Elain and Perry Casteel's Tri-Star Winery News

Elaine (Elaine Fish DHS55) and Perry Casteel (DHS53), seen here, of Tri-Star Vineyards & Winery have joined forces with Lynchburg Cake and Candies to introduce the latest unique treat from this region - Tennessee Wine Drops.(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

TIMES GAZETTE, Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Thursday, February 7, 2008 ~by Brian Mosley

A Tennessee treat is now available to the public due to two local companies combining their efforts to spread the taste of the region nationwide.

Tri-Star Vineyards and Winery on Scales Road near Halls Mill has joined forces with Lynchburg Cakes and Candies to produce Tennessee Wine Drops, a candy that winery owners Perry and Elaine Casteel hope will catch on.

Lynchburg Cakes and Candies has already had great success with its Whiskey Cakes, which went into high demand after they were featured on the Food Network and "The View" on several occasions. Billy Thomas, who formed the cake company in his back yard, has been doing a booming business for the past two years.

Thomas already makes Whiskey Drops and Whiskey Ball. Elaine Casteel said she and her husband have wanted to do something like this ever since they started the winery 13 years ago, and with Thomas just in the next county, they finally found someone to put their wine into candy.

The wine goes in the center of the chocolate candy, which is also full of pecans. The candies come in two flavors, Cherry and Chancellor, based on two of Tri-Star's 18 wine varieties. Tri-Star raises is own grapes and muscadines and buys fruits for its other fruit wines.

Elaine Casteel said if the first two candy varieties are well-received other varieties of wine may be turned into candy as well.

Perry Casteel said there is a fine balance to make sure that the wine doesn't overpower the candy. "We're going to be experimenting with that over the coming months," he said.

The drops are available from both Lynchburg Cakes and Candies and from Tri-Star, although Elaine Casteel said that Thomas' fame will likely help introduce the product. Thomas will do most of the shipping and sales of the new candy, because just operating the winery takes much of the Casteels' time and effort.

In the rear of the building is the winery itself, which the Casteels say is one of the smallest in Tennessee. Picking starts in late July and continues until the freeze starts in November. They will pick about 300 to 400 pounds of grapes in the mornings out of the five acre vineyard and then crush and destem them.

Then they transfer the juice to barrels, add some sugar and yeast and let nature begin the fermenting process. After about five days, the get the color they want. The wine is then transferred to another barrel with an airlock that keeps oxygen out while letting carbon dioxide escape as the yeast turns the sugar into alcohol.

By the end of the year-long process, the wine is ready to bottle, which is done on site. The winery sells about 5,000 to 6,000 bottles a year.

"We're really hoping that the candies will take off and become an extension of our wines," Elaine said.

The wine drops can be ordered from either www.tristarwinery.com or www.lynchburgcakeandcandy.com . Until the web sites are updated email Casteel's at tristarwinery@cafes.net

~~See also news article http://www.t-g.com/story/1308850.html

DHS Teacher Ann Minton's ("Miss Duffy") Obituary notification from Dave Klein

Scanned images from 1952 DHS Bear Log. Obituary from http://www.legacy.com/rapidcity/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=101629722

Ann M. Minton ~ To some DHS "Miss Duffy" before she married "Mint"
RAPID CITY - Ann M. Minton, 87, Rapid City, passed away on Saturday, January 19, 2008, at Clarkson Mt. View Health Care Facility following a lengthy illness. Ann was born November 4, 1920, in Aberdeen, SD to Martin and Anna (Brossart) Duffy. She grew up in Aberdeen, and in 1942 graduated from Northern State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and education. Shortly thereafter, she accepted a teaching position in the Deadwood, South Dakota high school business department. On August 24, 1948, Ann was united in marriage to Melvin M. Minton at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Deadwood. Both Ann and Melvin taught in the Deadwood school system until 1952, when they moved to Rapid City. Ann then spent many happy years raising their children and providing a home filled with love for her family. During those years, Ann also taught office education at Central High School before her retirement in 1983. Ann's retirement years were filled with family activities which brought her great joy. Watching her grandchildren grow up and being involved in their lives was a special source of happiness. Ann and Melvin celebrated almost 48 years of marriage before Melvin passed away in 1996. Throughout her life, Ann had a great love for children of all ages. Her example, support, and encouragement allowed her to become an inspiration for many high school business students. Her teaching method provided a solid foundation of knowledge from which her students could draw as they prepared to embark upon their adult business careers. Ann often thought of her former students and wished the best for all of them. Survivors include one son, Timothy P. Minton, M.D. and his wife Mary, one daughter, Cathleen A. Minton, one granddaughter, Laura A. Ellis and her husband Zebulon, all of Rapid City, four grandsons, Ryan, Bozeman, Montana, Neal, Laramie, Wyoming, Ross and Trevor, Rapid City, and one brother, Patrick M. Duffy, Rapid City. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin M. Minton, her parents, and a sister-in-law, Florence Duffy. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 23rd, at Osheim-Catron Funeral Home with Christian Wake service and recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am. Thursday, January 24th at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. William Zandri as celebrant. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery. A memorial has been established in her honor. Friends may sign the online guest book http://www.legacy.com/rapidcity/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=101629722

dhsclassmates Contributor Bob Heller

As you will note Bob always uses caps in his writing. This and other information can also be seen in a Northern Black Hills music web site http://blackhillsmusic.ning.com/profile/BOBHELLER

BOB HELLER'S BIO: 75 YEARS OLD. PLAY FOR FUN, TENOR SAX AND TRUMPET. NORTHERN HILLS BAND, NEW HORIZONS BAND, SAXY SENIORS GROUP AND THE 7TH CAVALRY DRUM AND BUGLE CORP AND THE SPEARFISH COMMUNITY COLLEGE BAND WHEN I HAVE TIME. I PURCHASED LAVERN CLARK'S ("BOSS") MARTIN TENOR FROM DORY AFTER THE BOSS PASSED THRU THE VALE. I'M VERY HUMBLE TO HAVE IT. MY WIFE PHYLLIS IS AN ARTIST AND A GENEALOGY RESEARCHER. SHE ENJOYS MUSIC BUT DOESN'T PLAY ANYTHING. I STARTED OUT WHEN THE BOSS SAW A C-MELODY SAX IN MY GAS STATION AND GOT ME STARTED IN 1963 AT A CONOCO STATION WE OWNED IN DEADWOOD. SINCE THEN I PLAYED FOR 3 YEARS WITH THE NORTHERN HILLS GROUP AND THEN QUIT. 2001 I STARTED AGAIN AND TOOK LESSONS AND STILL DO. TENOR SAX IS MAIN INSTRUMENT AND THE NORTHERN HILLS BAND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THANKS FOR INVITING ME TO THIS BLACKHILLSMUSIC GROUP. Favorite Music CONCERT AND BIG BAND SOUNDS

THE SECOND PICTURE IN BESHARA'S GARAGE IS ME AND MY GIRL FRIEND, PHYLIS, MY WIFE NOW. ABOUT 1954, I THINK. I WAS IN AIR FORCE AT ELLSWORTH THEN.

DICK, THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. SORRY I MISSED THE REUNION. BOB

Deadwood Ranked in Top 10 True Western Towns of 2008

Deadwood SD

Ranked #2 in Top Ten True Western Towns by True West Magazine. Following is their rationale . . .

Al Swearengen didn’t play fair.

Now that’s not just the depiction of the man on HBO’s late, lamented Deadwood. Nope. The real McCoy was a real piece of work too. Al tricked Eastern women into coming West by promising them jobs and/or husbands—and when they arrived, he forced them to become prostitutes. He and the boys beat the women to keep them in line. He tossed some out when they lost their charms. That doesn’t even touch on his other swindles and shady activities.

Al did not play fair.

It can be argued that the modern Deadwood has taken a similar approach to historic preservation and tourism.

Back in 1989, the city legalized gambling, with gaming tax revenues going toward protecting the area’s historic resources and enticing folks to visit. It’s a unique strategy that puts Deadwood head and shoulders above practically any Western town you can imagine, at least in terms of financial commitment to preservation and promotion. Last year, the money totaled more than $2.8 million. And well over a million souls came to the town of Bullock and Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane—which has a population of just 1,400. Those are not typos.

The Historic Preservation Commission projects range from the mundane to the magnificent. Old buildings (and streets and retaining walls) need regular maintenance. Work has been done recently on City Hall, the library, the Visitor/Interpretive Center (housed in a restored 1897 train station), city steps and replica historic streetlights. Funds also support the Adams House and the Adams Museum, and the Days of ’76 Museum, which all have some of the best collections of artifacts from Deadwood’s past. Other funds are used to support local events, like the Days of ’76 Rodeo.

Then there’s the $200,000 that bought a collection of Wild Bill items in 2006—the gun the lawman was reportedly wearing when he was gunned down in 1876, letters between Hickok and his family, and original photos of the hanging of his killer Jack McCall. The collection was exhibited this past year to rave reviews.

And a lot of money—more than $500,000—is spent on selling the city to outsiders. That may seem like a lot, but think about it. More people come to Deadwood, they spend more money, including at the gaming halls. And that’s more money for preservation and renovation. It’s tossing good money after good, so to speak. Mr. Swearengen himself would have to respect that logic.

By its history alone, Deadwood is a Top Western Town. But when you toss in the ingenuity and commitment to preservation, well, you’ve got something special.

Because Deadwood doesn’t play fair.

See source material web site: http://www.twmag.com/cms/story/detail/top_10_true_western_towns_of_2008/120/9/

Editorial Observation: The magazine's choice of number one True Western Towns is St. Joesph MO which has 50 buildings in the National Registry by their count. The entire city of Deadwood is a designated national historic landmark and there's only one historical Deadwood in South Dakota.

I hope you all will contact me to capture and share history we dhsclassmates know first hand. There was a recent special on TV called "The Lost City of Deadwood, the City of Sin." I think we can do much better than that on the history we lived and know.

Mountain lion crashes Deadwood woman's hot tub soak

Morning hot tub session turns into close encounter with mountain lion similar to image.

By Tim Velder, Lawrence County Journal Saturday, December 08, 2007

DEADWOOD -- Despite sitting in a hot, bubbling Jacuzzi on her deck Thursday morning, Marlene Todd froze. She had just eased into in the hot tub a little after 7 a.m. on the deck of her Spring Street home when she heard some rustling beside her. There was a mountain lion, crouching less than a foot away.

The lion must have been equally surprised. It was cornered somewhat because the deck stairs blocked its retreat. It would have to go up and over the hot tub."It just took a leap. It jumped on the side of the hot tub," Todd said. "We locked eyes, and it kicked off of the hot tub and ran away.

When it jumped, it flipped my robe into the hot tub."Todd immediately cut short her soak and wrapped herself in her wet robe, slipped on her shoes, secured the lid on the hot tub and went inside her house.

She summoned Deadwood police, who surmised that the lion was stalking some deer that were in the neighborhood. Police also speculated that the mountain lion was staying near the warmth of the hot tub on the frosty morning. "I didn't need caffeine this morning, I know that," Todd said.

This was Todd's third brush with a mountain lion in the past two years. The first time, she saw a one near her neighbor's car early one morning. One night in April, her husband awoke to the sound of their dog barking and looked outside to see something dash away -- something that left big cat prints in the snow on the front steps. Todd was shaken by the intimate encounter and the possibility she could have been hurt. "I'm freaked," Todd said later. "Now that it's said and done,

I've gotten a close personal look at a lion. It could have been way bad, if it would have slipped and fell in the tub with me. Todd said her husband was not home at the time, and she doesn't plan to go near the hot tub without a companion."I'm not going to go out there for a while," she said.

Todd said she left her office in the Lawrence County Courthouse early Thursday, wanting to go home before dark. Another reason Todd was so shaken by the close call is that she lives in one of the older neighborhoods of Deadwood. "We live in the city limits. We're in town, and this is the third time," she said. "I now know what a goldfish feels like in a bowl when the cat is looking at it."

You can contact Tim Velder at 642-8822, ext. 17.

From Bob Heller another Vern Clark Picture

HELLO TO EVERYONE AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. HELLER

HI DICK. I FOUND THAT OTHER 1968 PICTURE OF VERN CLARK. I DON'T KNOW WHERE BUT IT MIGHT BE AT THE CANYON LAKE CLUB IN RAPID CITY AS I THINK BILL TURGEON WAS THERE ABOUT THAT TIME OR IT WAS AT CENTRAL CITY. ANY WAY I TRIED TO BLOW IT UP AND COULDN'T KEEP IT THAT WAY. HOPE YOU CAN. I'M GOING TO PUT IT ON BLACK HILLS MUSIC NETWORK TOO. BOB HELLER

Bob included his own picture on roller skates too. The lady with Vern is unidentified.

Now you know . . .