Asides

‘A lot of memories. A lot of hamburgers’: McDonalds building torn down

McDonald’s owner Mike Kelley talks to bystanders Thursday as an excavator from Tooz Construction works on tearing down the site of the old restaurant on Museum Drive. A new McDonald’s building was built right next to the old one, which is being tore down to create a parking lot, Kelley said.

Mike Kelley couldn’t help but become emotional Thursday morning as he watched construction crews tear down the McDonalds restaurant he built four decades ago.

“This is really something,” he said to other onlookers as Tooz Construction crews razed the front of the structure along Museum Drive in Dickinson.

Kelley, a Dickinson area rancher and businessman, has owned McDonalds since it was built in 1976. The fast-food chain restaurant quickly became a staple of the community.

Walking through the old McDonalds building one last time, Kelley summed up what the restaurant — often the busiest eating place in Dickinson — has meant to the community.

“A lot of memories. A lot of hamburgers,” he said with a smile.

Continue reading “‘A lot of memories. A lot of hamburgers’: McDonalds building torn down”

Legendary basketball coach Don Meyer captivates during speech in Lemmon

LEMMON, S.D. — Becky Engel was holding up the line.

Everyone behind her would have to wait though. The man who had just spoken for an hour was now listening intently to her.

Engel, an 18-year-old senior at Faith (S.D.) High School who is in remission from leukemia, was one of hundreds who listened to legendary basketball coach Don Meyer speak Tuesday afternoon at the Lemmon Armory.

Meyer, one of the winningest college basketball coaches of all time and a cancer survivor, spoke for about an hour on the subjects of leadership and character.

“It was nice to know that he still has the encouragement with all that he has gone through, and he gives me encouragement too,” said Engel, who was diagnosed last August. “… It helps me see that you have to stay strong through it all and keep going.”

The 67-year-old captivated an audience of mostly northwest South Dakota schools high school students and Lemmon community members with anecdotes, jokes and motivational talking points.

He struck a chord with Engel, however, because of his backstory.

Continue reading “Legendary basketball coach Don Meyer captivates during speech in Lemmon”