8 Broadcaster Press January 31, 2017 www.broadcasteronline.com versity and we worked really hard. We wanted to reach one million and one minutes. We did it.”Also at the assembly Tuesday top readers were recognized along with other students who had completed special achievements.Charlie Coyote appeared as a special guest to applaud the kids on reaching their goal. According to Galvin, the top Jolley reader read 16,345 minutes alone, which would equal 11 days. Several other top readers were recognized who each read over 10,000 minutes.Grade totals were also tallied with second grade reading approximately 218,000 minutes, third grade 161,000 minutes, fourth grade 218,000 minutes and fifth grade 260,000 minutes. The ‘Miss Read-A’s and ‘Mr. Write’ of the school congratulated their fellow students on the achievement.“You guys did a great job in the reading challenge,” said one. “I think you all have a great future. You are all great readers. Good job.” Seekamp Named Player Of The Year, Williams Coach Of The Year South Dakota senior guard Nicole Seekamp was voted the Summit League Player of the Year, head coach Amy Williams was named Coach of the Year and junior guard Caitlin Duffy was named Transfer of the Year as the Summit League announced its women’s basketball postseason awards on Thursday. Senior guard Tia Hemiller earned second-team honors and senior guard Kelly Stewart was honorable mention. Awards were decided on by vote from members of the media in addition to the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. First Graders Celebrate Dr. Seuss With Green Eggs And Ham First-graders at Austin Elementary in Vermillion were treated to a special breakfast last Friday as a tribute to both reading and a classic children’s author.With the annual Read Across America and Dr. Seuss’ birthday, many schools across the nation take the opportunity to celebrate.The Austin students enjoyed the day thanks to the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation for the second time last week.“It was an idea to celebrate ‘Read Across America’ week and Dr. Seuss’ birthday,” said Jim Peterson. “So to celebrate that, we fund a book for every kid and a hat for every kid to celebrate Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America.”The Public Schools Foundation partnered with the library, the Rotary Club of Vermillion and other organizations to make the day special for the kids.“Rotary Club of Vermillion underwrites the book and Mr. Smith’s gives us a very good deal on Green Eggs and Ham,” Peterson said. Children’s librarian, Beth Knedler read Dr. Seuss’ most recent book, ‘What pet should I get?’, to the Austin students as they enjoyed their green eggs and ham.“After he passed away his wife and secretary were looking through his studio and they found a bunch of artwork and some words to it and they decided to put it into book form,” she said. “This was published in 2013 so he never got to see it. It’s got a great ending.” VCDC Banquet Honors Successful 2015 How do you cap off a record setting year? You have a record setting banquet to celebrate the success.That is just what the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) did on Tuesday night. The VCDC’s annual banquet was held at the Old Lumber Company in downtown Vermillion and more than 350 people attended the event to celebrate the record business growth in the 2015.“We have had our best year in more than 10 years,” said outgoing VCDC board president Jim Brady. “This is a great year to celebrate.”During the evening many people took to the stage to say what the year has been and to present awards to those who have gone above and beyond. “We have the brick awards that are given to any chamber member that has made an investment in their business – a renovation, a façade improvement, an addition – anything that has improved their structure,” said VCDC executive director Nate Welch. “This year we have seven of those.” This year’s brick winners included: Café Brule, Polaris, The Vermillion School District, Burger King, Midwest Ready Mix, Cedar County Veterinarian and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Paradise Fears Taking Its Music Countrywide What started with talent show performances at Vermillion High School (VHS) has turned into opening acts for Andy Grammar, Alex and Sierra, All Time Low and Summer Set, for Paradise Fears, a band made up of six VHS graduates.“There are six of us in the band and all six of us went to school at VHS,” said Sam Miller, the lead singer of Paradise Fears. “The student council would have all these talents shows and there were usually a pretty limited number of people trying to perform at these talent shows, so we ended up having to all collectively perform, like, a hundred different times during each talent show.”A hundred performances at each talent show might be an exaggeration, but the number was high enough for Miller, Jordan Merrigan, Cole Andre, Michael Walker, Lucas Zimmerman and Marcus Sand to discover they all truly enjoyed making music together. They began recording music while still in high school and the alternative rock band Paradise Fears was born.“We really loved this band called The Spill Canvas that was from Sioux Falls and they went off and made their way in the world,” Miller said. “We just started listening to alternative bands and what you listen to comes to define what you make.“We started doing this thing where we would follow other tours and we would basically go and talk to people who were in line before the shows and we would play them 19 April Vermillion Businessman Laces Up For DSU Baseball A college baseball player at age 42?Why not, thought Jay Thaler. Why not give it a try, thought the Vermillion native who is – seriously – listed as a freshman catcher on the Dakota State University baseball roster. “It wasn’t my idea, or even my intention,” Thaler said, smiling, before a Tuesday doubleheader against Mount Marty College in Yankton. “I didn’t plan this at all.” No, it took some prodding from his friends on the Dakota State coaching staff. And some paperwork.Thaler, who works fulltime as a banker in Vermillion and has been a fixture on the area amateur baseball scene, received a text before the season from DSU assistant coach Eric Hortness. The question was asked, ‘How much eligibility do you have left?’ It wasn’t a joke, as Thaler found out when he received another message: ‘No, I’m serious.’ No, the Trojans needed a second catcher. And fast. After some backand-forth with the registrar’s office at the University of South Dakota – where Thaler studied as an undergrad two decades ago – and Dakota State, Thaler received his answer: If he enrolled at DSU, he could play. University of South Dakota athletic director David Herbster has announced the hiring of Dawn Plitzuweit as the 10th women’s basketball head coach in program history.¬ Plitzuweit (PLITTS-zoowhite) will be formally introduced at a press conference on Monday, April 25, at 11 a.m. in the Muenster University Center pit lounge on the USD campus. Herbster and Plitzuweit will not be available for comment until that time. Plitzuweit has compiled a 188-93 record for a winning percentage of .669 in nine years as a head coach. She has guided programs to 19 winning seasons in 21 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels including 10 NCAA tournament appearances. As a head coach, Plitzuweit led her teams to eight postseason appearances highlighted by a 2006 NCAA Division II Championship at Grand Valley State. She also guided Northern Kentucky through the NCAA Division I transition with four consecutive WBI berths. Plitzuweit began her coaching career at her alma mater, Michigan Tech, under her collegiate coach, Kevin Borseth, in 1995. The pair teamed up for 11 seasons with stops at Michigan Tech, Green Bay and Michigan. Kim Johnson, Austin Elementary principal was recently honored with a nomination for the South Dakota Association of Elementary School Principals (SDAESP) Distinguished Principal of the year – one of just four principals nominated in the state.Part of the National Distinguished Principals (NDP) program, the award was established to recognize elementary and middle level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staffs in their learning communities. “I was surprised to be nominated,” Johnson said. “I still feel like a rookie in so many ways. I am still learning new things every day. I have had so many mentors and colleagues who have helped me along the way that I still feel I am learning. I have been a principal for six years, but have been in the Vermillion School District for almost 20 years.” Backyard Chicken Ordinance Tabled The backyard chicken ordinance that, for the past several months, has been center stage at several Vermillion City Council meetings has been tabled indefinitely. During a public meeting held Monday night, the Council continued to talk backyard chickens, this time taking public testimony – all of it in favor of the ordinance. The reasons in favor of the ordinance ranged from teaching children responsibility, to medical necessity of control over a food source, yet in the end it was clear the members of the Council Mock Crash Shows The Dangers Of Drinking And Driving “A somber event meant to teach our students the impact drinking and driving can have.”Those words summed up the Vermil- Sales • Service • Parts 5 W Main Street, Vermillion • 605-624-7491 20 Plitzuweit Named USD Women’s Basketball Coach Johnson Honored As One Of Top Principals In The State Big city selection...Small Town Service YEARS IN BUSINESS lion High School (VHS) Operation Prom Night – a mock accident that was staged outside the high school on Wednesday. The mock accident involved two vehicles of VHS students who are celebrating prom and are involved in a T-bone accident. The student body of the school filed out to bleachers set up along the mock accident site to see the two cars and six of their classmates in full theatrical makeup simulating the moments after an accident. In one car, four students were injured, with one of them semi-ejected from the vehicle and two females in the back seat unable to exit the vehicle. In the other car were two males who, upon exiting their vehicle, were found to have been drinking and driving. From there, the event played out as if it were an actual accident scene. First responders called in the accident and the Vermillion Fire Department, Vermillion EMS, Clay County Sheriffs, Vermillion Police Department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Sanford Helicopter, Clay County coroner and a funeral home hearse were all involved at one point or another. our music and tell them about our band,” Miller said. A majority of the band graduated from VHS in 2010 and after a short time of following tours, one of those bands invited the six of them to open during the tour. For a few years out of high school, the band spent a majority of time touring. Hours: Mon - Fri: 9-5, Sat: 10-1, nights and weekends by appointment KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, Amana YEARS IN BUSINESS 605-624-4200 | 1997 Polaris Parkway | Vermillion, SD 22 Jensen “Take out always available on regular menu” 11 West Main Street, Vermillion, SD Call 624-7670 YEARS IN BUSINESS AUTO BODY 24 Jensen Auto Body YEARS IN BUSINESS massage 24 for YEARS IN BUSINESS 27 YEARS IN BUSINESS HEALTH Give the gift of health. 301 West Main Street 605-624-2481 Vermillion, SD 57069 Open Monday thru Friday 216 West Main Street Vermillion, SD For appointments, call 624-6732 www.loismassages.com Troy Gregoire (605)624-5585 www.qualitymotor.com 401 W. 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Those opposed to the ordinance commented that chickens were not pets, that they had heard nothing but opposition from their wards and that people in the community were worried about noise and smell issues. “It was clear that we didn’t have the votes needed to get it passed,” said council member Kelsey Collier-Wise, who had been vocal of being in favor of the ordinance. “It was better to have the ordinance tabled for now, so we can do education in the community and maybe at some point bring it back to the Council for more discussion and a vote than have it voted down at this point.” Collier-Wise said she raised the idea of tabling the proposed ordinance rather than seeing it voted down, fearing that if it were voted down, it would not be brought up in the future, unless it was referred to a vote by the public. “I just think we have a well written ordinance that is very strict on what it does and doesn’t allow and I worry that if it were brought to an initiated measure vote, the restrictions and controls we have in place would not be there,” she said. “It was better to table it and work on education in the community than face that situation.” New VMS Principal Named The Vermillion School Board had a special visitor at Monday’s meeting. “It’s my pleasure to introduce the new middle school principal Tim Koehler,” Superintendent Mark Froke said. “Tim is a University of South Dakota graduate with degrees in elementary education and school administration. He recently retired as a major of the national guard, having a number of tours overseas. He has a great background in education. He’s been a middle school teacher. I’d like to note that he has a lot of background in all of the instructional areas. He’s certified in all the instructional areas. He has been a principal at Hartington, Beresford and now at Harrisburg. So a great deal of experience in the administration ranks.” Koehler was also awarded the 2013 Middle School Principal of the Year award for the state of South Dakota. Koehler has many memories tied to Vermillion, including former students. “Sometimes I think i’m still pretty young and then a student walks in and sits down beside you that you taught when you were first teaching,” he said. “She’s now a coach and a teacher here. Then you remember how old you are. I am very happy and excited to be a part of this school district.” The Death Of A ‘Soldier’s Soldier’ While news of a shooting at the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas made the news Friday, it wasn’t until Saturday that the names of the victims were released and the Vermillion community realized that one of the dead was one of its own. Lt. Col. William A. Schroeder, a 1995 graduate of Vermillion High School, the commander of the 342nd Training Squadron at the 37th Training Wing at Lackland, and Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, a para-rescue student at the 342nd, were found dead by first responders, the 502nd Air Base Wing at Lackland said in a release Saturday. Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Nugent said that Schroeder was killed in Forbes Hall by a “disgruntled” technical sergeant facing a disciplinary hearing. Nugent said Schroeder “went out swinging” at the time of his death. Nugent, who is the commandant of the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) schoolhouse at Forbes Hall, did not return messages or an email. He announced Schroeder’s death to a TACP group on Facebook, telling them he wanted to “share the news on the loss of a great leader, officer, (Special Operations Weather Team) and friend. May Construction Of New Prentis Park Pool Officially Begins It took four years, but the first shovels of dirt have been turned for the new Prentis Park pool. Vermillion City Manager John Prescott told the Plain Talk one group of young residents has grown up with the idea of a new swimming pool. “At the start, we asked all of the students who were sixth graders at Vermillion Middle School what they wanted to see in a pool. We thought that would be a good group to ask for ideas,” he said. “Now, those students are finishing their sophomore year at Vermillion High School. So, it’s been more than four years.” City officials held the official groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the site. The planned $5.25 million in park improvements includes $4 million for the pool. The new amenities include a lazy river, water slides, a basketball hoop, a one-meter diving tower, shade structures and a zero-depth entry, water features, benches and shade. As part of the bond issue, other park improvements include new basketball courts, new bathroom facilities at the baseball field and additional parking. This summer season, the current 50-plusyear old pool will open May 26, weather permitting, and close approximately July 30, Vermillion Mayor Jack Powell told the Plain Talk. The new pool is scheduled to open around Memorial Day 2017. “We’ll be closed about one month early this year,” Powell said. “It was really important to us that the pool stay open as long as possible. We didn’t want people to lose a complete swimming season.” County Hears ICAP Plan For Potential Community Rec. Center At the Clay County Commissioner’s meeting Tuesday morning, chairman Travis Mockler brought up an idea floating around the Integrated Community Action Partnership (ICAP). The idea would be to build a new community recreation center for Vermillion. The ICAP is a new organization and brought the new Vermillion welcome signs as the first project. Mockler and Commissioner Phyllis Packard are part of the ICAP committee, which is “looking into” the new community rec center. “It’s something we’ve been lacking,” Packard said. Commissioner Leo Powell agreed with the statement and motioned to use part of the county’s contingency fund towards building the center. The rec center would cost an estimated total of $15,000 and Powell proposed using $2,000 from the county. The End Of The Race: Hundreds Pay Tribute To Colette Abbott As hundreds of mourners made their way to Aalfs Auditorium on the campus of the University of South Dakota Monday to honor the late Colette Abbott, it was clear that Mrs. Abbott had touched many lives. Abbott, the wife of USD President Jim Abbott, died suddenly last Wednesday. She was 59. On Monday, mourners included dignitaries, government officials, colleagues, friends and family. And throughout the day, they shared stories and memories to honor Colette. However, the words of Abbott’s daughter, Sara Agne, provided the perfect tribute to the First Lady of USD. Class of 2016 Celebrates Graduation, Successes The Vermillion High School seniors received their diplomas at the graduation ceremony held Saturday afternoon inside the DakotaDome marking the end of their time in the Vermillion School District. However, as most of the speakers pointed out, the day really marked the beginning of the rest of their lives. The 68 students graduating Saturday received their diplomas after reminiscing with fellow classmate speakers Joe Miller, Anna Hackemer, Sowmya Ragothaman and Erika Moen about the their time together over the past 13 years. It was pointed out that graduations are not only about looking back, but also looking forward. “Today isn’t about the learning you have done,” said guest speaker Pastor Steve Miller. “We’re here to celebrate the learning you are going to do.” Miller asked the graduates to think about the most important things they had learned over the year in Vermillion schools. Maybe not just one thing, but possibly a collection of things. “I know you think the thinking is over, but I’m going to make you think a little more,” he said. Miller continued to say that learning is about being responsible and when someone learns something, it is because they decided to take responsibility, because sometimes learning isn’t about success. “We think about (learning) in success, but sometimes we learn best from our failures,” Miller said. He told a story from Greek Mythology where a man is rolling a rock up a hill and just when he is about to reach the top, the boulder would roll down the hill forcing him to start over again. Miller said the man didn’t look at the boulder rolling down the hill as a failure, but rather a new beginning and he encouraged the graduates to do the same. The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival Preparations In Full Swing Actors for the 2016 South Dakota Shakespeare Festival arrived last week from cities and states around the country including New York City, Minneapolis, and Missouri, to begin rehearsals for the June production of The Winter’s Tale. Nine visiting actors hired from highly competitive national markets, combined with four actors from USD’s Theatre program, and one young apprentice, comprise the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 Acting Company. This summer, the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival is proud to present Shakespeare’s late Romance, The Winter’s Tale, June 9th-12th, in Vermillion’s beautiful Prentis Park. Now in their fifth season, the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival invites audiences to take a break from the summer heat and travel to the far off lands of Sicilia and Bohemia, to a time long gone by. Here you will encounter a magical world where Time heals all wounds, and even the gravest of errors is not beyond redemption. The Winter’s Tale, a late Shakespeare play, combines elements of classical tragedy, pastoral comedy, and giddy romance, and is sure to transport and delight as it celebrates the folly, resilience and redemptive nature of the human spirit!