Business owners in Winner speak out about storm damage

WINNER, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The community of Winner saw a storm with wind gusts reaching over 80 mph on Monday. The storm brought significant damage to the area, but the community quickly got to work to lend a hand.

President and owner of South Central Livestock Supply, Tresh Swedlund, said that a couple of people parked outside his business as the storm passed. He recalled them explaining how they felt like they were holding on for dear life.

“You start talking a couple of buildings blown away, there’s a lot of metal, a lot of wood, a lot of damage a lot of trees, just things tangled up,” said Swedlund.

Quickly after the storm passed, clean-up began. From the high school football team helping around town to local restaurants giving away free food to residents.

One focal point of the community to see assistance from everyone is the Winner Drive-In Theater. The winds from the storm ripped their screen apart and the owners have begun to ponder what work needs to be done for their next season.

“Probably gonna have to take it all down and probably redo it, take the rest of it apart, put all new strapping in the screen, put an all-new screen on,” said owner Austin Moser.

Clean-up efforts are still underway in Winner.

The local Dairy Queen announced that on Thursday, August 1st, 10% of all sales will go towards the Winner Drive-In Theater.

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