shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com December 24, 2019 • Page 9 ‘Tis The Season: 10 Things To Know About WINTER From Basketball To Bald Eagles, Here Are Some Highlights Of The Upcoming Winter Season In The Yankton Area BY KELLY HERTZ kelly.hertz@yankton.net Winter is upon us, bringing with it all its snowy, cold charms that seem to bring life to a halt here sometimes. But winter can be a busy season in the Yankton area — inside and out. With the winter solstice set to arrive Saturday (at 10:19 p.m. Central Time, to be precise), here’s a quick look ahead at nine things you should know about winter 2019-2020. PARK PLACES Winter doesn’t mean the Lewis & Clark (L&C) Recreation Area west of Yankton goes into hibernation. Far from it. According to L&C Park Supervisor Shane Bertsch, there are still a number of activities that are available during the winter season. He noted that about half of the bike trail is cleared of snow, making it ideal for hikes. There’s also a nature trail for more rugged hikes. Bertsch noted that snow shoes are available at the Welcome Center, with sizes available for kids on up. Also, camping is still an option. Bertsch said some cabins are available for winter use, although they don’t have running water. They do have heat, however. He also noted that a group comes in each season for some winter camping in tents. One thing not on the schedule this winter is the First Day Hike, which has been held on New Year’s Day in conjunction with similar hikes across the country. Recent years have been very cold on Jan. 1, so Bertsch said they are planning to hold a hike in late winter, or perhaps early spring. ON ICE Ice fishing is also a popular winter sport in this region, but this year, some caution may be needed. Due to high water levels on some area waters, the ice may not be as solid as it usually is. Anglers should use caution. However, that shouldn’t be a big problem at Lake Yankton, which is monitored with controlled runoffs and provides more stability. Bertsch said there are anglers already out on the lake, which has about four inches of ice already. Ice fishing is also available on Lewis & Clark Lake, usually along the north shore where the old river bed is located, Bertsch said. WINTER AT THE MEAD The Mead Cultural Education Center in Yankton has a busy winter planned, although one of its signature wintertime events is on the move. The New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball has moved from its Dec. 31 time slot for the same reason that officials at the Lewis & Clark Recreation Area have postponed their annual First Day Hike: Cold weather has been a hindrance the last few years. Now, the event will be transformed into the Mead Mardi Gras Masquerade, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 29. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 6. Also this winter, the Mead will host “Care of Collections At Home: PHOTOGRAPHS!” on Jan. 25. This will be a workshop in basic care and preservation of old photographs. The pre-registration deadline is Jan. 15. The Mead Center’s “Feed Your Mind” series will take January off, but will return Feb. 7 with John Mathrole discussing Native American lore. The museum currently has several exhibits as work on the facility continues and expands. Winter hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. DANCE TIME Winter is also a time for fundraisers, and one of the biggest is the “Heart to Heart : Dancing with the Stars” event at the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center. The event, sponsored by River City Domestic Violence Center and Family Connections, raises money for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. For more information, visit yanktondomesticviolencecenter.com TO THE CORPS The Missouri River is a year-round wonder, and winter often attracts many people to the region. One big draw are the eagles that are often found in the trees overlooking the open areas of the river, which in the Yankton area means the waters below Gavins Point Dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrates those birds — and other raptors — with its popular Bald Eagle Days presentations each winter at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center overlooking the tailwaters. This winter, the event will be held Jan. 24-26. Live bird programs will be presented by the staff of SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources). Presentation times are 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 24 (Friday); and 9 a..m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Jan. 25-26 (Saturday and Sunday). Also, the Visitor Center will be open throughout the winter. Hours will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. The center will be closed on federal holidays. CENTER STAGE Theatrical productions slow down during the winter months, but they don’t go away altogether. The Lewis & Clark Theatre Company will be presenting the drama “On Golden Pond” at the Dakota Theatre in downtown Yankton. Performances are set for two weekends: Feb. 6-9 and Feb. 14-16. Meanwhile, Yankton High School (YHS) will perform “Macbeth” as its entry in the South Dakota State One-Act Play Festival, which is set for Sioux Falls Feb. 6-8. Local public performances will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 and Feb. 10 at the YHS theatre. Mount Marty College (MMC) will present its winter production of “A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking” Feb. 7-9 at Marian Auditorium. MMC theatre director Andrew Henrickson said seating for this show will be limited to 140 people per performance. Due to limited seating, a Saturday matinee has 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 Christmas is here, and we hope the season delivers much happiness and good fortune to you and yours! We appreciate the year-round support of good friends like you, and we wish you all the best at Christmas time and throughout the new year. FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE, TRUCK AND TRACTOR PARTS COME TO: COX AUTO SUPPLY 1007 Broadway, Yankton, SD • 605-665-4494 KELLY HERTZ/P&D One of the more popular wintertime events in the Yankton area is Bald Eagle Days, sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The event will be held Jan. 24-26 at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center overlooking Gavins Point Dam. been added on Feb. 8. WINTER GAMES Winter is a big season for spectator sports. (For a lot of people, winter itself is a spectator sport best observed from a cozy confine.) This winter will be no exception in the Yankton area — but there could definitely be a little more fun than usual this winter, especially for basketball fans. The Mount Marty College men’s team is off to its best start in 15 years and went into the Christmas break with a 13-2 record and rated No. 23 in the country. The Lancers will be a hot ticket this winter, and that excitement starts immediately in the New Year. MMC will host No. 1 Morningside at Cimpl Arena on Jan. 2 in what may be one of the premier local contests of the winter. Meanwhile, the University of South Dakota (USD) men’s and women’s basketball teams are both off to hot starts, with the Coyote women rated No. 25 in this week’s Associated Press poll and already viewed as an elite mid-major team. The USD men have been picked second in the Summit League preseason poll and will offer a ton of excitement this winter. Also, the Yankton Bucks basketball team entered the season ranked No. 2 in Class AA and are poised for another big winter. This will be another hot ticket for basketball fans this winter. There are numerous other sports and activities in the area this winter — ranging from hockey, archery and ice skating to skiing, hiking, etc. One that has grown immensely in recent years is the annual Dam Fireworks River City Rumble Indoor Soccer Tournament, which will be held in Yankton Jan. 10-12 at the Yankton Middle School and Boys & Girls Club. This event draws hundreds of players, coaches and fans to town. SNOWMOBILE SAFETY Winter usually — if Mother Nature “cooperates” — means snowmobile season, but this year could hold some hazards that snowmobilers should bear in mind. According to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the ditches that many snowmobilers in this region favor may have standing water in them left over from the flooded warm-weather months, and extra caution should be used. Some riders also enjoy riding on frozen rivers. Again, this year’s wet conditions may pose problems, with some rivers and lakes freezing at higher levels. Uncertainty is a factor. Think safety first. ON A MUSICAL NOTE The music scene in the Yankton area always offers a nice break from the winter doldrums, and although there will be very few school concerts upcoming, there will be plenty of local acts performing at various venues. One highlight in Yankton will take place Feb. 10 when the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band will perform at the Dakota Theatre for a free 7 p.m. show. More information on this event, sponsored by the Press & Dakotan, will be made available at a later date. TAKING THE LEAP Finally, get ready for a long winter … or at least a longer winter, since 2020 is a Leap Year. Make sure your calendar has a Feb. 29 attached to it. And since every Leap year is also a presidential election year … well, it may give you yet another reason to curse winter. At least it gives you extra day to complain about the season. Follow @kelly_hertz on Twitter. Treasure Awaits! Shop Classifieds 319 Walnut St. • Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 www.missourivalleyshopper.com Happy Holidays The Missouri Valley Shopper will be closed on Wednesday, December 25th and Wednesday, January 1st. Happy Holidays from all of us at the... Congratulations Meridian Counseling & Family Services LLC The Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors hosted a ribbon cutting for Meridian Counseling & Family Services at their location, 311 Cedar Street. Meridian Counseling & Family Services LLC was established in downtown Yankton in May of 2019. Their social workers identify strongly with the profession’s ethical principles: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. They believe that you will find that these principles hold true in how they collaborate with and treat everyone who walks through the agency’s door. Hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am-5:00 pm. Owners are Alexa Gauer and Dana Larson. You can reach them at 605-689-0457. Check out their website: www.meridiancfs.com.