30 Years Ago

From the Examiner Files

 

October 18, 2018



Thursday, October 20, 1988

Gotfredson to compete at state level contest

Marie Gotfredson of the local Roadrunners Toastmasters Club has qualified for competition on the state level, after winning first place in local and district contests.

Mrs. Gotfredson began by winning the Evaluation contest on the local level. Broadus Postmaster Sam Kings also took first place, in the Humorous Speech contest.

Mrs. Gotfredson then advanced to District competition at Glendive. There, she also took first place, competing against speakers representing the larger communities of Glendive, Sidney and Miles City.

She will now go on to the Montana State Toastmasters Contest, which will be held in Great Falls on Saturday, November 12. As an experienced speaker, she has a good chance of winning at state also, according to local club president Wes Powell.

Powell was recently elected President of the local organization while Lawrence Capra took over as the new Administrative Vice President. Gotfredson was elected Educational Vice President and Kings, Secretary-Treasurer.

Maddens sentenced for auction embezzlement

Agri News-- A South Dakota couple, who pleaded guilty this summer to embezzling proceeds from cattle sales at their former livestock auction market which they used for a Hawaii land deal and home improvements, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In Deadwood, Eighth Circuit Judge Warren Johnson handed down the sentence October 5 against Michael and Donna Madden, former operators of Madden’s Livestock Market Inc., St. Onge, SD.

The judge suspended all but three years of Donna Madden’s sentence and ordered the couple to repay a portion of the funds they embezzled. They are scheduled to report to prison on October 26.

Michael Madden is headed to the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, while his wife will be incarcerated at a state facility for women in Springfield.

On August 11, the Maddens pleaded guilty to one count each of grand theft in connection with the diversion of funds from auction market accounts for their personal use.

In exchange for guilty pleas on those charges, state prosecutors agreed to drop their other embezzlement counts and 36 bad check charges against the Maddens.

The livestock auction closed on June 5, 1987, after-market consignors failed to receive payment on cattle sold there.

But they weren’t the only producers selling livestock at the Madden market to be burned.

All told, during an eight-year period between 1979 and 1987, $680,083 went unpaid to consignors, according to the state Attorney General’s office.

Reportedly, one “substantial” bad check issued to a market consignor, still in deep dispute, dates back to November 1976.

Said an office spokeswoman, “They embezzled from consignors’ funds for investments - $361,045.”

In testimony prior to sentencing, Madden told the court he and his wife used money from the auction market’s custodial account to finance a land option in Hawaii, in May 1987.

One official said a Packers and Stockyards Administration audit determined the property investment involved $250,000.

“That was only one of them,” said the state spokeswoman. “They also embezzled $24,000 for repairs to their home in St. Onge.”

Meanwhile, in a summary judgement issued by Judge Johnson, 33 consignors who filed suit for repayment of livestock sold at the Market on June 5, 1987, have been assured by the ruling they will be fully reimbursed with interest.

The judgement calls for First Bank of South Dakota, Rapid City, to supplement $194,834 originally held by the court in trust from the market custodial account with $76,011 the bank had “back-charged” from it after market closure.

“The bank had deposited $194,000 with the court. They acknowledged they were customer funds. They cleared $76,000 from that account,” said Wesley Buckmaster, a Belle Fourche, SD, attorney who represented the 33 June 5 sellers in the suit.

“We were able to show that Madden’s entered into an agreement with the bank that proceeds from June 5 sale were to be isolated for the benefit of those consignors. Thus, any back charge to the account by the bank was improper.”

Added Buckmaster, “The bank doesn’t like to think of it this way, but the bank paid damages of $76,000. Plus is privately agreed to repay attorney fees, for his clients.”

Another 40 consignors who received bad checks from Madden’s on previous livestock sales, will receive pro-rated compensation from an original $130,000 bond posted with the state Livestock Sanitary Board.

With interest over the past year, that bond amount has grown to $140,000 now available for disbursement.

O.E.S. meets

Several ideas were presented for money making projects at the October 5 meeting of the Margaret Trautman Chapter 108 Order of Eastern Star.

Worthy Matron Rose Chaney and Acting Worthy Parton John Davidson presided over the meeting.

Minutes were read by Secretary Loretta Mangen and were approved and signed by the Worthy Matron.

The Sunshine March at the October 19 meeting will go the Masonic Home for Christmas gifts for the residents.

Associate Conductress Audrey Flanigan gave her address for the Chapter and Mrs. Mangen gave a report on Denmark, the country of her heritage.

Several get well cards were sent to members who have been ill and an anniversary card was sent to Mr. & Mrs. Earl Brownfield.

Gladys Diebel gave a report on their visits to Baker for the Official Visitation of Worthy Grand Matron Eddie Lou Benson.

Refreshments at the meeting were served by Joyce Lei and Faye Denson.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/11/2024 09:10