Potter County Trivia

The story of Potter County's petrified man is told in Stanley Vestal's book THE MISSOURI. Briefly, the petrified man was a hoax concocted by bored locals who created a petrified body and buried it near Forest City. So successful was the hoax that the locals took the body to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, exhibiting it all along the way for a dollar a viewing. The hoax wasn't exposed until after the turn of the century when they repeated the stunt and tried to sell the next body. The buyer and his wife got into such a terrible fight over the purchase that the buyer murdered his wife and then killed himself. Details are on file at the Potter County Library.

Headline News

Jack Axsom resigned as mayor. Bill Wuttke was appointed as acting mayor until the next city election.

Chef Carl Hawkinson won "Best of Show" with his dish of Black Mission Pheasant over wild rice with organic cherries and pecans at the The Arts Community Alliance in Dallas, TX. Fifteen chefs from around the USA were invited to participate. Carl is 1978 graduate from GHS and the son of Belva and Howard Hawkinson. He is the chef at Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge near Pierre.

Corey and Karen Brown's twin girls, Madison Rose and Kennedy Lynn, were born Oct. 6. Grands are Ken and Lynn Brown.

Gettysburg's Oahe Manor earns a 5 Star Rating!

Homecoming King - Erik Hansen (Kirk Hansen and Kristi Hansen) Homecoming Queen - Samantha Wager (Ed and Carma (Manfull) Wager

Ray Goebel, 94, died Oct. 17
Finn Dahlquist, 87, died Oct. 12
Vernon Larson, 90, died Oct. 7
Howard Hawkinson, 85, died Oct. 9
Machan Brothers - Joe Machan,88, died Oct. 3 and Bob Machan, 80, died Sept. 27.

Potter County News Obituaries / Luce Funeral Home Obituaries
Kesling Funeral Home Obituaries / Lien Funeral Home Obituaries


New Businesses in Potter County or Gettysburg, SD.
New Business: Josh Bausch Carpentry -769-2003 or 765-2772
New Business: Kevin Lomheim Repair -769-0770
New Business: D J Fischer Insulation and Roofing - 769-0336
New Business: Compassionate Care Hospice - 765-2533


Top 200 Outdoor Cities - We question the results. Nobody goes to Sioux Falls or Aberdeen to partake in outdoor sports, but residents of Sioux Falls and Aberdeen regularly say they're heading to Mobridge or Pollock, Akaska, Timber Lake, Gettysburg, Webster, Lower Brule, Pickstown, Winner, Faith, Philip, Camp Crook and a hundred other small communities in South Dakota to hunt, fish or camp.

Gordon's Card Parlor building is no more. All of the buildings from Gordon's west to the end of the block have been torn down.

Other Sports News

Gettysburg School News

NEWSMAKERS

1. Corey and Karen Brown's twin girls, Madison Rose and Kennedy Lynn, were born Oct. 6.
2. Eugene and Stella Nagel celebrate their 40th Anniversary on Sept. 26.
3. Jack and Linda Bevers Axsom celebrated their 50th Anniversary.
4. John Bohnenkamp celebrated his 87th birthday on Sept. 20.
5. Jason Nagel and Bridget Fischer were married Sept. 26. Parents are Gary and Sandra Nagel Larson and Bill and Vicki Hoefert Fischer.
6. Bailey Ann Lake, born June 22 to Ryan and Margot Lake.
7. Jackson Rick Simon, born July 17 to Darrin and Sally Wittler Simon.
8. Son Dakota James, born July 8 to Tim and Shawn Tennant. Grands are Bob and Nancy Tennant.
9. Schatz Repair closes after 26 years when Leonard retires June 30.
10. Don and Shirley Hult Kunstle celebrate 60th anniversary on June 26.
11. Will Wager, son of Tom and Deb & grandson of Chuck and Veronica) earned his EAGLE SCOUT badge.
12. Louie & Edith Kearns Bartels celebrate 60th wedding anniversary on July 3.
13. Delila Jager celebrated 85th birthday on June 28.
14. Regina Hericks recently celebrated her 90th birthday.
15. Darrell & Norma Harer celebrated 60th wedding anniversary.
16. Quentin & Eileen Worth celebrated 60th wedding anniversary.
17. Calley Worth's pole vault sets new school record at 11'1"(Calley is the daughter of Craig and Barb Worth)
18. Bessie Weinert celebrated her 90th birthday on May 24.
19. Imogene Drew celebrated her 90th birthday on May 11.
20. Alexis Renae was born March 3 to Paul and Bonnie (Stiegelmeier) Kellogg.
21. Brooke Leigh was born March 8 to Dustin and Megan (Hepper) Lower.
22. Corbin Brady was born March 14 to Seth and Pamela Warner.
23. Son Mason Philip, born Feb. 9, to Mark and April Goebel. Phil & Aleta (Baum) Goebel are grands and Rose Goebel is great-grand.
24. Larry & Dixie Zebroski announce the birth of their granddaughter, Remington, on Jan. 12. Parents are Rob and Amy Myers of Rapid City.
25. Harlen and Sharon (Miller) Shaw celebrate a 50th Anniversary on June 6.
26. Quentin and Eileen (Boke) Worth celebrate a 60th Anniversary on June 5.
27. Kent and Kay (Spicer) Joachim celebrated their 40th anniversary in May.
28. George and Martha Mann celebrated their 60th Anniversary in May.
29. Roger and Delores Moore are celebrating their 60th Anniversary.
30. Darrel and Linda Simon are celebrating their 50th Anniversary.
31. Pat and Carrie Glodt celebrated their 60th Anniversary on Jan. 26.
32. Son Boston was born to Rease and JoLinda (Fox) Brown. Grands are Jim and Judy Brown and Kathy Fox.
33. Isaac Thomas was born to Tom and Carol Lynn (Wright) Larrington on Dec. 29. Grands are Shirley Molitor, Bob and Carol Larrington, and Bill and Holly Wright.
34. Stephanie Marie was born to Scott and Angela (Briscoe) Harvill on Dec. 29. Grands are John and Rita Briscoe.
35. Kevin Lomheim opened his new vehicle repair business, Lomheim Repair.
36. Joe Senyak retired as police chief. New chief Gayle Kludt was welcomed into the community

Passings

1. Ray Goebel, 94, died Oct. 17
2. Finn Dahlquist, 87, died Oct. 12
3. Vernon Larson, 90, died Oct. 7
4. Howard Hawkinson, 85, died Oct. 9
5. Machan Brothers - Joe Machan,88, died Oct. 3 and Bob Machan, 80, died Sept. 27.
6. Effie C. Wickersham, died September 29
7. Jack Hall, died September 29
8. Robert W. Machan, died September 27
9. Inez Kula, 77, died Sept. 21
10. Delbert Siebrasse, 80, died Sept. 20.
11. Dr. Greg Hewitt, 59, died Sept. 6.
12. Rev. Donald Rahn, 79, died Aug. 18.
13. George Mann, 102, died Aug. 12.
14. Keith Johnson , 73, died July 8
15. Joanne Yecha, 63, died May 24
16. Donald Boke, 99, died May 23.
17. Alvin Heier, 88, died May 14
18. Lorren Kilian, 75, died Apr. 30.
19. Velda Hall, 78, died Apr. 26.
20. Vena Manfull, 77, died April 1.
21. Orville Schmidt, 76, died April 4.
22. Dorothy Harris, 90, died March 4. Maiden name: Shawgo.
23. Bob Boulding, GHS 1946, died April 28.
24. Dorothy Paulson, 83, died April 17.
25. Grant Adams, brother of Jeanette Westphal, died April 27.
26. Tom Schlachter, 80, died March 5.
27. Clarence Carlson, 87, died March 24.
28. Clara Holzwarth, 85, died March 18.
29. Andy Liebig, 34, died Feb. 14.
30. Jim Lake, 77, died Feb. 5. Marie Todd died Feb. 7
31. Dora Voorhes Walters, 89, died Jan. 22.
32. Art Genzler, 72, died Jan. 13. Husband of Virginia. Father of Don, Dan, & Jeff.
33. Mary Asmussen, 91, died Jan. 14.
34. Harriett Lagan, 88, died Dec. 29.
35. Donna Nylander, 68, died Dec. 14.

Prairie Living

WITHIN 80 MILES OF GETTYSBURG, SD.

1. Tour the Dakota Sunset Museum, home of the sacred Lakota Medicine Rock, and showcase for the history of Gettysburg and Potter County. A special treat is a cannon from the Battle of Gettysburg. Dakota Sunset Museum Website
2. View the inspiring Veterans' Memorial and artillery exhibit on the grounds of the historic Potter County courthouse in Gettysburg.
3. Cool off in South Dakota’s first swimming pool at Lebanon, SD, 9 miles east of Gettysburg .
4. See the historic round barn that sits a few miles off the main road north of Gettysburg.
5. Tour the magnificent Cathedral of the Prairies at Hoven, SD, twenty miles away - crowns the landscape with its twin spires.
6. See the Bactrian (double-humped) camels and reindeer at the Tip Top Camel and Reindeer Ranch 12 miles west of Bowdle.
7. Tour bandleader Lawrence Welk’s family home at Strasburg, ND.
8. View Oscar Howe’s ten murals painted on the walls of Mobridge’s city auditorium as a WPA project in 1942.
9. Tour the Railroad Museum at Faith, SD.
10. Travel scenic Highway 1804.
11. Enjoy Aberdeen's Storybook Land built in remembrance of Aberdonian L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
12. Fish for walleye all year long on Lake Oahe from G’Burg to Mobridge - the Walleye Capital of the World.

Information

* City of Gettysburg
* Potter County News

* Gettysburg weather

* Potter County Library Website for genealogy information

*Churches: Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Mormon, Episcopal, Mennonite

*Medical Facilities: Hospital, Clinic, Nursing Home, Apartments with optional assistance, Dental Clinic, Vision Care Clinic, Chiropractor

*Emergency Services: Volunteer Fire Department, Volunteer Ambulance Service with certified EMTs

Hidden Treasures

> Specialty nut rolls at the Gettysburg Bakery. They mail them all over the USA.

> Acai Smoothies at The Coffee Bean. Acai is an antioxidant-rich berry from the Brazilian Amazon and is one of the Superfoods of the world.

> World class steak dinners.

> Medical services - apartments, clinic, lab, x-ray, nursing home, & hospital -- all under one roof.


ENTERTAINMENT OF INFINITE VARIETY
City Parks - 2 city parks with play areas, basketball courts, lighted tennis courts, picnic areas, restrooms & showers

State Park - West Whitlock State Park has camping sites, restrooms with showers, swimming beach, fish cleaning stations, & a boat ramp

Bowling

Hunting - pheasant, deer, geese, ducks, grouse, partridge, antelope. Guides available.

Golf - 9-hole city golf course with beautiful grass greens and watered fairways

Fishing - walleye, salmon, catfish, northern pike, and more. Guides available.

Water sports - nearby Lake Oahe and in-town swimming pools

Free Camping at Gettysburg's main city park

Fee Campsites - some with laundry facilities

Library - The Potter County Library has books, magazines, videos, audios and wireless Internet access: Potter County Library Website

RICH IN HISTORY

1. Interested in the origins of Gettysburg and Potter County?For Sale: Gettysburg's 75th Anniversary Book - 1883-1958 -- $5 each.
2. The Dakota Sunset Museum showcases area history and houses 125 yrs. of obituaries. Museum Website: Dakota Sunset Museum Website
3. The Potter County Library in downtown Gettysburg is the home of Potter County genealogy records and obituaries as well as the Heritage Quest and Ancestry.com databases. Potter County Library Website

EDUCATION
Gettysburg has a K-12 school system with top-notch teachers and supportive parents.

** The system supports an excellent school library, Internet parent portal, an online encyclopedia, and a delicious lunch and breakfast program.

** It is rated a 2006 Distinguished School - which means the school meets the state's proficient and advanced levels of student performance in both reading and math.

** Gettysburg School Website

Gettysburg's Air Force Radar Station

Manned by the 903rd AC&W Squadron, Gettysburg became operational in 1956. The Air Force deactivated the 903rd Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 18 June 1968. The FAA continues to operate long-range radar there today using an AN/FPS-67B search radar atop the old AN/FPS-27 radar tower.

Click one of the links below to find:
Documents relating to 903rd Gettysburg AFS, SD
Gettysburg History, c. 1958
First Mess Hall Meal, Arctic Towers, Other 1956 News
FAA Radar article - 1999
Building Gettysburg AFS, 1955
Winter Scenes
Gettysburg AFS "Only A Legend" - 1999
FUDS Findings of Fact
Site Closing Newspaper Article
Work Progressing Rapidly, Sept. 1955 News
Site Roster
Photographs
Recent photos
Main Site Aerial Photos
Housing Area Aerial Photos
Offsite (Local) GATR Aerial Photos
Main Site Topographic Map
Housing Area Topographic Map
Site History (brief, official history)
Aerial Images
OR
Click this link: RADAR SITES
Input this data: Unit - 903; Site ID - M-99; SAGE ID - Z-99; Location - Gettysburg, SD.