CAPITOLETTER

March 11, 2024

The Capitol and Tie Creek weather has been warming up all week; until by Saturday and Sunday, it was a wonderful warm day to be outdoors in the beautiful calm sunshine.

Dick and Erma Albert got some extra shopping done in the Hills, on Tuesday. Erma got a massage in Buffalo, on Wednesday. Friday was the taco bar at the Senior Center. Bobbie had egg sandwiches for those who were recognizing Lent on Friday. Many people had gone to Rapid City for the state girls’ basketball tournament, so there were not so many at the Senior Center this week. On Sunday, Dick and Erma went to the Catholic church for mass, and then stayed for the pot luck dinner. In the afternoon the church presented the viewing of the movie ‘The Passion.’

Marlee Cordell went to Belle Fourche, on Tuesday. Ashley Pearson went with her to Spearfish to watch Black Hills State play basketball. The basketball season is coming to an end, but it seems there are chances for her grandchildren, to play basketball throughout the year. Alvin’s calving is in full swing, now. Ryan and Tawni and doing night checking. Bobby and Terry Cordell have come out to spent a few days helping Alvin cut trees.

Doug and Julia Davis had a very exciting week, last week. They got to fly to Alabama to visit their son and also to help their grandson celebrate his fourth birthday. Since Rory only remembers celebrating twice, he has decided he is really only two years old. Maybe that’s what Karen Odell can do, too; forget some of those birthdays. Travis and Doug got to view the testing of some engines that Travis had designed and helped build for the Saturn Five project. They were extremely loud, but everything went well.

Doug and Julia spent a week in the south-land, and came back on Wednesday. They spent another day in the Hills, before coming on home. Their flight was a late one, and staying over gave them time to do some shopping before coming home. Morgan Buck had been watching the cows, and there were two new calves when they got home, so they have officially started calving. Morgan spent the weekend in Camp Crook, where he helped his dad, Darren, finish a few projects, while they both were at home.

Ernie and Rachel Melum visited Karen Odell for a while on Saturday night, Rachel and Tommy went to church in Baker on Sunday, and then stayed for the Youth Group meeting in the afternoon. They brought home some groceries for Shirley and Junior, and visited there in the evening.

Bryce, Dawn and Dorothy Padden had a busy week. They have scheduled calving between sports seasons, as much as possible. This time everyone went to Summerset to stay with Brian Olmsted during the South Dakota State Girls’ Basketball Tournament, that began on Thursday, in Rapid City. Dawn, of course, had her camera, and got some wonderful shots of the girls during the games. Once she looked up into the crowd, and discovered that her mother, Helen Stevens, and sister, Michelle Tooke, had come down for the tournament, too. Their family excursions are often spontaneous, so Dawn wasn’t surprised, and was glad to share a place to stay with them, too. Brian was the designated driver in Rapid City, and he was especially good at finding parking spaces close by the door, so Dorothy didn’t have to walk so far. The games were all exciting, and the action never stopped, and the girls should be very proud to have earned sixth place in the state tournament.

Ronda Cordell is continuing to sort and wash clothes from the storage unit to go to Goodwill. She also is sorting tin and boards at the new barn. On Sunday evening, those jobs were finally finished.

On Wednesday, Ronda went to Ekalaka to get an oil change. Nellie Howell treated her to lunch at the Wagon Wheel; then gave her a ride to her car; when it was finished. Diane Wear rode to Spearfish with Ronda on Friday. They enjoyed lunch at the Pizza Ranch. It’s always nice when Diane is able to go, and she spells Ronda while driving home.

On Saturday morning, Ronda ate breakfast with Gerald and Becky Burghduff. Curt Zolnoski and Erik Berglund came from Rapid City to work on barn door installation; several days this week. They stayed with Clint and Denise Zolnoski. Gene Secrest continues to help Clint with feeding and corrals, and Kim Secrest came for the weekend.

Karen Odell finally got her signs put up this week. The weather on Saturday was perfect for working outside with the signs. This week, Karen visited with her brother, Ron Evans, and learned that her sister-in-law, Patsy, was doing much better after hip surgery. Recovery is not easy, but is worth the effort because she is getting more agile. Karen especially enjoyed watching the South Dakota State Girls’ Basketball Tournament on YouTube. It was like having the best seat in the house, and is one of the best services the state can provide, especially for those who find the distances are a little discouraging. It is also great that the games can be watched at any time; making them available for those who are working during those times.

Every game was very exciting. Karen could text comments to her kids, who were also watching in Mitchell, Minnesota, Iowa, and Washington. Karen saw one local grandma on camera, too, who threw the ball back onto the court with a camera in her other hand. Chancey Odell had a meeting in Rapid City, which made it just right for him to stay to watch some of the games on Thursday, too. It was great to be able to watch all three levels of the tournament on YouTube, and even get to see the special awards, and ‘Spirit of Su’ awards.

On Sunday, Karen enjoyed the warm sun, and visited with her high school classmate, Bill Foulkes in Ohio. It is always so much fun to visit with old friends and hear about ‘old folks at home.’ His weather was not so nice, and they were expecting snow there.

Men travel faster now, just so that they can sit through more hours of unproductive, boring meetings with unimaginative slide shows.