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Off And On Sunshine9 a.m.: 22 | 3 p.m.: 32 | DETAILS: PAGE 2

YA N K T O N D A I LY

VOLUME 138NUMBER 249

Saturday n February 16, 2013

The Dakotas’ Oldest Newspaper | 12 PAGES | www.yankton.net

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REGION 2-3 | OBITUARIES 3 | LIFE 5 | MIDWEST 5 | SPORTS 7-9 | CLASSIFIEDS 10-11 | WORLD 12

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BY ANDREW ATWALandrew.atwal@yankton.net

After years of volunteering for a localschool, Larry Hames was recently recog-nized with a big honor.

The Sacred Heart School recently in-ducted Hames into its Hall of Fame. Theaward was presented to him last month.

A ceremony was held during the 5:30p.m. mass at St. Benedict’s on Jan. 26,while an additional presentation forHames was held at the 11 a.m. mass onJan. 27 at Sacred Heart.

“I was very surprised about getting thehonor, there’s no question about that,” he

said. “However, I really appreciate gettingthe recognition.”

Hames said he believes there is a refer-ral process for the award where peoplecan nominate individuals. He said therewas a nomination put forth on his behalfthat cited some of the things he’s done forthe school over the past several years.

“I helped out when the school additionwas built at St. Benedict’s, I acted as a liai-son between the school board and theconstruction company,” Hames said. “Ialso do a lot of computer maintenance forthe churches and schools. I helped set upall of the computer networks in SacredHeart Elementary, and work with the mid-

dle school networks as well.”In addition to helping out with the

computer networks, he also manages theinvestment certificate program for SacredHeart and St. Benedict’s. The program isused to manage the schools debt on theconstruction they had.

All of the work Hames does for the dis-trict is volunteer-based.

Hames is retired and said he is doingthis work not for financial gain, but tohelp pass his time.

“Overall, with the investment certifi-

BY DEREK BARTOSderek.bartos@yankton.net

SANTEE, Neb. — In August 1999, members of theSantee Sioux Nation tribal council departed for a fed-eral courthouse in Omaha, Neb., not knowing whenthey would return.

They had been placed in contempt of court forfailing to comply with an order from the Justice De-partment to close the reservation’s Ohiya Casino,which the tribe had opened to create jobs and eco-nomic development.

“I remember that was the day the United Statesmade our children cry on the Santee reservation,”casino manager Thelma Thomas said. “Because be-fore they left home, they had to tell their children

and their family members they may not be returning,because they were prepared to go to jail.”

The scene was part of an eight-year legal battlebetween the tribe and state and federal governmentsin which Santee ultimately emerged victorious.

On Friday afternoon, the Santee Sioux Nation cel-ebrated its past successes and future potential dur-ing the grand opening ceremonies for its new OhiyaCasino and Resort.

“We hope this will be the start of many goodthings, not only for the reservation, but also for thecounty and the northeast Nebraska region,” tribalchairman Roger Trudell said. “Studies have shownthe communities surrounding casinos and resorts

BY RANDY DOCKENDORFrandy.dockendorf@yankton.net

TYNDALL — A Scotland man has received a manda-tory life sentence for his second-degree murder con-viction in the March 2011 death of his infant son.

Chris A. Miller, 39, received the sentence for thedeath of four-month-old Jacob Miller at their Scotlandhome. In addition, Miller was sentenced to 50 years foraggravated assault and 10 years for probation viola-tion, with all sentences ordered to run consecutively.

Circuit Judge Glen Eng issued the sentence Fridayat the Bon Homme County courthouse in Tyndall.

In addition, the judge ordered Miller to pay restitu-tion of $22,794.33 for costs related to the case,$1,971.46 for Jacob’s funeral expenses and all attor-neys’ fees.

Miller admitted to habitual offender status becauseof previous convictions, which elevated the aggra-vated assault from a Class 2 felony to a Class 1 felony.

At Friday’s sentencing, Miller remained adamant inmaintaining his innocence, denying that he caused hisson’s death.

“Just because I’m an a**hole, or a hard a**, it does-n’t make me a killer,” he said.

Miller again proclaimed his innocence later in theproceedings, referring to his relationship with otherfamily members.

“I know I didn’t hurt my son. I would never hurt mydaughter (Elizabeth), and I slapped my wife (Stacy)once,” he said. “Just because a guy is an a**hole does-n’t mean he’s a murderer.”

The murder and assault charges stemmed from a911 call from the Miller residence in Scotland onMarch 3, 2011, where Jacob Miller was reported notbreathing. Hospital staff notified law enforcement thatJacob was diagnosed with a severe skull fracture andbleeding on the brain.

Chris Miller had allegedly shaken and beaten theinfant.

This case was investigated by the Division of Crimi-nal Investigation (DCI), Bon Homme County sheriff’soffice and the Scotland police department.

Miller was convicted by a Turner County jury onJan. 30 of this year. The trial, and Friday’s sentencing,ended two years of investigations and courtproceedings.

Eng had granted the defense’s motion for a changeof venue, moving the trial out of Bon Homme County.

BY CHET BROKAWAssociated Press

PIERRE — A man whocaused a fatal accident whiletexting behind the wheel andthe widow of the man who diedtold state lawmakers Friday it’stime for South Dakota to jointhe other 39 states that havebanned texting while driving.

Justin Iburg of Mitchell saidhe was texting in September2010 when he rammed intoother vehicles stopped in a con-struction zone. Iburg, who was20 at the time of the crash andlater convicted of reckless driv-ing, showed a Senate committeea slideshow of photos of the ac-cident scene and of the victim,Jon Christensen.

Christensen’s widow, Janean,said her 44-year-old husbandwas killed while riding his mo-torcycle home after the familyate at a restaurant to celebratetheir son’s 13th birthday. Shecried as she said her husbandwould still be alive if Iburg hadbeen paying attention to theroad instead of his phone.

“Telling my children thattheir dad was gone was one ofthe hardest things I’ve ever had

to do,” said Chris-tensen, who alsolives in Mitchell.“It is time some-thing is done soother familieswon’t have to gothrough the pain.”

Iburg, whogives presenta-tions about the

crash to young people as part ofhis criminal sentence, added:“On that day, so many liveswere changed. ... It’s not worthdying for. Don’t let this be you.”

The Senate TransportationCommittee heeded the message,voting 5-2 to endorse a pro-posed texting ban similar tomeasures that have been re-peatedly rejected in recentyears. The bill next goes to thefull Senate.

Supporters hope lawmakerswill look more favorably on theidea now because four SouthDakota cities in the past yearhave imposed their own banson texting while driving. Thirty-nine states and the District ofColumbia have already bannedtexting behind the wheel.

ScotlandMan Gets

Life InPrison

A New Day For Santee

Texting BanAdvancesIn Pierre

Miller Continues To ProclaimInnocence In Son’s Death

KELLY HERTZ/P&DThis truck rolled into the ditch around 11:40 a.m. Friday along 898 Road just east ofthe Highway 81 and Highway 121 intersection. According to Cedar County (Neb.) Sher-iff Larry Koranda, the driver heard a “pop” before losing control of the vehicle. Inves-tigators could not determine any mechanical cause for the mishap, and speed is notbelieved to have been a factor. A small amount of diesel fuel spilled at the scene, andthe Yankton Fire Department helped to clean it up. The load of round bales on thetruck remained secured. Koranda said the driver of the truck was not injured.

Three Board Of Ed.Members Reappointed

PIERRE (AP) — Gov. DennisDaugaard has reappointed threepeople whose terms were expir-ing on the South Dakota Boardof Education.

The terms of Kelly Duncan ofVermillion, Stacy Phelps ofRapid City and Julie Mathiesenof Sturgis were extended on thenine-member board for anotherfour years.

Duncan has been a memberof the board since 1996. Phelpswas first appointed to the groupby Gov. Mike Rounds in 2008.

Mathiesen is the newestmember of the board. She wasinitially appointed in 2011.

TRUCKANDROLL

Vehle

Senate Panel Moves Measure Forward

Local Man Inducted Into Hall Of Fame

Sioux Nation Comes Together To Celebrate Grand Opening

YANKTON RECYCLING NEXT WEEK:

NORTHOF 15TH STREET

VOLUNTEER | PAGE 2

SUBMITTED PHOTOLarry Hames (right), stands with his wifeIrene, after he was inducted into the SacredHeart School Hall of Fame last month.

TEXTING | PAGE 2 SENTENCE | PAGE 3

DEREK BARTOS/P&DEight-year-old Santee Sioux tribal memberTawi Star Comes Out cuts the ribbon Fridayat the grand opening ceremonies for the newOhiya Casino and Resort in Santee, Neb. CASINO | PAGE 11

Gazelles Finish SeventhAt State Gymnastics • 7