January 1, 2019 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Santa and a Christmas Wish Cultural Heritage Center Program To Focus On Critical Role Of Early Churches In South Dakota History PIERRE, S.D. – The importance of early churches in the history of South Dakota will be highlighted in a program at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre at 7 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Everyone is welcome to attend the free program. “Early churches in South Dakota were more than a place of worship. They brought people together and became gathering points in times of celebration or crisis,” said Catherine Forsch, president of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation. The foundation and the South Dakota Historical Society Press are sponsoring the program as part of the History and Heritage Book Club. The program draws on the book “Early Churches in South Dakota” by Robert W. Sebesta, published in the summer of 2018 by the South Dakota Historical Society Press. The book features photographs and short histories of some churches from each decade from the 1870s to the 1920s, with additional photographs of the more than 650 churches built before 1930 in South Dakota. Guest speakers will be Brad Tennant, professor of history at Presentation College in Aberdeen, and Liz Almlie, historic preser- By Daris Howard It was Herb who kicked things off at the world dilemma think tank at the philosophy counter in the Mule Barn truck stop. Herb is like Nature itself. He abhors a vacuum, too. “Well,” Herb said, “it’s about that time again.” Three heads swiveled to look at him. “New Year’s resolutions … you know.” Three nods. “So Herb, what are your new resolves for the next year?” “Glad you asked, Dud. I thought I might lose 15 pounds, take sailing lessons and come up with a good recipe for beef kidneys. How about you, Dud?” Dud took a sip of coffee. “Going to finish the rewrite of my book, I guess.” “The Duchess and the Truck Driver?” asked Doc. “Well, Doc, it’s actual title is ‘Murder in the Soggy Bottoms.’” Dud’s struggle with the plot of this novel is well known to most of us in town. Steve said, “For me, I think I’ll lose some weight, too, and paint the inside walls of the turret up at the cabin.” “What color, Steve?” “Burnt orange. You know, something like sunset in winter when the leaves are gone and the trees stand like lacy filigree against the sky.” “Boys, I think we have a poet amonst us,” said Doc. “Aw Doc, come on,” Steve said. “What about your resolutions for the coming year?” Doc thought a minute. “Fair enough. I have some. In the coming year, I resolve to grow grapes and make some wine for my friends. Then I believe I’ll put in a big effort to catch Ol’ Lunker on a fly down in Lewis Creek. If I have the time, I’ll try to keep my patients healthy, and I’ll top it off with making a concerted effort to locate Chipper.” “Your imaginary squirrel?” “Yep.” “But Doc,” Herb said, “you already do those things now. Did you realize that?” “Sure,” Doc grinned. “Really makes it easy to keep a resolution that way.” vation specialist with the South Dakota State Historical Society. Tennant will focus on ethnic influences and early churches in South Dakota, while Almlie will discuss common church architecture as covered in her essay for “Early Churches in South Dakota.” “During the early settlement of Dakota Territory and South Dakota, it became common for immigrants to settle near others who shared the same bonds of language, customs and religion,” Tennant said. “Consequently, churches played an increasingly significant role in South Dakota’s emerging towns and rural communities. Upon the construction of the local church, community members not only had a place of worship, but the church also stood as a center for many social events. In short, the local church often reflected the ethnic identity of its local congregants and served as a means of preserving their cultural heritage.” Copies of “Early Churches in South Dakota” are available at the Heritage Stores at the Cultural Heritage Center and the Capitol. Please call 605-773-6006 for more information about the program or how to join the program remotely. MV Shopper CLASSIFIEDS M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y IN PRINT & ONLINE To place your ad call... 605.665.5884 Noem Announces Another Wave Of Staff Hires PIERRE, S.D. – Governorelect Kristi Noem has announced another wave of governor’s office staff hires. The following people will begin serving on January 5, 2019. Senior Advisor Tony Venhuizen will serve the Noem administration as senior advisor. Venhuizen, an Armour native, currently serves as chief of staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard and has been the liaison between the Daugaard administration and Noem transition team. He will be staying with the Governor’s Office into the spring to ensure a seamless leadership transition. Policy Advisor Melissa Klemann will serve the Noem administration as policy advisor. Klemann is the deputy of director for the Department of Labor and Regulation’s Division of Insurance and was previously an analyst for Wells Fargo. Constituent Services Director Jake Monssen will serve the Noem administration as constituent services director. Monssen, a Sioux Falls resident, currently serves as a constituent services representative for Noem’s congressional office where he specializes in Social Security and Medicare casework. Deputy Policy Advisor Bailey Carlsen will serve the Noem administration as deputy policy advisor. Carlsen, previously of Aberdeen, has operated as communications director and director of constituent services for the Daugaard administration. Executive Assistant Neha Patel will serve as Save 10¢ Off A Gallon Of Gas When You Use Your Sinclair Card Prices Best n Town! I Tanqueray Gin.. $ 39 Jim Beam Bourb .99 1.75 ML on...$27.99 1.75 ML Pendleton Whis $ key.. 44.99 1.75 ML Johnny Walker R ed Label Scotch $ 43.99 1.75 ML Smirnoff Vodka 17.99 1.75 ML ALL FLAV ORS $ Cork N Bottle 1500 Broadway, 665-3881 We’ll Match All Local Advertising Prices! See Us W M Onlineret’llingatch All @ Local Adve is Prices! www.moodymotor.com Noem’s executive assistant. Patel previously served as Noem’s congressional staff assistant in Washington, D.C. She is currently aiding the transition process. Executive Assistant Morgan Ness will serve the Noem administration as executive assistant. Ness, a Watertown native, is an executive assistant in the Daugaard administration. Executive Assistant Rachel Graves will serve the Noem administration as executive assistant. Graves, a Pierre resident, is an executive assistant in the Daugaard administration. Administrative Assistant Judy Davis will serve the Noem administration as administrative assistant. Davis, originally from Winner, currently serves as an administrative assistant for the Daugaard administration. “To create good policy for the state, you have to have good people on your team,” said Noem. “These people understand that the job isn’t about them, but about serving the people of our state and producing lasting results for the next generation. Together, we’ll strengthen South Dakota.” Okay, so I’m not your regular Santa, but I do enjoy visiting with people in that capacity. It started with my daughter. She was a music teacher in a local school district, and she was having a Christmas program in an attempt to earn money for her financially strapped program. She hoped to purchase instruments for children to play who could not otherwise afford to be in band. She called and asked if I would be Santa. I agreed, and my wife found a Santa suit in the want ads. I was soon outfitted for the part, but my temperament was questionable. The day came, and I ho-hoed my way into the gymnasium. I was soon surrounded by children from babies set on my lap, to middle-aged women plopping on my lap and saying, “Selfie!” as they snapped a picture. But parents and youth alike found I was not a usual Santa. “I don’t believe in you,” one little eight-year-old girl said. “That makes us even,” I replied, “because I don’t believe in you either.” “He’s a mighty sassy Santa,” the girl’s mother said to the girl’s grandma. The shocked look on the little girl’s face was priceless, but she quickly recovered. “Can I pull your beard?” she asked. “Of course,” I replied, “as long as I can pull your hair.” Again, the shocked look on the little girl’s face was good pay for doing this assignment. “I don’t think I like this Santa,” the little girl’s mother said. But the little girl hugged me and said, “I like you. All of the other Santas are so unreal.” Next up were some teenagers. One boy, who was about sixteen, plopped on my lap. When I asked what he wanted for Christmas, he pointed at the girl behind him and said, “her.” “In your dreams!” the girl said to the boy. I laughed at her spunk. “I’ll hold him, and you slap him,” I said to her. The teenagers all laughed, including the boy on my lap and the girl he had mentioned. “Well,” the boy said, “if you can’t get her for me, can you get me some girlfriend?” “Look,” I said, “Santa does magic. He doesn’t do miracles.” All of the teenagers laughed again, and one said, “Touche.” From then on, the teenagers asked for all sorts of crazy things just to see how I would respond, and many of them joined in the fun. The next boy asked me for an A in math. I didn’t even have to respond. The boy behind him did. “That would definitely be a miracle,” the boy said. “And you heard what Santa said about the fact he doesn’t do miracles.” All of the other teens laughed. And so went the night. In the midst of all of the teens were the small children, whom I loved to visit with. They had so much hope and excitement glowing in their little faces. But mostly I noticed two small boys, both about six years old, hanging back, waiting patiently until all of the others were done. Finally, when everyone else had gone, the two boys shyly came together and one climbed on each knee. “What would you like for Christmas?” I asked. “I want my daddy to come home,” each one said at almost the same time. I looked at the two boys. One had beautiful brown skin, dark eyes, and black hair. The other was blonde with blue eyes and light skin. “Are you two, um... related?” I asked. They shook their heads. “Just friends,” one replied. “Tell me about your fathers,” I said. I learned that one boy’s father had gone away, leaving his mother struggling to take care of herself and her son. The other boy’s father was in the military and was deployed. The commonality of what they wanted most had brought them together as friends. For the first time, I found myself without words. Finally, I said, “You know, your fathers may not be around this Christmas, but others, even some you may not know, love you.” They sat on my lap, and I talked to them for quite a while, even telling them a story or two. When they left, they seemed happier, and their mothers thanked me. But I didn’t feel it needed to end there. I motioned my daughter over and pointed out the two families as they headed out the door. My daughter knew who they were, and after I told her the story, she said she knew some people who wanted to help families who had needs. So that Christmas, two little boys and their families received an extra bag of presents on their doorsteps. And I learned that there is a little bit of Santa in all of us. Snap Up a Deal in the Classifieds Call or go online to browse, buy or sell! In Print and Online! 665-5884 • www.missourivalleyshopper.com Ron’sBroadway, Yankton Auto Glass 1915 Glass Repair & Replacement Home • Auto • Business 605.665.9841 MOODY MOTOR CO. Looking for the best deal in town? Check the CLASSIFIEDS! MV Shopper 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y MATT MOODY ALAN KEMP OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MATT SCHAA PAT HAWK Monday thru Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. • Sunday: Noon - 4:00 p.m. 1-800-745-5650 Niobrara, Nebraska Business? 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