11 The Burke (SD) Gazette, Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Kindergarten Enjoys Learning B
About Cowboys & Cowgirls
Jon Smikle and his horse"Okie" fen, Andrew Wiedeman, Trenton
treated the Kindergarten class to Massa, Riley Stacy, Ike Mosterd,
horse rides on Wednesday. Kinder- Dru Otten, Tegan Fox, Jakoby
garten has been learning about cow- Schonebaum, Jack Schulte, Bo Du-
boys and cowgirls during the first erfeldt, Jaxson Duerfeldt, Andy
month of school. Simpson and Drake Wittmeier. On
"Okie" also visited the first the horse: Lacey Lyon, Malorie
grade. Jon's son, Dale, showed him Johnson, Logan Hanson and Raina
for Show and Tell. Haier.
Standing in front: Grace Stef-
BLOOD DRIVE
Continued from Page 10
you.
To save time, donors can now fill
out their Health History Question-
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services.o the day of their dona-
tion. To donate blood, volunteers
must,.be:at least 16 years old (16
& 17 year old donors need a minor
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line) and be in good health.
The Editor
Dear Editor:
There was a recent letter pub-
lished in several District 21 news-
papers in regards to the stance that
Representative Lee Qualm has
taken on the sales tax increase for
teacher's pay. I think it is important
that some of the things that were
said be addressed and the record be
set straight. I am not implying the
writer was lying or misrepresenting
the truth but feel that he, like many
others, in this legislative district and
the state aren't listening to what Lee
and others have said and the reason-
ing behind their no vote on the sales
tax increase. For a time I was guilty
of that same thing.
I attended a cracker barrel in
my home town of Springfield last
year and rather than District 21
legislators being given a chance to
express their positions on the sales
tax issue it turned into a meeting
that was geared towards personal
attacks towards Lee and the fact
he voted no. When he attempted
to explain his position, which he
has done with some of those folks
since, he was shouted down because
the crowd was focused on what the
news saying about Lee and oth-
ers being against raising teacher's
pay. Not that. they felt the plan was
wrong. What Lee was against was
the Governor's plan on how to dis-
tribute the raise in sales tax to fund
teacher salary increases. Lee had
done his homework, didn't rely on
the message from the Governor's
office or his party's leadership or
just to go along with a yes vote as
there were some very serious im-
plications for this legislation. Our
local school district was not able
to provide our teachers with the
much needed pay raises that they
have earned and deserved because
of the plan attached to the sales tax
increase and the inequitable distri-
bution of those funds.
Lee took the position he did
because the formula was severely
flawed. I heard the reasoning and
the target was to be able to raise
teacher's salaries across the state by
$10,000. The formula attached has
not provided that relief in a lot of
cases and in many school districts
have seen quite the opposite. The
message that Lee was trying to get
across, that we refused to listen to,
was that this plan was not going to
do what the message said it was go-
ing to do. I know there were many
legislators that voted for it knowing
it was a flawed plan but surmised it
was better than nothing. Lee was
not vigorously opposing teacher
pay increases, what he was oppos-
ing was the plan that was flawed
that actually had an adverse effect
on some of the school districts in his
legislative district. He was looking
out for our best interest and those of
the teachers that selflessly work hard
and educate our children. Shame on
us for not listening or giving him
the opportunity to present the whole
Gunner Stephens, a Burke/SC 6th grader, is pictured above looking for a hole in the Andes Central/Dakota Chris-
tian defense during the Middle School Jamboree held on Saturday in Burke. Five schools brought teams for the
event including B/SC, Gregory, Colome, Lyman and Andes Central/Dakota Christian. The Burke/South Central
Middle School hosted the 10th Annual B/SC Jamboree on Saturday, October 1st, at Tolstedt Field in Burke. Two
divisions were held, the "A" division (made up of mainly 8 graders), and the "B" division (made up mainly of 6th
& Th graders). Each game lasted 25 minutes and offered players the opportunity to enhance their football skills.
The Burke Men's Association Matucha (33') was 2"d and Danielle was 3 in the boys 10-11 division;
hosted the Annual Punt, Pass & Carlson (ll') was in the girls 8-9 Jasmine Klein (266'4) was 1 and
Kick contest at Tolstedt Field fol- age division; Kol Otten (209'1) was Bridget Bartling (102'5) was 2°d in
lowing the Homecoming Parade on 1~', Breven Bolander (178'3) was the girls 12-13 age division; Taron
Friday afternoon. Participants are 2"d and Jayder Schonebaum (136'8) Serr (265'10) was Is', Brogan Glov-
pictured above, results are as fol- was 3~d in the boys 8-9 age division; er (239'4) was 2"d and Ben Witt
lows: Kate Weborg (146'6) was 1 Olivia (236'4) was 3 in the boys 12-13
Jaxson-Hauck-Lindholm (102'8) Bull (127'6) was 2nd and Piper Han- age division.
was 1st, Maddox Mayer (59'2) was son (89'3) was 3rd in the girls 10-11 Those who placed 1 are now
2"d and Jakoby Schonebaum (59') age division; Reed Benter (206'7) eligible to participate in a regional
was 3'd in the boys 6-7 age division; was Ist, Dawson York (166'11) competition to be held in October.
Avery Zeisler (50'5)was 1s', Kyrie was 2nd and Quinten Bull (163'6) -Gazette Photo
story. I was among that group and during the current campaign have
had several extensive and intense hung their hat on "I helped increase
conversations with Lee to get him teacher's pay"? But have they re-
to change his vote to yes. Fortu- ally? I seen the numbers and was
nately for me Lee was patient with very pleased to see my alma mater,
me until I was ready to listen to his Burke, reap some real benefits from
position. The plan was flawed and this plan but my local district where
Lee being a principled individual my kids went to school, received
stood his ground and was not going above average educations and were
to violate his own personal integ- taught by some the finest teachers in
rity by voting for flawed legislation the state got the pickle. Bon Homme
that wasn't going to do what it was has not been able to remain com-
presented to do. As I have discussed petitive with neighboring school
this matter with Lee I realized that districts. There are more than a few
a yes vote on his part would have teachers living in the Bon Homme
been a lie. It would have said that he School District who have started
is willing to go along with the lead- teaching in Nebraska for a signifi-
ership and sell the public a plan that cant larger salary. Some of these
would not deliver what it promised, just left this past year even though
How many legislators do you know the legislature promised them more
adequate pay and they have not seen~.i :,-~
it.
Lee also proposed looking at
t
other funding sources like our state
reserves. We add to our reserves ev-
ery year in this state. I find it ironic
that for years a number of Demo-
crats have been banging this drum
to no avail but when a Republican
goes against the grain to do the
same thing we chastise him for it.
What is wrong with this picture?
Lee has told me and I have
watched him tell others he has no
intention of voting to repeal the
sales tax increase. What he has said
is there needs to be a plan put into
place to make adjustments to the
formula that doles out the money to
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