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NHS announces Community Pride Awards for 2008

Neighborhood Housing Services of the Black Hills, Inc. announced the winners of the 2008 Community Pride Awards Thursday in a news release.  Neighbors submitted nominations and the yards were selected by expert judges. 

John and Micki Moore

In Lead, John and Micki Moore were overall winners. The couple moved to Lead from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation four years ago and their expansive lot had lot of grass and weeds.

John went to work digging in flower beds and Micki took on the planting. It doesn't come easy. Micki spends hours every day weeding and watering the flowers.

"I fight with the deer," Micki said. They come every night and have their buffet."

The flowers a pallette of color and varieties. Micki said the challenge is to find flowers the deer don't like to eat.

"They say there are flowers the deer don't like, but no one told the deer," Micki said. "Some flowers the deer didn't eat last year, they are eating this year."

Larry and Linda Ulvestad

Larry and Linda Ulvestad, overall winners in Deadwood, said that although the yard looks nice, it’s not perfection.

The 13-year residents of Deadwood said the yard was pretty plain when they moved in. The successes of perennials and annual planters are inspired by gardening magazines and ideas from other area homes. “A lot of it is just enthusiasm and ideas,” Larry said. “We looks for what is feasible and practical.” Roses, daylilies, and lot of hostas highlight the yard. Larry said they look for a lot of color and plants with staying power and durability. “And we’re not afraid to turn on the water,” he said.

Over the years they have removed a large pine tree that inhibited plant growth and put up a big fence to keep out deer and dogs. Deer also dislike Larry’s use of a “liquid fence” spray they bought at Bloomers Flower Shop in Central City.

Chuck and Carol Wuitschick

Chuck and Carol Wuitschick of Central City have turned a bare lot into a manicured back yard with a gazebo and antique-adorned fence.

The Wuitschick’s moved their home onto the lot 12 year ago. “It was a bare lot with a lot fill dirt,” Chuck said. He built a patio and retaining wall with colored blocks. Carol has put her touches of colorful rose bushes. They also use deer repellent and manual means to keep the pests away.

“We have to run them off from time to time especially in the fall,” Chuck said. “Sometimes I’ll go out on my deck and they will be four or five feet away and will just look at me.”

NHS offered a special thank you to the Central City Neighborhood Council, Lead Beautification, and the City of Deadwood crews and volunteers for their contributions to the beautification of their communities. 

Winners are listed below:

Deadwood Winners:

* Best Front Yard: Joyce & Randy Pfarr, 35 Dunlap

* Best Back Yard: Gerald Pokorney, 60 Terrace

* Best Overall: Larry & Linda Ulvestad, 32 Lincoln

Lead Winners:

* Best Front Yard: Harold & Betty Bender, 122 Wall St.

* Best Back Yard: Tom & Melodee Nelson, 616 Sunnyhill

* Best Overall: John & Micki Moore, 620 Sunnyhill

Central City Winners:

* Best Front Yard: Rocky & Barb Mattson, 110 Central Main

* Best Back Yard: Keith & Cindy Wellgard, 436 Golden Gate

* Best Overall: Chuck & Carol Wuitschick, 459 Golden Gate

The following residents were nominated for the 2008 Community Pride Awards, please drive by and admire the beautiful yards. 

Larry Solar, 408 Washington, Lead

Irv & June Potratz, 301 W Addie, Lead

Don & Jerry Cotton, 11476 Hwy 14A, Central City

Hubert & Marge McGrath, 206 Terraville, Lead

Rick & Rose Burns, 3 S. Main, Lead

Rose & Dennis Widener, 785 Main, Deadwood

Steve & Jan Creger, 8 Burnham, Deadwood

Darin & Linda Derosier, 850 ½ Main, Deadwood

Art & Georgeann Silvernail, 47 Burnham, Deadwood

Robert & Deb Thorp, 20 Pleasant, Deadwood