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The Lady Raiders would head into the Semi Finals against a formable opponent that had size and shooters to match up with Wagner. It was like a replay from the Rapid City Christian game. The Raiders would jump all over the Redman with a commanding 16-4 lead after one. The Raider would take a 29-15 lead into he half. Both teams would continue to score points quickly in the third quarter. Sisseton would cut the lead down to 8 only to see that grow balloon back to 11 after the third quarter as Macy Koupal would hit her 3rd trey of the quarter at the buzzer. Wagner once again would dominate the 4th quarter out scoring Sisseton 19-12 and take a 63-45 victory and find themselves in the Championship game in Class A. Ashlyn Koupal would tally 27 points, 9 boards, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Macy Koupal would tally 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Emma Yost would be the second player with a double-double with 14 points, 14 boars, and 3 assists. Shalayne Nagel would round out the scoring with 5 points, 3 boards, 3 blocks, 3 steals, and 2 assists. Eve Zephier would grab 3 boards, and dish out 2 assists while Lydia Yost would also grab 3 boards, and dish out 1 assist. Wagner would hit 18--40 from the floor for 40% while the Redman would go 19-55 for 35%. Wagner would hit 22-34 from the charity stripe while Sisseton would go 4-7. Wagner would out rebound the Redman 39-30. “Another great job defensively. With another tight game we switched to zone and held them scoreless for almost 3 minutes. We knocked down a lot of free throws late. They had some really decent size and matched up well with us inside. Once they had to rotate one of their posts out we took advantage of mismatches and executed our high low game.”
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THREE RAIDERS MADE ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM IN THE 2023 GIRLS CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT
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The final week of the 2023 Legislative Session was not without some challenges. It is important to review the history behind the sales tax to understand the Legislature’s tax cut. In 2016 the SD Legislature passed HB1137 which increased the state sales tax to 4.5%. The tax had been 4% since 1969. Gov Dennis Daugaard asked for the higher tax to help raise teacher pay because SD was in last place nationally for teacher pay. 63% of the proceeds would go towards increasing state aid to education, 34% for property tax relief and 3% for raising instructional salaries at the technical schools. At that time the House vote was 47 Ayes which was the exact number needed for a 2/3’s majority. A key part of that bill was a promise made that “If the state can enforce obligation to collect and remit sales tax on internet sales, the additional net revenue from these sales shall be used to reduce the rate of sales tax. (The Partridge Amendment) HB1137 is a bill that will lower the sales tax from 4.5% to 4.2%. It passed in the House 70 to 0 and 31 to 2 in the Senate on Thursday. This will result in the largest tax cut in the history of the state of SD. The Senate added an amendment that includes a sunset clause which means the legislature will have to either remove the clause or vote again on the tax rate before July 2027. The legislature evaluates all the budget analysis every year and makes adjustments that are in line with South Dakota’s growth. This has allowed us to develop a budget that addresses our states obligations as we try to reduce taxes and give the people of SD more money in their pockets. Passing of HB1137 honors the legislatures promise made in 2016.
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The 98th Legislative Session is finished. It was a great session, historical, in the fact that we delivered the largest tax cut in South Dakota history and will keep $104 million dollars in the pockets of our taxpayers by cutting sales tax by 4.5% to 4.2%. I am thankful to have been a part of this and optimistic that this tax cut will help families and businesses going into the future. This tax cut will be felt everywhere that South Dakotans purchase goods – including the grocery aisle.
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The Wagner Rotary Club enjoyed a different kind of meeting on Wednesday, March 8th. Club members met at the Choteau Creek Brewing Company east of Wagner for a night of fellowship and food.
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After 40 years as a doctor interacting with patients, in the last two and a half years the tables turned, and I’ve become the patient. Although most are good, I’ve found some doctors are detached, some are too quick, some would rather be somewhere else, some are even angry; but, when a physician who cares walks into the room, and I’m not exaggerating, the day becomes better, the pain becomes less, and hope fills my heart. Scientific knowledge is important, but the ability to convey honest concern, human thoughtfulness and compassion is equal in importance in this healing profession. So, how do we select pre-med students for that, or teach compassion in medical school?
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