shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com May 2, 2017 • Page 7 Department Of Tourism Invites A Moment Worth Travelers To Discover Their The Wait “Great Place” In South Dakota By Sen. John Thune PIERRE, S.D. – In preparation for the upcoming tourist season, the Department of Tourism’s peak marketing “My Great Place” campaign has launched in key markets to promote leisure travel to South Dakota. “By helping people in these key target markets discover South Dakota, we expect that this will be a solid summer for both visitors and tourism-related businesses in the state,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “We look forward to sharing South Dakota with visitors as they discover their own great place.” The department is continuing its “My Great Place” campaign, promoting both the great places found across the state and the state-ofmind one can experience in South Dakota. The campaign targets three main audiences: Young Families (ages 25-45 with children in household), Bucket Listers (ages 50+ seeking once-in-a-lifetime adventures) and Active Couples (couples ages 25-45 with outdoor interests and no children). These audiences are strategically targeted by the department through specific messages and imagery placed in highly visible and common forms of media including TV advertisements, magazines, direct-mail, email, online, social and billboard signage. “We won’t be surprised if people that once visited the state as a child become inspired to bring their chil- dren or grandchildren this year to experience the joy and wonder that South Dakota has to offer,” Hagen said. “It’s not unusual for the uniqueness of South Dakota to become a tradition that’s passed on to the next generation.” Primary cities that the department will advertise in this season include Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Des Moines, Iowa; Green Bay, Wis.; Kansas City, Mo.; Madison, Wis.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Omaha, Neb. Secondary and third-tier markets include Fargo, N.D.; La Crosse/Eau Claire, Wis.; Lincoln, Neb.; Mankato, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; Spokane, Wash.; St. Cloud, Minn.; Quad Cities, Iowa; and Wausau, Wis. The department has worked to tailor its marketing and advertising efforts to the changing planning habits of travelers. Led by greater insights gained from recent department research, peak leisure efforts kicked off in November with most of the campaign launching in March. Efforts which started this winter included: participation in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; a President’s Day celebration event at the Mall of America; a season-long promotion with the Minnesota Vikings; South Dakota-branded entryways at the Southdale Shopping Center in Minneapolis; a high-impact, popup direct mail piece delivered to targeted Chicago homes; participation in travel and outdoor consumer shows such as the Pheasants Forever National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic; and billboards in Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Madison, Wis.; and Minneapolis, Minn. This spring the department is hosting a “Good Times, Great Places” sweepstakes promotion. The promotion will bring social media influencers to the state to experience one of four specific itineraries developed for the campaign. Consumers can participate by entering for a chance to win one of these trips through an engaging online quiz that matches them with the itinerary best fitting their vacation interests. In total, the department’s peak marketing efforts are expected to generate more than 518 million impressions. Efforts will run through the third week of July. The goal of this year’s campaign is to continue the growth that the South Dakota tourism industry has experienced over the past seven years. In 2016, the state greeted 13.9 million visitors, resulting in visitor spending reaching $3.8 billion. Last year’s campaign generated $51 in visitor spending for every dollar spent marketing the state as a vacation destination. The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen. SD National Guard Selects Warrant Officer Of The Year RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Dakota National Guard selected a Rapid City man as Warrant Officer of the Year during its annual officer's conference in Deadwood, April 21. Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Fleming, education and incentives branch chief for Joint Force Headquarters, South Dakota Army National Guard, received the Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael F. O'Connor Award as the most exceptional warrant officer after competing against warrant officers from several of the SDARNG's major commands. "To receive this award is very humbling and would not have been a consideration without the dedication and hard work of those on the support teams surrounding me at work or at home," said Fleming. "It has to be said that being nominated for an award named after an individual known for his fully engaged support of his fellow Soldiers is inspiring and uplifting." Fleming, who has 29 years of military service, is the senior advisor to the SDARNG director of personnel and unit commanders on all concerns related to National Guard educational funding and incentives, initiatives and programs. He was also the runner-up for the 2016 Technician of the Year Award for the SDNG. "Chief Warrant Officer 3 Fleming's experience and knowledge have made him an invaluable asset to Joint Force Headquarters," said Col. John Weber, G1 director of personnel, JFHQ. "He is exceptionally qualified for this prominent award, and over the past year his contributions to the South Dakota Army National Guard have been significant, particu- larly dealing with benefits and incentives available to our Soldiers." "I truly enjoy helping my fellow Soldiers discover how they can reach their post-secondary educational goals," said Fleming. "The men and women of the South Dakota Army National Guard deserve the best we can give them and being a small part of aiding them is extremely rewarding." In addition to his fulltime responsibilities, Fleming also volunteers much of his free time to local organizations. He has been a foster parent with the S.D. Dept. of Social Services for 13 years, a member of the American Legion Post 22, a volunteer at his church and a member of the Black Hills Society of Human Resources. Other warrant officers representing their major command for this year's competition were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tyler Ehnes, 109th Regional Support Group, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Peterson, 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. The CW4 Michael F. O'Connor Award was established in 2000 to recognize the most outstanding South Dakota Army National Guard Warrant Officer of the past year. Criterion for the award is based on exceptional qualities of technical knowledge, leadership, dedication and initiative. "Chief Warrant Officer 3 Fleming is an excellent representative of the high quality Soldiers that make up the Warrant Officer Corps within the South Dakota Army National Guard," said Maj. David Sheets, detachment commander for Joint Force Headquarters. "He is an outstanding recipient for this award." Engstrom To Deliver Commencement Address VERMILLION, S.D. – Royce Engstrom, former president of the University of Montana and longtime University of South Dakota faculty member, will deliver the commencement address as part of the 130th Commencement Exercises of the University of South Dakota beginning at 9:30 a.m. next Saturday, May 6. Royce served as University of Montana president for six years and provost for three. Previously, he was a member of the USD community for 28 years, holding positions as a faculty member and chair in the Department of Chemistry, vice president for research, dean of the graduate school and provost. During his tenure, he was known for his staunch advocacy of student engagement, interdisciplinary learning and research growth. Royce has been actively involved in the national agenda for higher education serving in leadership roles on the Council on Undergraduate Research, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Royce is married to Mary Engstrom, who holds a doctorate from USD and who also served as a faculty member. They have two children. Press Regular deadline the week before & after Gary Madsen 605-638-0643 Hazen Bye #11665 and Jim Brady $1,950 Cadillac UNIQUE EUROPEAN ARTWORK – VINTAGE FLORENTINE GOLD FURNITURE - GRANDFATHER & GERMAN WALL CLOCKS – STERLING SILVERWARE – HUMMELS – CHINA SETS – GERMAN OFFICER HATS - MANY SURPRISES WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH FIRST ITEM CLOSES AT 10:00 A.M. 605-665-3720 • Yankton, SD 95 Years In Business Serving... Vermillion, Yankton, Sioux City and Everywhere In Between bp Broadcaster Deadline: 11am Thursday, May 25 May 12, 2017 5:30 pm May 14, 2017 12:30 pm (City of Vermillion) (Household and more) Vermillion June 10, 2017 1:00 pm House (Utica) and Personal Property For full listing and photos go to Dakotarealty.com (Auction) 2007 CTS Since 1934 Deadline: Noon Thursday, May 25 UPCOMING AUTIONS 3.6L., Full Power Pearl White tinted windows moon roof Needs an Engine bp EARLY DEADLINES for May 30th Issues Broadcaster Press Since 1934 AUCTIONS TIMED INTERNET ONLY AUCTION Over MAY 29th The University of South Dakota’s (USD’s) Derek Miles has been known for a lot of things over the years, including being a father, husband, athlete, coach, and Olympian, just to name a few. Now, nearly a decade after competing in the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, he will be forever and finally known as an Olympic medalist. While nothing can replace standing on the podium in Beijing, I think Derek would agree that getting to share this special moment with friends, family, and the USD community will be a memory not soon forgotten. This particular chapter in Derek’s story begins in 2008 when he qualified for the men’s pole vault competition at the Beijing Olympic Games. It wasn’t Derek’s first trip to the Olympics either. He’d earned several top-three finishes at various events throughout his career, including the Olympic trials, but never at the Olympic Games. Derek competed hard in Beijing, but missed the podium by one position, placing fourth overall. Derek will tell you that he wishes he’d just beaten the third-place finisher outright, but he would eventually receive what was rightfully his. It wasn’t until eight years after the Beijing Games ended that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reanalyzed samples and determined that the Ukrainian athlete, who originally placed third and took Derek’s spot on the podium, used performanceenhancing substances that gave him an unfair advantage. He was subsequently disqualified by the IOC for using banned substances. After the IOC took action, the third-place spot belonged to Derek, at least on paper. While knowing he’d placed third was heartening, he was still missing something important: the medal that should have hung around his neck in 2008. I’d followed Derek’s career as an athlete and then as a coach at USD, but I wasn’t aware that he hadn’t received his medal until I met Michael Phelps in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. He was in town to testify before Congress about the perils and challenges of performanceenhancing drugs at the Olympics. Phelps knows a thing or two (or 28) about earning an Olympic medal, and I was impressed that he was willing to fight for fellow athletes like Derek. I quickly talked to my staff on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Olympic Committee and other athletic organizations, about Derek’s story. Shortly thereafter, I wrote to the IOC to try to help right this wrong. After some hard work and persistence by my staff, we heard from the IOC that it had located an authentic Beijing bronze medal and would send it to its rightful owner in Vermillion, South Dakota. Derek exemplifies what it means to be a true athlete. He’s dedicated to the sport and to the men and women – young and old, present and future – who make it what it is. I’m so honored that I could play a small role in helping to close this long and unfairly open-ended chapter in his life. Today, Derek is mentoring and coaching the next generation of potential Olympic athletes at USD. As for being a part of the USD community and living in South Dakota, Derek summed it up well: “Every time you turn a corner, there’s someone there that’s going to help you. Whether it’s your track coach, or your senator, or your representative bodies, or your family, or your friends, or your coaches – it’s truly fortunate to have fallen into this place, and you guys are probably stuck with me. I’m not sure I’ll ever leave.” I doubt I’m the only one who’s glad to hear that good news. It is our privilege to offer on a timed internet only auction a unique variety of items very seldom found in South Dakota. The Conway family lived in Europe and California most of their life before retiring to Bridgewater in 2002. This auction awards the opportunity to purchase original artist signed, oil paintings on canvass, large set of Italian & European Florentine Gold furniture and mirrors, sterling silverware sets, German Officer Hats, working grandfather and wall clocks, Statue of David, store scales, several pieces of Hummel’s including umbrella boy & girl, Huge selection of jewelry sold in box lots. Please go to www.wiemanbid2buy. com for a catalog of the auction. Why travel all over the world when you can purchase unique items right here in South Dakota! Open house to view the items in person will be held on Monday May 8th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Wieman Auction Facility 44628 SD Hwy. 44 Marion, SD located 1-mile south and ½ mile west of Marion. A 10% buyers premium will be added to all purchases. BEVERLY CONWAY ESTATE – OWNER Vermillion: 605.624.5618 • Yankton: 605.665.4348 Sioux City: 712.252.2000 WIEMAN LAND & AUCTION CO., INC. MARION SD 1-800-251-3111 www.wiemanbid2buy.com Co Tr rel ma on Tr Fo tio for