Dells City Journal Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Community Members Visit De Smet Community Center

April 15, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

**Check out this week’s (April 16th, 2021) Dells City Journal for this story**

This past Monday, April 12th, members of the Dell Rapids Community Center Committee, along with members of the Dell Rapids community, made the 80-mile trip to De Smet, South Dakota to tour their event and wellness center.

The De Smet Events & Wellness Center features a large exhibit hall, theater, walking track, wellness center, meeting rooms, commercial kitchen, lockers, showers and separate rest rooms, recreation office, and reception area.

Rita Anderson of the De Smet Development Cooperation showed the Dell Rapids group around the facility.

“The older generation are some of our busiest users,” Anderson explained. “Our older retired community members are constantly walking every day. We have the walking track that is free to use every day and have 30-40 walkers a day if not more.”

More than just exercise takes place at the De Smet Event & Wellness Center. “It has been neat with retired people looking for things to do. They started classes and all sorts of activities,” Anderson said. Mystery dinner theaters, speakers, cards, and several other events are held at the center. On average 50 events are held in January and February alone.

“The De Smet Event & Wellness Center also hosts a concert series on Sunday afternoons where the older population takes part,” Anderson added. “There are just so many uses. Memorial services, lunches, the list goes on and on.”

When asked if the De Smet community is happy with the facility, Anderson said “wholeheartedly. It does my heart good when I hear the comments from people asking, what did we do before we had this building and this facility? When I see the skeptics that are up there using it now is great. There are very few naysayers about it now. Everybody uses it. There is always something going on in the community giving them a reason to use it.”

The Dells City Journal will continue to follow the process of the project. To show your support for the community center, reach out to your Alderman for your designated ward or express your support at upcoming council meetings. If you would like to become a member of the committee advocating for the community center please email your name and contact information to DRCommunitycenter@gmail.com and a member of the committee will contact you. With community support, this plan can become a reality.

Tammy Chamley | Editor – Dells City Journal
tchamley@ncppub.com

Trent Pool Saved from Auction Plans

July 6, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

By: Tammy Chamley | Editor, tchamley@ncppub.com

Photo taken and used with permission on story by Tammy Chamley, Dells City Journal

Unlike many area pools, the Trent Pool isn’t the traditional chlorine filled-cement water tank but a gravel bottomed spring fed body of water. This area has been used as the Trent Pool since 1952.

An auction was scheduled for July of 2020 to have the area sold to the highest bidder due to the property not having adequate insurance. The community of Trent had other plans and were able to form a new board for the pool as well as found suitable insurance to cover the property as well as the board members in case of any lawsuit or misconduct.

The new board members for the Trent Pool are Julie Wood, Stacy Franka, Lisa Brown, Tammy Wendell and Morrie Kirkegaard.

An informational meeting was held in Trent on Monday, June 29 to update the community on the progress and plans for the future for the Trent Pool.

Input from the community was requested on ideas for ways to make the property as great as it can be. “We would really like to see it become a park,” Wood stated. “Where people in the area can get more use out of it.”

“We are purposing five nice campsites with water and sewer,” Morrie Kirkegaard, President of the board added. “These would be exclusive. They could be tucked in there nice. It would be $7,500 that you would be taking in at the spring of the year. That helps you get rolling, it might not everything we need, but it will get us our lifeguards and get our pool rolling.” The area where the campsites would be located on the flat land where the mud volleyball takes place during the annual Beach Bash held at the pool. Kirkegaard is also the owner of the campground adjacent to the swimming pool and has offered to maintain the added campsites. “We could have City Park stickers for purchase that way we have a little control on the traffic,” Kirkegaard added.

“We are really going to try to take as much pressure off the city for anything as we possibly can,” Wood said. “They have been very good in the past. We think if we do some things to get a money cushion there, we can make it.” Trent resident, Brandy Ament-Fehlhafer donated $300 to help cover costs of the bill that was required to be paid to Sutton Auction for the advertising of the planned auction that will no longer be held.

The insurance that was found is $1M worth of coverage for the pool. This policy is awaiting approval at the time of publication. “I think the reason they drained the pool was they were afraid the board members might get sued,” Wendell explained. “They have another policy called Directors and Officers Insurance. This insurance covers every board member that is on the board.”

Work parties will be planned for the near future to clean up the pool and the grounds surrounding it. “We are hoping to have a cleanup in about 30 days,” Stacy Franka said. “We will figure out a date and time and get it out there.”

The board intends to apply for a 501C3 status to be tax exempt and apply for available grants. Fundraisers are also in the works to bring in donations to help with the upkeep of the pool. This fall, a farmer’s market as well as a fall festival are being planned to bring Trent and surrounding communities together for a great cause.

Along with the camping sites, other ideas that were brought to the table were walking paths, spray park, gazebo and playground equipment.

Want to read more from the Dells City Journal? Here’s how:

Website: http://dellsjournal.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dellscityjournal/

Tammy Chamley, Managing Editor
Contact Info:
Tel: 428-5600

With this Ring, I Give You my Heart

April 26, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Cancer nor coronavirus was able to stop this couple in love

Tammy Chamley | Editor | tchamley@ncppub.com

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

Like any engaged couple, Alec Hansen and Roxy Dede started to plan their happily ever after last year after dating for two years.

Alec was born and raised in Dell Rapids. He is the second born son of Chris and Melissa Hansen and has four siblings, Jake, Noel, Tate and Briar. Alec graduated from Dell Rapids St. Mary High School in 2013. Alec currently works with his dad at Dells Plumbing and is a member of the Dell Rapids Volunteer Fire Department.

Roxy was born and raised in Sioux Falls and relocated to Worthing with her mom, Cindy, and her sister, Tori. While in high school, Roxy endured severe anxiety and was pulled out of public school and completed her high school career at home. Roxy now has a degree in Medical Coding and has been working for Avera for the past six years.

Alec and Roxy met through Roxy’s sister, Tori, who is currently engaged to Dell Rapids local, Mike Jaskot. “Tori thought it would be a good idea to give Alec my Snapchat,” Roxy explained. “We started talking and went on our first date.”

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

With the engagement came plans for their big day. Alec and Roxy had planned to hold their ceremony at St. Mary Catholic Church with all of their family and friends with a reception and dance to follow. Venues were set, plans were in place and then Breast Cancer struck.

“I found my breast cancer by accident,” Roxy explained. “One night, Alec and I were getting ready for dinner and I had a sharp pain and felt a lump. I called my doctor’s office right away and was told that it was probably a cyst, because I was too young to have cancer.” After a round of antibiotics, the lump was still present on Roxy. A biopsy was conducted. After waiting about a week for the results, Roxy was told that it was in fact, cancer.

“We didn’t really have a plan, we took everything day by day,” Roxy said. “One thing we did know is that we wouldn’t be able to afford a wedding and all of the hospital bills that would be coming.”

With the coronavirus, Roxy is not able to have anyone with her during her chemo treatments at this time. Roxy along with her doctors have decided on proceeding with a double mastectomy. Due to the virus, the date of the surgery has yet to be set. Roxy and Alec continue to take a little more precaution than normal due to her weak immune system. “I don’t want to end up in the hospital,” Roxy stated.

“I had a conversation with one of my nurses about how we planned to postpone the wedding,” Roxy explained. “She told me that we could still get married if we wanted. Hearing that from someone who deals with cancer patients everyday really made us realize that yes, we can still get married.” Alec and Roxy decided on a small wedding with family. Once her treatments are complete, the couple plans to have a reception/cancer free party to celebrate.

On Saturday, April 18, Alec and Roxy were united as husband and wife.

Roxy, along with her mom, sister and future sister-in-law were getting ready at her home for the big reveal that was to take place at the local fire station. Once the dress was in place, make-up and hair complete, Roxy arrived at the station to see Alec before the ceremony.

Alec, with eyes closed, faced Engine #2 while Roxy made her way to her groom. When Alec turned to view his bride, the heartfelt embrace was nothing short of magical. “When I saw her I thought she looked absolutely stunning – so beautiful,” Alec stated. “I thought about that Ed Sheeran song, ‘I don’t deserve this,’ but I am the luckiest guy in the whole world right now.”

After an array of photos of the couple and their families, it was time for the ceremony to commence. Alec and Roxy chose a beautiful location just west of the dam in Dell Rapids. Around 6:30pm, the ceremony began. For those who were not able to be in attendance, the couple had set up a Facebook group where Briar, Alec’s sister, livestreamed the ceremony. With one attendant on each side, Alec and Roxy exchanged their rings, vows and devotion to one another. After the introduction of the couple, Brendon Nelson, the officiant of the ceremony read the following words that were felt deeply not only by the couple, but for those in attendance:

“Now, on a more serious note these two have already been through some hard times and still are going through some with cancer, but she is beating it, and will beat it… We can’t forget either that she has some help from above with her Grandma Ruth walking every step of the way with her…. Alec’s Grandma Mina is up there probably sipping on a Miller Lite saying her grandson cleans up pretty good and has an amazing bride. Lastly, is Lorien. Roxy’s best friend is standing beside her, happy that she is marrying the love of her life. All of these people are not here today in person, you can’t see them, but they are here in their own way.”

After the ceremony was complete, the couple and their families made their way back to their vehicles to attend a celebratory supper at the newlywed’s home. Walking down the path to where the vehicles were waiting, friends of the couple lined the path keeping their distance with honking of celebration and congratulations.

Departing the dam area, approaching third street, another surprise was awaiting the couple. The Dell Rapids Fire Department had the trucks decorated with signs of congratulations and announcing “Just Married” to the community of Dell Rapids. With music coming from the fire trucks and lights radiating the sky, the department led the couple throughout town to celebrate their recent vows.

“We wanted to show them support and it was a little way for them to know we are all behind them and wish them well in their life together,” Fire Chief Dan Diez said. “We had some discussions when Alec wasn’t around and then we had some text messages and phone calls discussing the plan. His dad was our inside man keeping us informed of all the details.”

Once the couple was paraded home, the DRFD continued to play “When I say I do” by Matthew West so Alec and Roxy could have their first dance as husband and wife in the street in front of their home.

Congratulations to Alec and Roxy. May your marriage be full of love, health and a lifetime of happiness.

Want to read more from the Dells City Journal? Here’s how:

Website: http://dellsjournal.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dellscityjournal/

Tammy Chamley, Managing Editor
Contact Info:
Tel: 428-5600

Dells Nursing and Rehab Fulfills Resident’s Bucket List

February 13, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley, Dells City Journal

Dells Nursing and Rehab is busy crossing off things to do on their resident’s bucket lists. “The bucket list idea actually came from our MDS Coordinator, Tracy Jensen, and Beth Koedam, Social Services,” Marissa Runge, Dell Nursing and Rehab’s Activities Director stated. “She decided to start asking each new resident what is one item on their bucket list. Well this quickly soon grew to her asking on everyone’s quarterly assessment. Tracy is always looking for new and fun ideas to keep residents and family members involved.”

The first bucket list item completed was an emotional one. Ruth, a resident at Dells Nursing and Rehab, wanted to visit with her brother just one more time. Now this sounds like an easy fix, right? Well, Ruth’s brother lives in a nursing home in Illinois. “Ruth didn’t know the name of the nursing home, and this is when Tracy had to begin to think creatively,” Runge explained. “After Tracy’s hard work, calling over 10 facilities trying to locate him, she got in contact with two special staff who were willing to help us reconnect them.” A date and time was set to use a computer at the Dell Rapids facility and a cell phone at the Illinois facility to have the siblings be able to video chat over the screens. “Now was the best part…telling Ruth Tracy’s complete plan,” Runge said. “Moments like this are hard to describe, but they are ones you’ll never forget. Ruth was in a meeting with several managers and her daughter-in-law. Tracy broke the news to Ruth that she was going to get the opportunity to connect with her brother, as we have located him. Ruth had the whole room in tears as she was excited to visit with her brother at least one more time.”

The second bucket list item completed at Dells Nursing and Rehab was getting Violet, a resident at the facility, to Christmas Eve service to see her grandson sing and play piano. “This one was easier to plan, but we still needed staff to step up and make this happen,” Runge said. “Thanks to Beth Koedam, Social Services, she took time to get Violet to and from the Christmas Eve service. Violet had a great time and came back all smiles.”

The third bucket list item completed needed some extra creativity from the MDS Coordinator, Tracy. Resident Ardis wanted to visit Hawaii! “Little did Ardis know, we were going to bring Hawaii to her,” Runge explained. “Tracy lined up a whole day of activities to make it feel as if Ardis was in Hawaii. Some of the activities included whale watching, Hawaiian food (bacon wrapped pineapple), Hawaiian documentary, and a photo booth. We ended the night with a great performance from the Hip Hop Shop presenting a luau dance for us! Ardis’s family members were invited as well for this festivities.”

The latest bucket list event completed was for Mike, a retired Navy Submarines Veteran. “One of Mike’s Navy veteran friends contacted us informing us that Dakota State University was going to broadcast the USS South Dakota Commissioning,” Runge said. “Mike’s friend knew how much this would mean for Mike to be there with all his former submarine friends and watch this live on the big screen!” Marissa, Activity Director, was able to take him on this trip. “There were several moments during this visit I was able to witness that I will remember forever,” Runge expressed. “One in specific was when the color guard was presenting the flag and the National Anthem began. Mike was in attention and wanted to stand. Mike’s friend and I helped Mike stand up during this time. Halfway through the National Anthem, I could feel Mike becoming weak as his legs were shaky. I whispered to Mike, ‘Mike would you like to sit down and rest?’ Without even thinking, Mike began to sing the National Anthem louder pretending not to hear me! Mike did not sit down until the Anthem was over as he knew what the National Anthem meant to him.”

Dells Nursing and Rehab has many bucket list items in the works. “I don’t want to spill the beans though, as some residents and family members are not informed yet!” Runge said. “Please follow our Facebook page, Dells Nursing and Rehab Center, to see what else we are going to have in store for our residents.”

“I think the biggest change I have noticed is the residents talking about who is going to be the next bucket list person, or what is the next idea going to be! The residents get so excited when they find out who’s bucket list is getting checked off!” Runge expressed. “Especially during the winter months. This has really helped change the culture and helped them break up this long winter time. Change can be hard for many people, but this change has been nothing but pure excitement for all!”

“The biggest thing is if anyone has ideas for the residents of what might be on their bucket list to let us know. Sometimes it can become hard for residents to think of something on their bucket list until someone reminds them of a situation,” Runge answered about needing help from the community. “Of course when we are fulfilling bucket list items, we sometimes reach out for outside help such as the Hip Hop Shop performing the luau for us. Each situation is so different, so it is hard to come up with one idea, but I will be posting on Facebook of any needs we may need during this creative time!”