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Photo from Unsplash and unrelated to the city. For most people, it is a constant necessity of life to manage gas prices. The national average price for a gallon of regular-grade gas on Thursday is $3.246, a week ago the price is $3.268 , according to AAA.

GANN VALLEY, S.D. — Rural medics who rescued rancher Jim Lutter after he was gored by a bison didn’t have much experience handling such severe wounds. But the medics did have a doctor looking over their shoulders inside the ambulance as they rushed Lutter to a hospital. The...

Standing amidst the snowflocked, sparkling whimsy of the Christmas Village exhibit now on display at the Jerauld County Courthouse, one would never guess that the idea for the holiday attraction was born during a hot, sunny day at the Springs Country Club this past summer. “Teresa Fonder was talking about...

As the calendar turns from November to December, signs of the Christmas season are quickly emerging throughout Jerauld County. From the garland strung across Main Street to ornate holiday displays illuminated on area homes, farms and ranches, a festive feeling is in the air. The much-loved decor adds a festive tone to the holiday season in Wessington Springs, which for many, begins with “Holiday…

Chamberlain’s greatest asset is the Missouri River, whose choppy, sea green waves paint picturesque scenes within walking distance of downtown and a fair share of its established homes. Chamberlain’s also landlocked, to an extent. The ground best suited for building was built upon decades ago, forming a teardrop-shaped...

A generous $25,000 donation from Venture Communications Cooperative presented to Build Springs marked a positive stride toward the finish line at the newly constructed recreation center and auxiliary gymnasium in Wessington Springs Monday. “We understand the importance of a small town and we want to be sure that we are...

With the holidays in full swing, the Wessington Springs High School (WSHS) Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapters have been focusing their energy on projects that will benefit community members, one of which consists of organizing the local angel tree. Once again this year, the FCCLA Chapter...

Sharing information and growing networks are the key takeaways offered to agricultural families during the upcoming Farmers Union Tri-State Producers Conference, scheduled for January 5-6, 2024 in Bricktown, Oklahoma City. The conference offers informative seminars and networking for, sharing new information to help producers’ farm/ ranch operations while promoting networking...

In person dining at the Senior Center or call in for delivery or pick-up. Please contact Marla at 539-9331. Meals served daily 12 p.m. Wed. Nov. 29: Chicken pot pie over biscuits, side salad with tomato and cucumber slices, orange. Thurs., Nov. 30: Taco salad, beans, garlic bread, apricots. Fri., Dec. 1: Rib sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw, cheesecake with fruit.

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, the town of Kimball is a poignant reminder of the golden age of railroading in America. Named after J.W. Kimball, a superintendent of the Chicago and North Western Railway, the town embodies the historical significance of an era when railroads were the heartbeat of progress and development. Kimball's connection to this expansive railway network, which once stretched over 12,000 miles across seven states, highlights the transformative impact railroads had on the growth and prosperity of American towns.

A federal U.S. District Court judge has handed out the punishment for two women from North Dakota convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance after they were arrested at a gas station in Oacoma, South Dakota last year. 31 year old Kerstyn Lanz of West Fargo was sentenced to...

Ryan Urban is a fourth-generation Brule County cattle producer who also happens to raise grain and forage crops. “When people ask if we are farmers or ranchers, I always say, ‘we are cattle people who farm on the side.’ If you take care of the cows, they will take care of you,” said the 36-year-old.

Since Wessington Springs High School senior Hannah Heezen (pictured at right) was 10-years-old, she and her family have traveled hundreds of miles each year to attend breakaway clinics to help her improve at the rodeo sport she loves. “From Wessington Springs, you usually have to travel quite a ways to attend one of these clinics,” Heezen said. “That’s when the idea came to me, why not host one…

Eight student athletes recently received all-state and all-conference accolades for their contributions during the 2023 football and volleyball seasons. Volleyball 281 all conference: First team - Avery Orth, Second Team - Alyssa Grohs, Honorable Mention - Raylee Fagerhaug. Football SESD All-Conference: Holden Havlik, Ryder Michalek, Blake Larson, Brock Krueger, Honorable Mention - Carter Gaikowski. 11B Football All-State: Ryder Michalek - WR, Blake Larson - DB, Holden Havlik - Honorable Mention QB.

If there ever was a group that defines the term “small but mighty,” it very well could be the crew of mounted shooters from Wessington Springs who, last month, competed and prevailed in a definitive way at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) World Championship in Amarillo, Texas. 'We have to drive at least 1600 miles to see each other,” laughed Kelli Shryock, pointing out that the…

Wessington Springs florist Laura Baker partnered with the Springs Food Market to help stock the shelves at the Jerauld County Food Pantry with the 25th annual Caring Roses campaign, November 6-10. Baker’s Design sold out of over 100 dozen roses with participants getting a great deal on a dozen roses...

Just in time for the season of gratitude, middle and high school students set out into the Wessington Springs community to “Rake the Town” last Thursday. “The Wessington Springs Community does so much for the school, we thought this would be one way we could give back. We are all proud of our community and we wanted to try and do our part,” said Jason Kolousek WSMS/WSHS Principal. “One of the important lifelong things we want to teach our students is community service and thought this would be a good way to show an activity that can be done.”

Statistics show that people who live in rural communities live three years less than people who live in urban areas and death rates from heart disease and stroke are noticeably higher among rural residents. Across rural America, health experts say factors such as ambulance shortages and hospital closures add to...

Members of the Wessington Springs FFA Chapter Meats Evaluation and Technology Team brought some hefty hardware back to Jerauld County earning a silver placing at the National FFA Convention with individual results including: Carter Gaikowski, silver; Blake Larson, silver; Ridge Roduner, bronze. Braydin LaBore, silver (shown at above right). Those...

The poorest city in South Dakota is Fort Thompson, which is located along the Missouri River in Crow Creek Sioux Reservation. According to the latest five-year American Community Survey (ACS) data, the median household income in Fort Thompson is just $24,125, which is 62.3% less than the statewide median household income of $63,920. Additionally, the poverty rate in Fort Thompson is 47.4%, which is significantly higher than the statewide poverty rate of 12.5%.