[email protected] RESS AKOTAN SD...
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Jeanette Anderson Jeanette Anderson, 88, died Feb. 12, 2014, at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton. Funeral services are pend- ing with the Opsahl-Kostel Fu- neral Home & Crematory, Yankton. Jerome Osness Jerome Earl Osness, 73, of Yankton passed away early Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton. Memorial services will be 5 p.m., Sunday, February 16 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton, with Rev. Molly Carl- son officiating. Burial of his cre- mated remains will be in the Hillside Cemetery, Langford, at a later date. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the fu- neral home. Friday, 2.14.14 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net NEWSROOM: [email protected] PRESS DAKOTAN PAGE 3A the midwest OBITUARIES SD Senate: Animal Cruelty A Felony PIERRE (AP) — The state Senate has unanimously ap- proved a measure that would make animal cruelty a felony in South Dakota, the only state without a felony penalty for cases involving severe animal abuse. Similar bills failed in past years. But this yearʼs bill was written in an effort that included an animal welfare group and many agricultural groups. Current South Dakota law makes inhumane treatment of animals a misdemeanor carry- ing a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The neglect, abandonment or mistreatment of an animal would remain a misdemeanor in the bill. The measure would make cruelty to animals a felony pun- ishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $4,000. Ac- cepted practices for raising live- stock would not be considered mistreatment or cruelty. Amber Alert For 2 In SD Canceled RAPID CITY (AP) — Author- ities say two South Dakota chil- dren reported missing have been found safe at an apart- ment complex near where they were abducted from their motherʼs home. Rapid City police say they have arrested 27-year-old Skye Burnham-Endicott who they ac- cuse of taking the children. An Amber Alert was issued Thursday morning for 1-year-old Tayloni Skye Burnham-Endicott and 1-month-old Layla Marie Tuttle. Police say they found Burn- ham-Endicott and the children in an apartment that belonged to an acquaintance of the suspect. Police allege Burnham-Endi- cott took the children after he assaulted their mother at her Rapid City home late Wednes- day. Authorities say Burnham- Endicott does not have custody rights to the children. The Argus Leader reports the children were returned to their mother. VA Head Defends Vets’ Home Move LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The director of the Nebraska Depart- ment of Veteransʼ Affairs is de- fending a decision to move a state veteransʼ home from Grand Island to Kearney. Director John Hilgert said Thursday that state officials went with a competitive bidding process for the Central Ne- braska Veterans Home because they believed it was the best way to proceed. Gov. Dave Heineman an- nounced in July that Kearney had won the project. The deci- sion angered local officials in Grand Island, where the home has been located for nearly 127 years. Hilgertʼs comments came in response to a bill by Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island that would create more legislative oversight and potentially block the move. Gloor says the deci- sion was based on subjective criteria, including “cultural fac- tors” and “community support.” 18 Sentenced In SD Wildlife Case SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Au- thorities say 18 people have pleaded guilty and been sen- tenced for wildlife violations at a commercial hunting operation in southern South Dakotaʼs Todd County. “This is one of the largest wildlife cases in South Dakota history,” Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Jeff Vonk said in a statement. Fines, restitution and civil damages in the case total more than $235,000, according to U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson and state Attorney General Marty Jackley. The investigation handled by state and federal wildlife agencies and the Rosebud Sioux tribe determined that Rock Creek Ranch owners John and Kathryn Chauncey and sev- eral of their hunting clients from Michigan, Texas and New Jer- sey unlawfully killed deer, hawks, owls, badgers and turkeys between 2008 and 2012. John Chauncey was sen- tenced to two months in custody and ordered to pay about $93,000. Kathryn Chauncey was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $10,500. 1 Dozen Roses $19.95 2800 N. Broadway, Yankton • 260-2333 • 1-866-825-2858 • M-F 9am-5:30pm, Sat. 9am-5pm Country Cupboard Floral & Gifts Dinner reservations Hair Cut Dozen Wrapped Roses from Country Cupboard! •Candy •Balloons •Plush Animals & MORE! ORDER EARLY! WE DELIVER! wrapped 2216 Broadway, Yankton • 605-665-4383 Includes Dessert W Z WD & D Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day King & Queen East Building Sandy Langeland & Peder Pederson When You’re Here You’re Home. Assisted Living LLC 2905/2903 Douglas, Yankton, SD Meet Our King & Queen of Hearts! King & Queen West Building Corrine Biesman & Paul Berntson Refreshments will be served! They will be honored at a Valentine Party on Friday, February 14th 1:30pm East • 2:45 West Building IN REMEMBRANCE W INTZ & R AY FUNERAL HOME and Cremation Service, Inc. 605-665-3644 W INTZ FUNERAL HOME INC. Hartington, Coleridge, Crofton 402-254-6547 www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com Helen L. Thompson 2:00 PM, Saturday Trinity Lutheran Church Yankton BY CHET BROKAW Associated Press PIERRE — South Dakota school districts suffered a setback Thursday in their efforts to persuade state lawmakers for extra money to help them re- cover from budget cuts imposed three years ago. The House Appropriations Committee voted 5-4 to kill the funding proposal after a state budget offi- cial said it could be difficult to find money to pay for the extra school aid. But representatives of school boards, adminis- trators and teachers said they know a final decision on school aid won’t be made until the Legislature passes a state budget near the end of the session in March. House Appropriations Chairman Fred Romkema, R-Spearfish, said after the meeting that discussions will continue and aid proposals may be offered when the budget is put together. Gov. Dennis Daugaar’s’ proposed budget would boost aid to schools by 3 percent next year, nearly double the inflationary increase required by law. But groups representing school districts are asking the Legislature for 3.8 percent, which would put spend- ing per student where it was before budget cuts made in 2011. The 3.8 percent boost, proposed by a legislative study panel that met last summer, would be $5.3 million more than the governor has recommended. Jim Terwilliger of the governor’s budget office said Daugaard’s proposed budget would spend all available estimated revenue for the year beginning July 1, so boosting school aid would require cuts to other programs or the collection of additional rev- enue. Rep. Lance Carson, R-Mitchell, said recent pro- jections of state tax collection are “not as strong as we thought they would be.” But Rep. Jacqueline Sly, R-Rapid City, who chaired the summer study that recommended the extra state aid, said school districts had to cut pro- grams and increase class sizes after the cuts. A lack of money also has hurt efforts to boost teachers’ salaries, she said. Wade Pogany of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota said spending in most state programs has grown beyond what was spent before the 2011 budget cuts. Schools should get the same treat- ment, he said. He said many districts are increasing local prop- erty taxes to make ends meet. “We need your help,” Pogany told the commit- tee. State aid was frozen in 2010 and cut in 2011 as part of Daugaard’s plan to slash most state spend- ing by 10 percent as a result of the recession. Be- cause of some changes made by the Legislature, the effective cut to school districts in 2011 was 6.6 per- cent. Daugaard’s plan would set spending per student from state and local funds at $4,764 next year. Schools want it raised to $4,805, the level in place before the 2011 cuts. Rob Monson, director of the School Administra- tors of South Dakota, said South Dakota’s average teacher pay is the lowest in the nation and districts are having a tough time hiring and keeping teachers. South Dakota has the nation’s lowest average teacher salary in the 2012-2013 school year at $39,580, far below the national average of $56,383 and substantially below average paychecks in neigh- boring states, according to the U.S. Education De- partment. Wayne Dvorak Wayne Donald Dvorak, age 86, of Olivet South Dakota passed away on February 9, 2014 at the Menno Care Center in Menno South Dakota. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2014 followed by a me- morial services at 2:00 pm in Menno, South Dakota at the Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kos- tel Memorial Chapel with Rev. Theresa Jacobson offi- ciating. A time of refresh- ments and fellowship will follow immediately follow- ing the service. Wayne was the son of Frank and Edna (Winter- steen) Dvorak born Decem- ber 1, 1927 in Tripp, South Dakota. He graduated from Lennox High School in 1947. Wayne moved to Sioux Falls South Dakota in 1950 and established Wayne Dvorak Construc- tion with his brother Francis Dvo- rak. Wayne was an ac- complished and lifelong horseman. He raised Quarter Horses and Paints throughout his life. As a young man he com- peted on the rodeo circuit and excelled at calf roping. He is survived by his daughters, Chantel (Tom) Isaacson, and Lorrie (William) Branum, 5 grand- children and 7 great-grand- children. Yankton Press & Dakotan February 14, 2014 Helen Thompson Helen L. Thompson, age 97, of Yankton, South Dakota died Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton. Memorial services are 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Febru- ary 15, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton with Reverend David Lund of- ficiating. Inurnment will be at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cre- mation Service in Yankton. Helen was born January 27, 1917 in Kadoka, South Dakota to James and Matilda (Nedved) Krovoza. She grew up in Yankton where she lived all her adult life. She at- tended District 12 School and after her schooling, one of her proudest jobs was babysitting for Lawrence Welk. Helen also worked at Stuelpnagel’s Egg Processing Plant. On January 28, 1947, she married Elmer E. Thomp- son in Vermillion, South Dakota. After their mar- riage, Helen raised her family and took great pride in being a homemaker. She worked for the Yank- ton Medical Clinic for 30 years and at Willcockson Eye Associates for 12 years. Helen also ironed for many other fami- lies in Yankton. She was a hard worker who appreciated what she had and then shared that with others. Helen was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She loved flowers, gardening and music, especially Lawrence Welk, whom she watched every Saturday night. She also enjoyed cook- ing and canning, bowling, vis- iting with her friends and watching her children and grandchildren play sports. Helen and her family were very thankful for the years of loving care provided by the staff at Avera Sister James and Yankton Care Centers. She will be deeply missed. Helen is survived by her three children: Patti Halver- son of Madison, SD, John (Teri) Thompson of Gilbert, AZ and Roger “Cookie” (Peggy) Thompson of Yank- ton; 12 grandchildren: Mark, Alice, Mary Ann, Jim, Bruce, Teresa, Scott, Corey, Maeghan, Breanne, Travis and Tracey; 25 great grand- children; nine great-great children; two sisters, Velma Klein and Norma Washburn, both of Yankton; and many nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; hus- band, Elmer on May 22, 1991; two brothers, James “Bud” Krovoza and Ray Krovoza who was Helen’s twin; two sisters, Mae Matthews and Marie Killian; step sister, Ella Mae Pishek; and a son-in-law, Joe Halverson. To send an online mes- sage to the family, please visit www.wintzrayfuneral- home.com. Yankton Press & Dakotan February 14, 2014 Dvorak Online condolences at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com Online condolences at: www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com Thompson GOT NEWS? Call The Press & Dakotan At 665-7811 BY NORA HERTEL Associated Press PIERRE — The South Dakota Sen- ate Appropriations Committee ap- proved a bill Thursday requiring more transparency from the associa- tion that oversees high school sports and other activities. The committee voted unani- mously for a provision that would subject the High School Activities As- sociation to the state’s open govern- ment laws. It would require the group to open its meetings and records to the public and report regularly to the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee. Supporters say the bill would pro- vide information to a public that’s been frustrated by a lack of access to the organization. “The High School Activities Asso- ciation is an association that touches a lot of communities,” said David Bor- dewyk, of the South Dakota Newspa- per Association. He said the association affects people in urban and rural parts of the state, including public and private schools. “While the bill may not be conven- ient,” Bordewyk said, “open govern- ment brings clarity and accountability and confidence to the public.” The association governs South Dakota high school sports and fine arts activities, operating with funding from event ticket sales and member school districts. It is considered a not-for-profit, non- governmental organization. Support- ers of the bill argue it should be held to the same transparency require- ments as public agencies. Sen. Corey Brown, R-Gettysburg, the main sponsor of the bill, said the Legislature allows school boards to share their authority. Brown’s bill would allow school boards to share that authority only if the association agrees to follow open records laws. “We’re not going to let school boards delegate their authority to an entity that is not subject to the same policy,” Brown said. Representatives of the association oppose the bill. Lindsey Riter-Rapp, the association’s attorney, said the bill might not allow the group to meet in private, executive sessions to dis- cuss sensitive topics such as a spe- cific student’s eligibility. “We want to ensure that that stu- dent, that issue is protected,” Riter- Rapp said. “These statutes were crafted with a public body in mind, so they don’t fit the particular purposes of the High School Activities Association, which is not public in nature,” she added after the meeting. Mike Ruth is the superintendent of Miller School District and a member of the association’s eight-person board of directors. He said the organi- zation will work harder to be trans- parent. “We all want to do what is best for our students and our schools,” Ruth said. The board of directors ruled Tues- day to open its meetings to the pub- lic. And it plans to submit an amendment on open policy for the as- sociation’s constitution in March. Member groups would vote on the change to the constitution in April. A 60 percent vote is required to make the change. Brown said he appreciates the group’s efforts but noted the associa- tion’s policy does not include an en- forcement mechanism. “I do think that the organization has, to a lot of degrees, tried to be open,” Brown said. “With this addi- tional layer of scrutiny, it helps to clarify exactly what we’re looking for.” SD Budget Committee Rejects School Aid Plan Panel Votes For Openness Of SDHSAA Neb. Lawmaker: Tax Bill Not Affordable LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Even the law- maker who introduced a bill seeking to lower Nebraska’s income tax rates said Thursday the proposal needs to be changed. Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha told the Rev- enue Committee that the goal of the legisla- tion is to help make the state more competitive. The measure would lower personal in- come and corporate tax rates gradually by 2017 and reduce the number of tax brackets from four to three. “Right now we are taking in more money than we are spending, which is a great place to be,” Harr said. But he noted that the bill in its current form is not affordable. The state would lose about $595 million in revenue from corporate and individual in- comes taxes in fiscal year 2017, according to the bill’s fiscal note. Harr said he saw the fiscal note for the bill only a day before the hearing. Business interests supported the pro- posal, but lawmakers and others said they were worried that the loss of revenue could hurt state programs. Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, committee chair, said the bill does nothing to broaden the tax base, it only changes the rates. “If you’re not broadening the base or shifting to another tax it is not revenue neu- tral; it will be, by definition, a loss of rev- enue,” he said. Bordewyk
Transcript of [email protected] RESS AKOTAN SD...
Jeanette AndersonJeanette Anderson, 88, died
Feb. 12, 2014, at Avera SisterJames Care Center, Yankton.
Funeral services are pend-ing with the Opsahl-Kostel Fu-neral Home & Crematory,Yankton.
Jerome OsnessJerome Earl Osness, 73, of
Yankton passed away earlyThursday, February 13, 2014 atAvera Sister James Care Center,Yankton.
Memorial services will be 5p.m., Sunday, February 16 at the
Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel,Yankton, with Rev. Molly Carl-son officiating. Burial of his cre-mated remains will be in theHillside Cemetery, Langford, at alater date.
Visitations will be one hourprior to the service at the fu-neral home.
Friday, 2.14.14ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net
NEWSROOM: [email protected] PRESS DAKOTAN P A G E 3 A
the midwest
O B I T UA R I E S
SD Senate: AnimalCruelty A Felony
PIERRE (AP) — The stateSenate has unanimously ap-proved a measure that wouldmake animal cruelty a felony inSouth Dakota, the only statewithout a felony penalty forcases involving severe animalabuse.
Similar bills failed in pastyears. But this yearʼs bill waswritten in an effort that includedan animal welfare group andmany agricultural groups.
Current South Dakota lawmakes inhumane treatment ofanimals a misdemeanor carry-ing a maximum penalty of oneyear in jail and a $2,000 fine.The neglect, abandonment ormistreatment of an animalwould remain a misdemeanor inthe bill.
The measure would makecruelty to animals a felony pun-ishable by up to two years inprison and a fine of $4,000. Ac-cepted practices for raising live-stock would not be consideredmistreatment or cruelty.
Amber Alert For2 In SD Canceled
RAPID CITY (AP) — Author-ities say two South Dakota chil-dren reported missing havebeen found safe at an apart-ment complex near where theywere abducted from theirmotherʼs home.
Rapid City police say theyhave arrested 27-year-old SkyeBurnham-Endicott who they ac-cuse of taking the children.
An Amber Alert was issuedThursday morning for 1-year-oldTayloni Skye Burnham-Endicottand 1-month-old Layla MarieTuttle.
Police say they found Burn-ham-Endicott and the children inan apartment that belonged toan acquaintance of the suspect.
Police allege Burnham-Endi-cott took the children after heassaulted their mother at herRapid City home late Wednes-day. Authorities say Burnham-Endicott does not have custodyrights to the children.
The Argus Leader reportsthe children were returned totheir mother.
VA Head DefendsVets’ Home Move
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Thedirector of the Nebraska Depart-ment of Veteransʼ Affairs is de-fending a decision to move astate veteransʼ home fromGrand Island to Kearney.
Director John Hilgert saidThursday that state officialswent with a competitive biddingprocess for the Central Ne-braska Veterans Home becausethey believed it was the bestway to proceed.
Gov. Dave Heineman an-nounced in July that Kearneyhad won the project. The deci-sion angered local officials inGrand Island, where the homehas been located for nearly 127years.
Hilgertʼs comments came inresponse to a bill by Sen. MikeGloor of Grand Island thatwould create more legislativeoversight and potentially blockthe move. Gloor says the deci-sion was based on subjectivecriteria, including “cultural fac-tors” and “community support.”
18 Sentenced InSD Wildlife Case
SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Au-thorities say 18 people havepleaded guilty and been sen-tenced for wildlife violations at acommercial hunting operation insouthern South Dakotaʼs ToddCounty.
“This is one of the largestwildlife cases in South Dakotahistory,” Game, Fish and ParksSecretary Jeff Vonk said in astatement.
Fines, restitution and civildamages in the case total morethan $235,000, according toU.S. Attorney Brendan Johnsonand state Attorney GeneralMarty Jackley.
The investigation handledby state and federal wildlifeagencies and the RosebudSioux tribe determined thatRock Creek Ranch owners Johnand Kathryn Chauncey and sev-eral of their hunting clients fromMichigan, Texas and New Jer-sey unlawfully killed deer,hawks, owls, badgers andturkeys between 2008 and2012.
John Chauncey was sen-tenced to two months in custodyand ordered to pay about$93,000. Kathryn Chaunceywas sentenced to probation andordered to pay $10,500.
1 Dozen Roses
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Country Cupboard Floral & Gifts Dinner reservations
Hair Cut
Dozen Wrapped
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Country Cupboard! •Candy •Balloons •Plush Animals & MORE! ORDER EARLY! WE DELIVER! wrapped
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Includes Dessert
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���������������� Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day
King & Queen East Building Sandy Langeland & Peder Pederson When You’re Here You’re Home.
Assisted Living LLC
2905/2903 Douglas, Yankton, SD
Meet Our King & Queen of Hearts!
King & Queen West Building Corrine Biesman & Paul Berntson
Refreshments will be served!
They will be honored at a Valentine Party on
Friday, February 14th 1:30pm East • 2:45 West Building
IN REMEMBRANCE
W INTZ & R AY FUNERAL HOME and Cremation Service, Inc. 605-665-3644
W INTZ FUNERAL HOME INC.
Hartington, Coleridge, Crofton 402-254-6547 www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com
Helen L. Thompson 2:00 PM, Saturday
Trinity Lutheran Church Yankton
BY CHET BROKAWAssociated Press
PIERRE — South Dakota school districts suffereda setback Thursday in their efforts to persuadestate lawmakers for extra money to help them re-cover from budget cuts imposed three years ago.
The House Appropriations Committee voted 5-4to kill the funding proposal after a state budget offi-cial said it could be difficult to find money to pay forthe extra school aid.
But representatives of school boards, adminis-trators and teachers said they know a final decisionon school aid won’t be made until the Legislaturepasses a state budget near the end of the session inMarch.
House Appropriations Chairman Fred Romkema,R-Spearfish, said after the meeting that discussionswill continue and aid proposals may be offeredwhen the budget is put together.
Gov. Dennis Daugaar’s’ proposed budget wouldboost aid to schools by 3 percent next year, nearlydouble the inflationary increase required by law. Butgroups representing school districts are asking theLegislature for 3.8 percent, which would put spend-
ing per student where it was before budget cutsmade in 2011.
The 3.8 percent boost, proposed by a legislativestudy panel that met last summer, would be $5.3million more than the governor has recommended.
Jim Terwilliger of the governor’s budget officesaid Daugaard’s proposed budget would spend allavailable estimated revenue for the year beginningJuly 1, so boosting school aid would require cuts toother programs or the collection of additional rev-enue.
Rep. Lance Carson, R-Mitchell, said recent pro-jections of state tax collection are “not as strong aswe thought they would be.”
But Rep. Jacqueline Sly, R-Rapid City, whochaired the summer study that recommended theextra state aid, said school districts had to cut pro-grams and increase class sizes after the cuts. A lackof money also has hurt efforts to boost teachers’salaries, she said.
Wade Pogany of the Associated School Boards ofSouth Dakota said spending in most state programshas grown beyond what was spent before the 2011budget cuts. Schools should get the same treat-ment, he said.
He said many districts are increasing local prop-erty taxes to make ends meet.
“We need your help,” Pogany told the commit-tee.
State aid was frozen in 2010 and cut in 2011 aspart of Daugaard’s plan to slash most state spend-ing by 10 percent as a result of the recession. Be-cause of some changes made by the Legislature, theeffective cut to school districts in 2011 was 6.6 per-cent.
Daugaard’s plan would set spending per studentfrom state and local funds at $4,764 next year.Schools want it raised to $4,805, the level in placebefore the 2011 cuts.
Rob Monson, director of the School Administra-tors of South Dakota, said South Dakota’s averageteacher pay is the lowest in the nation and districtsare having a tough time hiring and keeping teachers.
South Dakota has the nation’s lowest averageteacher salary in the 2012-2013 school year at$39,580, far below the national average of $56,383and substantially below average paychecks in neigh-boring states, according to the U.S. Education De-partment.
Wayne DvorakWayne Donald Dvorak,
age 86, of Olivet SouthDakota passed away onFebruary 9, 2014 at theMenno Care Center inMenno South Dakota.
Visitation will be at 1:00p.m. on Monday, February17, 2014 followed by a me-morial services at 2:00 pmin Menno, South Dakota atthe Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kos-tel Memorial Chapel withRev. Theresa Jacobson offi-ciating. A time of refresh-ments and fellowship willfollow immediately follow-ing the service.
Wayne was the son ofFrank and Edna (Winter-steen) Dvorak born Decem-ber 1, 1927 in Tripp, SouthDakota. He graduated fromLennox High School in1947. Wayne moved toSioux Falls South Dakota in1950 and establishedWayne Dvorak Construc-
tion with hisbrotherFrancis Dvo-rak. Waynewas an ac-complishedand lifelonghorseman.He raisedQuarterHorses and
Paints throughout his life.As a young man he com-peted on the rodeo circuitand excelled at calf roping.
He is survived by hisdaughters, Chantel (Tom)Isaacson, and Lorrie(William) Branum, 5 grand-children and 7 great-grand-children.Yankton Press & Dakotan
February 14, 2014
Helen ThompsonHelen L. Thompson, age
97, of Yankton, South Dakotadied Tuesday, February 11,2014 at Avera Sister JamesCare Center in Yankton.
Memorial services are2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Febru-ary 15, 2014 at TrinityLutheran Church in Yanktonwith Reverend David Lund of-ficiating. Inurnment will be atthe Garden of MemoriesCemetery in Yankton.
The family will receivefriends one hour prior to thememorial service at thechurch.
Arrangements are underthe direction of the Wintz &Ray Funeral Home and Cre-mation Service in Yankton.
Helen was born January27, 1917 in Kadoka, SouthDakota to James and Matilda(Nedved) Krovoza. She grewup in Yankton where shelived all her adult life. She at-tended District 12 School andafter her schooling, one ofher proudest jobs wasbabysitting for LawrenceWelk. Helen also worked atStuelpnagel’s Egg ProcessingPlant. On January 28, 1947,she married Elmer E. Thomp-son in Vermillion, South
Dakota. Aftertheir mar-riage, Helenraised herfamily andtook greatpride in beinga homemaker.She workedfor the Yank-ton Medical
Clinic for 30 years and atWillcockson Eye Associatesfor 12 years. Helen alsoironed for many other fami-lies in Yankton. She was ahard worker who appreciatedwhat she had and thenshared that with others.Helen was a faithful memberof Trinity Lutheran Church.She loved flowers, gardeningand music, especiallyLawrence Welk, whom shewatched every Saturdaynight. She also enjoyed cook-ing and canning, bowling, vis-iting with her friends andwatching her children andgrandchildren play sports.Helen and her family werevery thankful for the years ofloving care provided by thestaff at Avera Sister Jamesand Yankton Care Centers.She will be deeply missed.
Helen is survived by herthree children: Patti Halver-
son of Madison, SD, John(Teri) Thompson of Gilbert,AZ and Roger “Cookie”(Peggy) Thompson of Yank-ton; 12 grandchildren: Mark,Alice, Mary Ann, Jim, Bruce,Teresa, Scott, Corey,Maeghan, Breanne, Travisand Tracey; 25 great grand-children; nine great-greatchildren; two sisters, VelmaKlein and Norma Washburn,both of Yankton; and manynieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded indeath by her parents; hus-band, Elmer on May 22, 1991;two brothers, James “Bud”Krovoza and Ray Krovozawho was Helen’s twin; twosisters, Mae Matthews andMarie Killian; step sister, EllaMae Pishek; and a son-in-law,Joe Halverson.
To send an online mes-sage to the family, pleasevisit www.wintzrayfuneral-home.com.Yankton Press & Dakotan
February 14, 2014
Dvorak
Online condolences at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com
Online condolences at: www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com
Thompson
GOT NEWS?Call The Press & Dakotan At 665-7811
BY NORA HERTELAssociated Press
PIERRE — The South Dakota Sen-ate Appropriations Committee ap-proved a bill Thursday requiringmore transparency from the associa-tion that oversees high school sportsand other activities.
The committee voted unani-mously for a provision that wouldsubject the High School Activities As-sociation to the state’s open govern-ment laws. It would require the groupto open its meetings and records tothe public and report regularly to theLegislature’s Government Operationsand Audit Committee.
Supporters say the bill would pro-vide information to a public that’sbeen frustrated by a lack of access tothe organization.
“The High School Activities Asso-ciation is an association that touchesa lot of communities,” said David Bor-dewyk, of the South Dakota Newspa-per Association.
He said the association affectspeople in urban and rural parts of thestate, including public and privateschools.
“While the bill may not be conven-ient,” Bordewyk said, “open govern-ment brings clarity and accountabilityand confidence to the public.”
The associationgoverns SouthDakota high schoolsports and fine artsactivities, operatingwith funding fromevent ticket salesand member schooldistricts.
It is considered anot-for-profit, non-
governmental organization. Support-ers of the bill argue it should be heldto the same transparency require-ments as public agencies.
Sen. Corey Brown, R-Gettysburg,the main sponsor of the bill, said theLegislature allows school boards toshare their authority. Brown’s billwould allow school boards to sharethat authority only if the associationagrees to follow open records laws.
“We’re not going to let schoolboards delegate their authority to anentity that is not subject to the samepolicy,” Brown said.
Representatives of the associationoppose the bill. Lindsey Riter-Rapp,the association’s attorney, said thebill might not allow the group to meetin private, executive sessions to dis-cuss sensitive topics such as a spe-cific student’s eligibility.
“We want to ensure that that stu-
dent, that issue is protected,” Riter-Rapp said.
“These statutes were crafted witha public body in mind, so they don’tfit the particular purposes of the HighSchool Activities Association, whichis not public in nature,” she addedafter the meeting.
Mike Ruth is the superintendent ofMiller School District and a memberof the association’s eight-personboard of directors. He said the organi-zation will work harder to be trans-parent.
“We all want to do what is best forour students and our schools,” Ruthsaid.
The board of directors ruled Tues-day to open its meetings to the pub-lic. And it plans to submit anamendment on open policy for the as-sociation’s constitution in March.Member groups would vote on thechange to the constitution in April. A60 percent vote is required to makethe change.
Brown said he appreciates thegroup’s efforts but noted the associa-tion’s policy does not include an en-forcement mechanism.
“I do think that the organizationhas, to a lot of degrees, tried to beopen,” Brown said. “With this addi-tional layer of scrutiny, it helps toclarify exactly what we’re looking for.”
SD Budget Committee Rejects School Aid Plan
Panel Votes For Openness Of SDHSAA Neb. Lawmaker: TaxBill Not AffordableLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Even the law-
maker who introduced a bill seeking tolower Nebraska’s income tax rates saidThursday the proposal needs to bechanged.
Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha told the Rev-enue Committee that the goal of the legisla-tion is to help make the state morecompetitive.
The measure would lower personal in-come and corporate tax rates gradually by2017 and reduce the number of tax bracketsfrom four to three.
“Right now we are taking in more moneythan we are spending, which is a great placeto be,” Harr said.
But he noted that the bill in its currentform is not affordable.
The state would lose about $595 millionin revenue from corporate and individual in-comes taxes in fiscal year 2017, according tothe bill’s fiscal note.
Harr said he saw the fiscal note for thebill only a day before the hearing.
Business interests supported the pro-posal, but lawmakers and others said theywere worried that the loss of revenue couldhurt state programs.
Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, committeechair, said the bill does nothing to broadenthe tax base, it only changes the rates.
“If you’re not broadening the base orshifting to another tax it is not revenue neu-tral; it will be, by definition, a loss of rev-enue,” he said.
Bordewyk
