Irene-Wakonda mourns the loss of Superintendent Hutchison
The Irene-Wakonda School students and staff showed their support last week, saying “Celebrating the life of our “SUPER”intendent Hutch! You will be missed greatly.” (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Editor The Irene-Wakonda school district is mourning the loss of Superintendent Dave Hutchison, who lost his year-long battle with cancer earlier this month....
Freeman Regional and Total Stop team up for bike safety events
Marion event takes place on September 9 Freeman Regional Health Services and Total Stop Convenience are partnering with local schools and law enforcement to encourage safe bike...
Centerville crowns Queen Tessa and King Alec
Centerville kicked off their Homecoming Week with coronation on Monday night. Congratulations to Queen Tessa Eide and King Alec Austin! Tessa is the daughter of Phillip and...
Current News
Current News
From the sidelines to the podium
Petra took home the Gold in the Women’s 55-59 Javelin Throw at the National Senior Games in Des...
Viborg-Hurley backpack program ensures students don’t go hungry when away from school
Produce from the “Slack Produce Stand” brought in $849 for the VH backpack program last year....
EPJ rumbles past Parker in opener
Colin Robertson pushes forward for a touchdown against EPJ. The senior had a big night in the...
Irene-Wakonda falls in Eagle vs. Eagle match
Aidan Mulder stretches forward for extra yardage as he is brought down by the SF Lutheran...
Parker/Marion golfers open new season
Levi Rand swings away at last weeks opening golf meet of the 2025 season. Parker/Marion is now...
Cougars open season with dominant win over Canistota
Quarterback Brady Schroedermeier throws the ball to Evan Campbell (#1). (Photo/Faydra Christensen)...
Tornadoes take down Dolphins
Noah Schoenfelder went 4:4 extra points kick attempts! The senior kicker also kicks off and does...
Phoenix win opener against Parkston
Alan Astleford | Writer Fifth ranked Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy avenged their season 2024...
The Four Best Days of Summer comes to an end
New to the fair this year was a pop-up meet and greet with some lovable characters showing up to...
Rat Rod BBQ fills void left by Irene Bar
Rat Rod BBQ & Bar in Irene is the latest venture of Jessie Schmidt. (Photo/Renae Hansen) Renae...
Mildred Neeman: Turner County Fair’s oldest volunteer and exhibitor
Mildred Neeman is the Turner County Fair’s oldest exhibitor at 97 years young. She also continues...
Rising from the ashes
The current Spring Valley Lutheran Church was rebuilt after a devastating fire destroyed the...
Obituaries
Arlene Kaye “Heidebrecht” Fletcher
81 July 16, 2025 Arlene Kaye Fletcher departed to be with the Lord on July 16, 2025 at the age of 81. Arlene grew up on the family farm west of Beresford with her parents and eight brothers and sisters. She graduated from Centerville High School. She was blessed to be...
John Eli
55 Tea, SD August 13, 2025 John Eli, 55 of Tea, passed away on August 13, 2025 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. A memorial service was held on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at the Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Chapel, Viborg. Arrangements provided by...
Mary Ann Keierleber
78 Formerly of Parker, SD August 15, 2025 Born in Midland, TX, to Raymond and Christine Greene on February 1, 1947, Mary Ann Keierleber was a faithful servant of God throughout her entire life. On August 15, 2025, at 3:50 a.m., Mary, known as Granmary and Mimi to her...
Eva Goosen
99 Freeman August 17, 2025 Eva Goosen, 99, of Freeman passed away on August 17 at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, August 23, at the Salem Zion Mennonite Church of rural Freeman. Eva Irene (Becker) Goosen, 99, of Freeman, began her...
Rowen “Rosy” Doorn
91 Parker, SD August 22, 2025 Rowen “Rosy” Doorn, 91 of Parker, passed away on August 22, 2025 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg. Memorial Service will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 29, 2025 at the Chancellor Reformed Church, Chancellor. Visitation will...
Alan Neal Jensen
74 Colorado Springs, CO August 6, 2025 Alan Neal Jensen, 74, died on August 6, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. He was with family at home when he went to Heaven to rest with God. Al was born April 13, 1951 in Sioux Falls, SD to Richard Jensen and Phyllis (Bishop)...
Russell D. Anderson
68 Gettysburg, SD August 13, 2025 Russell D. Anderson, 68, of Gettysburg, SD, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at his home surrounded by his wife and children. A celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the United Methodist Church,...
Carol Ann Hansen
70 Irene, SD August 15, 2025 Carol Ann Hansen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 22, 2025, at Miller Funeral Home -...
Columns
Not a Disciple
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The third Gospel is the longest book in the New Testament written by Luke, a physician. He was also a companion of Paul on several missionary journeys in Acts which Luke also wrote. Luke may have been Paul’s doctor for his thorn in the...
The Pool at Bethesda
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent A pool in Jerusalem with the Aramaic name Bethesda was surrounded by five roofed colonnades providing shade and stone steps leading to the water. This attracted a multitude of disabled people who believed the water was stirred by an angel...
A woman with no cents
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The Court of Women was found in the Temple in Jerusalem. In this particular area seven boxes were displayed for worshippers to deposit their temple tax and six boxes for free will offerings. These thirteen boxes had brass shaped trumpet...
Jacob and Rachel Sitting in a Tree
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Leah knew she wasn’t as attractive as her younger sister Rachel. Genesis 29 describes Leah with weak eyes or delicate eyes meaning they lacked sparkle. Sister Rachel was depicted as “lovely in form and beautiful.” Leah deeply loved the man...
Where is God
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Record rainfall created flooding this summer in Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Illinois, New York and New Jersey. This has been one in a thousand-year rainfall event across the United States in four of these states, Texas, New Mexico,...
Another Miracle
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent In the New Testament many Jews believed Jesus to be the Messiah. He said to these followers, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But there were Jewish...
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...
Sports
EPJ rumbles past Parker in opener
Colin Robertson pushes forward for a touchdown against EPJ. The senior had a big night in the season opener. (Photo/Shane Merrill) Shane Merrill | Parker Sports In the opening game of the 2025 football season, the number three ranked 11B Elk Point-Jefferson Huskies...
Irene-Wakonda falls in Eagle vs. Eagle match
Aidan Mulder stretches forward for extra yardage as he is brought down by the SF Lutheran defender. (Photo/Laura Lyngstad) It was Eagles vs. Eagles as Irene-Wakonda traveled to Sioux Falls to take on Sioux Falls Lutheran in Class 9B football action on Friday, August...
Parker/Marion golfers open new season
Levi Rand swings away at last weeks opening golf meet of the 2025 season. Parker/Marion is now class ‘A’ playing in the fall season. Rand led the Par-Mar team taking 21st place. (Photo/Submitted) Shane Merrill | Parker/Marion Sports The Parker/Marion boys’ golf team...
Cougars open season with dominant win over Canistota
Quarterback Brady Schroedermeier throws the ball to Evan Campbell (#1). (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports The Viborg-Hurley Cougars wasted no time making a statement in their season opener, rolling to a decisive 50-0 victory over the...
Tornadoes take down Dolphins
Noah Schoenfelder went 4:4 extra points kick attempts! The senior kicker also kicks off and does punting for the Tornadoes. Way to go Noah! (Photo/Tricia Eide) Tricia Eide | Centerville Sports All of the hard work and hours spent in the offseason finally came to the...
Phoenix win opener against Parkston
Alan Astleford | Writer Fifth ranked Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy avenged their season 2024 season ending loss when they defeated third ranked Parkston 20-6 in Parkston. Parkston had won 20 games in succession before falling to the Phoenix. The Trojans won the coin...
Centerville cross country welcomes new coaches
2025 Centerville Tornadoes cross country team. (Back row, left to right) Peyton Hansen, Brady Muller, and Daphne Brouwer. (Front row) Carter Muller, Harper Wattier, Jace Muller, Kaelynn Marohl, and Sam Balison. The Tornadoes are coached by Josh Morphew and Joe Ward....
Tornadoes football hoping for another playoff run
The 2025 Centerville Tornadoes Football team. (Back row left to right) Jackson Bertrand-Steever, Cullen Pollard, Charlie Eide, Hunter Swift, Corbin Tople, Alec Austin, Noah Schoenfelder, Gunner Pingrey, Alex Alakhverdov, Ty Cahoy, Jaxon Westra, Tiberius Thomas, Zach...