8 Broadcaster Press January 23, 2018 www.broadcasteronline.com One South Dakotan’s Purple Heart Story, 73 Years Overdue By Sen. Mike Rounds One of the important services that our Senate office provides to South Dakotans is assistance in dealing with federal agencies. Over the past three years that I’ve been in office, we have helped countless South Dakotans navigate the bureaucracy of the federal government. With such a large population of veterans living in our state, we often work with different agencies on behalf of veterans. In some cases, we’re able to assist veterans in receiving overdue ribbons and commendations that have been lost in federal paperwork. We recently had the honor of helping a veteran from Flandreau receive a long overdue Purple Heart Medal. Sylvan Vigness honorably served his country in World War II. On April 1, 1945, Mr. Vigness was serving onboard the U.S.S. Hinsdale when it was hit by a kamikaze during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Mr. Vigness lost sight in his left eye after the attack, and is permanently blind in that eye as a result. Amid the chaos of the attack, the medical records onboard the ship from that day were lost or destroyed, and because of that, Mr. Vigness was denied the Purple Heart for decades. The Vigness family has spent the past 25 years seeking a Purple Heart for Mr. Vigness, working with my predecessors in the Senate to obtain this long overdue medal. The request was continuously denied because the Navy was unable to locate his medical records from the time of the attack. When the Vigness family contacted our office to look into obtaining the Purple Heart, we began putting together witness statements from his shipmates, along with other materials related to his service and subsequent eye injury. We then sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, requesting the medal for Mr. Vigness, and I had an opportunity to speak directly to the Secretary about it at the Pentagon. On January 17, 2018, Secretary Spencer notified my office that at his request, under the direction of the president, Mr. Vigness, now aged 94, will finally receive the Purple Heart. Mr. Vigness is a hero who bravely defended his country in World War II, and is fully deserving of the Purple Heart Medal. We’re thankful to him for his service, and we’re thankful to his family and friends for not giving up on seeking this recognition for him. Like Mr. Vigness, the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States make incredible sacrifices to defend our freedoms and our way of life. I’m extremely grateful for the president’s personal interest in directing that special attention be paid to getting veterans their overdue medals, as well as for Secretary Spencer, who personally reviewed Mr. Vigness’ medical records and personal statement and awarded him the Purple Heart. If there are other veterans and families in South Dakota who are seeking to obtain a medal or award, please reach out to our office and if we can, we’ll try to help with that effort. Call or stop in to our Pierre, Rapid City or Sioux Falls offices any time. Location information and phone numbers can be found on our website, www.rounds.senate.gov. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation Accepting Applications For Scholarship Program Members of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation invite students throughout South Dakota to apply for their scholarship program. In 2016, a scholarship program was established by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation.The South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation was formed to support the long-term viability of the South Dakota beef Industry by promoting the nutritional benefits of beef consumption and value of modern production. This scholarship aims to identify and reward students who are interested in the improvement of beef production and promotion. Scholarships of $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 will be awarded to five students from South Dakota enrolled in any post-secondary institution in South Dakota. The online scholarship application can be found at http:// SDCFScholarships.com Deadline to apply is Sunday, April 1, 2018. The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation joined forces with Feeding South Dakota in May 2013 to create a signature event, Prime Time Gala & Concert, that raises critical funds for their mission by providing more beef to food insecure families throughout the state. Funds also raised from the Prime Time Gala & Concert support the scholarship program that provides $15,000 in funding to students throughout South Dakota. Since hosting the first event in June 2014, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation has raised over $737,508 for Feeding South Dakota. The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation will host its fifth annual Prime Time Gala & Concert on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center with a country music concert to follow at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Sustaining the Legacy Farm Transition Planning Programs BROOKINGS, S.D. - Passing the family farm or ranch operation on to the next generation is the focus of SDSU Extension's Sustaining the Legacy programs held in Sioux Falls and Pierre. The Sioux Falls event will be held February 1, 8 and 15 and the Pierre event will be held February 13, 20 and 27. "Bringing the next generation back to the family farm or ranch is important to many South Dakota families," said Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. "Before that decision is made, there are many intentional conversations and plans that need to be covered." Topics will include the following: •Wages and salary compensation; •Policy creation; Creating a business structure; •How life insurance, trusts and other tools can aid with the transition; •New tax laws, and other details related to passing an agriculture operation to the next generation. "We hope all members of the family involved in the operation will be able to attend these sessions together," Gessner said. "This not only ensures all family members hear the same information, but also generates questions and conversation that benefits all attendees at the conference. It is our hope, that this program spurs transition plan development," Gessner said. Sioux Falls, Sustaining the Legacy program will be held Feb. 1, 8 and 15 at the SDSU Extension Regional Extension Center (2001 E. 8th Street). Registration is due Jan. 29. Pierre, Sustaining the Legacy Program will be held Feb. 13, 20 and 27 at the SDSU Extension Regional Center (412 W. Missouri Ave). Registration deadline is Feb. 7. Both programs will run each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch and breaks provided. Participants are expected to attend all three sessions. To help cover expenses registration for the event is $100 and includes up to five family members. To register, mail a check for $100 to SDSU Extension, Attn. Heather Gessner, 2001 E. 8th Street, Sioux Falls SD, 57103. Include the names and contact information for all attendees. For more information, contact Gessner at 605.782.3290 or by email. Auctions Land & Property • Antiques • Consignments • Farm • Auto & more... Upcoming Auctions Tourism Industry Posts Gains In 2017 Industry Attains Eight Straight Years Of Growth ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE ESTATE AUCTION Saturday, January 27, 2018 Located: Skylon Ballroom - 320 S. Robinson St. - Hartington, NE AUCTION Starts @ 10:00 AM LUNCH AVAILABLE AUCTIONEERS’ NOTE: Here is another great line up of nice collectibles from an estate that we continue to liquidate. This listing is only a highlight of the great items to be sold. We will also have an offering of several small collectibles from display cases that will be sold in a separate auction ring, so plan accordingly for the second ring. Visit our Web Site www.CHJAUCTIONEERS. COM for many photos. For weather updates call 402-254-9753. ADV. CLOCKS: International Harvester Adv. Clock. 7up Advertising Clock. Schmidt Beer Adv. Clock. Coca Cola Adv. Clock. Dr. Pepper Adv. Clock. Roberts Milk Adv. Clock. INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER ADV. ITEMS: Large Metal IH Advertising Sign. IHC Adv. Match Books. IHC Tractor Radio & Tool Box. Some Misc. NOS Tractor Parts—Pistons Etc.. VINTAGE TOYS: IHC 806 Pedal Tractor w/Cart. Toy Airplanes. Tonka Motor Transport Truck. Toy Jeeps & Tonka Toys. Structo Livestock Truck. Structo Express Semi Truck & Trailer. Lazy Day Farm Livestock Straight Truck. Go Gambles Semi & Trailer. IHC Farm Toys—NIB—986 & 1468. Train Set & Fischer Price Toys. Plus other Toys of all Types. STONEWARE ROLLING PIN: “Mills Grocery Dept.—Stoneware Adv. Rolling Pin. ADV. SIGNS: Coca Cola Button Sign. Budweiser Spuds Mackenzie Light Up Dog Bar Light. Lighted Budweiser Sign. Bud Light Lighted Sign. COLLECTIBLE BICYCLES: Vintage Schwinn Bicycle. Coast to Coast Bicycle. Firestone Cruiser . Coaster Wagon. COLLECTIBLES: Oak Slant Front Table Top Display Case 20”x25”x90”. Globe Wernicke Co.—4 Section Stackable Bookcase. Columbia California Floor Model Victrola. Primitive Sugar Cane Cutter ?? - Very Unique Item. Coca Cola Adv. Card Table w/4 Metal Folding Chairs. Coca Cola Umbrella—from 1984 Olympics. Brass Candle Stick Phone. Western Electric Oak Wall Telephone. Pig & Chicken Direction Arrows. Short Tail Horse Windmill Weight. Hand Operated Printing Press. Shoe Shine Box. Vintage License Plates. Cigar Boxes. Primitive Yard Gate. Montgomery Wards Table Top Cream Separator. Fallstaff Cardboard Adv. Beer Box. Keen Kutter “Reel Type” Lawn Mower. Pitcher Pump & Well Pump. Coca Cola Cookie Jar. Adv. Tire Ash Trays. Old Spark Plugs. 3 Gal. Brown Beehive Crock Jug. Nu-Way Potato Peeler w/Sales Manual. Ford & IHC Oil Cans. Mobil & Coop Motor Oil 5 Gallon Cans. Wicker Baby Buggy. Many Vintage Games. Contemporary Mechanical Banks. Winchester Decanters. Aladdin Corinthian Clear Bowl Green Base Lamp. Aladdin Washington Drape Clear Bowl Lamp. Hurricane Lamp, Plus Several Other Kerosene Lamps. Old Dolls, & Quilts. Many Nice Old Prints.. Several Collectible Hand Bells. Several Tea Pots. Roseville Pottery Pieces. Hull Pottery Pieces. Weller Candle Sticks. Prayer Ladies & Head Vases. Texas Ware Bowls. Redwing Spongeware Bowl. Wausa, Osmond & Norfolk Advertising Pieces. Cloth Flour Sacks. Cast Iron Tea Pot. Vintage Lunch Pails. Glass Butter Churn. Milk Bottles. Adv. Coffee Tins & Spice Tins. Wooden Sleds, Pop Cases, Nail Kegs & Rug Beaters. Plus Many More Miscellaneous Items too numerous to mention. Terms of Auction: Cash or Bankable Check - not responsible for accidents or theft. For more information & many photos visit our web site: WWW.CHJAUCTIONEERS.COM AUCTION CONDUCTED BY: Creamer Heimes Janssen Auctioneers & Appraisers L.L.C. AUCTIONEERS: Ryan Creamer 402-254-9753 Alton Heimes 402-254-3315 Roger Janssen 402-388-4409 PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota tourism industry has once again posted an increase in visitation, visitor spending, and overall impact on the state’s economy in 2017. This marks eight straight years of economic growth. According to a new study by Tourism Economics, visitor spending reached $3.9 billion in 2017, an increase of 1.2 percent from 2016. This contributed $2.6 billion in GDP to South Dakota’s economy, up 3.2 percent from 2016. These dollars flow through the South Dakota economy, supporting more than 53,900 jobs and generating more than $290 million in state and local tax revenue. Visitation to South Dakota remained steady at 13.9 million visitors, an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous year. “The tourism industry continues to be an incredibly important and vital part of the South Dakota economy,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “Along with other industries, the tourism industry felt the indirect effects of a struggling agriculture economy across the Midwest and the decreased discretionary income of households in the region. But despite that, as it always does, this industry demonstrated great perseverance and we couldn’t be happier about our growth in 2017. Our targeted marketing efforts and continued media coverage, combined with the marketing work of our partners across the state, paid off for the entire industry,” continued Hagen. The tourism industry faced the challenge of topping numbers after two consecutive years of major anniversaries in the state that drew large numbers of visitors. 2015 marked the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the 50th anniversary of the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. 2016 was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. “We knew sustaining growth following two years of major anniversaries wasn’t going to be easy,” noted Hagen. “It’s extremely rewarding to see that our marketing tactics paid off and that South Dakota continues to be a major lure for visitors from across the world.” 2017 economic impact stats (percentages show increases from 2016)*: •13.9 million – number of visitors that came to South Dakota, an increase of 0.1 percent •$3.88 billion – amount of visitor spending, an increase of 1.2 percent •$2.6 billion – amount of GDP contributed to the state’s economy, an increase of 3.2 percent •$291 million – state and local tax dollars generated by travel and tourism activity, an increase of $12 million •$871 – the amount of tax dollars each South Dakota household saves because of the tourism industry •53,894 – number of jobs sustained by the tourism industry, an increase of 1.2 percent Additional 2017 travel indicators: •60 percent – average hotel occupancy for the year •5.1 million – number of visitors to South Dakota’s national parks •57,000 - additional visitors to South Dakota’s state parks in 2016, which brought in $700,000 in additional revenue •$63.7 million – amount of advertising value earned through domestic and international public relations efforts in calendar year 2017, an increase of $37 million over 2016 •5.6 billion – number of impressions earned through domestic and international public relations efforts in calendar year 2017 To view the full Tourism Economics report, visit www.SDVisit.com.