their families. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; four sisters: Clara Eberle, Martha Wieker, Helen Bush and an infant sister; and seven brothers: Henry, Art, Lee, Herman, Joe, Melvin and Robert Alberts.

Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Claudia Frey, 10952 421st Avenue, Britton, SD 58430.

An online guestbook and obituary is available at pricefuneralchapel.net

PBR Back in Win Column

July 13, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids PBR picked up two more wins in the Cornbelt League, one Tuesday, July 8th, and the other on Thursday, July 10th.

PBR defeated Harrisburg 13-1 on Tuesday, July 8th in Dell Rapids. Harrisburg was the home team, but the game had to be moved to Dell Rapids due to Harrisburg’s field not being available. Nate Alfson finished the game with two singles and two RBI for PBR. Landon Klock, Scott LeBrun, and Bruce Mogen each had a single with two RBI. Nate Henry and Weston Hansen each picked up an RBI single. Colin Karst picked up the win on the mound pitching six innings.

	R	H	E
Dell Rapids PBR	13	8	0
Harrisburg	1	4	4

On Thursday, July 10th, Dell Rapids hosted Lennox and came away with a 10-4 victory. Blake Harms finished the game with a double and two singles for PBR. Alfson added two doubles and four RBI. Henry and Sheldon Davis each had a double and single. LeBrun also finished the game with two hits. PBR was able to take control of the game in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded double by Alfson. Kenton Welbig earned the pitching win throwing six innings. Dan Conrad pitched the final three innings for the three-inning save.

	R	H	E
Lennox	4	15	2
Harrisburg	10	14	1

PBR is now 9-7 in the Cornbelt League and 11-13 overall.

Dell Rapids School Board Meeting: 7/14/14

July 13, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids School Board will meet on Monday, July 14th, in the MS/HS DDN with two full agendas. Starting at 7:00 p.m., the school board will hold their budget hearing. Items on this agenda include the proposed 2014-2015 budget and 5-year Capital Outlay Plan along with approval. Immediately following the budget hearing, the school board will move into their re-organizational meeting. Items on that agenda include the organization of the school board, an executive session, the consent agenda, appointment of school board members to committees, and review of the Dell Rapids School District policies and procedures.

The full layout of both agendas can be found by clicking here.

Agnes (Schwebach) Sechser

July 12, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Agnes Ann Sechser, 96, of rural Sioux Falls, passed away Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the Dougherty Hospice House. She was born on May 6, 1918 to Philip and Catherine Schwebach at Bird Island, MN. They moved to Elkton and then to Dell Rapids where she attended country schools.

Agnes married Francis Sechser on May 6, 1947. They farmed north of Sioux Falls until their retirement. Francis passed away in 2003. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, baking, sewing, embroidering and spending time with her family and grandchildren. Agnes was a member of the Cathedral of St. Joseph and the Cathedral Club.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Jerry (Denise), Bettendorf, IA, Mary Ann (Dave) Erickson, Creedmoor, NC, Betty (Keith) Allison, Brookings, SD, Janice Sechser, Sioux Falls, SD, Don (Ann), Franklin, TN, Mark (Pam), Harrisburg, SD and Ed (Beth), Sioux Falls, SD; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a brother: Raphael Schwebach. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five brothers, three sisters and a son-in-law.

Visitation will be Monday, 5 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home with a Scripture Vigil at 7 PM followed by the Rosary. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, 9:30 AM at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with burial to follow at St. Michael Cemetery. An on-line registry is available at barnett-lewisfuneralhome.com.

Speed Limit Increase Proposal to be Vetoed

July 11, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

City Councilman Gary Haak proposed to raise the speed limit on 15th Street in Dell Rapids during the City Council meeting on Monday, July 7th.

“There is nobody crossing the street, there are no houses across the street from the water tower, there is a sidewalk for kids to walk on and no kids crossing it, and there are flashing lights by the school to drop down to 15 mph,” said Haak during the discussion.

City Administrator Justin Weilaind mentioned, “Turning sight distances (on 15^th street) were designed for 35 mph, because the speed limit is 25 mph. If you raise the speed limit to 35, people will drive 40 or 45 potentially, so you want a 10-mile threshold on that sight distance requirement. I’d be a little careful about going to 35, because of the sight distances.”

City Councilman Mark Crisp added, “The people of my ward don’t think it’s a good idea, the school doesn’t think it’s a good idea….you know, if it’s the high school, maybe, but it’s our grade school.”

After discussion, Haak made the motion to increase the speed limit to 30 mph on 15th Street. City Councilman Chad Andrews seconded the motion. The motion passed by a 4-3 vote, however, Mayor Scott Fiegen stated his intention to veto the action. Councilmen Crisp, Lee Burggraff, and Paul Miles voted no on the motion.

Kenneth Olson

July 10, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Kenneth D. Olson, 89, of Baltic died Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday July 14, 2014 at Baltic Lutheran Church, Baltic. Burial will be in the St. Olaf Cemetery, Baltic. Visitation with the family present will be from 1-3:00 PM Sunday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic.

Kenneth was born April 19, 1925 at Worthing, South Dakota to parents Thorval and Jennie (Swenson) Olson. He moved with his family to the Baltic area and graduated from Baltic High School. He married Cleo Haugse December 3, 1947 in Colton. They lived and farmed south of Baltic until moving into Baltic in 1997. Cleo died December 25, 2013.

Kenneth was a member of the Baltic Lutheran Church and enjoyed spending time at the farm and with his family.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Sheila (Larry) Skatvold, Dell Rapids; Dennis Olson, Sioux Falls; Rodney (Kim) Olson, Sioux Falls; Lynn (Lisa) Olson, Baltic; Marcia (Larry) Miller, Baltic; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy (Don) Anderson, Yankton and Ruth (James) Haugen, Baltic; and a brother in law, Bud Skacnke, Baltic.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cleo on December 25, 2013, his parents, and his sister Joyce Skancke.

www.minnehahafuneralhome.com

Dell Rapids Represented at 2014 SD All-Star Games

July 10, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Two players and two coaches from Dell Rapids will be participating in the 2014 South Dakota All-Star games in Aberdeen. All four will be part of the football game on Wednesday, July 16th, at 7:30 p.m.

Dell Rapids graduate Brock Reinhiller, and Dell Rapids St Mary graduate Leon Maxwell will be playing for the Blue (North) team this year. Dell Rapids coach Steve Hansen, and Dell Rapids St Mary coach Ross Flemmer will be assistant coaches on the team as well.

This year is the 28th annual South Dakota All-Star games. Graduated high school seniors from around the state participate in volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball and football. The Barnett Center on the Northern State University campus and the Clark Swisher Activities Complex are the headquarters for all the athletic activities during the week.

Library Ground-Breaking Ceremony Held

July 10, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Library addition/renovation project took another step forward with the ground-breaking ceremony that was held on Tuesday, July 8th, at 4:00 p.m. Past and present library board members, the mayor, city council members, along with many others were on hand to take part in the ceremony.

Library Board President Tom Earley started the ceremony by saying, “We are here to celebrate a significant event to the history of the Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library.”

“This thing has been a long time coming. I think as long as I’ve been mayor, we’ve been working on this project. This is going to be a fantastic addition to the community. Want to thank all the people that donated money to this cause,” said Mayor Scott Fiegen.

The Dell Rapids City Council recently voted to provide $360,000 of municipal money to help the library close a gap in funding of the project. The project is going to add about a 2,000-squre foot addition to the library along with restoration to the current building.

“All along our main priority has been the renovation of the existing Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library, making the library ADA accessible to all customers and that will be achieved with the addition of the elevator. We have also wanted to increase the square footage of the library,” said Earley during the ceremony.

Members of the library board of trustees, Mayor Fiegen, Helen Aspaas, and current Library Director Brittany Moeller dug the first hole for the ground-breaking ceremony. Gil Haugan Construction, Inc. began work on the $1.1 million project on Wednesday, July 9th.

The library will be closed Monday, July 14th through Sunday, July 20th, while they move into their temporary location of the old elementary school building. The library will re-open on Monday, July 21st, on the east side of the building.

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