Alcester Union & Hudsonite Online

The Year in Review
A look at news headlines during 2007
By Paul Buum, Editor/Publisher
January
Kara Hongslo and Hailey Kleinhans were selected to the Tri-Valley All-Conference volleyball team. Hongslo was chosen to the second team, while Kleinhans received honorable mention honors.
Union County State’s Attorney Jerry Miller announced that the State intended to dismiss three charges against Paul Lundberg of Alcester after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the counts. Lundberg was convicted last December on one count of being an Accessory to a Felony for assisting his former girlfriend, Lori Schultz, cover up the killing of their newborn son. Lundberg was convicted of rendering assistance to Schultz by obstructing others.
The 2007 South Dakota legislature focused on education, with two-thirds of lawmakers saying more money was needed for education.
The region got its first taste of winter weather when heavy snow moved into the area, dumping anywhere from 2 to 12 inches of snow in places. Unofficially at the Alcester Union & Hudsonite office, 9.25” of snow fell.
Union County saw a significant rise in reported criminal and civil matters in 2006 compared to 2005. A year-end report from the Union County Sheriff’s office revealed that the number of reported incidents jumped 1,149, an increase of 13% from 2005.
A murder suspect being held in the Union County jail told his cellmate that he killed a Wyoming girl a decade ago. James Strahl, 39, of Dakota City, NE, was arrested in June 2005 in the murder of William O’Hare, 52, of rural Beresford in 1998.
The Alcester-Hudson Lady Cubs volleyball team was named an All-Academic Team by the State of South Dakota. In order to qualify for All-Academic status, the team as a whole must achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
The Alcester-Hudson Cubs wrestling team took First Place at the Lawton-Bronson Invitational, with Nathan Sigman being named the Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament.
February
Union County was named by Progressive Farmer magazine to be one of the Best Places to Live, coming in at number 5 in the national rankings, and number 2 in the Midwest Region. In their 2006 listing, Union County was ranked number 2 overall.
It was announced that Alcester was selected to host a Community Assessment Team visit in March. The state-sponsored program is designed to provide insight and information into creating a strategic plan for growth and development for the community.
Eight Alcester-Hudson Cubs wrestlers advanced to the Region tournament after the team finished third in the District 4B tournament. The eight included Carl Serck, Nathan Sigman, Alex Merrick, Corey Haisch, Kevin Sanford, Darrell Oberg, Jarrod Slaght and Alex Thompson.
A Pancake Feed Benefit was held at the Hudson Fire Station to help the newly-formed Hudson Little Hands Learning and Play Center in Hudson.
A record five Alcester-Hudson wrestlers qualified for the State Wrestling Tournament with their sixth-place finish at the Region 2B meet. Qualifier included Carl Serck, Nathan Sigman, Alex Merrick, Kevin Sanford and Darrell Oberg. Head coach Phil Serck was also named the Region 2B Coach of the Year.
A new law passed unanimously by both the South Dakota House and Senate may allow students from South Dakota and Iowa to attend schools in other states. House Bill 1236 would allow the Department of Education to enter into certain enrollment agreements with the State of Iowa, which could pave the way for Iowa students to attend school in South Dakota, and vice versa.
Alcester-Hudson wrestlers Carl Serck and Nathan Sigman were crowned State Champions in their respective weight classes at the State Wrestling Tournament in Aberdeen. Darrell Oberg finished in 8th Place in the tournament.
Kerwyn Lykken and his mother, Esther Lykken, filed a lawsuit against the State of South Dakota in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls, accusing investigators of doing thousands of dollars worth of damage to their property. The damages allegedly occurred during two searches at the Lykken farm west of Nora in August and November 2004 as investigators searched for clues into the disappearance of two Vermillion teenagers in 1971.
March
Area residents continued to clean up after a major blizzard rolled through the region. Meteorologists considered it to be the first major blizzard since 1999. The three-day snow dumped over eight inches of snow with winds gusting to 40 MPH, making travel nearly impossible. Interstate 29 was closed from Watertown to the Missouri border, and Interstate 90 was closed from Murdo east across Minnesota.
What a difference a week makes. After a major blizzard rolled through the area a week before, temperatures rose to nearly 70 degrees, melting most of the snow, and bringing with it signs of spring.
Gov. Mike Rounds vetoed a bill to give more people a break on their vehicle excise tax, but the South Dakota House and Senate reversed that veto and passed the bill.
Gov. Rounds signed into law Senate Bill 157, an act to revise funding for K-12 education in South Dakota. The bill could result in the closure of two local school districts, the Greater Scott School District, where students attend school in Hawarden, IA, and the Greater Hoyt School District, where students attend school in Akron, IA.
Union County was given a special Commemoration by the South Dakota House of Representatives for being named the fifth best county to live in by The Progressive Farmer magazine.
A group of Union County citizens circulated a petition in order to force a public vote to overturn recent changes to Union County Zoning Ordinances. The changes to the ordinances were approved the month prior by the Union County Commission. Enough signatures were garnered in order to force the issue to a public vote.
A Community Assessment Team was in Alcester holding listening sessions with area residents over a three-day period. The event culminated with a Town Hall meeting and supper.
April
An Arctic blast rolled through the region and stayed for nearly two weeks, dropping temperatures to below normal and bringing with it some light snow. It was noted that the high temperature on Christmas Day, 2006, was higher than it was on Easter Sunday, 2007.
A mobile dental office stopped by the Alcester-Hudson Elementary School to offer free dental care to students. The South Dakota Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a statewide program offering free dental care to underserved children.
An Alcester man was arrested after being accused of killing a buffalo and three dogs near Elk Point. Chris Waterbury, 24, worked as a Union County Sheriff’s office dispatcher and part-time Alcester Police Officer. Also arrested in the incident was Joe West of Akron, IA.
Over a century of history went up in the flames as the former Hudson school building burned. Despite the best efforts of firefighters from a dozen different fire departments, strong winds fanned the flames that eventually consumed the entire structure. Fortunately firefighters and city workers were able to remove all of the class photos hanging on the walls and trophies from the trophy case shortly before the order to evacuate the building was given.
Alcester-Hudson students got an unexpected day off after a break-in at the high school building. The burglars made off with laptop computers, digital cameras and cash out of the school office.
May
Gov. Mike Rounds declared an emergency in eastern South Dakota to help with the response and recovery effort following severe storms and heavy rainfall. An emergency declaration allows the use of state resources to assist communities and counties with the response and recovery effort.
During an awards assembly program at the Alcester-Hudson High School, over $155,000 in scholarships and grants were awarded to students. In addition to scholarships, several other awards and National Honor Society members were announced.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Hudson for the new Hudson Little Hands Learning and Play Center, which is expected to open in June.
Thirty students became Alcester-Hudson Alumni during Commencement Exercises held at the elementary school gym. Of the 30 graduates, fifteen were named to the National Honor Society.
Union County residents soundly rejected the changes to the Union County Zoning Ordinances that were passed recently during a referral election. 68% of those who cast ballots voted to reject the changes. Overall turnout for the election was only 14% of eligible voters.
June
Three people were arrested in Sioux Falls on burglary, possession of stolen property, and drug charges. Authorities believe that the individuals were part of a burglary ring that targeted churches and schools in South Dakota and Iowa, including the Alcester-Hudson High School.
The Alcester Union & Hudsonite claimed five awards at the 2007 Better Newspapers Contest, part of the annual South Dakota Newspaper Association Convention held in Pierre, taking Second Place in the General Excellent category, one of the top awards given.
Burglars struck downtown Alcester businesses, getting away with a substantial amount of cash, jewelry and other items. The Alcester Bar and Alcester Drug were broken into, and it is believed the same individuals attempted to break into the Alcester Steakhouse before the alarm system scared them off.
After months of speculation as to what it is, officials from Hyperion Resources, Inc. of Dallas announced that the so-called “Gorilla Project” near Elk Point will be a state-of-the-art oil refinery. The proposed refinery would be built north of Elk Point in west central Union County.
A Hudson man was killed in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 20 near Galva, IA, east of Sioux City. Michael A. Tabbert, 19, of Hudson, died in the accident when the pickup he was driving crossed the centerline and collided with another pickup pulling a travel trailer.
Hundreds of Alcester and Alcester-Hudson High School alumni converged on the town for the first All-School Reunion held in the community. Events included a pork feed in the city park, school tours, banquet and other events. Over 700 people were registered to attend the event.
July
The Alcester Baptist Church celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special service. The church officially began on April 28, 1907.
An arrest was made in the disappearance of two Vermillion teenage girls in 1971. A Union County Grand Jury handed down an indictment in June against David L. Lykken, 52, formerly of rural Beresford, in the deaths of Cheryl Miller and Pamella Jackson. He is charged with two counts of premeditated murder, two counts of murder while in the commission of a felony, and two counts of murder. He was arrested at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls where he is serving a 227-year sentenced for an unrelated 1990 conviction for rape in kidnapping in Vermillion.
Fire destroyed much of the farm home of David and Marjory Duncan northwest of Alcester. The Alcester Fire Department was called to a report of a house fire, and flames were visible from a distance as firefighters made their way to the scene. The home was declared a complete loss, and no one was injured.
After a tip from a local resident, law enforcement authorities searched the South Pits near Hawarden looking for evidence in the disappearance of two Vermillion teenage girls in 1971. Investigators searched the pits using scuba gear and boats.
Around 40 residents gathered at the Alcester-Hudson Elementary School to listen to a follow-up of the Alcester Community Assessment program. The program was conducted by Karen Burket, Shawn Pritchett and Mike McMahon, who were part of the Community Assessment Team that visited Alcester in March.
August
Local tractor pullers celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Union County Tractor Pull held in Alcester. The event was first held in August, 1967, where, according to newspaper accounts, about 40 entries were divided into four classes, with the event being witnessed by a crowd of 1,200.
Some much-needed rain fell during the week, forcing the postponement of the Union County Fair Tractor Pull. The rain was a welcome sight for everyone, with nearly 2.5 inches coming down overnight and through the morning, after an inch of rain fell a few days before.
At the “Excellence in EMS Banquet”, sponsored by Sanford Medical Center, Intensive Air and Trauma 5, the Hudson Ambulance Service was named the Emergency Service of the Year.
Alcester farmer and Union County Fair Board member Fay Hendricks was honored for his years of service to the Union County Fair. He was also presented with a U.S. flag that flew over the United States Capitol building and a certificate from U.S. Senator Tim Johnson honoring his service and dedication to 4-H and agriculture.
The 2007 South Dakota Report Card that was released showed statewide progress toward the goal of 100% proficiency in math and reading, as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Alcester-Hudson elementary and junior high students scored well above the state average.
September
Trent Neu and Stacy Childress reigned over Homecoming 2007 at Alcester-Hudson, with this year’s theme being God Bless America. Neu and Childress were chosen among candidates Todd Anderson, Corey Haisch, Jade Fickbohm and Kassie Nyreen.
Elk Point city officials agreed to sell the vacant city auditorium to Hyperion Resources, Inc. for $1. Hyperion is considering constructing a new energy center, formerly known as the “Gorilla Project”, north of Elk Point.
The Alcester-Hudson School Board held a special meeting to discuss issues with the quality of work at the Alcester-Hudson elementary school parking lot. The school district and Knife River Construction are at odds over the quality of work, with the school district contending that the workmanship is so poor the lot can not be used.
The Alcester-Hudson Cubs moved to a 3-0 conference football record with a win over the Viborg Vikings, 21-16.
Trial dates in the murder case against David Lykken was set to begin in January. Circuit Court judge Steven Jensen scheduled a motions hearing for January 17 and 18, with the jury trial to begin on March 18, 2008.
Hudson residents voiced their opposition to a proposed ethanol-loading facility next to the Hudson Farmer’s Elevator in downtown Hudson. Residents were concerned about safety issues after truck driver Dennis Lammers were severely burned while transferring fuel at a similar facility at the Farmers Cooperative Society in Sioux Center, IA. Lammers eventually died from his injuries. A proposal was made to construct the facility along the railroad tracks approximately one-half mile south of Hudson.
After months of waiting, the new cell phone tower near Alcester was activated for use. The Alltel Wireless tower will greatly enhance cell phone service in the area.
Two polls conducted in and around Union County both showed support for the proposed Hyperion Energy Center to be constructed north of Elk Point. But because of the difference in the questions asked and the population sampled, poll results vary significantly, making comparisons of the polls difficult.
The Alcester-Hudson Lady Cubs took second place in the Tri-Valley Conference volleyball tournament, falling to Hurley in the championship match.
Recently-retired Alcester-Hudson agriculture teacher Jim Quick is one of three South Dakotans to be presented with an Honorary American FFA Degree during the 80th National FFA Convention to be held in Indianapolis in October.
Juli Van Engen of rural Alcester received the Nursing Award from the South Dakota Health Care Association during their annual Fall Convention held in Sioux Falls. Van Engen is the Director of Nursing at Hudson Health Care, where she has worked for the past 18 years.
October
For nearly a century the Nora Store has been a fixture in the small community of Nora, southwest of Alcester. The former general merchandise store was nominated by the South Dakota Historical Society to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
An early-morning fire caused severe damage to the farm home of Verdell Swanson and his wife, Donna, east of Alcester. The fire destroyed the upper level of the home, and the main level received water and smoke damage. Lightening is believed to have started the fire.
An Alcester woman was killed when she jumped from the cab of a moving semi-trailer truck on I-380 near Cedar Rapids, IA. Lori Clark, 47, formerly of Doon, IA, was riding with driver Larry Post, 53, of Rock Valley, IA, when she suddenly became ill. Post tried to pull the truck over, the Clark jumped from the truck before it stopped and was struck by the trailer.
Reports of corn containing the aflatoxin mold surfaced throughout the region. Producers were warned to check their corn for the mold before delivering it to area grain elevators.
Former part-time Alcester police officer Chris Waterbury was sentenced to 180 days in the Union County jail for shooting a buffalo on the David Staum farm near Richland, and three stray dogs near Elk Point. A seven-year sentence in the South Dakota Penitentiary was suspended. Waterbury was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines in addition to $750 to Staum and various other court costs.
Alcester businessman Jim Scott received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleaning Equipment Trade Association during their annual convention and trade show. Scott has worked in the industry for 45 years and currently serves as Marketing Manager for Alkota Cleaning Systems in Alcester.
November
After months of waiting the Alcester Fire Department put a new fire truck into service. The new pumper truck replaces a 1983 model that was sold to Heiman Fire Equipment.
The Hudson Economic Development Board announced that they are in the process of putting up a new spec home in Hudson. The Governor’s House program home was expected to be ready by late November or early December.
A group supporting the proposed oil refinery in Union County held their first meeting in Elk Point. The group known as Citizens for Hyperion are people who support the proposed refinery.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s office asked for the public’s help to find those responsible in a number of vandalism cases. Several pieces of farm and construction equipment had windows damaged or destroyed by a pellet gun.
An agreement was reached by the Alcester-Hudson School District in Knife River Construction concerning the parking lot at the elementary school. Knife River officials said they would be unable to complete the project this year and would put down a temporary gravel surface through the winter before completing the project in the spring.
Seven Alcester-Hudson football players and three volleyball players were named to Tri-Valley All-Conference teams. Football players included Carl Serck, Dominic Osterloh, Trent Neu, Alex Merrick and Alex Thompson. Honorable mention honors went to Kevin Sanford and Eric Tabbert. Mallory Schempp and Andrea Jansen were named to the All-Conference team, while Megan Wood was named honorable mention.
Alcester-Hudson wrestlers began practice in their own training facility for the first time in school history. The wrestling/therapy room, part of the recent addition to the elementary school, is the first facility dedicated to wrestling practice since the program began in the early 1970s.
A South Sioux City, NE, man was sentenced in Union County Circuit Court to 7 years in the South Dakota Penitentiary for Possession of Child Pornography. Bruce E. Kelly was arrested after child pornography was found on his workstation computer at Aladdin Industries in Elk Point.
December
Officials from Hyperion Resources announced that they will ask Union County voters to decide on the fate of the proposed oil refinery and energy center in the county. Hyperion officials asked the Union County Commission to rezone more than 10,000 acrse of land from agricultural to planned development for the construction of an $8 oil refinery.
Hudson Health Care celebrated their 35th anniversary with a public open house. The formal dedication and ribbon cutting for the facility, formerly known as Colonial Manor, was held December 3, 1972.
Hundreds of area residents attended three informational forums hosted by Hyperion Energy on their proposed energy center in Union County. The open house events were held in Beresford, Elk Point and McCook Lake.
A mountain lion was shot and killed on a farm near Howard in Miner County after farm dogs cornered the lion under a granary. The cat was in a defensive mode and had slightly injured one of the dogs before the farmer shot it. The female lion weighed approximately 70 lbs. and was 6 feet from nose to tail.
Students at the Alcester-Hudson Elementary School learned a lesson in giving by rounding up loose change and offering it to help bring soldiers from Batter B of the South Dakota National Guard home for the holidays. The unit is in training at Camp Shelby, MS, before their year-long deployment to Iraq. The students, along with other donations, raised over $1,200 to help pay for a chartered Boeing 727 to bring the troops home.

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