
Mitchell Christian auction raises $119,000, second-best total ever
Mitchell Christian’s annual auction is designed to boost the school’s general fund, but Deb Kirkpatrick had a dual purpose for being there Saturday.
Not only did she want to help the school where her two children attend classes, but she also found items to replace belongings she lost in a fire a month ago in Mitchell.
Kirkpatrick placed winning bids on a couple of small shelves and a large silk floral display.

Friday fire results in Saturday demolition for home in Mitchell
Mitchell firefighters razed a house Saturday that was destroyed by fire Friday night.
Flames broke out at 520 N. Wisconsin St. in the basement. Early Saturday afternoon, small streams of smoke still rose from the ruins.
Fire Capt. Mark Eliason said the cause was undetermined as of Saturday, but he did say it was not intentional. A local contractor tore down the two-story house.

Broughton honored with GPAC award
Last season, the Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team played its entire schedule without its All-American forward. Preston Broughton had to have several knee surgeries before the season even started and didn’t see a single minute of playing time the entire season. At the start of the 2009-10 season, DWU coach John Hemenway said Broughton was “pretty close to where he left off.” Now, during perhaps the most crucial point of the Tigers’ Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule, Broughton has clearly surpassed where he left off.

A growing process: Kernel girls find winning ways
As Monday afternoon’s practice ended at the Corn Palace, Mitchell girls’ basketball head coach Wes Morgan kept repeating to his team, “I need your best tomorrow.” Usually, that’s nothing new to hear from a head coach. He or she always wants the best from his or her team. But in recent years for Mitchell girls’ basketball, the team’s best hasn’t produced many wins. Seven wins in five seasons was all the Kernels girls’ basketball team could muster from 2003-08.
Noem: Extend wind energy window
A bill that would lengthen the amount of time to develop a wind energy project to as long as 50 years meets with some concern by one industry official.
House Assistant Majority Leader Kristi Noem, R-Castlewood, wants to change the current limit, which is five years, for developers to have an easement — the right to use another person’s land for a stated purpose — on wind projects. The bill is HB1263.

• The Depot Sports Wrapup
• How-to video series
• Word on the Street
• DRTV Live Sports
• DRTV Sports Archive
Our View: Week in review: the best, worst
CHEERS to Mary Gohring of Wessington Springs, who last week was named the South Dakota Physical Science Teacher of the Year. Gohring is a veteran teacher who has had stops at Huron, Alpena and Wessington Springs and plans to retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year. This is the second time in three years a Wessington Springs teacher has been honored. In 2007, Charlotte Mohling was named South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Congratulations, not only to Gohring, but once again to Mohling and the entire Wessington Springs School District.
Opinion: President Obama finds himself at crossroads
WASHINGTON — It was toward the end of President Obama’s riveting visit on Jan. 29 with the House Republicans in Baltimore — a rare 90 minutes of candor on both sides that produced the most fascinating and revealing politics in memory — when Rep. Peter Roskam of suburban Chicago was called on for a question.
Opinion: President should have known better
A few months ago I wrote an article for Parade magazine about what President Obama can teach America’s kids. Basically, the piece told children that despite having no father present and a rather loopy mom, the president was able to prosper and achieve the most powerful position in the world. If young Barry Obama could overcome his rather chaotic upbringing (which included a stint in Indonesia), most American kids in difficult circumstances can do the same.
Winner's Docken rolls at Big Dakota
WINNER — As the nation’s No. 13-ranked high school senior wrestler at 189 pounds, Winner wrestler Jayd Docken has been going after the best this season. Docken — the top-ranked 189-pound wrestler in Class B — has defeated Tri-Valley’s Nate Kirby and Douglas’ Damon Lappe — two of South Dakota’s best — and gone after some of the nation’s elite in Wagner’s Robert Kokesh and West Fargo’s (N.D.) Tyler Lehmann.
DWU's opener postponed
The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team’s season opener was scheduled to be played indoors, but it has still been pushed back due to the winter weather around the area and the region.
Twins spending opening up
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have been spending their way out of that small-budget image, mirroring the imminent increase in revenue from their new ballpark with a big spike in player salary commitments. Lead owner Jim Pohlad said it’s a sustainable development. So even if the Twins sign Joe Mauer to a mammoth contract extension, they’re not afraid it would cost too much to keep a contending-caliber core of players around the American League MVP.







