The percentage of US citizens to have visited all 50 states is an extremely low number, but one local teacher recently joined the estimated 1% to 2% of people to do just that.
Jef Rietsma teaches fifth grade science and social studies in Centreville, and although not an area native, he is a former Sturgis resident, having been employed as a staff writer for the Sturgis Journal from 1990-93. He currently resides in Vicksburg.
His final trek took him to the state of Delaware, which is roughly 700 miles from Vicksburg, and he had some company joining him on his trip. Rietsma’s mother, 84 year-old Marian Herriman, his 28 year-old niece Elena Carter, and Carter’s eight-year-old nephew, Malcolm LaMothe, all joined in on the trip. Ironically, this group made it a four-generation venture…