Wakonda begins work on their very own field of dreams
The town of Wakonda received a $750 community grant from POET to help with improvements to their ballfield. (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Editor The town of Wakonda is taking a cue from the Field of Dreams movie…”If we build it they will come.” Several years ago, some of the town’s board members started talking about improving the old baseball field...
Chancellor gears up for Chancellor Days celebration
Renae Hansen | Editor The small town of Chancellor will come alive this weekend as they celebrate Chancellor Days on July 11 and 12. The party kicks off on Friday, July 11 at the...
Memorial dedication held at St. Mary’s Cemetery
Christ on the Cross. A boulder inscribed: “Choose life that you and your descendants may live” welcomes those who come to visit the building containing the church items....
Current News
Current News
Knee high…and more…by the Fourth of July!
Lane Hannon, age 10, stands in a field of corn south of Parker last week. Tassels were seen by...
Paul Christensen continues to promote Viborg in his new role
Renae Hansen | Editor When the Viborg Development Corporation began their search for a part time...
Emerald Ash Borer spreading throughout southeastern South Dakota
Beresford resident working hard to fight the invasive insect Riva Sharples | NCP Editor If you own...
Parker 17U wins two more
Still perfect season Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 17U baseball team kept their perfect...
Let Freedom Ring!
Zach McConniel, Phil Luke, and Josh McConniel, shown here with a previous year’s arsenal, as well...
Monroe Freedom Days tractor pull held on Saturday
Red and Green were not the only colored tractors. A yellow Minneapolis Moline B challenged the...
Marion Summer Celebration kicks off summer fun
The Class of 1975 float in the parade. A great time was had at Marion’s Summer Celebration, held...
Parker hosts 2025 Southeast South Dakota softball tourney
Parker Lessman and Colin Robertson work diligently to pump water off the softball fields in Parker...
Irene hosts first Main Street Market of the year
The Main Street Market in Irene offered shoppers a delicious variety of baked goods and so much...
A special delivery at the Viborg Public Library
The baby ducks were a big hit with the library patrons and staff! (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen |...
Parker 17U stuns Baltic
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports Baltic looked to have the game on lock last Thursday night, but the...
Parker 10U gray team wins league championship
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 10U “Gray” team has been on a tear this season,...
Obituaries
Jeanette Luke
69Marion, SDJuly 3, 2025Jeanette Luke, 69 of Marion, passed away surrounded by her family on July 3, 2025 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at the First Baptist Church, Parker, with visitation one...
Les Hanson
90Viborg, SDJuly 4, 2025Les Hanson, 90 of Viborg, passed away on July 4, 2025 at Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Chancellor Reformed Church, Chancellor. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m....
Ruby Waltner
94Freeman, SDJune 28, 2025Ruby Waltner, 94, of Freeman passed away on June 28 at the Freeman Hospital. Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at the Salem Zion Mennonite Church of rural Freeman. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday,...
David Alan Jacobson
77Centerville, SDJune 27, 2025David Alan Jacobson, 77, of Centerville, SD, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025. Born on September 23, 1947, David was known for his extremely kind-hearted nature and love for his family.David was born in Hudson, SD, to Elmer and...
Carolyn Janet (Vurm) Anderson
86Newcastle, WYJune 12, 2025Carolyn Janet (Vurm) Anderson, 86, died in her sleep on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Weston County Manor, in Newcastle, WY. Carolyn was born in Parker, SD to Lillian Adeline (Dirks) Vurm and Joseph Vurm on June 30, 1938, and married...
Dennis Ralph Kenobbie
80Parkston, SD (formerly of Hurley, SD)June 14, 2025Dennis Kenobbie, 80 of Parkston and formerly of Hurley, died Saturday, June 14, 2025 at his home under hospice care. Visitation was held at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home in Parker on Monday, June 16, 2025 and on...
Lucille Marie (Sampson) Weismann
41Dallas, TXMay 19, 2025Lucille Marie (Sampson) Weismann, 41, of Dallas, Texas passed away on May 19, 2025. She was born on June 14, 1983 and graduated from Viborg High School in 2002. Besides her family, some of the things she loved were the Dallas Stars hockey team,...
Glen R. Wollman
82Freeman, SDJune 6, 2025“Hallelujah!” A word that echoed throughout Glen R. Wollman’s life — full of praise, faith, and joyful anticipation — was surely the word he uttered when he fell to his knees at the feet of his Lord and Savior during the evening hours of June...
Columns
The Other White Meat
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Jesus had been teaching from the shore of Galilee in a boat to a throng of people. When evening came Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” It was an assurance they would make it to the opposite side of the sea....
Ananias and Sapphira
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The book of Acts connects Christ’s life from the Gospels to the beginning period of the church. Jesus spends His last days with His disciples leaving the men with one last command: They were not to leave Jerusalem until they were baptized...
Jesus Calms the Storm
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent After Jesus fed the five thousand, He dismissed the crowd then sent His disciples by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while He went to a hillside to pray. The disciples talked in disbelief about what they witnessed earlier in...
Devoted
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Jesus wants you to believe in Him and He wants to have a daily relationship with you. Begin each day with Him by worshipping Him, reading His Word, praying and praising His holy name, enjoying all He has created. It takes practice and...
Caught in the Act
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent It was early morning and Jesus was once again back at the Temple. A crowd gathered around Him and He sat down to teach. The Pharisees interrupted Jesus bringing a woman caught in adultery but failed to bring the man. The woman had no value...
Eunice and Lois
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Timothy’s sincere faith in the Lord began in the influential home of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Both women were Jews who accepted Christianity, grounded in their faith and passed on their generational legacy to Timothy. He...
Prisca
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The market place was bustling with commercial businesses of all varieties. People thronged to its streets to purchase pottery, baskets and oils or to trade grain, vegetables and fabrics. The well-established shops had beautifully...
Lydia
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Paul, Luke, Timothy and Silas, wanting to preach the word of God, began traveling in different directions but were stopped each time by the Holy Spirit. A vision appeared to Paul at night guiding them to the region of Macedonia, which is...
Sports
Parker 17U wins two more
Still perfect season Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 17U baseball team kept their perfect season alive last week, picking up back to back wins to improve to 5-0 midway through the season.First on the week was a matchup against Garretson, which the Pheasants...
Parker 17U stuns Baltic
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports Baltic looked to have the game on lock last Thursday night, but the Parker Pheasants were able to flip the scrip, coming from 10 down to stun the Bulldogs in dramatic walk off fashion, keeping their undefeated season intact.In the sixth...
Parker 10U gray team wins league championship
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 10U “Gray” team has been on a tear this season, completing a perfect regular season, and also winning their pool to earn the top seed in the league tournament last weekend. It took a little magic, but the Pheasants were able to...
Parker 12U boys take second place
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 12U boys played in Vermillion this weekend and entered the league tournament with the top seed. Parker had just two losses on the season, but in the end the Eagles of Irene-Wakonda were able to sneak past the Pheasants,...
Parker 10U softball claims runner-up
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 10U softball team wrapped up their league season last weekend in Parker, coming in as the league runner up, falling to Centerville in the championship.The Pheasants had put together a solid season, and opened their tournament...
Tornadoes 8U takes first place at tournament
Congratulations to the Centerville Tornadoes 8U team for taking first place at their league tournament!! (Back row, left to right) Clay Knutson, Lance Buseman, Liam Heesch, Troy Hybertson, and Hank Stevens. (Front row) Keegen Biggs, Rowan Hansen, Encore Strum, and...
Pure summer joy
The players step up to the plate with the intensity of a major leaguer. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) The entertainment of T-Ball Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports There’s no better way to spend a warm summer evening than parked in a lawn chair at the local ball...
Nelson named to 2025 Class B All-State team
Viborg-Hurley’s Charley Nelson was named to the All-State Softball team, one of the many honors she has received throughout her remarkable high school career. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports Following the conclusion of the 2025...